Today's Topics:
Fwd: Lawyers challenge R.I. jury named Bob
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Message-Id: <keywls200VBKI0fTpV@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 09:02:32 -0500 (EST)
From: David Greene <dg1v+@andrew.cmu.edu>
To: Subgenius@mc.lcs.mit.edu
Subject: Fwd: Lawyers challenge R.I. jury named Bob
In-Reply-To: <drugjuryU2N6930ae@clarinet.com>
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (UPI) -- Lawyers for nine people accused of
laundering $134 million through Rhode Island banks for a Colombian
cocaine cartel have challenged the jury composition, saying too many of
them have Anglo-Saxon first names.
Out of a panel of 99 prospective jurors, there were 59 Roberts, 15
Joannes or variations of that name, 14 Joans and eight Anthonys.
U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres said he would decide Friday
whether to excuse the 17 jurors picked to try Stephen and Donna
Saccoccia of Cranston, R.I., and seven co-defendants on racketeering and
money-laundering charges or to allow the trial to begin.
Lawyer Frederick G. Cass, who represents one defendant, told Torres
Thursday that jury selection should start all over again because the
panel didn't represent a cross-section of society needed to eliminate
the possibility of ethnic bias and to assure a fair trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Leavey maintained the selected jurors
do represent a cross-section of society. He also said the defendants are
barred from challenging the jury list because they did not raise the
issue before jury selection began.
The defendants are accused of laundering $134 million, the proceeds
from the sale of 13,700 kilos of cocaine for the Cali cocaine cartel,
through Rhode Island banks.
They were arrested earlier this year as part of the largest money-
laundering ring ever prosecuted in the United States, totaling well over
$2 billion, the Justice Department said.
The Saccoccias are among 56 people indicted in the case, 44 of whom
were arrested. Among those who escaped arrest is Duvan Arboleda, a
leader of the Cali drug cartel and a close business associate of
Medellin drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Federal officials seized more than $10.7 million from the Saccoccias
after their arrest.
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End of Subgenius Digest
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