State Courts

RICO update: Judge to hear request for new trial

By Ron Sylvester

U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten today set a hearing on the defense motion for a new trial in the racketeering case for five convicted Crips gang members.

The defense has accused jurors of not being impartial in their deliberations. Last week, I talked to the presiding juror, who explained how the jury approached the case for a story published Sunday in the Eagle.

Marten has set a hearing for 9 a.m. June 29 to take up the arguments.

The men were convicted in April of conspiracy under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. A sixth defendant was acquitted of racketeering charges but convicted of an ammunitions offense.

Full post as published by What the Judge Ate for Breakfast on June 16, 2009 (boomark / email).