New Witness In Philly Mob Trial?

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime retrial in Philadelphia for Bigtrial.net.

It looks like there's going to be at least one new witness in the retrial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew, George Borgesi.

New York mobster-turned-informant Anthony Aponick, an inmate with Borgesi in a federal prison in West Virginia back in 2002 and 2003, is apparently going to be called to testify this time around.

The alleged Bonanno crime family associate has been debriefed at length by the FBI. Among other things, he has said that he came to Philadelphia in 2003 and met with a top Borgesi associate at Borgesi's behest in order to establish himself in the local underworld. He did that, he has said, despite the fact that a New York mob leader cautioned him about the danger, referring to the Philadelphia mob that Borgesi and Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino once controlled as "kill crazy."

"They're Mad Hatters," Aponick said he was warned. "Stick with the devil you know."

Aponick opted to ignore that advice. Perhaps because he was cooperating with the government at the time?
You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/10/new-witness-in-mob-trial.html

Jury Hung On Uncle Joe, But Three Associates Guilty In Philadelphia Mob Trial

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for Bigtrial.net.

After 21 days of deliberations, Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi wound up with a hung jury on racketeering conspiracy charges.

 

The jury also hung on racketeering conspiracy charges for George Borgesi, who is Ligambi's nephew, and Ligambi's top associate, Anthony Staino.

 

Joseph "Scoops" Licata was acquitted on racketeering conspiracy charges.

 

They were the lucky ones.

 

The jury convicted three mobsters of racketeering conspiracy: underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino, mob soldier Damion Canalichio, and mob associate Gary Battaglini.

 

The jury returned a finding of either not guilty or undecided on most of the remaining 52 counts in the case. On the undercard, only Anthony Staino was convicted on two counts of loansharking involving an undercover FBI agent.

 

The big question that remains now is whether the government will retry Ligambi, Borgesi and Staino on racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge in the case.

 

You can read the rest of piece via the below link:

 

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/02/uncle-joe-six-associates-guilty-in-mob.html#more

You can also read John P. Martin's piece on the trial at the Philadelphia Inquirer via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130205_Deadlock_in_mob_trial.html 

What's The Bet On Philadelphia Mob Trail Deliberations

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for Bigtrial.net.

Does the jury in the trial of mob boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and six co-defendants want to deliberate on Super Bowl weekend, or will the panel, which finished its 16rh day of deliberations this afternoon, come back with a verdict tomorrow?
 

The anonymously chosen jury of eight men and four women went at it for six more hours today without asking a question or requesting additional evidence. The panel has been holed up in the deliberation room off the 15^th floor courtroom since Jan. 8.
 

Judge Eduardo Robreno told the jurors this afternoon that they will deliberate from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday if the process is still ongoing after tomorrow’s session. The trial, which began on Oct. 18 and extended over 10 weeks, included approximately 33 days of testimony.

 

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

 

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/whats-bet-on-mob-trial-deliberations.html#more 

Going in Circles At The Philadelphia Mob Trail

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net.

Gary Battaglini stood in the middle of the 15th floor hallway of the federal courthouse this afternoon and slowly turned in a circle. Once. Twice. Three times.

"This is where we're going," Battaglini, who along with mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and five co-defendants, has now been waiting 15 days for a jury to decide his fate.

The jury wrapped things up at 4:30 p.m. without a decision and will be back at it again tomorrow morning.

"Who knows?" Battaglini, 51, said when asked where he thought the process was. Then he slowly turned in a circle again.

Ligambi, 73, and his co-defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy in a case built around a 12-year FBI investigation that began in 1999. The 52-count indictment also includes charges of gambling, loansharking and extortion.

To convict the defendants of the racketeering conspiracy count -- the most serious -- the jury would have to decide that the defendants knowingly engaged in plans to commit crimes on behalf of the criminal organization. Among other things, the defense has argued that even if their clients are guilty of individual crimes like bookmaking, the evidence does not support a finding that the crimes were part of a criminal enterprise.
You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/going-in-circles-at-mob-trial.html#more

More Tapes, More Food, No Verdict In Philadelphia Mob Trial

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for Bigtrial.net.

Two more tapes, another lunch and still no verdict.

Despite unfounded rumors and rampant speculation that they had reached a decision, jurors in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants wrapped up another day of deliberation this afternoon without reaching a decision.
"I think they're playing a high stakes game of chicken," said one defense attorney, speculating that the panel has broken into two camps, one favoring conviction and the other acquittal. "The question is will either side blink."

