Jury Deliberations Begin in Trial of Alleged Mobsters Charged With Fraud

The jury begins deliberations on Wednesday in the case of two alleged mafia members who attempted a takeover and subsequent looting of FirstPlus Financial Group.

Nicodemo Scarfo Jr., an alleged member of the Lucchese organized crime family, and Salvatore Pelullo, an alleged associate of the crime family, are charged with racketeering and related offenses stemming from the alleged extortionate takeover of FirstPlus Financial Group Inc., a publicly held company in Texas, and the subsequent looting of FPFG by members of the racketeering enterprise through a series of fraudulent consulting agreements and acquisitions involving companies they controlled.

Scarfo, of Galloway, was initially among 13 people arrested in 2012. Since then five people, including Scarfo's wife, have pleaded guilty to the charges. If convicted, Scarfo and Pelullo face 30 years to life in prison.

The trial itself has lasted six months. In court, defense attorneys have argued that Scarfo and Pelullo are targets of a government conspiracy to make a legitimate business deal involving Scarfo, the son of jailed mob boss Nicodemo Scarfo Sr., look like crime.