Opinion ID: 1441526
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: LaRasso Murder

Text: Schifilliti was convicted of both the conspiracy to murder and the actual murder of Louis LaRasso. Schifilliti argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of the actual murder because LaRasso's body was never found and the only evidence that Schifilliti was present at the murder scene is highly attenuated. First, there was evidence that LaRasso was killed and did not just go underground: cooperating witnesses testified about a Decavalcante administration meeting at which LaRasso's death was ordered by all three defendants and the other members of the ruling panel, Tr. 1069-74; Capo testified that he discussed the plans and logistics of the hit with Schifilliti, Tr. 327-28; Rotondo testified that other co-conspirators reported that Schifilliti was present (and was nauseated) at the murder scene, Tr. 1079-82; LaRasso's family said he disappeared on November 11, 1991, Tr. 2669-71; cooperating witnesses testified that at around the same time they were told by Abramo and others that Abramo and Schifilliti had taken care of LaRasso, Tr. 338; and LaRasso's abandoned car was found at an airportas envisioned in the murder plan, Tr. 2672-73. It was entirely reasonable for the jury to conclude that LaRasso was murdered. Schifilliti was placed at the scene of the murder by Rotondo's testimony as to what another co-conspirator had witnessedattenuated evidence, as Schifilliti characterizes it. But, in any event, it was unnecessary to prove Schifilliti's presence at the murder scene in order to convict him of the murder. The evidence established that Schifilliti was one of the administration members who ordered the hit; that order was a predicate for the murder. Commanding or procuring a criminal act is sufficient to impose criminal liability as a principal under both 18 U.S.C. § 2 (whoever aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures [the commission of an offense] is punishable as a principal), and under N.Y. Penal Law § 20.00 (an aider and abettor is criminally liable as a principal whenever he solicits, requests, commands, importunes, or intentionally aids such person to engage in criminal conduct with the requisite mens rea ). The totality of evidence is sufficient to support a jury finding that Schifilliti commanded the murder, and that LaRasso was murdered pursuant to that command.