Thursday, January 9, 2014

Ligambi Jury Still Deliberating, Scarfo Trial Set For Testimony

By George Anastasia
For Bigtrial.net

The jury in the racketeering conspiracy retrial of mob boss Joe Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi headed home at 4 p.m. today after a second day of deliberations.

Early in the day, the panel of 11 women and one man asked to hear a tape recording that had been introduced as evidence by the defense, then they hunkered down for the next four hours behind closed doors.

Members of the defense camp were guardedly optimistic. The tape, of a conversation between government informant Anthony Aponick and Borgesi's wife Alyson, was introduced to challenge and discredit Aponick who at the time was a cellmate of Borgesi's in a federal prison in West Virginia.

Trying to determine why the jury wanted to hear the tape and what it means in terms of deliberations is, of course, speculative. It's like reading tea leaves. But Borgesi's lawyer, Christopher Warren, said it was a good sign that the panel asked for a piece of evidence that the defense had introduced.

Deliberations are to resume at 9:30 tomorrow. The anonymously chosen jury panel has now deliberated for about 10 hours over two days.

Across the river in federal court in Camden, defense attorneys completed their opening statements in a racketeering conspiracy case against mobster Nicodemo S. Scarfo, Elkin Park businessman Salvatore Pelullo and five others.

Testimony is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Scarfo, 48, and Pelullo, 47, are accused of looting a Texas mortgage company of $12 million by secretly taking control of the company's board of directors. FirstPlus Financial then began to purchase straw companies set up by Scarfo and Pelullo, according to the government. Those purchases and bogus consulting contracts, prosecutors said, were used to siphon cash out of the company and into the defendants' pockets.

The jury heard from lawyers for four other defendants today, including Donald Manno, Scarfo's longtime defense attorney.

Manno, who is representing himself, told the jury he had done nothing wrong and that any actions he took were as a lawyer for Scarfo. Referring to himself in the third person, he told the panel, "Mister Manno makes no apology, Nick Scarfo is a friend." But he emphasized that Manno had nothing to do with the FirstPlus wheeling and dealing that the government says is at the heart of the case.

And he said other tangential charges involving an escrow account and the purchase of a home by Scarfo's wife were without foundation.

He said the government's case was built around "polluted sources" and that it didn't conduct an investigation, but rather was on a "mission" to get Nicky Scarfo because of his reputation and alleged mob ties.

The Scarfo trial is expected to last about four months.

In Philadelphia, meanwhile, two days of deliberations led to typical speculation about where the jury was headed. On Wednesday the panel asked a question about the jury tampering charge that is part of the case against Ligambi.

Ligambi, 74, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, two counts of illegal gambling  and witness tampering, in that order. Some observers believed the question about witness tampering meant the jury had finished with Ligambi.

The question today related only to Borgesi, 50, who is charged with racketeering conspiracy.

The conversation occurred on June 6, 2003, while Aponick was still in prison. On it he discussed a copy of Gangland News -- a weekly news column that focuses on organized crime -- that Alyson Borgesi had sent him. He also asked for real estate listings from a Philadelphia paper.

Alyson Borgesi promised to send him the information and also another edition of Gangland News. Aponick, in his direct testimony, had indicated he was surprised to receive the column. The conversation seemed to contract that part of his testimony.

Aponick and Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, two former Borgesi associates, were the key witnesses against Borgesi. Their credibility is the crux of the case against him. A question about Aponick, according to one theory, meant the jury had already gotten through Monacello's testimony and was now focusing on the final phase of the case against Borgesi.

That scenario would seem to indicate that a verdict could be announced some time tomorrow.

But that same type of speculation was rampant in the first trial that ended in February after three months of testimony and a staggering three weeks of deliberation. There were seven defendants in that case, however. Four were convicted. One was acquitted. And the jury split on the charges against Ligambi and Borgesi, leading to the retrial.

Borgesi was found not guilty of 13 of the 14 counts he faced. Ligambi was acquitted of five of the nine charges against him. The remaining charges are now before the new jury.

