The Ninja Robber Trial is Underway in Naples

Surveillance Footage of Robbery

Andres Perez

A string of Florida robberies were dubbed the “Ninja Robberies” because the robbers dressed in black clothes and masks that were similar to ninja garb. A group of men, several from Immokalee, are accused of a series of nine armed robberies stretching from Collier County all the way to Orlando. Several men were convicted in Orlando and sentenced to several years each in prison for charges there. A couple of robbers have also pled to multiple charges in Collier and have been sentenced to 40 years for their involvement. Now on trial is Andres Perez, who is facing 37 different counts in Collier County, including Racketeering, Armed Home-Invasion Robbery, Carjacking and many more. Perez is accused of being the mastermind of the Ninja robberies. He faces life in prison in a trial that is expected to take several weeks. I would not be surprised if some of the co-defendants take the stand to testify against him as a condition of their plea deals.

Yoga Pants are not an Efficient Way to Smuggle An Alligator

Is that a gator in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?

• 

A couple in Charlotte County were pulled over when they failed to come to a complete stop at a stop sign in the wee hours of the morning. The deputy gave them a warning for the sign and asked where they were coming from. They told him they’d been collecting frogs and snakes. The deputy then asked them if he could see what they caught, to make sure they were complying with the rules. The woman opened a backpack to reveal 42 small turtles; one softshell and the rest three-striped mud turtles. The deputy then asked her if she had anything else, and she pulled a foot long alligator out of her yoga pants!

The deputy called in FWC to take over the wildlife investigation. The driver and passenger were cited for possessing protected species and for a bag-limit violation and released. The animals were returned to the wild.

It might seem silly, but wildlife management is key to protecting the flora and fauna of our habitat. These guys don’t seem like pros, but there is a black market for some protected animals. Just a couple years ago, an alleged alligator poaching ring was busted up, recovering 10,000 gator eggs. Investigators created a fake alligator farm as part of the sting operation! One of those defendants has been sentenced to three years in prison for racketeering and other wildlife related offenses. Know the rules before you fish… or collect reptiles! (Some people call reptile and/or snake collecting “herping“… now you know.)

photos via CCSO

Yoga pants do not seem like the best place to stash a gator… or any wildlife, for that matter.

Whitey Bulger Guilty on Most Counts

James “Whitey”Bulger has been found guilty of most of the charges against him, including racketeering and many of the underlying murder and extortion charges. No word on whether the jury believed he was “snitchin’“.

https://crimcourts.wordpress.com/category/criminal-law/james-whitey-bulger/

James “Whitey” Bulger’s Trial Is Underway in Boston

James “Whitey” Bulger

Alleged crime boss Whitey Bulger, who spent 16 years hiding out to avoid his criminal charges, is currently on trial in Boston. He’s facing 32 counts, including 19 murders that he was allegedly involved in. Bulger was the alleged boss of the Winter Hill Gang, but was also allegedly an informant for the FBI, who in turn tipped him off about searches, raids, and even his own indictment (again- allegedly). His double dealing lent inspiration for Jack Nicholson’s character in “The Departed”. However, it appears his defense attorney will argue that he was not, in fact an informant. There had been some suggestion that he might claim immunity as a defense, based on the supposed promise for cooperation from the former prosecutor. His spent more than a decade atop the FBI’s most wanted list, until he was finally tracked down in California last year, thanks to a tip.

Jury selection is complete, and the trial is expected to take several months. Several of his former gang members are lined up to testify against him as government witnesses. It’s the biggest mob trial since John Gotti. Boston.com has had excellent coverage of the case.

Our coverage: https://crimcourts.wordpress.com/?s=whitey

Paul Bergerin Trial Underway

New Jersey attorney Paul Bergrin’s second trial for murder, plus racketeering and other charges, is underway. Mr. Bergrin continues to represent himself, and vehemently denied the charges in his opening statement. The prosecutor had gotten the new judge on the case to try 26 counts at the same time, and came out firing in his opening statement, as well. He is alleging that Bergrin was using his practice as a racketeering enterprise, and calls Bergrin a “drug dealer, a pimp, and a murderer.” The primary charges are for murder, alleging that Mr. Bergrin arranged for hits on key witnesses against his clients. He also allegedly was involved in drug trafficking and running a call-girl ring.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Opening_statements_heard_in_murder-racketeering_trial_of_attorney_Paul_Bergrin.html