New Trial in Meldish Murder?

[mafiastudent]

Talking Heads Open Door for New Trial in Michael Meldish Murder

Four defendants convicted of the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish might be granted a new trial thanks in part to the talking heads of the podcasting world.

Lawyers for Steven L. Crea, Matthew Madonna, Christopher Londonio, and Terrance Caldwell filed a joint motion on Friday asking the Appellate Court to delay a required scheduling filing until August.

The reason, the lawyers said, was that they had found new evidence containing “Brady, Giglio, or Rule 16 material” that they planned to use in a Rule 33 motion seeking a new trial.

Meldish, a notorious drug dealer, had been found in his car in a Bronx neighborhood with a single, fatal gunshot wound to the right side of the head on November 15, 2013.

Crea, Madonna, and the others were charged with the murder and convicted in November 2019, but the evidence presented during that trial has remained highly questionable.

Defense counsel wouldn’t give any details on what the newly discovered evidence might be, but Crea’s attorney Anthony DiPietro did tell Defendant Digest that “there are public podcasts/shows made by some of the witnesses that we believe reveal new information that requires a new trial,” and that this information “will be addressed in our prospective filing.”

Over the last year, an influx of “witnesses” sharing details of their former lives has saturated YouTube and other platforms. But one of the only “witnesses” to have testified during the Meldish murder trial and who currently has his own show is the podcast world’s newest star – John Pennisi.

Pennisi, who was never questioned by the government about the Meldish murder during his two days on the stand back in 2019, became a government informant the previous October after a series of events made him fear for his life causing him to run to the FBI for protection.

In return, Pennisi provided information to the FBI on over 100 former associates, according to his 5k1 letter.

Pennisi exploded onto the podcast scene in November 2020, just nine days after he received a time-served sentence based on the notion that sending him to jail would further put his life in danger.

Since that time, he has released more than 40 podcasts under his brand and has appeared on numerous others as a guest.

Whether any of Pennisi’s podcast appearances or what other podcasts might be part of the “newly found evidence” cited in the filing is unknown.

But in the filing, the lawyers stated they were “seeking additional discovery in the wake of (their) review” of the new evidence.

The Rule 33 motion is expected to be filed in U.S. District Court in White Plains where Crea, Madonna, Londonio, and Caldwell stood trial in 2019. All four received life sentences last year.

DiPietro said the motion would be filed “this summer” and that it would “provide more insight on the issues to be litigated.”

As of this writing, the Appellate court has yet to rule on the extension of time request, but according to Friday’s filing, the government did not oppose the defendant’s motion.

[mafiastudent]

Update: The appellate judge granted Crea, Madonna, Londonio, and Caldwell their extension of time request so they can file their Rule 33 motion in the district court.

[mafiastudent]

*Appellate Court

[joeycigars]

Good Job MS ,this is a tricky case ,I read your E book it was very good ties a lot of loose ends up , very interested how this plays out,

[JoeCamel]

I have read your book as well. Even if they are guilty in reality, which I’m not sure of, they were not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt

[JoeCamel]

I mean we all know you are in love with Stevie Crea and want to marry him but still your book was very good and honestly has some convincing appellate points that you pointed out.

[JoeCamel]

I think a solid legal team and they will get the conviction overturned. I honestly hope they do. Crea and Madonna are both living legends. Matty has done enough time In his life. Let him die at home. Stevie straight up shouldn’t have been found guilty of the Meldish hit. Londonio made the right call not taking the plea or rolling as well. We might see them beat this. 60 mins says UFOs are real so this isn’t much of a stretch. If the general public was aware of this case and what actually went on I’m sure we would see a lot of conversation

[Pmac2]

crea got the shit end. he didnt order the murder or even relay any message. maybe he knew ahead but i dont know if thats a crime. he didnt benefit anything from it happening and the government threw the charge out against his son. idk. madonna i think was guilty or atleast had a motive the money. but still a dead man cant pay you back. think he rather recoup some money or put the guy out to work and some how get something

[Pmac2]

any guesses on the last mobsters in a federal case to win a appeal? maybe the colombo guys cause of greg scarpa they got appeals, granted new trials then got life or it was reinstated. also remember they were offerd plea bargains didnt accept them then got life again. dummys

[TommyGambino]

can't believe they were found guilty

[mafiastudent]

Good Job MS ,this is a tricky case ,I read your E book it was very good ties a lot of loose ends up , very interested how this plays out,

Thanks, JoeyCigars.

[newera_212]

I still need to read the eBook - I started it but haven't finished it - and I know there was a lot of really weird, almost egregious things that happened in this case, bordering on misconduct (starting with the venue change to White Plains, Pasqua, Evangelista, etc.) - but what I want to know is that if people think the murder wasn't ordered by the Administration and carried out by Londonio, etc. - what do they think really happened? Are there any leads on who actually killed Meldish, and why?

These guys didn't get a fair shake - I think they should get another trial - but if Madonna and Crea made up the Administration, and Crea Junior was a Capo... if all of that is reputed, it's hard to believe that a murder happened to one of their associates/personal friends and they were all left completely in the dark. Just saying

[Cheech]

I still need to read the eBook - I started it but haven't finished it - and I know there was a lot of really weird, almost egregious things that happened in this case, bordering on misconduct (starting with the venue change to White Plains, Pasqua, Evangelista, etc.) - but what I want to know is that if people think the murder wasn't ordered by the Administration and carried out by Londonio, etc. - what do they think really happened? Are there any leads on who actually killed Meldish, and why?

These guys didn't get a fair shake - I think they should get another trial - but if Madonna and Crea made up the Administration, and Crea Junior was a Capo... if all of that is reputed, it's hard to believe that a murder happened to one of their associates/personal friends and they were all left completely in the dark. Just saying

bingo

[mafiastudent]

I still need to read the eBook - I started it but haven't finished it - and I know there was a lot of really weird, almost egregious things that happened in this case, bordering on misconduct (starting with the venue change to White Plains, Pasqua, Evangelista, etc.) - but what I want to know is that if people think the murder wasn't ordered by the Administration and carried out by Londonio, etc. - what do they think really happened? Are there any leads on who actually killed Meldish, and why?

These guys didn't get a fair shake - I think they should get another trial - but if Madonna and Crea made up the Administration, and Crea Junior was a Capo... if all of that is reputed, it's hard to believe that a murder happened to one of their associates/personal friends and they were all left completely in the dark. Just saying

bingo

Crea's son isn't part of this appeal. He took a plea deal before trial but wouldn't plead guilty to the Meldish murder and got three additional years. I think he's in for 13. Pasqua had said that it was the son who relayed the order but Crea Jr said he had never met Pasqua and took a lie detector test proving that point. Pasqua never testified at trial.

[Dwalin2014]

but what I want to know is that if people think the murder wasn't ordered by the Administration and carried out by Londonio, etc. - what do they think really happened? Are there any leads on who actually killed Meldish, and why?

Good question. For some reason, nobody ever provides alternative versions about who really DID kill Meldish, not even on a hypothetical level...