Lawyers eyed over 'mob aid'
The New York Post by Mitchel Maddux - May 27, 2011
A federal judge said yesterday he's "extremely troubled" by a mobster's allegation that two well-known defense lawyers passed on information to their mob clients about the whereabouts of a federal prosecutor targeted for a planned Mafia hit. Brooklyn federal judge Nicholas Garaufis said he would forward transcripts of the wiseguy's testimony to federal and state officials who deal with ethical questions involving lawyers. Joseph Massino, the former Bonanno crime-family boss, said that in 2004, lawyers Murray Richmond and David Breitbart told clients when Assistant US Attorney Greg Andres regularly dined at Campagnola's, a Manhattan restaurant. Richmond disputed that account yesterday, insisting he never passed information to mobsters, but rather simply mentioned to another attorney that he had seen the prosecutor in the restaurant one night. That lawyer, Tommy Lee, has since been convicted of illegally passing messages for the mob. Breitbart didn't respond to a request for comment. Massino, now a government informant, gave his testimony at a proceeding that will decide whether convicted killer Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, also a Bonanno crime family member, should be executed. Massino testified Basciano wanted to kill the prosecutor at the restaurant but that the hit was called off.
Don't forget that Judges are Lawyers. It's refreshing to see a fellow lawyer (a judge) speak up against dishonest lawyers. Unfortunately, it is NOT the norm, but the rare exception.
ReplyDeleteI guess you can call this the making of a 'federal case'. A lawyer mentioning he saw the prosecutor in a restaurant and that the prosecutor often eats there is not a plot to kill. It is just conversation.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Murray (Richmond) was always the mob's boy! What goes around comes around Murray, oh, start worrying Murray - you won't be able to fix this baby!
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