Reputed Bonanno capo Vincent Asaro
(right) may have gotten respect from a few court officers last week, but a jury gave
him the bum's rush.The dozen Queens residents took just three hours to
find Asaro guilty of felony forgery charges and other fraud related counts for lying on an
application for a New York State driver's license in 1994.
Asaro's license had been
suspended since 1983 when he was busted for driving under the influence. He was convicted
for giving a phony birthday and address when he applied for a new driver's license four
years ago.
"It's a bullshit case," Asaro, 62, told
Daily News reporter Pete Donohue at jury selection. Asaro, in a dapper dark blue
suit, dark glasses and the prerequisite big gold
pinky ring said Queens DA Richard Brown (left) was a heartless cad who "would
bring charges against his mother."
His lawyer, Stephen Mahler, said Asaro simply made
a mistake about his age, and listed his business address because he was separated from his
wife and having his mail delivered to work. Asaro listed his correct name and social
security number, noted Mahler. "In football, this is called piling on."
"The jury found he was not
worthy of belief and they revoked his license to commit crimes," said Assistant
District Attorney Gerard Brave. "He's been committing crimes for a number of years
and he didn't get away with this one."
Earlier, court officers did Asaro a
favor and escorted him out the courtroom through a rear door used by the judge and court
staff.
Asaro faces up to seven years in prison
when he is sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman.
It's
one thing for New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to entertain his loyal staffers with
a raspy-voiced imitation of Marlon Brando portraying the fictional Don Corleone in
"The Godfather." But Gang Land thinks it was a little tacky for him to kick off
his second term with a screening of the mob epic for hundreds of advisers, friends
and fundraisers.
And for Giuliani to describe his
"favorite movie" as an educational film that "probably" helped him and
others put together plans on "how to dismantle the five families in New York"
was an insult to the intelligence of law enforcement officials, mobsters, and the public.
But that's just what the former
Manhattan U.S. Attorney did and said, according to a New Year's Day article by Norimitsu
Onishi in The New York Times.
For 25 years, law enforcement
officials have criticized the film for many reasons, especially its romantic portrayal of
mob killers. For nearly as long, gangsters from Salvatore (Bill) Bonanno to Salvatore
(Sammy Bull) Gravano have said they enjoyed the movie and its portrayal of guys like them.
Despite the murder and mayhem around Don
Corleone in the film, Brando portrays him as a loving grandfather and so-called Man of
Honor who kills only to protect what rightfully belongs to him and his family.
According to The Times, Giuliani
"brushed off such suggestions," stating: "I think movies are movies, and
the fact is, that when you consider the major reductions that have been made in organized
crime, it should not be something that people are offended by."
It's true that movies are movies and
that major reductions have been made in organized crime. But even when you factor in
Giuliani's anti-Mafia resolve as a prosecutor and Mayor, it doesn't seem particularly
appropriate for an Italian-American mayor to kick off his second term of office with a
movie that glorifies mobsters.
In Gang Land's view, Giuliani should
satisfy his love of "The Godfather" the way he did in November, when, according
to The Times, he entertained staffers during a City Hall sitdown with a throaty:
"It's nice of all youse to be here. Some of you come from the Upper West Side. Some
from the East Side. We even got some people here from The Bronx."
ASK
ANDY Andy -- seen at the right reading
one of his all time favorite Mafia books, Mob Star -- is missing in action this
week. Gang Land fears Andy got so wrapped up in Sunday night's television debut of The
Fugitive that he forgot to send in his weekly replies to the many queries he received.
Next week, if he knows what's good for him, he'll deliver -- or suffer the consequences.!
Reputed Bonanno capo Vincent Asaro
(right) may have gotten respect from a few court officers last week, but a jury gave
him the bum's rush.The dozen Queens residents took just three hours to
find Asaro guilty of felony forgery charges and other fraud related counts for lying on an
application for a New York State driver's 
prerequisite big gold
pinky ring said Queens DA Richard Brown (left) was a heartless cad who "would
bring charges against his mother." 
It's
one thing for New York Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani to entertain his loyal staffers with
a raspy-voiced imitation of Marlon Brando portraying the fictional Don Corleone in
"The Godfather." But Gang Land thinks it was a little tacky for him to kick off
his second term with a screening of the mob epic for hundreds of advisers, friends
and fundraisers.
Despite the murder and mayhem around Don
Corleone in the film, Brando portrays him as a loving grandfather and so-called Man of
Honor who kills only to protect what rightfully belongs to him and his family. 
suggestions," stating: "I think movies are movies, and
the fact is, that when you consider the major reductions that have been made in organized
crime, it should not be something that people are offended by."
ASK
ANDY Andy -- seen at the right reading
one of his all time favorite Mafia books, Mob Star -- is missing in action this
week. Gang Land fears Andy got so wrapped up in Sunday night's television debut of The
Fugitive that he forgot to send in his weekly replies to the many queries he received.
Next week, if he knows what's good for him, he'll deliver -- or suffer the consequences.!