Philly Mob Retrial News

Just a suggestion...but we should probably keep all the news on the retrial in one thread instead of a new thread everytime theres another article on it.


Opening statements today.

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Retrial Rehash For Ligambi, Borgesi

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

It could be a packed house for what basically amounts to a rerun.

Friends and family members of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew, mobster George Borgesi, are expected to fill the small, 15th floor courtroom today for opening statements in the racketeering conspiracy trial of the two South Philadelphia wiseguys..

Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, are facing a racketeering conspiracy charge, a leftover from a broader racketeering case that ended in February with both defendants acquitted of most of the charges they faced. Borgesi beat 13 of the 14 counts and Ligambi was acquitted of five of nine.

The turnout in U.S. District Court at 6th and Market is expected to be a public showing of support for the two gangsters who have been held without bail since an indictment was handed down in May 2011. It also comes on the heels of a blistering attack by Borgesi's family in the Philadelphia Daily News last week in which they charged that George Borgesi was the victim of a government vendetta.

The article, by William Bender, generated a mixed social media response with readers anonymously blasting the government or painting Borgesi and his family as simpering crybabies. It's unclear what the family hoped to accomplish by going public with criticism of the FBI and federal prosecutors and with an indirect slap at Judge Eduardo Robreno who, they alledged, has been described by the FBI as "our judge."

How any of that plays to the anonymously chosen jury that will decide the fate of Borgesi and Ligambi is a question that can't be answered. Whether any of those jurors even read the article is part of that question. What they thought about if they had is the other factor.

One reader who clearly wasn't happy with the Borgesi family rant was Joey Merlino. The erstwhile Philadelphia mob boss who was tried and convicted with Borgesi and five others back in 2001, is now living in Boca Raton, finishing his final year of federal supervised release (formerly known as parole) and continuing to vow that he will not be returning to South Philadelphia.

In the Daily News article published last Friday, Borgesi's brother Anthony decried the fact that his brother has been denied bail in the pending case and pointed out that he has finished his 14-year sentence for the 2001 conviction (like Merlino).

"Joey got out years ago," Anthony Borgesi told the Daily News. (In fact, Merlino was released in 2011). "People come up to me in the city and they can't understand why my brother's not out. He couldn't even get bail."

Merlino said in a telephone interview this week that he read the article and was surprised by Anthony Borgesi's comments.

"What's he saying, that I should still be in jail? " he asked. "Do they want me back in jail?"

Merlino also said he thought Anthony Borgesi was off base in portraying his brother as a victim of discrimination. According to the Daily News piece, Anthony Borgesi argued that his brother's constitutional rights were being denied, that the government was "playing dirty." And he added that if his brother were Black, the country wouldn't stand for it.

"Where's our Al Sharpton?" Anthony Borgesi is quoted as saying.

That kind of talk, Merlino said, does not play well with jurors, especially jurors who are African-American.

For an historic perspective, Anthony Borgesi ought to research Joe Colombo and the Italian-American Anti-Defamation League Colombo founded back in the 1970s. Like Borgesi, Colombo launched a campaign against the federal government alleging that Italian-Americans were being targeted. He picketed the FBI Office in New York and held rallies that attracted large crowds. Frank Sinatra performed a benefit concert for the organization.

Colombo became the Al Sharpton of his day. But his fellow gangsters decided that kind of publicity was not good for business. Things ended badly for Colombo.

How it ends for Borgesi and Ligambi will depend on the jury and the evidence, two issues that get lost in the rhetoric. Clearly, and this has been written here before, the conspiracy law is stacked in the government's favor.

Borgesi was acquitted of gambling and loansharking charges in the first trial. But those charges, built largely around the testimony of discredited mob informant Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, can legally to used again to support the conspiracy charge.

In fact, this jury will hear much of the same testimony that the first jury rejected.

Fair? It doesn't seem so, but that's the law.

Ligambi faces the same hardship but the mob boss has opted to keep his feelings to himself.

How the rantings of his nephew Anthony and his sister Manny (Borgesi's mother, who was also quoted in the Daily News piece) have played with Ligambi is another fascinating question. There are those in both law enforcement and underworld circles who believe the mob boss might have been granted bail were it not for his co-defendant who among other things called Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han, one of the prosecutors in the case, "a fuckin' punk" during one court session earlier this year.

While the defense will present a united front at trial, Ligambi's relationship with his nephew has been strained at times. Monacello testified about this in the last trial and is likely to revisit it again when he takes the stand in the current case.

Anthony Aponick, a jailhouse snitch and cooperator with ties to the Bonanno crime family in New York is scheduled to testify as well. Aponick was not called in the first case, in part because of his criminal history and questions about his credibility. He has also said Borgesi and his uncle didn't always get along.

Aponick was a cellmate of Borgesi's in a federal prison in West Virginia, planted there, the Borgesi family alleges, to lure George Borgesi into criminal acts. The family said that was just one example of the feds "vendetta" against George Borgesi. It failed, they contend, but it will not stop Aponick from taking the stand for the government and lying to the jury.

"They are the real criminals," Manny Borgesi was quoted in the Daily News article, commenting about witnesses like Monacello and Aponick.

That, of course, begs a few questions.

Monacello's involvement in the mob stems from a relationship with George Borgesi. It was Borgesi who tapped Monacello as an associate in the 1990s and later used him to handle his underworld affairs. If Monacello is a liar, a cheat, a bullshit artist, if "Fag Finger Lou" or "Rat Finger Lou" as George Borgesi now refers to his former associate, is a heartless punk out only to save himself, did he become those things only after he agreed to cooperate?

Or was that who he always was? If so, why did Borgesi have someone like that in his inner circle?

The same question could be asked about several other Borgesi's associates, including Aponick (who came to Philadelphia with an introduction from Borgesi in 2003 after he was released from prison); Robert Luisi, a Boston gangster who was close to Borgesi before turning informant (and then finding Jesus and being drummed out of the federal fold) and the elusive Roger Vella, a drug dealer and admitted murderer who Borgesi referred to as a "bed bug" even as he maintained a relationship with him on the streets in the 1990s.

Those are the kinds of questions that don't get asked during a trial or in a newspaper article where the Borgesi family gets to rant and rave. But those are the questions that those who have followed the soap opera like saga of the Philadelphia mob find intriguing.

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/retrial-rehash-for-ligambi-borgesi.html

If anyone has access to a PACER account there is most likely audio from the trial on it, as there was the first trial.

Might take a couple days to go online though.

funny Merlino is quoted, he just cant keep quiet

merlino seems a little irked and opening georgie boy stays away and anastasia seems to not like georgie boy nor his family at all

Where did Anastasia even getting all this Merlino info?

It's updated to 10/31. Anything beyond that you can only view the docket text

Thanks Nicky. Lets us know if anything decent shows up on PACER.

Doubt any players in Philly want anything to do with George at this point, I wonder how Anthony acting like an idiot to a newspaper is going to reflect his stature on the street.

Let's say Ligambi and Georgie get off: anyone think they'll shelve him?!

What is a PACER account?

the idea of being able to read trial tanscripts is something i've always wanted to do, what is this pacer thing that, if I read you guys right, allows me to do that?

George Borgesi looks like a fruitloop... wonder if he had/has a boyfriend in prison?

No and no. Whose going to tell a half-crazy man like Boregsi he's being shelved? Borgesi would come out of jail and do whatever he wanted. Despite being in prison for 14 years, he still has influence on the street. Liambi on the otherhand, is/was the boss for 14 years. He has guys loyal to him. Although at his age, being shelved would be like retirement.

Either way if Borgesi gets aquitted he will have his say and if he's found guilty,lookout he will definetley have his say.I can't see him leaving that courtroom silent.Anytime a mob guy[especially one that brags about being involved in like 9 hits is not getting any sympathy from anyone,even his own.Some of these accusations against the government,I don't know.the one that gets me if I read it right the guards or personal at these prisons bought Philly cheesesteaks and soft pretzels and actually brought them in so George could smell them.What is that?that's something kids do and then go nah,nah,nah you can't have none.Is that part of your civil rights that you can't be taunted with cheesesteaks? LOL

Borgesi has had the past decade to think about schemes to make money illegally and he seems pretty disgruntled and open about that, not sure he will be back in the can if he gets off in this case which he should and he should be free on bail because he did complete his sentence but georgie boy just seems like an unhinged fella right now that is not going to let this go, again that being said the guy has a valid argument of what has happened to him the past 2 years

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/by-george-anastasia-for-bigtrial.html

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Pete The Crumb Talks Murder And Mob History

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

He was described by the defense as an 84-year-old Mafia hitman with a faulty memory, a mobster who had murdered so often "he couldn't remember how many people he had killed."

But when he took the stand this afternoon in the racketeering conspiracy trial of crime boss Joe Ligambi and wiseguy George Borgesi, Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio rattled off the how, when and why of a series of hits that are part of his organized crime resume.

Thin, balding and hard of hearing, Caprio was the leadoff witness for the prosecution in the retrial of the two Philadelphia mob leaders. Dressed in a blue V-neck sweater over a shirt and tie, Caprio spent 90 minutes on the stand at the end of the trial day. He is due back when the trial resumes next Tuesday.

"Shoot him again to make sure he's dead," Caprio said matter-of-factly as he recounted the instructions he gave to an associate during the 1975 slaying of a mob associate known as Butchie whose remains were dropped in a shallow grave in the basement of a Newark social club and then covered with cement.
Caprio said he was a member of the North Jersey branch of the Philadelphia crime family and identified both Ligambi and Borgesi as leaders of the organization. He said he was elevated to the rank of capo or captain after orchestrating the 1996 murder of Joe Sodano, a long-time capo who had failed to fall in line under the leadership of Ralph Natale and Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino in the mid 1990s.

Caprio's trip down memory lane was a reprise of testimony he had given on at least two other occasions in federal courtrooms in Philadelphia. He testified at a racketeering trial in 2001 in which both Merlino and Borgesi were convicted.

And he was a witness last year in the racketeering trial of Ligambi, Borgesi and five others. A split verdict and a hung jury on conspiracy charges against Ligambi and Borgesi led to the retrial that opened this morning. Ligambi also faces gambling and obstruction of justice counts.

Many of those in the courtroom, including prosecutors, FBI agents, members of the media and the defendants and their friends and family members had heard Caprio's stories before. But for the twelve jurors and six alternates the testimony was new and, the prosecution hoped, would provide the foundation for the rest of its case.

"This case is about how the mob makes money," Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor told the jury in his opening statement at the start of the trial day.

Labor spent a little over an hour laying out the allegations against Ligambi and Borgesi and offering the jury what amounted to a legal primer on the nature of a conspiracy charge. The simple fact that Ligambi and Borgesi agreed that a crime should be committed by someone else was enough to support a guilty verdict, he argued.

Both defendants, as leaders of the Philadelphia branch of Cosa Nostra, benefitted from the gambling, loansharking and extortion carried out by others, he said. And the government's case, based on secretly recorded conversations and the testimony of cooperating witnesses -- including two undercover FBI agents and several admitted mobsters like Caprio -- would support those charges.

Defense attorneys offered a decidedly different take on the same set of circumstances.

Edwin Jacobs Jr., the lawyer for Ligambi, said the government's allegations were built around implausible theories and unsubstantiated testimony from less than credible witnesses.

Jacobs used a quote from Abraham Lincoln in a legal argument offered in a case 150 years ago.

"My adversary's case is as thin as the broth made from a starving chicken," he said.

He described the government's witnesses as liars and thugs who had cut deals to get out from under criminal charges they faced. Ticking off a list of witnesses who are scheduled to take the stand during the six week trial, Jacobs described one as a hitman who committed so many murders "he can't even remember how many people he killed." Another, he said, was a violent thug and a "convicted perjurer."And a third was a serial bank robber who cut a cooperating agreement with the government, was freed from prison and then went out and robbed some more banks.

Those witnesses, in order, were Caprio, Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and Anthony Aponick.

Christopher Warren, Borgesi's lawyer, spent most of his opening blistering Monacello and Apronick, the two key witnesses in the case against Borgesi.

Like Caprio, Monacello testified at the trial last year. Aponick, a cellmate of Borgesi's in a federal prison in West Virginia between 2001 and 2003, will be making his debut in the current case.

Warren said Aponick, an associate of the Bonanno crime family in New York, viewed Borgesi as his "get out of jail free card" and fabricated information to work a deal with the FBI. And even after he committed the second set of bank robberies and violated the terms of his cooperating agreement, the government took him back as a witness because they were desperate to make a case against Borgesi.

"They took somebody they had kicked out of their bed and put him back under the covers," Warren argued, "because they didn't have anything better."

Monacello, a South Philadelphia mob associate, used Borgesi's name and reputation to advance his own gambling and loansharking operations, which Warren argued, Borgesi knew nothing about.
He called Monacello "an egomaniacal blowhard" and a "petty bully" who enjoyed beating up and assaulting others.

Both witnesses are "frauds," Warren said. Aponick, he told the jury, "will try to sell you a bill of goods. Don't buy it."

Rats. Dirty dirty rats.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131108_Will_the_second_trial_be_the_charm_for_Joe_Ligambi_.html

Ligambi-Borgesi trial's second chapter begins

By Jeremy Roebuck, Inquirer Staff Writer
Nov 07 2013

It might be considered the low-budget sequel. But reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Ligambi and the federal authorities who have pursued him for 13 years both hope this time brings blockbuster results.

Ligambi, known as "Uncle Joe," returned to court Thursday for his second trial in as many years on racketeering conspiracy charges. His nephew and alleged consigliere, George "Georgie Boy" Borgesi, sat by his side.

Eight months ago, a federal jury deadlocked on the most serious counts against them after a marathon, four-month trial involving 12 other mob defendants.

But as a new panel of 10 women and two men took up the case again, prosecutor Frank Labor cut straight to the chase.

"Joe Ligambi . . . our boss," he said in his opening statement. "That was how he was introduced to a meeting of mob leaders in New Jersey in 2010."

Though these jurors have not been told of the results of the last trial, the evidence Labor outlined for them Thursday sounded much the same: More than 11,000 recorded conversations. Results of 40 search warrants. And an expected cavalcade of mob associates turned government witnesses.

All will add up, he said, to prove that Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, oversaw the Philadelphia chapter of La Cosa Nostra, a violent group with profitable revenue streams from illegal gambling, loan-sharking, and bookmaking.

But for Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr., the same equation yielded different results.

"This case is a misuse of 13 years of investigation and came up with nothing," he countered in his opening statement. "They cobbled together some sort of case to justify all the money and resources they spent."

The last jury mostly agreed, acquitting Ligambi in February of five counts of loan-sharking, theft ,and bookmaking and leaving only four, including the racketeering conspiracy count, unresolved. Borgesi was cleared of 13 of the 14 charges against him.

Thursday, though, Labor and Jacobs circled each other like two often-matched prizefighters - each anticipating the other's blows and defending against weak spots exposed in their previous bout.

Hoping to fend off confusion that seemed to trip up the jury last time, Labor cautioned the new panel that in order to prove a racketeering conspiracy he needed to show only that Ligambi and Borgesi were aware of and profited from the Philadelphia mob's crimes, not that they committed them themselves.

"The CEO doesn't go down to the assembly line and tighten bolts," Labor said, comparing the mob to Ford Motor Co.

Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr., countered: "The CEO of Ford is not going to go to jail if some of his line workers are involved in an illegal gambling operation."

Already well aware of the expected testimony of government witnesses, Jacobs described the bunch as "the most unsavory, unreliable arch-criminals who have ever been assembled in one courtroom" and later as "walking, talking embodiments of reasonable doubt."

Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, joined in the attack but saved the brunt of his ire for the only new government witness expected during the retrial - Anthony Aponick, a former associate of New York's Bonanno crime family.

Aponick shared a cell with Borgesi at a federal prison in West Virginia and later told the FBI his cellmate had tried to recruit him for the Philadelphia mob.

But even after Philadelphia's chief federal prosecutor traveled to New York to personally urge a judge to release him for his cooperation, Aponick robbed another bank and found himself back behind bars.

Deeming him too risky to put on the stand, prosecutors left him off their witness list during Borgesi's first trial.

Now, they plan to call him - a move Warren compared to "taking someone they had kicked out of their bed and putting them back under the covers."

For their part, Ligambi, dressed in a red turtleneck and sweatpants, and a cardigan-clad Borgesi sat quietly as the lawyers sparred Thursday.

Their family, however, was fuming.

Borgesi's brother Anthony has described the ongoing case against his brother and Uncle Joe as a "witch-hunt," in a series of recent expletive-laden interviews.

And throughout Thursday's proceedings, he and other family members made little effort to hold back their whispered, sarcastic asides.

"It's ridiculous," he said after court let out for the day. "Other than that, I have nothing left to say."

Testimony in the case is expected to resume Tuesday

You know its something how the mob's lawyers have made a mockery of this and the last trial basically saying it was a 13 yr. waste of time and money by the federal government.Try telling that to the families of D.Canalichio,Mousie,Anthony Staino,and even the ones that pleaded out like Lucibello and Angelina.Plus there's still a chance they can get Ligambi and Borgesi.If anything they have managed to get some time back from Ligambi and have managed to piss Borgesi and his family off.So if all of this amounts to a victory for the defendants what is their definition of a loss.If I was expecting a slap on the wrist and the next day the judge sentenced me to 14 yrs.or 11 yrs.I don't think I would turn to my lawyer and start doing a victory dance.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131108_Opening_arguments_heard_in_Philly_mob_trial_Part_II.html

Opening arguments heard in Philly mob trial Part II


WILLIAM BENDER, Daily News Staff Writer
November 8, 2013


IF YESTERDAY'S premiere was any indication, the retrial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi will fall into the same category as "The Godfather: Part III."

Not as good as the last one.

The government is taking another crack at Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, after a 16-week federal racketeering trial ended in February with a bizarre mixed verdict - not guilty on most charges but deadlocked on others. Three other mobsters were convicted. One was acquitted.

For the next six to eight weeks, prosecutors will likely concentrate on the indictment's main charge of racketeering conspiracy, which could send jurors down a legal rabbit hole.

That's because the feds don't have to prove that Ligambi or Borgesi personally killed anybody or busted any kneecaps, only that they conspired with other people to commit crimes that the government may or may not be able to prove.

"It's the agreement which is the crime," Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor said in his opening argument.

The indictment, the result of a massive 13-year investigation, does not include any homicides, focusing instead on sports betting, loan-sharking, extortion and the operation of video-poker machines. But a racketeering-conspiracy conviction could land Ligambi and Borgesi in prison for a decade or longer.

"This is about how the mob makes money," Labor said, "and they make money through fear and intimidation."

Edwin Jacobs Jr., Ligambi's bombastic lawyer from Atlantic City, told the jury that 55 full-time law-enforcement officials came up empty after conducting 40 searches and recording more than 11,000 conversations with tapped phone lines, body wires and bugged rooms.

Paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, Jacobs called the indictment "thin as the broth made from the shadow of a starving chicken." He said the government has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to career criminals - including a murderer, a bank robber and a perjurer - to testify against Ligambi and Borgesi.

"You're going to hear from the most dishonest, unsavory, unreliable group of arch-criminals that have ever been assembled," Jacobs said.

Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, said his client, a reputed mob capo, has been in prison since 2000 and under constant surveillance, so he could not have conspired to commit crimes in the Philadelphia area.

"They came up with nothing," Warren said, adding, "They have read his letters, listened to his phone calls. They even went so far as to bug the visitation room."

Ligambi, who the feds say took over as acting boss of the mob after Joseph Merlino was jailed in 1999, has been held without bail since his arrest in May 2011.

Somehow, though, he seemed in good spirits yesterday, arriving in court in a maroon long-sleeved polo shirt and telling a relative that he's doing "terrific." He later joked that he'd like to take a trip to Bermuda.

"And never come back," he laughed.

The definition of a loss to the defendants would probably be dying in jail. Just my thoughts though I dunno? For what it's worth everyone ( Lou sheep, Marty, Staino, Lou fazinni, licata especially, lucibello, etc) got of pretty light except for joe mouse and dame who already had very substantial jackets. Remember the sentences these gents received are much lighter then the average idiot down for a petty robbery or a mid level coke dealer making comparable money. The only person IMO who got smoked would be Ranieri (not sure spelling), but I am really not familiar with his background. As far as pissing Borgesi and his family off he just beat several charges where there was a cooperating witness who testified he directed criminal activity from his jail cell that the witness personally carried out on his behalf. I mean what more would you want? Bail? Ok I'll give you that, they didn't get bail

Hope that didn't come across as harsh or rude also 22, I am not flaming you and I mean no disrespect I just have to disagree with this not being a win for most of the defendants. Ligambis defense attorney def jumped the gun with the positive comments the first time around, but overall I do think this is a win for most of them.

No court until tuesday. Something wrong with fridays and mondays?

I guess the judge believes in 3 day work weeks. Good gig if you can get it.

Oh hell no Vegas Mikey no offense taken your answer was actually fine.I was just sort of getting on the attorney's the way they described it as ''racketeering lite.''I mean Mousie and Dame were making jokes about walking so they must have been a little shocked.I think Staino knew he was cooked directly from that tape and luckily he had no priors.Lucibello and Angelina will actually be out soon so they did ok and Ranieri like you said I'm not that familiar with,but somebody else also got like 8 yrs.[Gary Battaglini].Its all good.

Giancarlo don't know about Friday's but Mon. is a holiday,everything closed.

22 I agree the attorneys were and are getting carried away. How about Jacobs though with the solid Abraham Lincoln quote? lol, that guy seems like he is worth whatever insane rate he charges, although I think the tax payers are footing the bill for uncle Joe this time.

Yeah I agree about Jacobs as soon as you hear him you think its a victory for the mob guys,he has a way with words but is probably worth it.

veteran's day weekend, i imagine

Forgot all about veterans day....federal holiday. Thanks.

Retrial of Uncle Joe and Georgie Boy likened to The Godfather Part 3
IF YESTERDAY'S premiere was any indication, the retrial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi will fall into the same category as "The Godfather: Part III."

Not as good as the last one.

The government is taking another crack at Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, after a 16-week federal racketeering trial ended in February with a bizarre mixed verdict - not guilty on most charges but deadlocked on others. Three other mobsters were convicted. One was acquitted.

For the next six to eight weeks, prosecutors will likely concentrate on the indictment's main charge of racketeering conspiracy, which could send jurors down a legal rabbit hole.

That's because the feds don't have to prove that Ligambi or Borgesi personally killed anybody or busted any kneecaps, only that they conspired with other people to commit crimes that the government may or may not be able to prove.

"It's the agreement which is the crime," Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor said in his opening argument.

The indictment, the result of a massive 13-year investigation, does not include any homicides, focusing instead on sports betting, loan-sharking, extortion and the operation of video-poker machines. But a racketeering-conspiracy conviction could land Ligambi and Borgesi in prison for a decade or longer.

"This is about how the mob makes money," Labor said, "and they make money through fear and intimidation."

Edwin Jacobs Jr., Ligambi's bombastic lawyer from Atlantic City, told the jury that 55 full-time law-enforcement officials came up empty after conducting 40 searches and recording more than 11,000 conversations with tapped phone lines, body wires and bugged rooms.

Paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, Jacobs called the indictment "thin as the broth made from the shadow of a starving chicken." He said the government has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to career criminals - including a murderer, a bank robber and a perjurer - to testify against Ligambi and Borgesi.

"You're going to hear from the most dishonest, unsavory, unreliable group of arch-criminals that have ever been assembled," Jacobs said.

Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, said his client, a reputed mob capo, has been in prison since 2000 and under constant surveillance, so he could not have conspired to commit crimes in the Philadelphia area.

"They came up with nothing," Warren said, adding, "They have read his letters, listened to his phone calls. They even went so far as to bug the visitation room."

Ligambi, who the feds say took over as acting boss of the mob after Joseph Merlino was jailed in 1999, has been held without bail since his arrest in May 2011.

Somehow, though, he seemed in good spirits yesterday, arriving in court in a maroon long-sleeved polo shirt and telling a relative that he's doing "terrific." He later joked that he'd like to take a trip to Bermuda.

"And never come back," he laughed.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131108_Opening_arguments_heard_in_Philly_mob_trial_Part_II.html

Narducci had benz's before they had brace's. Philip will take over as boss Joe and George are going to jail. George can thank his family for calling on the media. Anthony Borgesi made a fool out of himself.

Pic of Anthony from another article today on philly.com.

If George is found guilty this time around it should be interesting to see how he and his family react in the courtroom.

Might need some extra cops that day...just in case.



Is that Anthony's wife walking right behind him?

Anthony's wife is much older and I also don't know if they are together anymore since he has not been seen around with her for awhile now. I seen this girl around Anthony and his friends at the Columbus Day festival a few weeks ago, if it is his girlfriend she looks much younger than him, salute!

What exactly does Anthony Borgesi do,he seems like a professional door-opener.He's never on trial but always has a lot to say.I know family is family but George was bashing him not that long a go saying he just lifts weights and chases around young women.

He yea Anthony borgesi looks like he needs a xanax or something to calm them nerves. Look at his fist clenching. Lol talk about high blood pressure!

The opening statements, etc has posted on pacer/bloomberg.

They should be back at it today

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/the-saga-of-nicky-skins-continues.html

The Saga Of Nicky Skins Continues
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net


Pete the Crumb Caprio is expected to finish his testimony today in the retrial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi.

As he has in early court appearances, the 84-year-old mobster-turned-informant offered a history lesson on the Philadelphia mob, particularly its North Jersey operations. He was a soldier and later a capo in Newark. Among other things, he acknowledged that, in league with members of the Genovese crime family, he plotted to kill Ligambi, Borgesi and another Philadelphia mob leader in the late 1990s.

The plan was to lure them to a meeting, shoot them and then bury their bodies in a landfill. Caprio was going to become the new boss. Before that could happen, he got jammed up in his own murder and racketeering case and eventually cut a deal with the feds.

Prosecutors hope that his testimony lays the groundwork for the conspiracy charge against Ligambi and Borgesi.

The jury is expected to hear from another North Jersey mob figure shortly, although he won't be on the witness stand. Just as they did in the first trial that ended in February, prosecutors plan to play a tape made by Nicholas "Nicky Skins" Stefanelli, the Gambino crime family soldier who wore a wire for the FBI for two years. Stefanelli, 69, committed suicide in March 2012, but tapes that he made for the feds live on.
The jury will hear an hour-long composite of a five-hour lunch meeting Stefanelli taped in May 2010 at LaGriglia, a posh restaurant just off the Garden State Parkway in Kenilworth, NJ. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor has called the session as a meeting of the "board of directors" of organized crime.

Ten mobsters, including Ligambi, Anthony Staino and Joe Licata from the Philadelphia crime family and the brothers Joe and John Gambino from New York's Gambino organization broke bread and drank wine that day.

Stefanelli was a made member of the Gambino organization and, with Licata, helped set up the meeting. The defense, as it did in the first trial, argued in opening statements that the lunch was merely a get-together for aging friends (most of those at the meeting were in their 60s and 70s) who talked about the old days.

But on the tape, Licata can be heard introducing Ligambi to the Gambino crime family members as "our acting boss." At another point, Licata and the others discuss a dispute with the Luchese crime family over territorial rights and poaching in New Jersey. The Lucheses, authorities allege, were horning in on Philadelphia's territory and Ligambi and Licata were trying to get the Gambino organization to support them in the dispute.

Talk also focused on a "making ceremony" -- a mob initiation rite -- that Ligambi presided over. Again, authorities hope that will solidify in the jury's mind Ligambi's role as the boss of the local crime family.

Whether it supports the conspiracy charge he faces, however, is another question.

The jury in the trial that ended in February couldn't decide. While it acquitted Ligambi of five charges tied to gambling and extortion, it hung on the conspiracy charge (along with two other gambling charges and an obstruction of justice count), leading to the retrial.

That same jury, however, found Licata not guilty of conspiracy when the only substantial evidence against him as the LaGriglia tape. (Licata's lawyer in that case, Christopher Warren, is now representing Borgesi who also faces a conspiracy charge. But Borgesi was in prison in May 2010 and had nothing to do with the LaGriglia meeting.)

The LaGriglia tape was the first Stefanelli tape played publicly. A second meeting at the American Bistro in Belleville attended by Stefanelli, Licata and mobster Louis "Big Lou" Fazzini, was also used in the first trial.

There are dozens of other tapes that have yet to surface, part of ongoing investigations that may or may not lead to indictments in New York and North Jersey. Stefanelli moved up and down the East Coast for the Gambino crime family. He met with Joey Merlino in Florida and he taped meetings with Anthony DiNunzio, a Rhode Island mob boss.

Merlino, the relocated Philadelphia mob leader, said he was leery of the smooth-talking wiseguy, avoided any discussion about organized crime and dismissed Stefanelli's business propositions.

"He was trying to set me up," said Merlino in an interview in May after learning that Stefanelli had been wearing a wire when they met.

DiNunzio, the New England mob leader, wasn't as cautious. He pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge last year built in part around tape recordings made by Stefanelli.

Those tapes are Nicky Skins's legacy. The fact that there have not been any other indictments raises questions in some circles about how good the rest of the Stefanelli tapes really are. And it also has led to speculation about the relationship between the FBI and the wiseguy.

