By Matthew Russell Lee
SDNY COURTHOUSE, February 25 – In the rackeeting trial of Joe Cammarano in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 25, government witness Peter Lovaglio spent the afternoon fielding questions from prosecutor Jason Swergold -- and from SDNY Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. When Lovaglio described a loan of $200,000 at four percent a week and mentioned a "Johnny Sideburns" whose photograph was put on-screen for the jury, Judge Hellerstein had two questions. "Where are the sideburns?" he asked. There were none in the photo.
"We just give nicknames," Lovaglio said. When Hellerstein said that a weekly interest rate of four points was 100% a year, Lovaglio deadpanned, I think it's more, Judge. And so it is: not unlike the payday loans that the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is settling on without restitution... After the jury left for the day, Judge Hellerstein gave a preview of the coming day: he would allow in evidence about Lovaglio's credibility but not "collateral" attacks, nor information about a separate lawsuit Lovaglio has filed in state court against his handler. Watch this site.
