Sal Pisello

Sal Pisello was an alleged Gambino mobster. He was investigated by Marvin Rudnick for tax evasion and his relationship with MCA. Pisello was convicted of tax evasion in March 1985. Rudnick's investigation into Pisello's income from MCA launched another investigation at the urging of the IRS.¹

William Knoedelseder, Jr., a business reporter for the Los Angeles Times, broke a story on May 10, 1985, revealing that Pisello's involvement with MCA was more extensive than Rudnick had realized. Knoedelseder obtained a report prepared by internal corporate auditors of MCA detailing payments to Pisello. These press revelations rekindled government interest in Pisello's involvement with MCA.¹

When a grand jury indicted Pisello on a second round of tax charges on July 9, 1987, Rudnick "opened fire on MCA." His press release announcing the indictment documented MCA's payments to Pisello's company, Consultants for World Records, which Rudnick stated was "shared" with New York City organized crime figures. By the Fall of 1987, MCA hired William Hundley to plead its case to top Justice Department officials.¹

Irving Azoff and Pisello were discussed in phone conversations captured by FBI wiretaps. Eugene Giaquinto said he was considering sending the MCA board of directors an incriminating letter prepared in 1985 on behalf of Pisello, sent to Azoff, which would conflict with Azoff's testimony at the trial.¹