Ex-Laski aide gets 30 months

Comments

August 17, 2006

BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter

A former political aide to fallen City Clerk James Laski was sentenced to 30 months in prison Wednesday -- the most time handed down to any defendant tied to the investigation of Laski.

But it was appropriate for Salvatore "Sam" Gammicchia Sr., 62, Assistant U.S. Attorney Manish Shah argued, because he threatened a witness and obstructed justice as the feds stepped up their case against Laski.

In a sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr., Shah played recordings in which Gammicchia can be heard at one point trying to coach a witness to lie to the grand jury and at another threatening the witness.

"If you wanna put me in a trick bag bein' wired that's, that's fine. The only thing, if I go to jail, you have to go under witness protection and that would be the thing," Gammicchia told Mick Jones. Jones, who pleaded guilty to paying Laski bribes, wore a wire as part of his cooperation in the probe.

Gammicchia told Jones to lie to the grand jury about giving Laski cash.

Prosecutors say he also threatened Jones and his wife. Gammicchia's lawyer argued that the two didn't feel threatened, then played a voicemail Jones' wife left last week wishing Gammicchia luck in his sentencing.