Powerful Genovese soldier accused of racketeering released on $1.2M bond
A federal judge in Newark granted bail yesterday to Stephen Depiro, an alleged soldier in the Genovese crime family who was charged in January with racketeering conspiracy and other charges, including extorting mob kickbacks from dockworkers on the New Jersey waterfront.
Depiro, 55, of Kenilworth, who pleaded not guilty to the charges in February, is one of 15 New Jersey defendants who are alleged to be members or associates of organized crime families — and who are facing charges of racketeering and other crimes mostly linked to the waterfront.
The New Jersey defendants were arrested in January as part of a federal roundup of more than 120 suspects in multiple states in what authorities touted as the largest federal mob roundup in history. Some defendants were charged with collecting "Christmas tribute" money from dockworkers after they received annual year-end bonuses. Prosecutors described the money as mob kickbacks.
In setting bail, U.S. Magistrate Judge Claire Cecchi ordered home confinement and electronic monitoring for Depiro and ordered a $1.2 million bond secured by about $850,000 worth of properties put up by Depiro’s friends and family. Depiro — listed at the top of the government’s 53-count superceding indictment, and the only New Jersey defendant alleged to be a "soldier" in a mob family — was the only one of the 15 New Jersey defendants still incarcerated.
Prosecutor Anthony Mahajan argued against bail, saying Depiro was a long-time criminal who was dangerous to society — and noting that he had violated bail conditions in the past, for other crimes.
Depiro, known also as "Beach," according to the indictment, was charged with racketeering conspiracy, bookmaking, extortionate collection of credit, and illegal gambling. He was first indicted in Brooklyn last April on similar racketeering charges in connection with "Christmas tribute" mob kickback payments.
His defense lawyer, Sarita Kedia, argued that previous alleged violations of probation by her client — on other crimes over the past 12 years — were "things have been fully considered by all of the other judges" and thus should not bear on this hearing. She also argued there were no allegations of violence by Depiro, and "he is no danger to the community."
Cecchi sided with the defense, ruling that home detention and electronic monitoring should prevent Depiro from committing any further crimes while out on bail.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/reputed_genovese_soldier_accus.html
Depiro, 55, of Kenilworth, who pleaded not guilty to the charges in February, is one of 15 New Jersey defendants who are alleged to be members or associates of organized crime families — and who are facing charges of racketeering and other crimes mostly linked to the waterfront.
The New Jersey defendants were arrested in January as part of a federal roundup of more than 120 suspects in multiple states in what authorities touted as the largest federal mob roundup in history. Some defendants were charged with collecting "Christmas tribute" money from dockworkers after they received annual year-end bonuses. Prosecutors described the money as mob kickbacks.
In setting bail, U.S. Magistrate Judge Claire Cecchi ordered home confinement and electronic monitoring for Depiro and ordered a $1.2 million bond secured by about $850,000 worth of properties put up by Depiro’s friends and family. Depiro — listed at the top of the government’s 53-count superceding indictment, and the only New Jersey defendant alleged to be a "soldier" in a mob family — was the only one of the 15 New Jersey defendants still incarcerated.
Prosecutor Anthony Mahajan argued against bail, saying Depiro was a long-time criminal who was dangerous to society — and noting that he had violated bail conditions in the past, for other crimes.
Depiro, known also as "Beach," according to the indictment, was charged with racketeering conspiracy, bookmaking, extortionate collection of credit, and illegal gambling. He was first indicted in Brooklyn last April on similar racketeering charges in connection with "Christmas tribute" mob kickback payments.
His defense lawyer, Sarita Kedia, argued that previous alleged violations of probation by her client — on other crimes over the past 12 years — were "things have been fully considered by all of the other judges" and thus should not bear on this hearing. She also argued there were no allegations of violence by Depiro, and "he is no danger to the community."
Cecchi sided with the defense, ruling that home detention and electronic monitoring should prevent Depiro from committing any further crimes while out on bail.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/reputed_genovese_soldier_accus.html
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