Judge OKs Dominican Republic vacation for Lucchese crime family member awaiting trial
Joseph Perna, left, and Ralph M. Perna are seen during their arraignment proceedings on charges related to racketeering; in NJ Superior Court in Morristown in this June, 2010 photo.
Joseph Perna, an alleged member of the Lucchese crime family indicted on racketeering charges, will be allowed to travel to the Dominican Republic on a family vacation, a judge ruled Thursday.
State Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan made the decision after listening to the state’s argument against letting Perna leave the U.S. while the defendant’s attorney argued his client, who lives in Wyckoff, has ties to the area and is not a threat to live a life on the run with his family.
“It’s not as if my client was born in Italy and was asking to go to Italy,” Anthony Iacullo, the attorney said.
State Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades argued that an extradition treaty with the Dominican Republic does not cover racketeering charges and does not allow for extraditions in cases where defendants face sentences of more than 30 years in prison. He said Perna’s sentence, if he’s found guilty, could exceed that.
“We’re not saying this is a big getaway plan,” Eliades said, adding the state would not have tried to block Perna from going to a location-specific event outside the U.S., such as a wedding or a funeral.
Perna, 42, was arrested in 2007 and among 34 people indicted in 2010 on rackateering charges related to an alleged gambling ring that authorities said handled billions of dollars of illegal bets. His father, Ralph Perna of East Hanover, the alleged head of the New Jersey branch of the Lucchese family, also was indicted.
Eliades argued in court that it took authorities more than three years to extradite another man, Frank Cetta, charged with running a wire room in Costa Rica where the Lucchese family allegedly processed wagers. Cetta was returned to the U.S. from Costa Rica late last year.
“I think this boils down to, ‘Trust me, I’ll return,’” Manahan said from the bench.
Iacullo said his client would sign an extradition waiver before leaving the country for an Easter-time vacation scheduled to start April 5 and end April 10. He also pointed out that the court allowed Perna to travel to the Bahamas last year.
“He’s back,” Iacullo said.
Iacullo said his client owns a number of houses that have been used as collateral on his $300,000 bail, and lives in Bergen County with his wife and two sons, ages 5 and 7.
“They’re not going to live a life on the run,” Iacullo said.
Manahan’s ruling also allowed Perna’s wife, Rosanna, and sister-in-law Vita Cetta to go to the Dominican Republic. Both face charges related to the gambling ring, according to state officials. Frank Cetta is Vita Cetta’s father-in-law.
Manahan told Perna that court proceedings would continue without him if he doesn’t return to the U.S., although no trial date has been set, and that he would be bound by any rulings made in his absence. He also ordered Perna to contact authorities the day after he returns from vacation.
“We are very happy with the judge’s decision,” Iacullo said after the hearing. “We are glad the judge allowed Mr. Perna to share a celebration of Easter with his family members.”
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20120223/NJNEWS/302230026/Judge-OKs-Dominican-Republic-vacation-for-Lucchese-crime-family-member-awaiting-trial
0 comments:
Post a Comment