Pumping The Block
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netThey called it "pumping the block" or "getting the block jumping."It was the underworld equivalent of a retail "loss leader." The idea was to give something away for...
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Family Photos Show Firebomb Victims
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netThe family photos brought tears to the eyes of government witness Eugene Coleman.His mother, Marcella, 54, smiling in her living room. His sister, Tameka Nash, 34,...
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Don't Write A Suicide Note Without Showing It To Your Lawyer
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netOn Feb. 9, 2011, Bernard Shero sat down to type a suicide note to his parents."Dear Mom and Dad," he began. "I know the Easter season has become a very sad season for...
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Masterworks, Murders And Mobsters, A Philadelphia Story?
(From left) Ralph Abbruzzi, George Borgesi, the late Frank Gambino, Joey Merlino and "Uncle Joe" LigambiBy George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netIs jailed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi or any other...
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"A Tragic Miscarriage Of Justice"
By Ralph Ciprianofor bigtrial.netAn alternate juror in the Engelhardt-Shero case recalled the moment she got a courtesy call from the court clerk, telling her the jury had reached a verdict.It seemed...
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Expert Doubts Philly Mob's Art Connection
A stolen RembrandtBy George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netThe bottom line is that the Philadelphia mob has always been a bottom-line kind of outfit.So if mob boss Joe Ligambi or any of his associates had...
View ArticleHitman Describes Firebombing That Killed Six
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netThey made a pact to kill the mothers of any associate who became a "rat."And that's what Lamont Lewis said he thought he was doing in the early morning hours of Oct....
View ArticleA Cold, Calculating Hitman Sticks To His Story
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netDefense attorneys spent several hours today painting a picture of Lamont Lewis as a cold, calculating murderer who usually carried a gun and was never afraid to use...
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The Day 56 Bags of Heroin Disappeared
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netAt 8:11 p.m. on June 9, 2010, the district attorney's star witness in the case against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, a man subsequently identified in a 2011 grand...
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IRS Visits Vince Fumo In Prison To Deliver A Bill for $2.9 Million
,By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netFor Vince Fumo, the news just keeps getting worse.The former state senator still resides in a federal prison in Kentucky where he's serving a 61-month sentence for his...
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A Juror Finally Speaks
By Ralph Ciprianofor Bigtrial.netIt took 69 days, but finally a juror in the Engelhardt-Shero case has spoken out.The barefoot, stylish lady who came to the door accompanied by her doting husband said...
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Merlino Talks About Nicky Skins And Life Without The Mob
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netThey met in a Dunkin’ Donuts near the beach in Boca Raton.Nicholas Stefanelli, a 60-something mobster from North Jersey, was full of propositions and ideas for...
View ArticleKaboni Savage: Tears Of Rage, But No Regrets
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netIt was poetic, but in a dark and frightening way.Kaboni Savage was trying to explain to an inmate in the cell adjacent to his how he felt about the drug case pending...
View ArticleEngelhardt-Shero Sentencing Postponed
The sentencing of Father Charles Engelhardt and former Catholic school teacher Bernard Shero, originally sentenced for Thursday, has been postponed until June 12.A clerk in Judge Ellen Ceisler's office...
View ArticleProsecution Rests In Kaboni Savage Trial
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netShortly before noon today jurors in the Kaboni Savage racketeering-murder trial once again heard Savage promise to kill and maim "rats" and their family members,...
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Staino To Plead Guilty In Mob Case
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netAnthony Staino (left) and Gregory PaganoMob leader Anthony Staino, awaiting sentencing for his conviction on two counts of extortion, decided to fold his cards and...
View ArticleKaboni Savage Secret Recording No. 1
In 2004 the FBI secreted a listening device in the prison cell of Kaboni Savage at the Federal Detention Center.Savage was awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges and was a suspect in several...
View ArticleSavage Unlikely To Testify In Murder Case
By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.netThey've heard him rant about killing witnesses and their families.They've listened as he's railed against law enforcement agents who were investigating him.And...
View ArticleSavage Tape No. 2: "I'm Gonna Set Him On Fire. Alive."
In this tape, Kaboni Savage is speaking to inmate Dawud Bey about his desire to light a prison guard captain on fire.About these tapes:In 2004 the FBI secreted a listening device in the prison cell of...
View ArticleSavage Tape No. 3: "I Have Dreams About Killing Their Kids."
About these tapes:In 2004 the FBI secreted a listening device in the prison cell of Kaboni Savage at the Federal Detention Center.Savage was awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges and was a suspect...
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