Feds: Ex-New England mob boss arrested in murder of witness

BOSTON -- (WBZ/AP) — Federal prosecutors say former New England Mafia boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme has been arrested in the murder of a witness.

Prosecutors didn't immediately release details on Salemme's arrest Wednesday. He is expected to make an initial appearance Wednesday in Boston federal court.

Salemme's attorney declined to comment.

Another former high-ranking member of the New England mob was charged in June with lying to federal officials about the 1993 killing of Boston nightclub owner Steven DiSarro.

Robert DeLuca's indictment says he arranged with Salemme to have DiSarro's body buried in Rhode Island.

The elder Salemme was indicted in 2004 for denying knowing anything about DiSarro's killing while negotiating a plea deal in 1999. He denied another mobster's claim that he watched his son strangle DiSarro and helped dispose of his body.