Opinion ID: 390239
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: conclusion

Text: 173 The convictions of SCIONTI, MARTINO, MORGADO, MACALUSO, HOLT, LAZZARA, RODRIGUEZ, RUSSELLO, FARINA, BROWN, YOUNG, PALERMO, and FISHER, as per the verdicts of the jury, are AFFIRMED. 174 The convictions of GUARINO on Counts 17 and 18 are REVERSED; his convictions on all other counts are AFFIRMED. 175 The conviction of CHASE is REVERSED. 176 The convictions of LOSTRACCO on Counts 1, 2, 17 and 18 are REVERSED. MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL Docket Number 79-2606 177 Martino appeals from the denial of his post-conviction motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. This evidence consisted of proffered testimony by co-defendant Guarino, who stated that he would have testified for Martino in a separate trial but that he did not want to testify in his own defense at the joint trial. 178 The criteria for obtaining a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence are: 179 1. the evidence must be discovered following the trial;2. facts must be alleged from which the court may infer diligence on the part of the movant to discover the new evidence; 180 3. the evidence must not be merely cumulative or impeaching; 4. the evidence must be material; and 181 5. the evidence must be such that a new trial would probably produce a new result. 182 United States v. Rodriguez, 437 F.2d 940 (5th Cir. 1971). 183 Guarino's proffered statements related to the burning of four buildings. Guarino stated he never discussed burning any of those buildings with Martino and that Martino was unaware of Guarino's interests in the N. Nebraska Avenue and Columbus Drive properties. He also stated that while Martino was aware of Guarino's interest in the warehouse transaction, Noriega's interest was not disclosed to Martino. Guarino denied having ever paid a kickback to Martino, specifically with respect to the Columbus Drive transaction. During his sentencing hearing, Guarino stated to the court that he made a mistake in not testifying during the trial because Martino, contrary to some of the evidence, didn't have nothing to do with Nebraska or 12th Street. 184 Guarino's statements do not satisfy the criteria for the granting of a new trial. We need not decide whether newly available evidence is the same as newly discovered evidence because we find that the new evidence is not such that a second trial would probably produce a different result. Guarino's statements concerning Martino's lack of knowledge and involvement with respect to the N. Nebraska fire would not produce a new result because Martino was acquitted on charges relating to that fire. The 12th Street warehouse fire was not the subject of a substantive charge; testimony concerning that incident related only to Martino's association with the enterprise. Guarino's statement that Martino knew that he, Guarino, and not Noriega was involved would not be contrary to a jury finding that Martino was associated with the enterprise. It would suffice that Martino and Guarino worked together on the warehouse fire. With respect to the Columbus Drive arson, we find that testimony concerning nondisclosure of Guarino's interest in that property would not likely have changed the jury's verdict. Every member of the enterprise does not have to participate in every transaction engaged in by the enterprise. Furthermore, Guarino's denial of having paid a kickback to Martino for that property is not in direct contradiction to the testimony at trial; Noriega did not testify about a kickback, but rather that they bought out Martino's interest. 185 The decision to grant or deny a motion for new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence rests in the sound discretion of the trial judge. We will reverse the denial of such a motion only where it is shown that the ruling was so clearly erroneous as to constitute an abuse of discretion. United States v. Antone, 603 F.2d 566, 568 (5th Cir. 1979). That showing has not been made in this case. 186 The district court's denial of Martino's Motion for New Trial is AFFIRMED. FORFEITURE Docket Number 78-3611 187 Note: An en banc rehearing was granted on October 13, 1981, as to the panel's decision in No. 78-3611, and the portion of the panel's opinion which discussed No. 78-3611 and which appeared in the advance sheet publication at this point (pages 407-409) was vacated and is not reproduced here.APPENDIX 188 As noted below, some fires were listed only as overt acts and/or acts of racketeering in Counts 1 and 2 while others were also the subjects of mail fraud counts (Counts 3 through 35). We list only those fires that are at the core of the convictions appealed. All addresses are in Tampa, Florida, unless otherwise indicated. 189 1. 1202 E. Buffalo Avenue, a bakery (Counts 1 and 2) Guarino and Scionti burned the premises with the help of two other arsonists who died as a result of the fire. 190 2. 3401 24th Street (Counts 1 and 2) Guarino, Noriega and Scionti burned a frame house owned by Scionti in his brother's name. Scionti received a $4,000 settlement on the insurance policy. 