‘Son of Sam’ Laws Could be Applied to ‘Real Housewives’ Sentencing

“Real Housewives of New Jersey” stars Joe and Teresa Giudice could be forced to give up any profits derived from their appearances on the popular reality series as well as any future book deals.

Both are heading to prison for fraudulently obtaining millions in loans and for hiding income and assets in their 2009 bankruptcy filing.

“Son of Sam” laws have been applied mostly to violent criminals who look to profit from the publicity of their misdeeds.  The first such law was created in New York following the Son of Sam murders committed by serial killer David Berkowitz that terrorized the Big Apple in the late 70’s.

Stuart Green, a law professor at Rutgers School of Law in Newark, tells the Newark Star Ledger that these laws should not apply to white collar crimes such as those perpetrated by the Giudices.

Green says the language of the law is broad enough that if the bank wanted to go after the couple under the law, they could — though there don't seem to be many precedents of a corporation invoking the law.

Joe and Teresa Giudice are both rumored to have Mob ties, something the couple and their lawyer deny.

Teresa showed up at the shore house of New Jersey state senator Raymond Lesniak last month for a fundraiser that had heads turning.  Lesniak is the architect of laws permitting online gambling in the state and he is hoping to have sports wagering legalized as well.

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com