Anthony "Fat Anthony" DiLapi, aged 53, was murdered on February 4, 1990, in Los Angeles, California. DiLapi, a member of the Lucchese crime family, had relocated to the West Coast after falling out of favor with his bosses in New York. On that fateful day, as he entered the underground garage of his Hollywood apartment, a masked gunman approached and shot him multiple times. DiLapi was struck five times in the face and four times in the body, dying instantly at the scene. Despite his death being listed as that of a used-car salesman, DiLapi's true identity as a mobster was well-known within criminal circles.
The investigation into DiLapi's murder revealed that the hit was ordered by high-ranking Lucchese family members, Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso and Vittorio "Vic" Amuso. The execution of the hit was orchestrated by Al D'Arco, another member of the Lucchese family. The actual shooters were two former NYPD officers, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who had been working as mob hitmen. These officers were later convicted of DiLapi's murder, along with several other killings, highlighting the deep corruption and criminal activities within the police force.
The case against Eppolito and Caracappa was a significant development in the fight against organized crime. Their arrests and subsequent convictions exposed the extent of the Mafia's infiltration into law enforcement. The trial brought to light numerous other crimes committed by the duo, leading to their life sentences. The murder of Anthony DiLapi remains a stark reminder of the violent and treacherous world of organized crime, as well as the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating such deeply entrenched criminal networks.
