There has been some recent discussion regarding finances of mafia guys, which made me curious as to how much some of these cases cost. I know it can obviously vary greatly depending on the charges, state vs federal, price of lawyer ext. not looking for exact dollar amounts just curious as this is probably a mobsters greatest expense.

You mean a trial held in Puerto Rico?

You answered your own question-it all varies. The cost is in direct proportion to billable attorney hours and what the attorney/attorneys charge. There's a reason the govt will throw piles of paperwork after piles of paperwork. I would imagine a lot of guys have thrown their attorney a decent retainer in anticipation but in the end it's like Assante said when he was playing Gotti..."the Feds are a machine-they don't run out of time or money".

i think a better question is what's the cost of a 5+ year case involving a home invasion robbery where someone ended up shot? i'm only interested in people who know, which includes but is surely not limited to the following...

neo, aka dicknose moltasanti
musclesmarinara, aka dicknose moltasanti
krsheely, aka dicknose moltasanti

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Getting back to the original question:

Any general purpose lawyer can handle a plea bargain in a criminal case. But, law is highly specialized--and very few lawyers specialize in criminal law. That's because 95% or more perps don't have the money to pay a high-powered lawyer. What's more, few lawyers have extensive trial experience. Trials require dozens of hours of preparation. And since the government holds the high cards, there's a very good chance that the trial will end in a conviction for the perp--especially if the perp is a high-profile Mafioso. Try collecting your legal fee from a Mafioso who's on his way to prison because you didn't win an acquittal for him.

So, it comes down to supply and demand--and the supply of highly qualified criminal lawyers willing to go to trial on a complex RICO defense for a known mobster is very low. I'm guessing a RICO defense would run half a million dollars.

a good trial lawyer gets 15k to 20k a week while on trial and 100k up front. if your facing serious time

100k up front and 20k a week? Holy fucking shit, don't these RICO trials sometimes go on and on and on?

I know trolls have been an issue here always and especially as of late but please do not accuse me of being this person. Look at all of my posts and threads. Any topic I start has been legit and reasonable. I haven't started any trouble with anyone. If I'm guilty of anything it's in a few of my post I probably gave out to much personal info. Also just look at my username, that alone should prove that I'm not that poster.

I know of one which cost 2.5 million, never went to trial, plead out after negotiations spanning 14 months. RICO was dropped, defendant got 366. And the attorney is a very experienced trial attorney.

Ok, then just ignore the allegations, post normally for a long time and you'll be OK.

To be honest, people here viewed me with suspicion when I first joined. And my style of posting and the language I used, and the conversations I had here with long time posters, eventually exonerated me.

So just mind your own business, do your own thing, and over time you'll be OK. This is an open internet forum; not every new poster at GBB is going to be the same person.

And I say this out of complete ignorance of your posting history. It should be viewed in general for new posters.

366 months? Holy shit, that's 30.5 years. What is the point of plea bargaining if that is the result?

No, he means 366 days. The sentence being "a year and a day," which makes you eligible for some "good time."

The wording doesn't reflect it, but it's a better sentence than a year flat because only sentences of more than one year allow you any "good time" under the Federal System.

Thanks PB. 366 months seemed a little weird.

Yes, pb is correct. 366 days. His total charges in the RICO indictment added up to 1080 months, or 90 years. I'd say the 2.5 was money well spent!

that's insane.. 2.5 million.. did this particular guy have his button? or was he not even associated with cn?

No button. Long time top earner...allegedly

The Price is, Your Life.

You either get busted down to Nothin or Go to Prison.

Either way, your Life as its known.

Some cases that have thousands of hours of recordings can be 250k and up, without RICO. Thank God for the Criminal Justice Act.
http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/defender-services