Who was playing whom?

"My opinion, Skins did as much to sanitize his recordings as possible," said Steven Lenehan, a former North Jersey mobster who has been there.

Lenehan was the FBI's guy on the streets in the early 1990s, a mob associate-turned-informant who wore a wire as he interacted with dozens of gangsters, including Stefanelli. In fact, Lenehan recorded a heroin deal with Stefanelli in 1994 that led to Nicky Skins' arrest and first federal prison sentence.

Everyone is different, Lenehan said in a series of phone conversations and emails over the past six months, but there are ways to "protect" your friends even when you're wearing a wire. Lenehan's work as an informant resulted in about 30 arrests. He said he could have helped make even more cases.

He's not expecting anyone still out on the streets to thank him, but as he looks from afar at the Stefanelli case he wonders."I think Skins might have protected a lot of guys," he said, offering an explanation of why there have not been any more indictments.

That Skins was a player in the underworld for decades is not in dispute. That he corporated was, according to several individuals who knew him, out of character.

"He was raised in organized crime," said Bob Carroll, a former prosecutor with the New Jersey Attorney General's Division of Criminal Justice. "He moved freely among the (crime) families."

Low-key, intelligent but also a suspected killer, Stefanelli came from the old school, Carroll said. The former prosecutor said he was "surprised" to learn Nicky Skins had become a cooperator.

"His temperament wasn't conducive to that kind of behavior," said Carroll who described Stefanelli as a guy who would do his time rather than turn government informant. "He was a longtime player, a career guy."

Stefanelli began cooperating in 2009 after he was again facing drug trafficking charges. Why he killed himself is open to speculation.The conventional wisdom is that as the investigations he was involved with were winding down and as the prospect of taking the witness stand publicly against his former associates grew nearer, Stefanelli decided he couldn't do it.

Instead, he went out with a bang.

Authorities say two days before committing suicide, Stefanelli walked into a video poker machine distribution office in Bloomfield, NJ, and shot and killed Joseph Rossi, the owner of the business. Sources say Rossi was the FBI informant who got Stefanelli and Stefanelli's son jammed up in a drug case in 2009.

In order to get out from under that charge -- and keep his son from being arrested -- Stefanelli cut a deal with the government and agreed to wear a wire, according to that theory. Once Stefanelli decided that he couldn't testify, he chose to end it all. First, in an act of revenge, he shot and killed Rossi. Then he checked into a hotel near the Meadowlands in North Jersey. Two days later his body was found in a hotel room. Cause of death was a drug overdose.

That's the theory of what happened, but no one in authority has provided specific details.

Anthony Rossi, who is the executor of his brother's will, says his family has been less than satisfied with what they've been told so far. And what they've been told, he adds, is very little.

The family has retained an attorney who is trying to get to the bottom of the FBI's relationship with both Stefanelli and Joe Rossi. The questions the family has, said Anthony Rossi, have to do with whether the feds were providing the kind of protection his brother deserved if he was cooperating.

The irony that his brother was killed by another FBI cooperator only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the case.

"We'd like some answers," Anthony Rossi said recently, adding that the family was prepared to file a civil suit against the federal government. "We've just heard so many stories and right now all we have are questions."

Anthony Rossi said he knew Stefanelli from the neighborhood. They were all from the Newark-Belleville-Bloomfield area. The "type of guy he was," doesn't fit with the stories that are being told, he added.

Lenehan also has his doubts. His take is that Stefanelli went to Rossi to shake him down, to grab some ready cash before he was taken off the streets and whisked into federal custody. Lenehan, who has been down that road, knows how the game is played.

"My opinion of Skins is that he was a tough guy, a gentleman and always reasonable," said Lenehan. "I'm sure if I hadn't been with Team America, he and I would have remained good friends. His defection shocked me.

"As to his suicide, I think he realized he blew his deal with the feds after the video poker guy was clipped. Skins was capable. It was a shakedown gone bad. Forget the nonsense he was paying the guy back for ratting on his kid. He was probably ready to be relocated and he knew (after Rossi was killed) instead of Iowa or Kansas, he was headed to prison forever. That's why he offed himself."

The jury in the Ligambi case, of course, won't get all the details and the speculation. They will hear that Stefanelli was a cooperator, that he made a tape of a meeting at LaGriglia and that he later killed himself.

Lenehan says it's more complicated than that. It always is. He makes no excuse for himself, for Stefanelli or for anyone else who has become a cooperator. He said he toyed with the idea of suicide at one point and still wrestles with his own decision to become an informant.

"The world is so enamored with this (mob) life," he said. (But) it's a business of greed and murder....My advice, if you're in the life, get out before you get pinched...You are not going to beat the federal government....You have more rats on the street than in the (witness protection) program. I took a shortcut at everyone's expense. Not an easy look back in the rear view mirror. I think that Steve Lenehan was Steve Lenehan's worst enemy, not the guys on the street and not the feds...I might be the only guy like me who thinks he deserves to get clipped for what he did. White washing your decision to turn by blaming others -- I read Phil Leonetti's book -- is hypocritical. I'm a guy who told on his friends. That's my legacy.

"But I'm not hypocrite...I know what I did and I'm not trying to sugarcoat it."

Neither, apparently, was Stefanelli. He just chose a different way to deal with it.



Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/the-saga-of-nicky-skins-continues.html#PrK2Q9rWbRB4xX1Z.99

In todays article on the Big Trial site they say the guy in the center is Nick Stefanelli but he
looks like Frank Gambino to me.



"Ralphie Head" Abbruzzi, George Borgesi, Frank Gambino, Joey Merlino, Joe Ligambi

Thanks Nicky. Any idea how much it would cost to get the daily transcripts and/or audio?

A guy on RD was getting them the first trial and posting them but he's no longer on RD and i don't know if he still gets them or not.

The Big Trial site corrected the photo they had labeled as being Nicky Skins and put up a pic of the real Stefanelli. Probably an intern mislabeled it.


Nicky Skins Stefanelli

GA has some good sources over there at Big Trial and its some interesting reads

I think GA runs the site and has say ... One of his previous threads on bigtrial seemed like he took a shot at the Philly reporter - Bender how he didn't ask the righ questions in the Borgesi interview. GA has a connection with Joey - mutual respect. don't fawk with George A.
Does anyone know it this Philly jury is sequestered ?
They both need to walk - nothing holding this case together for the govt

I agree with you seems georgie boy is an idiot with his rants but the guy did his time and should be out on bail especially the bs one count, this seems like the government is really stretching above its powers here for these guys who are not a threat to national security like the ones kept down in gitmo who are war criminals

They have done that for decades. Trying to keep mobsters in jail by refusing bail or having it revoked or delayed for this or that. It's nothing new. I don't think it's right because it goes against the fabric of the american justice system (even if most of these guys deserve it) but it's not new.

Ligambi I can maybe see it but georgie boy did his time and has one count of racketeering after beating the other 13, it just seems like a violation of due process

Does anybody have any new information,what happened yesterday,is there even a trial going on.I mean nothing on any site,I mean I thought each day you would get info on what went on.Tired of looking at pictures of Anthony Borgesi opening doors.

Yeah, they video poker guy was on all day, talking about Anthony Staino and Mousie and Gaton. They played alot of tapes with him and Staino talking about the pokers. And Joe Ligambi was on there too.

I mean on the tapes, not on the stand. Ha ha

I Haven't anything about the trial but I did receive some pretty good recent photo of a bunch of philly guys...

heres one..

good job Handsome Stevie,Mikey Lance looks old,good how you told who each one was,so I guess there really isn't much to report yet

Loll! How bout Nicky Skins... looking all pleasant and approachable in his mug shot... yeah it looks like that Anthony guy with the younger girlfriend grinds his teeth and clenches his jaw quite frequently...

GGRRR hurry up! get it the car!!!

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131115_No_fireworks_yet_in_Phila__mob_trial.html


No fireworks yet in Phila. mob trial


Jeremy Roebuck, Inquirer Staff Writer
November 14, 2013

Teased at the start with tales of mob shakedowns, swindles, and contract slayings, jurors in the racketeering retrial of reputed Philadelphia Mafia boss Joseph Ligambi instead have received a long lesson this week in the minutiae of the video gambling business.

Testifying over three days, Curt Arbitman, the operator of a South Philadelphia video poker machine company, detailed his work collecting money and fixing gaming machines for several convicted mob figures.

But while he may have been aiding an illegal operation, his day-to-day frustrations with broken bill acceptors, malfunctioning meters, and grousing South Philadelphia bar owners dominated discussion in 35 recorded phone calls played by prosecutors. Throughout all that talk, one name rarely crossed his lips: Ligambi's.

Under cross-examination Thursday from Ligambi's lawyer, Arbitman conceded that none of the mob figures he worked with - including Martin "Marty" Angelina and Anthony "Ant" Staino Jr., both of whom have pleaded guilty in racketeering conspiracy charges - ever mentioned Ligambi in reference to their illegal gambling operations.


Arbitman's mundane maintenance concerns offered a marked departure from the high-stakes story spun by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor in his opening statement last week.
Ligambi, he said, along with his nephew and purported consigliere George Borgesi, oversaw a violent chapter of La Cosa Nostra that raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars from illegal gambling, loan-sharking and bookmaking.

And the government's first witness, ex mob-hitman Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio, appeared poised to deliver on that promise, regaling jurors with tales of the Philadelphia Mafia's glory days and testifying that he had murdered so often he "couldn't remember how many people" he had killed.

"Without violence there wouldn't be La Cosa Nostra," he said. "We would lose all sorts of respect."

But his time on the stand was cut short after prosecutors reported Tuesday that the 84-year-old had fallen and broken a knee on the way back to the government safe house where he was being held. They hope to recall him when he recovers.

Throughout the trial, Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr., has argued that Philadelphia's days as the violent Mafia hub described by Caprio are long gone.

His client had nothing to do with the crimes of Angelina, Staino, and others, he said. And the indictment facing Ligambi alleges none of the violence that marked previous cases against Philadelphia's mob figures.

Questioning Joseph Procaccini, owner of a rival South Philadelphia video poker business, Jacobs asked whether the man had ever been shaken down for payments by Ligambi or his associates.

"This street tax thing - this tribute thing - that is a thing of the past," Jacobs said.

But late Thursday, Procaccini struck the first blow to Jacobs' depiction of his client as a harmless old man known by the nickname "Uncle Joe."

He told jurors that Ligambi, Staino, and others approached him in 2001 seeking to buy out his company, M&P Vending, after an FBI raid nearly wiped out the mob's South Philadelphia video gambling business.

Procaccini refused, but offered to pay a monthly tribute to stay in operation.

Ligambi's response came in the form of a sales agreement, Procaccini said. And within days, the mob had effectively taken over 21 M&P machines, forcing Procaccini out of the video gambling business.

Procaccini called what the mob did to him a shakedown.

"There was nothing pleasant about it," Procaccini said.

His testimony is expected to resume Friday.

Here is another recent pic with Chang, Lance, Grande, and Wagner.. Im not sure which wagner this is, but i know there are two mob associate brothers named Edward and Ray Wagner.. Looks like little Grande is moving up in the world!

THE #2 guy with his wife and the Acting boss and his wife.

Also have a pic from back in September of Joey and Deb

Skinny Joey and His wife

Mazzones wife is sexy as hell i must say when i first saw her i was like damnnnnn lol. merlinos wife also looks great... ill try to get more pics soon!

Interesting,definetley beats seeing the same old pictures thet always show.

When they were saying there's no violence in these charges and 1 of the prosecutors shot back the threat of violence is always there so basically that eliminates the actual violence,he has a point.It does not sound like Procaccine willingly sold those machines.With the money they were making why would he.Its like Uncle Joe wanted them and there was no negotiating.There was no violence because the fear of violence eliminated that.Thats pretty clear cut and easy to see.

He said same thing in first trial which the jurors hung on which led to the new trial, what is the makeup of teh jurors?

im friends w the sons, they are legit make over 50/hr as union electricians, got it made

Decent video...thanks for posting it Ivy.

Personally i hope these guys start blasting each other all over town. It's been way too quiet around here....kind of boring actually.

Interesting that he said Mazzone could end up the top guy and that Merlino was down south. Made it sound like they think he's not coming back. Which IMHO is the smart decision.

Word out here is Stevie's wife left him a while back

Wasn't she a blonde? I remember her from one of those Mob Talk video's they did on Mazzone. I thought she looked pretty good myself.

I think only 1 son[Joe Jr.] is the electrician,the other one works in the insurance industry [Mark]and then Stephen by his 1st marriage is into film-making or something like that.

The local electrician's union is one of the bigger unions down here...johnny doc. I got some friends and family in there. I didn't realize his son was in the union. A lot of guys in there do stuff on the side. But a lot of them make legit money. I can't see the videos. I will have to check them out on Fox. Anything new??

Yes she was a blonde. These broads do die their hair though so who knows

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131116_Witness__slip_nearly_derails_Ligambi_mob_trial.html

Witness' slip nearly derails Ligambi mob trial

Jeremy Roebuck
Inquirer Staff Writer

November 15, 2013

An loose-lipped witness nearly derailed the racketeering retrial of Joseph Ligambi during testimony Friday by referencing the government's previous attempt to convict the reputed Philadelphia mob boss.

Defense lawyers called for a mistrial after Joseph Procaccini, the owner of a South Philadelphia video poker machine company, was asked under cross-examination whether he knew of a relationship between Ligambi and mob bookmaker Gary Battaglini.

"I know Gary was convicted in the first trial," Procaccini responded.

A federal jury found Battaglini and two other mob associates guilty of racketeering conspiracy in February but deadlocked on the same charge when it came to Ligambi and his nephew and purported consigliere, George Borgesi. Prior to the start of their retrial last week, U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno barred any mention of the previous proceedings before the new jurors.

But rather than let the slipup Friday force yet another trial, Robreno called the panel back after 15 minutes of legal wrangling and instructed members to disregard the reference.

Still, the incident offered jurors their first hints of the four-month, 14-defendant marathon that was Ligambi's first go-round in federal court.

Then, many of the men implicated by witnesses - including Battaglini, mob capo Anthony "Ant" Staino Jr. and underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino - sat beside Ligambi and Borgesi at the defense table.

Staino was sentenced to eight years in prison in July, after pleading guilty to three counts of conspiracy and illegal gambling. Massimino received a 15-year sentence after his conviction in February.

This time though, as witness after witness has outlined their dealings with the lower-level mobsters, few have made mention of the two men currently on trial.

Procaccini's testimony, which began Thursday, offered one of the first direct links.

He told jurors Thursday that Staino, Massimino and Ligambi edged him out of the South Philadelphia video poker market in 2001 by forcing him to sell his business. The three made men set up their own company, JMA Video Poker, so the deal would appear legitimate, prosecutors allege.

But what Procaccini viewed as a shakedown, Ligambi saw as just business, said Edwin Jacobs Jr., lawyer for the reputed mob boss. JMA paid Procaccini $3,000 for each of his gambling machines located at bars, laundromats and bodegas around South Philadelphia.

Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, deny any involvement in the illegal gambling, loan-sharking and bookmaking operations of their mob fellows and have repeatedly disputed prosecutors' characterization of them as men who muscled their way through business with threats of violence.

And as testimony continued Friday with a slew of bar flies, shopkeepers, and nightspot owners - all of whom said they housed JMA gambling machines in their businesses - even the convicted mobsters at times, came off as gentlemen.

Rhoda Burke, a 54-year-old barmaid, took the stand late in the afternoon and recalled her interactions with Staino, who came by her South Philadelphia watering hole twice a month to collect her poker machine's earnings.

"He was a very nice man," she said. "He used to bring baskets of fruit at Christmastime. He treated us very well."

Testimony is scheduled to resume Monday.

Somebody explain this to me,you mean ''allegedley''none of these jurors know about the first trial.Were they all out of the country at the same time,or when they are getting ready to be picked for the jury does everyone just go on their word when they say they never heard of these guys or the first trial.If I wanted to get out of work and just do something different I'd say whatever they wanted me to say to sit on the jury.The other part about Staino being a nice guy,why wouldn't he be.He's collecting money with no problems.

Ages, citizenships, in school, unable to be located, out of state, who knows...

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013

Nap Time At The Mob Trial
By Ralph Cipriano
for Bigtrial.net

At the mob trial on a slow Friday afternoon, only a dozen spectators showed up to watch a bad rerun.

Most were students who stopped by briefly and left.

The afternoon's witnesses included two subdued bar owners who testified about illegal gambling in South Philly, and a state trooper who raided 22 South Philly businesses and confiscated a bunch of Dodge City video poker machines.

At the defense table, a dapper "Uncle Joe" Ligambi, alleged boss of the Philadelphia mob, passed a note to his nephew, George Borgesi, and Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren.

Georgie Boy smirked behind his glasses; Warren laughed.

Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, are on trial for racketeering conspiracy. It's a leftover charge from a broader racketeering case that ended in February when both defendants acquitted of most of the charges against them.

Only a couple of veteran trial watchers bothered to stop by to catch the rerun. One gave the show a bad review.

"How can you have a mob trial with no murders, no violence, and no money," said Walter, before returning to his seat.

Worse yet, there were no mobsters in the cheap seats, or mobster wives or relatives around to provide some local color. The media had also taken a holiday.

How much worse can it get for the local mob if they put the godfather on trial and it's so dull nobody cares?

Up on the witness stand, Rhoda Burke was talking about her Dodge City poker machine at Coley's Lounge, at Third and Porter.

She explained how she only paid off the people she knew who were lucky enough to win money on her machines. A stranger might turn out to be an undercover officer.

"It was against the law, and you knew that? the prosecutor asked.

"Yes," she said.

The guys who owned the poker machine stopped by once a week to "square up" with the owner, reimbursing her for the winnings she paid out.

About her machines, "You don't always win," she said. Usually, "you lose."

The government has alleged that Ligambi and a few pals named "Ant" and "Mousie" muscled in on the guys who used to own the video poker machines, and took over the business. Ligambi clams it was just a legitimate business deal they couldn't refuse.

Burke said she collected between $200 and $300 a month from her poker machine.

"That helped me pay my utility bills," she said.

In recent years, the machines were owned by mobster Anthony Staino, doing 97 months on racketeering and extortion charges from the last mob trial.

"He was a very nice man," Burke said of Staino. "He was very nice to me."

Staino, according to the government, was partners with Ligambi and mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino in JMA, a company formed in 2001 to rent video poker machines to bars and restaurants.

Mousie is doing 188 months after being convicted of racketeering conspiracy.

The video poker machine Staino left behind is still at Coley's, making money.

"I still have it," she said. She did not mention whether she reports those earnings to the IRS.

On cross-examination, Ed Jacobs, on behalf of Ligambi, pointed out that Burke was still in business at Coley's, and so was her poker machine, because nobody in the government cares about punishing anybody except mobsters.

"You're not in the slammer?" he asked.

No, she said.

And the government can take her machine back any time if they want it, she added.

Frank DiClaudio, owner of DiNic's Tavern at 15th and Snyder, said he had an agreement with the government that anything he said in court couldn't be used to prosecute him.

He kept up to three Dodge City video poker machines in his tavern.

"They've been around forever," he said. "It helps pay the bills."

DiNic's is a neighborhood bar that serves roast pork and beef sandwiches. His customers come in, grab a beer, and play video poker. If they're lucky, they win cash payouts of between $20 and $300.

The customers usually lose, but they keep playing anyway, DiClaudio said. "In the end, they're gonna play to make up their losses."

The usual split, DiClaudio said, was he kept 70 percent of "the drop," or earnings from the machines, which usually amounted to between $500 and $600 a week. The vending machine company got the remaining 30 percent.

"I was responsible for payouts," DiClaudio said. Despite the payouts, "It's a revenue stream."

Back in 2007, mobster Gaeton Lucibello stopped into DiNic's to pitch his company's video poker machines.

"Give us a shot," he asked DiClaudio.

DiClaudio said he had known Lucibello for a long time.

"His sister lived across the street from my aunt," he explained. Lucibello was a real gentleman as a customer. He'd come in, order a couple of drinks, and leave a $100 bill on the bar, saying keep the change. Lucibello's generosity made him a popular customer.

So DiClaudio decided to rent two video poker machines from JMA, and he kept one from his old vendor.

When state troopers raided his tavern in 2009, they confiscated all the video poker machines and arrested DiClaudio.

After he got out of jail, DiClaudio got the machines replaced "within a day or so," he said.

"Did you continue to use the machines for illegal gambling," the prosecutor asked.

"Yes," he said.

On cross-examination, lawyer Jacobs on behalf of Ligambi, asked DiClaudio if he ever had to do any jail time for running an illegal gambling operation.

No, he said.

"You admit to 20 years of video gaming and it doesn't come back to bite you?" Jacobs asked.

Apparently not.

Lucibello is now serving a 51-month prison term after pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges.

The last witness of the day was Pennsylvania Trooper Glenn Hobey.

Hobey told how in 2009 he raided 22 bars, restaurants and other fine establishments throughout South Philly, including Grumpy's Tavern at 800 Cross Street.

"There were a total of three [video poker machines] that came out of Grumpy's," the trooper said.

Pictures of the machines were flashed on the screens of several court computers.

"It appears to be a Dodge City," the trooper testified.

The trooper was just warming to the subject of the raid on Grumpy's and other establishments when Judge Eduardo C. Robreno announced he'd heard enough.

"Let's just adjourn," the judge said. "It's been a long week."

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/nap-time-at-mob-trial.html#L071DjK1FlpOc0re.99

i find it pretty believable that they could find people that didnt know about the first trial. I mean besides people that are somehow connected to these guys, the only other people who follow or pay any attention to this stuff are the bunch losers who spend their time on websites like this.

lol I was going to say something similar. If it weren't for Fox 29 I don't think a lot of people would even know half of mob stuff they do. Dave S drums up drama about a possible mob war. I find that amusing because if your going to make a move on someone and hit them where it hurts, it's not by using violence but your connections within Law Enforcement and Politics. No one in the right mind is going to go to war over video poker machines, a few dozen books, taxing dope dealers, loansharking, and some prostitution. They have white collar rackets within insurance and real estate.

If George and his uncle beat the case life goes on. The scarfo guys better hope that gorilla glue was durable over that long stretch of time.

" No one in the right mind is going to go to war..."

What about someone who is batshit crazy?

Those Scarfo guys are all set up pretty good,I mean I'm sure they put a couple of bucks away.They were making big time money with the AC Unions,construction,and whatever.Some had good real-estate holdings like the Pungitores and the Narduccis had the clubs,steak shops,bars.A little more sophisticated than today,beside the big-wigs who else was making any real money out there now?

i dont think it matters if how much money you have, when you have the criminality running in your blood its real hard to supress it aka gravano had plenty of money and still felt the need to break the law

Charlie White was his son setup nice or was it the drugs ?

That's correct. She left Stevie for a legit guy that makes a lot of money. He's not going away anytime soon, so I would assume most women prefer a husband over a vibrator every few years. Maybe she was tire of having all her toys taken away. I'm sure they still smash on the low but when your a hood and have money your going to cheat on your wife, regardless.

Speaking of Charlie White's son that was Vince Iannucci,right.Whatever happened to him.I mean he was an up and comer and then nothing.I remember when he got popped at home that time but that's it?

Georgie and Uncle Joes lawyer made some pretty good points about the bartenders running that illegal poker machines for 20 years and still having them in the bars and not being brought up on racketeering or gambling charges

I know Iannece's kid "Chaz" got popped in 2008(?) on meth charges but he was a small player in that bust. From what i remember of the arrests he was just buying eight balls of speed for him and his buddies. I think it was called operation broken doll. They were getting the shit sent from mexico in porcelain dolls. Actually it was first sent to cali where it was reshipped to the buyers in philly.

A few of the other philly guys involved went down pretty hard...they were moving larger weight.

why were the boss, underboss, and a captain all shaking down a poker machine owner?

they sound thirsty and broke

the captain shouldn't even have been directly dealing with the business owner

They have more then just poker machines. They have those LCD Touch-Screen Monitors that you can play various games on while sitting at the bar. I think Photo-hunt is there cash-cow next to video-poker machines

How is Lucibello making so much money?

i wondered the same exact thing lol

The video poker machine Staino left behind is still at Coley's, making money.


yet Ant is doing a ten year bid...comical

I would guess he makes the monies from organized crime?

Whatever Lucibello was doing, legal or illegal, somebody is watching over it and he is in some way, shape, or form getting his cut. Whether he has a soldier in the family running the show for a percent or a trusted friend or family member. Lucibello has done it for other people and im sure somebodys there to do it for him and make some money for themselves too. Plus he wont be gone for too long.

i hope you meant poker machines and not poker machine

philly seems like a bunch of purse snatchers

i copied and pasted from the article loser

Just ignore cookcounty. All he's got left on this board is going after crime families that aren't the Outfit.

lol the outfit is so irrelevent i havent heard a thing about them in a long time.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131120_Mob_defendant_asks__If_state_makes_gambling_legal___.html

Mob defendant asks: If state makes gambling legal...


Jeremy Roebuck, Inquirer Staff Writer
November 19, 2013


A day after Pennsylvania lawmakers moved to open the door for legal, small-scale gambling in bars, Philadelphia mob figure George Borgesi posed what to him seemed an obvious question.

"So what are we doing here?" he asked a reporter Tuesday during a break from his retrial on racketeering conspiracy charges.

Tapping a newspaper story on the state's proposed gaming expansion with one hand and gesturing to his codefendant and uncle, Joseph Ligambi, with the other, the 50-year-old added: "That's what they want to lock him up for."

Well, not exactly.

Illegal gambling is just one of the accusations federal prosecutors have lodged against Ligambi, the reputed head of the Philadelphia mob, and Borgesi, his purported consigliere. And both men face federal, not state, charges.

But as their case entered its second full week, Borgesi's question echoed a theme defense lawyers have subtly emphasized over the course of six days of testimony: Compared with the city's past high-profile Mafia trials, which featured tales of murder, mayhem and mob-style justice, the current case with its allegations of illegal payouts on video poker machines and bookmaking seems like small change.

And in a state that has increasingly embraced gambling as a way to fund public initiatives, are these charges worth a 13-year investigation? Ligambi's attorney, Edwin Jacobs Jr., put that query to jurors during his opening statement earlier this month.

Authorities are making a big deal out of this, he said. Later, he borrowed from Abraham Lincoln to describe the government's case as being "as thin as a broth made from a shadow of a starving chicken."

Of course, the law is the law, and to hear prosecutors tell it, Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi repeatedly broke it.

The feds allege that both men profited from a mob network of video gaming machines installed in bars, laundromats and corner stores across South Philadelphia and managed by underlings. Ligambi, they say, also oversaw a shell company formed with two mob associates that muscled out competition with implied threats of violence.

But even some of the government's witnesses have replied to questions about illegal gaming with a half-hearted shrug.

Testifying Friday, bar owner Rhoda Burke said she still pays out money to winners on the video poker machine at her nightspot, Coley's Lounge, despite the current case. The authorities "can come and take the machine," she said. "I don't care. It doesn't belong to me."

Frank DiClaudio, owner of DeNic's Tavern at 15th and Snyder, said that whenever authorities seized a mob-managed machine from his bar, he would usually replace it within "a day or two."

On Tuesday, an FBI forensic examiner walked jurors through a how-to course on the poker machines in question. Ligambi and Borgesi don't deny that several mob associates ran an illegal gaming network. They just maintain that they weren't involved.

But the legislature's move this week to expand legalized gaming in bars may not offer the validation Borgesi believes.

Under the bill, passed Monday and awaiting Gov. Corbett's signature, certain establishments could obtain licenses to pay winners of drawings, raffles and pull-tab games. Payouts from video gambling machines would still be illegal, and individual prizes would be limited to $2,000 for a single game.

Though Corbett has signaled he'll sign bill, it will have no bearing on Ligambi and Borgesi's case. They are charged under federal law with alleged acts that occurred well before the latest round of gaming expansion was up for debate in Harrisburg.

Still, Borgesi tapped at The Inquirer's article about the bill throughout Tuesday's break in testimony, repeatedly nodding his head.

The trial will resume Wednesday.

[removed by request of poster --JG]

awesome pics whered you find those, post more if you have em

is the one guy at the end on the right one of Ligambi's kids?

[removed by request of poster --JG]

[removed by request of poster --JG]

as far as i know phil ligambi is made.

and someone im friends with is friends with ligambis son on facebook so i have seen some of the pics with the family at the beach n all.

Ligambi
http://prntscr.com/25g985

Ligambi
http://prntscr.com/25g9yf

cool man. There are pictures of him on the internet (besides the well known one of him leaving courthouse with Anthony Borgesi behind him Lol) but you really have to look and sometimes it gets boring.

ive seen a bunch of pics of mazzone and sonny mazzone but theyre all with their kids so i dont know if its appropriate to post them

yea ive seen the same facebook pictures you talking about.. id love to see the mazzone pics but i respect it if you dont want to post them. is there anyway to cut them or black them out? ive only seen maybe two pictures of sonny ever. and maybe 10 of stevie plus the three pics i posted a few days ago of mazzone and some of his guys

deleted.

deleted since everyone here is a bunch of pussies.

