Genovese Capo Arillotta’s defection prompts search for missing body

As the fallout continues over the decision of Anthony Arillotta a capo in the Genovese crime family to turn rat the Fed’s are now literally digging deeper. The Fed’s have now begun to search for the body of an Arillotta associate named Gary D. Westerman who disappeared just before the mafia hit on Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno took place. The Bruno hit took place back in 2003 and was sanctioned by Arillotta during a power struggle that would end up leaving him as the new capo of the local Genovese family crew.

Westerman went missing just days before the Bruno hit took place and some think there may be a link. Westerman was an ex-convict who spent time behind bars for armed robbery and drug convictions and spent much of that time among Arillotta allies and even went on to marry the sister of Arillotta’s wife. Westerman’s BMW was found abandoned in a McDonalds parking lot and the keys to the car found in a separate grocery store parking lot in West Springfield.

The Fed’s are searching a home at 160 Springfield St in Agawam for what a source close to the case says are the remains of Westerman. Although the FBI refuses to comment on the status of their presence at the location. The Westerman case has long been classified as a missing person’s case. It would seem that this new search is in connection with Arillotta dropping out of sight in the prison system and turning states evidence. This may not be the last development in the Arillotta case of the Fed’s continue to debrief him and gain more and more information on Genovese family business.