The real crime lords are the ‘untouchables’

THROUGHOUT the world, there is a double standard on the punishment for ‘white collar’ crime which frequently runs across class lines. Jamaica is no exception.
Invariably, the poor get a prison term for stealing the proverbial ‘mango, while the rich get a slap on the wrist after using part of their ill-gotten gains to pay criminal [...]

Songbird Son Slams Sonny; Mom: It’s Redemption For Both

A big hurdle the feds have to overcome in their prosecution of legendary gangster John (Sonny) Franzese is getting jurors to look past whatever disdain they acquired for the mobster’s spoiled-rotten, drug-addled, stool-pigeon son during his four days on the witness stand.
As distasteful as it may have been to listen to John Franzese Jr. spew [...]

Rat bares gangster’s ‘retire pay’

It’s the mob version of Social Security.
Geezer gangster John “Sonny” Franzese, 93, who is currently on trial in Brooklyn federal court for shaking down a couple of Manhattan strip clubs, banked on high-interest “shylock” loans to support him in his old age, an underling-turned-informant was heard saying on an FBI tape played in court yesterday.
“The [...]

Mafia-linked trio’s fate in jury’s hands

The constitution of the Texas Mexican Mafia describes the prison-born gang as an organization that deals in crimes, including robbery, guns, contract killings and “everything imaginable.”
But lawyers defending three accused members argue that just because they might have associated with members of the San Antonio-based gang does not make them guilty of a slew of [...]

One of three defendants accused of being Texas Mexican Mafia portrayed as a sinner, but not guilty

The last three of over 30 defendants accused of being members of the Texas Mexican Mafia, began trial in U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s court on May 11, 2010 for murder and racketeering charges in the San Antonio area.
Jacinto “Cache” Navajar, Jose Martinez, and Mike Garcia, are charged by the federal government of being [...]

Ex-wrestler guilty of kidnapping associate

Los Angeles, CA (AP) –
A former Armenia wrestling champion was convicted Monday of kidnapping a business associate, beating him and demanding a $1 million ransom.
A federal jury found Vagan Adzhemyan, 42, guilty in his second trial. His first trial ended with a mistrial last year after the jury deadlocked 6-6.
Galvin Gibson, a friend of Adzhemyan’s [...]

Former N.J. Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt says alleged bribe was fee

OCEAN COUNTY — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in federal court Trenton at the trial of a lawmaker who resigned after he was arrested in New Jersey’s largest corruption sting.
Lawyers for former Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt will argue their client thought he had been legitimately retained as a paid consultant for a land [...]

John Gotti celebrates celebrates christmas dinner without any Jurors from latest trial

None of the jurors took up John A. (Junior) Gotti Jr.’s invitation to Christmas dinner.
But the recently freed son of the Teflon Don was in a merry mood anyway and celebrated the day with family and friends.
“I had no way of contacting them [the jurors],” said Gotti outside his Oyster Bay, L.I., mansion Friday afternoon as [...]

Junior jurors say they can’t reach a verdict but agree to keep trying

They’re deadlocked – again.
Jurors deciding the fate of reputed mob boss John “Junior” Gotti told a judge today that they are “unable to reach a unanimous verdict,” but agreed to give it another try.
After the note came in from the jury around 3 p.m., Gotti’s lawyers immediately asked Judge Kevin Castel to [...]

Gotti jury: We’re deadlocked

The jury that will determine the guilt or innocence of John “Junior” Gotti sent a note to the judge today saying they’re deadlocked.
“We are unable to reach a verdict,” the jurors wrote in a note to Judge Kevin Castel on the seventh day of deliberations.

The jury will continue deliberations Monday.
The trial, which has [...]

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