Sonny has two sons with two different women. His oldest is like 19 and then he has a 13 year old with his ex wife whom I am related to. I dont care about the adult but don't put the 13 year old on here please. I can try to answer any questions you have about Sonny. I always thought he had a stick up his ass. But I have to say he always made pretty good money and only got caught up when he was doing something stupid...like being drunk and biting a guys ear off.

I have seen only a few pic of the Mazzone brothers

If you use a screenshot tool online, you can blur out the child's face like I did to Ligambi's daughter. That's the best way to respect their privacy.

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/a-mob-toast-for-all-good-guys.html#SVMF8LGO74MBD0Vk.99

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013

A Mob Toast For "All The Good Guys"

They ate and drank and laughed and joked.

They offered a toast "to all the good guys!"

And, the prosecution contends, they discussed mob business.

The jury in the racketeering conspiracy trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi got to listen in today to secretly recorded conversations from a four-hour lunch Ligambi shared with nine other mobsters at a posh New Jersey restaurant in May 2010.

The defense has portrayed the session as a "social" gathering. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor, the lead prosecutor in the case, calls it a "meeting of the board of directors of organized crime."

The conspiracy charge that Ligambi, 74, is fighting, could hinge on which version the anonymously chosen jury decides is accurate.

The toast was offered by Joseph "Scoops" Licata, one of three members of the Philadelphia crime family who attended the meeting with Ligambi. The six other mobsters were members of New York's powerful Gambino crime family, including crime family soldier Nicholas "Nicky Skins" Stefanelli.


"All the good guys, anywhere," Licata said as he and the others raised their glasses. "Whoever ain't here. The good guys."

While no one knew it at the time, Stefanelli, then 67, was wired for sound. The mobster had begun cooperating with the FBI a year earlier and had recorded dozens of conversations. The lunch at LaGriglia, a restaurant just off the Garden State Parkway in Kenilworth, is one of the first to be played publicly. Stefanelli committed suicide in April 2012. (See The Saga Of Nicky Skins, Bigtrial, Nov. 11, 2013).

The LaGriglia tape was introduced as evidence in Ligambi's first trial which ended in February. A jury convicted four of the seven defendants in that case, but hung on conspiracy charges against Ligambi and his nephew and co-defendant George Borgesi. Both are being retried.

Licata, 71, was found not guilty.

Prosecutors hope the LaGriglia meeting will establish Ligambi's leadership role in the crime family, a key element in supporting the racketeering charge against him. Borgesi, 50, was in prison at the time. The tape is not expected to have any impact on the charges against him.

Snippets of conversation culled from the four-hour lunch were played with mob expert and former FBI Agent Joaquin "Big Jack" Garcia on the witness stand. Garcia, working undercover as Jackie Falcone, had infiltrated a crew of the Gambino organization in 2002 and was eventually proposed for membership in the crime family.

He spent the morning outlining mob protocol and structure for the jury, then was asked to comment on conversations picked up on Stefanelli's body wire.

When Stefanelli introduced John Gambino as "caporegime...with the administration," Garcia said that indicated that Gambino was not only a captain in the crime family, but also a member of a ruling group known as the administration.

In turn, Licata is heard on tape introducing Ligambi as "our acting boss," a designation that placed Ligambi at the top of the family tree. Ligambi was running the family while mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino was serving a 14-year sentence for racketeering.

But not every comment needed to be explained.

When Ligambi referred to mobster-turned-informant Pete "Pete the Crump" Caprio as "that piece of shit," the jury didn't need clarification. Caprio's testimony earlier in the trial was interrupted because he broke his knee. He is expected to be recalled later.

And when Ligambi talked about "this rat motherfucker Ralph," the only thing the jury needed to be told was that Ralph was former mob boss Ralph Natale, who like Caprio, became a government witness.

How well the tapes play into the conspiracy charge is an open question. Clearly they were not enough for the jury in the first trial. None of the discussions focus on the gambling and loansharking charges that are the basis for the conspiracy the government alleges Ligambi orchestrated.

But the prosecution believes the tape establishes Ligambi's role as the boss.

Earlier in the day, Garcia had told the jury "in the mob, money...flows up, never down." Members and associates have to "kick up" a piece of their earnings to their capo who in turn kicks up to the boss, he said.

That's the chain that the government alleges existed in the Philadelphia crime family from 1999 through 2012. And during that period, authorities contend, Ligambi was at the top of that chain.

Garcia is expected back on the stand to face cross-examination when the trial resumes Thursday. The veteran FBI agent, who co-wrote a book "Making Jack Falcone" about his exploits undercover was challenged repeatedly by the defense during that first trial and will likely experience more of the same this time around.

Shortly before he took the stand, the affable and burly former agent (he appears to weigh more than 300 pounds) just shook his head about the prospect of testifying again.

"I'd rather be undercover," he said.

What a coincidence the old man goes on trial and we have several posters putting the guy on blast.

Man you could not even imagine the anger Stevie would display if he knew those photos of his family were up on here. I honestly think that should be taken down ASAP, not even out of respect for his privacy but just to ensure the safety of whoever posted them.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201311...ting_boss_.html

Mobsters on wiretap call Ligambi 'acting boss'

PHILADELPHIA It was the evidence that Joseph Ligambi's lawyers didn't want a jury to hear.

But in a one-two punch Wednesday, federal prosecutors laid out two of the most contentious elements of their racketeering case against the reputed head of the Philadelphia mob.

First, Joaquin Garcia, a former undercover FBI agent who once infiltrated New York's Gambino crime family, regaled jurors with tales of Mafia rituals, violence, and the gangsters with whom he once rubbed elbows.

Then came a recording of a four-hour 2010 lunch meeting between Ligambi and other mobsters from Philadelphia and New York in which they checked up on imprisoned friends, described a mob initiation ceremony in detail, and hashed out disputes over territory.

From the start, Ligambi was introduced to the group as "our acting boss."

Twice, Ligambi's lawyer Edwin Jacobs Jr. has tried unsuccessfully to have that recording and Garcia's testimony thrown out - once before his client's first trial on racketeering conspiracy charges last year, and again after a deadlocked jury prompted the retrial that began this month.

In the former agent's case, Jacobs has argued that Garcia's experience with the Gambino clan - one of New York's five Mafia families - offers little insight into the workings of the Philadelphia mob. What's worse, he said, the agent's tales of strip-club shakedowns and a seventy-something Gambino capo still capable of delivering a beat down would only serve to prejudice jurors.

But in terms of pure entertainment, Garcia didn't disappoint.

Jurors listened raptly Wednesday as the Cuban immigrant detailed his efforts to pass himself off as a low-level Italian crook named Jack Falcone. He eventually became the driver and confidant of Gambino captain Gregory DePalma, who gave the then-agent a jewel-laden pinkie ring to commemorate his welcome to the crew.

"Unfortunately, it was quite gaudy and ugly," the former agent said. "But it would have been disrespectful to him not to wear it."

Garcia said he observed talk of all manner of crimes, ranging from extortion to insurance fraud, during his nearly three years with DePalma. At one point, the captain directed Garcia and other members of his crew to join a union so they could sign up for health insurance.

"It was better than the FBI's, actually," he quipped.

Joking aside, Garcia said he never forgot the danger of his assignment.

"Without their ability to terrorize, you would not have La Cosa Nostra," he said. "This is not a Rotary club, a Knights of Columbus. This is La Cosa Nostra."

Prosecutors maintain that the recording of the May 2010 lunch meeting echoes the violent tendencies Garcia described.

Ligambi and other Philadelphia mob associates met that afternoon with several high-ranking members of the Gambino family over pasta and wine at La Griglia, a posh eatery in Kenilworth, N.J.

But as they conducted what authorities have described as a Mafia "board of directors" meeting, neither group realized it was being recorded by Nicholas "Nicky Skins" Stefanelli, a North Jersey mobster and FBI cooperator.

Ligambi can be heard throughout the audio played Wednesday. He updated the others on the status of incarcerated associates, including former Philadelphia boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, and cracked jokes about others held in lower regard.

Describing the slim pickings offered by one of the poorer earners in his New Jersey faction, Ligambi cracked: "He's selling cakes out of the trunk of his car."

Later, recalling another associate's initiation ceremony - a ritual that entailed a knife prick to the finger to symbolize a new member's blood commitment - Ligambi earned some of his biggest laughs.

"The . . . blood splashed all over my shirt. . . . It splashed all over me," he said. "I still got the shirt at home. I saved it."

Tales like those led Jacobs, during the first trial, to describe the meeting as nothing more than a gathering of nostalgic geriatrics swapping tales of the mob's long-gone glory days.

Earlier, he argued the recording shouldn't be played at all. Stefanelli, the informant, committed suicide last year and cannot be called for cross-examination.

Still, Garcia led jurors through the tape Wednesday, identifying the speakers and explicating their often garbled mutterings, including a lament from North Jersey mobster Joseph "Scoops" Licata about the low-quality of the mob's recent recruits.

Louis "Big Lou" Fazzini agreed: "It's not about money. It's about . . . brotherhood."

But even as they spoke, that brotherhood was being betrayed.

Garcia is expected to resume his testimony Thursday.

Agreed. Should blur or black out other people's faces out of respect, remember most of them are just family members not LCN affiliated.

At the same time, these photos are online. I have no affiliation with posting any of them, but these are all pictures of him smiling at the camera with his buddies, not FBI photos. If he's pissed at people on here then he should be just as pissed at the people who put this on facebook or whatnot website.

Guys I agree completely but I'm just telling you, he is going to go insane with rage if he sees this. I was so shocked when I saw them I was going to bring it to his attention (not a brag), but I honestly don't wanna deal with the backlash. To call this guy fired up is an understatement, the pics should probably be removed. I have nothing to do with this, just bringing it to someone's attention the pics of his family should be removed.

I agree with you Mikey...i was going to say something about it yesterday but didn't because people will say i did the same thing.

But it was a mistake on my part posting the ones i did and i really think it's a mistake now to post any family shots and especially the ones with any kids.

i deleted them.

It'll be okay, I doubt they gonna put a hit out on anyone.

Haha probably not but I'd say a 40% chance of a hospital visit if your in the philly/cherry hill area and he knew who you were

lol! Your probably right about that. Definitely more trouble then it's worth IMHO. Who needs the headaches over a few pics.

Right, anyway has there been any articles yet today? Might be to early

I know it's been mentioned before but if anyone has audio links to the trial testimony that would be great...I forget who posted it during the previous trial...

JerryB posted them on the RD forum during the first trial but he doesn't post there these days so i'm not sure if he's still getting the audio files off of the PACER site or not.

Mob Jury Gets A History Lesson

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net


It was Mob History 101, a primer on the wantonly violent and consistently treacherous Philadelphia branch of Cosa Nostra.

Jurors in the racketeering conspiracy trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi got nearly four hours of the murderous and mundane today as the trial entered its third week. With mob expert and former FBI agent Joaquin "Big Jack" Garcia on the stand and Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr. conducting a lengthy and detailed cross-examination, the anonymously chosen jury took a trip down a bloody memory lane.

Some highlights (or lowlights depending on your point of view):

-- Angelo's Bruno was shotgunned to death in March 1980, a hit that destabilized the once smoothly run organization. Bruno's consigliere, Antonio "Tony Bananas" Caponigro, was behind the murder of the so-called Docile Don and thought he had the approval of the New York-based Mafia Commission. He didn't. On that, Garcia and Jacobs agreed.

Caponigro was killed a short later.

"He thought he was going to be knighted as head of the family," Garcia said. "Instead he was tortured and killed and money was left in every orifice of his body."

-- South Philadelphia steak shop owner and one-time high level bookmaker Danny D'Ambrosio should have been killed, under strict mob rules, for plotting with North Jersey mobster Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio (who later became a government witness) to murder Ligambi, his current co-defendant and nephew George Borgesi and then crime family consigliere Steven Manzone in the late 1990s. Caprio had the approval of three of the New York crime families, who supported what was to be his takeover of the Philadelphia organization. (The plot was never carried out because Caprio was arrested.)

And today D'Ambrosio operates his steak shop about two blocks from Ligambi's Packer Park townhouse.

Garcia conceded that under typical mob protocol, D'Ambrosio should be dead.

"He must have gotten a pass," said the burly former FBI agent.

-- The attempted murder of Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. in Dante&Lugi's Restaurant on Halloween night 1989 was, after the Bruno murder, the "most notorious hit in the history" of the Philadelphia crimne family, Jaocbs said.

"It's right up there," Garcia conceded, adding that Joey Merlino was the shooter that night.

On that Jacobs and Garcia

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/mob-jury-gets-history-lesson.html#wLZ3rwLSLAdDDX2L.99

jmack, if you gonna post, post the whole damn article

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

Mob Jury Gets A History Lesson

It was Mob History 101, a primer on the wantonly violent and consistently treacherous Philadelphia branch of Cosa Nostra.

Jurors in the racketeering conspiracy trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi got nearly four hours of the murderous and mundane today as the trial entered its third week. With mob expert and former FBI agent Joaquin "Big Jack" Garcia on the stand and Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr., conducting a lengthy and detailed cross-examination, the anonymously chosen jury took a trip down a bloody memory lane.

Some highlights (or lowlights depending on your point of view):

-- Mob boss Angelo Bruno was shotgunned to death in March 1980, a hit that destabilized the once smoothly run organization. Bruno's consigliere, Antonio "Tony Bananas" Caponigro, was behind the murder of the so-called Docile Don and thought he had the approval of the New York-based Mafia Commission. He didn't. On that, Garcia and Jacobs agreed.


Caponigro was killed a short later.

"He thought he was going to be knighted as head of the family," Garcia said. "Instead he was tortured and killed and money was left in every orifice of his body."

-- South Philadelphia steak shop owner and one-time high level bookmaker Danny D'Ambrosio should have been killed, under strict mob rules, for plotting with North Jersey mobster Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio (who later became a government witness) to murder Ligambi, his current co-defendant and nephew George Borgesi and then crime family consigliere Steven Manzone in the late 1990s. Caprio had the approval of three of the New York crime families, who supported what was to be his takeover of the Philadelphia organization. (The plot was never carried out because Caprio was arrested.)

But today D'Ambrosio operates his steak shop about two blocks from Ligambi's Packer Park townhouse.

Garcia conceded that under typical mob protocol, D'Ambrosio should be dead.

"He must have gotten a pass," said the burly former FBI agent. "I don't have inside information as to why (he) has a pass, but he does."

-- The attempted murder of Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. in Dante & Luigi's Restaurant on Halloween night 1989 was, after the Bruno murder, the "most notorious hit in the history" of the Philadelphia crime family, Jaocbs said.

"It's right up there," Garcia conceded, adding that Joey Merlino was the shooter that night.

On that Jacobs and Garcia clashed. Garcia said he was repeating what other mobsters had said in tapped conversations. Jacobs said the Florida-based Merlino has never been charged with that crime. Jacobs has represented Merlino in the past and has won acquittals on murder charges in both a racketeering trial and a murder trial.

Garcia also said he believes Merlino, 50, continues to run the Philadelphia family from Florida and that even when Ralph Natale was the titular head of the organization in the mid 1990s, Merlino was in fact the boss.

Natale, Garcia said, was a "straw boss," a boss in name only. "Merlino ran the streets...still does, even as we speak. That's my opinion," Garcia said.

Jacobs and Garcia debated dozens of other issues during the cross-examination with the defense attorney demonstrating detailed recall of events, cases and testimony stretching back more than 20 years. Jacobs is considered one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the Philadelphia - South Jersey area and has represented several major mob figures over the years.

Garcia, who retired after 26 years in the FBI, also had a stellar career working undercover and infiltrating organized crime and drug dealing networks. The two argued about mob protocol, agreed that there is a difference between a racketeer and a gangster (a gangster is more vicious and violent) and disagreed over what has emerged as one of the central issues in the case.

Jacobs has referred repeatedly to a meeting at a North Jersey restaurant in May 2010 as a "social"

gathering, a description that also is used in at least one FBI report. Ligambi was one of 10 mobsters who had lunch at LaGriglia, a posh restaurant in Kenilworth, that May afternoon.

The government contends that the session was a meeting of the leaders of the Philadelphia mob and the Gambino crime family and has used conversations secretly recorded by a cooperating witness to build the conspiracy charge against Ligambi.

Jacobs has pointed out that none of the tapes include discussions about crimes being planned or scores being settled. Garcia conceded as much, but he said the meeting in and of itself -- given the attendees -- was a "RICO conspiracy."

"It was a very important meeting," Garcia said. It was, he added, two organized crime families engaged in "relationship building."

The jury has heard snippets of nearly two dozen conversations from meetings at LaGriglia and The American Bistro, a pub in Belleville.

On one tape, Ligambi brings up the D'Ambrosio issue in a joking way. He told those sharing lunch that D'Ambrosio's father "comes over my house about three or four years ago. Said the FBI said you was gonna kill my son. He was telling me this on the step. I said, `What the fuck you talkin' about? Don't ever come around this house again. I don't know what you're talking about.' I mean, that's the kind of nuts you're dealing with. You know what I mean?"

Ligambi's comment underscored a point that was one of the underlying themes in Jacobs' cross-examination.

As he did in Ligambi's first trial, which ended with a hung jury on the conspiracy count, Jacobs appears to be trying to draw a distinction between Ligambi and the mob bosses in Philadelphia who came before him.

At one point he ticked off 15 murders and attempted murders that were part of the racketeering case against Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo in 1988 and nine murders and attempted murders that were part of the 1995 case against John Stanfa.

"In this indictment," he asked Garcia, "there isn't a murder or an attempted murder, is there? Or a gun or a knife or a slap in the face?"

The defense has argued that the prosecution, desperate to make a case after a 12-year investigation turned up precious little, hung a racketeering conspiracy charge around what amounts to second rate gambling activity.

Garcia, responding with what has been the prosecution's theme, said that violence wasn't necessary during Ligambi's reign because the crime family's reputation -- built by Scarfo and Stanfa -- was already well established.

While the lawyer and the witness disagreed on several major issues, there was consensus when they discussed food. Jacobs said that mobsters often meet for breakfast, lunch, dinner and "late night snacks" and asked Garcia if, during the two and one-half years he worked undercover as an associate of Gambino crime family capo Greg DePalma, that was the normal routine.

Garcia said it was.

"In fact," Jacobs said, "you gained 90 pounds in those two and one-half years."


"Yes, I did," the 300-pound ex-agent said with a smile, adding that he has been unable to shed the weight.

Later, when a discussion turned to antipasto, Jacobs and Garcia again shared a laugh. Earlier in his testimony Garcia, who was born in Cuba, said he had to study Siclian food and culture when he posed as a Jack Falcone, a supposed Sicilian, to get close to DePalma.

"You know something about antipasto, then? " Jacobs asked.

"I've had my share of antipasto," Garcia responded.

"You've had everybody's share," said Jacobs.

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/mob-jury-gets-history-lesson.html#RgY8EDOg7vGuCfbH.99

This trial isn't as exciting as the first one so far. I feel like it could get real interesting really soon. The charges are bullshit anyway, sucks the prosecutors and judge are going to do whatever possible to try and nail them.

The charges are so weak without any violence - if I was a juror I would feel awful being part of sending people away on these trumped up charges ecsp these two who have either done their time or getting older ..

That was the whole article at the time I posted it. That's exactly what was on the site. Somebody asked for it so I posted it, don't break my balls.

Yeah...whoever posted it for Anastasia on his Big Trial Site only posted part of it originally. About a half hour later they put up the rest of the article. I was going to post the rest but JMack gave the link which said to read more go to the url. Probably an intern over there....no big deal.

I see where these boards have been getting ''testy'' lately.I don't see what the big deal was about posting pictures on here.I mean if we say the wrong thing will there be a knock at the door.We live in a day and age where everybody is watching.the way Vegas Mikey was describing Stevie Mazzone I was like he's got to have more on his mind than that.When I look at someone's picture I go ''oh ok and move on''I have never ever in my life looked at someone else's girlfriend or wife and started with the wow she's this or she's that.Mazzone seems like an all-right guy.Sometimes after reading or hearing about somebody so long you almost want to match up a picture,your just curious.But then you look at the picture and move on,that's the way I see it.I hope it doesn't get to the point where your afraid to express your opinion for fear of backlash.

Just my opinion...but to me the guys are fair game, but the family shots make me cringe a little especially the ones with their young kids. I don't know...you guys do what you want.

To me Natalie seemed genuinely upset and i honestly felt bad about posting her pic. It was a mistake on my part, i shouldn't have posted it.

Of course its not neccesary to see the kids,everybody got carried away on that one.There's that one picture or video whatever you want to call it on Mob Talk that shows Mazzone and either his wife or GF walking to the courthouse.No big deal.That's the way it is today.With the stars its paparazzi,if you get crazy everytime you'll end up like Alec Baldwin.

Well sure...Mazzone and his GF or wife were coming out of the courthouse in that video. Thats totally fair game in my view. It's the personal family pics that i think people should think twice about posting.

Like the one with Natalie at her brothers trial with Ligambi and Staino....that one was ok to post but it's the personal stuff on FB or other sites that i think we should try to stay away from posting.

Just my opinion though...like i said you guys do what you want.

I apologize, I keep forgetting Bigtrial.net is always full of errors Lol. Btw, are people besides family members and journalists allowed in the trial?

Yes they are - you just need to wait in line if needed - they ha some legal students going earlier

Bent Finger Lou Back On The Stand
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net


Now it's personal.

When Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello took the witness stand this afternoon in the racketeering conspiracy trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew, George Borgesi, the tone of the three-week-old trial shifted.

This was no longer an expert gambling witness or a beleaguered bar owner with a poker machine or an FBI agent interpreting secretly recorded conversations. This was Borgesi's one-time friend and, if the government is to believed, his chief partner in crime.

Monacello and Borgesi go back 30 years. They know a lot about one another. And much of it will get laid out for the jury. As he did at the first trial, Monacello, 47, began to paint a verbal portrait of his underworld involvement with both defendants.

It is not a pretty picture.

He identified Ligambi, 74, as the kingpin of the local crime family.

"Joe Ligambi told me on several occasions, "'I'm the boss,'" Monacello said, affecting a belligerent tone as he repeated the phrase. "`I'm the boss.'"

But it was his description of Borgesi, 50, that offered the most detailed and the most troubling personal insights.

Borgesi, he said, bragged about being a "gangster" and claimed to have been involved in 11 murders. "I'm a professional," he said Borgesi told him.

Describing himself as an enforcer for the mob capo, he told the jury how he had assaulted a contractor who ran afoul of the organization; how he used a baseball bat to split on the head of a member of the 10th and Oregon gang and how he took a group of 12 to 15 men to a bar in Delaware County to intimidate two bookmakers who were scheduled to testify in a 2001 mob trial.

All of that, he said, was carried out on Borgesi's orders.

Dressed in a gray, pinstriped suit, white shirt and tie, Monacello was focused, but decidedly less arrogant as he retold the same stories he had provided in the first trial that ended earlier this year with a hung jury on the conspiracy charge that Ligambi and Borgesi are again fighting.

He said he met Borgesi when Borgesi was 17 and he was 14. He said he became a member of his mob crew about 10 years later and handled bookmaking, loansharking and extortion. He also said he and Borgesi would steal cars together in collaboration with an auto body shop operator who used to make copies of customers' car keys and give them to Borgesi.

Being part of organized crime, Monacello told the jury, was "a license to steal."

"You could stick your hand in anybody's pocket," he said Borgesi told him.

He called Borgesi a "maniac" and a killer who others referred to as "The Fireman."

"Wherever he went, he started fires," Monacello explained. "He caused trouble."

Authorities allege that after Borgesi was jailed on racketeering charges in 2000, Monacello ran his gambling and loansharking operation. Borgesi was convicted in 2001 in that unrelated racketeering case land sentencted to 14 years in prison. The conspiracy charge in the current case is built largely around the allegation that, from prison, Borgesi was continued to operate in the underworld.

Monacello, authorities allege, was Borgesi's street-level operative.

The defense, as it did in the first trial, is expected to argue that Monacello used Borgesi' name and reputation to enhance his own money-making underworld schemes and that Borgesi was unaware of what was going on.

The jury in the first trial acquitted Borgesi of 13 counts of gambling and loansharking that were based primarily on Monacello's testimony. But it hung on a final conspiracy charge, resulting in the retrial that began earlier this month.

Whether Monacello's story plays differently with the current jury could determine Borgesi's fate. Unlike Ligambi, who faces charges built around testimony and secretly recorded conversations, Borgesi's case revolves around Monacello and another government informant, Anthony Aponick, who is expected to testify within the next two weeks.

Monacello spent about two hours on the witness stand and is due back when the trial resumes Monday.

Borgesi, he said, used violence, fear and intimidation to get his way in the underworld and with his associates. "If he found out you were lying to him and making money behind his back, he would beat you up or kill ya." Monacello said. "He was known as a gangster and a very dangerous person."

Prosecutors reinforced that point by questioning Monacello at length about instances when Borgesi assaulted Angelo Lutz, another crime family associate. As he had in the first trial, Monacello described one incident in which, he said, Borgesi split Lutz' head open with the metal rod from an artificial Christmas tree while threatening to kill Lutz in a dispute over money.

Lutz, Monacello said, had forged a check and stolen $4,000 from a company Lutz and Borgesi ran at the time.

Monacello cited three other instances when, he said, Borgesi assaulted the then 5-foot-4, 400-pound mob associate, including one incident where, Monacello said, Borgesi bit Lutz in the forehead and spit his skin out on the sidewalk.

The prosecutor is expected to play a now infamous tape -- played at the racketeering trial in 2001 and again at the first trial in this case -- is which Borgesi is heard on a wiretapped phone laughing and cackling about how he had pummeled Lutz, knocking him out. That incident was separate from the ones described by Monacello today.

In an even more personal note, Moncello talked at length about how he was first ordered by Borgesi to funnel money to Borgesi's wife, Dina, after Borgesi was jailed in 2000. About 18 months later, he said, Borgesi from prison told him the money should go to his then girlfriend Alyson.

"She was his commare," Monacello said. "His girlfriend on the side."

Borgesi divorced his first wife in 2004, Monacello said. And, from prison, married Alyson who has been in the courtroom every day during the trial.

Borgesi showed little reaction to Monacello, but occasionally commented to his lawyer, Christoper Warren seated next to him at the defense table. The defense is expected to attack Monacello in detail when cross-examination begins.

Borgesi, in comments, emails and messages to friends, has been referring to Monacello as "Rat Finger Lou" and "Fuck Finger Lou."

But if this jury buys the story that Monacello is selling, it will be Borgesi who gets the finger.

George Anastasia can be contacted at George@bigtrial.net.

thanks man. next time I have a day off from school I will try to make it.

The return of Dicknose!!...again

I understand completely and I agree with most of your attitudes that the pics are public info or whatever. That being said I know a lot of people close to these guys and a woman who has had some romantic involvement with certain people who I can't name because I would be exposing myself. Steve is a great guy honestly not the animal most people would assume he is, that being said he is also a major hot head maniac who would completely lose his shit if he knew some mafia watchers were looking at pictures of his young daughter in a bikini on the internet. I mean I'm not trying to be dramatic here but I do live in close proximity to these people and they are definitely dangerous and would not hesitate to throw someone a serious beating for something involving their family. I mean is that so hard to understand? I didn't post the pics and I don't care, I'm just saying maybe having pics stolen from Facebook with someone's minor age children showcased on a message board is not the best idea. I'm done tho like I said I didn't post them not my problem my involvement ends here.

I hear you Vegas Mikey,like I said before kids are off limits,I agree totally no matter whose kid it is.I'm glad I'm internet illerate because I don't even know how to post articles further yet pictures.These guys are no different than anybody else when it comes to protecting their family,most anybody would give somebody a serious beating for that not just these guys.

that garcia agent always struck me as an obnoxious dude

this part just kills me
"Jacobs has pointed out that none of the tapes include discussions about crimes being planned or scores being settled. Garcia conceded as much, but he said the meeting in and of itself -- given the attendees -- was a "RICO conspiracy."

"It was a very important meeting," Garcia said. It was, he added, two organized crime families engaged in "relationship building."

they'll arrest anybody for anything, won't they.

Ex-mobster talks of blood, gore

TESTIMONY in the federal racketeering retrial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi, an alleged mob captain, had been somewhat dry until yesterday afternoon.

But that's when star witness Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, a former associate of Philadelphia's mob family, regaled jurors with past tales of blood and gore.

There was the time in the mid-1990s when Borgesi's brother, Anthony, was having a bachelor party at a South Philly restaurant. Another mob associate, Angelo Lutz, took care of the room setup, but with 20 to 30 guys, it was crowded, Monacello said.

Because of that, George Borgesi "bites a chunk of skin out of his [Lutz's] forehead and makes Angelo pick up the check," Monacello told jurors.

