Monday, January 13, 2014

Ligambi Jury At Impasse, Deliberations Continue

Judge Robreno
By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

They've been here before.

The jury in the racketeering conspiracy retrial of mob boss Joe Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi told a judge today that it was at an 'impasse" and unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case.

But Judge Eduardo Robreno told the panel of 11 women and one man to keep working.

"It was a long trial," Robreno said in a brief comment to the panel after the jurors had been called back into the courtroom around 2 p.m. "Go back and continue working."

The jury did just that, then recessed for the day at 4 p.m. Deliberations are to resume tomorrow at 9:30.

Ligambi, 74, and Borgesi, 50, have been through this before. In their first trial, the jury deliberated for three weeks before returning a split verdict. At one point, Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor said it appeared the group was "wandering in the desert" and asked the judge to provide the jurors with a copy of the indictment.

Robreno denied that request. But in the retrial, both sides agreed prior to the start of the trial that a copy of the indictment would be provided when deliberations began,

This afternoon, Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, quipped "At least we know they're not wandering in the desert. This time they have a copy of the indictment."

The note sent out by the panel read in part, "We have voted at least two times...and we are at an impasse." The note also said that there was no unanimity on any of the five charges they are considering.

"I think it's very early in the process," Robreno said to the lawyers prior to calling the panel in and responding to the note. Deliberations began late Wednesday afternoon, the judge noted. The jury met for about six hours on Thursday, but did not meet Friday.

It had deliberated about three hours today before sending out the note.

In the first trial, the jury deliberated for three weeks after hearing testimony for three months. That case involved seven defendants and 62 counts. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on 46 counts, guilty verdicts on five and hung on 11 others.

This case involved just two defendants and the five counts on which the jury hung against them.

Ligambi is facing a racketeering conspiracy count, two counts of illegal gambling and one count of witness tampering. Borgesi faces only a racketeering conspiracy charge.

Neither defendant said much when they were called into the courtroom today, although both nodded and smiled at a dozen family members and friends who have been keeping a vigil on the 15th floor since deliberations began.

Borgesi was found not guilty of 13 of the 14 counts he faced in the first trial. Ligambi was acquitted of four of nine counts.

While it's impossible to determine how split the panel is, the fact that there is not unanimity on any count is, at least in the short run, a victory for the defense. Both Warren and Ligambi's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs Jr., launched blistering attacks on the government's case and their key witnesses.

They argued that the prosecution had overcharged what amounted to a minor gambling case, cobbling together unrelated crimes by various individuals to create a racketeering enterprise where one did not exist.

Throughout his closing argument, Jacobs told the jury that the mob no longer exists, calling it "an impotent shell" and describing Ligambi as the "titular head" of an organization that FBI had dismantled more than a decade ago.

Labor and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Han, the key prsoecutors in the case, argued that Ligambi and Borgesi used the mob's historic reputation for violence to advance gambling and loansharking schemes from which they both benefitted.

The case against Borgesi is built almost entirely around the testimony of mob informants Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and Anthony Aponick. The defense urged the jurors to seriously consider whether they could live with themselves if they sent a defendant to jail based on the testimony of two witnesses whose testimony was tainted and self-serving.

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

62 comments

  1. Would They attempt to try them a third time if the jury can not come to a unanimous decision?

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  2. Rico murder Charges are coming for both crews!

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  3. Send them home to there family's

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  4. This guy is a real J O!!! Call him Judge Jerk Off!!! He's FORCING them...just like he did at the first trial!!!
    Its BULLSHIT!!!

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    Replies
    1. The jury can think for themselves - if the defendants did not think they were above the law, they would not be in this mess

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  5. NOT GUILTY BOYS. WORTHLESS FEDS WILL LOSE A SECOND TIME. NEXT TIME FIND SOME REAL CRIMINALS LIKE THOSE DESTROYING PHILLY AS WE SPEAK

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    1. But the Feds Didn't really loose the first time!!! A few DID go away!!! Over bullshit!!!

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  6. BOY GEORGE CIRCUS COMING TO A CORNER NEAR SOON

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    Replies
    1. yes and when murder indictments come out there won't be anything left to be said about these bums.

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  7. Shakes is coming home what lady is he gonna beat up now.

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  8. Stevie Mazzone x wife!

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  9. Get them ENVOLOPES ready BOYS
    UNCLE JOE is coming home! !!!

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    Replies
    1. he's not coming home ever. if it's not this indictment it will be another one

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    2. ^^U really need to get that envolope ready he.s coming home may be not for long but long enough to make collections.

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  10. I guess no more envelopes going to boca .

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  11. The only Guy I ever heard of that had to beat the same case twice .

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    Replies
    1. That should sue !!! welcome home boys

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    2. no, they tried joey a second time in newark nj

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  12. Maybe uncle Joe can thow a superbowl party!!))

