Alleged Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph Ligambi has been sitting in the Federal Detention Center since he was convicted in May of last year and now he wants to go home while he awaits a retrial.
Ligambi’s attorney Edwin Jacobs Jr said the status of his client has changed since he was denied bail at the time of his arrest. Last month a jury found Ligambi not guilty on five of charges against him and were hung on four others. Jacobs argued that these jury verdicts confirm Ligambi is not the violent mafia leader the prosecution has tried to portray him as. He also noted that the jury supplied not guilty verdicts on two counts of extortion which were only alleged violent crime charges against him.
“Joseph Ligambi”
Jacobs filed a 13 page bail motion last week stating that his client was not convicted on any of the nine counts against him even though the government claimed that the evidence against him was strong. Jacobs also stated that the verdicts handed down by jury last month raises questions about the accuracy of the governments claims that Ligambi was in fact the boss of the Philadelphia mafia. He restated arguements made in previous bail request that Ligambi has a minimal criminal record of a simple 1988 gambling charge. Although Ligambi was convicted of a mafia murder in 1987 his conviction was overturned after he was acquitted at retrial.
Ligambi may also have a legit job waiting for him if he is released on bail according to his lawyer. Jacobs stated that a CEO of a respected Philadelphia company has offered Ligambi a job. Although Jacobs refrained from mentioning the companies name he believes his client should be granted bail and allowed to pursue this oppertunity. Judge Eduardo Robreno has already denied a bail request by co-defendant George Borgesi who is awaiting a retrial along with Ligambi. So odds may be stacked against Ligambi in his bid for his own freedom. A bail hearing has been set for February 25th.
