Thursday, January 2, 2014

Frankie The Fixer's Encore Not As Sweet For The Defense

Frankie The Fixer [left] with Bent Finger Lou
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

Frankie the Fixer changed his tune.

And the music wasn't quite as sweet for the defense in the racketeering retrial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his nephew, George Borgesi.

A government informant whom the prosecution opted not to call this time, Frank DiGiacomo, 49, took the stand today as the final defense witness in the eight-week old trial that is expected to go to the jury next week.

While DiGiacomo, an admitted con man, hustler and mob enforcer, helped the defense with his testimony in the first trial last year, his performance this morning was a mixed bag, not as pointedly hostile toward key government witness Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and on occasion damaging to Ligambi and Borgesi.

Last year, much to the prosecution's chagrin, DiGiacomo discredited Monacello and undermined much of his testimony. This time, while still labeling his former mob associate a "greedy," sneaky and dangerous individual, he emphasized that both he and Monacello worked for and reported to Borgesi and Ligambi.
"I never called him boss," DiGiacomo said of his relationship to Monacello, a statement that was at odds with his testimony in the first trial.

"That was my boss, right there," he added, pointing to the 74-year-old Ligambi seated at the defense table.

DiGiacomo also testified that Monacello told him that the profits from a loansharking operation they were running for Borgesi would be split among the three of them. He said that Monacello told him that he, Monacello, "was handling" a lucrative sports betting and loansharking business "for Georgie" and that "all orders came from Joe."

The decision to call DiGiacomo as a witness could backfire on the defense since his story in many ways supported the testimony of Monacello and Anthony Aponick, two other Borgesi associates who testified that Borgesi was running a gambling and loanshark business from behind bars.

Borgesi, 50, was convicted in an unrelated racketeering case and sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2001.

DiGiacomo began cooperating with the FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police in 2007. He wore a body wire and recorded dozens of conversations that were used to convict Monacello, 46, on state charges for which he was sentenced to less than two years.

DiGiacomo said he was Monacello's associate and muscle from 1998 until Monacello's arrest in the state case in 2008. He described Monacello as a blowhard who often dropped Borgesi's name. But his testimony lacked the bite that it had in the first trial where he described Monacello as someone who had bragged that "This is my crew and I'm the boss."

In that first trial, DiGiacomo also testified that Monacello relentlessly squeezed him for money. And he repeatedly contradicted other parts of Monacello's testimony. That left the government with two key witnesses who told decidedly different stories.

Today it was Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, who had to deal with the inconsistencies. Warren, who called DiGiacomo as a witness, had to challenge DiGiacomo several times on the seeming contradictions between what he was saying on the stand and what he had said last year.

Some examples:

Today DiGiacomo said that Monacello went to visit Borgesi in prison about twice year. That's consistent with prison records and Monacello's testimony. Last year he said Monacello told him he visited Borgesi every other month, or about six times a year.

In the first trial, DiGiacomo said he knew very little about money that Monacello was funneling to Borgesi through Borgesi's wife. This time he said he was required to kick in $200-a-month and that cash was given to Alyson Borgesi on a monthly basis.

"Lou collected it," said DiGiacomo who told the jury this morning that he believed another friend, Sal Zangari, delivered the money. He said he knew nothing of Monacello's claim that he, Monacello, dropped an envelope of cash in the glove compartment of Alyson Borgesi's car, but insisted that cash was given to her as Borgesi's share in their illegal activities.

Dressed in a brown suit, white shirt and bronze tie, DiGiacomo spent less than an hour on the stand. He said he has been relocated and is a candidate for the Witness Protection Program. He was questioned by Warren, but Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr., opted not to ask any questions.

In the first trial, DiGiacomo described the mobsters he associated with as "good guys" who were fun to hang out with and he described himself as someone who had "betrayed" his friends by becoming a government informant.

 His story today was more matter-of-fact and lacked the poignancy and personal deprecation. He said he became a cooperator because he was deeply in debt to several mobsters and couldn't repay the money.

Asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han if he feared for his life, DiGiacomo responded, "Yes...There was no more options, no more choices."

That response goes to one of the key issues in the prosecution case -- the position that the mob's reputation for violence, even when no violence was committed, was a prime factor in controlling the criminal underworld.

DiGiacomo repeatedly told the jury that he worked in a crew being run by Monacello but controlled by Borgesi. And just as often, he described Ligambi as the boss. Those comments go to the heart of the racketeering conspiracy charge that both Ligambi and Borgesi face. They were never as clearly stated by DiGiacomo in the first trial.

Monacello, 46, began cooperating after he was indicted with Ligambi, Borgesi and a dozen other defendants in May 2011. He has pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge and has twice testified that he hopes his cooperation will play a role in helping him receive a lighter sentence.

The first trial, which ended in February, lead to a mixed and confusing verdict. Four defendants were found guilty of at least one charge, one defendant was acquitted and the jury hung on the principal charge against Ligambi and Borgesi, leading to the retrial.

Judge Eduardo Robreno has scheduled closing arguments in the current case for Monday morning. They are expected to take about a day and a half. Robreno hopes to charge the jury on the law Tuesday afternoon. It was unclear if deliberations would begin then on Wednesday morning.