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  13. "Who ever sold you those suits had a wonderful sense of humor"

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  14. If they hang for the second time I can't imagine they would try again but you never know. These prosecuters are trying for promotions of off these stupid case. I hope at least robreno at least grants them bail but I highly doubt it, he is clearly pro- government. Hopefully they don't waste anymore taxpayers money on this overblown gambling case

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    1. I can.t seet them trying it a 3rd time
      Bent finger' aponick' Frankie fixer can.t sell it. This is the second jury that doesnt believe them

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    2. When you have family members intimidating jurors and then are asked to leave the courtroom sometimes i wonder if the jury fears them. Jurors obviously believe them to a point or there would be no deadlock.

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    3. Monacello is the reason for the second trial because he can sell. Frank is a moron and Aponick stuck to his guns.

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    4. Then why is there no unanimous decision i can.t see it changing over night sir.

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    5. If the jurors feared for there life they should have said something that i think is bs

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    6. You never know what is in one's head.do u think the defens has a case? They put an employer that everyone knows lied; the father in law and someone pissed over a dining room set. Is that convincing?

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    7. Joe Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi are lucking someone who noooo and new them well did not go to that case!! GO TO CHURCH EVERY DAY BOYS!!

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    8. ^ Was that English?

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    9. ^^…no...^^ ..this guy struggles daily

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    10. 1 juror simply said, "They were staring at us." When asked as a group if they felt intimadated by the family, they unanimously said NO. Manny, Ant n Alyson n others stayed away so as not to DISTRACT the jury. They were Not ordered to do so. Read GA's earlier article on it.

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  15. Stevie and Johnny will drow him a
    He.s a JOLLY GOOD FELLA PARTY! !!!!!

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  16. Is uncle Joe going tooo bitch slap steve mazzone?

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    1. Why for bitch slapping his herman monster nephew i dought it He might bitch slap Boy George when he starts stirring shit again

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    2. So guys are getting slapped around in bars n irs not on mobwives?

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  17. US Marshals are sucking up the overtime. Your welcome, from us taxpayers...

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  18. GALATI AND NICODEMO IS TALKING!!!!;

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  19. Was steve mazzone wearing his Jeff cap saturday night that bold headed homo!! At stogie Joe's?

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  20. The jury didn.t believe them other 3 twice for gambling and lonesharking
    No body believe them. How u gonna believe galati and nicodemo looking at murder 1 they.ll say anything to save there asses. Should be interesting though.

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    Replies
    1. They believed something or there would not be a second trial. How can anyone say the defendants are innocent. when murder charges come out there will be no question

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  21. Don't for get roger Vella and tommy horse head!!!

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    1. Joe Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi are lucking someone who noooo and new them well did not go to that case!! GO TO CHURCH EVERY DAY BOYS!!

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    2. If a witness is arrested and convicted while in custody, the sponsoring federal investigative agency is asked to advise state authorities of the witness's cooperation to ensure the witness's security. If state authorities can't protect the witness, they can advise the OEO, which will review the witness's case and consider reinstatement in the Witness Security Program as a prisoner. Once in prison, the Federal Bureau of Prisons takes over custody.Roger is DONE they WONT USE HIM.HE'S ON IS OWN LOOK OUT THE FAMILY IS A COMIN

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  22. Another mistrial? Will the Judge continue to violate their civil rights by denying bail a third time? I hope a significant civil rights claim ensues from this and that feds stop violating Italians, whether guilty or innocent!

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Totally agree w/u. I believe the Italian Americans are being targeted because of the whole mob history. There hasn't been a organized mob since the Stanfa- Merlino wars.

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    3. Wake up from your mothers garage Traci. That's why we are here. That's why George has a blog. Upper right hand side, PHILADELPHIA MOB TRIAL. Click on it.

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  23. Come on!!!!! All of mob rats are italians taking the stand! Please who's violating who????????

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  24. Georgie is looking at anywhere between 120 to 137 months, Uncle Old Man Joe.... who really cares??? he's on his way out, leave the Old Man Alone. Wait Wait Wait ,only if he promises to get he's kids some dental work done, come on Joe you had all the Insurance money and you didnt fix their teeth, shame on you.

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    1. In his defense, dental insurance rarely covers cosmetic surgery. Sometimes dental insurance won't even cover routine wisdom teeth removal unless the removal is medically necessary.

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  25. Any insiders know what happened this morning, i figure they'll get a free lunch than tell the judge they still can't make a decision

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  26. pretty awful if they wait for a $10 free lunch

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  27. Their hung on 2 counts!.........

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    Replies
    1. Does that mean they reached a verdict on the other 3?

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    2. Is the judge making them go back or is he taking this verdict

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  28. He is having bar side with the lawyers

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  29. The US Attorney said they are "yIN THE DESERT"...then stop forcing them to rule when they can't. The judge needs to be replaced. He is an elitist anyway and it is unfair and fundamentally wrong to force the issue. Let these guys go. They are really exposed for being knuckleheads and not much more. TRIAL IS OVER!

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