A History Of Violence: Judge Allows Citing Of Violent Mob History In Philadelphia Organized Crime Trial

 

George Anastasia, the Philadelphia Inquirer's veteran organized crime reporter, offers a piece on the decision of a federal judge to allow prosecutos to cite the Philadelphia Cosa Nostra's violent history in the current prosecution of alleged Philadelphia organized crime figures.

The Philadelphia mob's history of violence will be part of the evidence presented to a jury at the racketeering trial of reputed boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and nine codefendants, according to a 59-page legal opinion filed Tuesday by the federal judge presiding over the case.

Judge Eduardo Robreno also ruled that mob informant Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello can testify about alleged acts of violence tied to codefendant George Borgesi, including Borgesi's reputed boast about his own involvement in 11 gangland murders.

"I'm a professional," Monacello has said Borgesi told him during a conversation in the late 1990s.

You can read the rest of the story via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20120905_Judge_allows_citing_of_mob_history_in_trial_of_10.html