Denny McLain’s attorney, Arnold Levine, was the...

Denny McLain’s attorney, Arnold Levine, was the last defense attorney to present closing arguments in the 14-week trial at Tampa, Fla. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich planned to turn the case over to the jury today, after government rebuttal and the judge’s jury instructions. Levine portrayed the former pitcher as a victim--the real defendant in the case in which he is charged with conspiracy, extortion, possession of drugs, conspiracy to import cocaine and racketeering, including bookmaking and loan sharking.

Levine picked apart a parade of government witnesses, including two alleged loan-shark victims who reportedly are being recommended for federal victim compensation and three former co-defendants who struck deals with prosecutors.