Daniel Pagano
American mobster
Daniel Pagano (pronounced "Pah-GAH-noh") (born 1953) is a New York mobster and street boss in the Genovese crime family who was involved in a major gasoline bootlegging racket of the 1980s.
Born in New York, Pagano is the son of Joe Pagano, whom according to law enforcement, he had served as a captain in the Genovese family. In March 1973, Pagano was arrested for assault, robbery, attempted murder of a policeman, resisting arrest and possession of narcotics. Pagano was shot in the thigh by a police officer allegedly during a cocaine sale in Manhattan, the police officer had claimed self-defence claiming that Pagano was ready to shoot the officer first. According to law enforcement, an undercover officer attempted to purchase 10 ounces of cocaine for $6,000, before Pagano robbed the undercover agent by holding a pistol to his head and retrieved from his possession of 4 ounces of cocaine and $3500 in cash.
Meeting with Sharpton
In the early 1980s, Pagano became acquainted with African-American activist Al Sharpton. In 1983, Colombo crime family mobster Michael Franzese arranged a meeting with Pagano, Sharpton, and another mob associate (who was an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent). The meeting was ostensibly about the mob associate asking Sharpton for an introduction to boxing promoter Don King. However, during the meeting, the associate unsuccessfully tried to enlist Sharpton's assistance in distributing narcotics. After the meeting, the FBI approached Sharpton and allegedly garnered his assistance as an informant against Pagano.
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