News

November 22, 2008

DeNaples case aided by D’Elia

For first time, D’Elia’s help confirmed in case against Louis DeNaples, Rev. Sica.

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.com
Law & Order Reporter
Terrie Morgan-Besecker on Facebook   |   @TLTerrieMorgan on Twitter

SCRANTON – An attorney for reputed mobster William “Billy” D’Elia says his client helped prosecutors build criminal cases against several people, including Mount Airy Casino owner Louis DeNaples.

Now he’s hoping that cooperation will pay off.

James Swetz, D’Elia’s attorney, on Friday filed a sentencing memorandum that, for the first time, confirms D’Elia’s involvement in the charges filed in January by Dauphin County prosecutors against DeNaples and his longtime advisor, the Rev. Joseph Sica.

DeNaples and Sica were each charged with perjury for allegedly lying to gaming investigators about each man’s alleged ties to organized crime. That case is pending in Dauphin County Court.

D’Elia, the longtime reputed head of the Bufalino crime family, also helped federal prosecutors bring charges against businessman Robert Kulick of Bear Creek Township, who was accused of threatening an employee with a gun. Kulick recently pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a handgun.

In his memorandum, Swetz asks Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie to consider that cooperation when he sentences D’Elia at 10 a.m. Monday on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and witness tampering.

Standard sentencing guidelines call for D’Elia to be sentenced to 12 years and seven months to 15 years and eight months in prison. Saying that sentence is “essentially a life sentence,” Swetz wants Vanaskie to at least reduce it to the lower guideline range of nine years to just more than 11 years, or, if the judge sees fit, even further.

D’Elia, 62, of Hughestown, had originally faced up to 245 years in prison after he was charged in 2006 with helping a drug dealer launder hundreds of thousands of dollars and attempting to have a co-defendant in that case killed. Prosecutors agreed last March to drop 16 charges in exchange for his plea to the money laundering and witness tampering counts.

D’Elia’s alleged attempt to have the witness killed prompted the U.S. Probation Department to oppose his request for a sentence reduction, according to the sentencing memorandum.

While acknowledging those allegations, Swetz maintains D’Elia’s behavior since then shows he is a changed man.

“D’Elia’s conduct since October 2006 are not the actions of a man trying to evade responsibility for his conduct but rather the actions of a man trying to take responsibility for past misdeeds,” Swetz wrote.

Swetz also cites several other reasons for seeking the reduced sentencing, including health problems D’Elia and his wife, Ellen, currently suffer.

Swetz downplayed D’Elia’s alleged ties to the mob, saying the allegations are the product of speculation and the media. He also cites numerous letters that have been written on D’Elia’s behalf by his family members and members of the community.

“Those who know D’Elia can attest to the invaluable influence he has had on the lives of his family and his community. The esteem in which D’Elia is held by his family and community should be considered by this court in fashioning an appropriate sentence. . .,” Swetz said.

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