Gangsters And 'Gangstas' In Federal Court Trials

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Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia as been covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for Bigtrial.net. From the South Philly Cosa Nostra wiseguys he is also covering the federal trial of a North Philly convicted 'gangsta.'
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There are gangsters and then there are 'gangstas.'
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The difference was seven floors apart in the U.S. Courthouse in Philadelphia today.
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On the 15th floor a jury continued to deliberate without reaching a verdict in the racketeering conspiracy trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants. By most accounts, they would be described as the gangsters.
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Meanwhile, on the eighth floor, a different jury heard opening arguments in the racketeering trial of convicted North Philadelphia drug kingpin Kaboni Savage and three co-defendants.
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In underworld and law enforcement circles, Savage, once described by a top Philadelphia police official as "pure evil," would carry the gangsta label.
*The Savage case involves 12 murders, including the October 2004 firebombing of a North Sixth Street rowhome in which six people, including four children, were killed. Save and co-defendants Robert Merritt and Steven Northington face possible death sentences if convicted.
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You can read the  rest of the piece via the below link:
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http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/02/gangsters-and-gangstas-in-federal-court.html#more