Friends of Ours

Cockfighting Ring Busted In New York

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has arrested nine suspected dirtbags for their alleged roles in a cockfighting ring in which degenerate gamblers placed bets on the blood sport as reported by Danlel Beekman for the Daily News:  "'cockfighting is a cruel, abusive and barbaric practice that tortures animals, endangers the health and safety of the public and is known to facilitate other crimes,' Schneiderman said."

Gentleman Gambler Joe Mastronardo Pleads Guilty

So-called "gentleman gambler" Joseph "Joe Vito" Mastronardo Jr. pleaded guilty on Friday in a federal court to sixteen counts "in connection with an illegal, international multimillion-dollar sports-betting business he spearheaded" as reported by Julie Shaw for the Daily News.  Others charged include Joe Vito's wife Joanna, the daughter of the late Frank Rizzo who was police commissioner and then mayor of Philadelphia during the 1960s and 1970s, and their son Joey who also pleaded guilty.  Federal prosecutors intend on dismissing the single count against Joanna after her husband and son are sentenced.

Earlier coverage:

Ex-Philly Mayor Frank Rizzo's Daughter Charged In Gambling And Money Laundering Ring

Daddy Mobster Gets Fifteen Months

Angelo Spata will be spending the next Father's Day in a federal prison.

The reputed Colombo associate was sentenced to fifteen months following his racketeering conviction predicated upon "extorting vendors at the Santa Rosalia festival in Brooklyn and taking part in illegal gambling" as reported by Selim Algar for the New York Post.

Spata had vainly invoked his paternal responsibilities in begging the judge for probation rather than prison:  "'hopefully, Your Honor will give me the opportunity to take care of my three young children,' Spata told the court as his tearful brood looked on nervously from the gallery."

Maybe if Spata wants to be a better daddy he should abandon the life.

Further reading that may be of interest:

Anthony Staino Renounces Philly Mob; Mob Life Is Inconsistent With Family Values

Not Guilty Verdicts In Philly Mob Trial

A federal jury in Philadelphia, PA has acquitted reputed mob boss Joe Ligambi of witness tampering and his nephew George Borgesi of racketeering conspiracy as reported by Jeremy Roebuck for the Inquirer.

The jurors remain deadlocked on the remaining three counts in the case against Ligambi which targeted the alleged gambling and loansharking operations of the Philly mob, and District Judge Eduardo Robreno declared a mistrial on them.

Borgesi faced only the one count, and upon his acquittal Judge Robreno ordered him set free as reported by Tony Hanson for CBS.

Last year a different jury was deadlocked on the same charges against Ligambi and Borgesi which resulted in a mistrial.  However, the earlier case nevertheless was a significant victory for the government which resulted in convictions against Joseph Massimino, Anthony Staino, Damion  Canalichio and Gary Battaglini who allegedly served as underboss, capo, soldier and associate, respectively.

Federal prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek another trial against Uncle Joe; perhaps third time's the charm.

01/29/14 UPDATE:  The feds will not bring a third trial against Joe Ligambi, and the reputed mob boss is now a free man as reported by The Associated Press.

Poker Organizer For Jet Set Gets Five Months

Last April 34 defendants were charged for their alleged roles in a gambling case with suspected ties to the Russian Mafia which took sports bets and ran poker tables for the fabulous people in Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY, and to date federal prosecutors have secured 25 guilty pleas.

The most recent defendant to face his comeuppance was Edwin Tin who was sentenced on Tuesday to five months of hard time and ordered to forfeit $2 million as reported by Daniel Beekman for the Daily News:  "the 42-year-old 'ran what was likely the largest and most high-profile illegal poker (game) in New York City for years,' prosecutors said in a pre-sentence letter," and  "he agreed to carry thousands of dollars in cash from Las Vegas to New York for other figures in the mafia-tinged scheme, the feds said."

Other defendants in the gambling schemes who have pleaded guilty are Bryan Zuriff, the executive producer of the Showtime drama Ray Donovan who got six months of home confinement, and art dealer and spoiled playboy Hillel "Helly" Nahmad who will be sentenced on March 19.

Nahmad is represented by criminal defense lawyer Benjamin Brafman who  previously insisted on his client's innocence as previously reported by Vivian Yee for The New York Times: 

Mr. Brafman, who is representing Mr. Nahmad with another lawyer, Paul Shechtman, said in a statement after the hearing, "We do not believe that Mr. Nahmad has knowingly violated the law." He also said, "We anticipate that he will be fully exonerated."

Apparently Mr. Brafman was wrong about that.

Earlier coverage:

FBI:  Russian Mafia Tied To Gambling Ring For Celebrity Clientele

Jurors Reach Partial Verdict In Philly Trial

A federal jury has reached a partial verdict in the racketeering trial which targeted the alleged gambling and loansharking operations of reputed Philadelphia Mafia boss Joseph Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi as reported by Jeremy Roebuck for the Inquirer:   "in a note sent to the judge just before 10:30 a.m., the jurors said that they had found unanimity on two of the five counts against the mob figures, but there remained 'a firm difference of opinion on the other three.'"  District Judge Eduardo Robreno instructed the jurors to continue their deliberations after telling them "this was a long trial and there were some complex issues"  but "often with further discussions, jurors are able to work out their differences."  The jurors did not indicate on which two counts they had reached a decision.

Defense Witness Corroborates Government Witness At Racketeering Trial Targeting Philly Mob

The final defense witness in the racketeering trial against reputed Philadelphia Mafia boss Joseph Ligambi and his nephew George Borgesi "didn't do his former [alleged] mob colleagues many favors" as reported by Jeremy Roebuck for the Inquirer.

Francis "Frankie the Fixer" DiGiacomo corroborated the earlier testimomy from government witness Louis "Bent Finger" Monacello that the pair collected debts on behalf of the two defendants:  "'we were doing it for George, and had to take all orders from Joe,' he said."

Closing arguments are set for Monday as reported by William Bender for the Daily News.

Poker Operator Gets Six Months In Gambling Case With Alleged Ties To Russian Mobsters

Kirill Rapoport was among the 34 defendants charged last April for their alleged roles in a gambling case with suspected ties to the Russian Mafia which took sports bets and ran poker tables for the fabulous people in Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY, and now he's been sentenced to six months in a federal prison as reported by Daniel Beekman for the Daily News:  "Kirill Rapoport hoped to avoid jail time when he pleaded guilty to running illegal poker games, but prosecutors reminded the judge of his bringing hired goons to a debtor's home."

Other defendants in the gambling schemes who have pleaded guilty are Bryan Zuriff, the executive producer of the Showtime drama Ray Donovan who got six months of home confinement, and art dealer and spoiled playboy Hillel "Helly" Nahmad who will be sentenced on March 19.

Nahmad is represented by criminal defense lawyer Benjamin Brafman who  previously insisted on his client's innocence as previously reported by Vivian Yee for The New York Times: 

Mr. Brafman, who is representing Mr. Nahmad with another lawyer, Paul Shechtman, said in a statement after the hearing, "We do not believe that Mr. Nahmad has knowingly violated the law." He also said, "We anticipate that he will be fully exonerated."

Apparently Mr. Brafman was wrong about that.

Earlier coverage:

FBI:  Russian Mafia Tied To Gambling Ring For Celebrity Clientele