320).-The Courtroom Sketches".-a

U.S. v. Williams, 705 F.2d 603 (2d Cir. 1983)

A principios de 1978, agentes del FBI en una oficina de Long Island reclutaron a un estafador para que los ayudara a recuperar obras de arte robadas y valores falsificados. La operación tenía un alcance limitado y una configuración básica: los agentes federales pretendían ser portavoces de los ricos empresarios árabes que estaban dispuestos a pagar por favores ilegales. La empresa que supuestamente representaban se llamaba “Abdul Enterprises Limited”, de ahí el nombre ABSCAM.

La operación resultó efectiva hasta el verano de 1978, pero en el otoño, algunos de los intermediarios criminales comenzaron a ofrecer los servicios de un político corrupto para facilitar las inversiones árabes. Angelo Errichetti, el alcalde de Camden, Nueva Jersey, llegó a una reunión y dijo que vendería su influencia.

ABSCAM pronto se transformó en la red más amplia jamás lanzada para demostrar irregularidades por parte de funcionarios públicos. Errichetti, todavía creyendo en la historia de portada de los agentes, se convirtió en un canal para políticos prominentes, incluido un senador (Harrison Williams) y seis congresistas (Frank Thompson, John Murphy, Michael Myers, Richard Kelly, Raymond Lederer y John Jenrette). 

Las reuniones y los sobornos se grabaron en video. Los jurados quedaron convencidos por unanimidad. Cada acusado tuvo un juicio separado, nadie fue absuelto y todos renunciaron o fueron expulsados ​​de sus cargos.

ABSCAM cuestionó si hacer que los sobornos estuvieran disponibles con tanta facilidad constituía una trampa, que se define como inducir a una persona a cometer un delito que, de otro modo, sería poco probable que cometiera. Cuando se le preguntó sobre su voluntad de vender su oficina, el Representante John Jenrette dijo: “Tengo el hurto en la sangre. Lo tomaría en un maldito minuto ".

Abscam courtroom scene featuring Sen. Harrison A. Williams Jr., other defendants, and jury listening to tapes. Chief prosecutor Thomas P. Puccio standing.

Date: 

1980

Abscam courtroom scene featuring Sen. Harrison A. Williams Jr., other defendants, and jury listening to tapes.

Date: 

1980

Abscam courtroom scene featuring Sen. Harrison A. Williams Jr., other defendants and jury

Date: 

1980

Abscam courtroom scene featuring Sen. Harrison A. Williams and other defendants. Chief prosecutor Thomas P. Puccio standing.

Date: 

1980

Senate Ethics Committee and Sen. Harrison Williams Jr. during Abscam case

Date: 

1981

Alexander Feinberg, charged with scheming with Sen. Harrison Williams in Abscam case, appears with his attorney, Harry C. Batchelder Jr.

Date: 

1981

Informant Melvin Weinberg testifies at Abscam trial

Date: 

circa. 1979 to circa. 1981

Abscam Defendants: Philadelphia City Councilman Louis C. Johanson, attorney Howard L. Criden

Size: 

33.5 x 43

Melvin Weinberg testifies during Abscam trial of Rep. John Murphy, Judge Pratt, Thomas Puccio, Rep. Frank Thompson Jr., and Thompson's attorney, Stephen E. Kaufman also appear in sketch.

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams and prosecutor Thomas Puccio appear during Abscam trial.

Date: 

1981

Abscam Defendants: Philadelphia City Councilman Louis C. Johanson, attorney Howard L. Criden, Rep. Michael J. Myers, Camden mayor Angelo J. Errichetti. Also appearing in sketch: Judge George C. Pratt, chief prosecutor Thomas P. Puccio, informant Melvin Weinberg in witness chair, and Errichetti's lawyer Raymond A. Brown

Date: 

1980

Jeanette Williams, wife of Sen. Harrison A. Williams, with former Rep. Paul J. Krebs

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams, Alexander Feinberg, and George J. Koelzer

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams

Date: 

1980

Video footage of Sen. Williams meeting with sheik during Abscam sting. Seated at right are defendants Alexander Feinberg and Sen. Harrison Williams.

Date: 

1980

Video footage of Sen. Williams meeting with sheik during Abscam sting.

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams during Abscam proceedings

Date: 

1980

Ralph Monaco, jury foreman during Abscam trial of Sen. Williams

Date: 

1980

Michael E. Tigar, attorney for Rep. John M. Murphy, cross-examining Abscam informant Melvin Weinberg

Date: 

1980

Joseph Fusco, former licensing-division chief of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, testified as a defense witness during the Sen. Williams Abscam trial

Date: 

1981

George J. Koelzer, attorney for Sen. Harrison Williams, Sen. Harrison A. Williams Jr., and Judge George C. Pratt during Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams and Jury during Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams and Jury during Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Alexander Feinberg and Sen. Harrison Williams

Date: 

1980

Stephen E. Kaufman, attorney for Abscam defendant Rep. Frank Thompson Jr., and prosecutor Thomas P. Puccio.

Date: 

1980

Courtroom scene from Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Testimony of Henry A."Sandy" Williams, a government witness during the Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Sen. Harrison Williams, government witness Henry A. "Sandy" Williams, and Jury during Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Abscam defendant Joseph R. Silvestri, a New Jersey business consultant and real estate man, appears with his lawyer. Chief prosecutor Thomas P. Puccio also appears in sketch.

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams and prosecutor Thomas Puccio

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams

Date: 

1980

Rep. John M. Murphy, his attorney Michael Tigar, Rep. Frank Thompson Jr., and his attorney Stephen Kaufman during Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Prosecutor Thomas Puccio and jury

Date: 

1980

Harry C. Batchelder Jr. cross-examines Henry A. "Sandy" Williams, business associate of Sen. Harrison Williams.

Date: 

1980

Date: 

1980

George J. Koelzer, attorney for Sen. Harrison Williams

Date: 

1980

Video footage of Angelo Errichetti during Abscam sting

Date: 

1980

Howard L. Criden's attorney, Richard Ben-Veniste

Date: 

1980

Video footage of Angelo Errichetti during Abscam sting

Date: 

1980

Abscam Jury

Date: 

1980

Video footage of Angelo Errichetti during Abscam sting

Date: 

1980

Alexander Feinberg, charged with scheming with Sen. Harrison Williams in Abscam case, appears with his attorney, Harry C. Batchelder Jr.

Date: 

1980

Sen. Williams appears on right

Date: 

1980

George J. Koelzer, attorney for Sen. Harrison Williams

Date: 

1980

Courtroom scene from Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

Henry A. "Sandy" Williams, government witness and business associate of Sen. Harrison Williams

Date: 

1980

John J. Duffy Jr., attorney for Louis C. Johanson of the Philadelphia City Council

Date: 

1980

George Koelzer, Sen. Williams, and jury

Date: 

1980

scene from Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

scene from Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

scene from Abscam trial

Date: 

1980

FBI agent Anthony Amorossa Jr. and Richard Ben-Veniste, attorney for Howard L. Criden

Date: 

1980

Abscam jury

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