Jackie DiNorscio was a notorious member of the Philadelphia and later the Lucchese crime families. He became famous for acting as his own lawyer in the longest federal trial in history, where he and 19 other defendants were acquitted of various charges related to organized crime. But how did Jackie DiNorscio die and what was his cause of death?
The Shooting Incident
According to Wikipedia, Jackie DiNorscio’s life was almost cut short in 1988, when he was shot five times by his cousin, Joseph Alonzo, who was angry that DiNorscio had testified against him in a previous trial. DiNorscio survived the attack, but suffered from chronic pain and health problems for the rest of his life. He also developed a drug addiction, which led to his arrest and conviction for cocaine possession in 1994. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was released on parole in 2002.
The RICO Trial
While serving his sentence, DiNorscio was offered a deal by the federal prosecutors to testify against his former associates in the Lucchese crime family, who were facing a massive indictment under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). DiNorscio refused the deal, saying “I’m no stool pigeon”. He decided to represent himself in the trial, which lasted for 21 months and involved over 100 witnesses and 2400 exhibits. DiNorscio used his charisma and humor to charm the jury and undermine the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses. He also cross-examined himself, asking questions like “Mr. DiNorscio, are you a wise guy?” and answering “I’m a good fella”. He even made jokes about his own shooting, saying “I’m half dead anyway”. His performance was so impressive that the jury found him and all the other defendants not guilty of all charges, in what was considered a stunning victory for the defense.
The Final Years
After the trial, DiNorscio went back to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. He was released on November 23, 2002, after serving 17.5 years of a 30-year sentence. He tried to rebuild his life, reconnecting with his family and friends. He also became involved in the production of a movie based on his trial, titled Find Me Guilty, which starred Vin Diesel as DiNorscio. The movie was directed by Sidney Lumet, who was impressed by DiNorscio’s personality and story. DiNorscio visited the set and gave advice to Diesel on how to portray him. He also attended the premiere of the movie at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2006.
However, DiNorscio’s health was deteriorating due to his injuries and drug abuse. He suffered from lung cancer, diabetes, and hepatitis C. He died of natural causes on November 14, 2004, at the age of 64, near the end of the shooting of the movie. He was buried in a private ceremony in New Jersey. He was survived by his daughter, two grandchildren, and his longtime girlfriend.
Jackie DiNorscio was a controversial figure, who was admired by some for his loyalty and courage, and despised by others for his criminal activities and violence. He was also a charismatic and witty man, who used his charm and humor to win over the jury and the public. He was the mafia’s most charming lawyer, who died as he lived: defying the odds and making history.
