CCP 11-16-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I 2.,~/ ~ I Mohney, in turn, has been linked with national organized crime enterprises. A 1977 -I i report of the United States Justice Department stated: I ~ I It is believed that Harry V. Mohney of Durand, Michigan, is one of the largest I dealers in pornography in the United States. . . He is alleged to have a close , association with the LCN. Columbo and the LCN DeCavalcante, both of I which are very Influential In pornography in the eastern United States. In Michigan, Mohney is known to hire individuals with organized crime i associations to manage his businesses. His businesses and corporations I consist of 60 known adult bookstores, massage parlors, art theaters, adult drive-in movies, go-go type lounges and pornographic warehouses in I Michigan, Indiana, illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio and I California. He is Involved in the financing and production of pornographic movies, magazines, books and newspapers. He also directs the importation I j and distribution of his own and other pornographic publications to retail and wholesale outlets throughout the United States and Canada . . . He has a . working relationship with DeCavalcante's representative Robert DiBernardo I and has rnet with Vito Giacalone and Joseph Zerilli of the LCN Detroit. He has to cater to both to operate in Michigan. . U.S. Justice Dep't, Orqanized Crime Involvement in Pornoqraphy, reprinted in the -. Attomey General's Comm'n on Pornography (hereinafter "Pornography Commission"), 2 final Report at 1229-30 (1986). I Organized crime has the potential to infiltrate Minnesota's pornography industry. I Evidence on a national level highlights the vulnerability of sexually oriented businesses to criminal control. A number of sources have reported that there is a connection I between organized crime and the pornography industry. The Pornography Commission reported that the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan I Police Department "determined that traditional organized crime was substantially involved in and did essentially control much of the major pornography distribution in . the United States during the years 1977 and 1978: 2 final Report at 1044-45. The Washington, D.C., study "further concluded that the combination of the large amounts . of money involved, the incredibly low priority obscenity enforcement had within police departments and prosecutors' offices in an area where manpower intensive I -16- .. I -----------