People v. Nicoletti

84 Misc. 2d 385, 375 N.Y.S.2d 720, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3130
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedJune 4, 1975
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 84 Misc. 2d 385 (People v. Nicoletti) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York County Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Nicoletti, 84 Misc. 2d 385, 375 N.Y.S.2d 720, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3130 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1975).

Opinion

Charles J. Hannigan, J.

This decision relates to pretrial motions which were filed, argued, and decided prior to the jury trial of this indictment. The jury trial resulted in the conviction of two defendants, the acquittal of two others, and disagreement with respect to the fifth. This disagreement resulted in the dismissal of the charge against this defendant.

For the most part, the pretrial motions (although voluminous) did not present any novel questions of law which would require a written decision. However, two arguments, which were presented, for suppression of the wiretap evidence would warrant a written explanation.

The defendants, contend, first, that the Canadian authorities wiretapped without a court order, intercepting calls originating in the United States, from Silvio Martelli. Thus, the defendant claims a violation of the Constitution, i.e., an illegal search and seizure, which would require suppression.

After the information concerning bookmaking by Silvio Martelli was imparted to United States officials, by Canadian police officers, they sought and received an eavesdrop order for the phone of Silvio Martelli. The application by the District Attorney states there is probable cause to believe Martelli is committing the crime of promoting gambling, second degree. The eavesdrop order also states that this is the particular crime which is being investigated. The defendants argue that promoting gambling, second degree is a misdemeanor, and that the United States Code (tit 18) and the Penal Law of New York do not authorize intercepts for misdemeanors. The intercept order therefore, they suggest, is invalid, and the evidence gathered thereunder must be suppressed.

In order to fully understand the afore-mentioned contentions, a factual narrative of this gambling investigation is set forth.

Canadian police officials were conducting an investigation of gambling activities within their jurisdiction. They had employed eavesdrop devices to assist them in this endeavor. It is of no significance to this court, whether these interceptions [387]*387were pursuant to court order; but, for purposes of this decision, it is presumed that there was none.

There is no reason to believe that the Canadian investigation of Canadian nationals was in any way inspired or under the aegis of the United States law enforcement agencies. During the course of gathering information, via wiretap devices, the Canadian authorities became aware that the Canadian bookmakers were laying-off or placing bets with Silvio Martelli on the American side of the border. Corporal Riley, of the Ontario Provincial Police, advised Detective Billy H. George of the Niagara Falls Police Department that they had intercepted calls to and from Silvio Martelli at a telephone numbered 282-4122 in Niagara Falls, New York. In addition, the Canadian authorities supplied Detective George with transcripts and summaries of the intercepted conversations from the Canadian telephone.

The Niagara Falls Police Department learned that the telephone (282-4122) was located in Lum’s Restaurant (also known as Silvio’s) and that Silvio Martelli was the manager of the restaurant. The telephone was listed in the name of Martelli Enterprises, Inc. Physical surveillance of the restaurant established that Silvio Martelli worked in the restaurant, and had access to the telephone.

It did not require any extensive expertise to conclude from the transcripts that the Canadian subject, under investigation, was a bookmaker, and that he was receiving bets from and forwarding bets to Silvio Martelli in Niagara Falls, New York.

All of this information, and more, was presented to Ann T. Mikoll, a Justice of the Supreme Court, on November 20, 1973. The District Attorney requested an eavesdrop warrant to gather evidence concerning the commission of the crime of promoting gambling in the second degree. The Justice found reasonable cause to believe that crime was being committed, and authorized the installation of the device.

As a result of this order, telephone calls were intercepted on November 24, 1973 to November 27, 1973. It soon became apparent to the detectives, who were monitoring the intercept, that Silvio Martelli was accepting bets for, and laying-off bets with, his "Uncle Pete.” The police officers were aware that Peter Magliarditi was, in fact, the uncle of Silvio Martelli. They were also familiar with his voice, and were able to make voice identification.

The officers monitoring counted the "clicks” from the outgo[388]*388ing calls from Martelli’s phone, and learned that he was calling "Uncle Pete” at two telephones (284-4425 and 284-9207). The telephone company records revealed that both phones were located at one residence on 16th Street, registered to Joan Myrtle and Kathryn Myrtle. Both telephones were installed in one apartment; although the subscribers were not the same. Physical surveillance of the apartment revealed the presence of Peter Magliarditi.

The transcripts of the intercepted calls (which were subsequently presented to Justice Frank Kronenberg) revealed that Silvio Martelli was accepting wagers on horses and sports action, and was relaying these bets to various bookmakers, principally his "Uncle Pete.”

The transcripts of Silvio Martelli’s conversations on November 25, 1973 alone (which were later presented to Justice Kronenberg) show that on that date, he accepted $1,670 in bets from "Mike,” and laid-off a portion of these bets with "Uncle Pete.”

This information was put into affidavit form, signed by Aldo L. Di Florio, District Attorney, and Detective Billy George. Transcriptions of the telephone calls from Silvio Martelli’s restaurant were attached, and an application was made to Justice Frank J. Kronenberg on December 10, 1973 to intercept the calls upon the two telephones listed to the Myrtle girls on 16th Street, upon the premise that these telephones were being used by Peter Magliarditi to commit the crime of promoting gambling in the second degree. Justice Kronenberg’s order states that he authorizes intercept of these phones for the purpose of gathering evidence of the commission of this crime, viz.: promoting gambling in the second degree.

Pursuant to this order, Detective George installed an intercept device on telephone 284-9207 on December 14, 1973. Surveillance of this intercept on the following date, December 15, 1973 revealed more than 100 calls relating to gambling, during which calls more than $5,000 were accepted as wagers by Peter Magliarditi and John Ciccone. During the course of this monitoring, the police became aware that Magliarditi and Ciccone were receiving and laying-off bets with other known gamblers, including Joseph Botella, Charles Ogrodowski and John Magliarditi. One conversation, alone, concerned the accepting of $2,500 bet on a National League football game.

This information, along with transcripts of conversations on [389]*389December 15, 1973, was presented to Justice Kronenberg, in affidavit form, on December 21, 1973, wherein the District Attorney requested a continuation of the December 10, 1973 order to allow for the gathering of evidence of the commission of the crime of promoting gambling in the first degree. The order extending and amending the previous intercept order of December 10, 1973 was signed on December 21, 1973.

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84 Misc. 2d 385, 375 N.Y.S.2d 720, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3130, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-nicoletti-nycountyct-1975.