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The chief prosecution witness against Joseph Matranga swindled Jimmy Hoffa’s son out of $25,000 in 1975 when he bluffed that he knew where the former Teamster’s Union president was buried, Matranga’s attorney told a judge Monday.
Eugene Iredale made those accusations against admitted con man Harry Hall, 66, as part of a motion for a new trial for Matranga, 63, who was convicted last month of loan sharking and extorting money from Hall.
“He took $25,000 from Jimmy Hoffa’s son. It was a hoax,” Iredale said, adding that the money was “for information concerning where Hoffa was buried.”
Iredale had subpoenaed witnesses from the Department of Justice and FBI to testify about Hall’s reputation as part of the motion, but U.S. District Judge William Enright quashed the subpoenas on request of the prosecution.
Arguments on the motion for a new trial will continue at 9:15 a.m. today. If they fail, Matranga and Michael Polizzi, of Detroit, will be sentenced June 10.
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