With Judge Eduardo Robreno announcing on Monday that deliberations would continue through the weekend -- including Super Bowl Sunday -- the conventional wisdom is that the anonymously chosen jury will announce something by Friday at the latest. The jury has multiple options -- across the board acquittals or convictions, split decisions that allow some of the defendants to go free or deadlocks and a hung jury on some or all of the counts.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/more-tapes-more-food-no-verdict.html#more

Mob Jurors Focus On Lunch

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for Bigtrial.net.

Lunch was clearly on the minds of jurors as they entered the 13th day of deliberations this morning in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.

Sticking with a routine established two weeks ago, the jury placed their orders shortly after arriving in court at 8:30 a.m. They also asked if Olive Garden and Red Lobster could be added to their luncheon options, according to several courthouse sources.

The answer was "no." Lunch is supplied by vendors who own businesses close to the courthouse at 6th and Market Streets.

Later the jury panel asked to rehear several tapes, including a 40-minute secretly recorded session from a mob lunch meeting at LaGriglia, an upscale -- this is no Olive Garden -- Italian restaurant in Kenilworth, N.J.

The lunch meeting, in May 2010, was recorded by Nicholas "Nicky Skins" Stefanelli, a Gambino crime family soldier who was wearing a body-wire for the FBI.

The LaGriglia tape was one of the first played for the jury after the trial began back on Oct. 18. That the panel has asked to return to that meeting now has raised eyebrows and questions about where the deliberations are heading.

Prosecutors have described the restaurant gathering of leaders of the Gambino crime family from New York and the Philadelphia branch of Cosa Nostra as a "meeting of the board of directors of organized crime."

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/mob-jurors-focus-on-lunch.html#more

The Mouse That Roared: The Federal Organized Crime Trial In Philadelphia

The veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net.

It was an underworld version of The Mouse That Roared, a less than flattering look at mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino captured on FBI wiretaps that were replayed today for the jury deliberating the fates of Massimino, mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and five co-defendants.

Massimino, 62, has been one of the more verbal defendants throughout the three-month trial, drawing smiles and laughter from friends and family members with his quips and asides, predicting not guilty verdicts and telling everyone to "keep those martini glasses on ice" for the victory party.

But the career criminal had little to say today -- other than calling a reporter a "jerkoff" -- when he strode into court to hear the tapes the jury had asked to be replayed.

What those in the courtroom heard was not the easy-going and glib defendant, but rather what the prosecution alleges was the volatile, take-no-prisoners underboss.
"You fuckin' bet, you motherfucker, you don't wanna pay?" he said in one conversation with an associate that was recorded in 2003.

Later on the same tape, Massimino appeared to put himself in the middle of a sports betting operation, one of the key charges in the case.
"Why didn't you do like I said?" he asked the associate. "Why didn't you turn all the sports bets in?"

Anger and frustration surfaced in another taped phone call from 2004 in which he threatened an unidentified gambler.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/the-mob-mouse-that-roared.html#more

A South Philly Mobster And His Money

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for bigtrial.net.

Damion Canalichio onced boasted on a secretly recorded covnersation that he was in the "collection" business for the mob.

Jurors in the racketeering trial of Canalichio, mob boss Joe Ligambi and five others spent part of their deliberations today listening in on how Canalichio allegedly conducted that business.

"I'm gonna go crack his fuckin' head," Canalichio said on one tape recorded conversation from 2002 in which he discussed a deadbeat with a cooperating government witness who was wearing a body-wire.

On another tape, Canalichio's part of a phone conversation with another debtor it picked by the same cooperating witness.

"I gave you fuckin' money and you've been fuckin' me ever since," Canalichio yells into the phone. 'You're a lyin' fuckin' junkie."

The tapes were played as jurors in the case completed their 11th day of deliberations. The conversations, recorded by Michael Orlando, were played early in the 10-week trial and replayed when the jury asked to hear them again this afternoon.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/a-mobster-and-his-money.html#more

Jury Back To Business In Philadelphia Mob Case

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia.

They went back to the beginning...again.

For the second time in the past three days, the jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi started deliberations anew after another juror was replaced Friday by an alternate.

