Opinion ID: 795717
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Statements at Trial Regarding Lupo's Alleged Mafia Connections

Text: 105 Defendant Lupo argues that his right to a fair trial was implicated where witnesses and the prosecution made reference at trial to Lupo's alleged connections with the mafia. As an initial matter, we note that this claim is reviewed for plain error inasmuch as Defendant Lupo failed to object below. Emuegbunam, 268 F.3d at 406. 106 At trial, witness Kim Carter was asked by the prosecutor whether Hudson had ever given her any specific warnings about talking to anyone about the cash payments to Lupo and Contesti. Carter replied yes that she had been warned never to mention their names because the men were involved with the mafia. Similarly, Hudson testified that he did not initially want to cooperate with the government or talk about Lupo and Contesti because he felt that they were tied in with the mob, and he was concerned about his sons. (J.A. at 1025.) Hudson went on to say that he did not actually believe that Lupo and Contesti were connected to organized crime, but that they do know a lot of Italian people, and that it is unfortunate that people say just because you're Italian you're in with organized crime. (J.A. at 1026.) 107 During his closing argument, Lupo's attorney remarked that it was ludicrous for Bill Hudson to suggest that Lupo had ties with the mafia. 108 If that isn't enough, how about his rationale for implicating Ron Lupo as having ties with organized crime. Because Bill Hudson was once in Eastern Market and someone made a reference that Ray Contesti knew somebody, that since Ron Lupo knew Ray Contesti and that they were both Italian, Ron Lupo must have had some contacts with organized crime. How ludicrous. 109 (J.A. at 1947.) After Lupo's attorney made these remarks during his closing, the government made the following response on rebuttal: 110 Is it so crazy for Mr. Hudson to think that Mr. Lupo and Mr. Contesti were involved in organized crime? You've got a big man collecting money. You're making payments due to fear of economic harm? This is the way business is done? I don't think so. This is the way he learned that business was done in Clintondale and it's a way business was done in Clintondale, but for him to think based upon some information that maybe they were involved in the Mafia — no one is saying in this Court that they are. No one is suggesting that you have to find that they're involved in the Mafia. But was Mr. Hudson crazy to think that? 111 (J.A. at 1963.) 112 Lupo argues that this Court should follow United States v. Love, 534 F.2d 87 (6th Cir.1976), and should reverse his conviction because he claims that the statements alleging that he is connected to the mafia improperly injected into the trial the specter of organized crime and the mafia. We do not believe that the two cases are analogous. In Love, the government asked a witness whether the organization, National Account System, was part of another organization of ill character like Mafia or anything like that. Love, 534 F.2d at 89. The defense objected, and the district court immediately reprimanded the attorney, demanding [w]hat possible excuse have you got in this case for suggesting there was some connection with the Mafia? Id. The district court sustained the objection, stating that the suggestion itself was out of line, and that it was so irrelevant that the jury will totally disregard it. Id. This Court found on appeal that although the district court attempted to neutralize the harm caused by the government's remarks, it could not regard the harm caused by the remark to be harmless. Id. 113 In contrast to the situation in Love, we do not believe that the circumstances here warrant a finding that Lupo was prejudiced by the remarks that were made concerning his potential connection to the mafia. First of all, unlike in Love, the initial statements regarding the mafia were made by witnesses, not by the government. The jury heard that Carter learned from Hudson that these men might be connected to the mafia, and that Hudson made this assumption on the basis of what he had heard and the fact that the men knew a lot of Italians. That is not the same thing as the government, with its imprimatur of authority, suggesting that Lupo was connected to the mafia. 114 Moreover, although Lupo argues here that it was improper for the government to reference these remarks about organized crime in its rebuttal, the record establishes that it was in fact Lupo's attorney who raised these remarks during his closing argument. He therefore opened the door for the government attorney to respond to the suggestion that it was ludicrous for Hudson to believe that Defendant Lupo was involved in the mafia. Even so, the government was careful to disavow the notion, reminding the jury that it was not alleged that Lupo was involved in the mafia, and that these remarks were made only on the basis of Lupo's Italian heritage and association. 115 We do not believe that the statements made by the government were improper, but even if they were, they did not affect Lupo's substantial rights. There was a proper context for the statements, and the initial remarks were made by witnesses, not the government. Furthermore, these would have been very isolated remarks, and likely not prejudicial, but for the fact that Lupo's attorney repeated the comments during the his closing argument.