The Hammer Conspiracies

New York: Parthenon / 20th Century Books, 1982. 2nd Printing. Trade Paperback. Good. 8x5x1. 2nd printing. Spine creased, wrappers lightly rubbed. 1982 Trade Paperback. 564 pp. Details investigations of mafia activity in Rochester, New York, the subsequent trials, and the debacle that followed. It is a story of perjured detectives, gang wars, organized crime, overthrown convictions, imprisoned law enforcement officers and prosecutors, faulty police work, and corrupt officials. "Vincent 'Jimmy the Hammer' Massaro was hit by the mob. His death generated conspiracy prosecutions against what was alleged to be the top echelon of the organization in Rochester, New York. The testimony of informers, including two of the alleged triggermen, and detectives who surveilled mob meetings where Massaro's fate was plotted produced convictions. But there had been no surveillances. Detectives admitted perjuring themselves. Alleged mobsters were released from prison. A bloody gang war erupted, and Federal Indictments were returned against Detectives and Prosecutors. A saga of fabricated evidence and corruption unprecedented in the war against organized crime. (Inventory #: 2348218)