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News and Features about Organized Crime, Mafia and La Cosa Nostra taken from National and Local News Sources. In an attempt to get you this type of coverage in a timely manner we can not be responsible for the content of the following material. |
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1-23-02 Reputed Merlino ally to testify against Junior Black Mafia associate. 2-23-02 By KITTY CAPARELLA, Philadelphia Daily News Ex-mob associate Roger Vella - dubbed "outta his mind" by his pal, jailed mob boss Joey Merlino - is expected to debut next month as a government witness against Junior Black Mafia associate Trent Pickard. There's only one problem: Pickard's lawyer, Joseph Santaguida, has represented Vella and Merlino. And the district attorney's office plans to file a motion to disqualify Santaguida from representing Pickard, according to Santaguida. A spokesman for the district attorney's office would not comment. "I think I can get another attorney to cross-examine Vella," said Santaguida. "It's been done before. But if the judge didn't want me, I wouldn't go. "Santaguida and another attorney were unable to represent clients in last year's four-month mob trial because of conflicts. Vella's testimony may be a test run against Pickard to prepare for his eventual testimony against his former mob pals. Last September, Vella, 31, a onetime driver for Merlino, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for the 1995 death of reputed drug dealer Ralph Mazzuca. Shot multiple times, Mazzuca's body was dumped at the Food Distribution Center in South Philadelphia and set on fire. His underwear was stuffed with money. Vella has implicated another person in the slaying. The night of the killing, now-jailed mob consigliere George Borgesi was stopped by police with gasoline in a can in his car. Borgesi has denied any involvement in the crime and has never been charged in the case. Pickard, a reputed associate of the Natale-Merlino crime family, is the brother of the late Julius "J.C." Pickard, a ranking JBM member. Julius worked with Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo and Merlino crime families until he was killed in 1995, according to law enforcement and mob sources. Investigators believe Pickard and others shook down drug dealers to prod them to pay mob "street tax. "On Feb. 4, Pickard, 34, will be retried in Common Pleas court for conspiracy in the 1999 kidnapping and robbery of Louis Farlow, 26, a seafood salesman and convicted drug dealer. Pickard was acquitted of kidnapping and robbery charges earlier. On Feb.13, Pickard is to be tried in the double slaying of two drug dealers - Chad Alexander and Terrell Dean - at the popular drug corner of 30th and York streets in Strawberry Mansion. Witnesses identified the killer as having a beard."This guy couldn't grow a beard if he wanted to," said Santaguida. *
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