Decologero was one of Paul A.’s main “foot soldiers,” available at a ‘beck and call’ to be involved in drug trafficking, robberies, burglaries, and eventually, the murder of Aislin Silva.
He was with DiCenso in North’s apartment during the burglary and was there when they discovered the duffel bags of guns on the floor. He also accompanied DiCenso and Paul A. to Silva’s apartment later that month.
Drug trafficking
The illegal trafficking of drugs has become a global phenomenon. As international borders get more porous, this trade – which affects almost every country in the world – has caused major economic and social problems.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) continues to monitor and research the global illicit drug market in order to learn more about this criminal activity. In addition to being a major source of money for criminal groups, drug trafficking also causes a wide range of serious health and social issues.
Moreover, it has become a growing problem because of the monetary gains that drug traffickers receive. This is because drug sales and production are lucrative business opportunities that provide a means for people to earn income.
In the mid 1990s, Paul j. Decologero ran a criminal enterprise known as the “DeCologero crew,” which distributed cocaine and marijuana in the Boston area. He had several associates, including co-defendants John P. Decologero, his nephews Paul J. and John Jr., and a drug dealer named Michael Capozzi. They also murdered a nineteen-year-old woman, Aislin Silva, when they believed she would betray them to the police.
Robberies
Robberies occur when an offender uses violence, intimidation or a threat to deprive another of their property. They are not always committed by a person who is actually armed with a weapon, but they are often charged as armed or aggravated robberies when a victim suffers physical harm from the perpetrator.
Robbery crimes are governed by state law, but the federal government has jurisdiction over some types of robberies that affect commerce or goods being shipped across state lines. Those crimes include robbery of a bank, credit union or savings and loan institution, or robbery that disrupts or delays the movement of commerce, goods or articles of value.
Robbery patterns vary according to offender, victim and location characteristics. For example, different annual routines, such as the beginning of the school year or holidays like Black Friday, could alter the robbery pattern in a neighborhood. These changes might increase the availability of victims with cash, presents or CRAVED items, and change the routes that offenders are likely to take to rob them.
Burglaries
Burglary is a crime that takes place when someone illegally enters a building with the intent of stealing property. It differs from theft in that it involves the use of force.
Burglaries can be charged as felonies, and the penalties vary by state. They can be punished by jail time, fines, or both.
A person who burglarizes a house can face up to 20 years in prison, although the maximum varies from state to state. They can also be charged as misdemeanors if they break into another structure, such as an apartment complex.
The definition of a “building” differs from state to state, but in general it must be capable of housing people and animals or sheltering property. Generally, this includes houses and other outlying structures, such as garages or sheds.
Usually, the person who commits burglary must intend to do so right at the moment of entry. But this is not always the case. For example, a guest at a barbecue might want to steal some money from the cash register, but he doesn’t plan to do so until later.
Murder
Murder is a criminal offense that involves the unlawful killing of another human being. It is a serious offense and can result in capital punishment or life imprisonment.
A person who kills another human being with malice aforethought is guilty of murder. Depending on the jurisdiction, this state of mind may distinguish murder from manslaughter or other forms of homicide.
Paul j. decologero was convicted of several crimes connected to his role in the murder of John Silva, including witness tampering conspiracy and witness tampering by misleading conduct. He was also convicted of a number of predicate acts that stemmed from his role in the murder, which formed the basis for his RICO conviction.
In addition, Paul j. argued that a series of FBI reports that were produced in connection with the prosecution’s case against him are material because they contradict the entire prosecution theory about who killed Silva. The reports are based on hearsay accounts by a single person, and the information they contain is not supported by any other evidence in the case.