Non-Rhyming Fort Dix Case Goes To Jury

Hey, remember those six dudes charged with plotting to attack an army base (a foolproof plan, I know)? No? Well, so has everyone, maybe because one of them pled guilty and they no longer have a cool name like the Fort Dix Six. The Fort Dix Five? Well, now that’s not very good.

Anyway, the case of the Fort Dix Five is with the jury:

During closing arguments over two full days, after eight weeks of testimony, the jury heard both sides parse the defendants’ words and actions.

Prosecutors at the front end — and during rebuttal at the back end — asserted the five showed a “powerful motive about their state of mind in launching a jihad.”

Each of the defense lawyers used the same secretly recorded conversations from two undercover informants to bolster their view that the informants were instigators. As one put it, they ‘pushed, prodded, goaded,’ and ultimately ‘insulted’ the defendants to turn any idle chatter into action.

Fortunately for the government, I am sure everyone on the jury could never see them doing anything incompetent. I think. Umm. Hmm.

Fate of ‘Fort Dix Five’ Now in Hands of Jury [KYW 1060]

The Sex-Toy Defense

The murder trial of Mark Patrick O’Donnell in Montgomery County on Friday somehow turned into a sex toy show. O’Donnell is charged with killing his girlfriend’s daughter, 14-year-old Ebony Dorsey; the Daily News writes the prosecution’s case paints O’Donnell as a crackhead sex fiend.

But, whoops, the defense has another theory, and then this happened:

First, Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele walked to the back of the room and asked a group of teenage girls to leave – “It’s probably not a good idea to be in here” - as Santarelli slid on a pair of rubber gloves and got to work.

Judge William J. Furber, who is presiding over the nonjury trial, nodded stoically as the detective displayed a vibrator, purple anal beads, a bottle of “pleasure-enhancing lubricant,” a videotape titled “Big Bad Biker Bitches” and a mysterious sex device with wires coming out of it. “Whatever this device is,” Santarelli said from the witness stand, holding up what appeared to be a black tassel whip.

Ahh, yes, the sex toy defense, where you attempt to… to what, exactly? Oh no, the victim’s mother had sex toys, clearly this defendant is innocent. Innocent, biker bitches!

Mom’s sex toys displayed during man’s murder trial [Daily News]

Milton Street’s Trial Has Begun!

Apparently Milton Street isn’t the celebrity I thought he was, as jury selection only took one day. Testimony begins today in the ex-mayor’s brother’s fraud trial.

So here’s the backstory; this is summed up the best I’ve seen it so far:

Later in 2002, court records show, PAS awarded a subcontract to Street’s company Notlim Service Management. The subcontract, worth up to $3.2 million, was to maintain the airport’s baggage conveyor systems, Jetways, and passenger transport vehicles. It was work in which Notlim - Milton spelled backward - had no experience. The solution, prosecutors allege, was for Notlim to hire PAS workers already doing the work and get $166,000 monthly as a minority subcontractor. Notlim then reimbursed PAS $133,000 for using its employees, according to prosecutors, and Street pocketed the $33,000 balance.

But in June 2003, when Philadelphia news media published accounts of the Notlim airport deal, Milton Street announced his withdrawal from the relationship at his brother’s request, saying it would “raise questions about the appropriateness of the subcontract because of my relationship to the mayor.” To replace that lost income, prosecutors allege, Street, aided by Velardi, defrauded Thanh Nguyen, owner of V-Tech Services Inc., a facilities maintenance firm. Street allegedly got more than $80,000 from Nguyen by promising him Notlim’s $3.2 million airport subcontract - despite the fact that the business relationship no longer existed.

Oh, Milton. The trial was scheduled to start at 9:15 this morning, so it should already be rolling! Don’t worry; yours truly will be heading over to the trial sometime next week.

Testimony to start in Milton Street’s federal fraud trial [Inquirer]

He Ran (So Far Away) But He Couldn’t Get Away

In February of last year, Daniel Gallagher was minding his own business, driving down at the Packer Marine Terminal. And then he turned and — whoops! — he ran over a giant flock of seagulls, killing 189 of them. A very common occurrence. I mean, who hasn’t this happened to?

Gallagher, 50, was in municipal court yesterday, but not to get a medal of commendation for doing the world a favor by killing a bunch of dump gulls. No, he is on trial for killing those infernal birds, which is sort of like being arrested for kicking a pigeon. (Sorry, Sara.)

The prosecution used all its powers to attempt to convict this hero, introducing every piece of evidence except thousands of letters to Santa Claus.

More »

Milton Playing Musical Chairs With Lawyers

Sometimes we must have forgotten why Milton Street — duck boat operator, mayor’s brother, hot dog vendor, mayoral candidate, traffic ticket scofflaw — was in the news in the first place. He is, of course, facing trial for fraud and tax evasion after he was indicted last year. (Be sure to take note of the headline on that Nov. 28, 2006 link: “Milton Street Indicted, To Announce Mayoral Bid Soon.” Prophetic.)

