Retrial of Philadelphia mobsters
The retrial of reputed Philly mob boss “Uncle Joe” Ligambi
and his volatile nephew and alleged consigliere George Borgesi is
expected to begin on Halloween in federal court. In February, a jury
acquitted Ligambi of five out of nine charges, but deadlocked on the
remaining four. The 74-year-old Ligambi, who authorities say took over
the local mob from “Skinny Joey” Merlino in 1999, could face 10 to 20
years in prison if convicted this time around. The principal charge
around which the racketeering-conspiracy case is built involves
gambling, so let’s handicap the action:
1. The biggest wild card is Anthony Aponick, a New
York mob associate who did time with Borgesi in a federal prison in
West Virginia about 10 years ago. Aponick cut a deal with the feds and
has promised to deliver “Georgie Boy.” But Aponick may talk a better
game than he plays. With his multiple convictions, his credibility is
his biggest liability. Prosecutors opted not to call him as a witness at
the first trial, so the decision to use him now may be an act of
desperation. Is this a Hail Mary pass, or is the government trying to
focus the case on the key issue — conspiracy?
2. Government witnesses usually do better the
second time around. That has to be what the prosecution is hoping for
with Louis “Bent Finger Lou” Monacello, once a top Borgesi associate.
Monacello’s testimony in the first trial was full of rage and sarcasm,
which didn’t play well. Has Louie, as one insider predicted, gone to
“witness school” to make his testimony more focused? Or will his anger
again bubble to the surface? Borgesi now refers to his old friend as
“Rat Finger Lou” and “Fuck Finger Lou,” but if the new jury buys what
Monacello is selling, it’ll be Borgesi who gets the finger.
3. Where is “Frankie the Fixer” DiGiacomo? He was
called as a government witness last time, but his testimony undermined
almost everything Monacello said. If DiGiacomo is not called by the
prosecution, look for the defense to present him as their own witness.
And look for the prosecution to pound away at him on cross-examination.
http://www.citypaper.net/article.php?Mob-Files-Who-will-get-the-finger-16679
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