Westbury trash hauler buys mob-linked Connecticut company from U.S. Marshals

Westbury-based Winters Brothers Waste Systems has bought a Connecticut company that had been seized amid a federal probe into mob corruption in the garbage industry, published reports said. 

The U.S. Marshals Service sold Automated Waste Disposal to Winters, the Fairfield County, Conn., Business Journal reports.  

“Federal authorities seized Danbury Automated Waste Disposal following the arrest of former owner James Galante, who is serving a prison sentence for racketeering,” the report says. “New CEO Joe Winters indicated plans to continue operating AWS’ current service territory of Fairfield County and Westchester and Putnam counties in New York.”

The U.S. Marshals office has operated the company for four years, "which took over the enterprise from jailed trash magnate James Galante," the Danbury News Times reports.

Photo shows trash hauler James Galante, left, at U.S. District Court in New Haven, Conn, Tuesday, June 3, 2008. The AP photo caption says, "Galante, who was at the center of a sweeping federal investigation of mob influence in the industry, pleaded guilty Tuesday and agreed to surrender dozens of businesses worth more than $100 million."