Possible Mafia Tie Could Alter Understanding of O.J. Simpson Case

A New York Times investigation has revealed potential involvement of a convicted drug trafficker connected to the mafia in the O.J. Simpson murder case. The report suggests Joey Ippolito may have aided Simpson in covering up the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The investigation uncovered federal records indicating that Ippolito returned the night of the murders with blood on his hands.

Joseph “Joey” Ippolito, linked with the mafia and Simpson, reportedly went to a Los Angeles apartment on June 12, 1994. He returned with a bag carrying a heavy object, his brother Sam Ippolito told the Times. This account raises questions and doubts about the suspected involvement.

Previously sealed court records indicate Ippolito provided information about the alleged disposal of the murder weapon, which remains unfound. Mark Fuhrman, a detective in the Simpson trial, passed away at 74. During the trial, details of Simpson and his associates emerged, but Ippolito was never called to testify.

O. J. Simpson was seen in a 1994 Los Angeles Superior Court session. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Sam Ippolito recounted that Joey had blood on his hands after departing earlier to assist a friend. Joey instructed Sam to dispose of the bag while he cleaned up. Sam said he discarded the bag in a dumpster near Doheny Drive.

Joey reportedly told Cowlings over the phone he was “helping” Simpson that night. Joey Ippolito, a convicted drug trafficker, had escaped from a Florida prison in May 1994. He collaborated with federal authorities after being apprehended in August 1995 amid Simpson’s trial.

A recently unsealed 1996 memorandum described Joey as a “remarkable source of information,” with insights on Simpson’s alleged disposal of the murder weapon. Yet, former prosecutor David Kelley doubted Joey’s involvement in the killings.

OJ Simpson’s “dream team” included Johnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian, Barry Scheck, F. Lee Bailey, Shapiro, and Alan Dershowitz. (Sam Mircovich/AFP)

The Times reported that Joey’s information was shared with Los Angeles prosecutors, though he never testified. Prosecutor Marcia Clark was unaware of Joey’s potential information.

Nicole Brown Simpson and O.J. Simpson were married on February 2, 1985. (Gary Leonard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Sam Ippolito’s account has been questioned. Initially maintaining his claims, he later sought payment from the Times and retracted his statements. Friends and relatives of Joey, who died in 2006, opposed suggestions of his involvement in the murders. Cowlings did not respond to comments.

This development renews inquiry into Simpson’s possible assistance on the night of the murders. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 but found liable for their deaths in a later civil trial. He passed away in April 2024 at 76. The Los Angeles Police Department states the case remains open.