Supreme Court Considers Case of Alleged "Goodfellas" Italian Mobster Vincent "Vinny" Asaro

In June of 2017, 84 year old alleged mobster Vincent "Vinny" Asaro was found guilty and sentenced to eight years over a road rage incident after ordering a firebomb attack on a motorist who cut him off.

The Judge presiding over the case, US District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York Allyne R. Ross said she had  no illusion that prison would result in Asaro's rehabilitation or bring an end to his lifelong career as a member of the mafia.  Her Honor said she was mindful of Asaro's 2015 acquittal over the infamous 1978 heist at the Lufthansa cargo terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a robbery retold in the 1990 hit film Goodfellas, starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, the award-winning actor who portrayed Asaro's character in the movie.

"He remains dangerous to the public," she said.

Asaro has requested that the United States Supreme Court hear his case with hopes of being re-sentenced. According to the writ of certiorari filed on Asaro's behalf in July, Judge Allyne Ross wrongly weighed his 2015 acquittal in a trial where the feds tried linking him to a 1969 murder and the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist."Even though the jury, by acquitting Mr. Asaro of all charges, flatly rejected the veracity and credibility of the government's witnesses, Judge Ross nevertheless gave full credit to them," Asaro's lawyer wrote.

In response to Asaro's filing, Washington DC office Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski wrote in a pleading released today that "'the petition for a writ of certiorari should be denied."

"Individual sentencing courts retain discretion to consider the extent to which acquitted conduct should carry weight in their assessment of a defendant’s “background, character, and conduct” for purposes of imposing a sentence in a given case," the Assistant Attorney General stated.

To view the brief in its entirety, click the link below:

ASARO VS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: BRIEF FOR THE UNITED STATES IN OPPOSITION