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

Friday, August 10, 2012

Secret jury ordered for upcoming Philly mob trial


Want to know the names, addresses and occupations of the jurors in the upcoming trial of reputed Philly mob boss Joseph Ligambi?

Fugetaboutit.

U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno on Friday granted a request from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the racketeering trial of Ligambi and 13 co-defendants to be presented to an anonymous jury.

Robreno's order means no personal information about the jurors will be released to the defendants, the attorneys involved in the trial, the media or the public.

The judge's order calls for the jurors to be sequestered during lunch and recess, under the watchful eyes of U.S. Marshals.

The marshals will also be tasked with transporting jurors to and from an undisclosed location every day of the trial, which is expected to begin in October.

According to Robreno's order, no unauthorized people - cough, cough, members of La Costra Nostra, cough - will be allowed to follow the jurors during their trips to and from court.

Ligambi’s attorney, Edwin Jacobs, urged Robreno last month to deny the U.S. Attorney’s Office request for protection for the jurors. Jacobs argued that the protective measures might lead jurors to believe that Ligambi was dangerous.

Robreno also denied a motion from one of Ligambi's co-defendants, Louis Barretta, who sought to preclude certain testimony from potential government witnesses.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120810_Secret_jury_ordered_for_mob_trial.html


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