Mob-Linked Figure Acquitted in Horse Doping

A reputed mob figure on trial for conspiring to dope horses in Florida and New Jersey in the mid-1970s has been acquitted.

U.S. District Judge Edward Davis issued a directed verdict Monday acquitting Anthony Accetturo, 52, of all charges. He had faced up to 25 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. attorney Robert Lehner told the jury in opening statements that 12 races were “controlled” by Accetturo’s group, which hired someone to drug the horses’ drinking water. The group then made substantial bets.

An earlier prosecution ended in a mistrial when a key government witness died of natural causes. The only evidence presented by the government at his retrial was the testimony of John Charles Piazza, also known as John Petracelli, who is in the government’s witness protection program.

“I think the court was particularly disgusted by the use of his testimony,” said attorney Milton Ferrell, who argued successfully there was insufficient evidence against his client.