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January 2, 2008

Update: Scranton priest claimed crime boss was wrongly convicted

A letter Father Joseph Sica wrote to former Gov. Dick Thornburgh's wife sought mercy for organized crime boss Russell Bufalino, claiming Bufalino had been wrongly convicted of seeking to have a witness killed.

The letter, written in 1982, was one of several letters and photos Dauphin County prosecutors say prove Sica, a priest within the Diocese of Scranton, lied to a grand jury regarding his relationship with Bufalino.

Sica was indicted this morning on a charge of perjury in connection with testimony he gave on Aug. 29 before a grand jury investigating Mount Airy Casino owner Louis DeNaples. The panel is investigating whether DeNaples lied to gaming officials regarding his connection with persons associated with organized crime and other criminals.

Sica, a former associate pastor at St. Aloysius Church in Wilkes-Barre, is a close personal friend of DeNaples. Prosecutors said Sica's alleged relationship with known criminals was material to determining whether DeNaples associated with the same criminals.

Sica had testified before the grand jury he had met Bufalino, now deceased, by chance and that he had no relationship with him. But the grand jury was presented with the letter to Mrs. Thornburgh, as well several photos that showed Sica with Bufalino and another reputed mobster, William D'Elia.

In his letter to Mrs. Thornburgh, Sica railed against the federal government, saying prosecutors had "set up" Bufalino for a crime he did not commit.

"It is all a conspiracy against a man who has lived a life of honesty, generosity, justice and a belief in the American system," Sica wrote. "Russell is a perfect example of a conspiracy, so what I am asking is for you to help me in giving Russell the freedom and justice he so deserves."

Sica was arrested outside his home in Scranton this morning by the Pennsylvania State Police. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 3:30 p.m. today in Dauphin County.

For further updates check back with www.timesleader.com

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