Philadelphia Mob Trial Loses Another Juror

The federal judge presiding over the racketeering trial of reputed mafia boss Joseph Ligambi and his six codefendants replaced a juror for the second time, in one week, during jury deliberations.  U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno agreed to remove a young female juror who told her fellow panelists that she was familiar with a key defense trial witness and had a “disparaging” personal opinion of him.  Judge Robreno denied, however a defense motion for a  mistrial concluding that the juror’s comments were not enough to warrant scuttling the case after a 10 week trial and a week of deliberations.  The judge also refused to replace two other jurors who advised that they may have been affected by the dismissed juror’s comments.

The “disparaging” information shared by the dismissed juror concerned Jerry Davis, a city council aide and former friend and neighbor to Louis “Bent Finger Lou” Monacello, a high-level mob associate who gave damaging testimony against Ligambi and a fellow defendant.  The defense used Davis to testify that Monacello was obsessive in his hatred for Ligambi, and therefore would say anything to hurt Ligambi.

Jury deliberations resume on January 22, 2013 and www.white-collared.com will report on the verdict as soon as it is announced.