191 3. 1811 Taliaferro Street (Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4) Guarino, Noriega and Scionti burned a frame house belonging to Palermo and Guarino (silent partner). This house was burned twice; insurance proceeds were collected by Palermo both times. The first time he collected on a policy transferred to him when he bought the house. After the first fire, he made cosmetic repairs to the house and obtained insurance coverage through a different agency. After the second fire, he collected the full face value of this policy, $10,000. 192 4. 20410 Old Cutler Road, Miami (Counts 1, 2, 5 and 6) Guarino, Scionti and Noriega burned a laundromat belonging to Lazzara. Lazzara received only $15,117 although he submitted a claim for $40,000. 193 5. 2208 10th Street and 923 12th Avenue (Counts 1, 2, 7 and 8) Guarino, Noriega and Macaluso burned two adjacent frame buildings owned by Rodriguez. $4,226.83 was collected by Rodriguez through the help of Carter. 194 6. 2917-2917 1/2 20th Avenue (Counts 1, 2, 9 and 10) Noriega and Guarino burned a frame house owned by Farina in his mother's name. Farina received $4,000 in insurance proceeds. 195 7. 3006 N. Nebraska Avenue (Counts 1, 2, 11, 12 and 13) Macaluso bought a house from Noriega and had Guarino and Noriega burn it. With help from Carter, $23,000 in insurance proceeds was paid to Macaluso. 196 8. 2020 E. Columbus Drive (Counts 1, 2, 14, 15 and 16) Noriega and Guarino burned a frame house acquired by Noriega through the assistance of Martino. With the help of Carter, $20,000 was paid on three different insurance policies, two purchased by Noriega and one transferred to him by the prior owner. The property was later burned again by Noriega and he collected an additional $7,105.77. 197 9. 2510 12th Street (Counts 1 and 2) Martino purchased an option on a warehouse with the intent to insure it and then burn it. Necessary repairs were made in order to obtain insurance. Guarino and Noriega then bought the option from Martino and put it in the name of Alex Fekete who exercised the option. An office was set up in the warehouse and a $50,000 insurance policy was obtained (in addition to the $30,000 policy transferred from the previous owner who retained a mortgage position for the credit portion of the sale). When more money was needed to cover repairs, Chase got a loan from a client who was given a second mortgage. Noriega burned the property. Fekete had allowed the additional insurance to lapse by failing to pay the premiums. The insurance recovery on the original insurance was paid to the first mortgage holder. 198 10. 2114 27th Street (Counts 1, 2, 17 and 18) Fekete and Noriega burned an apartment owned by a relative of Lostracco (co-worker of Martino in his real estate business). A transfer of the property from Lostracco's brother-in-law to Jimmy Traina (straw man for Noriega and Guarino) was attempted but was not completed before the property was burned. The $4,500 in insurance proceeds was initially paid to Lostracco's brother-in-law, but was later delivered over to Noriega, Guarino and Arrigo. 199 11. 409 E. Oak Street (Counts 1, 2, 19 and 20) Guarino and Noriega burned a two-story frame house owned by Guarino. The house had been placarded by city housing inspectors prior to the fire. Cosmetic repairs were made to the exterior of the house and with Carter's guidance, insurance was obtained. Following the fire the insurance company refused to pay the face value of the policy. Carter intervened and arranged for a $10,000 settlement. 200 12. 3310 Vasconia Street (Counts 1, 2, 21 and 22) Noriega and Arrigo burned a house owned by Holt. Morgado had made the necessary arrangements for Holt. When Holt acquired the property he transferred the existing policy and obtained additional coverage. The first attempt at burning the house was unsuccessful; in the second attempt the building was totally destroyed. Holt claimed $41,501.55 under one policy and $36,501.55 under another. 201 13. 4601 W. Kennedy Boulevard (Counts 1, 2, 28 and 29) Noriega and Traina set fire to the Central Professional Building owned by Russello. Insurance coverage on the premises paid $340,043.09 through adjustments made by Carter.14. 3012 Highland Avenue (Counts 1 and 2) Guarino and Noriega attempted to burn a frame apartment building owned by an acquaintance of Guarino. The fire was spotted by neighbors and extinguished prior to extensive damage. 202 15. 3658 S. Westshore Boulevard (Counts 1, 2, 31 and 33) Noriega burned a True Value Hardware Store owned by Bill Brown. Prior to the fire, Brown had obtained $175,000 in additional insurance with the help of Carter. The fire was only partially successful, and though Brown claimed damages of over $100,000, the insurance company estimated the damages at only $15,000 and refused to pay the claim. 203 16. 1907-1915 N. Armenia Avenue (Counts 1, 2, 32 and 33) This property was acquired by Fisher and Young through arrangements made by Noriega. After superficial repairs were made, insurance coverage was obtained. The building was heavily damaged by fire and $125,000 was collected from the insurance company.