Borgesi was acquitted of 13 of the 14 counts he faced in the first trial. The jury hung on the overarching racketeering conspiracy charge that is at the center of the retrial. Ligambi was found not guilty of five of nine counts and the jury hung on four others.
 
In the retrial, the case against Borgesi appears to hinge entirely on whether the anonymously chosen jury panel believes the testimony of Monacello and Aponick. While DiGiacomo, as a government witness, went a long way toward discrediting Monacello in that first trial (Aponick was not called as a witness in that case), his testimony today fell far short of that. Ironically, as a government witness last year, DiGiacomo may have aided the defense. This time, as a defense witness, he may have helped prop up the prosecution's case.

But until the jury comes back with its verdict, that is merely courtroom speculation.

DiGiacomo conceded under questioning from Warren that pressure from Monacello, to whom he also owed money, was a factor in his decision to cooperate.

"The greed got out of control," he said of Monacello.

Then, pointing to the prosecution table, he added, "That's why I'm with these guys today."

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

86 comments

  1. Their Dead!!!! And The Murder Charges Are Coming Next For UJ And Skinny's Crew!!!!'''''

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  2. Free Joe and George! Free Jerry Sandusky and Charles Manson, too!

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  3. What About Galati....

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    Replies
    1. GALATI is holding his ass right now in cfcf....tryna find someone to wack the roach that crawled by his bunk

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    2. clown court doesn't start for a few months yet. so, he has plenty of time to get aquainted with his new surroundings. no more actin like a bigshot throwin around names and bengies!!!!!!

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    3. his new goomad will be a GUY named antwon......

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  4. u people really are clowns who comment on people's lives who u never met

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  5. Truth Hurts!!!???

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  6. Rico Murder Trial Next!!!

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  7. Like in 2001???? Lol

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  8. Yesssss Put More Rats In This One!!!!

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  9. The RATS In The Next Trial Are Roger Vella Tommy HorseHead Nicodemo Ron Galati And God Knows Who Else!!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Roger Vella Tommy HorseHead are dead.

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    2. They can NEVER use that Faggot Fuckin Bart Simpson Crumb Roger Vella hes on his own. The Gov left him out to die.He cant be used he broke the rules of the witness protection rules.GOOD LUCK BART LMAO

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  10. What.s the odds vin on a not guilty verdict after today

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  11. GO TO CHURCH EVERYDAY YOUR STILL ON THE STREET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. You Got A Better Chance To Get Hit By A Sky Lab!!

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  13. HEY ! SM DONT FORGET YOUR COUSIN Dutchi

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  14. Happy And A HEALTH 2014!! AND YOU and THE REST OF YOUR FRIENDS SHOULD GO TO CHurchEVERYDAY YOUR STILL ON THE STREET!!

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  15. Church isnt help any souls onthis blog including myself lol!!

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  16. Don't WORRY The Next Trial It's All Coming Out!!! All The Murders!! And Who's Rating...

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  17. Looks Like Guilty!!! You Can't Beat Feds!''''''

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  18. Steveie Mazzone And Skinny's Crew Looking At 9 Murders At The Next Trial!!******* Rico Is Coming!

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  19. I Heard That Their Shiting!!!!!! ThemSelves!......

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  20. The End Is Near For The RatFellas!!!!!!!

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  21. Joey n company beat plenty of murders before,the next trial if there is one will just be another day at the office for the fellas! Have. Nice day!

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  22. This Time Around Their Are A lot More RATS!!! Cuz....

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  23. Remember the good old days when cooperating was frowned upon.

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    Replies
    1. Remeber the good old days no rico and ur family was taken care of while u was in the joint im not doing 20yrs for somebody eles fuck up and hes related im not so i cant whack him fuck that shit

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    2. ur family was taken care of while u was in the joint!!!!! THAT's A JOKE no one took care of anyone FAMILy.. NEVER HAPPEN and it never will.

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    3. I know people whos familys were taken care of personaly in the70.s and 80.s and old timers tell the same in bootleging yrs its been done maybe not in philly i wouldnt know

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  24. You Can Thank The RatFellas For That!!!!! PhillyMob Is Known For Being The Capital Of Rats!!!!!.........

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    1. Yes rats; would you go to jail for people that had a hit out on you? Would any of you? I give Monacello credit for taking care of Borgesi's family all those years; went to jail once; lost his business; had to rebuild his life and then a hit was out on him after all that. I'd rat too. At least he can make a legal living not like some people on Arch Street; they envy him. The real criminals in this are on Arch St. God bless the families that have lost loved ones through this kind of stuff. Let justice prevail if there are murder trials.

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  25. And HoMosexual's Toooooo

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  26. This is What The PhillyMob Does They Rat!

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  27. It can make your head spin. The amount of people that you find out either on the street or in news and sites like this that are wired for sound.

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  28. How Many Guys Left On The Street That Are Wired?

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    Replies
    1. I mean its just crazy when you hear that somebody is informant that maybe you knew or somebody else.

