Vincent Asaro
Moderator: Capos
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dixiemafia
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Re: Vincent Asaro
Not guilty on all counts. Just announced
If I didn't have my case coming up, I would like to come back with you gentlemen when this is over with and really lay the law down what is going on in this country.....
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johnny_scootch
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Re: Vincent Asaro
wow....not guilty.
NEW YORK -- Jurors in the racketeering trial of an aging mobster accused of helping to plan a decades-old New York City airport heist immortalized in the movie "Goodfellas" found Vincent Asaro not guilty.
Prosecutors had used opportunistic Mafia turncoats in arguing that the 80-year-old Asaro, in his heyday, helped plan the $6 million armed holdup at a Lufthansa cargo terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Lawyer Elizabeth Macedonio called the cooperating witnesses "despicable people" and "accomplished liars" who would say anything to save themselves. She singled out Asaro's mob associate cousin, who came forward in the late 2000s and agreed to wear a wire to record their conversations and try to implicate her client.
The cousin, Gaspare Valenti, "is a person who is able to lie to everyone around him - even his own family," she told jurors in federal court in Brooklyn.
The jury got the case Monday.
Associated Press
The government alleges that the 80-year-old Asaro, in his heyday, helped plan the $6 million armed holdup at a Lufthansa cargo terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. It also has accused the Bonanno organized crime family member of continuing his life of crime into his later year before his arrest last year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicyn Cooley, in her closing argument on Friday, told the jury that Asaro, whose grandfather and father were members of the secretive Bonanno family, "was born into that life and he fully embraced it."
She said Asaro rose through the ranks and developed an "unbreakable bond" with the more notorious James "Jimmy the Gent" Burke, the late Lucchese crime family associate who orchestrated the 1978 Lufthansa heist and inspired the mob character played by Robert De Niro in the film. She cited testimony by Valenti about how Asaro teamed with Burke to assemble the holdup crew and, in a separate scheme, kill a suspected informant with a dog chain.
Jurors have heard recordings made by Valenti on which Asaro complained in a profanity-laced rant, "We never got our right money, what we were supposed to get. ... Jimmy kept everything."
Asaro's attorney argued that the recordings only exposed the bluster of a broken-down old man with a gambling problem.
"Hardly the powerful organized crime figure the government alleges him to be," Macedonio said. "Rather, Mr. Asaro rode around all day with Gaspare Valenti fantasizing. Fantasizing about a way to make money."
Valenti, 68, testified he signed up to become a paid government informant because a gambling problem had left him destitute and he was fed up with the Mafia.
Asaro, if convicted of racketeering conspiracy and other charges, would face life in prison.
"Goodfellas," released in 1990, also featured Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Joe Pesci, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actor. It was directed by Martin Scorsese.
NEW YORK -- Jurors in the racketeering trial of an aging mobster accused of helping to plan a decades-old New York City airport heist immortalized in the movie "Goodfellas" found Vincent Asaro not guilty.
Prosecutors had used opportunistic Mafia turncoats in arguing that the 80-year-old Asaro, in his heyday, helped plan the $6 million armed holdup at a Lufthansa cargo terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Lawyer Elizabeth Macedonio called the cooperating witnesses "despicable people" and "accomplished liars" who would say anything to save themselves. She singled out Asaro's mob associate cousin, who came forward in the late 2000s and agreed to wear a wire to record their conversations and try to implicate her client.
The cousin, Gaspare Valenti, "is a person who is able to lie to everyone around him - even his own family," she told jurors in federal court in Brooklyn.
The jury got the case Monday.
Associated Press
The government alleges that the 80-year-old Asaro, in his heyday, helped plan the $6 million armed holdup at a Lufthansa cargo terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. It also has accused the Bonanno organized crime family member of continuing his life of crime into his later year before his arrest last year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicyn Cooley, in her closing argument on Friday, told the jury that Asaro, whose grandfather and father were members of the secretive Bonanno family, "was born into that life and he fully embraced it."
She said Asaro rose through the ranks and developed an "unbreakable bond" with the more notorious James "Jimmy the Gent" Burke, the late Lucchese crime family associate who orchestrated the 1978 Lufthansa heist and inspired the mob character played by Robert De Niro in the film. She cited testimony by Valenti about how Asaro teamed with Burke to assemble the holdup crew and, in a separate scheme, kill a suspected informant with a dog chain.
Jurors have heard recordings made by Valenti on which Asaro complained in a profanity-laced rant, "We never got our right money, what we were supposed to get. ... Jimmy kept everything."