But it appeared the panel wasted little time getting back up to speed. By 1 p.m. it was again asking to rehear tapes that it had requested Thursday before controversy of a juror's comment about a defense witness derailed the process.
The juror who made the comments was replaced Friday morning by U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo Robreno. But the judge denied defense motions asking that two other jurors be replaced. He also rejected a defense motion seeking a mistrial.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/jury-back-to-business-in-mob-case.html

Back To Square One In Philadelphia Mob Trial Deliberations

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net.

The jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants had to start over Wednesday when an alternate juror was designated to replace a panelist who had fallen ill.


And one of the first acts of the newly constituted panel was to ask, late in the afternoon, for all the exhibits that had been introduced by the proseuction and defense during the three-month long trial.

"It looks like they really are starting over," said one defense attorney.

In fact, that's what the panel is required to do when an alternate, who has not been part of the deliberaitons, is added.

The developments Wednesday set up the real possiblity that deliberations, which began on Jan. 8, could extend well into next week.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/back-to-square-one-in-mob-trial.html#more 

Philadelphia Mob Trial Recap

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia offers a video recap of the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia.

You can watch the video via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/mob-trial-recap.html

You can read George Anastasia's earlier reports at www.bigtrial.net.  

Tapes, Post-ITs, Markers And Gum: Is The Philadelphia Mob Trial Jury Settling In?

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net.

They asked to listen to more tapes.

They wanted a pack of post-it notes.

And then they said they would need multi-colored markers, mints and gum.

Those were the requests of the jurors Friday as they rounded out their third full day of deliberations in the racketeering conspiracy case of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.

The consensus?

"It looks like they're settling in," said one defense attorney.
You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/tapes-post-its-markers-and-gum-is-jury.html#more

Toilets Flush And Tapes Roll As Mob Jury Deliberates

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net.

A federal prosecutor in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants said in his closing arguments last week that secretly recorded conversations made during the 12-year investigation were a linchpin to the case.

"Their words define them," Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han told the jury.

On Thursday, the third day of jury deliberations, the jurors asked to listen again to the words of co-defendant Anthony Staino, described as a mob capo and Ligambi's "right arm."

What Staino said is not in dispute in conversations he had with cooperating witness Henry Scipione and an undercver FBI agent posing as a corrupt financier named "Dino."

But what the jury believes Staino meant could determine his guilt or innocence.
You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/tiolets-flush-and-tapes-roll-in-mob.html

Massimino Smiles As Jury Deliberations Continue In Philadelphia Mob Trial

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia offers a new update on the federal mob trial in Philadelphia at BigTrial.net.

Give him this, he's an optimist.

Mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino continue his upbeat banter and chatter Wednesday as jury deliberations rolled on in the racketeering conspiracy case against him, mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and five others.

"Frank, you look a little nervous over there," Massimino quipped to Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor as the defendants filed into the courtroom to hear a question that had been posed by the jury panel. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright."

Massimino, 62, has spent the last week talking about the "party" he hopes to attend after the jury returns with an not guilty verdict and he and the other defendants are freed.

"Keep those martini glasses chilled" has been one of his constant refrains.

One of five mobsters being held without bail, Massimino showed up in court Wednesday dressed in a neatly tailored camel-hair sport coat and a tan, turtle-neck sweater, looking more like a literary figure than a mobster. The civilian dress is provided by family members and friends for the jailed defendants who are being housed in the Federal Detention Center across the street from the federal courthouse where the trial is being held.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/massimino-smiles-as-jury-deliberations.html#more

No Verdict In Philadelphia Mob Trial

George Anastasia is reporting on the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net.

Jurors deliberated for about three hours Tuesday before deciding to pack it in for the day in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.

The panel of seven men and five women are due back in court Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. to begin their first full day of deliberations.

The jury got the case shortly after noon following a lengthy explanation from Judge Eduardo Robreno about the laws that apply to charges contained in the 52-count indictment on which the case is based. These include a racketeering conspiracy charge that all seven defendants face.
The indictment also includes gambling, loansharking and extortion charges that target different defendants. Ligambi is also accused of defrauding a Teamsters Union Health and Welfare Fund by illegally collecting over $220,000 in medical benefits for himself and his family while holding what authorities allege was a "no show" job at a South Philadelphia trash company.
You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/no-verdict-in-mob-trial.html#more

Mob Hit Again An Issue At Philadelphia Racketeering Trial

The veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net

Suspected mob hit man Anthony Nicodemo is sitting in a city prison awaiting a preliminary hearing in a homicide case that could have a dramatic impact on the Philadelphia mob.

