10th man jailed for refusing to testify

From Mark Morris:

A federal investigation of Internet gambling sent another man to jail today for refusing to testify before a grand jury.

Nicholas Zicarelli became the 10th person jailed for declining to testify, his lawyer, Kenneth Hensley, said at a contempt hearing in Kansas City.

... Zicarelli was called before the grand jury earlier this fall, but declined to testify, invoking his 5th Amendment right not to give evidence that would tend to show that he had committed a crime.

A judge then gave him immunity from prosecution, but Zicarelli persisted in his refusal. On Monday, Kays found him in contempt and ordered Zicarelli jailed for up to 18 months or until he agreed to tell what he knows to the grand jury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Becker said the grand jury has a right to hear evidence about violations of U.S. laws. “A law-abiding citizen has to make a decision,” Becker said. “Do I obey the law, or do I protect my bookmaker?”

... After the hearing, Zicarelli’s father, Anthony Zicarelli, confronted Becker in a courthouse hallway and challenged him to investigate more serious crimes.

“It’s amazing how much power you have to destroy my son’s life,” Anthony Zicarelli said. “You’re putting all these young kids in jail.”

Ann Bennett, a friend of the family, accused Becker of profiling Italian-Americans in the gambling investigation.

“He’s obviously let the power go to his head,” Bennett said. “I don’t appreciate my tax dollars going to someone with ego. I want it spent properly.”

Comments

[Stifled Freedom]

And all this while gambling is legal in any casino. Online gambling is only illegal because the govt has not found a way to "wet its beak" from it. Ridiculous waste of court time.

[aqua]

Judge Kays puts the MO in GITMO.

Judge Kays should be held in contempt until he confesses to a crime he has committed.

[American w/ Italian decent]

Tony you and many other are victims of the assumptions and presumptions cause intentionally or not by the government, the press and just about everything you see that has to do with Americans with an Italian decent.

Those 10 young men were not and are not refusing to testify to protect the alleged mafia or anyone else except themselves – it’s about our belief that is in full alliance with American Constitution and Bill of Rights i.e. our freedoms – the same freedoms thousands of immigrant Italian Americans have fought and died to protect since the inception of their American citizenship – through today.

That receiving immunity from an alleged crime does not protect an innocent witness from exposure to prosecution – even if that witness answers all questions to the very best of their knowledge and belief

Hours and hours of surveillance goes into the investigation and many witnesses are subpoenaed. What if you went in and told the absolute truth to the best of your knowledge and belief – then I, who you don’t know went in and told the absolute truth – and then the government decided that one of us had to be lying??? NOW, whomever the government decides was not being truthful has opened themselves up for felony charges of perjury.

Watch this and other videos - Why you should NEVER talk to the authorities... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik&feature=PlayList&p=4B62CC6AFE12BBE7&index=0&playnext=1