Jury Deliberations Resume In Ligambi's Organized Crime Trial
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A federal jury is now considering the alleged mob racketeering case against alleged boss Joseph Ligambi and six others. The trial began in mid-October and jury deliberations began yesterday afternoon and resume this morning.
Prosecutor John Han told the jury in his closing argument the evidence, including testimony from cooperating witnesses and secretly recorded tapes, proves the defendants are guilty.
"The defendants agreed to participate the affairs of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra family through a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt."
But Joseph Ligambi's attorney, Edwin Jacobs scoffs at the prosecution's case.
"Our clients indeed are guilty of three things. They are guilty of living in South Philadelphia, being Italian American males and being rumored to be connected to the mob. And that makes us targets, not just for law enforcement, but for any lying criminal who wants to lay blame on us."
Jacobs says at most some defendants made loans to friends or bet on some games, but he says the government has made mountains out of several mole hills.