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  29. Their's A lot Of Them!!!!! With These Guy's.

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  30. Nobody's Taken Care Of Anyone With These RatFellas!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah just ask Monique Chang. They gave her shit after Michael died. The only one that helped her Lance.one of the good guys

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    2. asked Monique Chang where all the MONEY IN the WALLS AND IN THE BOXS WENT TO!!!!!! CHANG HAD STASH>>>>

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    3. There's NO .MONEY TO HELP THEMSELVES HOW MANY TIMES DID GEORGIE BOY SWITCH LAWYERS????? CANT AFFORD THE GOOD ONES ...L OL WHERES CUTLER THE LAWYER HE TRIED TO GET OVER ON .TIL THE NEW YORK MOB FOUND OUT.& GAVE THAT BLEEDING RECTUM A BIG BOY BEATING.HE CANT EVEN PAY THIS LAWYER.

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    4. AND I GUESS( Eddie Jacobs) IS GETTING PAID WITH FOOD STAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    5. Two up^^ ..cutler?....you are a complete fool. Do yourself a favor....keep quiet...BC when you speak....you embarrass yourself...

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    6. Atta boy spider. ..dont take no shit!!!!

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    7. Fuc#n fat fu@%...should wear a sign....

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    8. Ok 3^^up ur Right im sorry Il be quiet...SILENCE IS GOLDEN. BUT under one condition. YOU GET OFF BOY GEORGE PRICK & watch how u use that t word EMBARRASSMENT IT MIGHT JUST COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU....Acme Bag Eyes .

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  31. Phillymob It's Over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  32. They can NEVER use that Faggot Fuckin Bart Simpson Crumb Roger Vella hes on his own. The Gov left him out to die.He cant be used he broke the rules of the witness protection rules.GOOD LUCK BART LMAO

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  33. That's Not True Cuz!!! He'll Be Back...

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    1. Yeah in a fucking COFFIN PIECE OF SHIT BART SIMPSON LOOK ALIKE.Hell def have to do all his time .in state prison Good Luck with that hell NEVER MAKE IT.Get ready to for that Life Insurance Policy .That Blue Suit and Grave Site Opening. You Crumbs

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    2. He'll NEVER b able to do State time thats y he ratted in the first place.little mommies boy she helped put him in jail ..she sold drugs for him .that other Fat Cow of a mother if thats what u call a mother. I wonder if the father is tired of picking up those dead RATS off his step.other freak of nature.KARMA GONNA GET THAT RETATRED FAMILY

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  34. Nice reporting and analysis. Good to have you back, Mr. Anastasia.

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  35. Im not getting xcited about any murder trials until I read it on Philly.com.

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  36. Don't WORRY You Will!!!!!

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  37. GO EAGLES
    If there is another trial it will be 18 months from know these guys still have to deal with this trials results wheather there guilty or not guilty

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    Replies
    1. thank u. Ur the only 1 I learn from on here.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. I dont know about all that traci also see there was a comment removed must of been a good one any way u have a fine morning

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    4. I accidently posted the same comment twice, had to go back n delete it. U have a great evening, JB.

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    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  38. GALATI IS TALKING!!!!!!

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    1. hey always was, whats different than before, he always threw names out in front of him so other people get on the map.......that's called a closet rat. that's his way, his mouth is what gets him in trouble, he always talks about what happened way back when..........now, maybe he will get the official crown........like the cheesehead hat the packer fans wear............

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  39. These guys are all going to jail!!!! All the FEDS need is Nicdemo and Galati too RAT! And the rest will drop like FLY'S it's going to be a MESS!!!!!

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  40. You got that right.....

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  41. It's seems like their's going too be more Rico Charging's coming...

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  42. How could you co sign this non sense??? Smfh!

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  43. ^ People hate too hear the truth!

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  44. U just can.t assume people are talking cause u hate them. If somebodys
    talking it gets out. Most folks are waiting for a verdict. A not guilty them guys want there titles back. A guilty verdict. A lot of new guys might want the title either way same results same ending.

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  45. asked Monique Chang where all the MONEY IN the WALLS AND IN THE BOXS WENT TO!!!!!! CHANG HAD STASH>>>>

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  46. Their All Broke!!!!!!!

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  47. AND I GUESS( Eddie Jacobs) IS GETTING PAID WITH FOOD STAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Rumor has it eddies being paid like a public defender by the federal court with perks. Like i said rumor should be public knowlege though if true.

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    2. Perks...??...like free coffee and doughnuts?...parking validated?...lunch voucher?...thanks jb

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    3. Like i said rumor hotel. Car ride. Gov finances better than state finances just ask the boys whats better state food federal food. Ur welcome

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  48. Maybe the FruitCake Steveie Mazzone is Helping Out!!!!!

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  49. Ya like uj and his crew helped them right.Lol...

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  50. What? He get paid with perks, like 30s????

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  51. Ask Sonny Mazzone The RAT!!!!! ^

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  52. wow! the feds must have threatened him & directed his testimony to incriminate!

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  53. No matter what these are people who just got caught up in the game, I pray for all .and as the Bible says let the first without sin thrown the 1st stone

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