Of course, he’s pretty much done everything but prepare for his trial in the last few weeks, focusing instead on his mayoral bid, his wacky interviews with the local media and coming up with old movies to pinch campaign slogans (Watermelon Man) and/or campaign ideas (Police Academy 4) from.

Well, apparently, that’s not the best legal defense strategy, as Street’s court-appointed lawyer has quit due to a difference of opinion with Street on how to handle the case. Perhaps, the Inquirer’s Robert Moran theorizes, she wanted him to stop running for mayor and stop giving interviews to any schmoe with a microphone. But no one would say, and Street later said he wasn’t sure why his lawyer, Jeanne K. Damirgian, quit the case.

The Daily News, however, quotes from court papers to show that it wasn’t just a lawyer leaving, it was more like a divorce.

Last Thursday, Damirgian filed court papers saying her professional relationship with Street had “deteriorated,” the two had “irreconcilable differences,” and she no longer wanted to represent him.

Oh, Milton. Keep up the good work, buddy.

Milton’s own lawyer has had enough [Inquirer]
Lawyer quits Milton’s case [Daily News]

In Other News, College Kids Drink

Two Penn students were convicted yesterday of simple assault and harassment for hazing a pledge at their fraternity. Both Kelechi Okenerke and Lionel Anderson-Perez were sentenced to nine months probation.

The pledge testified that he and three others were slapped across their backs. He also said he later had a rubber band snapped so hard against his wrist is scarred.

Okenerke testified in his own defense, and said he was merely trying to take a vested interest in his pledge’s slipping grades:

Okenerke testified that he was not present for the October 2005 hazing. The rubber-band episode occurred earlier, in his room in the fraternity house, when he was chastising his protege for letting his grades slip, he said.

“I had a vested interest in him,” Okenerke testified. [...]

Okenerke, of Voorhees, N.J., is on academic probation but attending classes at the Ivy League school.

Academic probation? Maybe he needed to self-inflict some of those rubber band scars on himself.

Penn Students Convicted For Roles In Fraternity Hazing [NBC 10]

Understatement Of The Day

“He smiles in my face and turns around and kills my granddaughter. I really don’t appreciate it at all.”

Tempers Flare In Court As Man Accused Of Raping, Killing Toddler [NBC 10]

Goodbye, Ricky: Mariano Gets 6½ Years

Our favorite ex-City Councilman, Rick Mariano, was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.

Mariano was convicted in March of taking $28,000 in bribes in exchange for help securing city business. Since leaving City Council, Mariano had returned to his old job as an electrician.

The prosecution had asked for 8 to 10 years in prison. So, hey, another win for Ricky.

Former Councilman Rick Mariano Sentenced to 6½ Years in Prison [KYW 1060]
A Poem For Rick [Philebrity]
Photo by Jeff Fusco

Bucks County Man Admits TRYING TO SELL MISSILES TO CHINA

Y’know, as a businessman or woman, the way to the top usually includes illegally selling missile parts to China. No, wait, I’m sorry, I’m reading the handbook wrong. You’re not supposed to illegally sell missile parts to an oppressive, U.S.-hating country unless they’re one of those oppressive, U.S.-hating countries we’re friends with right now. And, even then, you probably have to fill out a form or something.

That didn’t stop one Richboro man, though, from attempting to illegally sell missile parts to China. (What did we just tell you?!) Michael Dorfman admitted his role in the scheme yesterday in Newark.

The parts, though, didn’t reach China, as they were discovered by customs agents in 2004 in Port Elizabeth. The copmany Dorfman was vice president of, State Metal Industries, faces a $250,000 fine, while Dorfman himself faces five years in prison.

The parts will be melted down for scrap, while the Chinese totally just filed a dispute claim with eBay, since they never got their missiles.

Camden Company Admits Attempt To Sell Missile Parts To China [NBC 10]

Rick Mariano: ‘So you don’t think I’m nuts, right?’

Hey, remember Rick Mariano? Sure you do. He climbed to the top of City Hall, got indicted for bribery, convicted of bribery and also got hit by a gate while walking out of City Council.

It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with ol’ Ricky, but since the Inquirer notes today some recent unsealed court documents, it’s time to take another look. The key conversation Inky reporter Michael Currie Schaffer recounts is between U.S. Judge Lawrence Stengel and Mariano, concerning the then-City Councilman’s competency to cooperate with investigators after his conviction:

Stengel: I’m satisfied you’re competent to make any decisions that you have to make here.

Mariano: So you don’t think I’m nuts, right?

Stengel: Well, it’s not for me to say.

Mariano: You won’t go that far.

Stengel: The psychiatrist certainly confirmed that you’re competent to make choices about your case and you understand.

Mariano: I assure, Judge, I’m not suicidal or nuts.

Stengel: OK

Mariano: No nuttier than -

Stengel: OK, than the rest of us.

Mariano: Well, than anyone in this position.

Rick’s right. When other standing government officials were indicted for bribery, they weren’t nearly that funny afterward.

What the judge said about Mariano’s sanity [Inky]
Archives: Rick Mariano