MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR 1997 MURDER

On Aug. 2, a 61-year-old man was taken into custody on charges related to a 1997 murder of a 29-year-old man in Yonkers. The man was charged with murder for hire, murder in aid of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy. The first two of these charges carry a maximum punishment of the death penalty or mandatory life in prison while the racketeering conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

It is alleged that starting around 1997, the man was associated with the Genovese Crime Family and later became a member. He is accused of involvement with narcotics trafficking, extortion and gambling along with other crimes associated with La Cosa Nostra. In the murder case, he allegedly hired people to stab the man to death on behalf of the Genovese Crime Family.

The Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Yonkers Police Department and the FBI were all involved in the investigation.

A person who is charged with violent crimes, even if they are not as serious as murder, may want to talk to an attorney about the best strategy for defense. An attorney might look at a number of different elements. For example, some cases might rest heavily on the testimony of eyewitnesses, but this can be unreliable. In cases where evidence has been obtained illegally or a defendant’s rights have not been observed, it might be possible to get some evidence or even the whole case dismissed. Another option could be to plea bargain instead of going to trial. In a plea bargain, a defendant usually pleads guilty to reduced charges and receives a less severe sentence.