By Tim White

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The unnamed made member of the Mafia who wore an FBI wire in a sweeping organized crime case was himself indicted and threatened with arrest before he agreed to cooperate with investigators, the Target 12 Investigators have learned.

In court documents filed this week, prosecutors William Ferland and Samuel Nazzaro say the made member of the mob was confronted on Feb. 12, 2011, with the pending charges and about to be placed in handcuffs. The individual was implicated in an extortion scheme to shake down a Johnston used car salesman for $25,000, according to the court documents.

“The FBI indicated to the [New England La Cosa Nostra] Made Member that he could cooperate with them and that such cooperation would be brought to the Court’s attention for its consideration in determining an appropriate sentence to impose,” prosecutors wrote in the filing. “Made Member thereafter agreed to cooperate.”

The Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office has not disclosed the identity of the made mobster, but in a court filing earlier this month defense attorneys revealed the person has the initials “RD.” That revelation has further fueled speculation that reputed capo regime Robert “Bobby” DeLuca is the cooperating witness.

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