Steve Lapham

So when we informed them that they had gotten tainted wine, then the process commences whether that wine is going to be decertified as whatever variety it is.

So when we informed them that they had gotten tainted wine, then the process commences whether that wine is going to be decertified as whatever variety it is.

They had the bad taste to try and cover up their tainted wine.

They had the bad taste to try and cover up their tainted wine.

As Steve Lapham remembers, So Michael Licciardi filed a motion for a new trial claiming that we had withheld this information about Delicato being involved in the fraud. But it was a confused theory because Delicato was the victim of Licciardi's fraud and they simply made some bad choices after learning that they had been victimized. In Lapham's argument won out before a judge.

As Steve Lapham remembers, So Michael Licciardi filed a motion for a new trial claiming that we had withheld this information about Delicato being involved in the fraud. But it was a confused theory because Delicato was the victim of Licciardi's fraud and they simply made some bad choices after learning that they had been victimized. In Lapham's argument won out before a judge.

Ultimately, I think we wound up prosecuting about 17 individuals and four or five wineries.

Ultimately, I think we wound up prosecuting about 17 individuals and four or five wineries.

It's one of the most sacred rights guaranteed to criminal defendants in the United States Constitution, the right to trial by a jury of one's peers. But the practical reality of the criminal legal system is that 97% of federal cases and 94% of state cases end in plea bargains.

It's one of the most sacred rights guaranteed to criminal defendants in the United States Constitution, the right to trial by a jury of one's peers. But the practical reality of the criminal legal system is that 97% of federal cases and 94% of state cases end in plea bargains.

One of the problems that Michael Lichardi faced was he had to pull a fast one on his father, Jack Lichardi. He's due to inherit a multi-million dollar a year business. So he's impatient, I think, to inherit the business and start living the good life.

One of the problems that Michael Lichardi faced was he had to pull a fast one on his father, Jack Lichardi. He's due to inherit a multi-million dollar a year business. So he's impatient, I think, to inherit the business and start living the good life.

As federal prosecutor Steve Lapham recalls, The word was out that we were investigating this fraud involving Corvette Company. And he basically said, come talk to me. Jack Licciardi asked for the interview.

As federal prosecutor Steve Lapham recalls, The word was out that we were investigating this fraud involving Corvette Company. And he basically said, come talk to me. Jack Licciardi asked for the interview.

And so we visited his home. It was very Alfred Hitchcock-like.

And so we visited his home. It was very Alfred Hitchcock-like.

He lives in a house with no improvements. It's very dark and grimy when we went in. The curtains were all drawn. It just seemed, I have this image in my head of it being very dark and spooky.

He lives in a house with no improvements. It's very dark and grimy when we went in. The curtains were all drawn. It just seemed, I have this image in my head of it being very dark and spooky.

The most prominent feature I can remember from him is just having this gnarled old hand with a cigar stogie sticking out of it.

The most prominent feature I can remember from him is just having this gnarled old hand with a cigar stogie sticking out of it.