United States v. Gatto

746 F. Supp. 432, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11676, 1990 WL 127022
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedSeptember 4, 1990
DocketCr. A. 89-250(SSB)
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 746 F. Supp. 432 (United States v. Gatto) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Gatto, 746 F. Supp. 432, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11676, 1990 WL 127022 (D.N.J. 1990).

Opinion

*438 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURE.

A. Defendant Frank Camiscioli, Jr.

B. Defendant Peter Mylenki.

C. Defendant William Odierno.

D. Defendant Alan Grecco.

E. Defendant Joseph Gatto.

F. Defendant Louis Gatto Sr.

G. Defendant Louis Gatto Jr.

H. Defendant Stefano Mazzola.

II. DISCUSSION.

A. Motions for Severance .

1. Prejudicial Joinder.
2. Need for Exculpatory Testimony.

B. Motions Attacking the Indictment.

1. Motion to Strike Violent Acts from Indictment.

2. RICO’s “Pattern of Racketeering” Requirement is Unconstitutionally Vague.

3. Motion to Strike Prejudicial Surplusage.

a. Reference to the “Gatto Group” and “Genovese Crime Family”

b. Aliases.

c. “Catch-all” Phrases.

d. References to Acts of Violence.

4. Motion to Dismiss Counts Charging Multiple Offenses.

5. Motion to Dismiss Count One for Failure to Specify Predicate Acts

6. Motion to Dismiss Count Two because Predicate Acts are Not Related to Objectives of the Enterprise. 05

7. Motion to Dismiss Indictment for Violating the Statute of Limitations 05

C. Motions In Limine to Bar Introduction of Certain Evidence. 05

1. Admissibility of Coconspirators’ Statements. 05

2. Motion to Suppress Statements of Mylenki and Camiscioli. 05

3. Motion to Suppress Post-Hypnotic Statements of Frank Galimi. 05

(a) Right to Confrontation. Oí

(b) Due Process Rights . —3

4. Motion to Suppress Grecco’s Statements and Physical Evidence. -»3

5. Motion for a Hearing on Admissibility of Mazzola’s Convictions. —3

D. Motions for Evidence from the Government. —3

1. Motion for Brady and Giglio Materials. —3

2. Early Disclosure of Jencks Materials. —3

3. Motion for Coconspirators’ Statements . -«3

4. Motion for a Witness List. —5

5. Motion for a Bill of Particulars. *~3

6. Motion for the Names of Informants . —3

7. Motion for Rough Notes . —3

8. Motion to Serve Subpoenas. —3

9. Motion for Disclosure of Grand Jury Transcripts. "~3

10. Motions for Disclosure of 404(b) Material of Prior Bad Acts. OO

E. Motions to Dismiss for Improper Governmental Conduct. CO

F. Motion to Transfer. OO

III. CONCLUSION. OO

OPINION

BROTMAN, District Judge.

Currently before the court are the pretrial motions of all defendants. The court heard oral argument on defendants’ motions on June 8, 1990 and held two eviden-tiary hearings on defendant Grecco’s motion to suppress statements of Frank Gali-mi on June 13,1990 and July 30, 1990. The *439 motions fall within four general categories; motions attacking the sufficiency of the indictment; motions in limine to bar introduction of certain evidence; motions for certain evidence from the government; and motions for relief based on the government’s improper conduct. Additionally, each defendant has moved for severance of his trial from his codefendants’ and to transfer the trial to the Newark vicinage. Many defendants raise the same issues in their briefs; this court will address them seriatim.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURE

A.Defendant Frank Camiscioli, Jr.

Camiscioli is named in Count 1 (RICO conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)), Count 3 (collection of unlawful debt), and Count 5 (numbers gambling business) of the indictment. The government contends that Camiscioli is incorporated by reference in the remaining counts of the indictment although he is not named nor specifically alleged to have a particular role in the conduct charged in Count 2 (substantive RICO count under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) and aiding and abetting under 18 U.S.C. § 2), Count 4 (sports gambling business), Count 6 (use of interstate telephone in aid of racketeering), Count 7 (interstate travel in aid of racketeering), Count 8 (interstate transportation of wagering records), and Count 9 (extortionate extensions of credit). Camiscioli moves for severance of his trial because (1) he will be unduly prejudiced by harmful “spill over” evidence against other defendants such that the jury will be unable to compartmentalize the evidence effectively as it relates to different defendants; (2) Camiscioli’s counsel, in rigorously defending his client, may be required to make prejudicial comments regarding other defendants’ exercise of their right to silence, necessitating a separate trial from these codefendants; and (3) Camiscioli’s alleged coconspirators can exculpate him in the five counts in which he is not named; therefore, he is entitled to a separate trial so he may compel his coconspirators to testify.

B. Defendant Peter Mylenki

Mylenki also moves for severance raising substantially similar arguments. Mylenki is named in Count 1 (RICO conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)), Count 4 (sports gambling), Count 6 (use of interstate telephone facilities in aid of racketeering activities), Count 7 (interstate travel in aid of racketeering), and Count 8 (interstate transportation of wagering records) of the indictment. He is not, however, alleged to have participated in any of the eight racketeering acts that involve violence. Mylenki argues that his minuscule participation in the enterprise presents a stark contrast in the degree and kind of evidence against Mylenki as compared to his codefendants; therefore, joinder of his trial with these codefendants is unduly prejudicial.

C. Defendant William Odierno

Odierno is named in Count 1 (RICO conspiracy under 18 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
746 F. Supp. 432, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11676, 1990 WL 127022, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-gatto-njd-1990.