Jurors at the racketeering retrial of reputed Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and fellow mobster George Borgesi were teased with tales of modern day contract slayings and mafia shakedowns and swindles. But instead of these mob tales they have been treated to a long and slow lesson on how the illegal video gambling business works along with stories from the glory days of the Philly mafia. Even though there are no new fireworks to speak of so far during the retrial the prosecutions hopes the simple rerun will be enough to get this new jury to buy into the racketeering conspiracy charges that remain for both defendants. The broader racketeering case from previous trial which produced convictions against mob underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino and capo Anthony “Ant” Staino among others failed to do so for Ligambi and Borgesi as they were acquitted of most of charges against them.
“Ligambi (left) and Borgesi (right)”
Multiple witnesses so far as in previous trial have outlined their business dealing with many low level Philly mobsters but few of them have mentioned dealings with either Ligambi or Borgesi. Lawyers for Ligambi and Borgesi continue to argue that they had nothing to do with the crimes committed by Staino , Massimino, and others who were previously convicted and that the days of violent mafia activity in Philadelphia are the past. Liagmbi’s lawyer Edward Jacobs Jr argued that the indictments against his client alleges none of the violent acts seen in previous cases against Philadelphia mobsters of the past. George Borgesi’s lawyer Christopher Warren said “How can you have a mafia trial with no violence , murders, or money”. Prosecution continues to call more witness to the stand which will include more mob turncoats like Louis “Bent Finger Lou” Monacello who also testified during the previous trial and tapes made by now deceased New York mob rat Nicholas “Nicky Skins” Stefanelli. Stefanelli a soldier in Gambino crime family secretly wore a wire for two years as an FBI informant which included tapes of a meeting between heads of Gambino family and Ligambi and company before committing suicide in March of last year.
Even though it seems like mob trial Deja vu the prosecution believes it has enough evidence for a new jury to convict both Ligambi and Borgesi on conspiracy.
