Little Rock - Federal authorities say they've busted a man who helped a New York mafia family get a foothold in the Natural State.

The U.S. Attorney's Office Thursday indicted George Wylie Thompson of Cabot along with three Massachusetts men.  The four defendants are accused of running a small off-shoot of the Colombo Mafia Family and racketeering in five states, including Arkansas.

Prosecutors say they began to crack the case here in the Natural State.  A couple of years ago, the U.S. Attorney's Office began looking into alleged illegal activities involving Thompson.  That investigation led to two indictments against him and the seizure of close to 150 illegal guns, 80,000 rounds of ammunition and five illegal silencers.  Thompson fled the country after those indictments were leveled against him, but was later apprehended in Thailand, and is currently in the Pulaski County jail awaiting trial.

Prosecutors say during that investigation, they discovered ties to "the DeLeo Crew."  Now all four defendants, including Franklin Goldman and Edmond Kulesza of Massachusetts, could spend up to 20 years in prison.

(Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney)
"It's our job and our mission to try and do whatever we can to dismantle and disrupt those organizations."

Thompson specifically is accused of helping provide Ralph DeLeo, a Boston street boss, with illegal firearms and setting up drug deals.

(Jane Duke, U.S. Attorney)
"I think this investigation demonstrates so clearly how you can have connections to states where you would never envision that organized crime was functioning."

Thompson is also implicated in criminal activity involving two North Little Rock politicians.  Former Alderman Cary Gaines resigned shortly after he was charged with conspiring with Thompson to rig bids on city projects, and current Alderman Sam Baggett is charged with providing guns to Thompson, a convicted felon.  Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, and neither man was named in Thursday's indictments against Thompson.

Jane Duke, the U.S. Attorney for the eastern district of Arkansas, says she's just glad four alleged mafia soldiers are behind bars.

(Jane Duke, U.S. Attorney)
"It all just worked seamlessly together so I am incredibly proud that the agents didn't rest on what they had, and continued to look at the case, and continued to truly figure out everything that was there."

Calls to Gaines and Baggett Thursday night seeking comment were not returned.

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