This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/13/nyregion/bonanno-mafia-trial.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
After Claiming Ethnic Profiling, 2 Accused of Being Bonanno Mobsters Are Acquitted The Bonanno Family: After Claiming Ethnic Profiling, 2 Accused of Being Mobsters Are Acquitted
(about 11 hours later)
[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.][What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]
It was a novel defense for two men federal prosecutors had accused of being in control of one of New York’s oldest crime families: they claimed the Mafia had long ago been dismantled and they were being unfairly profiled as gangsters because of their Italian ethnicity.It was a novel defense for two men federal prosecutors had accused of being in control of one of New York’s oldest crime families: they claimed the Mafia had long ago been dismantled and they were being unfairly profiled as gangsters because of their Italian ethnicity.
But the strategy seemed to work. On Wednesday, a jury in federal court in Manhattan acquitted the men, Joseph Cammarano Jr. and John Zancocchio, of racketeering and conspiracy to commit extortion charges, after a colorful two-week trial.But the strategy seemed to work. On Wednesday, a jury in federal court in Manhattan acquitted the men, Joseph Cammarano Jr. and John Zancocchio, of racketeering and conspiracy to commit extortion charges, after a colorful two-week trial.
Prosecutors had presented evidence that Mr. Cammarano and Mr. Zancocchio were the boss and consigliere, respectively, of the infamous Bonanno crime family, one of the five families that once controlled organized crime in New York.Prosecutors had presented evidence that Mr. Cammarano and Mr. Zancocchio were the boss and consigliere, respectively, of the infamous Bonanno crime family, one of the five families that once controlled organized crime in New York.
Gina Castellano, the lead prosecutor, had said in her opening statement that Mr. Cammarano, 59, of Long Island, and Mr. Zancocchio, 61, of Staten Island, had “worked together and with other members of the mob to commit crime after crime — extortion, loan-sharking, drug dealing, assault and fraud.”Gina Castellano, the lead prosecutor, had said in her opening statement that Mr. Cammarano, 59, of Long Island, and Mr. Zancocchio, 61, of Staten Island, had “worked together and with other members of the mob to commit crime after crime — extortion, loan-sharking, drug dealing, assault and fraud.”
“These two men led a sophisticated criminal organization that took whatever they wanted from whoever they wanted through intimidation,” she said.“These two men led a sophisticated criminal organization that took whatever they wanted from whoever they wanted through intimidation,” she said.
But defense lawyers had argued that the Mafia no longer existed, and their clients merely looked and sounded like Italian mobsters portrayed in film. “Looking like he stepped out of central casting in a mob movie doesn’t make you part of one of these groups,” said Jennifer Louis-Jeune, one of Mr. Cammarano’s lawyers, during her opening statement.But defense lawyers had argued that the Mafia no longer existed, and their clients merely looked and sounded like Italian mobsters portrayed in film. “Looking like he stepped out of central casting in a mob movie doesn’t make you part of one of these groups,” said Jennifer Louis-Jeune, one of Mr. Cammarano’s lawyers, during her opening statement.
During the trial, the defense several times suggested that the police had stereotyped the defendants. John Meringolo, one of Mr. Zancocchio’s lawyers, for instance, pressed a New York Police Department detective on whether cultural differences in body language led to an incorrect analysis of a surveillance videotape.During the trial, the defense several times suggested that the police had stereotyped the defendants. John Meringolo, one of Mr. Zancocchio’s lawyers, for instance, pressed a New York Police Department detective on whether cultural differences in body language led to an incorrect analysis of a surveillance videotape.
“It wasn’t angry but there was a lot of — there was some hand movements and physical touching,” Detective Anthony Votino had testified. “Not fighting. Just making sure that they got their point across.”“It wasn’t angry but there was a lot of — there was some hand movements and physical touching,” Detective Anthony Votino had testified. “Not fighting. Just making sure that they got their point across.”
“And that’s because people like us, we talk with our hands and he was talking with his hands, right?” Mr. Meringolo said during his cross, prompting an objection from prosecutors. “And did they kiss each other when they departed?” Mr. Meringolo also asked, to which Votino responded “I don’t recall.”“And that’s because people like us, we talk with our hands and he was talking with his hands, right?” Mr. Meringolo said during his cross, prompting an objection from prosecutors. “And did they kiss each other when they departed?” Mr. Meringolo also asked, to which Votino responded “I don’t recall.”
The verdict was a setback for the United States Attorney’s office in Manhattan, which declined to comment on the verdict.The verdict was a setback for the United States Attorney’s office in Manhattan, which declined to comment on the verdict.
Prosecutors had presented evidence that Mr. Cammarano and Mr. Zancocchio profited from a mob-controlled dump on Staten Island, overseeing underlings who strong-armed victims to exact payments and instill fear. One witness also said Mr. Zancocchio had beaten him at a strip club.Prosecutors had presented evidence that Mr. Cammarano and Mr. Zancocchio profited from a mob-controlled dump on Staten Island, overseeing underlings who strong-armed victims to exact payments and instill fear. One witness also said Mr. Zancocchio had beaten him at a strip club.
Aggressive prosecutions in the 1980s and 1990s decimated the leadership of the Bonanno, Lucchese, Gambino, Genovese and Colombo families in New York. The Bonanno family was particularly hard hit by a rash of convictions and defections in the early 2000s. Even the family’s longtime boss, Joseph C. Massino, decided to cooperate with the authorities after his murder conviction in 2004. His successors — Vincent Basciano and Michael Mancuso — were also convicted.Aggressive prosecutions in the 1980s and 1990s decimated the leadership of the Bonanno, Lucchese, Gambino, Genovese and Colombo families in New York. The Bonanno family was particularly hard hit by a rash of convictions and defections in the early 2000s. Even the family’s longtime boss, Joseph C. Massino, decided to cooperate with the authorities after his murder conviction in 2004. His successors — Vincent Basciano and Michael Mancuso — were also convicted.
But jurors rejected the prosecution’s contention that Mr. Cammarano, known to his friends as Joe C, was the current acting boss.But jurors rejected the prosecution’s contention that Mr. Cammarano, known to his friends as Joe C, was the current acting boss.
Elizabeth Macedonio, another of Mr. Cammarano’s lawyers, said “the verdict is apparently the result of the government bringing a case without any credible evidence.”Elizabeth Macedonio, another of Mr. Cammarano’s lawyers, said “the verdict is apparently the result of the government bringing a case without any credible evidence.”
“We believe this is a just verdict and the jury was one of the most attentive juries that I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Meringolo said. “From the opening and to the summation, they took very diligent notes, and we’re just very satisfied.”“We believe this is a just verdict and the jury was one of the most attentive juries that I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Meringolo said. “From the opening and to the summation, they took very diligent notes, and we’re just very satisfied.”