Another time, Borgesi brought Lutz to Monacello's home and in the basement, Borgesi "throws Angelo up against the wall" and yells, "Tell me about the checks you forged!" Monacello recalled. Borgesi then swiped a rod from a fake Christmas tree and "splits Angelo's head open," seriously wounding him.
Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, aren't facing any counts of homicide or assault. The indictment against them focuses on sports betting, loan-sharking, extortion and the operation of video-poker machines. The main charge they face is RICO (racketeering) conspiracy. The feds are looking to prove that Ligambi and Borgesi conspired with others to commit crimes.

Monacello, 47, a South Philly guy, befriended Borgesi when the two were teens. He eventually got into sports betting and became an associate of Borgesi's crew. They were close friends for 30 years until their arrest in 2011 under the current indictment, and Monacello then became a cooperating government witness.

Monacello said Borgesi had been promoted to captain, and Ligambi "told me on several occasions, 'I'm the boss of the mob.' "

Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han, Monacello focused mostly on Borgesi - how he used violence or the threat of violence to collect money or to get revenge on a rival.

"He was a feared guy," Monacello said of Borgesi.

Once, in the late 1990s, the two were riding in a car in South Philly and talking about someone who was recently killed when Borgesi turned the radio volume up high, flashed his hands twice and boasted: "Eleven murders. Me. I did it. I'm responsible. I'm a professional," Monacello said.

(Borgesi has never been convicted of murder.)

Monacello also admitted to participating in violence himself, saying it was under Borgesi's orders. Around 1998, Borgesi wanted revenge on a man who had gotten the better of him during a fight.

Monacello said he and others waited outside the man's South Philly house and surprised him when he was walking his dog. Wearing a ski mask and wielding a baseball bat, Monacello said he "swung all my might and split [the man's] head," injuring him.

Asked about his nickname, Monacello showed jurors his right hand with its bent index finger. The result of "a fight," he said.

Monacello resumes his testimony Monday.


Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131124_Ex-mobster_talks_of_blood__gore.html#DloMIp3Rldt6iokZ.99

why are they not charged in the indictment with these assaults? If not, why are these allegations being allow into evidence through testimony? Seems prejudicial

Lol, borgesi treated lutz like tony treated that bartender in the sopranos.

On philly.com nobody could understand why they just don't put Lutz on the stand to substanciate this.Are you kidding me? Lutz would deny everything and say Borgesi has a heart of gold.He's scared out of his mind.He's done with all that and its not worth it to have to look over his shoulder forever.I would be curious to see if Borgesi was freed how he would handle Bent Lou.I can't see him saying its not worth it.I think that will be interesting.

Bent finger just comes across like a douchebag - id be surprised if this doesn't catch up with him - if nicodemo was out , he would be watching his back a lot more

Interesting to read about the mention of D'Ambrosia and him having a deli near Ligambis house. I thought he retreated to North Jersey years ago. Wonder how he pulled off his "pass"?

On a side note. John Stanfa's sons place "Joey Giusepps" is now closed. Drove by it the other day and saw the for sale sign up. It's the old warfield and wharton lunchenette where joey chang jr was shot. All the reviews were great, but I guess the mystique wore off.

Haha thats funny as hell. He probably did and I cant even imagine all the shit Borgesi and the rest of them probably put Lutz through over the years..... and that bartender would make me laugh every episode he was in because he was so dumb and Tony would just snap on him out of nowhere lol

I'm not in the legal field but I would assume that the statue of limitations is up on the assault considering it took place in the 90's. If you ask me the whole racketeering conspiracy charge is highly prejudicial. Evidence gets introduced all the time that has nothing to do with the current charges, but has to do with the "criminal enterprise" instead. Hell, they brought up the Bruno murder at this trial. That hit took place before I was born (and I'm 31). That said, the current mob lives off of that reputation to collect so I certainly don't feel sorry for them.

Generally, Federal and local prosecutors will employ a shotgun theory when charging defendants (throw as many charges at the defendants as possible and see what sticks). This is especially true of mob defendants. If the assaults could be proven, and had not expired within the statute of limitations, they would be included in the docket. Especially because there was no violent acts included in the original Ligambi and Co. charges 3 years ago. If US Atty. Han could have included an assault (even against Lutz), he would have. If nothing else, he takes the soundbite of "there is no violence here" from Mr. Jacobs' arsenal.

On the other hand, charging 1 mob member (associate at that time maybe? Doesn't matter) with assaulting another mob associate, based on a third mob associate's testimony seems like bad policy.

Just my opinion, I'm not an atty yet.

Bigtrial.net posted today's trial info .. Sorry don't know how to post but courts in recess until Monday ...

I agree about Lou being a douchebag, but I'm thinking his bigger worry would be somebody like Mikey Lance, not Nicodemo. Not to talk out of school but I think Nicodemo's days of worrying anybody are long gone. That guy's either gonna do a life stint or become a cooperator, no other options. Then there's his buddy, little Dominic ...

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

To hear Louie Monacello tell it, his 20 years of dealing with the Philadelphia mob were part Godfather and part Family Feud.

On the witness stand for a second day in the racketeering retrial of mob boss "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and Ligambi's nephew George Borgesi, Monacello continued to offer the jury a picture of organized crime built around fear, violence, threats and extortion.

But he also spent much of today deconstructing the Ligambi-Borgesi family, portraying the gangsters as part of a dysfunctional family where greed and power trumped bloodlines and loyalty.

"Don't be fooled," he told the jury. "Him and his uncle were always at odds. They can't stand each other."


Described by authorities as a top associate who was chosen by Borgesi to run his gambling and loansharking operations in 2000 after Borgesi was jailed in an unrelated racketeering case, Monacello, 47, said he constantly found himself caught in the middle.

And, he added, the tension heightened when Anthony Borgesi, George's brother, began to undermine him with both his brother and his uncle.

"I always had problems with the brother because he felt he had been passed over when George Borgesi chose me to run things," Monacello said. He then recounted a conversation he had had with Borgesi in prison where Borgesi was serving a 14-year sentence following his conviction in 2001 on racketeering.

Moncello said he visited Borgesi about twice a year and that the visits included conversations about the gambling and loansharking businesses. He said Borgesi also called him from prison, but that those conversations were often in coded language because the phone calls were monitored and tape-recorded by prison officials. Finally, he said, Borgesi passed information on to him through his wife Alyson.

During a prison visit, he said, Borgesi told him what he already knew, that his brother Anthony "was jealous of me." He said Borgesi described his brother as "an incompetent, an idiot" who "was not capable of making money legally or illegally."

And making money, Monacello said, was what the mob was all about. He told the jury that he ran sports betting and loansharking operations for Borgesi in Philadelphia and Delaware County while Borgesi was serving his federal prison sentence. And he estimated that at one point he was providing Borgesi with $3,000-a-month. He gave the cash to Alyson Borgesi each month, usually by leaving an envelope stuffed with cash in the glove compartment of her car.

The payoff came after a coded phone conversation in which he would ask her what days she was working in a given week. On those days, he said, she would leave her car door unlocked and parked outside the office where she worked. He would circle the block several times to be sure he wasn't being followed or surveilled. He then would approach the car, open the door, place the envelope in the glove compartment and lock the door as he left.

On one secretly recorded conversation, Monacello is heard referring to Alyson Borgesi as "Alyson Corleone." Asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han what he meant by that, Monacello said "for a female she got involved in a lot of mob business...Her husband was constantly calling her for prison" and using her to relay messages to him and others.

Family dynamics and money were recurring themes throughout the day-long testimony.

Monacello said Borgesi, 50, told him repeatedly not to tell his uncle what kind of business he was conducting or how much money he was making. Ligambi, 74, showed little reaction to any of the testimony. Borgesi occasionally whispered in his lawyer's ear and at the end of the day, after the jury had left the courtroom, he boldly predicted that defense attorneys would destroy Monacello during cross-examination.

The comment was in keeping with the picture of Borgesi that has emerged during the trial -- a wiseguy who has to have the last word and who cannot keep his mouth shut, even when he is talking on a prison phone that he knows is being tapped.

"George Borgesi said, `Don't tell my uncle,'" Monacello said after detailing a loansharking operation he had set up in Delaware County with Nicholas "Nicky the Hat" Cimino, another mob associate who was funneling money through Monacello to Borgesi.

Later the prosecution played a taped phone conversation from prison in which Borgesi repeated that admonition.

"Don't tell people your business," Borgesi said on the tape. "I know for a fact...everyone wants to score points...From here on out, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...I just wish all this stuff would go the fuck away....And don't tell no one that I called ya."

That, Monacello said, was an example of the treachery and deceit that were daily occurrences within the crime family. At another point, he said, Ligambi complained about Borgesi's "big mouth" and inability to keep his own counsel. As soon as he walks about of prison, "they're gonna put the cuffs back on him," he said Ligambi said of his nephew's inability to keep quiet.

And then, he said, Ligambi told him, "I hope he gets a hundred years."

"He just can't control himself," Monacello said of Borgesi's constant badgering and questioning. He said he was reluctant to visit Borgesi in prison because he knew Borgesi was being closely watched.

"I wasn't even on the radar then," Monacello said, explaining that his role as a top Borgesi's associate was not well know. But, he said, Borgesi insisted he come to the prison.

"Don't worry about it," he said Borgesi told him. "It's bullshit. It's bullshit."

With that, Monacello paused, looked at the jury, then looked at Borgesi.

"It's not bullshit," he said, spreading his arms wide. "Where are we?"

Monacello said there was constant friction within the organization and that "people were constantly telling him (George Borgesi) things to make me look bad." Anthony Borgesi was the biggest offender, he said, adding that the younger brother often played his uncle against his brother, sharing information with both and "causing trouble."

Anthony Borgesi. who has been at the trial nearly every day since it began three weeks ago, was not in the courtroom today. Nor was he present on Friday when Monacello first took the stand and began to mention his role in the organization.

One mob associate who did show up unexpectedly for today's session was Angelo Lutz, now a successful restaurateur in nearby a Collingswood, NJ. Monacello had testified in gruesome detail on Friday about instances where Borgesi had abused and assaulted the 5-foot-4, 400-pouund Lutz, threatening to kill him, splitting his head open with a rod from an artificial Christmas tree, biting him in the forehead and smacking him in the face with a blackjack.

Lutz, who was convicted with Borgesi, Joey Merlino and several others in the 2001 racketgeering case, said little as he came and left the courtroom. He spent the day seated by Alyson Borgesi and Borgesi's mother Manny, ironically the spot usually occupied by the tough-talking Anthony Borgesi who was a no-show. When Lutz, 50, was referred to on another tape played for the jury today, Monacello pointed him out.

"He's sitting right there," the witness told the jury, pointing to Lutz.

Lutz smiled and casually waved at the defendant.

Monacello is expected to conclude his direct testimony when the trail resumes on Monday, Dec. 2, Court will be in recess for the Thanksgiving holiday until then. He will then face what is expected to be a lengthy and grueling cross-examination in which the defense will allege, among other things, that he has fabricated much of his testimony and that he was using Borgesi's name to enhance and expand his own criminal operations.

Before the session ended today, Monacello recounted several disputes he had had with mob capo Marty Angelina over money and gambling operations and acknowledged that he had considering killing Angelina, but settled on a plan to have him badly beaten.

That plot was detailed to Frank "Frankie the Fixer" DiGiacomo, an underworld associate who had secretly begun cooperating with the Pennsylvania State Police in 2007. The assault never took place, but Monacello was tapped making two $1,000 payments to DiGiacomo who claimed he had hired two thugs who brutally beat Angelina.

Several other DiGiacomo tapes, including a conversation in which Monacello and DiGiacomo met with Ligambi to discuss a disputed loansharking debt, were played for the jury. It was during that conversation, recorded on May 21, 2008, where Ligambi joked about George Borgesi's big mouth and how he would be "cuffed" again as soon as he got out of prison.

Borgesi, in fact, never made it out of prison. He was finishing his 14-year sentence in May 2011 when he, Ligambi, Monacello and nearly a dozen others were indicted in the current racketeering case. Monacello cut a deal and began cooperating with the government two months later.

Monacello testified at the first trial in which Borgesi was acquitted of 13 gambling and loansharking charges. The jury, however, hung on the conspiracy count against Borgesi and Ligambi, resulting in the retrial. Four other defendants were convicted. One was acquitted.

At the close of his testimony today, Monacello said he never intended to be a cooperator. He said when he was arrested in the Delaware County investigation in 2008, he turned down offers by the State Police to cooperate and was sentenced to 23 months in prison.

But when the federal indictment came in 2011, he had a change of heart. The reason, he said, was the lack of honor and loyalty that he had seen first hand and that he felt had put his life in jeopardy.

'I don't believe in cooperating," he told the jury as the trial wrapped up for the day. "The only reason I'm sitting here (in the witness stand) and not there (pointing to the defense table) is because they were going to kill me."

Monacello is expected to expand on that story when the trial resumes. At the first trial he said his dispute with Angelina and his decision to assault a "made" member of the organization was tantamount to a death sentence. And, he said, he believed Ligambi intended to have Borgesi carry out that sentence.

George Anastasia can be contacted at George@bigtrial.net.
Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/11/witness-depicts-uncle-joes.html#DTfkhvli6PAAl5VL.99

Agree LD ; young DG could be in the hot seat if Nico flips , I'm sure they already have heat on him..but everything I'm reading is they think Nico will accept what he gets. Lance seems like he's enjoying the low key status - from what I hear Bent Finger is in the open down the jersey shore..
Personally I think 2014 could get real interesting in south philly

Does anyone know why Lou turned states? Wasn't he looking at like 2 years?

This is from the article above where lou explains why he decided to testify-


At the close of his testimony today, Monacello said he never intended to be a cooperator. He said when he was arrested in the Delaware County investigation in 2008, he turned down offers by the State Police to cooperate and was sentenced to 23 months in prison.

But when the federal indictment came in 2011, he had a change of heart. The reason, he said, was the lack of honor and loyalty that he had seen first hand and that he felt had put his life in jeopardy.

'I don't believe in cooperating," he told the jury as the trial wrapped up for the day. "The only reason I'm sitting here (in the witness stand) and not there (pointing to the defense table) is because they were going to kill me."

Monacello is expected to expand on that story when the trial resumes. At the first trial he said his dispute with Angelina and his decision to assault a "made" member of the organization was tantamount to a death sentence. And, he said, he believed Ligambi intended to have Borgesi carry out that sentence.

Sounds like he had the sneaky suspicion that his job was going to be 'terminated'.

I think he was looking at 2 for the delco gambling pinch but with this one he could have gotten more with the rest of them ... either way I think he knew he was in trouble

My bad Dellacroce… didn't see your article post from big trial. Ya man but I don't know… I mean it just doesn't seem like Ligambi's style to have Lou whacked out. Not to mention having Borgesi get to Lou IN PRISON when he's due out so soon/ has been away so long. Plus, from what the word is out on the street… Georgie isn't exactly Tommy Pitera in the first place.

Personally, the context clues tell me that it was the extra years they might tack onto his sentence from the RICO. I bet he's kicking himself now that most everyone walked in this colossal waste of time.

I don't know if there is a right way to testify but it seems like certain guys like Ralph Natale and now Monacello use this time to lash out,without worrying about interruptions and so on.Its like you know your done but your going to belittle and take free shots at the defendants.This is why the first jury probably didn't believe Monacello,now he's doing it again.Natale was the same way,literally holding court while in court.Monacello is bad-mouthing Borgesi telling the jury how he used Lutz as a punching bag and who appears in court smiling sitting with the enemy[Borgesi's family] is non other than Angelo Lutz.I guess John Veasey was a good witness because he came off probably almost comical and they [jury] believed him.At firast I thought Borgesi and Uncle Joe would lose now I don't know.

he may have been charged with racketeering conspiracy and he would have gotten a lot of time

from what I heard, Monacello was more pissed at Borgesi for not "having his back" in the dispute with Marty Angelina. The way he tells it, he (Monacello) supported Borgesi for 7 years while borgesi was locked up and instead of Borgesi standing up for him he sent word to Monacello that he (Monacello) was in big trouble for planning to lump up Marty. I guess it all comes down to a sense of betrayal. Sounds goofy but I guess you never know what's going through a guys' mind. That and the fact that uncle Joe had his hands deep in his pockets.

not a great look for the prosecutor with Lutz chilling with the family...definitely was planned by Ligambi and them....day after Monacello brought all that shir up

deja vu all over again with this trail

tell you what...guilty or not, i just do not believe it was worth all this money for two trials and a 10 yr long investigation for what amounts to be about bookmaking and joker poker...its laughable

How did Philadelphia's consigliere while in jail for 13 years be involved in a racketeering conspiracy?

GEORGE BORGESI'S defense boils down to a simple question:

If he's been imprisoned and under constant surveillance for the past 13 years, how could the onetime Philly mob consigliere simultaneously be involved in a long-running racketeering conspiracy, as prosecutors claim?

The government's star witness, mob turncoat Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, claims to have the answer. He attempted yesterday to explain it to a jury - again - during the retrial of Borgesi and Borgesi's uncle, reputed mob boss Joseph Ligambi.

Decked out in a dark three-piece suit with his black hair slicked back, the Andy Garcia wannabe answered prosecutor John Han's questions without the braggadocio that may have marred his credibility in the first trial.

Monacello, 47, a former mob associate, testified that he was Borgesi's man on the street for years, collecting gambling and loan-sharking proceeds and funneling them to Borgesi while he was doing time on a 2001 racketeering conviction.

"He wants things done yesterday," Monacello said, adding that Borgesi, 50, would "relentlessly hound me" from prison to handle mob activities.

"He's a gangster until he dies," Monacello said.

Monacello said he would pay Borgesi through Borgesi's now-wife Alyson by putting money in the glove compartment of her car. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, that's the way we did it," he said. Asked if Alyson knew where the money was coming from, Monacello said, "She knew exactly where it was coming from."

At one point yesterday, Alyson Borgesi muttered "fuckin' liar" while Monacello was testifying.

The jury heard a December 2003 recorded phone conversation between Borgesi, who was in a federal prison in West Virginia, and Monacello, who was enjoying mussels and wine at Ralph's Italian Restaurant at 9th and Catharine streets. They spoke in code and discussed mob business, Monacello said.

"He's a narcissistic sociopath with delusions of grandeur," Borgesi's mother, Manny, said of Monacello. She questioned whether his unusually calm demeanor was pharmaceutically assisted.

As for Ligambi, Monacello said "Uncle Joe" ran the Philadelphia faction of La Cosa Nostra and had the final say on all mob-related decisions.

"Joe's the boss," Monacello said. "He calls the shots."

Ligambi, 74, who has been held without bail since May 2011, maintained the uncanny ability to take the federal-racketeering indictment in stride.

As court adjourned yesterday, Ligambi wished his relatives a happy Thanksgiving, then turned to Alyson Borgesi and Angelo Lutz, a chef and ex-mob associate, and asked them a question out of earshot of the prosecutors.

"Who makes a better gravy?" he asked. "Be honest."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201311...V62K3oX0yZ4W.99

Your right Cheech what a set-up that was no coincidence that Lutz was there.If and when Georgie Boy gets out I think all hell is going to break loose.He[Borgesi] won't be able to control himself.You can say what you want this war,that war,go after the real criminals,the molestors,the dealers BUT if the feds have a shot at putting Georgie away they will spend and justify and do whatever it takes and turn a blind eye to everything else.Thats the hard-on they have for him.

Doesn't bringing Lutz in to sit with the Ligambi/ Borgesi supporters represent him doing a favor to the defendants? Showing Lou is a liar, and iIf anything wouldn't that do the opposite of stirring the pot and squash any stale beef Georgie might have with Angelo?

Or do you mean that if Georgie gets off he's gonna fuck up again?

Yeah I mean if georgie gets off I just can't see him giving Monacello a pass.Anybody that had anything to do with him going away,you know he's not going to let that go.Lutz is harmless,forget that,you know he's going to want a bigger piece of the pie and if Ligambi gets off obviously I doubt he can leap frog him but if ligambi doesn't get out I'd say Philip Narducci would move right in.Either way do you think Borgesi going to work a 9-5 job and spend weekends at the zoo or shopping at home depot.Just my opinion.

22 - thinking if uncle joe gets off he asks and gets shelved ; lots of rumors of Stevie at the top , how do he and Narducci get along , borgesi would be aligned with Stevie and lance and the rest of that crew but question is how much respect do they show Phil .. Stevie has a big crew so would,be tough to take him down.

Agreed Cheech.

But in the words of Tony's Lawyer in the Soprano's "The feds are a business, Anthony. Millions of tax dollars invested in watching your ass. Sooner or later, just like you, they're going to want a return on that investment."

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No, I don't expect him to go legit. But just cause he's earning again doesn't mean he's gonna whack out Lou. I mean there's fresh out of prison and then there's Richie Aprile fresh out of prison.

But ya, I guess Georgie could be out-and-in again if he acts out too much. And he's gonna be under more heat than anyone. For some reason, that winner is the US Atty's favorite Philly Mob punching bag.

for anyone who hasnt seen these..

i'm bad with pictures is that Mikey Lance and whose the guy up front with the beard

I agree Sonny, one of my favorite, if not my all time favorite quote from that show. Neil Mink was awesome. Check out my signature.

the bald guy is phil narducci i dont know the others

Cool pics. Prob been 30 years since the last public pic of Narducci. Is Frank Narducci active anymore? He's out and about, no? Also, we hear alot about the Scarfo guys getting out and back involved in things, but besides Phil Narducci and Joe Grande, have any of them ried to reestablsih themselves?

i know the narduccis own that bar that they are at i forgot the name its next to mad river in old city near 2nd and market i think

Encore at 112
112 Chestnut St

yeah thats it encore.. its actually not bad ive been there before i knew it was owned by the narduccis its next to 879 lounge right?

yeah

pimp lol

Whoa,never would have guessed that was Phil Narducci,nothing wrong just so different than those 25 years ago pictures.The thought never entered my mind,just different than I expected.Great pictures though

heres an article with phil and his nephew talking about encore.. http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/Ac...=1&showAll=

I may be wrong but his nephew may be related to the baldino who got hit outside the Oregon diner in the early 90s...also I think his nephew may have been pinched in the Borgata bust with nicodemo

Frank Baldino was hit outside the Melrose diner by Veasey not the Oregon

they are related im not sure how the one picture has that micali guy that was busted in the borgata

Sonny - yes you are right that's what I meant sometimes I confuse the two - I thought that was Micali in the pic .. Wonder if he's looking for the button these days

Is that Phil narducci at encore?

Great find

any news on the two baldinos from the borgata case?
weren't they quite young? mid-20s?

them two baldino kids got probation from the borgata thing i believe.. and i know the club is owned by there mom but one of the brothers has his own barber shop too i think.

yeah their mom is narduccis sister susan

Yeah. One of them does, his barbershop is Hairs to your barber shop or something like that

Yes, thats definitely Andrew Micali (second from the right). He's on the PA Casino exclusion list now just like he is in NJ and Delaware too. I think Andrew might be the younger brother of Michael "Nippy" Micali who got hit back in the 1980's. Possibly cousins.

http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/files/exclusion/Andrew_Micali.pdf

No idea who the guy with the shades on is.

Joe Baldino is in the second row on the far left. That guy on the far right next to Micali looks pretty familiar. I think he might be Joe's brother Frank Baldino but i'm not positive on that.

Both of the Baldino's are banned from PA casino's according to the state website. Ralph Abbruzzi is too.

Here's the PA Casino exclusion list

http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=173&list=photo

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

The Life And Times Of Bent Finger Lou
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello didn't deny that he was cheating on his first wife.

But the mob associate said his business partner, Jack Palermo, was out of line when he told Monacello's wife about it. So he pistol-whipped him, hitting him over the head with the butt of a revolver.

And when another associate lied about $50,000 in gambling debts that he had secretly run up on Monacello, the martial arts trained wiseguy said he "gave him a little kick in the head."

He also acknowledged that he coached three other associates to lie to a Delaware County grand jury that was investigating him in 2008. And that he once told another deadbeat gambler that if he didn't come up with the money he owed, he would be "dead."

Monacello, testifying for the third day in the retrial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi, spent most of his time on the witness stand today in a verbal sparring match with Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr.

It was the life and time of Bent Finger Lou, tales of assaults with baseball bats, gambling debts, extortions and shakedowns. The cross-examination is expected to continue when the trial resumes tomorrow.

Monacello, 47, occasionally showed the flashes of bravado and arrogance that were the hallmarks of his testimony during the first trial -- "I'll get back to you on that," he smugly told Jacobs in response to a question that he couldn't answer. But for the most part he was matter-of-fact in his answers and in many cases got to retell the same incriminating stories about the defendants that he had told during a day and a half of direct testimony that ended earlier today.

"These are things that go on in the mob, we're criminals remember?" Monacello said in response to one question from the defense attorney. At another point he said that he had "general authorization" from Borgesi to conduct his often violent business affairs.

This came after Jacobs cited one threat or assault after another that Monacello had admitted to and each time asked if Borgesi had given him permission.

When it came to collecting gambling or loansharking money -- which he testified repeatedly he shared with Borgesi -- Monacello said he had permission to "do what I had to do."

Monacello's testimony, while potentially damaging to Jacobs' client, is the linchpin of the government's case against Borgesi. Borgesi's attorney, Christopher Warren, is expected to launch an equally pointed and caustic cross-examination sometime tomorrow.

Jacobs both directly and indirectly challenged Monacello's story, implying repeatedly that Monacello was running his own gambling and loansharking ring and using Borgesi's name and Ligambi's name to enhance his position in the underworld.

But Monacello stuck to the same story he told earlier on direct examination, that he was a mob associate and "point man" for Borgesi on the streets after Borgesi was jailed in 2000 in an unrelated racketeering case. He said that after Borgesi was convicted in 2001 he funneled money to the mobster, usually through his wife.

Jacobs used a tape made by Frank "Frankie the Fixer" DiGiacomo in January 2008 to underscore the point that Monacello knew that he could give up Borgesi and Ligambi to get out from under his own criminal problems.

DiGiacomo, a member of Monacello's street crew, was cooperating with the Pennsylvania State Police at the time and wearing a body wire. In one conversation about a then ongoing Delaware County investigation being conducted by state authorities, Monacello told DiGiacomo that authorities will try to "box" him in, leveling charges against him and then pressuring him "to tell us what you were doing with Georgie and the other guy."

Monacello said that he was referring to Borgesi and Ligambi. He said he turned down offers to cooperate in that case and turned government witness only after he was arrested on federal charges in the current case in May 2011.

At that point, he said, he believed he had been marked for death by Ligambi because he had clashed with mob capo Martin Angelina and had plotted to have Angelina beaten,.

Throughout his testimony, Monacello has insisted that he was working for Borgesi and occasionally funneling money to Ligambi. And he said he had nown "for years" that law enforcement was interested in building another case against Borgesi who, he said on the same tape, the government "had a hot nut for."

"They want to keep Georgie in jail," he said.

While DiGiacomo testified as a government witness in the first trial, he is not listed as a prosecution witness this time. During the first trial his testimony largely undermined Monacello. He told the jury that Monacello conducted most of his underworld activities for his own benefit and he described Borgesi, Ligambi and other defendants in that first case as "good guys."

The defense has said it will call DiGiacomo as a witness if the prosecution does not.

Monacello took several verbal potshots at DiGiacomo today, claiming he "owed the world money" and was not a good witness. He admitted, however, that DiGiacomo had made incriminating tapes that resulted in his arrest and conviction in Delaware County.

Monacello pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, gambling and perjury charges in the Delaware County case and pleaded guilty to plotting an assault on Angelina in a related case brought in Philadelphia. He was sentenced to a total of 23 months in prison and five years probation, serving a little less than seven months in jail.

In coaching DiGiacomo to lie to the grand jury, Monacello admitted that he told him "it's only perjury if you get caught" and also coached him to answer "I don't remember" or "I don't know" when he didn't want to answer a question.

Jacobs hammered at that point every time Monacello used that response to a question he posed.

Moncello also acknowledged that not every act of violence was on behalf of the mob. His assault on Palermo in the basement of Gavone's, a bar-restaurant Monacello had opened at 10th and Wolf Streets, was personal, he said.

Moncello said he was separated at the time and had begun going out with other women.

He said he was cheating on his wife, but not with some of the women Palermo had named.

"He had no right to do that," Monacello said.

He also testified that while he kicked Justin Nastasi in the face over a $50,000 gambling debt, he was just trying to scare him.

"It was a check kick," said Monacello, who said he had a black belt in a form of Korean martial arts. "If I had kicked him I would have knocked him out or broken his jaw."

Nastasi, he said, paid the debt, adding that he later learned Nastasi's family had remortgaged their home to provide the cash.

Jacobs also questioned him on several other debts and money transactions and went into detail about a $6,400 dispute between DiGiacomo and an Angelina associate. Monacello admitted that he coached DiGiacomo to lie to Ligambi about some of the details.

When Jacobs asked if lying to a mob boss might result in death, Monacello replied that DiGiacomo was "not going to get killed for this."

"Because it's not that kind of mob," said Jacobs, who has argued repeatedly that Ligambi is not like the violent mob bosses who ruled in the 1980s and 1990s. Monacello quickly replied, "It's not that kind of lie."

