Philly Mobster Asks Why He Should Go to Prison for Something PA Will Soon Make Legal

With the announcement that the state of Pennsylvania is pushing to legalize gambling in bars, Philly Mobster George Borgesi questioned why he should be going to prison for essentially engaging in the same type of business model.

"So what are we doing here?" he asked a reporter Tuesday during a break from his retrial on racketeering conspiracy charges.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Tapping a newspaper story on the state's proposed gaming expansion with one hand and gesturing to his codefendant and uncle, Joseph Ligambi, with the other, the 50-year-old added: "That's what they want to lock him up for."

The problem is, Borgesi is being tried on federal charges stemming from an investigation that began 13 years ago.

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Still, the situation had some government witnesses shrugging off questions related to gambling.

Case in point, one bar owner claimed to still pay out money to winners on video machines at her nightspot, Coley’s Lounge, while another said that he would replace mob-managed gambling machines in his tavern one or two days after they were removed by authorities.

The feds allege that the 50-year-old Borgesi and another Mob associate, Joseph Ligambi, profited from the mob-placed machines in bars, Laundromats and corner stores throughout South Philadelphia.

Both defendants acquitted of most of the racketeering charges they faced earlier in the year with Borgesi beating 13 of the 14 counts and Ligambi being acquitted of five of  nine.

Borgesi has already spent 13 years in prison following his conviction in a 2001 racketeering case and could spend another decade behind bars if found guilty of the latest charges.

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com