The FBI has busted a loan-sharking ring featuring an unlikely alliance — between an alleged Gambino crime-family member, Westies gangster and motorcycle gang member, authorities said today.
Brooklyn-based feds pinched alleged Gambino James Ferrara, purported Westies gang member Daniel Hanley and reputed Demon Knights motorcycle gangster Peter Kanakis for running a menacing loan-sharking outfit together.
The Knights are a spinoff of the infamous Hell’s Angels.
“Allegedly members of three different organized crime enterprises, these defendants nevertheless banded together and spoke the same language of violence, threats and intimidation to their victims. Such tactics will always be met with the full force of the law,” US Attorney Loretta Lynch said.
“We will not rest until organized crime is eradicated from our communities.”
Lynch added that the government’s investigation is continuing.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly likened the mass bust to hitting a big winner at the race track.
“With alleged involvement of the Gambinos, Westies and Hell’s Angels, this case hit the trifecta of loansharking and extortion,” he said.
“I want to commend the NYPD detectives and federal agents and prosecutors who brought the suspects to justice.”