Jacobs and Monacello clashed again over the details of a $30,000 debt that Monacello said he and a business partner were owed. Ligambi and Angelina settled the debt, he said, by taking $11,000 for themselves. Jacobs raised questions about the $19,000 discrepancy, pointing out that this was hardly a loanshark debt since no interest and less than half the principal were paid.

But Monacello said he considered the $11,000 paid to Ligambi and Angelina "a shakedown...what you call an extortion."

"I lent the money," Monacello said. "It wasn't their loan."

Monacello also admitted under cross-examination that he didn't like Borgesi, Ligambi or Borgesi's brother Anthony.

"At this point I'm just glad I'm away from then," he said.

But you don't like them, Jacobs persisted.

"No," Monacello replied.

"And when you don't like someone, there are consequences," Jacobs replied.

The defense is expected to argue that while Monacello could use the butt of a gun, a baseball bat or a martial arts kick to settle scores on the street, once he cut his deal with the government, the only way he could impose consequences for those he disliked was from the witness stand.

The question for the jury is whether Monacello is using the truth or lies to impose those consequences

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/the-life-and-times-of-bent-finger-lou.html#FZi4zqL8VGBTzORZ.99

"martial arts trained wiseguy"

Bent Finger must of been friends with that guy in that one photo with Borgesi. The guy that someone here said owned a karate studio. So Bent Finger was probably the person on the other side of Borgesi in the photo and the cops cropped him out of it just like someone here said.

Fucking Lou probably bought whatever belt he had from the karate studio owner. lol. I bet in reality Lou was a panzy.

monacello just wouldn't do it for me if I'm sitting on the jury stand .. They will prove this guy lies and just wants to get back at Georgie and Joe like they did in the first trial and if they call digiacomo that will only help the defense case .. If they have any doubt about the payments into the car then Georgie should walk .. Trusting this guys word is a far fetch - but then again the trial just getting started

What's up with the spelling? every article has misspelled words lol

So does phillip carlos books, thank god hes dead

LMAO. True.

anything on todays proceedings?

Mob Trial Descends Into Soap Opera

By Ralph Cipriano

Manny and Anthony Borgesi
for Bigtrial.net

Bent Finger Lou was looking at a picture from happier times.

There he was, posing for a snapshot between two smiling women. One was George Borgesi's mother, Manny; the other was Borgesi's wife, Allyson.

"We were all friends," Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello admitted from the witness stand. That was before Monacello became a cooperating witness for the government in the case against Borgesi, the alleged mob underboss, and his uncle, Joe Ligambi, the alleged boss of the Philly mob.

Monacello had the most difficult time talking about Borgesi's mother. "I always thought Manny was the only sincere one through the whole process," he testified.

But a few minutes later, Monacello was ripping George's younger brother, Anthony, as someone who was so jealous of Bent Finger Lou's favored position in the crime family that he was "constantly looking to stab me in the back."

While Monacello was teeing off on Anthony Borgesi, "Ant" was sitting right there in the courtroom soaking it up. Manny Borgesi draped a protective arm around her youngest son's muscular shoulders as Bent Finger Lou piled on the abuse.

Christopher Warren, George Borgesi's lawyer, used cross-examination to delve into such pressing legal issues as how Monacello used to date one of Anthony Borgesi's old girlfriends, and how Bent Finger Lou's ex-wife cut Anthony Borgesi's hair. Isn't this whole mob feud really just some bullshit over women, Warren asked.

Women had nothing to do with it, Monacello said. It might be bullshit, but "this bullshit could cause a serious problem," said Bent Finger Lou. He was staring at Anthony Borgesi when he said it.

It was that kind of a day at the mob trial, as the cross-examination of Bent Finger Lou descended into soap opera, petty gangland feuds, and plenty of name-calling. Why was Uncle Joe pissed at the Geator with the Heater? Did George Borgesi really bite Fat Angelo Lutz on the forehead? And why did Bent Finger Lou label one government witness "a nut case" and another government witness "a mental misfit?"

"This is hysterical," Manny Borgesi was overhead saying. Better than court TV or any reality show, spectators agreed.




The day in court began with George Borgesi and Uncle Joe wishing Anthony Borgesi a happy birthday.

Ed Jacobs, Ligambi's lawyer, asked Bent Finger Lou on cross-examination why he called government witness Anthony Aponick a "nut case."


Aponick was a New York mobster-turned-informant who was Borgesi's cellmate in a federal prison in West Virginia back in 2002 and 2003. According to Monacello, Borgesi and Aponick used to work off their frustrations by engaging in jailhouse wrestling matches.

Bent Finger Lou decided Aponick was a nut case because minutes after they first met, Aponick was hitting Bent Finger Lou up for a $10,000 loan.

"He was a New Yorker," Bent Finger Lou told the jury. Aggressive, and a typical "New York gangster." The introduction between the two men was barely underway when Bent Finger Lou's cell phone rang.

It was George Borgesi on the line, calling from prison. Of course, the feds were wiretapping Borgesi. The feds caught Borgesi trashing Aponick as a wrestler. "You can pin him in 10 seconds," Borgesi told Monacello. "Tell him I can pin him in 5 seconds."

Aponick was a made member of the Bonnano crime family. "I was very leery of him," Monacello said, but he added charitably, "I wouldn't say he was an idiot." The two men went to Lou's Crab Bar, played the jukebox, and downed some shots. They talked about working together. But after the initial meeting, "I never heard from him again," Monacello testified.

Monacello was asked by Jacobs about the early stages of his relationship with George Borgesi.

"At the time I liked him," Monacello conceded. It was George Borgesi who introduced Bent Finger Lou to Frank "Frankie the Fixer" DiGiacomo, a South Philly plumber and wannabe gangster.

Frankie the Fixer "borrowed money from me constantly," Monacello complained. Bent Finger Lou labeled Frankie the Fixer as a "mental misfit" "who loves the life of being a wiseguy." But DiGiacomo was also a chronic deadbeat, Monacello said, a guy he had to repeatedly threaten to collect his money.

Monacello testified how he ran George Borgesi's loansharking business while Borgesi was in jail. And how he paid George Borgesi $300 a month, plus $16,000 every Christmas for seven straight years. He also regularly left money in the glove compartment of Borgesi's wife. She would leave the doors unlocked. Monacello said he would make a deposit and then lock her doors for her.

Jacobs was skeptical of Bent Finger Lou's story. He pointed out that Monacello was under FBI surveillance from 2003 to 2008, but was never spotted making money drops to benefit Borgesi's wife.

"I made sure I wasn't followed," Bent Finger Lou testified.

Yeah right, Jacobs said.

On cross-examination, Monacello was shown photos from the 1999 wedding of Anthony Borgesi. A few weeks before the bachelor party, Monacello testified, George Borgesi got so angry at another gang member, "Fat Angelo Lutz," that he bit Lutz on the forehead and spit out on the sidewalk a piece of flesh the "size of a quarter."

What was Fat Angelo's offense? Monacello said that the 5-foot-4, 400-pound Fat Angelo was responsible for setting up the bachelor party for Anthony Borgesi, and George Borgesi apparently thought Lutz did a terrible job.

Jacobs showed Monacello a picture from Anthony Borgesi's wedding. There was George Borgesi and Fat Angelo beaming like a couple of old pals.

"Do you see any kind of wound on Angelo?" Jacobs asked.

There's a "mark on his forehead," Monacello testified. He said he didn't know how many weeks before the wedding did they stage that bachelor party. Monacello added that "Angelo was often, as I described, beaten by George Borgesi." Monacello described Lutz as George Borgesi's "lackey" and "slave."

Jacobs questioned Monacello about a 2009 incident caught on camera by Fox 29 News, where Uncle Joe Ligambi was seen screaming at Bent Finger Lou. The incident took place outside Ligambi's South Philly house.

Uncle Joe was "venting" about DJ Jerry Blavat, Monacello said, for talking him into a disastrous interview with Philadelphia magazine.

Winding up his cross-examination, Jacobs took Bent Finger Lou through the conditions of his cooperation agreement with the feds. Jacobs emphasized that under the contract, the government had the "sole discretion" to decide whether Monacello had told the truth, and determine how valuable Monacello's cooperation had been.

"So their hooks are in you forever," Jacobs said. If Bent Finger Lou came up short, the government had the right to take another look at his case, right?

"They could re-charge me all over again," Monacello admitted.

When Christopher Warren, George Borgesi's lawyer, cross-examined Monacello, Bent Finger Lou argued over Warren's questions, and frequently made speeches to the jury.

"Are you finished?" Warren asked.

"Yeah," Monacello replied.

At one point, Monacello turned to Judge Eduardo Robreno. "Your Honor," he said, " I have no idea what this guy's talking about."

When Monacello and Warren argued over the status of a mob associate, Monacello settled the dispute by saying, "I'm in the mob, not you. I know who the associates are."

When Warren tried to question Monacello about a conversation between Monacello and George Borgesi that was recorded by the government, Bent Finger Lou insisted that the entire tape be played in court.

The 2003 tape, the product of a government wiretap, caught George Borgesi lecturing Bent Finger Lou about keeping his mouth shut when it came to their joint loansharking operation.

"Don't tell people your business," Borgesi told Monacello. "Don't tell people my business."

Monacello explained to the jury that on the tape, Borgesi was asking Bent Finger Lou to drive down to West Virginia to visit him in prison on a Sunday, if he was "bored."

George Borgesi had just gotten a visit from his brother, Anthony, who lodged many complaints about Bent Finger Lou.

Anthony Borgesi was jealous because George Borgesi was letting him run the loansharking operation. Anthony Borgesi would do anything to cause trouble between Monacello and George Borgesi, Monacello testified.

Monacello had previously testified that George Borgesi had allegedly told him that Anthony Borgesi was not smart, and did not know how to make money. "The only thing he's capable of," Monacello claimed George Borgesi told him, was "screwing young girls and lifting weights."

When Monacello and Warren argued over the meaning of the taped conversation between him and Borgesi, Bent Finger Lou said, "Let's play the tape again."

This time, the judge cut him off.

"We're not going to play the tape again," the judge said.


POSTED BY RALPH CIPRIANO AT 8:55 PM
TRIAL: PHILADELPHIA MOB TRIAL

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/mob-trial-descends-into-soap-opera.html#0wR4Sc25Rsgdcccc.99

Monacello is like a broken record. They did a real shitty job making this case over a decade. Think about how much money was wasted! Even if there found guilty, that was still a waste a money. and then everyones paying taxes and basically paying for them to be in jail. lol funny how it all works

That asian guy, the US Atty? I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up working as appointed council in East PA Small Claims Court.

It's hard to say how it's really going from just reading the articles. But it does sound like just a total replay of the first trial to me.

Is anybody here getting the daily audio off of the PACER site?

If I didn't have Law finals I would be catching that. Damn… do they archive the audio?

Really not sure how long the audio is made available. But i think they post it a day or two later. But again i'm not sure.

One guy was getting it and posting up the mp3's during the first trial but i've lost contact with him.

As a student of that stuff, I'd really like to hear the entire trial over xmas break. Damn, that's a shame.

If anyone has audio recordings of either Ligambi trial, PM me. $ for copies.

Frank i think you can just sign up for a PACER account. You put a credit or debit card on record on the site and they bill you as you go depending on what you download. I can't remember the prices though...but i don't think it's too expensive. The audio files probably cost more then the transcripts though.

Just went on there and registered. Neat site.

The Bonnano guy from NY (Aponnick) buried Georgie today. Back on tomorrow to put the fork in him. Can't wait to see what Borgesis' attorney has for cross examnaition of him.

Is Aponnick made? I always thought he wasn't but a recent article said he was. Plus Aponnick doesn't sound Italian unless it's northern Italy.

who is the guy with the sunglasses? I don't think he is hot and sexy or ugly, but he isn't bad looking, I am just wondering why he is wearing sunglasses in a fully lit room? Maybe they are prescription or he has astigmatism or something?

if your talking about the article from yesterday that stated Aponnick was a made member of the Bonnano Family, that was a mistake. If you check Bigtrial.net, they edited that rightfully calling him an associate, cause thats what he was. there was another mistake calling Borgesi the "alleged underboss", they also corrected that to "reputed capo". you can almost always tell the little differences from when its Anastasia writing the post and when its Cipirano.

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/witness-puts-price-tag-on-mob-membership.html

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Witness Puts Price Tag On Mob Membership

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

An outsider can buy his way into the Philadelphia mob for $10,000.

Cash.

That, at least, is what New York mob informant Anthony Aponick said he was asked to cough up to George Borgesi while they were cellmates in a federal prison in West Virginia back in 2003.

"He said I would become a member of his crew," said Aponick as he testified today at the racketeering conspiracy retrial of Borgesi and his uncle, mob boss Joe Ligambi. "He wanted $10,000."

The membership fee was just 10 percent of what Boston mobster Bobby Luisi said he had to pay Joey Merlino back in the late 1990s to become a made member of the organization. Whether that was a reflection of an economic downturn in the underworld or whether Aponick was getting a special discount could not be determined. Like Aponick, Luisi became a close associate of Borgesi's. And like Aponick, he eventually became an FBI informant.

Aponick said his dealings with Borgesi also came with an ominous warning.

"Listen, no matter what, don't fuck me," he said Borgesi told him as Aponick was about to be released from prison in 2003. "If you fuck me, I'll kill you and your whole family."

Aponick, who was already cooperating with the FBI by that time, disregarded the warning.

Aponick celebrated his 43rd birthday this morning by making his public debut as a government witness. Describing himself as an associate of the Bonanno crime family in New York, he said he befriended Borgesi after being transferred to the federal prison in Beckley, W. Va., in 2002.

Borgesi was serving a 14-year sentence for a racketeering conviction. Aponick had been sentenced to 93 months for a series of armed robberies. They and several other mob members and associates hung out together in the federal institution, Aponick said.

He described Borgesi as a "serious" mobster, but also as a funny and witty individual whom he genuinely liked. He said that laughed, joked and cooked meals together, and eventually became cellmates.

While reticent to discuss mob business at first, Aponick said Borgesi eventually confided in him and also urged him to move to Philadelphia after he was released from prison. While he was not a full-blooded Italian-American (his mother was Italian, but his father was Ukrainian and Lithuanian), Aponick said Borgesi assured him that he could become a made -- formally initiated member -- of the Philadelphia mob.

The price tag was $10,000.

Aponick is due back on the stand when the trial resumes tomorrow. His testimony is considered crucial to the government's case against Borgesi who prosecutors allege continued to run a mob operation from prison while serving his 2001 sentence for a racketeering conviction.

Dressed in a gray, sharkskin suit, white shirt and tie, and speaking with a thick Brooklyn accent, the five-foot-six Joe Pesce-look-alike gangster testified for nearly four hours. Much of what he said supported and corroborated the testimony of Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, another Borgesi associate who finished three days of testimony on Tuesday.

Among other things, Aponick said Borgesi boasted of his own involvement in 11 mob murders, some of which he had been charged with acquitted and others for which he had avoided prosecution.

"He told me he beat 11 murders," said Aponick. "Im from the streets. When you say you bheat something, that means you did it."

Like Monacello, Aponick described Borgesi, 50, as someone who enjoyed his status as a mob leader and his reputation for violence.

"He told me he was the `coon-see' (consigliere)," Aponick said. He also said that Borgesi told him his uncle (Ligambi) was the boss but that the crime family "belonged" to Joey Merlino, Steven Mazzone and Borgesi, all three of whom were convicted in the 2001 racketeering case.

Borgesi is the only one of seven defendants in that case still in jail.

"He said the family belonged to him, Merlino and Mazzone," Aponick said. "His uncle was minding the store (and) would have a step aside" when they came out of prison. If not, Borgesi said, Ligambi or anyone else trying to run the organization "would have serious problems."

Aponick said he began cooperating with the FBI in September 2002 while he was Borgesi's cellmate. He said he did so because he was finishing his 93-month sentence and didn't want to go back into the mob life. His cooperation earned him a six-month reduction in that jail term.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Aponick said he was a Bonanno crime family associate for more than 20 years and was engaged in gambling, drug dealing, hijacking, extortions and robberies for the organization. He said Borgesi encouraged him to leave New York and move to Philadelphia where he would become part of the crew being run by Monacello while Borgesi's was in jail.

He said he described Monacello as "his man on the street."

"I had never been to Philadelphia," Aponick said. But he went along with the plan as part of his cooperating agreement with the FBI.

He, like Monacello, also said he was surprised that Borgesi used his wife Alyson to relay messages about mob business to him and other associates.

"It's not customary to get a woman involved to that extent," he said after detailing messages relayed to him in letters and phone calls by Borgesi's wife.

He said he and Borgesi discussed setting up an after hours club and a men's clothing store through which they could run gambling and loansharking operations in the Philadelphia area. But he said Borgesi told him repeatedly to stay away from his uncle.

"He said his uncle was greedy," Aponick said.

The jury was also shown a video of Aponick meeting in Brooklyn with Borgesi's brother Anthony and Mauro Goffredo, a Borgesi associate in the trash business, while Aponick was in a halfway house in New York completing his prison term.

The jury has already heard a phone conversation Borgesi had with Monacello and Aponick after Aponick came to Philadelphia and met with Monacello at Ralph's, a restaurant on Ninth Street. The tape is expected to be played again so that Aponick can explain parts of what the government contends was coded conversation. Borgesi made the call from prison where all phone calls are taped and monitored.

Aponick's motivation for testifying and his credibility are both expected to be challenged when cross-examination begins some time tomorrow. One of the things the jury has yet to hear is that shortly after his release from prison in 2003, and while he was cooperating with the FBI, Aponick robbed several banks in New York. He was arrested for those robberies and his cooperation agreement negated.

But he managed to convince federal authorities to give him a second chance. His new deal resulted in a three-year sentence for the bank robberies and his agreement to help make the case against Borgesi.

Aponick was not called as a witness in the first trial that ended with a hung jury on the conspiracy count that Borgesi and Ligambi now face,.

The defense will argue that Aponick has used Borgesi as a trading chit to get out from under his own criminal problems. That same argument has been presented to the jury in an attempt to undermine Monacello's testimony.

Damn… that's pretty damning. I score it 50 points, Government. 50 points, Philly Family.

My prediction:
-Georgie dies in the can.
-Uncle Joe skates free and joins Skinny Joey in Florida. He's the real deal, the 10% that doesn't die or end up in prison.
-US Atty Han accepts transfer to US Public Defender's, Southern District of New Jersey
-George Anastasia writes a new book, "Bringing Down the Philly Mob, Part: IIIIIIII."

Lol

What time does court usually start?

not made

This Apponick guy.. you gotta be kidding me. i cant believe they dont have any better witnesses then morons like Anthony Apponick who tries hittin up monacello for a 10k loan the first day he meets him. and then he says he was going to pay 10k to get made in philly. he was probably going to use the 10k for drugs and never come back to philly again.

Might be time for the higher ups in the Philly mob to begin questioning the usefulness of a guy like Borgesi. He's clearly a shit magnet; Luisi, Monacello, and Apponick? These guys are supposed to be making better choices of who they include in their circle. Borgesi is doing a pretty horrible job of surveying the talent. Plus, he's an arrogant guy with a Napoleon complex that attracts law enforcement attention like flys on shit.

He's clearly an idiot and a loser. If Joe gets off and Borgesi he should turn his back on him and shelve him for being stupid...

this guy cut a deal with the feds got out and robb abunch of banks no jurys will believe this guy. always thought the consig was surposed to be cool and calm not biteing guys heads.

At least half of the Philly family are just like Borgesi, tough but extremely dumb. Street thugs, nothing more. He's probably well liked in the family because most of them are morons, just like George.

He'll probably get found guilty next year, do another good stint in prison, come out and go straight back in again.

Just shows how weak the Philly family are, this guy is a captain and was acting administration, embarrassing.

At trial today no way the jury convicts these guys on the crazy testimony given by Apponick....guy tripped over his stories left ans right and was made to look like a POS big time by defense....saw some jurors making ugly faces at the guy

"At least half of the Philly family are just like Borgesi, tough but extremely dumb. Street thugs, nothing more. He's probably well liked in the family because most of them are morons, just like George."

LOLLL!!!! Extremely Dumb...

yep I was there today also, Aponick got eaten alive! The jurors were clearly not psyched

Although I agree completely it baffles me that people still consider Joe Ligambi Boss. He was never boss, only acting boss, which is a postion he no longer holds.

What kind of ugly faces? "Go fuc yourself" ugly faces? "This guy is a rat bastard" ugly faces? or "what a moron" ugly faces?
LOL!

I have to say I'm a little put off that the guy would cooperate with the feds for a lousy 6 month reduced sentence. To me it would be a bigger pain in the a$$ to get dressed up, put on a uncomfortable suit and tie, and have to sit there for hours and pay attention while a bunch of lawyers asked me a bunch of smartly worded questions about somewhere I have never lived or worked personally myself.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

Words And Meanings Argued At Mob Trial
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net


What was said in a taped telephone conversation or written in the letter or Christmas card was not in dispute.

But what the words meant was the focus of nearly four hours of cross-examination today after mob informant Anthony Aponick, 43, spent a second day on the witness stand in the racketeering conspiracy retrial of George Borgesi and his uncle, mob boss Joseph Ligambi.

Aponick, a New York mob associate who was Borgesi's cellmate in a federal prison in Virginia for parts of 2002 and 2003, clashed repeatedly with Christopher Warren, Borgesi's defense attorney.

Warren, trying to underscore in the jury's mind that much of what Aponick has testified to is uncorroborated, came back again and again to a simple query.

"We just have to take your word?" the lawyer asked.

"It's the truth," Aponick responded.

The verbal tap dance went on for most of the day and will likely continued tomorrow when Warren concludes his questioning and Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr., takes his turn at discrediting the second key prosecution witness to testify in the case.

Aponick was forced to concede that some of the conversations and letters he had received from Borgesi and Borgesi's wife Alyson were, in fact, about legitimate business ventures they hoped to undertake in the Philadelphia area, including home building and remodeling.

But he said mobsters often use legitimate businesses as "fronts" or "covers" for illegal activities and that was what he said he and Borgesi were planning.

To which Warren again posed the question, "To give that criminal meaning we again have to believe you?"

At other times Aponick said words like "house," "chick" and "paper" that appeared in letters or were spoken in taped conversations were coded references to Borgesi's demand that Aponick cough up $10,000 in order to become a member of Borgesi's mob crew in Philadelphia.

Warren also focused on the $134,000 federal authorities had spent to relocate Aponick and provide him with a monthly stipend and other expenses while he was a cooperating/protected witness. An itemized rundown of the payments that was part of the cross-examination resulted in a barbed exchange between the witness and lawyer.

"I'm confused," Aponick said at one point.

After Warren had gone over some numbers again to clarify, the lawyer asked, "Still confused?"

Aponick quickly replied, "A little bit. I think everybody is."

The expenses the government paid, Aponick said, included surgery for an eye problem. And in an apparent reference to a comment made by Borgesi, he said, "Now I'm not a cross-eyed, junkie fat rat, I'm just a rat."

That, in its own way, was another reference to the debate over words and meanings. That Aponick is a former mobsters turned cooperating witness -- a rat underworld terminology -- is not in dispute. Whether he is telling the truth is the issue.

At another point Aponick told Warren that the lawyer had a problem with "past, present and future tenses" when framing his questions. In his turn, Warren asked Aponick again and again about Christmas greetings, holidays cards and references to food, football games and family members that were part of the written correspondence between Aponick and the Borgesis.

"Is this some cryptic, hidden Mafia meaning?" Warren asked a half dozen times after pointing to seemingly innocuous comments. Aponick conceded in most cases the words were simply what they implied....but not always.

Neither the witness nor the lawyer gave an inch during the verbal sparring match.

Aponick conceded he had "betrayed" the trust federal authorities had placed in him by committing eight bank robberies after his release from prison in September 2003 and while he was working as a confidential informant for the FBI in building a case against Borgesi.

"I made some bad personal choices," he said. But then offered a classic underworld explanation,

Aponick said he was in debt to members of the Colombo crime family for about $50,000 in gambling losses.

"I figured all the government could do was put me back in jail," he said. "They (the Colombos) could kill me." He said about $25,000 from the bank robberies went to the Colombos, but stumbled when asked about the total amount he had grabbed and what the rest of the money was used for.

He denied Warren's inference that he was a drug addict -- "I haven't used drugs since 1997," he said -- but said the money went for "expenses."

Aponick also tried to refute Warren's contention that he has consistently "played" the government by working deals to get out from under his own criminal problems. When he was asked if he hadn't offered to cooperate back in 1997 when he was arrested for a series of armed robberies, Aponick said he had "talked" with authorities, but never agreed to cooperate.

"If I had cooperated," he said, "the entire Bonanno crime family would be in jail and we wouldn't be here."

Warren also hammered away at a "pitch" letter Aponick wrote to authorities seeking their help yet again after his arrest for the bank robberies. In the letter, Aponick said he was hoping for a three-year sentence, rather than the four-to-eight years he was facing. He said if the feds would vouch for him, he'd gladly go back to work on the Borgesi case, writing that he'd be "back in business against old Georgie Boy" and offering to "work for free."

Warren zeroed in again, asking Aponick if his entire plan was simply to "set Georgie up" in order to curry favor with the government.

Aponick denied it.

"I'm just here to tell you what he told me," he said.

He also admitted that he had been drummed out of the Witness Security Progam again in August after an arrest. But he said the charges was unfounded. While the judge has barred specific questions about the incident, a pretrial hearings provided some details.

Aponick was arrested in a domestic dispute case for allegedly throwing his wife out of a moving car. Those charges were later dismissed. Judge Eduardo Robreno said at the pretrial hearing that he would not allow the conspiracy trial to become a stage to rehash that case.

The conspiracy case against Borgesi is based primarily on the testimony of Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and Aponick. The government alleges that while serving a 14-year sentence for a racketeering conviction in 2001, Borgesi continued to run a mob operation from prison.

Monacello, who testified earlier, has been described as Borgesi's "point man" on the street in gambling and loansharking businesses. Aponick said he was to join Monacello in those businesses and expand them for Borgesi.

The debate over what was said and what it meant is expected to continue when Aponick returns to the stand tomorrow. A key issue for the defense is trying to offer a legitimate reason why Aponick, a New York mobster, ended up meeting with Monacello in a Ninth Street Italian restaurant shortly after his release from prison and why Borgesi, from prison, called Monacello while the dinner meeting was in progress.

The tape of that call has been played twice for the jury with both Monacello and Aponick offering explanations of what was said and what was meant. That meeting and that phone call go to the heart of the case against Borgesi.

George Anastasia can be contacted at George@bigtrial.net.

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/words-and-meanings-argued-at-mob-trial.html#AltcqGJpBAFgDcad.99

So what happens to Joe if he gets off? He's been "boss" (acting boss.. whatever) for over 13 years. What, does he just file in line with a crew and crack heads at age 73?

Just my guess is that if he has enough money he'll retire down to boca with joey. But if he needs the money, and he doesnt retain the acting boss position, he might go back to doing what did before, making book. After all, the philly mob is really just a glorified crew of book makers.

I don't think he will file in line with a crew of crack heads frankmazola. He would probably be semi retired or work in slightly lower capacity then he does now as acting boss.

I doubt he did it for the six months. The feds relocate and continuously pay people and offer many other perks better then the average joe like me working 9-5. I was in court today they got all into everything he has received from them and for a loser like this bum it was his meal ticket.

I wouldn't actually expect him to. They should shelve Georgie and put him in as "coon-see" (never heard it called that before).

I don't know what Georgie did or didn't do on the street, but divorcing his wife with 2 little girls while he's in the joint? That aint right. Now they have his name and gotta listen to all the stuff in the press about him. They are who I really feel bad for.

I hear what you guys are saying about this guy being a scumbag and the jury not believing him but I think what was missing in the first trial was someone to backup what Lou was saying. Even if you don't think this guy is credible it's going to be tough to overcome both of these guys having the same story. Like I said, I wasn't there today but I really don't think it looks good for Georgie. Uncle Joe has a better chance at beating the case.

If Ligambi really wanted it he could be official boss. I'm sure the scarfo guys like Grande and Narducci would back him. Obviously I don't know if how tight he is with them but I;m sure they go back a long way.

Let's face it if he beat the rap and declare's himself boss, put Chang and Mazzone as UB and Consig, Grande, Licata, Lancelotti, Sal Mazzone and Lou Fazzini as captains, who's going to argue? Philly haven't produced any real heavy hitters in the last two decades.

Ha maybe they should do more then shelve him? I mean, if they are taking the thing they base their entire existence on earth after serious. I mean?

Who knows you could be right

So does this finally end the debate?

why would you say Fazzini would be a captain, he's gonna be in jail for the next 5 years and hes Licatas protege,he will probably take over the north jersey crew one day.

Phil narducci , is gonna be a player in the Philly mob , if ligambj goes to prison

Narducci is already a player. I have been told Phil is a captain... and guys remember at one point Mazzone was Uncle jokes under boss. They are all real close. Stevie mazzone would probably rather Joe be acting boss and mazzone can run the show on the low and ligambi takes all the heat.

