Recent court filings by federal prosecutors in the Racketeering Conspiracy and Drug case against Philly Mob Underboss Steven Mazzone and 13 others claims that attempts have been made to intimidate or threaten government witnesses in the case.
In one court filing, prosecutors stated “indeed the government is aware of several instances of threats being made against witnesses in this case.”
A judge last week refused prosecutors’ initial attempt for a court order to protect and limit access to their evidence and documents that might identify witnesses in the case at this time. The judge said the prosecutors request was too broad and suggested they might narrow their request and file another motion.
Prosecutors are expect to appeal the judge’s ruling.
Steve Mazzone, his brother Sonny Mazzone, ranking Mob Captain Domenic Grande and North Jersey mobster Joseph “Joey Electric” Servidio are the lead defendants in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ortiz wrote “the government has identified many witnesses for trial, some of whom are incarcerated and others that are liberty and residing in the area. Some of the government’s witnesses are very closely associated with the defendants. The potential for intimidation of those witnesses is great if this court does not limit the ability to copy and disseminate the materials.”
Ortiz went on to say that “a number of the defendants criminal associates will be cooperating witnesses for the government at trial.” He stated that any copying and dissemination of the government’s evidence at this time “could place the cooperating witnesses at significant risk of harm if publicly identified.”
Prosecutors also said, “some government witnesses have informed the government that some of the defendants previously inquired of them whether they were cooperating with the government, had spoken with the government and/or had testified before the grand jury for the government.”
“Other individuals have indicated a concern about some of the defendants due to prior instances of violence or allegations of instances of violence committed by or at the behest of the defendants.”
Prosecutors told the trial judge on the case “the concern for the safety of the witnesses is great and warranted.”
They also claimed to be aware of past instances in other cases where “non incarcerated defendants or associates of the incarcerated defendants gained access to discovery materials and posted portions of those materials on various forms of social media in an attempt to intimidate witnesses.”
“Allowing the defendants to possess copies of the materials could endanger the safety of government witnesses.”
Prosecutors sought to limit access to evidence, documents, tapes and wiretaps to the defendants and their lawyers. They want the judge to prohibit the copying of any documents as well as dissemination of those documents to any third parties.
Mobtalksitdown.com contacted Defense attorney John Meringolo, who represents reputed Philly Mob Underboss Steven Mazzone in this case, but he declined to comment on prosecutors claims at this time.
