Attorney: Associate Of DeCavalcante Crime Family Pleads Guilty To Selling Cocaine

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- James Feeney, an associate of the DeCavalcante organized crime family, has pleaded guilty to distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said Heeney, 36 of Elizabeth, pleaded guilty to selling the cocaine to an undercover FBI agent between August 2012 and March 2013.

Feeney was arrested in March alongside other members and associates of the DeCavalcante organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra, which has long been thought to be the real-life inspiration for HBO's "The Sopranos."

Those arrested face a variety of charges, including prostitution and plotting to commit murder.

Alongside Feeney, three other New Jersey men -- 34-year-old John Capozzi, 23-year-old Mario Galli and 37-year-old Nicholas Degidio --were also charged with cocaine distribution.

The criminal complaint issued in March alleges the DeCavalcante family operates under the direction of New York's Gambino crime family.

Heeney faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23.

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