I'll admit this guy Aponick is very shady,but like somebody else said you now have 2 guys saying almost the exact same thing.I mean look at Georgie's history he's not going to sit back while in jail or not and just behave.Sure these lawyers are great at making you look bad and that's what it comes down to.It may be a reach but we saw it in the O.J. trial,Johnnie Cochran made Mark Furman look like a racist and then suddenly everything changes.Did O.J. do it? Of course he did but his lawyer got him off.

this guy has been locked up for like 15 years....they taped all his call and read all the letters yet its still all circumstantial

Scoops is only acting capo isn't he?

Scoops has been the capo up there for years. Who would he be 'acting' for? That crew is small and barely active. Scoops is the one who makes the most money up there. He is the Newark capo for Philly.

Scoops has been active for over 30 years...not acting like SP said

Centerino was the captain of the newark crew until at some point licata took it over from him becoming offcial capo and centerino got bumped down to soldier in that crew. Centerino is the guy that licata and ligambi were complaining about in the steffenelli tapes, they were saying how "they couldnt make three fucking cents with guy", and ligambi said that centerino cornered him at a christmas party and complained how broke he was.

One thing the lawyers are doing is making the legitimate work that Georgie was talking about with Apponick look just like that building houses by getting permits and codes, etc...then Appoonick kept saying those are just "mob" words for cash, the lawyers nailed him on asking him if all these different things from football to building is code for $10,000....the apponick guy is pretty funny up there but he is a slime bucket

It's real obvious now why they didn't use Aponick the first time around....the guy is a disaster.

I feel like Georgie and Uncle Joe will both win,then I can't wait to hear what the jury has to say.Everybody knows the reputation of the Federal Government,why in the world would they put Aponick up there.I mean did they think this was rheir trump card.didn't they think that the cross-examination from these lawyers was going to demolish him.Maybe he's telling the truth but all those things he did,makes him look pretty bad.Its going to be ashame for the gov. they wanted to keep him behind bars so bad.

both not guilty IMO

I've asked this before. But its even more now that there's a 2nd trial. If Ligambi gets off, he should go after US Gov. For some money. No bail + he lost age 71-74 (granted we all know he's guilty as sin), that should be worth some sort of settlement.

There shouldn't have been a debate after those tapes came out. Even before Aponick's testimony, the Philly guys referred to Ligambi as "our acting boss" to guys from other families.

As far as I know you can't sue the government for not getting bail. Let's be honest, if he beats the case he is going to be doing backflips. He won't give a shit about a settlement. Not spending the rest of your living days in a federal prison is like winning the lottery in his situation.

Yup...it really doesn't get much clearer then that. When your introduced by members of your family as the acting boss on tape to members of another family.

But i have to admit i was one of the guys who really thought Ligambi was the boss...not just the acting boss. Looks like i was wrong on that one....oh well.

I understand what you are saying but the conspiracy charge is very difficult to beat. They got lucky the first time around when Frankie the fixer undermined their own witness. The prosecution won't put him on this time, and even though the defense will, his testimony will mean a lot less coming from them.

I will say that the prosecution is taking a chance using two scumbags on the stand but that is what they have at this point. As long as they both say the same thing I don't think it will hurt them as much. Remember this isn't New York. The Philly juries aren't tired of rats the way that New York juries are. They may give credibility to what these guys are saying.

I think Uncle Joe's case is going to come down to whether or not the jury believes that he forcefully took over the poker machines via extortion or a legitimate sale. Eddie Jacobs is as good as it gets so he may be able to raise reasonable doubt. I think he may get fucked because he is on trial with his nephew. I really do think they get George this time.

Joey does a pretty good job of making it look like he is done with the life. But I guess that's the purpose of it...

I am not trying to kiss Joe's ass but I really think he is the best Philly has had since Bruno (may not be saying much). He's seems like a real "let's not run down there and fuck a cow. Lets walk down the hill and fuck all the cows" kind of guy. 99-present has to make him longest running unconvicted Don since the old days.

I'm not sure what you mean by "unconvicted". In the time frame you talk about, Joey spent 12 years locked up. Not very successful. I do think that he is lucky that he isn't doing life for any number of the murders and attempted murders. In terms of successful bosses, Nicky Scarfo was by far more successful. He had a five year run where he made millions. Joey has never and will never see that kind of money. The worst part is, the Philly family is so small that all it would take is someone in Joey's inner circle flipping to take him and most of the rest of them down. So as successful as Joey seems now that could all change in the drop of a hat (or a major conviction).

i think he was talking about ligambi, he was forgetting that merlino has remained official boss during that whole time period of ligambis "reign".

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013

Mob Trial Recesses For Five Days
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

The anonymously chosen jury in the conspiracy retrial of mob boss Joe Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi headed home this afternoon for a five-day break.

Testimony will resume on Thursday to accommodate judicial scheduling issues earlier in the week.

For all intents and purposes the prosecution has wrapped up its case against Borges who faces only a racketeering conspiracy charge.

This week included crucial testimony from two mob informants who tied the volatile South Philadelphia mobster to ongoing organized crime activities while Borgesi was in prison following a conviction in an unrelated racketeering case in 2001.

Anthony Aponick, 43, a cellmate of Borgesi's in a federal prison in West Viriginia, completed his testimony this morning with a brief cross-examination by Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr.

Aponick first took the stand on Wednesday. His testimony largely corroborated the story told by Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello who testified before him. Monacello, 47, has been described as Borgesi's "point man" in gambling and loansharking operations.

The two witnesses were both hammered on cross-examination with defense attorneys challenging both their stories and their reasons for cooperating. Both admitted to committing a series of crimes and being part of an organized crime network.

"We're criminals," Aponick said at one point.

His matter-of-fact descriptions were in synch with Monacello who toned down his delivery considerably from the first time he took the stand last year in a trial in which Ligambi and Borgesi were defendants.

The jury in that case hung on the racketeering conspiracy charge that both defendants now face. Ligambi is also facing two gambling counts and a witness tampering count.

Prosecutors hope to complete their case before Christmas. Judge Eduardo Robreno has indicated that court will not be in session Christmas week. How many witnesses the defense opts to call could determine how much longer the trial will last.

Speculation is that jury deliberation will begin shortly after the New Year.

In the last trial, which included seven defendants, the jury deliberated for nearly three weeks. At one point Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor likened the process to wandering in the dessert. Four defendants were convicted in a confusing jury verdict in which the panel rejected the bulk of the prosecution's case. Of 71 charges, the jury came back with guilty verdicts on only five.

Joseph "Scoops" Licata was acquitted and walked out of court a free man. Borgesi came close to walking away with the jury finding him not guilty of 13 of the 14 counts he faced. But the panel hung on the racketeering conspiracy charge, resulting in the retrial. Ligambi beat five of the nine counts he faced.

A month into this trial and it's obvious the prosecution has streamlined its presentation. The fact that there are only two defendants is part of the reason. But the case has also been presented in a clearer and more understandable fashion.

The consensus after the last trial was the that jury had no idea of what a conspiracy was.

This time the panel, based on their comportment and approach each day in the courtroom, appears to be following the case closely. There is little indication of any confusion. If that assessment is correct, it might not bode well for the defendants.

A conspiracy charge is heavily weighted in the prosecution's favor. As explained by the judge to the jury, a defendant doesn't have to commit a crime, but merely conspire with others who carry out the criminal activity.

The prosecution hoped to put Ligambi into a conspiracy by introducing evidence that he was the boss or acting boss of the Philadelphia crime family, the prosecution. Among other things, the prosecution keyed in on a lunch meeting at a restaurant in North Jersey in May 2010 in which Ligambi and several other Philadelphia crime family leaders meet with leaders of the Gambino crime family.

Borgesi, jailed since 2000, has been tied to a conspiracy through the testimony of Monacello and Aponick. A key part of that allegation is Aponick's trip to Philadelphia after he was released from prison to meet with Monacello.

The meeting, at Ralph's Italian Restaurant on Ninth Street, was set up by Borgesi, both Aponick and Monacello said. Borgesi called from prison during the dinner and that taped phone call (all prison calls are monitored and taped) was played twice for the jury.

While the defense tried to argue that Aponick and Monacello were meeting to discuss legitimate business deals, both witnesses said the meeting was set up to expand on Borgesi's proposal for Aponick to move from New York to Philadelphia and become part of a gambling and loansharking operation that Monacello was overseeing.

In separate testimony today, the jury heard about how authorities closely watched Borgesi while he was an inmate in a federal prison in Beckley, West Virginia. Aponick was his cellmate there for about a year between 2002 and 2003.

Borgesi, because of his mob connections, was designated "an inmate of concern." All his phone calls were monitored and recorded and all his correspondence (letters he wrote and those he received) were read, copied and copies forwarded to the FBI.

The jury was also shown prison records indicating that Ligambi visited Borgesi 14 times between 2002 and 2009 and Monacello visited 12 times. Other records showed that Ligambi had placed $7,700 in Borgesi's prison commissary during that period and that mobster Anthony Staino, who visited five times, placed an additional $1,600.

A prison official testified that inmates were limited to spending $250-a-month from their commissary account. He also said the $7,700 provided by Ligambi was "excessively" high and out of the ordinary for most inmates.

The jury also heard that Borgesi had two prison violations while at Beckley, once for fighting with another inmate and once for assaulting his wife in the prison visitation room while she was visiting him.

Testimony and evidence introduced during the trial has portrayed Alyson Borgesi as her husband's most loyal confidante. Both Monacello -- who referred to her one time as "Alyson Corleone" -- and Aponick said they were surprised that Borgesi shared mob business information with his wife and used her to pass messages.

"It's unusual for a woman to be involved," said Aponick who held himself out as an associate of the Bonanno crime family in New York and one who from the age of 12 had been around the mobster "life."

George Anastasia can be contacted at George@bigtrial.net.


Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/mob-trial-recesses-for-five-days.html#eF6WtDxpkTt5Evsf.99

I...I don't wanna do that...No, not me.......

Well acting boss… whatever. Still defacto leader. and ya, I was talking about Ligambi. I mean, maybe he didn't have as robust of a pie as Scarfo but he ran... something. Call Philly what you will. 12 years the boss… er, the leader, acting boss.

Ya i agree a 12 year run for someone who the FBI thought(at least for most of it) was the offcial boss was a pretty good run. But to say he was the greatest boss since bruno, im not so sure. Yes maybe the most low key and not so much internal strife but he definatley seemed like someone who "ate alone", in the words of anthony staino "joe dont give a fuck about the street, he just wants his money."

Mob trial ends early for day amid rumors of juror intimidation

MENSAH M. DEAN & WILLIAM BENDER, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER DEANM@PHILLYNEWS.COM, 215-568-8278
POSTED: Sunday, December 8, 2013, 3:01 AM


THE FEDERAL racketeering retrial of two reputed Philadelphia mobsters came to an abrupt halt yesterday afternoon when Judge Eduardo C. Robreno ordered the courtroom cleared of spectators.

Testimony never resumed for the day, and the trial has been put on hold until Thursday, said the attorneys, who added that they were barred by Robreno from disclosing the reason for the sudden break.

But hallway chatter indicated that four jurors had reported that they felt intimidated by Alyson Borgesi, 38, the wife of defendant and former Philly mob consigliere George Borgesi, 50.

Among those making that assertion was Manny Borgesi, who is George's mother and the sister of his co-defendant, reputed mob boss Joseph Ligambi, 74.

Both men are being tried on racketeering charges that center on sports betting, loan-sharking, extortion and the operation of illegal video-poker machines.

Manny Borgesi, in the hallway and speaking into a cellphone, was overheard saying that jurors 3, 5, 12 and an alternate juror claimed that Alyson was trying to intimidate them from her seat in the courtroom.

"The government wants to bar the family from the courtroom," Manny Borgesi was heard saying.

George Borgesi's attorney, Christopher Warren, said "no one was intimidated" and that Manny Borgesi was mistaken about what she said because she was not in the courtroom after it was cleared.

"She can say that, but she was mistaken," Warren said as he and Alyson Borgesi left the court building about an hour after everyone else involved with the trial had already departed. Alyson Borgesi declined to comment.

It was not clear how the judge dealt with the intimidation allegations.

Alyson Borgesi doesn't like being in the spotlight, but her name has surfaced repeatedly during the trial - so much so that some members of the Borgesi family think the federal prosecutors are trying to drag her into the trial to bait George Borgesi into a courtroom outburst that could influence the jury.

George Borgesi is extremely protective of his wife. In February, he called Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han a "f---in' punk" in court because he felt the prosecutor had disrespected his wife.

Last week, government witness Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello testified that he would pay jailed George Borgesi by putting money in the glove compartment of Alyson's car.

Monacello was heard on a secretly recorded conversation calling her "Alyson Corleone," a reference to the Mafia family in "The Godfather" films. Monacello explained that he called her that because she got involved in a lot of mob business "for a female."

"F---in' liar," Alyson Borgesi muttered at another point during Monacello's testimony.

"How she's not locked up is beyond me, because she's an associate," a frequent trial spectator said yesterday.


Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201312...e3jgOekqLTcI.99

I just came across this and was wondering if it really happened? I mean I believe it, but if you look at the date it says sunday dec 8th and that's tomorrow. So I thought either it was fake or they messed up on the date. Also it was posted at 3:01 AM, so thats strange too. I guess we will find out when the trial resumes. Thats funny, Alyson Corleone is intimidating jurors lol.

Joe Ligambi and George Borgesi are both small guys and they dont look intimidating at all.. Lucky Alyson and Manny Borgesi are there to do it for them haha

uncle joe looking fit at the trial yesterday but aging a bit , lost weight compared to those old mob talk videos - Georgie definately been hitting the gym in prison.. I didn't see juror intimidation .. They cleared the courtroom after the afternoon recess and that was it for the day .. And then word leaked out ..

I don't get were are the loan shark victims like every case in new York you get one bum that borrowed 100k and couldn't keep up with the vig so he gets a beating and runs to the fbi. not one guy got on the stand and said these 2 loan me money right? and what really confuses the shit out of me is the meeting with the legend john Gambino who was convicted in 94 after jumping a 2million dollar bail(crazy)maybe the boss today, phillys most respected capo im guessing in n.y. eyes scoops says this is are acting boss joe ligambi,just 2 yrs ago so ether merlino really pulling the wool over the publics eyes or they got the secret fat tony,funzi tieri,chin, or Lombardo guess who the boss thing going. maybe scarfo is official boss. didn't the luchese say that they didn't recognize anyone boss but scarfo. pretty sneaky maybe theres some old timer like santo idone calling shots or is he dead. at one point there was like 60 70 guys not every one got killed by scarfo stanfa or merlino. but damint I think merlino boss he gets off parole in a couple month. for all the people saying narducchi(fat bald guy) is gonna step up I think he looks just happy hugging/banging super models selling water down vodka and cokes and skimming the register every night. that guys living the life I don't think he's kicking up any protection to joey crew.

Forget the Guys name on the Stand yesterday but before the break he mentioned that he borrowed 500 from battaglini and Sheep and paid 65 a week for 10 weeks .. Assume they will tie in uncle joe to that when the trial resumes but the witness did time in prison , sold drugs and all that - forget the guys name..they were showing picks of sheep and battaglini..jury looked engaged obviously all but two are women, the other are black guys...
Georgie taking notes and speaking with his attorney Warren..Jacobs stands durin the whole afternoon - that may be his style I guess .. He's very good and clear in his presentation - jury seems to be impressed by Eddie

Yeah Gambino and his brother Joe lost 4 or 5 million combined for a few weeks of freedom. I think it was mostly in real estate they posted for their bond.They appealed the lost bond but lost.

If this thing isn't settled by Christmas are they going to take a break until January?

from anastasia's article i posted above-
"Prosecutors hope to complete their case before Christmas. Judge Eduardo Robreno has indicated that court will not be in session Christmas week."

I'm confused,which wife did he assault in the visiting room,was it wife no. 1 or was it Alyson.He's very protective of his wife,only he can beat her up,right.This guy is too much.Your wife travels all that way to visit you and you assault her.WOW

Thanks, kid. I haven't really been following too closely .

Ya no problem, its been a pretty entertaining trial. This defense attorney seems like a real "bruce cutler type", the way he goes after the prosecution's witnesses. His cross examination of jack garcia was priceless.

Garcia- "ive had my share of antipasto"

Def attorney-"you had everyones share"

Yeah, that one was gold .

How's it going, PB?

I'm not positive but i think it was wife #1. I read somewhere she charged him with assault but later dropped the charges. I thought it occured before he got locked up but maybe not.

Agree 100%

Borgesi has been locked up since 1999, so there is no way he could of loaned any money. Ligambi is the acting boss so he most likely wouldn't be loan sharking directly. He's definitely not the one smacking guys around that can't pay him.

ya if they had actual loan shark customers they wouldve testified in the first trial against the lower level guys, since its been just about a full year since then i cant exactly remember if there were any actual loanshark "victims" that testified but there was an undercover FBI agent that posed as a customer and thats when anthony staino was recorded boasting about being the "CFO of the crime family", and recorded threatening the FBI agent saying stuff like he didnt want to have to hurt him, those recordings basically sunk him. it was only over like 5k loan to lol. but like ted said ligambi was smart enough to stay away from street stuff like that so there isnt anything to link him to it.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201312..._attention.html

Alyson Borgesi, wife of reputed mob figure on trial, getting more attention


Jeremy Roebuck
Inquirer Staff Writer

Sunday December 8, 2013


PHILADELPHIA Walking into federal court each morning, Alyson Borgesi, wife of reputed Philadelphia mob consigliere George Borgesi, has made a habit of greeting those present with a now familiar refrain.

"Enjoying the show?" she asks, cracking a sardonic smile.

But as her husband's racketeering retrial entered its second month last week, she increasingly found herself cast as his unwilling costar.

The trial came to an early halt Friday after four jurors accused the petite, 38-year-old brunette - a woman whose resumé includes stints as a travel agent and candy saleswoman - of trying to intimidate them from the court gallery, Borgesi family members said.

Earlier in the week, several government witnesses accused Alyson Borgesi of serving as caretaker to her spouse's criminal empire, as her husband served out a 14-year federal prison term. She passed on orders to his mob soldiers, kept up on his press clippings, and accepted thousands of dollars in cash payments stuffed in the glove box of her car, they said.

Her involvement went so deep, one witness jokingly testified, her husband's associates nicknamed her "Alyson Corleone."

Prosecutors, too, have shown greater interest in Alyson Borgesi this time around, posing more probing questions to witnesses about her purported involvement than they did during his first trial last year.

Her name has been dropped with such frequency in recent days that one Borgesi family supporter wondered aloud: "When did Alyson get indicted here?"

"It's not customary to get the women involved to that extent," former New York mobster Anthony Aponick, who was testifying for the prosecution, told jurors Thursday.

Prosecutors allege George Borgesi, 52, and reputed mob boss Joe Ligambi ran a violent loan-sharking and illegal gambling network through threats of violence and death.

Alyson Borgesi has flatly denied any criminal activity of her own. She declined to be interviewed for this story, saying she did not want to disrupt her husband's trial.

The portrait of her that has emerged throughout the case remains a study in contrasts.

On one hand, she has come off as a doting wife, frequently visiting, writing, or calling her husband in the West Virginia federal detention center where he has idled for much of the last decade. Talk of her hospitality; her pet Yorkie, Jack; and her Christmas cards featuring Charlie Brown's Snoopy have peppered courtroom discussion in recent days.

On the other hand, her own words, in writings shown to jurors and biting courtroom asides, reveal an outspoken advocate for her husband - one with a mouth to rival many of his mob associates.

She described one government informant as a "cross-eyed junkie fat rat" in a 2005 letter.

That image stands in stark contrast to the first Mrs. Borgesi, Dina, who stood by his side during his first major criminal trial - a 1999 affair that brought down Philadelphia mob don Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino. She separated herself from the other mob wives, and never warmed to the attention. They divorced soon after he was sentenced.


'She knew'

Alyson Ferraro, then Borgesi's mistress, soon stepped in to fill her shoes. She married the alleged consigliere in a prison ceremony in 2004.

Since then, her commitment to her husband has run deep, said Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, a former mob associate who told jurors last week he was George's right-hand man through most of the last decade.

For years, he said, he left cash-stuffed envelopes in the glove box of her car while she worked as a scout for a Passyunk Avenue talent agency.

"She knew exactly where it was coming from and who it was coming from," Monacello told jurors.


When Monacello fell behind in collecting debts or making payments to his boss, he could always expect a push from Alyson, he said.

Aponick, George Borgesi's former cellmate now testifying for the prosecution, told jurors Wednesday that days after his release from prison, he began receiving not-so-subtle reminders from Alyson to send money to anonymous post office boxes to pay off her husband's gambling debts.

And woe, both men said, to anyone who crossed her man. Aponick blamed her for blowing his cover as a protected government witness with a 2005 post on the website WhosARat.com. "He is a heavy heroin user and tried continuously to do illegal activity such as drugs" with Borgesi, the posting from the anonymous account "Philly22" reads.


'Obvious'

Alongside the message were posted his postprison address and a photo of him with his former cellmate - an image to which only a handful of people had access, Aponick said. Both have since been removed from the site.

"It was obvious where it came from," Aponick testified Thursday. "The only people that could have had that picture was me, Georgie, and Alyson."

George Borgesi's defense has characterized both Aponick and Monacello as desperate liars willing to say anything to shorten their own prison terms and balked at their portrayal of Alyson.

But the one thing all parties seem to agree on is the Borgesis' devotion to each other. Even with accusations against him flying in court, Borgesi frequently takes time to blow kisses to his wife or whisper to her across the courtroom.

And, said Aponick, when he finally left prison in 2003, the reputed mob consigliere gave him a special job to do on the outside.

"Send Aly 1 dozen roses," he wrote. "On the card, make it say, 'I know you are with me 1 million %.' "

I thought Ant Staino loaned the FBI agent "Dino" $25,000? I thought I read that Robert Ranieri met him in a parking lot somewhere and gave him a cereal box with the money in it.. I wonder if he ever paid him back lol.. I also thought I read Staino even brought this guy to vegas with him.

ya your right it was 25k, lol i doubt he got his money back. but i do know that the guy who introduced staino to the fbi agents because he was in so much debt to staino and he couldnt pay, got 50k from the fbi to pay back staino, so at least he got some money out of it.

true. its pretty crazy how things happen.. I found some pictures of philly guys that ive never seen.. wit steve and sonny mazzone.. anothony nicodemo.. ill post some of them tomorow morning.

^^^^^^^

let them be criminals in peace

I love new pics, looking forward to it...

This isn't Chicago . Your just a hater.

So I just realized a girl I once dated in high school is now dating Joe Ligambi Jr !!! So i was browsing through her photos and look what I found!!

Looks like the Ligambi's and Merlino's seem to be on the same page....

Joey and wife

Here is a few of Salvatore "Sonny" Mazzone.. I heard hes a capo now..

Heres one of Sonny

Heres another...

Sonny and Steve Mazzone on the beach

So this is Joe ligambi Jr's girlfriend with Skinny Joey this past summer. makes you wonder right? Families must be really really close still.

Damion Canalichio a few years back...

Joe Jr's girl with Phil Ligambi

Heres two of Steve Mazzone

The last post has two pics but you need to download the bottom one. I dont know why it posts some pics but you need to download the others, strange. I have some more Philly pics i will post tomorrow. I think I posted enough for today!

Nice pics once again.

Thank you sir. I will post more tomorrow.

more intrigued on the philly family than any other...maybe because they are like a caricature

Anthony Nicodemo with a man purse!

Nicodemo with his lovely wife

another

and againnnn

Last one

Dam she resembles my ex gf Julianna soooooo much.only girl i knew that would have dinner for me wen i got off work n we were only 18wen we started dating none of my friends had that.im almost 30now n my current gf couldnt boil water if u heated it for her.sigh.i miss u julianna.i need a girl that can cook again.

Great photos

Family Is A Distraction At Mob Trial
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net


For more than a month family members of mob boss Joe Ligambi and of his nephew and co-defendant George Borgesi have sat in the second row behind the defense table at the racketeering conspiracy retrial of the two South Philadelphia wiseguys.

Today, as the trial resumed after a five-day break, that row was empty.

Following a highly publicized flap on Friday over possible jury intimidation, the families of the two men opted not to attend the trial today and for the foreseeable future, according to one defense attorney.

"The government and the press were making them into a distraction," said Christopher Warren, Borgesi' lawyer, during a break in today's session. "They (the family members) have voluntarily decided to absent themselves from the proceedings."

Warren said a report in Saturday's Daily News and a feature about Borgesi's wife Alyson in the Sunday Inquirer were examples of the kind of media overkill that has plagued the trial almost since its start in November.

Ironically, members of the prosecution team also complained today about the focus of newspaper articles which, they say, has missed many of the salient points of testimony in the case. It may be one of the few points on which the prosecution and defense agree.

Warren said a Daily News report that some jurors had felt "intimidated" was incorrect.

"It was blown out of proportion," he said. "There was no intimidation."

Warren acknowledged that four members of the anonymously chosen jury panel had complained that family members of the defendants were "staring at them" during Friday's proceeding. But when questioned privately by Judge Eduardo Robreno, none said they felt intimidated.

"If it (intimidation) were a legitimate concern, we would have moved for a mistrial," Warren said.

He said family members, including Borgesi's wife, his brother Anthony, his mother Manny (who is also Ligambi's sister), Ligambi's brother Philip and Ligambi's wife Olivia, have opted to stay away so as not to create "a distraction" in the courtroom.

Maybe now the media will focus on the evidence and testimony, he said, adding that a profile of Alyson Borgesi in Sunday's paper was built around a government attempt to "provoke my client."

Alyson Borgesi's name surfaced repeatedly last week during testimony from Louis Monacello and Anthony Aponick, two mob associates whom prosecutors say worked for George Borgesi. Both witnesses said George Borgesi, from prison, relayed messages to them and others through his wife.

Monacello also testified that he made monthly cash payments to Alyson Borgesi to cover her husband's share of the gambling and bookmaking operations Monacello was running for him on the streets. George Borgesi was convicted in an unrelated racketeering case in 2001 and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The testimony of Monacello and Aponick go to the heart of the conspiracy charge against Borgesi. The 50-year-old mob leader is charged with conspiring to run a mob operation while he was in jail. Borgesi was found not guilty of 13 other counts tied to Monacello's gambling and loansharking operations in the first trial that ended in February. But the jury hung on the conspiracy count, resulting in the retrial.

Ligambi, 74, was acquitted of five of nine counts he faced, but is being retried on a conspiracy count, two gambling counts and a witness intimidation count on which that same jury hung.

Four other defendants were convicted and one was acquitted in that case.

In a courtroom devoid of family and friends, the focus of testimony today shifted from Borgesi to Ligambi. Two government witnesses, both admitted drug dealers, testified about loanshark debts they owed to members of the crime family.

Joseph Comerer spent more than two hours testifying about a $500 loan that he owned to Gaty Battaglini, a mob associate linked to mob soldier Damion Canalichio. Both Battaglnii and Canalichio were convicted in the first Ligambi trial .

The $500 debt and Comerer's failure to repay it while working for the Pennsylvania State Police and recording phone calls and conversations seemed to underscore the defense position that the case against Ligambi is built around penny-ante crimes that have been used to fabricate a racketeering conspiracy that doesn't exist.

Comerer's credibility was also challenged. Among other things, he conceded that he once worked as an informant for the FBI, but that relationship when the feds accused him of stealing $500. Comerer denied that he stole the money.

What the jury wasn't told -- because of its potential prejudice and because it was irrelevant to the case at trial -- was that Comerer helped federal authorities build a drug case against Canalichio.

More pointed and potential damaging testimony came from Michael Orlando who began cooperating with authorities after running up thousands of dollars in debts to mobsters between 1998 and 2002.

On one tape, Orlando complains to Battaglini about the thousands he owes to Canalichio and the late John "Johnny Gongs" Casasanto.

"I owe all the killers," he said.

More damaging, however, were comments made by Battaglini about the source of the loans and where the money was ultimately going. It was, he told Orlando, Ligambi's money.

"He doesn't want to hear nothing," Battagilni said of Ligambi's attitude toward deadbeats and his approach to associates who were running loansharking operations. "He wants his fucking money...every week. He wants his end."

The prosecution, in building the case against Ligambi, has alleged that as boss he benefitted and shared in the gambling and loansharking operations of those under him in the organization. Battaglini's comment, secretly recorded by Orlando who was wearing an FBI supplied body wire, seemed to support that argument.

Daaaaaamn! That guy Nicodemo better cop a plea and get his ass back home to that ! I'm just sayin'

that guy in the background with the villanova t-shirt and goatee looks pretty cute too...

Man what a joke. Is this all the Feds have on Joe Ligambi? Lol. This is the case? Sad part is who knows maybe he still loses trial. I can't believe I didn't go today and hear about the juicy $500 loan and the other gripping tales of people who "want their end every week." Lol

This trial is a joke

$500 loan? jesus christ what a waste of time

whats the juice on that? $5 a week...christ

I just noticed. The picture where Anthony Borgesi is leaving the court angry, the guy to his right with blue jeans is Phil Ligambi (Joe Ligambi's brother)and the guy with the glasses behind the girl is Joe Ligambi's son, Stephen.

