Reputed Gambino Soldier Pleads Guilty After Refusing To Cooperate With Feds
Who says there aren't any stand-up guys left in the mob?
A reputed Gambino crime-family soldier who turned down the chance to become an informant pleaded guilty to racketeering today after the feds said his co-defendants couldn't cut deals otherwise.
Onofrio "Noel" Modica, 47, faces more than 10 years behind bars under terms of his plea agreement with Manhattan federal prosecutors.
"The government made us an offer he couldn't refuse," defense lawyer Gerald McMahon said afterward.
McMahon said lead prosecutor Elie Honig "drove a hard bargain," insisting shortly before Christmas that he would cancel plea deals struck with several of Modica's pals -- and not agree to any more -- unless Modica took a fall.
"There are a lot of people who would be seriously unhappy with my client if he didn't take a plea, so draw your own conclusion from that," McMahon said.
A spokeswoman for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment.
Modica and 13 other reputed Gambinos were indicted in April, shortly after Modica rebuffed two federal agents who told him he could spend the rest of his life behind bars if he didn't cooperate.
During his court appearance today, Modica admitted trying to fix the 1992 trial that sent mob boss John Gotti to prison for life by finding the Battery Park City hotel where the jury was sequestered.
Gotti's henchman were preparing to approach the jurors when the "Dapper Don" called off the plan, mistakenly convinced his case would end in a hung jury.
Modica also admitted lying to cops about a 1987 double murder on Staten Island, shaking down the owner of a home heating-oil company and helping run an illegal sports-betting ring.
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