Since his arrest on Dec. 12, underworld and law enforcement sources have been speculating on whether the 41-year-old South Philadelphia wiseguy would become a government cooperator in order to get out from under the charges he faces.

That speculation has created an undercurrent in the ongoing racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants. Ironically, the trial ended Monday with Nicodemo's name being mentioned by a federal prosecutor and defense attorneys crying foul.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/mob-hit-again-issue-at-racketeering.html#more

Defense In Philadelphia Mob Trial Rips The Government Case

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial for BigTrial.net.

They're already planning the victory party.

On a day when five different defense attorneys ripped into the govenment's witnesses and evidence in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants, family members and friends who have crowded the 15th floor federal courtroom during the 10-week trial were openly optimistic about the outcome of the case.

So, in fact, were some of the defendants.

"Feeling good today," said mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino. "I'm tellin' ya...I gotta have a suit for the party...Get those martini glasses chilled."

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/defense-in-mob-trial-rips-government.html

The Philadelphia Inquirer's John P. Martin is also covering the trial.

Lawyers for accused leaders of the Philadelphia mob railed against prosecutors and their case Friday, urging jurors to acquit the men and reject an FBI probe they said took more than a decade because it was built on petty crimes, flimsy evidence, and unreliable witnesses.

"They were investigating for 13 years," Gregory Pagano told jurors. "They were waiting for something bigger and better than video poker machines and sports betting to come along, and it never did."

A day after a prosecutor spent more than three hours delivering his closing argument, Friday was reserved for defense lawyers to fire back.

They did, again and again, for five hours.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130105_Defense_lawyers_fire_back_in_Philadelphia_mob_case.html

Defense Scores Points At Philadelphia Mob Trial

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for BigTrial.net.

It was a good day for the defense Tuesday in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.

So good, in fact, that mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino, a co-defendant, joked about going home. One of five defendants being held without bail, Massimino, during a break in the trial, asked Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han, "Can you give me a ride John?"

Massimino, Ligambi and the three other defendants held without bail will have to wait at least until January to find out if they walk out of the Federal Detention Center next door to the U.S. Courthouse. Jury deliberations are expected to begin on Jan. 7 following a recess later this week for the holidays.

But the defense camp was decidedly upbeat after Tuesday's court session which included testimony from one witness who blistered key government informant Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and another witness who raised serious questions about whether a mob meeting at a North Jersey restaurant back in May 2010 was anything other than a bunch of guys getting together for lunch.

"I think we had a really good day," said one defense attorney.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2012/12/defense-scores-points-at-mob-trial.html#more

 

Prosecution Rests In Philadelphia Mob Trial

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for www.bigtrial.com

The prosecution ended its case Wednesday against mob boss Joe Ligambi and six co-defendants where it began two months ago, playing a taped conversation made by mobster-turned-informant Nicholas "Nicky Skins" Stefanelli.

The conversation, featuring Stefanelli, Louis "Big Lou" Fazzini and Joseph "Scoops" Licata, was recorded in October 2010 at a meeting at the American Bistro, a restaurant in Belleville, N.J., just outside of Newark. Licata, 71, is a co-defendant in the ongoing trial. Fazzini, 45, pleaded guilty earlier this year.

A North Jersey-based capo with the Philadelphia crime family, Licata has been the forgotten man in the case. His name has seldom been mentioned by witnesses who the prosecution has used to tie Ligambi and the other co-defendants to gambling, extortion and loansharking operations at the heart of an alleged racketeering conspiracy.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2012/12/prosecution-rests-in-mob-trial.html

Philadelphia Mob Trial: Mob Hit Could Impact Ligambi Trial

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for www.bigtrial.net

A mob hit in the middle of a mob trial?

That's never a good thing. Particularly when the defense has spent two months harping on the same theme: this group of South Philadelphia wiseguys was not cut from the same violent cloth as the mobsters who ran the organization in the 1980s and 1990s.

What impact the shooting of Gino DiPietro will have on the trial mob boss Joe Ligambi and six co-defendants is an open question. Whether jurors heard about the hit and whether they connected it to the defendants are questions that can't be answered until the panel returns to the federal courthouse on Tuesday.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2012/12/mob-hit-could-impact-ligambi-trial.html