Did this guy Comerer become an informant over a lousy $500 debt? Seriously?

seriously? Comerer's family must be proud!

Was at the trial this afternoon , undercover agent Dino on the stand talking about deals with staino - lots of recordings with him and ranieri .. Jacobs just started to rosa examine when the Robreno called it for the weekend. FYI the prosecution should be resting next Friday and defense estimates 3-5 days for their case. Deliberations to start early January. Georgie and joe looking confident today and relaxed - Georgie wearing glasses .. Jacobs standing again thru the whole testimony. Didn't hear much from him today but he's damn good up there.

Georgie's family was not in the courtroom today .. They all seem really nice , it's too bad. I've mentioned before but he's been hitting the weights a lot in the can .. They need a double cuff for him. He was making small talk with his uncle sitting next to him during the break.

Comerer went bad years ago and sent more then a few people away peddling that powder. Including Damion Canalichio, Comerer is now shoveling it for neighbors pounding that pavement for paper.

It's pathetic the Feds have this lying rat as a witness .. Seriously , it's awful what their doing

Flushing Out An FBI Sting Operation

By Ralph Cipriano
for Bigtrial.net

On the FBI surveillance tape played in court, the jury heard the gurgling sounds of men standing at urinals.

In the men's room of Chop House Restaurant in Gibbsboro, N.J., a tipsy mobster named Anthony Staino was overhead warning a sleazy financial planner named "Dino" what would happen if he didn't repay a $25,000 mob loan with the astronomically high interest rate of 144 percent.

"If you fuck with me, you know what's gonna happen, right?" Staino was overheard telling Dino amid the sounds of flushing urinals. "Don't fuck with me."

Dino's real name was David Sebastiani, a certified public accountant and undercover FBI agent. And while he was standing at the urinal in 2004, Dino wore a wire that not only recorded the watery sounds of the men's room, but also a successful FBI sting operation.


On the first surveillance tape played in court, Dino was telling Staino he needed a bodyguard for the money laundering operation he ran out of Elite Business Services in Mount Laurel, N.J. Dino was interested in hiring Vincent Filipelli, a former bodybuilder who used to be the bodyguard of jailed mob boss John Stanfa.

On the tape, Staino is heard using corporate takeover language to tell Dino about the South Philly mob
war of the 1990s. Staino compared the mob faction led by Skinny Joey Merlino to IBM, and he labels the Stanfa faction as GE.

"I'm IBM, and IBM took over GE," Staino told Dino. "Two different companies. Here's our company; there's the bad company. The bad company gets taken over. I'm with the good company. I'm on the board of directors ... I'm like the CFO."

Sticking with his corporate takeover metaphor, Staino told Dino Filipelli was available for hire. "He was with GE," Staino said of Filipelli, but now, "he's with me."

On the witness stand, FBI Agent Sebastiani testified he was pleased to hear Staino's reaction, because he thought Filipelli would make a great bodyguard for reasons of "sheer intimidation." Even though Dino never got around to actually hiring Filipelli.


Sebastiani testified that besides the lecture on the corporate takeover in the mob world, Staino taught him a code phrase for borrowing money at loan shark interest rates.

"Let's go to dinner in Delaware," was mob lingo for I need to see my loan shark, Sebastiani told the jury.

So after Sebastiani proposed going out to dinner in Delaware, on Aug. 4, 2004, he met Staino and another mobster, Robert Ranieri, at the Chop House in Gibbsboro. They had drinks and appetizers at the bar.

Then, everybody went to the mens' room. It was small, about 12 by 10 feet, Sebastiani testified. Sebastiani and Staino hit the urinals while Ranieri leaned his back against the door, so nobody else could come in.

Sebastiani told Staino he didn't want to fuck with him, he wanted to make money for him. That didn't impress the mobster.

"I don't give a fuck about money," Staino replied on the tape.

Staino told Dino, "I love you, but I want to put it on the table." When asked by a prosecutor what that meant, Sebastiani testified, "I had to pay the money back or he'd hurt me."

On the tape played in court, Ranieri is overhead telling Dino, "Do me a favor, don't fuck with him," meaning Staino, whom Ranieri referred to as "Unc."

"I don't know you very well," Staino told Dino on the tape. "I met you in an odd situation."

"I mean no disrespect, Dean, I swear to God, if you fuck me," Staino warned, there would be retaliation. Because if Dino defaulted on the loan, "I gotta pay the consequences," Staino said on the tape.

On the witness stand, Sebastiani explained the terms of the $25,000 loan from Staino. On Sept. 1, he had to pay back $3,000 interest. On Oct. 1, he had to pay back another $3,000 in interest. And on Nov. 1, he had to pay back the entire principal of $25,000.

Sebastiani said Ranieri delivered the money during a rendezvous at the parking lot of the Chop House.

On another tape played for the jury, Ranieri is heard telling Dino, "Anthony is a fucking baby doll, you know what I mean?" Ranieri describes Staino as a "great guy," but warns, "he'll turn into fucking the devil just like that" if you screw with him.

In the parking lot, Ranieri handed Sebastiani a Post Carb Well cereal box.

"It's all in that fucking box," Ranieri said on another government surveillance tape.

Inside, Sebastiani testified he found $25,000 wrapped in plastic.

On another tape, Ranieri is overheard lecturing Dino not to talk to Staino on the phone about the $25,000 loan.

"You don't say shit like that," Ranieri said.

"I didn't know," Dino said. "I fucked that up."

When Dino brought up the loan on the phone to Staino, the mobster hung up.

Sebastiani testified how he made two interest payments of $3,000 each. And then he repaid the loan early.

On Sept. 9, 2004, Ranieri stopped by Dino's Mount Laurel office wired with cameras and microphones. Sebastiani testified he repaid the loan just as Staino had directed him.

He handed Ranieri= two bundles of cash, each amounting to $10,000. And he wrote out a check to Staino for $5,000, from his bogus company, and also promised to issue the mobster a 1099.

Staino, 56, described by prosecutors as mob boss Joe Ligambi's "right-hand man," is currently in jail doing 97 months after he was convicted on racketeering and extortion charges at the last mob trial.

During a break, "Uncle Joe" Ligambi joked with the FBI agent about that sting operation.

"Did you ever give the $25,000 back?" Ligambi asked. "Anthony said you kept it."

"It paid for a few college tuitions," the FBI agent replied with a smile.

Ralph Cipriano at 8:07 PM
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I just wanna say this. I held my tongue before but I guess it's not like I'm exposing the guy now that he has been prosecuted. I bet all my action through Sheep Baretta for a whole NFl and NBA season a couple years ago. He was a straight gentleman and a very cool guy

check out http://www.sportsinsights.com/ VegasMikey

I use covers.com and I post a lot of free picks in the forum there. My user name is Anthony Starks

That is a great sight by the way cheech, thanks buddy

Hahah breaking balls with the Fed that busted him. Class move.

Iron Man!

I eat, breathe and sleep sports baby

No trial today gents. Back tomorrow. Unrelated but an associate was arrested over the weekend - Ron Galati. Dave Shratweiser mentioned something on twitter - apparently he ran or used to run an auto body shop on Washington Ave and they had thought back in the day they used his shop to cut holes in the van used on the Stanfa hit on the Schyukill. Shratweiser didn't mentioned what he was being charged with.

I'm listening to trial no. 1. Does anyone have the Mark Scolari photograph of the entire Philly family (the one Ligambi had him take). It was used as evidence in the first trial

There's people in Louisiana who can take your action (whistle to myself and looks around....)

Not unless you would be willing to post with me first.

How are you doing that? Is there a website or something? Thanks.

THE PHILADELPHIA Mafia has a reputation for a lot of things. Gambling, loan-sharking, extortion, the occasional mob hit.

Impeccable timing is not one of them.

A year after a highly publicized murder in South Philadelphia disrupted the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his top lieutenants, another reputed mob associate has been charged with soliciting murder - in the middle of the retrial for Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi.

Ronald Galati, an auto-body-shop operator with ties to Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino and the Borgesi family, was quietly arrested on Friday. He was charged with attempted murder, solicitation of murder, and retaliation and intimidation of a witness or victim, according to court documents.

Details of Galati's arrest were scarce yesterday. Sources said the case involves a grand jury, which prohibits authorities from releasing much information. Public records say that Galati is being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility.

"We were involved in his arrest. Beyond that, we have no comment," said Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for District Attorney Seth Williams. Jamerson would not confirm whether a grand jury has been convened.

Galati, 63, a popular figure in South Philly who once employed Merlino and his associates at a shop near 12th and Washington streets, was sentenced in 1995 to three years in prison on racketeering charges. Galati also had been accused of threatening to kill a postal inspector involved in an insurance-fraud probe, but his friends say he wouldn't hurt a fly.

Former mob boss John Stanfa allegedly plotted to kill Galati during the 1993 Stanfa-Merlino mob war. At the time, Stanfa believed that Galati was involved with cutting gun ports into a van that was used for a rush-hour shooting on the Schuylkill Expressway that wounded Stanfa's son. Galati has always denied involvement in the attempted Stanfa hit.

No one answered the door last night at Galati's home on Garnet Street near Porter. A phone number in his name was full of voice mails and was not accepting new ones.

Galati's arrest comes almost exactly a year after reputed mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo allegedly gunned down Gino DiPietro in broad daylight outside DiPietro's home on Iseminger Street.

DiPietro, 50, a reformed drug dealer who had proposed to his girlfriend the day before he was killed, had served as a confidential informant in a case against a mob associate, sources told the Daily News. Nicodemo, 42, is awaiting trial on first-degree-murder and related charges.

The DiPietro slaying threw a wrench into the first Ligambi trial, undermining defense attorneys' arguments that the Philadelphia mob - what's left of it - is not violent. U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno had to call each juror into his chambers to ask if he or she could render an impartial verdict in light of the news. One juror was dismissed.

That trial ended in a mixed verdict for Ligambi, Borgesi and five associates. The retrial of Ligambi and Borgesi began last month.


Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201312...gF4wRAZ9vgrg.99

3 guys where I live run major books all through online sites, one guy caps your bets at $300 until you can prove you can pay, the other 2 guys are taking the most I have heard this year is $10,000, and then you go see them where they are and pay up on Tuesday cash and get paid next day or you can let it roll on your online account, pretty convenient

Not bad at all. I just post offshore on 5dimes these days. I'm in the philly nj/ area where there are about a million guys taking action, but I like to fly under the radar lately.

Thats very true. But i gave up on betting on sports years ago...i sucked at it. lol

Only thing i bet on now is if i go to a track and then i'll bet on the ponies. Pimlico down in MD was my lucky track and i did pretty good at Garden State Race Track. It sucked when they closed it down.

And i like to gamble at the Borgata...love that place. But i'm not a big player....far from it.

Borgata is great, I play poker there several times a week.

Mob Associate Jailed In Murder For Hire Case

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

Here we go again.

Last year it was mobster Anthony Nicodemo, arrested for allegedly carrying out a gangland hit while mob boss Joe Ligambi was on trial in U.S. District Court.

This year it's Ronald Galati, a notorious wannabe wiseguy. Galati, whose name surfaced during the testimony of Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello two weeks ago in the ongoing Ligambi retrial, was arrested Saturday for allegedly hiring a hit man (or men?) to knock off a witness in a pending insurance fraud investigation in which he is the principal target.

Galati, 63, who owns an auto body shop in South Philadelphia, has been in this situation before. The question being asked in law enforcement and underworld circles is whether the fast-talking mob associate, who was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for insurance fraud back in 1995, is ready to roll the dice in a case that could land him in state prison for the next 15 years?

The retrial of Ligambi and his co-defendant and nephew George Borgesi resumes this morning before Judge Eduardo Robreno. The case could go to the jury early in January. But there are those who believe the racketeering conspiracy charge the defendants are currently fighting could be the least of their problems if Galati rolls.

Galati was picked up on a warrant issued by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office on Friday and formally charged early Saturday morning. He is being in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on State Road pending a bail hearing.

His attorney, Joseph Santaguida, said yesterday that he will seek bail for his client. But the District Attorney's Office, taking a hard line in witness intimidation cases, is expected to oppose that move, setting up the real possibility that Galati could spend both the Christmas and New Year's holidays -- and the months that follow -- in prison rather than in his comfortable South Philadelphia home or his place at the Jersey Shore.

Galati is facing five counts, including attempted murder, solicitation for murder, conspiracy and witness intimidation. Few other details have been made public. Sources say Galati has been the target of an ongoing insurance fraud investigation launched by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. Both the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and authorities in New Jersey are also involved, those sources say.

And waiting in the wings is the FBI which has long wanted to have a conversation with Galati about his questionable business dealings and the people he has dealt with.

Galati's name has been mentioned in connection with a shooting in Atlantic City on Nov. 30, but no one in a position of authority would link that incident to the witness intimidation and murder for hire charges that he now faces.

According to several sources, a man identified as the boyfriend of Galati's daughter was ambushed by two gunmen outside his home on Carson Avenue in the Inlet section of Atlantic City. The victim survived. And in shades of the Nicodemo case, the two gunmen, both from Philadelphia, were arrested within minutes of the shooting which occurred shortly before 7 p.m.

Whether those suspected shooters are cooperating is one of several questions that have been raised now that Galati has been charged with solicitation for murder. The boyfriend apparently has some knowledge of Galati's auto body shop business and may have been subpoenaed before a grand jury.

Another source, however, said the shooting was "personal" and not connected to business.

Galati was convicted of mail fraud and bankruptcy fraud in the 1995 case in which a federal prosecutor described him as running a "shop of fraud" at his business on 12th Street near Washington Avenue. Galati was charged, but found not guilty, of threatening to kill a postal inspector who was part of an insurance fraud task force in that case.

In that case, authorities labeled Galati a close associate of then mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino. Merlino worked in the auto body shop in the early 1990s while in a halfway house completing a four-year sentence for an armored truck robbery in which over $350,000 was taken.

That money was never recovered.

Several other mobsters, including Borgesi, also have been linked to Galati's shop.

From the witness stand in the current trial, Monacello, a Borgesi associate, testified that he worked with Borgesi in the early 1990s in a scheme set up to provide Galati with auto body repair work and opportunities for insurance fraud.

Monacello said Galati would make copies of the car keys of customers and then provide Borgesi with the key and the customer's address. Late at night, Monacello said, he would drive Borgesi to a customer's neighborhood and if they spotted the car, Borgesi would drive it away. Monacello said he would follow and serve as a "blocker" -- using his car to block police should they pursue Borgesi.

In the stolen car, Monacello said, Borgesi would cruise South Philadelphia, heading toward the address of another Galati customer. Borgesi would then crash the stolen car into the parked car of the second customer, creating repair work for Galati from both unknowing patrons.

Borgesi would rip out the steering column in the stolen car and take the key, so that it would appear the car had been hot wired, Monacello said. He testified that he worked with Borgesi for several months, but tired of the job because of the late hours and because, he said, Borgesi was only paying him $100 per night

Galati was accused to generating tens of thousands of dollars in insurance fraud income.

His ties to the Merlino faction of the mob also resulted in a problem with mob boss John Stanfa. Stanfa suspected that Galati's auto body shop was used to cut two portholes into the side of a stolen van that was used to ambushed Stanfa on the Schuylkill Expressway in August 1993.

The shooting, Stanfa's son Joe was wounded, occurred in the midst of rush hour traffic shortly before 8 a.m. Authorities suspected the Merlino faction of being behind that attempted hit, but no one has ever been convicted.

The shooting was one of the more outlandish during a bloody war between Stanfa and Merlino in 1993. Galati ended up on one of Stanfa's many hit lists as a result.

Galati has always denied any knowledge of the circumstances behind the Expressway shooting, but what he knows could be a bargaining chip should he decide to cooperate. Authorities also believe that Galati has maintained an ongoing relationship with other mobsters and that some of them, and their family members, may figure in the current insurance fraud probe.

"Galati doesn't want to go back to prison," said one individual who knows him.

Whether he would try to bargain his way out from under his current problems is a question that is being asked in both law enforcement and underworld circles. Of course, that same question was asked this time last year when Nicodemo was arrested for the murder of Gino DiPietro in South Philadelphia.

Nicodemo, 41, was taken in to custody less than 30 minutes after the shooting. Witnesses had spotted him fleeing the scene in an SUV and gave authorities the license tag number. The vehicle was registered in Nicodemo's name and listed at his address, a few blocks from where DiPietro, 50, was gunned down.

The married father of two young children was arrested at that home without incident. He was charged with murder, conspiracy and weapons offenses after a ballistic test linked a gun found in his car with a bullet fragment from the murder scene. Police also found gloves and a ski mask in the vehicle, a black Honda Pilot, according to an investigative source.

Nicodemo spent the holidays in jail last year and will be there again this year, setting up the possibility that he and Galati might share some eggnog, or whatever it is that they serve at CFCF during this festive season.

He is scheduled for trial in May. A hearing to suppress evidence in his case could be the key to his future. If that hearing goes against him, "he's buried" said an investigative source familiar with the case.

Galati's situation is just as problematic. If the hitmen he allegedly hired are now cooperating, the case against him could be insurmountable.

"It's bad," said one person familiar with the charges.

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/mob-associate-jailed-in-murder-for-hire.html#JEjzxsfdpMHP2z1U.99

so a made guy shot an informant that ratted out an associate

they should've farmed that hit out to some bikers

philly has been the "gang that can't shoot straight" since they killed angelo bruno

Haha, allegedly shot...

a made guy shot an informant? Are you talking about Nicodemo or or you saying Galati hired a made guy to shoot a informant? because i didnt read anything about a made guy shooting anyone, just a "hitman".

He is talking about Nicodemo.

Jury in Ligambi mob case look at money flow
JULIE SHAW
December 18, 2013

FOLLOW THE money, right?

Depending on who's talking, the money flow could appear shady or innocent.

During the federal racketeering conspiracy retrial of reputed Philly mob boss Joseph Ligambi, 74, and his nephew, onetime mob consigliere George Borgesi, 50, jurors yesterday looked at two charts showing fund disbursements to a reputed mob leader, Anthony "Ant" Staino Jr., and to Ligambi's wife, Olivia Ligambi.

The money came from JMA Industries Inc., for which Staino filed an application for a fictitious name in 2001 with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Staino was the company's president.


Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Ercole, IRS special agent Scott Fitzpatrick yesterday walked jurors through two charts showing how a portion of $684,073 in cash deposits into JMA Industries' business account ended up in Staino's personal accounts or in checks to Olivia Ligambi.

From July 2002 to June 2009, Staino signed $285,031 in checks to himself. The majority of that money ended up in his personal checking accounts.

Meanwhile, from 2004 to 2009, $107,977 in checks was issued to Olivia Ligambi, with memos on the checks saying they were for payroll. About $90,000 of that ended up in her personal checking account. Another $13,000 in checks were cashed at a check-cashing place in South Philly.

Authorities have alleged that Joseph Ligambi, Joseph "Mousie" Massimino, the reputed underboss of the mob, and Staino set up JMA Industries as a front company to funnel illegal income from their video-poker-machine business. JMA was derived from the first initials of their names or nicknames - Joe, Mousie and Anthony, authorities have said.

During his cross-examination of Fitzpatrick, Ligambi's attorney, Edwin Jacobs Jr., made the large monetary figures on the charts seem not so huge. He noted that $684,073 over a seven-year period, from 2002 to 2009, was less than $100,000 a year.

The $285,031 in checks made out to Staino, who was listed as president and a signatory of the company, when divided over a seven-year period, came out to about $40,000 a year. For Olivia Ligambi, the $107,977 over a six-year period, came out to $17,996 a year. The checks had the proper taxes withheld and looked like proper payroll checks, Fitzpatrick acknowledged.

"You didn't see Joe Ligambi['s name] on these documents?" Jacobs asked.

"No," Fitzpatrick said.

↓http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131 ... DA7QrAi.99

Jury in Ligambi mob case look at money flow
Checks were made out to a mob leader and to Ligambi's wife

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Galati Switches Lawyers Amid Speculation And Temporary Delay In Mob Trial

By George Anastasia
December 18, 2013


The racketeering conspiracy retrial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew and co-defendant George Brogesi was temporarily derailed this afternoon by a Philadelphia Daily News story about mob associate Ron Galati.

Meanwhile speculation mounted that the South Philadelphia auto-body shop operator and mob associate may be cooperating with authorities.

Galati, 63, abruptly replaced Joseph Santaguida as his attorney today with Anthony Voci, a criminal defense attorney and former Assistant District Attorney. Santaguida said he was informed of the change in a telephone conversation with Galati's son this afternoon. Santaguida had met with Galati at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Center this morning.

"He didn't say anything (about changing attorneys)," Santaguida said. "Then I heard from his son."

Santaguida said he wouldn't speculate about the change. Galati is scheduled for a bail hearing on Monday. Several observers say that if he is granted bail -- which was considered unlikely at the time of his arrest -- it could be a sign that he has cut a deal with the District Attorney's Office or is in the process of doing so.

Voci could not be reached for comment.

The impact on the Ligambi trial was temporary, but the Galati situation has added another twist to the ongoing saga of the mob boss and his co-defendant nephew. Both have been identified as friends of Galati's. Borgesi, according to testimony, has also been involved in scams run from the auto-body shop.

The Daily News article published this morning included a blaring front page headline that labeled Galati a "Wrecketeer." The piece, by William Bender, raised questions about how Galati, who was convicted of insurance fraud and racketeering in 1995, was able to obtain a contract to repair cars for the Philadelphia Police Department.

The article said that Galati's auto-body shop was awarded a city contract in 2011 that runs through June 2014. Last year he was paid over $400,000 for repair work for the Police Department, according to the story which also detailed Galati's mob associations to Borgesi and former mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino. (See Bigtrial December 17).

Galati was arrested Saturday and charged with attempted murder, solicitation of murder and witness intimidation for allegedly hiring hitmen to kill three different individuals who have testified against him in an ongoing grand jury investigation into insurance fraud.

The targets allegedly included the boyfriend of Galati's grown daughter. The victim was shot outside his Atlantic City home on Nov. 30 , but survived. Two gunmen, both Philadelphians, were arrested within minutes of the shooting and both, according to the Daily News, are now cooperating.

Members of the Ligambi jury panel were privately questioned by Judge Eduardo Robreno after defense attorneys, at the lunch break today, raised questions about whether exposure to the article could have tainted the panel.

The trial resumed around 2:40 p.m. after an hour-long delay. Apparently none of the jurors had seen or heard about the Galati piece.

"No one saw or read anything," said Christopher Warren, Borgesi's attorney, as he emerged from the judge's chambers prior to the start of the afternoon session.

Robreno made no mention of the issue as he called the trial back into session.

Despite the delay, Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor, the lead prosecutor in the case, said the government hopes to complete its presentation of witnesses and evidence by Friday. With a weeklong recess for the Christmas holiday, the trial would then resume on Dec. 30 with the defense calling its first witnesses.

Closing arguments and jury deliberation are likely the first or second full week in January.

Galati's situation, meanwhile, continues to cast a shadow over the trial. The wannabe wiseguy, according to people who know him, has said he does not want to go back to jail. Galati was sentenced to 37 months in 1995 after a federal jury convicted him of racketeering and fraud charges. In that case, he was found not guilty of threatening to kill a postal inspector who was part of an insurance fraud task force targeting him.

The current insurance fraud case is apparently built around the same kind of accusations that landed him in jail eight years ago. The murder threats and the hiring of hitmen, if proven, add a different dynamic to the case and bring substantially stiffer penalties if there is a conviction.

Galati's dealings with members of the South Philadelphia underworld and any role he may have played in an infamous shooting during the Stanfa-Merlino war in the 1990s could be information around which he could negotiate a deal.

Galati was targeted for death by mob boss John Stanfa because Stanfa believe it was Galati who aided the Merlino faction by cutting portholes into the side of a stolen van that was used in an ambush of Stanfa on the Schuylkill Express in August 1993. The shooting, in the midst of mid-morning rush hour traffic, resulted in Stanfa's son Joseph being wounded.

No one has ever been convicted for that crime. And while the statute of limitations has expired of the shooting itself, the act could be part of a broader racketeering case should federal prosecutors opt to go in that direction.

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/galati-switches-lawyers-amid.html

Daveschratweisers twitter feed has a picture of Galatis mugshot..sorry still don't know how to upload..trial today was a bore - more undercover Feds on the stand in the afternoon talking about small time betting and mostly about bataglini and sheep. George A was in the seats and he posted (above). Uncle Joe and Georgie looking calm again today. All in all a snoozer today - reinforcing what a waste of money this trial is.

if he decides to cooperate, can the prosecution use him for this trial, or will they use him for a new trial?

I don't know either but I use screenschot capture tool called Lightshot(works for Chrome and Firefox)

Galati's mugshot
http://prntscr.com/2c817l

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

seems very doubtful he would testify at this trial. one, we dont even know if he has any knowledge relevant to this trial, and two, the prosecution seems pretty intent that they are very close to wrapping up their case.

ok thanks

Prosecution is looking to wrap their case by Friday - Han said it again today.

if anything it could bring down a new indictment

They hot nothing on joe Ligambis what a waste

Got nothing on Ligambi silly ipad

So many rats in Philly...

They wouldn't use him at this trial and wouldn't even "flip" him until after the trial because then, assuming a not guilty verdict at worst for the feds, they could retry citing new previously unknown evidence in the form of galati's potential testimony.

If they hypothetically flip him and send him out there next week and bombs and the defendants get an acquittal, the feds would have to eat it on these charges.

Plus they still need to gather all the information he knows, come up with a way to use it at trial and coach him on testifying on the witness stand.

Gotta wonder how Merlino feels, if Galati says how Schuylkill Expressway shooting went down then you have potentially huge guys from Merlino faction going down that are on the street now.

Plenty of other ways to whack a guy, Schuylkill Expressway shooting was fucked up end of story, innocent people in the way , a sign of the times…..

I agree , if that happens , the narducci brothers will be running the Philly mob

@Nickywhip

The link is here on the forum (posted last week) youtube. It's split into 4 parts. I think the thread title is "audio from philadelphia trial"

I think this is the ones your talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mwhitten77/videos

There's a stat of limitation on state attempted murder charge on stanfas kid. Thought Merlino beat the Rico predicit ATT. Murder on stanfa son. Bet Merlino ain't sweatin anything.

I agree. Not to mention the fact that most of the information he could have on Merlino (if any) would be almost 20 years old and would require corroboration.

Was there court today?

Merlino is laughing at all this and happy to be in Boca

thats if he is smart and i happen to think he is albeit devilish...where are the other crime bosses from his era? hes got an angel following him thats for sure


now he did do ten but thats peanuts compared to his contemporaries

now lets look at Georgie Boys luck lol

I'll be at trial tomorrow and posting - free Georgie

A Key Question For The Jury As The Government Wraps Up The Ligambi Case

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net


The question went to the heart of the case against mob boss Joe Ligambi.

After verbally sparring with an FBI undercover agent over a $25,000 cash payment by Anthony Staino that was either a loanshark transaction or an investment in an illegal (and ficticious) money-laundering scheme set up by the FBI, Edwin Jacobs Jr. asked, "What does Joe Ligambi have to do with that?"

That's the question, applied on several different levels, that Jacobs hopes the jury in the racketeering conspiracy retrial of Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi takes with it when deliberations begin sometime next month.

Absent a smoking gun (literally and figuratively), the prosecution has built the racketeering conspiracy charge against Ligambi around the criminal activities of other mobsters. Some examples -- a sports betting operation run by Gary Battaglini for mob leader Steven Mazzone; the loansharking/extortion gambit for which Staino was convicted in the first trial earlier this year, and the operation of a video poker machine company (JMA) by Staino.

The prosecution says they support the conspiracy charge; that Ligambi as mob boss approved of and benefitted from the crimes committed by his underlings. The defense says the evidence, weak and circumstantial, does not tie Ligambi, 74, to the allegations.
What the jury thinks is all that really matters.

And the anonymously chosen panel probably won't get to debate those points until sometime next month. The prosecution was expected to conclude its presentation of witnesses and evidence today. After a one-week break for the Christmas holiday, the defense will begin calling its witnesses on Dec. 30.

The government has also used secretly recorded conversations, some dating back more than 10 years, to support the charge that Ligambi sat at the top of the Philadlelphia crime family.

There was the four-hour lunch meeting at LaGriglia, the North Jersey restaurant, in May 2010 in which Ligambi and three Philadelphia mobsters broke bread with leaders of the Gambino crime family. One of the Gambino soldiers, however, was cooperating and wearing a body wire.

There were tapes of Gary Battaglini discussing bookmaking and loansharking with a cooperating witness in 2002 and, on one tape, telling thecooperator that part of the payment he made each month was kicked up to Ligambi.

And there was Staino, on tape with undercover FBI agent David Sebatiani -- posing as a hustler and financial wheeler-dealer named Dino. Staino boasted about his ties to the mob, describing himself as the "CFO" and a member of the "board of directors" of the crime family.

While more focused that its prosecution in the first trial, the government's case against Ligambi is still largely circumstantial, a fact that Jacobs has alluded to again and again during the six-week trial. Despite an investigation that extended from 1999 to 2012, Ligambi's voice is seldom heard on tape.