Asaro's attorney argued that the recordings only exposed the bluster of a broken-down old man with a gambling problem.
"Hardly the powerful organized crime figure the government alleges him to be," Macedonio said. "Rather, Mr. Asaro rode around all day with Gaspare Valenti fantasizing. Fantasizing about a way to make money."
Valenti, 68, testified he signed up to become a paid government informant because a gambling problem had left him destitute and he was fed up with the Mafia.
Asaro, if convicted of racketeering conspiracy and other charges, would face life in prison.
"Goodfellas," released in 1990, also featured Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Joe Pesci, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actor. It was directed by Martin Scorsese.
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Pogo The Clown
- Men Of Mayhem
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Re: Vincent Asaro
Lucky bastard. He can thank the dumbass Amurrican jury system for this.
Pogo
Pogo
It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
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SonnyBlackstein
- Filthy Few
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Re: Vincent Asaro
Ha!
Did NOT see that coming.
Good call by the prosecutor to not roll fat Joey onto the stand.
Because the case was you know, in the bag n all.
Did NOT see that coming.
Good call by the prosecutor to not roll fat Joey onto the stand.
Because the case was you know, in the bag n all.
Don't give me your f***ing Manson lamps.
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Pogo The Clown
- Men Of Mayhem
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Re: Vincent Asaro
I bet his son Jerry is kicking himself right about now for taking that plea deal. 
Pogo
Pogo
It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
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Hailbritain
- Full Patched
- Posts: 2001
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 4:17 am
Re: Vincent Asaro
I thought he might get a mixed verdict but a complete acquittal, despite multiple CWs and recordings not to mention his son taking a plea rather than face trial, is pretty incredible.
How many recent acquittals have there been now?
- Asaro
- Joel Cacace
- Thomas Farese
- Anthony Romanello
Then there's the Gioeli, Guerra trials where they got off on the most serious counts (even if they were sentenced for most or all of them anyway).
Vernace was the last guy to actually get convicted on everything right? I might be missing an obvious one.
Most of these guys getting indicted may as well take their chance with a jury now. Unless they are caught directly on video committing a crime it seems like a lot of juries won't convict anymore.
How many recent acquittals have there been now?
- Asaro
- Joel Cacace
- Thomas Farese
- Anthony Romanello
Then there's the Gioeli, Guerra trials where they got off on the most serious counts (even if they were sentenced for most or all of them anyway).
Vernace was the last guy to actually get convicted on everything right? I might be missing an obvious one.
Most of these guys getting indicted may as well take their chance with a jury now. Unless they are caught directly on video committing a crime it seems like a lot of juries won't convict anymore.
Re: Vincent Asaro
I'm shocked myself. What's funny, too, is that despite his age Asaro comes across as one of the most hostile and anti-social mobsters I can remember in recent times. You'd think his personality alone would have been a major strike against him.
Remember there was also the Ligambi case which he won.
I've theorized in the past that some of these verdicts come from a growing anti-government attitude, but if it was that pronounced they probably have picked up on it during jury screening.
Remember there was also the Ligambi case which he won.
I've theorized in the past that some of these verdicts come from a growing anti-government attitude, but if it was that pronounced they probably have picked up on it during jury screening.
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SonnyBlackstein
- Filthy Few
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- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:21 am
Re: Vincent Asaro
You have to love the cases where one pleads out or rolls and then the other is acquitted.
The insanity of it has to be laughable.
The insanity of it has to be laughable.
Don't give me your f***ing Manson lamps.
Re: Asaro nit guilty on all counts
Poor Jerome is gonna get out till 2020 with is plea deal. He is probably pissed he didn't go to trial ! lol
Re: Vincent Asaro
Yeah, count me in as being shocked at the verdict. Totally thought he was cooked. Was Valenti that unlikeable?
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brianwellbrock
- Straightened out
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- Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:02 am
Re: Vincent Asaro
Ive said it numerous times before. Had some people like Pitera, the Gemini Twins and John Papa, even Peter Gotti went on trial today they wouldve gotten off. You cant woo a crowd with goodfellas and other referances now. I also think with the economy, when you got someone like Valenti who ratted just to get money because he gambled it all away you will not like the guy.
Re: Vincent Asaro
On the local Fox News radio channel update, they announce the not guilty verdict. The next update is the FBI upping their investigation on the Hilary Clinton emails..Lol
Re: Vincent Asaro
Friend texted me on my way home from work. Blown away like everyone else.