November 12, 1981

UPI PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 11, Msgr. Galliano J. Cavallaro is leading a fund-raising drive to help pay legal expenses for officials of the Laborers International Union who were indicted in Miami on racketeering charges.

Union members around New England were asked to donate in a letter headed "New England Laborers Defense League," signed by Monsignor Cavallaro, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church here.

The letter said that Angelo Fosco of Chicago and Arthur E. Coia of Providence, the union's top officials, were "the targets of a well orchestrated campaign by the Federal Government."

"I agree with the thoughts of the letter," Monsignor Cavallaro said today, but "I'm not going to be pinned down to any one person, one cause, one statement or any words."

Mr. Coia, Mr. Fosco and 19 others were indicted in a Federal investigation of a conspiracy to funnel millions of dollars to organized crime figures.

Among the others charged were Arthur A. Coia, son of the elder Mr. Coia, an international representative for the 900,000-member union, Raymond L.S. Patriarca, reputed to be the leader of organized crime in New England.