Members Of The Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family Found Guilty Of Racketeering And Other Charges

PHILADELPHIA - A federal court jury today returned guilty verdicts against Joseph Massimino, Damion Canalichio, and Gary Battaglini for conspiring to participate in the affairs of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family through a pattern of racketeering activity and through the collection of unlawful debts. The jury also returned guilty verdicts against co-defendant Anthony Staino, Jr. for conspiracy to make extortionate extensions of credit and conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means. Trial lasted 43 days. Five co-defendants charged in the case pleaded guilty prior to trial while three additional co-defendants are still awaiting trial. U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno scheduled sentencing hearings for May 21, 2013 and scheduled bail hearings for February 6, 2013. Each charge of racketeering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The jury was undecided ("hung") on several counts pertaining to defendants Joseph Ligambi, George Borgesi, and Joseph Massimino. Judge Robreno declared a mistrial on those counts. The jury found defendants Ligambi, Staino, Brogesi, Canalichio, and Battaglini not guilty of several substantive counts; Joseph Licata was found not guilty.

In addition to prison terms, the defendants each face possible fines of up to $250,000 for each count.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and Employee Benefits Security Administration. Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Valuable prosecutorial assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank A. Labor III and Suzanne B. Ercole.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525