Reputed Mob Drug Ring Leader Enters Guilty Plea

A reputed Mafia street boss in New York's Colombo crime family has pleaded guilty in connection with accusations that he led a drug trafficking ring.

Ralph DeLeo, a 69-year-old former Somerville resident, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of being a felon who possessed firearms and ammunition.

The plea happened in a brief proceeding that was postponed three times previously, including last week when a transformer fire broke out at U.S. District Court in Boston.

A judge scheduled DeLeo's sentencing for September.

Prosecutors have said the drug ring DeLeo led sold cocaine and marijuana in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Florida and Arkansas, while storing weapons to support the enterprise in Watertown, Mass.