Updated news on the Gambino, Genovese, Bonanno, Lucchese and Colombo Organized Crime Families of New York City.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

I never tried to kill you, murderous mobster Vinny Gorgeous tells judge in secret sitdown


Vinny Gorgeous was convicted of ordering the murder of Bonanno crime associate Randolph Pizzolo but was spared the death penalty.
Vinny Gorgeous was convicted of ordering the murder of Bonanno crime associate Randolph Pizzolo but was spared the death penalty.


Murderous crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano assured a Brooklyn judge he wasn't trying to kill him, newly unsealed court transcripts show.
"Never in a million years did I look to put a hit on you," Basciano told Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis last month during his death penalty trial.
"It's nuts."
The bizarre scene took place May 6, with only Basciano and his lawyers in the courtroom.
The judge granted eight sealed proceedings at Basciano's request so he could vent about disagreements with his lawyers and other issues.
Basciano has maintained that a scrap of paper, on which he wrote Garaufis' name and the names of Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Andres and three mob rats, was a Santeria list to cast off bad vibes - not a "hit list," as federal prosecutors contend.
The judge released transcripts of the sessions at the request of the Daily News and other media.
Ten days later, Basciano repeated his denial.
"There was never, ever, ever at any time, judge, ever a plot to harm His Honor, Greg Andres or three cooperating witnesses," he said.
The jury convicted Basciano of ordering the murder of Bonanno crime associate Randolph Pizzolo but spared him the death penalty.
Prosecutors did not present evidence that Garaufis may have been marked for death - but a defense witness testified about the existence of a hit list.
Despite the high stakes, Basciano also used the secret proceedings to request Lasik surgery for his eye, which he injured playing racquetball in prison in 2006.
He also complained that court-appointed lawyers George Goltzer and Richard Jasper were blowing off his demands for preparing a strategy.
Basciano ranted: "What am I asking for? ... For them to come downstairs andspend a half an hour with me at lunch. Orfor them to give me 15 minutes in theback room. ... [The lawyers are] telling me, like they get flabbergasted with me. ... If I don't make the arguments, who's going to, Judge?"


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