Over 40 mobsters from various crime families pack courtroom
This Manhattan mob case is so huge that it needed an especially large
courtroom Tuesday — and even had to stuff reputed crime-family honchos
into the vacant jury box just to fit all the defendants.
“This is a complete mess,” muttered one of the more than 40 accused wiseguys, who go by nicknames such as “Nicky the Wig,’’ “Tony the Cripple,’’ “Mustache Pat’’ and Tugboat.’’
The group of goons — accused of everything from illegal gambling to health-care fraud to weapons trafficking — piled into Manhattan federal court’s massive “ceremonial courtroom,” which is normally reserved for naturalization proceedings, along with their phalanx of lawyers.
The alleged mobster defendants took up 14 rows and the jury box, which was reserved for the suspects who didn’t get bail. They included Pasquale Parrello, the reputed Bronx boss of the Genovese family and namesake for Pasquale’s Rigoletto restaurant on Arthur Avenue.
The defendants learned during the pretrial hearing that the feds have collected 800 recordings from cooperators, as well as recordings from wiretaps involving 15 phones. It is so much material that it will take months to even make it into the hands of the defendants’ lawyers, said prosecutors with Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara.
The feds say the suspects are from the Genovese, Lucchese, Gambino and Bonanno families. In addition to the other charges, some are accused of assault or threatening people with assault, including a man they mistakenly believed to be a panhandler who upset Pasquale’s Rigoletto’s customers.
But despite the allegations, the mood among the wiseguys in the courthouse was upbeat.
There were kisses and hugs in the lobby ahead of the hearing and jokes.
After being greeted by the judge with a “Good morning,” defendant Bradford Wedra said, “Make it a wonderful morning, Your Honor, and dismiss the case.”
The crack drew laughter from the crowd, including the judge.
The feds say the men worked together to engage in criminal activities up and down the East Coast.
http://nypost.com/2016/08/24/in-scene-out-of-a-movie-over-40-mobsters-pack-courtroom/
“This is a complete mess,” muttered one of the more than 40 accused wiseguys, who go by nicknames such as “Nicky the Wig,’’ “Tony the Cripple,’’ “Mustache Pat’’ and Tugboat.’’
The group of goons — accused of everything from illegal gambling to health-care fraud to weapons trafficking — piled into Manhattan federal court’s massive “ceremonial courtroom,” which is normally reserved for naturalization proceedings, along with their phalanx of lawyers.
The alleged mobster defendants took up 14 rows and the jury box, which was reserved for the suspects who didn’t get bail. They included Pasquale Parrello, the reputed Bronx boss of the Genovese family and namesake for Pasquale’s Rigoletto restaurant on Arthur Avenue.
The defendants learned during the pretrial hearing that the feds have collected 800 recordings from cooperators, as well as recordings from wiretaps involving 15 phones. It is so much material that it will take months to even make it into the hands of the defendants’ lawyers, said prosecutors with Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara.
The feds say the suspects are from the Genovese, Lucchese, Gambino and Bonanno families. In addition to the other charges, some are accused of assault or threatening people with assault, including a man they mistakenly believed to be a panhandler who upset Pasquale’s Rigoletto’s customers.
But despite the allegations, the mood among the wiseguys in the courthouse was upbeat.
There were kisses and hugs in the lobby ahead of the hearing and jokes.
After being greeted by the judge with a “Good morning,” defendant Bradford Wedra said, “Make it a wonderful morning, Your Honor, and dismiss the case.”
The crack drew laughter from the crowd, including the judge.
The feds say the men worked together to engage in criminal activities up and down the East Coast.
http://nypost.com/2016/08/24/in-scene-out-of-a-movie-over-40-mobsters-pack-courtroom/
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