Jury Hung On Uncle Joe, But Three Associates Guilty In Philadelphia Mob Trial

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial in Philadelphia for Bigtrial.net.

After 21 days of deliberations, Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi wound up with a hung jury on racketeering conspiracy charges.

 

The jury also hung on racketeering conspiracy charges for George Borgesi, who is Ligambi's nephew, and Ligambi's top associate, Anthony Staino.

 

Joseph "Scoops" Licata was acquitted on racketeering conspiracy charges.

 

They were the lucky ones.

 

The jury convicted three mobsters of racketeering conspiracy: underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino, mob soldier Damion Canalichio, and mob associate Gary Battaglini.

 

The jury returned a finding of either not guilty or undecided on most of the remaining 52 counts in the case. On the undercard, only Anthony Staino was convicted on two counts of loansharking involving an undercover FBI agent.

 

The big question that remains now is whether the government will retry Ligambi, Borgesi and Staino on racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge in the case.

 

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

 

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/02/uncle-joe-six-associates-guilty-in-mob.html#more

You can also read John P. Martin's piece on the trial at the Philadelphia Inquirer via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130205_Deadlock_in_mob_trial.html