Opinion ID: 432005
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Evidence of Gigante's Loansharking Activities

Text: 4 The government's proof at trial, the sufficiency of which is not challenged by Gigante, was presented primarily through the testimony of loanshark victim Ralph Sirabella, tape-recorded conversations Sirabella had with Vodola and other persons, Sirabella's written records of the payments he made to Vodola and Gigante, and Vodola's written records of payments he collected for Gigante from Sirabella and others. Sirabella, a butcher by trade, was a lifelong gambler who frequently borrowed money from loansharks to meet his gambling debts. In 1977, Sirabella met Vodola, with whom he placed bets; when Sirabella needed more money to cover his bets, Vodola told him about a man named Mario who Vodola said was connected to organized crime and would lend Sirabella money. Soon thereafter, Vodola introduced Sirabella to Mario Gigante, who loaned Sirabella $10,000, which Sirabella was to repay at the rate of $200 per week until he had paid a total of $20,000. Vodola described to Sirabella how other persons who owed money to Gigante were beaten when they failed to make payments on time. 5 At the same time, Sirabella owed money to other loansharks, two of whom beat him and threatened him late in 1979 when he failed to pay them on time. Unable to keep up with all of the payments due all of the loansharks, Sirabella told Vodola about the beating he had received and asked for help. In early 1980, Vodola and Gigante consolidated all of Sirabella's loans, doubled the total amount of his outstanding debt to an amount in excess of $200,000 while giving him no cash, and arranged for a repayment schedule of $600 per week. Gigante threatened Sirabella on several occasions when he was late with his payments, and once punched him in the face. In January of 1981, afraid for his life, Sirabella went to the FBI for help. He began to tape record conversations he had with Vodola, during which he was threatened repeatedly with what Gigante would do to him if he failed to make his payments. 6 In early February 1981, Sirabella found that his apartment had been entered in his absence by someone with a key and that his tape recorder, which showed he had been cooperating with the FBI, had been tampered with. The evidence revealed that Sirabella's landlord, who had keys to the apartment, was acquainted with Gigante. Following the break-in, Vodola behaved in a markedly more friendly manner toward Sirabella; he made no more threats, he no longer demanded payments, and he volunteered that Gigante would help Sirabella get a bank loan if he needed one.