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Defendants in 'Goodfellas' Lufthansa heist make shackled court appearance Defendants in 'Goodfellas' Lufthansa heist make shackled court appearance
(6 months later)
Four men facing charges relating to one of the most notorious armed robberies in recent times – the 11 December 1978 Lufthansa Airlines heist – were brought into a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday amid exceptionally tight security.Four men facing charges relating to one of the most notorious armed robberies in recent times – the 11 December 1978 Lufthansa Airlines heist – were brought into a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday amid exceptionally tight security.
Each defendant was flanked by a US marshal, his hands shackled together and tied to a chain around the waist of his blue prison jumpsuit. If the intention of the prosecutors was to provide material for a sequel to Goodfellas, the 1990 Martin Scorsese movie that immortalized the original robbery, they did a very good job.Each defendant was flanked by a US marshal, his hands shackled together and tied to a chain around the waist of his blue prison jumpsuit. If the intention of the prosecutors was to provide material for a sequel to Goodfellas, the 1990 Martin Scorsese movie that immortalized the original robbery, they did a very good job.
But lawyers representing the men were outraged, given the fortress-like qualities of the US district court for the Eastern District of New York and the average age of the four defendants: 65. Steve Zissou, attorney for Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore, 70, complained to the judge that it was inappropriate to present his client in shackles. But lawyers representing the men were outraged, given the fortress-like qualities of the US district court for the Eastern District of New York and the average age of the four defendants: 65. Steve Zissou, attorney for Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore, 70, complained to the judge that it was inappropriate to present his client in shackles.
“He has pleaded not guilty, and is presumed innocent. I appreciate security concerns but I have to object that the defendants are made to appear in court in shackles,” Zissou said.“He has pleaded not guilty, and is presumed innocent. I appreciate security concerns but I have to object that the defendants are made to appear in court in shackles,” Zissou said.
Outside court, Charles Hochbaum, the attorney for John “Bazoo” Ragano, 52, also expressed unhappiness at the way his client had been treated. “I think the prosecutors expected a lot of press to turn up, so given the Goodfellas connection they put on a show,” Hochbaum said. “Look at their ages, look at the marshals with them. These guys aren’t on terrorist charges, they didn’t need to be shackled in front of their families.”Outside court, Charles Hochbaum, the attorney for John “Bazoo” Ragano, 52, also expressed unhappiness at the way his client had been treated. “I think the prosecutors expected a lot of press to turn up, so given the Goodfellas connection they put on a show,” Hochbaum said. “Look at their ages, look at the marshals with them. These guys aren’t on terrorist charges, they didn’t need to be shackled in front of their families.”
Judge Allyne Ross promised to raise the matter with the US marshals before the next hearing, scheduled for 4 April.Judge Allyne Ross promised to raise the matter with the US marshals before the next hearing, scheduled for 4 April.
The hearing Wednesday was a routine one, but it marked the first joint court appearance for the four men since they were arrested and appeared briefly before a judge last month on a range of charges including murder, robbery, extortion, arson and other counts dating from 1968 to 2013. At the centre of the case is Vincent “Vinny” Asaro, 78, who is alleged to have been one of the masterminds of the Lufthansa heist, and his son Jerome Asaro, 55. (A fifth defendant, Jack Bonventre, 45, is out on bail and thus was not subject to the same treatment as his co-defendants.)The hearing Wednesday was a routine one, but it marked the first joint court appearance for the four men since they were arrested and appeared briefly before a judge last month on a range of charges including murder, robbery, extortion, arson and other counts dating from 1968 to 2013. At the centre of the case is Vincent “Vinny” Asaro, 78, who is alleged to have been one of the masterminds of the Lufthansa heist, and his son Jerome Asaro, 55. (A fifth defendant, Jack Bonventre, 45, is out on bail and thus was not subject to the same treatment as his co-defendants.)
The elder Asaro sat in a chair normally reserved for the jury, wearing shades and looking stern-faced. His son sat two seats away from him, with Ragano in the middle.The elder Asaro sat in a chair normally reserved for the jury, wearing shades and looking stern-faced. His son sat two seats away from him, with Ragano in the middle.
For 35 years, the Lufthansa robbery has been one of the great unsolved organized crimes, reserving a place very high up on the FBI’s list of priorities. A group of armed robbers broke into the vault at the cargo building of JFK airport and made off with 50 boxes containing $5m in untraceable US currency that was being transported back from Germany, as well as $1m in jewelry.For 35 years, the Lufthansa robbery has been one of the great unsolved organized crimes, reserving a place very high up on the FBI’s list of priorities. A group of armed robbers broke into the vault at the cargo building of JFK airport and made off with 50 boxes containing $5m in untraceable US currency that was being transported back from Germany, as well as $1m in jewelry.
The only person convicted in the robbery was the cargo agent, Louis Werner, who provided the gang with its way in.The only person convicted in the robbery was the cargo agent, Louis Werner, who provided the gang with its way in.
Federal prosecutors allege in court filings that after almost four decades they have finally cracked the case by drawing on testimony given by four separate informants from the New York mob. The evidence is reputed to implicate Asaro as one of the men who planned the robbery, along with James “The Gent” Burke – the Robert De Niro character in Goodfellas – who died in prison in 1996.Federal prosecutors allege in court filings that after almost four decades they have finally cracked the case by drawing on testimony given by four separate informants from the New York mob. The evidence is reputed to implicate Asaro as one of the men who planned the robbery, along with James “The Gent” Burke – the Robert De Niro character in Goodfellas – who died in prison in 1996.
The elder Asaro, who is alleged to be a captain in the Bonanno crime family in New York, has been charged with teaming with Burke to murder with a dog chain a suspected informant in 1969. FBI agents found the remains of Paul Katz last year, after they dug up the basement of a house in Queens once owned by Burke.The elder Asaro, who is alleged to be a captain in the Bonanno crime family in New York, has been charged with teaming with Burke to murder with a dog chain a suspected informant in 1969. FBI agents found the remains of Paul Katz last year, after they dug up the basement of a house in Queens once owned by Burke.
Court filings allege that Asaro was recorded saying to another mobster, identified only as “cooperating witness 1,” “We never got our right money, what we were supposed to get, we got fucked all around. That fucking Jimmy [Burke] kept everything.”Court filings allege that Asaro was recorded saying to another mobster, identified only as “cooperating witness 1,” “We never got our right money, what we were supposed to get, we got fucked all around. That fucking Jimmy [Burke] kept everything.”
The lawyers for Ragano and DiFiore also complained to the judge that their clients were being unfairly implicated in the Lufthansa heist. Hochbaum said he would be pressing for his client, Ragano, who was 18 at the time of the robbery, to be tried separately from the other defendants.The lawyers for Ragano and DiFiore also complained to the judge that their clients were being unfairly implicated in the Lufthansa heist. Hochbaum said he would be pressing for his client, Ragano, who was 18 at the time of the robbery, to be tried separately from the other defendants.