Michigan - ~Federal judge denies new trials in Highwaymen racketeering case

OFF THE WIRE
BY: Robert Snell
Source: detnews.com

Detroit -- A federal judge has denied a request for new trials or acquittals from six members of the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club.

The order from U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds on Tuesday came three months after the members were found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy and various other charges.

Edmunds found the government did not engage in a pattern of misconduct and gave timely notice to the defense of payments made to informants and cooperating witnesses, among reasons cited for rejecting requests for a new trial.

The six motorcycle club members are Aref "Steve" Nagi of Sterling Heights, Michael "Cocoa" Cicchetti of Dearborn Heights, Gary "Junior" Ball Jr. of Dearborn, Leonard "Dad" Moore of Lincoln Park, Joseph "Little Joe" Whiting of Westland and Anthony "Mad Anthony" Clark of Allen Park.

The convictions in June marked the close of the first phase in the government's prosecution of more than 80 alleged Highwaymen members and associates in one of the largest indictments ever brought in the eastern district of Michigan.

Nagi, the lead defendant, was found guilty of seven of eight crimes with which he was charged, including racketeering, conspiracy, transport of stolen property, conspiracy to obliterate or remove vehicle identification numbers, possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and assault with a dangerous weapon.

He was found not guilty of another charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100915/METRO/9150385/1409/METRO/Federal-judge-denies-new-trials-in-Highwaymen-racketeering-case#ixzz0zeToAsVk