Opinion ID: 520583
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the prelude

Text: 3 Our review of the facts is made in the light most favorable to the government and drawing all reasonable inferences in its favor. United States v. Ingraham, 832 F.2d 229, 230 (1st Cir.1987), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 1738, 100 L.Ed.2d 202 (1988); United States v. Cintolo, 818 F.2d 980, 983 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 259, 98 L.Ed.2d 216 (1987). 4 Wade Federici, the chief government witness, was the manager of a restaurant-bar in Weymouth called The Great Escape. He first met the defendant in 1983. Defendant worked for a construction company and was an occasional customer of The Great Escape. Federici knew that defendant carried a handgun and used cocaine. In 1985 Defendant went to jail for assault with a dangerous weapon--a firearm. Based on the same set of facts, he was also convicted of unlawful discharge of a firearm and being a disorderly person. 5 In August of 1986, The Great Escape was inspected by employees of the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC). Several violations of the law were noted and the ABCC started proceedings to close The Great Escape for 28 days. 6 In November of 1986, defendant visited The Great Escape and left a message for Federici to the effect that by reason of his contacts he could get the ABCC case against The Great Escape fixed. Federici thought the ABCC was treating The Great Escape unfairly. He also was under the impression that the ABCC could be bought off. Federici therefore reported defendant's approach to Captain Rumble of the Weymouth police department. Rumble subsequently introduced Federici to special FBI agents James Irwin and James Burleigh. Federici agreed to wear a body recorder and tape record telephone and face-to-face conversations with defendant. 7 Numerous conversations between defendant and Federici were recorded: seven in December of 1986; four in January of 1987; three in February; four in March; and two in April. The conversations are larded with expletives and racial epithets. The substance of defendant's statements was far ranging. He boasted of his wealth and how tough he was and strongly intimated not only that he was capable of physical violence but that he had friends who were not adverse to strong-arm tactics. Defendant claimed that he was well acquainted with former Boston Mayor Kevin White, former Massachusetts Attorneys General McCormack and Bellotti and Massachusetts State Treasurer Robert Crane. He stated that he had been involved in deals with White and McCormack and knew of other deals involving them. Defendant stated that giving cash or gifts to public officials was how business was done and that he knew this because of personal observation and participation. He claimed that he had discussed real estate tax abatements privately with the former chairperson of the Boston Board of Assessors. Defendant also claimed that he had close ties to persons of national prominence, including Howard Hughes, Cardinal Cushing, Nelson Rockefeller and members of the Kennedy family. In one of the recorded conversations, defendant stated in effect that he had access to negotiable bonds which could be bought at a substantial discount. Defendant also made specific suggestions as to how the ABCC proceedings could be terminated by the payment of $4,000; the ABCC had required a cash bond of $40,000 to stay the closing of The Great Escape. 8 Defendant testified before the grand jury on January 21, 1987. The questions asked of defendant were, of course, based on his recorded statements. 9 Prior to trial, the district court granted the government's motion-in-limine to exclude portions of the tape recording and other evidence which the government claimed was not relevant. Defendant's motion-in-limine to exclude irrelevant and prejudicial evidence was denied. There were about 650 pages of taped conversations; the government introduced about 90 pages of them at trial.