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Brooklyn Federal Judge Pamela Chen has denied Genovese crime family mobster Felice Masullo an unusual request to attend a New York Rangers game this week with his family.
Masullo is confined to his home from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for six months as part of his sentence for illegal gambling.
"I'm sure he'll have a happy Christmas with his family regardless," said his disappointed defense lawyer Brendan White in an interview with the New York Daily News.
No explanation for the denial was given by the judge. Prosecutors in the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's office took no position on the request. Masullo's probation officer, however, objected on the basis that such a furlough would set a bad precedent.
Masullo and two other family members pleaded guilty on November 6, 2009, before Magistrate Judge Theodore H. Katz to a superseding Information. Massulo was an associate of the Genovese Organized Crime Family who had been proposed to be made a Soldier. He was charged with participating in, and conspiring to participate in, the affairs of the Genovese Organized Crime Family through a pattern of racketeering activity.
In connection with his plea, Masullo admitted that he participated in the affairs of the Crime Family through his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, an extortion conspiracy, and a conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business. Masullo could have faced up to 40 years in prison.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
