 According to US law enforcement, in August, 1989, Scarabino was involved in a conspiracy along with soldiers Anthony Capo, James "Jimmy" Gallo, Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo, captain Philip Abramo and even Stefano "Steve the Truck Driver" Vitabile, the reputed family consigliere, which involved murdering Fred Weiss, a private sanitation magnate considered for becoming an informant.The hit was requested by reputed Gambino crime family boss John Gotti of New York, and Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi, boss of the DeCavalcante family, accepted his request, and contracted Scarabino, Capo, Gallo and Palermo for the task.Scarabino, still only a family associate, reportedly agreed and on September 11, 1989, Scarabino and others shot and killed Weiss in front of his Staten Island home; however, it is Palermo, Capo and Gallo who are mostly credited for Weiss's murder.