Prosecution rests in dramatic Highwaymen racketeering case

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MCs in the News

Paul Egan / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Prosecutors closed their racketeering case Thursday against six alleged Highwaymen Motorcycle Club leaders after 18 days of testimony spiced with drama.

One defendant suffered a heart attack and is being tried in absentia, another who was not part of the trial was murdered, a spectator accused a government witness of killing her son, and a defense attorney and a witness nearly came to blows.

"It was almost like the Fourth of July, with the fireworks coming out of the witness stand," said attorney Henry Scharg, whose questioning this week of government witness and former Highwaymen member Phil "Jocko" McDonald got so heated the judge had to intervene.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Marion, who called more than 60 witnesses in her case that began with jury selection April 1, told U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday: "The government rests."

Defense lawyers and prosecutors are to argue motions Monday. The jury is scheduled to return Tuesday to hear evidence called by defendants.

The case, stemming from a long-running FBI investigation of the homegrown Detroit club, is one of the largest ever brought in the eastern district of Michigan, with more than 80 club members and associates indicted. The six leaders on trial are the first phase of the prosecution, with charges that include conspiracy to commit murder, drug dealing and assault.

In addition to the Scharg-McDonald exchange:

• On Monday, a spectator rose in front of the jury during the testimony of government witness and former club member Daniel Sanchez and accused him of murdering her son.

• In April, Edmunds agreed defendant Michael "Cocoa" Cicchetti could be tried in absentia after he suffered a weekend heart attack that required open heart surgery.

• Dennis Vanhulle, a Highwaymen defendant who was not part of the current trial, died in the hospital in April after an unknown assailant knocked on his door and fired shots when he answered. Officials said they did not believe the killing was related to the case.

About to start their defense are: Leonard "Dad" Moore, 61, of Lincoln Park; Joseph "Little Joe" Whiting, 56, of Westland; Aref "Steve" Nagi, 46, of Sterling Heights; Cicchetti, 55, of Dearborn Heights; Anthony "Mad Anthony" Clark, 52, of Allen Park; and Gary "Junior" Ball, 44, of Dearborn.

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