2003-07-08 -- Daidone, Daniel and James Mathes, Jr. -- Conviction -- News Release

La Cosa Nostra Associate and Former Camden City Council President Convicted on All Counts

CAMDEN - Philadelphia organized crime family associate Daniel M. Daidone and former Camden City Council President James R. Mathes, Jr. were convicted by a federal jury today on all counts against them, including conspiracy and other charges related to the influencing of corrupt Camden City officials, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

After three hours of deliberations, which began at noon today, the jury convicted Daidone, 59, of Ventnor City, and Mathes, 62, of Camden, each of one count of conspiracy to defraud the public of honest services, two counts of using wire communications to defraud the public of honest services, and one count of conspiracy to travel and use interstate facilities to solicit and accept benefits from the Philadelphia LCN Family to influence a public servant.

The six-count Superseding Indictment was returned in October 2001.

U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez, who presided over the seven-week trial, ordered Daidone detained pending sentencing on Oct. 28. Mathes' was released pending a hearing scheduled for tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

During the trial, jurors heard more than 200 secretly recorded tapes of conversations in which, among other things, former-Boss Ralph Natale of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra organized crime family (LCN) discussed with LCN family associate Daidone, a conspiracy to corrupt Camden City officials in order to gain city contracts.

During the trial, Natale testified that he was the boss of the Philadelphia LCN from 1994 to 1998, and that he had Daidone make payments to Mathes and former Camden City Mayor Milton Milan. Natale testified that he arranged for a Philadelphia jeweler to provide Mathes with a diamond ring for his girlfriend. Natale also testified that approximately two months after Milton Milan became president of Camden City Council, Natale, through Daidone, made his first payment to Milan. Natale testified that his payments, always carried by Daidone, continued until Natale's parole was revoked in June 1998.

"These convictions strike a blow at the two most insidious types of criminals - organized crime figures and corrupt politicians," Christie said.

Under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Daidone faces a possible prison term in the range of 53 months to 63 months. Mathes faces an approximate range of between 33 months and 37 months in prison. Each of the six counts carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Judge Rodriguez, will determine the actual sentence based upon a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and the defendant's criminal history, if any.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Under the Sentencing Guidelines, defendants who are given federal custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI in Philadelphia, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Lampinski; and Investigators from the Camden County Prosecutors's Office, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and the Philadelphia Police Department with developing the investigation.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Futcher and Jacqueline Carle of the U.S. Attorney's Criminal Division.

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Defense Attorneys:

Harold Shapiro, Esq. Vineland

Wayne Powell, Esq. Cherry Hill