One of the defendants, Salvatore Reale, has been described as an associate of Mr. Gotti.

Mr. Farace was described by investigators at the time of their search as an associate of both the Bonanno and Colombo crime families.

Prosecutors described him as an associate of the Genovese family.

One man described as an associate of the hijackers was said to have surrendered in Florida and to have provided federal officials with information about the plot.

Mr. Carneglia, 42, has been described as as an associate of John Gotti.

Describing himself as an associate of President Buyoya, who he said had attended his consecration as bishop in 1980.

He is also described as an associate of Phocion.

The data described him as a lifelong associate of Zorrillo's.

One of them is Mr. Liberatore, whom prosecutors have described as a former associate of the Colombo crime family.

Later, Mr. Walters and a man described as an associate of Mr. Franzese threatened the group's manager, the indictment says.