Artie Baldo is a mobster contracted for a hit at the popular restaurant Raimondo’s. Movie producer Thomas Mitchell and novelist Sonny King disagreement on King’s payment, so King paid for Baldo’s mercenary Denny Rogis to scare Mitchell into paying up. However, the restaurant owner, Paul Raimondo, heard about the hit and saw an opportunity, as he hated King and Mitchell for making a book and film based on his restaurant.
Raimondo paid more for Rogis to kill Mitchel and King together, but only Mitchell was shot. Carmine Bustale, an ex-con, was a brief patsy, as he simultaneously shot bookie John Carolo. But when two shooters were determined by ballistics, King’s hit was found out. Bardo and Rogis agreed to testimony for a reduced sentence, but Baldo later admitted to Raimondo’s hit at the higher price. Raymond himself was glad King would still go to prison as payback for slandering his business.
Baldo pleaded guilty to a reduced murder contracting charge and was imprisoned. (L&O: "Everybody Loves Raimondo's")