ISGRO NABBED

Notorious music industry figure Joseph Isgro, the subject of an NBC-TV investigation into payola and other illegal acitivities in the record business back in 1985, has been arrested by the FBI in an alleged extortion scheme. U.S. Attorney Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Monday (3/27) that Isgro, president of Tarzana, CA-based Private 1 Records and executive producer of the 1992 film “Hoffa,” was arrested Saturday in Beverly Hills by police and FBI agents. Arrested with the 53-year-old Isgro was 35-year-old Valentino Bartolone, whom Mayorkas claimed was “Isgro’s enforcer in collecting payment on extortionate loans.” Both men remain in custody on extortion charges. A federal bail hearing is set for Friday, Justice Department officials said. Isgro has pleaded not guilty to the charge, which includes having to sit through screenings of "Green Mile" and "The Hurricane." Isgro was unavailable for comment, but told an associate, "If I go, so does that stoolie Fred Dannen."