Opinion ID: 1361622
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: James Tartaglione's Guilty-as-Charged Testimony

Text: DeFilippo's first challenge involves the Government's questioning of James Tartaglione, a high-ranking member of the Family who testified as a cooperating Government witness at trial. At some point in the past, Tartaglione had recorded his conversations with other members of the Family at the request of the Government. Two of the recordings were introduced into evidence and played for the jury. One recording contained an exchange between Tartaglione and Basciano (DeFilippo's co-defendant) about the possibility that Basciano might be arrested and charged with a 2001 murder: Basciano: They're gonna be tough to pinch me on this.... You wanna know why? ... They have no nothing.... How are they going to pinch me on that? Tartaglione: You, do you want me ... my honest opinion? (pause) Vinny? Basciano: Oh yeah yeah. Tartaglione: I'm gonna give you my honest opinion. What they do Basciano: They paint you in a certain light. Tartaglione: They paint you Basciano: A hundred percent. Tartaglione: Listen, but they don't only hit you with this charge. Nine thousand six hundred and eighty-four other charges. Basciano: Ha ha ha (laughing) Tartaglione: So if one sticks, Basciano: ha ha ha ha ha ha. Tartaglione: You're guilty of this anyhow, so they throw this in there. Basciano: I go home tonight I eat my macaroni. Tartaglione: That's right.