Mobster 'Vinny Gorgeous' calls judge's tie 'lucky'
Former Bonanno crime-family boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano says his new lucky piece is a necktie that was loaned to him by a federal judge.
Appearing this morning in Brooklyn federal court for jury selection in his upcoming capital-murder trial, the mobster was again wearing the tie he borrowed Tuesday from Judge Nicholas Garaufis.
Basciano told the judge that he wants to hold onto the tie until the end of his trial, describing it as "lucky" - presumably because he hopes it might exude some unseen power of protection.
On Tuesday, the judge had offered Basciano a long-term loan of the necktie.
"Do you want to hold onto this - the tie - just in case, and return it to me at the end of the trial?" Garaufis asked Ying Stafford, one of Basciano's defense attorneys at Tuesday's hearing.
The issue of the tie first arose yesterday after the mobster was not provided a neck-wear by federal Bureau of Prisons officials who misunderstood the judge's order that a full wardrobe selection should be made available to Basciano for his selection before each court day.
Basciano's defense attorneys' had requested the fashion spread, but only specified "undershirts, socks, shoes, dress shirts, suit pants and suit jackets," without specifically mentioning ties.
This week's fashion snafu mirrored another wardrobe incident at Basicano 2007 murder and racketeering trial, when the don ran out of freshly laundered dress shirts and was forced to borrow a shirt-and-tie combination from the judge himself.
Basiciano, who spends his days behind bars in solitary confinement, is an immaculately groomed style-master who requires great precision when it comes to his attire and hair care.
In the past, Basicano owned a beauty salon in The Bronx, Hello Gorgeous, from which his nickname is derived.
The mobster, who is already serving a life sentence on an earlier conviction, faces new charges of murdering a mob associate.
Appearing this morning in Brooklyn federal court for jury selection in his upcoming capital-murder trial, the mobster was again wearing the tie he borrowed Tuesday from Judge Nicholas Garaufis.
Basciano told the judge that he wants to hold onto the tie until the end of his trial, describing it as "lucky" - presumably because he hopes it might exude some unseen power of protection.
On Tuesday, the judge had offered Basciano a long-term loan of the necktie.
Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano
The issue of the tie first arose yesterday after the mobster was not provided a neck-wear by federal Bureau of Prisons officials who misunderstood the judge's order that a full wardrobe selection should be made available to Basciano for his selection before each court day.
Basciano's defense attorneys' had requested the fashion spread, but only specified "undershirts, socks, shoes, dress shirts, suit pants and suit jackets," without specifically mentioning ties.
This week's fashion snafu mirrored another wardrobe incident at Basicano 2007 murder and racketeering trial, when the don ran out of freshly laundered dress shirts and was forced to borrow a shirt-and-tie combination from the judge himself.
Basiciano, who spends his days behind bars in solitary confinement, is an immaculately groomed style-master who requires great precision when it comes to his attire and hair care.
In the past, Basicano owned a beauty salon in The Bronx, Hello Gorgeous, from which his nickname is derived.
The mobster, who is already serving a life sentence on an earlier conviction, faces new charges of murdering a mob associate.
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