Michael Grimm, the only Republican congressman from New York City, is already under fire for his links to Ofer Biton, an Israeli businessman charged with immigration fraud and also suspected of helping funnel illegal donations to Grimm. Now it turns out that one of Grimm's former business partners has ties to the Mafia. According to federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, Bennett Orfaly, who co-owned a health-food restaurant with Grimm before Grimm's election to Congress, is very close friends with a capo in the Gambino crime family.



The first-term Republican’s ex-business partner, Bennett Orfaly, regularly travels to the federal lockup in Fort Dix, NJ, to visit his pal Anthony “Fat Tony’’ Morelli, Brooklyn federal prosecutors said. Morelli’s mob assignments included overseeing the family’s investments in pornography, labor racketeering and illegal dumping, law-enforcement sources said. Late Gambino boss John Gotti put him in charge of the family’s Florida rackets, one source said. Morelli, who is serving time on several convictions, is “like an uncle” to Orfaly, another source said. Asked about his Gambino connections, Orfaly declined to comment.

At the hearing for Mr. Biton, Anthony Capozzolo, a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn who specializes in public corruption, objected to Mr. Orfaly’s being allowed to pledge cash and assets to assure Mr. Biton’s bail. “Mr. Orfaly maintains constant contact” with Mr. Morelli in prison, Mr. Capozzolo told the court, noting that Mr. Orfaly “has visited him and engaged in telephone conversations.” The prosecutor also mentioned in court that F.B.I. agents had found a car registration that ties Mr. Orfaly to Mr. Morelli’s wife, Mary Ann. “Our position is that this is not someone who should be acceptable as a surety with regard to Mr. Biton,” Mr. Capozzolo said.

Now here's where it gets interesting. Orfaly's ties to the Gambino family were made public last month after he helped get Biton freed on bail. Last month, Biton was released on $1.5 million bail after none other than Orfaly pledged $30,000 cash and his interests in two restaurants as collateral. But prosecutors objected, citing Orfaly's mob ties.The judge allowed the deal. Nonetheless, it really makes you wonder--if Grimm is so cavalier about who he hangs around with, does he have any business in Washington?

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