And when it is, the mob boss's comments are often innocuous and open to various benign interpretations.

Frequently sarcastic and certainly profane, Ligambi largely kept his own counsel. Even at the LaGriglia meeting, his comments were less than incriminating. He joked about the father of an alleged member of as rival mob faction coming to his door after being told by the FBI that Ligambi planned to kill his son.

"I said, `What the fuck you talking about?'" Ligambi said, recounting the encounter which occurred on his South Philadelphia doorstep. "`Don't ever come around this house again. I don't know what you're talking about.' I mean, that's, that's the kind of nuts you're dealing with."

At another point he told a story about a mob associate who was so broke "the guy was selling cakes out of the trunk of his car." Ligambi also drew a laugh with a comment about the associate's girlfriend whom he described as "the broken down broad he was going out with in Florida."

He referred to Ralph Natale, a mob boss who had become a government witness, as "that rat motherfucker." And drew more laughter when he told the story about a phone call that came to his home from a North Jersey mob associate who had gotten Ligambi's number from Rita Merlino, Skinny Joey's mother.

"It was Joey's mother," he said. "I told her, what're you giving this guy my number for? What the hell's the matter with you?"

But there are other comments that support the government's position, including an introduction made by Joseph "Scoops" Licata at the opening of the LaGriglia meeting. Introducing Ligambi to the New York mobstes, Licata said, "Our acting boss, Joe Ligambi, Philadelphia."

It won't be Ligambi's words, but the words of others, that will determine his fate when the jury finally gets the case.

The same is true for Borgesi.

The case against the volatile 50-year-old mobster is built almost entirely around the testimony of two mob associates who became government witnesses.

If the jury believes the story Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and Anthony Aponick told from the witness stand, Borgesi was running a mob bookmaking and loansharking operation from prison where he was serving a 14-year sentence for a 2001 racketeering conviction.

Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, has attacked the credibility and motivation of both witnesses, claiming they implicated Borgesi with lies and half-truths, presenting a story that curries favor with the government and gets them out from under their own criminal problems.

Several defense witnesses who are expected to be called after the Christmas break will offer testimony to back up that claim.

Who do you trust?

Who do you believe?

Reasonable doubt?

Those are the questions that Warren wants the jury to consider.

Both defendants have been in this situation before.

In the first trial, which ended in February, Borgesi beat 13 of the 14 counts he faced and Ligambi was acquitted on five of nine charges. But the jury hung on the other counts, leading to the retrial that began in November.

The jury in the first trial appeared to reject Monacello's testimony (Aponick was not called as a witness in that case) finding Borgesi not guilty of specific loansharking and sports betting charges but inexplicably hanging on the overarching racketeering conspiracy charge.

The jury hung on that same count against Ligambi as well as two gambling counts and a witness tampering count which are also part of the ongoing trial. (Overall, after three weeks of rambling deliberations, the jury in the first trial delivered not guilty verdicts on 46 charges, hung on 11 others and delivered just five guilty verdicts. Four of the seven defendants in that case, however, are now serving lengthy jail terms. One, Licata, was acquitted, and Ligambi and Borgesi are still fighting.)

With its convoluted verdict, the jury in the first trial apparently couldn't answer the key question posed by Jacobs earlier this week.

"What does Joe Ligambi have to do with that?"

We're not sure, the jury verdict seemed to say. Or, more to the point, we can't agree.

But this is a different jury. And it has heard a more focused government case. How it answers that question will determine Ligambi's fate. And what it thinks of Monacello and Aponick will go a long way toward determining Borgesi's future.

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/a-key-question-for-jury-as-government.html#QYAmwdqU0oIxXeuh.99

Thanks. The Galati guy; is that a piece on his head? Looks Like it. hahaha

A Key Question For The Jury As The Government Wraps Up The Ligambi Case


Jacobs
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

The question went to the heart of the case against mob boss Joe Ligambi.

After verbally sparring with an FBI undercover agent over a $25,000 cash payment by Anthony Staino that was either a loanshark transaction or an investment in an illegal (and ficticious) money-laundering scheme set up by the FBI, Edwin Jacobs Jr. asked, "What does Joe Ligambi have to do with that?"

That's the question, applied on several different levels, that Jacobs hopes the jury in the racketeering conspiracy retrial of Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi takes with it when deliberations begin sometime next month.

Absent a smoking gun (literally and figuratively), the prosecution has built the racketeering conspiracy charge against Ligambi around the criminal activities of other mobsters. Some examples -- a sports betting operation run by Gary Battaglini for mob leader Steven Mazzone; the loansharking/extortion gambit for which Staino was convicted in the first trial earlier this year, and the operation of a video poker machine company (JMA) by Staino.

The prosecution says they support the conspiracy charge; that Ligambi as mob boss approved of and benefitted from the crimes committed by his underlings. The defense says the evidence, weak and circumstantial, does not tie Ligambi, 74, to the allegations.

What the jury thinks is all that really matters.

And the anonymously chosen panel probably won't get to debate those points until sometime next month. The prosecution was expected to conclude its presentation of witnesses and evidence today. After a one-week break for the Christmas holiday, the defense will begin calling its witnesses on Dec. 30.

The government has also used secretly recorded conversations, some dating back more than 10 years, to support the charge that Ligambi sat at the top of the Philadlelphia crime family.

There was the four-hour lunch meeting at LaGriglia, the North Jersey restaurant, in May 2010 in which Ligambi and three Philadelphia mobsters broke bread with leaders of the Gambino crime family. One of the Gambino soldiers, however, was cooperating and wearing a body wire.

There were tapes of Gary Battaglini discussing bookmaking and loansharking with a cooperating witness in 2002 and, on one tape, telling thecooperator that part of the payment he made each month was kicked up to Ligambi.

And there was Staino, on tape with undercover FBI agent David Sebatiani -- posing as a hustler and financial wheeler-dealer named Dino. Staino boasted about his ties to the mob, describing himself as the "CFO" and a member of the "board of directors" of the crime family.

While more focused that its prosecution in the first trial, the government's case against Ligambi is still largely circumstantial, a fact that Jacobs has alluded to again and again during the six-week trial. Despite an investigation that extended from 1999 to 2012, Ligambi's voice is seldom heard on tape.

And when it is, the mob boss's comments are often innocuous and open to various benign interpretations.

Frequently sarcastic and certainly profane, Ligambi largely kept his own counsel. Even at the LaGriglia meeting, his comments were less than incriminating. He joked about the father of an alleged member of as rival mob faction coming to his door after being told by the FBI that Ligambi planned to kill his son.

"I said, `What the fuck you talking about?'" Ligambi said, recounting the encounter which occurred on his South Philadelphia doorstep. "`Don't ever come around this house again. I don't know what you're talking about.' I mean, that's, that's the kind of nuts you're dealing with."

At another point he told a story about a mob associate who was so broke "the guy was selling cakes out of the trunk of his car." Ligambi also drew a laugh with a comment about the associate's girlfriend whom he described as "the broken down broad he was going out with in Florida."

He referred to Ralph Natale, a mob boss who had become a government witness, as "that rat motherfucker." And drew more laughter when he told the story about a phone call that came to his home from a North Jersey mob associate who had gotten Ligambi's number from Rita Merlino, Skinny Joey's mother.

"It was Joey's mother," he said. "I told her, what're you giving this guy my number for? What the hell's the matter with you?"

But there are other comments that support the government's position, including an introduction made by Joseph "Scoops" Licata at the opening of the LaGriglia meeting. Introducing Ligambi to the New York mobstes, Licata said, "Our acting boss, Joe Ligambi, Philadelphia."

It won't be Ligambi's words, but the words of others, that will determine his fate when the jury finally gets the case.

The same is true for Borgesi.

The case against the volatile 50-year-old mobster is built almost entirely around the testimony of two mob associates who became government witnesses.

If the jury believes the story Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and Anthony Aponick told from the witness stand, Borgesi was running a mob bookmaking and loansharking operation from prison where he was serving a 14-year sentence for a 2001 racketeering conviction.

Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, has attacked the credibility and motivation of both witnesses, claiming they implicated Borgesi with lies and half-truths, presenting a story that curries favor with the government and gets them out from under their own criminal problems.

Several defense witnesses who are expected to be called after the Christmas break will offer testimony to back up that claim.

Who do you trust?

Who do you believe?

Reasonable doubt?

Those are the questions that Warren wants the jury to consider.

Both defendants have been in this situation before.

In the first trial, which ended in February, Borgesi beat 13 of the 14 counts he faced and Ligambi was acquitted on five of nine charges. But the jury hung on the other counts, leading to the retrial that began in November.

The jury in the first trial appeared to reject Monacello's testimony (Aponick was not called as a witness in that case) finding Borgesi not guilty of specific loansharking and sports betting charges but inexplicably hanging on the overarching racketeering conspiracy charge.

The jury hung on that same count against Ligambi as well as two gambling counts and a witness tampering count which are also part of the ongoing trial. (Overall, after three weeks of rambling deliberations, the jury in the first trial delivered not guilty verdicts on 46 charges, hung on 11 others and delivered just five guilty verdicts. Four of the seven defendants in that case, however, are now serving lengthy jail terms. One, Licata, was acquitted, and Ligambi and Borgesi are still fighting.)

With its convoluted verdict, the jury in the first trial apparently couldn't answer the key question posed by Jacobs earlier this week.

"What does Joe Ligambi have to do with that?"

We're not sure, the jury verdict seemed to say. Or, more to the point, we can't agree.

But this is a different jury. And it has heard a more focused government case. How it answers that question will determine Ligambi's fate. And what it thinks of Monacello and Aponick will go a long way toward determining Borgesi's future.

Read more at http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/a-key-question-for-jury-as-government.html#wcaA6JOuleSJmU7U.99

Todays witnesses were all about bookmaking, then that wedding photo of Stainos' that Joe told the photog not to give to the FBI. Suppose to be the last day for the goverment witnesses, but they aren't done. Goin back on the 30th to finish then the defense case starts. They said 3-4 days for them. So looks like it'll wrap up early January. Just in time for Nicodemos' and Galatis' trials!

Prosecutors in mob trial seek to show how Ligambi intimidated witness
Jeremy Roebuck, Inquirer Staff Writer
Friday, December 20, 2013

The photo of Joseph Ligambi, taken at a mob associate's wedding three years ago captured the reputed mob boss in less troubled times.

Decked out in a dark suit and tie and surrounded by a dozen close friends and family members at the Curtis Center, his face bore a smile not often seen in recent days in a Philadelphia federal courtroom.

But what that image meant and its potential implications for Ligambi's current criminal case became the subject of testimony Friday as his racketeering retrial ended its sixth week.

Prosecutors contend it shows the purported Mafia don alongside his network of loan sharks, bookmakers and mob enforcers. Ligambi's defense maintains the government has mistaken a simple family gathering for the wedding scene out of The Godfather.

In any case, Mark Louis Scoleri, the South Philadelphia photographer who captured that happy tableau, told jurors Friday he knew exactly which image the FBI was looking for when an agent showed up on his doorstep. Scoleri was presented with a subpoena for all of his photos from the 2010 wedding reception of Anthony Staino, a made man.

"I figured he was looking for that one photograph I took of the group," he told jurors Friday. "I knew he didn't want to look at no bride and groom photos."

Scoleri's testimony lies at the core of a witness intimidation charge against Ligambi. While jurors have spent weeks hearing of the 74-year-old's alleged involvement in loan-sharking, illegal gambling and extortion as part of the larger conspiracy case against him, prosecutors sought Friday to show Ligambi fought back as an FBI investigation closed in around him.

Agents who had surveilled Staino's nuptials were interested in the photo for the glimpse it provided into Ligambi's relationships with other made men and mob associates whose names had surfaced in their investigation.

Scoleri, who shot dozens of family events for the Ligambis over the past 20 years, said he immediately called his frequent client after that visit from the FBI. The reputed mob boss decided to pay the photographer a visit.

As soon as he arrived, Scoleri told the jury, Ligambi placed his hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't give them that picture."

"We were talking real close," the photographer said. "We were right next to each other."

At first, Scoleri did as he was told, but once investigators questioned him about the photo's absence, he turned it over.

Prosecutors contend Ligambi's instructions to Scoleri amount to an act of intimidation.

But despite what he described as a momentary lapse, Scoleri conceded under cross-examination from Ligambi's lawyer that he never exactly felt threatened by Ligambi.

"He was laughing and joking," the photographer said.

As for the mob figure's closeness during their conversation, Scoleri said, "that's just the way he talks. I'm not afraid of Joe."

Testimony in the trial is scheduled to resume Dec. 30.
↓http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131 ... ClE2b2C.99

Prosecutors seek to show how Ligambi intimidated witness
PHILADELPHIA The photo of Joseph Ligambi, taken at a mob associate's wedding three years ago, captured the reputed mob boss in less troubled times.

If I was that photographer I would of told the feds to go f*** themselves! Not only did he lose some good clientele, now he has to watch his back.

Don't think he felt he had much choice. I doubt Joe's livid about this action. He tried not giving it to them and I think the photo is evidence on one of the weakest of the charges.

How did they know about the group photo? Were any of the guys that flipped in the picture or at the wedding? Or do you think the feds were dressed as waiters lol

In the article it said that the fbi had surveillance at the weeding and watched the picture take place, so thats how they knew he had it.

REPUTED MOB associate Ron Galati, whose auto-body shop has received more than $1 million from the City of Philadelphia for working on police cars and other city vehicles, is known for cozying up to cops by throwing block parties or repairing their personal vehicles at a discount.

Over the summer, Galati's glad-handing extended to District Attorney Seth Williams, according to a source who attended a block party near Galati's home on Garnet Street in South Philly.

"He was palling around with Galati," the party attendee said of Williams.

Galati, 63, who did time in federal prison in the 1990s and is currently the target of an insurance-fraud investigation, was arrested last week on allegations that he hired hit men to kill three people.

"The fact that he put hits out on people doesn't make people very willing to talk about this subject matter," said the source, who attended the party with Galati and Williams.

Yesterday, Williams' spokeswoman, Tasha Jamerson, confirmed his attendance at the party, but said the two men had no prior relationship. Philadelphia police and state organized-crime authorities have been investigating Galati for a year and a half for crimes related to insurance fraud, according to court documents.

"The district attorney attends lots of block parties in the summer, and yes, he did attend a block party on South Garnet Street," Jamerson emailed. "That was the first he met Ron Galati Sr."

The city has paid Galati's company, American Collision & Automotive Center, about $1.2 million since 2011. City officials on Wednesday decided to stop sending cars there after the Daily News reported on the American Collision contract and Galati's alleged attempt to hire men to kill his daughter's boyfriend, as well as a cooperating grand-jury witness and the witness' son.

The boyfriend, Andrew Tuono, was shot outside his Atlantic City home on Nov. 30, but survived, according to court documents.

"Galati is slick. He would throw neighborhood block parties and befriend cops," said a police source. "That was his thing: get everyone to love him."

The police source said some cops go to Galati because "he takes care of their personal cars and cuts them breaks."

Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, a witness in the ongoing racketeering retrial of reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew, George Borgesi, testified last month that he and Borgesi once participated in an illegal body-shop kickback scheme with Galati.

City officials said this week that American Collision has done good work at a reasonable price. But friends say Galati, who once employed Joey Merlino and found himself on a John Stanfa hit list in the '90s, also has a fascination with the organized-crime lifestyle.

"He would constantly - I mean constantly - quote from the movie 'GoodFellas,'" one former friend said. "He always wanted to be a gangster."




Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201312...feJZGExVDx2p.99

What an act of desperation by the government. Surely they can do better than that.

Doesn't this benefit the defense? The prosecution's case won't be fresh on their minds when they come back and listen to the defense's case.

the prosecution didn't rest yet. Theyre going to end on Dec30 with there last witnesses, then the defenses witnesses go on.

i feel like they are dragging this trial out. just a big waste of time and money

As long as Georgie "Freckles" Borgesi gets cornholed, I'm a happy camper. I do hope Uncle Joe beats it and gets back to business. He's old school, low key, not too violent.

Georgie just did all them years so i think he did his time. I dont think highly of him either but the guy did his time. whatever conspiracy hes guilty of is all low level dumb shit anyway. uncle joe was home the whole time gettin money. so if anything Ligambi should do a few years. I think the whole case is B.S. anyway and was a waste of time. Especially in a city like Philly that has probably a few hundred open air drug markets that are basically open 24 hours a day and all the gang shootings and violence that goes with it. but theyre worried about george borgesi who has been in jail for over 12 or 13 years..

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the Philly family will be happy if Borgesi gets another heavy sentence, the guy's an idiot and brings heat on everyone he's involved with, he's a street thug, nothing more. He is no leader, his judgement is terrible, look how many rats he's brought through.

The fact that this moron is actually a high ranking member capo/consigliere just shows how pathetic the Philly mob is.

Joe Ligambi may be old school and he has brought stability to the family but I'm not sure you can consider him not too violent. Maybe compared to Scarfo and Merlino but the guy has been responsible for at least 3 killings (Turchi, Martorano, and Casasanto) while he was acting boss. Not to mention the Frankie Flowers hit where he pulled the trigger. I also have it on good authority that the Rocco Maniscalco hit was LCN related (again, possibly under Ligambi). Those are just the ones we know about because they were high profile. Look at the DiPietro hit, if someone doesn't spot Nicodemo's car at the scene we probably don't hear anything about it. Now I'm not suggesting Ligambi had anything to do with that hit since he was on trial and wasn't good for the image of the "nonviolent" gangster. I'm just saying, how many DiPietro's are there out there that we haven't heard about (again, not confirmed, but I heard that Nicodemo had the ok from someone in the Philly family- Not sure who but the list can't be that long). Just a thought.

I would think it was Merlino, Mazzone or Ligambi. But most likely imo either Merlino or Mazzone since they were allegedly the boss and street boss at the time.

One of the recent articles said Nicodemo is trying to have some of the evidence suppressed and ruled inadmissible....and either a cop or DA said if Nicodemo loses that motion he's "buried". Their words not mine. I think Nicodemos lawyer is saying the cops should of had a search warrant for the car before they searched it.

That's what I was implying. And let's not forget that Merlino was home right before that hit for his father's funeral (and Nicodemo was at the service). Nicodemo goes back to the mid 90's with Merlino and Mazzone.

Right on dude. There is only so much available to public. Joe Ligambi spent alot of time around the merlino brothers, and in turn, Scarfo. I don't think he's afraid to use force, but he exercises the best judgement he can on when to use that force.

Ligambi is fully aware when Narducci's, faffy, Chickie Chang (Sr) and all these other guys got/get out and what their plans may be. He's also friends with these guys and from their generation. He likes money; we all do. He's not going to fade away quietly. But he best make sure these guys know he speaks their language: Intimidation, fear, respect, power.

None of us know exactly what goes on in NYC families; which one, if any of them, have any control over Philly. And none of us know if Ligambi has tight connections to 1 or more of those families. Or what Joey Merlinos involvment is, if any. Or if he has connection in NYC. Or if Borgesi is in favor with Merlino and Ligambi still, or anything.

On a side note, If these old heads do come back, they need to draft a handbook. I feel bad for some of these younger guys though. No one around to take them under their wing and teach the right way to mob out. No apprenticeship program. That's whats needed. Phone Etiquette 101; shakedown ethics; Clip art. At least my man lil Nicky had Skinny Razor. Crazy Phil had Lil Nicky. No good apprenticeship program.

Come back to this board in 2015 and it could be a completely different scenery. There are enough generations of guys in the ranks that they could build it back to it's former "Glory". But, there is always greed, envy, and jealousy. And there is always someone out there tougher, crazier, and more ruthless than you.

I doubt Merlino is even involved, if any order came it would probably be from Mazzone, he's the real power in the family.

Well he met with John Gambino who is considered by some the most powerful in the Gambino family, also heard he met with Crea or it may have been Mazzone, I'm sure someone will correct me but no concrete evidence for that. Doesn't mean they are tight but he at least broke bread with them.

I seriously doubt Merlino is connected to any high ranking members of other famililies, too much heat.

Oh i agree with you JMack...i think someone did greenlight that hit....i doubt it was just a random killing. Pretty sure the cops still believe another guy was the actual shooter though but so far no other arrests.

Not sure when the judge is going to rule on that motion to suppress the evidence from the car but if he does rule it was an illegal search Nicodemo could get off. As far as i know thats pretty much the case. Still don't know though if there are any eyewitnesses that can place Nicodemo in that car at the crime scene. Thats a pretty big "if" though.

Any of you south philly guys hear anything new on the Nicodemo case? Or on Galati?

I heard from someone who would know that Galati is talking. Not sure as to what yet.

There's an undeniable consensus on how this whole thing was a circus.
the govt will get what he's poured lots of money in, so I guess that both will get something.

the feds would do the philly bunch a favor by keeping borgesi in.

ligambi, on the other hand, given his age and overall involvement could early be welcomed back as a facade boss.

I'd be surprised if Phil Narducci hasn't already been given an admin spot.

Boss- Steve Mazzone
Underboss- Phil Narducci
Consigliere- Ligambi (If he beats this case)

I see that's f'd up.

Haven't heard anything new on nicodemo - news to me that the search warrant may be illegal. Think he's on trial in May.

Jose...the search of the car wasn't specifically mentioned in the article but i'm pretty sure thats what the guy was talking about.

From a Big Trial article on Galati:

"He is scheduled for trial in May. A hearing to suppress evidence in his case could be the key to his future. If that hearing goes against him, "he's buried" said an investigative source familiar with the case."

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/12/mob-associate-jailed-in-murder-for-hire.html#HYfVmDjtGkfgPvmw.99

Sounds to me like there is a motion to suppress evidence and the only evidence that i know of came from the search of Nicodemo's car.

We won't hear a lot about Nicodemo because of IGJ same goes for galati

Been following GangsterBB and RealDeal since Rick Porello's crimeboard went down. First time posting since then. Pogo or any of the other guys from crimeboard still around? Kind regards, Nick.

Alleged Philly Mob Associate Accused of Hiring Hitmen to Kill 3
By MaryClaire Dale | Monday, Dec 23, 2013 | Updated 5:55 PM EST

A man accused of being a mob associate will stay in jail over Christmas while a judge weighs charges he tried to have his daughter's boyfriend and two rivals killed.

Ronald Galati Sr., who works at his son's auto body shop in South Philadelphia, also is accused of threatening people during a grand jury investigation focusing on organized crime and insurance fraud.

A police affidavit filed in court states that Galati agreed to pay $20,000 apiece for the killings of a rival shop owner who testified before the grand jury and the shop owner's son.

The affidavit said Galati, 63, also ordered a hit last month on his daughter's boyfriend, Andrew Tuono, outside Tuono's Atlantic City, N.J., home. Tuono was shot three times in the abdomen but survived. Police caught two of the shooters, who said Galati had paid them to kill Tuono and the father and son, the affidavit said.

The hitmen visited the targets' shop to scope out the job, but the state shut the business down before they could act, the affidavit said.

Galati also paid them $500 to $1,500 to vandalize cars, the hitmen said, according to police. The state insurance probe has been underway for about 18 months, according to the affidavit.

Defense lawyer Anthony Voci, in court on Monday to seek bail, called the evidence weak. He said that Galati's relatives and friends, about 60 of whom went to court, could post $50,000, enough to make $500,000 bail.

But prosecutors said they have more evidence they could not disclose in court. Common Pleas Judge Charles Erlich heard from both sides behind closed doors before postponing the bail issue until Dec. 30.

The Galati case has no apparent link to the federal retrial of Philadelphia mob boss suspect Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi, who are charged in a racketeering case that involves loansharking and bookmaking. Their defense attorneys have accused the FBI of paying mob informants more than $500,000 and overlooking their crimes to try to bolster a racketeering case that's "been on life support" for years. They've also said federal wiretaps offer no proof Ligambi and Borgesi did anything more than make private loans and rent poker machines to bars and social clubs.

Looks like the guy didn't flip after all the feds would have gotten him released on bail just like bent finger. Sounds like hes screwed they caught the 2 shooters were they south philly wannabes that's wat Im thinking. This guy wanted 3 guys wackd that's ballsy. Anyone no if the vics were connected. Wanted his daughters boyfriend killed that's pretty Paul castellano ish.

All that takes time. He won't be released until they have a cooperation deal in place. He will be released, just give it some time.

The Philly family has had a fluid structure for the last 20 years. Whoever is in power has their own inner circle. We all know Mazzone is running things now. Beyond that I don't think there is any set structure. I think he has a close inner circle made up of captains but I don't think one is above the other (Chang, Lance, Narducci, Mazzone).

I know a lot of people talk about Narducci like he is the heir apparent (GA was talking about him in a recent mob talk), and I know he has done a lot of work, but most of the people with Merlino during the 90's have plenty of work under their belt too. They will not be pushed aside. Just like Georgie said, we fought for this family, it's ours. If Ligambi beats the charges he could help ease the Scarfo guys transition. If not, who knows what will happen.

there is NOTHING interesting in New York... you can get a pastrami sandwich anywhere these days.. just sayin...

You got that right hun...you a fan of the $5.00 Footlong @ Subway?

Daddys got some more pictures!

Soldiers in the Philly Family Ally Lance & Dom Grande

What are they 17? Starting them young in Philly Eh?

Dom Grande & Albert Lancelotti

I think Probably early 30's.

Dang they look young

Mike Lancellotti @ mummers parade

Ray Wagner with Skinny Joey Merlino

Skinny Joey & Wags

Another of Anthony Nicodemo & his lovely wife.

Who are Al Lance and Dom Grande aligned with in the Philly family? Mazzone, Chang, Mikey Lance? Let's just say shit starts to hit the fan in Philly and there is a power struggle, I keep hearing about Phil Narducci but who would he have on his side?

Nicodemo's wife is hot.

Al lance is Mikey Lance's nephew so I would imagine he stands with his uncle but in Philly family has been known to be on opposite sides

I heard Dom Grande was with Narducci.He may be with Sonny Mazzone though.

Dom is with Stevie ... Phil Narducci should be too ... What about Phil's brother - haven't heard much from him

They are all with Stevie. Everyone thinks Phil Narducci is heir apparent but as far as I know Phil is a captain under Stevie. He was a young soldier when he went to prison so I would think he is happy to be making money period. As for his brother Frank Narducci Jr, I heard that he isn't involved and I've heard that he is involved. But Frank was seen at one of Ligambi's christmas parties. The one that Mazzone got in trouble for attending because he was still on supervised release.

Phil has a lot of young guys(associates) in his crew doing gambling and probably a few other regular rackets.

Yes but I think the guy meant what crew is Dom in. Now that Stevie is running things does he still have his old crew? Or did he give it to his brother Sal? Because Sonny doesn't just become a captain with no soldiers, he must have took over his brothers crew, unless Lancelotti got a bump upto underboss or consig.

Appreciate all the pictures, their great, how the hell do you get hold of em lol, do you know what Joe Grande is upto? Is he just a soldier?

Bet he's making money but won't be long before one of them snitches and he's back in prison, thats the trouble with these young guys.

Gotcha. I would think Dom is in Mikey Lances crew. Sonny could be running Steves old crew but I also heard he could be running Stainos South Jersey crew but I didnt think that was true because hes a South Philly guy. So most likely Sonny is in Philly. Im not sure who is in control of the South Jersey stuff now but somebody is on top of it im sure. As for the pictures, I know a lot of people is all I can really say, but ill try to keep them coming. I dont really know what Joe grande is up to but I have been wondering the same. I know he supports Scarfo and not Merlino faction.

Your right about that. Unless hes still a nut like he was when he was young and starts dropping bodies. But i wouldnt want to go back to jail for another 25 years so i would think hes playing whatever hes doing as smart as possible.

I seen the one photo posted on here before of Narducci, aside from Andrew Micali the majority of those younger guys I think are just either friends of his 2 nephews (Baldino brothers) or perhaps work at Encore. Not going to mention their names on here but 2 of those kids I know and I doubt they have what it takes to be in that life. Could be just a group of hanger ons like the same crew of guys I always see around George Borgesi's brother all the time downtown.

Mikey Lance sure does duck indictments huh

and for the record not insinuating he is a rat...just lucky

If I were a boss I'd do business like the guys in that James Caan movie "The Yards" (strip down to no clothes whenever you talk business). It may be homoerotic but it beats taking it in the ass in Lewisburg.

Lancellotti has to be the luckiest mobster in Philadelphia right now.

Same with steve mazzone, the only member of the administration not to be caught up in the big indictments.

He went down with Merlino in his case that was a bigger indictment than the one going on now I think he got something like 8 years for it

ya i was just referring to him not getting indicted in the current case. but your right, that case was much bigger than the one going down now.

The case going on now the investigation started when he went away and unlike Borgesi the guy he had handling his business while he was locked up didn't cooperate with the Feds once he got indicted in this case so the government doesn't have much on him this time. I guess when it comes down to it he's lucky his guy kept his mouth shut or he would be sitting next to Borgesi this time around too

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Ally & Mikey Lance

Dom Grande

more Dom Grande

Mikey Lance with nephew Ally Lance

Ray Wagner and Joe Merlino

Young Joe Ligambi