Judge Block Decides Patsy Was Indeed a "Patsy"
As Jerry Capeci reported a few weeks ago on GangLandNews.com, a guilty Florida-based Colombo crime family associate facing two years in prison for money laundering got off with no prison time.
The Colombo associate can thank, of all people, the judge.
Brooklyn Federal Judge Frederick Block decided that Patsy Truglia, who was convicted for participating in a money laundering scheme with his crime family's consigliere, was really a "patsy" in the case.
The Colombo consiglieri, Thomas Farese, was arrested around 6 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2012, by FBI agents in south Florida, where he lives, officials said. He had just been promoted to his new post around that time.
Farese, also known as “Tom Mix” and “Mr. T,” was ensnared in a probe that relied heavily on information secretly collected by a Colombo capo who flipped.
Reynold Maragni switched sides to become a federal informant late last year. He wore a wire to gather substantial evidence that Farese was involved in illicit money laundering activities.
Truglia, 46, was soon ensnared in the case and was convicted in December of 2012.
The Colombo associate can thank, of all people, the judge.
Judge Block sides with young wiseguy. |
The Colombo consiglieri, Thomas Farese, was arrested around 6 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2012, by FBI agents in south Florida, where he lives, officials said. He had just been promoted to his new post around that time.
Farese, also known as “Tom Mix” and “Mr. T,” was ensnared in a probe that relied heavily on information secretly collected by a Colombo capo who flipped.
Reynold Maragni switched sides to become a federal informant late last year. He wore a wire to gather substantial evidence that Farese was involved in illicit money laundering activities.
Truglia, 46, was soon ensnared in the case and was convicted in December of 2012.
Last month, Block denied defense motions for a new trial, ruling that several talks tape recorded by Maragni — who did not testify at trial — established that Patsy knew that Ren was washing loansharking proceeds. In his ruling, Block noted that in one conversation that Maragni delivered $40,000 in cash and said, "I might be getting more, you know, shylock money."
To which Truglia replied, "Okay. Whatever you need, I'm there for you," as the judge highlighted.
Prosecutors Elizabeth Geddes and Nadia Shihata argued that Truglia was a full participant in a money laundering plot with consigliere Farese when he mailed two checks totaling $47,000 to Maragni in December of 2011 after the mobster had given Truglia $47,000 in "loansharking proceeds."
See one of Judge Block's orders
from this case on Dropbox; go to this link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ro67vkgpbbqkj9c/Block%20Order%20for%20patsy.pdf
Farese, the main defendant, was acquitted.
The prosecutors noted that in 1995 Patsy was convicted of money laundering and grand theft in a state racketeering case, and was later busted for violating parole. A sentence within the recommended guidelines of 21-to-27 months was appropriate, prosecutors argued.
"But Block declared that Truglia had lived a largely law abiding life, that his problems with the law had emanated from brother Anthony, and gave Truglia three years probation. The judge also tossed in a $5000 fine, and ordered Patsy to steer clear of a long list of organized crime members and associates provided by probation officials," Capeci reported.
Patsy Truglia will not spend a day behind bars.
Jerry added: "Block is a onetime playwright who has a way with words. He wrote Disrobed, a book about his first 18 years on the bench, in 2012. [Note: I read it and give it two thumbs-up; I'll also be writing about the book very soon.] The judicial wordsmith quickly picked up on the irony of Truglia's name and his role in an FBI sting operation after attorney Barry Schulman noted that the given name of his client, who was identified in his indictment as Pat, was really Patsy."
If you're a mobster getting ready for trial, a word of advice: try your best to get Judge Block.
Whatever you do, avoid Brooklyn Federal Judge Sandra Townes!
See one of Judge Block's orders on Dropbox at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ro67vkgpbbqkj9c/Block%20Order%20for%20patsy.pdf
If you have any difficulties let me know in a comment below. If this works, I now have a way to provide my readers with all kinds of documents!
The prosecutors noted that in 1995 Patsy was convicted of money laundering and grand theft in a state racketeering case, and was later busted for violating parole. A sentence within the recommended guidelines of 21-to-27 months was appropriate, prosecutors argued.
"But Block declared that Truglia had lived a largely law abiding life, that his problems with the law had emanated from brother Anthony, and gave Truglia three years probation. The judge also tossed in a $5000 fine, and ordered Patsy to steer clear of a long list of organized crime members and associates provided by probation officials," Capeci reported.
Patsy Truglia will not spend a day behind bars.
Jerry added: "Block is a onetime playwright who has a way with words. He wrote Disrobed, a book about his first 18 years on the bench, in 2012. [Note: I read it and give it two thumbs-up; I'll also be writing about the book very soon.] The judicial wordsmith quickly picked up on the irony of Truglia's name and his role in an FBI sting operation after attorney Barry Schulman noted that the given name of his client, who was identified in his indictment as Pat, was really Patsy."
"Are you saying that's why you called him a patsy?" asked Block.
"Well, yes, he was a patsy," said Schulman, stating that his client's friends and relatives, including his older brother Anthony, often took advantage of him."
If you're a mobster getting ready for trial, a word of advice: try your best to get Judge Block.
Whatever you do, avoid Brooklyn Federal Judge Sandra Townes!
See one of Judge Block's orders on Dropbox at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ro67vkgpbbqkj9c/Block%20Order%20for%20patsy.pdf
If you have any difficulties let me know in a comment below. If this works, I now have a way to provide my readers with all kinds of documents!
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