NEW YORK – A reputed mobster who disappeared in the middle of his waterfront corruption trial and was feared killed by the Mafia was acquitted in absentia Tuesday along with two officials of the dockworkers union.
Larry Ricci, an alleged capo in the Genovese crime family, was last seen Oct. 7. Ricci, 60, had been free on $500,000 bail on fraud and conspiracy charges for allegedly trying to steer a lucrative union health care contract to a mob-linked company.
"He's either been abducted — that is unlikely because he'd be far too difficult a person to keep hostage — or killed," said his attorney Martin Schmukler.
If Ricci reappears, he could face a possible five-year sentence for skipping bail mid-trial. Still, Schmukler said he hopes the verdict "brings some solace to the family. You know, at least that a jury saw innocence here."
Two International Longshoremen's Association executives, Harold Daggett and Arthur Coffey, acquitted of charges they conspired with the Genovese family to install Daggett as president of the union.