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

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Judge refuses to toss out conspiracy charges against Philly mob figures


A federal judge has refused to throw out a racketeering conspiracy charge against reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and 10 codefendants.
U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno denied a defense motion Friday seeking to have the charge dismissed. The racketeering conspiracy allegation is the principal charge in a 52-count indictment.
Robreno said there was enough evidence to support the government allegations that the conspiracy existed, rejecting the defense argument that the case was built around a series of cobbled-together but unrelated criminal acts. Ligambi and seven top associates are being held without bail pending the trial, scheduled to begin on Oct. 9.
Robreno, who will preside over the trial, ruled on several other procedural motions Friday. Two key motions still pending are the government's request for an anonymous jury and a defense motion seeking to bar the playing over any tapes made by Nicholas "Nicky Skins" Stefanelli, a North Jersey mob figure who wore a body wire for the FBI for nearly two years. Stefanelli committed suicide earlier this year. 

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20120623_Judge_won_t_toss_conspiracy_charge_in_Ligambi_case_1.html


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