United States v. Riggi, John M., in 90-5974. United States of America v. Timpani, Salvatore, in 90-5975

951 F.2d 1368
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedFebruary 13, 1992
Docket90-5974, 90-5975
StatusPublished
Cited by42 cases

This text of 951 F.2d 1368 (United States v. Riggi, John M., in 90-5974. United States of America v. Timpani, Salvatore, in 90-5975) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Riggi, John M., in 90-5974. United States of America v. Timpani, Salvatore, in 90-5975, 951 F.2d 1368 (3d Cir. 1992).

Opinions

OPINION OF THE COURT

COWEN, Circuit Judge.

Defendants John M. Riggi, Sr. and Salvatore Timpani appeal their convictions on a variety of charges stemming from alleged connections with the Mafia. Riggi was charged in a thirty-three count indictment with racketeering and committing acts of extortion while serving as a labor union official and consultant. He was convicted on eight counts of the indictment, including violations of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (1988), and Taft-Hartley Act, 29 U.S.C. § 186(b) (1988). He was acquitted on the remaining counts, including charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961 et seq. (1988), that he was the “acting boss” of the DeCavalcante crime family. Timpani was convicted on a single Hobbs Act extortion charge.

Riggi and Timpani challenge their convictions on several grounds. We find it necessary only to deal with the issue of the defendants’ right to recross-examine witnesses following redirect examination by the government. Because the erroneous restriction of recross-examination resulted in a violation of defendants’ rights under the Sixth Amendment, the convictions must be reversed and a new trial ordered.

I.

Riggi and four others were tried in 1990 on charges arising from their alleged connection with the Mafia. Only Riggi and Timpani were convicted. Riggi was convicted of Taft-Hartley and Hobbs Acts violations based on his conduct in connection with four contractors: Crosby’s Heating Service, Akron Construction Corp., Moser Brothers Mechanical Contractors, and J.P. Sasso Inc. Timpani was convicted of a Hobbs Act violation for his conduct in connection with Crosby’s Heating Service. The following facts form the basis for these convictions.

A. The Crosby Extortion.

Billy Crosby operated a construction contracting business. In 1980, Crosby hired a part-time mechanic, Charlie Alfano, who introduced Crosby to Timpani. Timpani would come by the workplace to visit Alfa-no and the two would talk about “getting work for Crosby.” Crosby attended Alfa-no’s wedding, where he met Riggi. Riggi told Crosby that he could get him a substantial amount of work, but that arrangements would have to be made through Timpani.

In late 1980, an “agreement” was reached pursuant to which Crosby would pay a five percent “commission” to Timpani and a ten percent “commission” to Riggi [1371]*1371for work directed to Crosby. Crosby was told to put Timpani on the payroll, which he did, although Timpani did not work regular hours. Crosby was indirectly threatened a number of times, leading him to believe that he could not disassociate himself from his new acquaintances without putting himself in jeopardy.

Crosby intermittently performed construction work on the homes of Riggi and his family without full, and in some cases any, compensation. The record indicates that Riggi and his associates slowly took control of Crosby’s business. Although Crosby came to be accepted by Riggi, Alfa-no and Timpani, he was afraid of them. His fear was well founded: Timpani told him that once he was in with them, there was no getting out. The only way out, Timpani told Crosby, was to be dumped in the bay with his feet encased in concrete.

In 1982, at Riggi’s direction, Crosby explored placing a bid on a contracting job. When one of the architects demanded a new Cadillac from Crosby, he went to the FBI and agreed to wear a recording device and have one installed in his office. The architect was not associated with Riggi or Timpani, but Crosby recorded his conversations with Riggi and Timpani as well. The resulting recordings corroborate Crosby’s testimony that Riggi and Timpani dominated him. Crosby continued to make payoffs to Riggi and Timpani through 1985. Both Riggi and Timpani were convicted of extorting Crosby under the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951, 1952.

B.Akron Construction Company.

Leonard Teitel and Michael Castro formed Akron Construction Company as a general contractor to supplement their existing business, Autotron Electric. They consulted Riggi before forming the new business because they wanted to avoid labor problems. At Riggi’s direction, Teitel and Castro made Joseph Merlo a full partner in Akron Construction, although neither of them knew Merlo previously. Mer-lo was paid a salary in connection with the only job Akron Construction performed, though Merlo’s only work was to show up on the job site four or five times. The check paid to Merlo was endorsed to a pizzeria which Riggi's wife and Merlo’s son owned.

Teitel also performed unpaid work for Riggi, his friends, and associates. Riggi was convicted of two counts of extortion in connection with these activities, under the Taft-Hartley Act, 29 U.S.C. § 186(b)(1), and the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2 (1988).

C. Moser Brothers Mechanical Contractors.

Moser Brothers used Riggi’s influence to obtain a sweetheart contract. The principal benefit of this arrangement was that Moser was able to use nonunion laborers for $5.50 an hour, instead of the prevailing wage of $12.50 an hour. Riggi was videotaped accepting a payment from Moser, and convicted of extortion under the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2, and Taft-Hartley Act, 29 U.S.C. § 186(b)(1).

D. J.P. Sasso, Inc.

J.P. Sasso, Inc. was a construction contractor that employed members of Riggi’s local union. Although Riggi did not formally own any interest in Sasso, conversations recorded at a cafe frequented by Rig-gi reveal that he was truly in control of the business. Riggi made it clear to Sasso that Riggi was in control: “From now on anything you do, comes through me.” App. at 713.

The fact that Riggi was extorting Sasso can be inferred from several other facts. Over a period of time, Sasso’s ostensible owner, Joseph Sasso, made large and unexplained gifts to Riggi’s daughter and son-in-law. In addition, Sasso inexplicably assigned valuable interests in various partnerships to Riggi’s daughter and son-in-law. Riggi was convicted of extortion in connection with these transactions under the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2, and Taft-Hartley Act, 29 U.S.C. § 186(b)(1).

II.

The trial in this matter began on May 21, 1990, and lasted approximately eight [1372]*1372weeks. At trial, the district court announced a blanket rule that there would be no recross-examination. Defendants objected vigorously.

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Bluebook (online)
951 F.2d 1368, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-riggi-john-m-in-90-5974-united-states-of-america-v-ca3-1992.