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

62 comments

  1. They'll be home in a few more days .Haha..Gov't conspiracy backfiring again..I'll see you boys at Popi's

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  2. Looking like 50/50 shot of guilty or not

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  3. Ligambi Will Be Home In A Day!!

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  4. Stevie Mazzone Better Go In Hideing!

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  5. WHY IS EVERYONE SAYING MAZZONE IS AT RISK WHAT DID I MISS?

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    Replies
    1. It is one person repeatedly commenting, ignore psycho anonymous hater :)

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  6. You people obviously don't know how it works, the quicker the jury takes, the more likely those guys are guilty, for them to already be done with Uncle Joe and are almost done with Georgie means the whole jury has come to an agreement, if they did this quickly that means theirs no debating going on and they believe the evidence that was presented, as for the time their facing? If their found guilty, because they were leaders they have to get at least the same amount of time as Mousie, which was 16 years. We'll know tomorrow.

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  7. Your a dope and know nothing/.. Ill take a shot and a beer !!!! I got my envelope ready for the boys. WELCOME BACK . .WELCOME BACK WELCOME BACK !!!!!!

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    1. Thats all your good for is drinking, you bum

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  8. I cant wait for the other morons to get on and spread rumors about the great nicademo and galati too. Some people have no life . Cant wait to see the boys again ruling the streets of South Philly !!!welcome back is right

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    1. clowns everyone get a life who gives a shit about anybody

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  9. Without any doubt, that means there is plenty of doubt. Hope they are found not guilty. The government , FBI and attorney general office has created adversarial, mistrust to the public. I hope these people can see threw the abuse of power and use this as a example to stop future frivolous trials and give the taxpayers a break on wasting their dollar

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    1. And Mousie and Damion get out on appeal!!! First jury had NO CLUE what they were doing!!! 16 years??? 11 years??? Really??? It's been almost 3... TIME SERVED!!!

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    2. I'm with you on that also.

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    3. I use the word "frivolous" since it is that. But the politicians, judges etc, didn't stop tying up court fees that taxpayers were paying the burden on "frivolous" lawsuits, until big money lobbyist from the insurance federation (insurance company) influenced them to stop the lawsuits cause it was hurting their heavy profits. That just shows you how our system is up for sale. I'm sure if the casino execs were on trial, Rubreno would have had aloud the defense to bring out evidence they needed to defend themselves, or this would have been thrown out. But unfortunately the guys don't have lobbyist to "payoff" the judge on this one.

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    4. Yup. Kinda in the realm of Christie firing his aide. They will sacrifice anyone to save their own ass. What the govt is doing has gotten old and is leaving bad tastes in peoples mouths.

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    5. ^^absolutely agree. I just think the Feds will never apologize for their shameful acts like Christie did.

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  10. BUONA FORTUNA! !!!!

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  11. Drinks are on The House. Once they open them gates. To Uncle Joe

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  12. I would Love to know what the total was of wasted tax payers $$ for this bullshit trial

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  13. RICO MURDER CHARGES COMING NEXT FOR SKINY'S CREW AND LIGAMBI'S CREW!!

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  14. Think Positive brother

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  15. Galati Is Talking!!!

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    1. you come on here and say the same shit everyday and no idea what your talking about . .CLOWN

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  16. 2 up. .ur a dope n know nothing . .No murder charges except for nicodemo . Hit the road with that bullshit .. you don't have a clue .

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  17. Nicodemo Is Talking!!!

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    Replies
    1. You fuckin moron. Whoever giving you that info is takin you for a Ride

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  18. Hope them martni glasses are still
    Chilling

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    Replies
    1. They'll be chilled for however long they need to be!!!!

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    2. Gonna be awhile a salute lol!!"

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  19. Anybody seen Sonny Mazzone That Rat!

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    1. yha, he's sitting right next to YOU!!! What a SHMUCK you are!!! WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!!

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    2. who did he rat on you idiot. Go around and call him a rat in person and let me know how that works out for ya.

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  20. Stevie Mazzone Telling Everybody He's Boss!!

