Mental retardation allows mobster to dodge jail time
An accused mobster got a second chance to stay out of jail Tuesday when his lawyer convinced an exasperated federal judge that he should be excused for six failed drug tests while out on bail — because he’s illiterate and has “borderline mental retardation.”
Bradford Wedra risked getting locked up and losing his $300,000 bail after testing positive for marijuana and cocaine repeatedly since his August arrest.
But his lawyer Michael Sporn insisted to Manhattan federal court Judge Richard Sullivan that it was his underlying “limitations” that caused the wannabe wiseguy to flout conditions of his release.
“Mr. Wedra has some developmental disabilities. He has some learning deficits,” Sporn said at a bail hearing. “The fact of the matter is, he cannot read and is very limited in his ability to write.”
Sporn added: “So I am not suggesting that, therefore, he should get a pass — not at all — but I am suggesting is that this may have something to do with what’s behind it, and maybe we can give him a little wider berth than the court might otherwise give him.”
Bradford Wedra risked getting locked up and losing his $300,000 bail after testing positive for marijuana and cocaine repeatedly since his August arrest.
But his lawyer Michael Sporn insisted to Manhattan federal court Judge Richard Sullivan that it was his underlying “limitations” that caused the wannabe wiseguy to flout conditions of his release.
“Mr. Wedra has some developmental disabilities. He has some learning deficits,” Sporn said at a bail hearing. “The fact of the matter is, he cannot read and is very limited in his ability to write.”
Sporn added: “So I am not suggesting that, therefore, he should get a pass — not at all — but I am suggesting is that this may have something to do with what’s behind it, and maybe we can give him a little wider berth than the court might otherwise give him.”
Former mobster Bradford Wedra, wearing an ankle tracking device.
Sporn also said the 61-year-old goon is “frustrated” with dealing with electronic monitoring.
Prosecutors wanted him detained.
“To say he got off on the wrong foot is an understatement, and it is clear that he isn’t taking this process seriously from the beginning,” said Assistant US Attorney Abigail Kurland.
The judge reluctantly allowed Wedra to remain a free man and ordered him to attend a drug-treatment program. But he vented his frustration at the wannabe wiseguy.
“I can’t believe I’m having this hearing. I can’t believe I’m having to talk to an adult like a child,” Sullivan sighed, clearly frustrated. “I’m going to give Mr. Wedra a second chance. Mr. Wedra, don’t make me regret this and recognize that it’s better to be out than in.”
Earlier in the hearing, the judge chided Wedra for being “distracting” by repeatedly raising his hand in court.
“Your Honor’s 100 percent right. Everything you said I did,” Wedra eventually told Sullivan. “But I haven’t smoked in — six days is today. I am going to stop. And I give you my word that I will go to any services they send me to, any treatment.”
Wedra was busted in August along with 46 other associates from the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese and Bonanno crime families on a slew of racketeering charges.
Former mobster Bradford Wedra inside his sparce Mt. Vernon, NY apartment.
Wedra was charged with trafficking untaxed cigarettes and faces up to 20 years.
He previously did time for a 1980 murder.
Sporn declined to comment.
At his home in Mount Vernon, Wedra blamed his latest charges on a “rat.” “You know, I always like that kid. I’ve seen him around the neighborhood. I didn’t know he was a rat,” Wedra said.
“They say they got 800 hours of tapes on me. I don’t think I talked that much in my whole life.”
Sporn also said the 61-year-old goon is “frustrated” with dealing with electronic monitoring.
Prosecutors wanted him detained.
“To say he got off on the wrong foot is an understatement, and it is clear that he isn’t taking this process seriously from the beginning,” said Assistant US Attorney Abigail Kurland.
The judge reluctantly allowed Wedra to remain a free man and ordered him to attend a drug-treatment program. But he vented his frustration at the wannabe wiseguy.
“I can’t believe I’m having this hearing. I can’t believe I’m having to talk to an adult like a child,” Sullivan sighed, clearly frustrated. “I’m going to give Mr. Wedra a second chance. Mr. Wedra, don’t make me regret this and recognize that it’s better to be out than in.”
Earlier in the hearing, the judge chided Wedra for being “distracting” by repeatedly raising his hand in court.
“Your Honor’s 100 percent right. Everything you said I did,” Wedra eventually told Sullivan. “But I haven’t smoked in — six days is today. I am going to stop. And I give you my word that I will go to any services they send me to, any treatment.”
Wedra was busted in August along with 46 other associates from the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese and Bonanno crime families on a slew of racketeering charges.
Former mobster Bradford Wedra inside his sparce Mt. Vernon, NY apartment.Wedra was charged with trafficking untaxed cigarettes and faces up to 20 years.
He previously did time for a 1980 murder.
Sporn declined to comment.
At his home in Mount Vernon, Wedra blamed his latest charges on a “rat.” “You know, I always like that kid. I’ve seen him around the neighborhood. I didn’t know he was a rat,” Wedra said.
“They say they got 800 hours of tapes on me. I don’t think I talked that much in my whole life.”
http://nypost.com/2016/11/01/mobster-dodges-jail-time-due-to-borderline-mental-retardation/
0 comments:
Post a Comment