Koota v. Colombo

50 Misc. 2d 583, 270 N.Y.S.2d 982, 1965 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1258
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 15, 1965
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 50 Misc. 2d 583 (Koota v. Colombo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Koota v. Colombo, 50 Misc. 2d 583, 270 N.Y.S.2d 982, 1965 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1258 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1965).

Opinion

Hyman Barshay, J.

This is an application of the regular April 1964 Grand Jury in the County of Kings, as duly extended, for the direction of the court, to the witnesses, Joseph Colombo, Lawrence Gallo, Albert Gallo, John Oddo, Joseph Livoti, Salvatore Peritore and Carmine Lombardozzi, to return to the Grand Jury and answer proper and legal interrogatories propounded to them, or, in the alternative, for an order adjudging each of them in criminal contempt of court pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 750 of the Judiciary Law of the State of New York, upon their failure to comply with the court’s direction to do so.

[584]*584The regular April 1964 Grand Jury of the County of Kings, as extended, has been and is conducting an investigation to determine whether the crimes of conspiracy, bribery, corruption, coercion, extortion and usury were committed in Kings County by certain individuals. The Grand Jury heard testimony of several witnesses and examined certain books and records pertinent to the investigation. A reading of the Grand Jury minutes by the court leads it to the conclusion that the inquiry being made by the Grand Jury was in compliance with the law conferring duties upon the Grand Jury, section 245 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which reads as follows: “ Power of grand jury to inquire into crimes, etc. The grand jury has power, and it is their duty, to inquire into all crimes committed or triable in the county, and to present them to the court.”

Section 253 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states: “ Grand jury must inquire as to persons imprisoned on criminal charges and not indicted, and the misconduct of public officers. The grand jury must inquire, * * *

‘ ‘ 2. Into the wilful and corrupt misconduct in office, of public officers of every description, in the county.”

The witness, John Oddo, appeared before the Grand Jury on October 14,1965. He was advised as follows:

“ The Grand Jury is conducting an investigation into conspiracy to commit the crimes of bribery, corruption, extortion, and as part of this investigation the Grand Jury has seen fit to call you as a witness. The Grand Jury is seeking to determine whether or not certain individuals have conspired to commit the aforementioned crimes as a means of entering legitimate business areas. The Grand Jury is seeking to determine that these individuals have agreed among themselves to use tactics which could be violations of the State Penal Law as a means of entering legitimate business enterprises, is that clear? ”

He was further advised that if he testifies without asserting his privilege against self incrimination, he may be waiving his rights and that anything he says may be used against him. He was further advised as follows: “If you are going to assert your Fifth Amendment privilege against self incrimination, you will have to state so with respect to the questions put to you to indicate that you wish to be granted immunity by this Grand Jury. Now Mr. Oddo, in what business are you engaged in presently? ” He declined to answer on the ground that he had no opportunity to consult with his counsel and therefore he is asserting the Fifth Amendment privilege against self incrimination. The District Attorney thereupon requested the Grand Jury to grant the witness immunity from prosecution, The [585]*585Grand Jury, in the absence of the witness, the stenographer and the District Attorney, voted to grant the witness immunity. He returned to the Grand Jury room; was advised that the Grand Jury voted to grant him immunity whereby anything he testifies to cannot be used against him, and if he discloses any crime he cannot be indicted for such crime. Upon being asked the same question, he advised the Grand Jury that he wished to consult with counsel because he did not understand the meaning of the word “ immunity ” and he was excused until the 20th of October.

On October 20 he returned to the Grand Jury. He was advised that he was a witness only, was permitted to consult with counsel, and was asked if he knew persons by the names of Salvatore Peritore and Joseph Colombo. He declined to answer on the ground that to do so would degrade and incriminate lfim. He left the Grand Jury room with the District Attorney and stenoggrapher. Upon his return, the District Attorney advised him that the Grand Jury had voted to grant immunity to him. He was further advised that he no longer has the legal right to refuse to answer questions and that he could be punished for contempt of court for refusing to answer the questions, and he was further advised that if he answered questions falsely, he could be charged with the crime of perjury; but if he did answer the questions, he could not be prosecuted for any crime which his testimony might show he committed, and his testimony could never be used against him in any way. He replied that the advice was clear to him; he was then asked the same questions and he declined to answer on the ground that to do so would degrade and incriminate him.

The witness, Joseph Livoti, appeared before the Grand Jury on October 20. The identical procedure was followed with respect to Mm as was done with respect to the witness Oddo. He was advised that he was a witness only and was asked if he knew certain Mdividuals. He thereupon declined to answer on the ground that to do so would degrade and incriminate him. The Grand Jury in his absence voted to grant immunity to him and upon his return to the Grand Jury room he was so advised. The District Attorney then explained to him the meaning of the immunity granted. The same questions again were put to him with respect to his knowledge of certain individuals and again, despite the grant of immunity given him by the Grand Jury, he declined to answer them on the ground that to do so would degrade and incriminate him.

The witness, Salvatore Peritore, appeared before the Grand Jury on October 20, 1965 and was advised that he was a witness [586]*586only. He was further advised of the purpose of the investigation and that there was evidence that he and five or six others met in the Hotel Concord in Sullivan County on September 6, 1965, and that the Grand Jury was desirous of knowing the purpose of that meeting, Permission was given him to consult with his attorney. Thereafter questions were put to him which he declined to answer on the ground that his answers would degrade and incriminate him. He thereupon left the Grand Jury room and in his absence the Grand Jury voted to grant immunity to him. He returned to the Grand Jury room, was apprised of that fact and the meaning thereof and was again asked the same questions and again declined to answer them on the ground that to do so would degrade and incriminate him.

The witness, Albert Gallo, appeared before the Grand Jury; ■was advised that he was a witness only; was asked certain questions which he declined to answer on the ground that to do so might tend to incriminate him and asserted that he would decline to answer any questions put to him on the ground that they would violate his Federal constitutional privilege against self-incrimination. He left the Grand Jury room and the Grand Jury voted to grant immunity to him. When he returned to the Grand Jury room he was so advised and the meaning of the immunity granted was explained to him. The same questions were put to him and he again declined to answer them on the ground of self incrimination. He then was directed by the foreman to answer the questions, which he refused to do.

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Bluebook (online)
50 Misc. 2d 583, 270 N.Y.S.2d 982, 1965 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1258, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/koota-v-colombo-nysupct-1965.