Courthouse Fire Postpones Suspected Mob Drug Ring Leader's Guilty Plea
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — A minor fire in the federal courthouse in Boston has foiled the latest attempt to plead guilty by a man whom authorities say was a leading member of New York's Colombo crime family.
Ralph DeLeo's third attempt to plead guilty to running a drug ring was postponed Thursday when the transformer fire forced an evacuation of the courthouse.
DeLeo had spent about 30 minutes answering a judge's questions when the lights went out briefly before a generator kicked in.
According to the Boston Fire Department, an electrical transformer caught fire in the basement of the courthouse. The fire was confined to one room.
Authorities evacuated the courthouse and DeLeo's lawyer said the hearing would have to be rescheduled.
A court official said the fire had filled the courthouse lobby with smoke. There were no reports of injuries.
The courthouse was expected to remain closed on Friday.
Prosecutors say DeLeo led a group that sold cocaine and marijuana in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Florida and Arkansas.
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