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Galati Sentenced In Murder-For-Hire Case
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netRon Galati, the South Philadelphia auto body shop operator with a Godfather complex, was sentenced to nearly 23 years in federal prison this morning in a convoluted...
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"Pop" To The Rescue
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netA tearful mom and a cagey grandfather took turns today going after "Father Andy."The mother of the alleged victim in the Father Andrew McCormick sex abuse case sobbed...
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Guess Who's Back? The Dog In the D.A.'s Dog And Pony Show
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netIt's a real dog of a case but the district attorney seems intent on retrying it.On June 22, 2012, in the case of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Father James J....
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Battle Of The Altar Boys
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netA couple of former altar boys duked it out in court today.Testifying for the prosecution in the Father Andy sex abuse case was Adam Visconto, 28.He's a special...
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The Deer In The Headlights
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netJudge Gwendolyn N. Bright asked Father Andrew McCormick if he was making his decision not to testify in his own defense of his own free will."I am," the 59-year-old...
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Father Andy's Lawyer Puts District Attorney On Trial
MachiavelliBy Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netFather Andy's defense lawyer put the district attorney on trial today, arguing that in order to put a Catholic priest in jail, the D.A. had decided that the...
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The Rosary Outside Courtroom 1102
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netIn the hallway outside Courtroom 1102 at the Criminal Justice Center, a couple of nuns in full habit and some devout Catholics were praying the rosary with "Father...
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An FBI Sting That Went Awry
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netOn April 10, 2012, a squad of Philadelphia narcotics officers pulled over a suspected drug dealer.Unbeknownst to the cops, the drug dealer was an undercover FBI agent...
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Joe Mastronardo Gets Personal
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netJoe Mastronardo said he tried not to take the gambling case that has landed him and his father in jail personal.But he said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Bologna took...
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Father Andy Jury At Impasse
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netShortly before 3 p.m. today the jury in the Father Andy sex abuse trial sent a note to the judge saying they were at an impasse and could not reconcile their...
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Father Andy's Big Gamble Pays Off
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netBefore he went to trial for a second time, Father Andrew McCormick had a big decision to make.The district attorney, according to sources, was offering a pretty sweet...
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The Shotgun Approach Misfires
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netOn Monday, the prosecutor in the rogue cops case asked the judge to drop a couple of charges from their big indictment after one of the government's alleged victims of...
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The Legal Battle Over Billy Doe's "Best Guy Friend"
Best guy pals Billy [left] and LeoBy Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netWhen he last tracked Leo Omar Hernandez, Billy Doe's "best guy friend" had been ordered by a Common Pleas Court judge to testify at a...
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Rufus, Rambo & Father Andy
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netThe district attorney has until May 10 to decide, after two mistrials, whether to retry Father Andrew McCormick a third time for the alleged attempted rape of an altar...
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Rogue Cops Say Federal Witness Perjured Himself
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netOn the eve of jury selection, a defense lawyer in the rogue cops case has tossed a live grenade.On Sunday, Michael J. Diamondstein, the defense lawyer for former Police...
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Prosecutor Gets Hot Under Collar; Judge Slaps Him Down
Judge Eduardo C. RobrenoBy Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netThey haven't picked a jury yet but the lawyers in the rogue cops case are already going at it.Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Wzorek today...
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As Sentencings Approach, A Look At Mob Ties In FirstPlus Case
By George AnastasiaGoodfellas Sal and Nicky Jr.For Bigtrial.netUnless there are some unforeseen developments -- and in this case that's always possible -- the hammer comes down next week in the...
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Sentencings Delayed In FirstPlus Case
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netMobster Nicodemo S. Scarfo and his partner-in-crime Salvatore Pelullo will have to wait two more months before they find out how much time they will be spending as...
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Bernard Shero Loses Appeal
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netThe state Superior Court has turned down Bernard Shero's request for a new trial.In a 36-page decision posted online today, a panel of three Superior Court judges ruled...
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Father Engelhardt Loses Appeal
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netA day after they ruled against an appeal from Bernard Shero, a panel of three state Superior Court judges came to the same conclusion regarding the appeal of Shero's...
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