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  21. Wow, i wonder if the"galati is talking" "murder rico is coming" "mazzone is a fruitcake" is the same person blah blah blah, it really is a 50/50 at this point. too many fanboys on here, whether they go away or not my life will go on and nobody ever seems. to throw G.A. a compliment if I were him. I wouldn't give you south philly fruitcakes the satisfaction keep up the good work george!

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    1. ^^agreed to first comment.

      GA you need to block that ipn thay one person keeps throwing around inflammatory remarks, there is a line between voiceing your opinion and harrassing. HARASSMENT IS A CRIME. IDIOT. There is also such thing a as bad press.

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  22. ^^ totaly agree w/u. It takes a spineless man to harass a 30yr. old lady. Ive been watching. Mr.Anastasia thank you for ur awesome work.

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  23. Known felons lying on the bible, perjury! That enough for a dismissal. Labor and Han ignore the validity of the paid informants and continue pull court press on the defendants disregarding the dignity of American justice system. Americans are struggling to pay their bills and the FBI pays unknown numbers and healthcare benefits to felons who continue their careers in crime by commiting bank robberies on taxpayers dime, and the FBI, Labor and Han disregard the public safety of our citizens to use these dregs of society just to get their conviction. Shame on them who are the ones whom are dishonest? Jurers have been taken advantage of, my empathy goes to your time away from your families and careers. Han and Labor need to apologize to them, win or lose. Hope they go home..

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    1. You obviously don't know what these men are. Maybe a piddly gambling trial keeps dangerous people off of the streets. If there are murder indictments pray for those families too.

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  24. Stevie having a superbowl party?

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    1. HIM AND JOHNNY STILL
      counting tree money for the christmas party oh ya christmas is over may be they.ll throw BOY GEORGE AND UNCLE JOE A PARTY if they get out U THINK? ???

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  25. Safe to say after reading this shit some people gonna be happy the other half sad But like FRANK SINATRA SANG THAT.S LIFE I DON.T CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY. Keep up the good work george Ya and FUCK PELLULO AND HIS LAWYER I hope u get to sit in on that trial

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  26. Nicky Scarfo JR. Making millions the ratfellas selling Christmas trees***** who's the real gangster here!)

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  27. Bottom line there cuz is there all going to the big house no matter how u wanna spin it these guys are a embarasment to Italians and the bussiness from both trials not just this one theres ways of doing things and this isn.t it sorry if u dissagree

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    1. They are Americans not Italians

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    2. Italian americans most of them the rest mixed americans correct.

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  28. We need Nicky crow too come back!

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  29. Nooo we need Santa Clause Back.,^

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  30. Boys coming home! Party at Malone's bar.lmao

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    1. I thought it was at 6 and Porters Park , with a nice body ROAST>

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  31. Nooo we need Santa Clause Back.,^

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  32. May be u just want the real santa boss back JOSEPH MERLINO AKA SKINNY MERLINO LOL!!!!

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  33. We really need crazy Phil back!...

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  34. The CIRCUS should be over today most likely. Im sure u heard the saying
    BE CAREFULL WHAT U WISH FOR food for thought. BUONA FORTUNA! !!!!!

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  35. It's a DISGRACE what the soooo called phillymob did tooo southphilly.everybody thinks we'll ASSHOLES!!!!]

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    1. South Philly people don't represent the "mob" and the "mob" don't represent South Philly. Although many South Philly people play role as a "connected guy" yet have no affiliation except seeing a gangster from a far. The problem lays with the sub-culture of people in South Philly stuck in the small box and don't realize, that nobody cares about the "mob" and South Philly is not the center of the universe. To sum it up, some to many South Philly make South Philly people look like A-Holes all on their own. Posters portraits of the Godfather movie in every store, bar and child bedroom creates that stigma..

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    2. No..thats pretty much what people thought prior to this...sorry to break it to you

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  36. You can thank the ratfellas for that!

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  37. George, please diable the comments on this website. This trolling, speculation and insult forum is just getting sad and takes away from your actual reporting.

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