Monday, January 27, 2014

Government Moves To Drop Charges Against Ligambi

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

Federal authorities have decided not to retry Joe Ligambi on conspiracy and gambling charges after two juries soundly rejected the bulk of the government's case against the South Philadelphia mob boss.

In a motion filed this afternoon, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania asked Judge Eduardo Robreno to dismiss the three remaining counts pending against the 74-year-old mob leader.

The move came two days after a jury voted to acquit Ligambi of a witness tampering charge and hung on the conspiracy count and two counts of illegal gambling.

"In this instance I agree with the exercise of judgment by the U.S. Attorney's Office," said Edwin Jacobs Jr., Ligambi's lawyer. "(Federal prosecutors) took their two best shots unsuccessfully."

Jacobs said it would be a waste of taxpayers' money and government resources to try Ligambi a third time. The Atlantic City-based attorney, considered one of the top criminal lawyers in the area, represented Ligambi in both trials.

In the first trial, which lasted a three months and ended in February, a jury found Ligambi not guilty of five of nine counts he faced. A second trial, focusing on the four remaining counts, began in November and ended on Friday with the panel's split decision.

The anonymously chosen jury of 11 women and one man had voted 10-2 in favor of acquitting Ligambi on the three counts on which it hung. Ligambi's nephew and co-defendant, George Borgesi, 50, was acquitted of conspiracy, the one count on which he was being retried.

Borgesi was released immediately.

Jacobs said he hoped to have Ligambi freed within the next 24 hours, or as soon as Judge Robreno signs an order dismissing the remaining charges.

"Hopefuly, my client and I will be having dinner together tomorrow night," he said.

Jacobs said he would be buying.

George Anastasia can be contacted at George@bigtrial.net



29 comments

  1. George, many comments by both the defense lawyers and on those on this site who followed these trials over the past few years regarding who much was spent by the government on these prosecutions. Have you ever considered doing a story on just how much was spent or wasted in some opinion by the government on these trials and for comparison purposes who much does it cost to prosecute a capital murder case. I've seen people throw out all kinds of totals by no one really know who much was actually spent for all of this.

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  2. Just hold on joe your coming home things are going to be interesting on the street now uncle joe and georgie are out wonder if stevie will just step aside or if theres going to be problems

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  3. the feds are going to really put the screws hard to Nicodemo to rat em all out

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  5. Where does JOHNNY STEVIE LANCE figure in the pecking order know that Joe and george are home

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  6. Where does JOHNNY STEVIE LANCE figure in the pecking order know that Joe and george are home

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  7. Great job on covering the last 2 trials George A. Too bad they're keeping you out of the scarfo trial.

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  8. Yea amazing job !! Great info throughout .Hope you can start giving updates on Nicodemo and whats goin on with his case . Thanx George job well done .

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  9. Stand up guys like that, are a dying bread.

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  10. That's good to see the government drop there witch hunt

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  11. Memo to the feds. Most people don't like what your doing. Most people are rooting for Ligambi in this trial. Why? Because somewheres along the line you became the bad guys.

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    1. This is the blowback you get when the Feds climb in bed with reprobates like Joe Massino and Ralph Natale in order to win convictions. How is it equitable to give Joe Massino, who by all accounts was an arch criminal and murderer his entire adult life, a pass for carrying out and ordering many murders in order to get Vincent Basciano? Let Ralph Natale pass on eight murders to get Joey Merlino? Never mind the fact that these guys have every incentive to lie to get out from under, I think we are seeing the tipping point where the public rejects this lazy brand of careerist prosecution in favor of traditional proof and evidence. Maybe the Justice Department will learn and turn these cases back over to the State police where they belong.

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    2. All the Justice Department guys care about is putting down on their resume they got LA COSA NOSTRA like goodfellas or godfather (which despite all the glorification is a street gang in philly today) and can move on to six figure law firm jobs.

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    3. True words. The feds are immensly popular. You got a certain ethnic minority burning down north philly meanwhile your going after "video poker" Joe? Thats not disrespect to Joe, who stood up like a man. A truly stand up guy.

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  12. The RatFellas Will Be Back In Jail Very Soon!!

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  13. Joe stood up for video poker. BIG DEAL! LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GALATI AND NICADIMO PUT BACK INSIDE FOR GOOD. THAT WHY THEY LET JOE OUT. HE WILL FILP ON THE NEXT CASE!

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    1. He stood up on a 10-15 year bid at the age of 74, after being held 2.5 years with no bail. You would rat looking at 10-15 months.

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    2. i AGREE THEY WOULD RAT AFTER 15 MINUTES!

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  14. Why does everyone call the Philly mob ratfellas??

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  15. Because The Philly Mob is the.capital of RATS!!!!!!!!

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  16. Rico Indictment are coming down next!!! For Murders!!;,,,,,,,,,

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    1. Sounds like you know something! Now go find a hunk of cheese and start eating!

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  17. Uncle Joe is going too get slapped with one at the door when leaving!!,,,,,,^

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  18. They might try to put nicodemo and galati on stand but like aponick bent finger and fixer nobodys gonna believe them after these last two trials the government has to question there protocol

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  19. 2^ Which murders are you guessing they will get UJ on?

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  20. Hey Louie Prosciutto!! You are one ugly looking son of an Irish putana!!

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  21. Good for Uncle Joe and Georgie lets these men live their lives in peace and the FEDS should look into more serious crimes in the inner city!

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  22. Use had to start with that fat ang and mazzuca shit u fucking jerkoffs u know ang is George A boy and the murder shit nobody cares about most of them were low life cock suckers any way so couple weeks u can fuck up the next post slap dick

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