Edwin Helfant
Encyclopedia
Edwin Helfant was an American
lawyer in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. He also worked as a part-time municipal court judge. Helfant gained posthumous notoriety when he was murdered by Philadelphia
Mafia family member Nicholas Virgilio.
However Virgilio received a 12-20 year sentence. In 1978 he was released on early parole, and vowed revenge on Helfant who apparently had not fulfilled his end of the deal.
Virgilio tracked Helfant and his wife to a cocktail lounge, where he shot Helfant 5 times with a .22 caliber pistol.
At the time of his death, Helfant was facing conviction for bribery, due to accusations of taking bribes to kick out cases in the Somers Point Municipal Court, where he worked as a part-time Justice.
In 1988 the then boss of the Philadelphia mafia and 16 co-defendants were charged under the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO) and several other murders and drug dealing, extortion and loan-sharking. The defendants were convicted of Helfant's murder.
Virgilio is currently serving a 40 year jail sentence, partly for this murder.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. He also worked as a part-time municipal court judge. Helfant gained posthumous notoriety when he was murdered by Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
Mafia family member Nicholas Virgilio.
Background
In 1972 Virgilio was convicted of murder. A fellow mafioso, Nicodemo Scarfo, contacted Helfant and delivered $12,000 to him, which was to be given to the Supreme Court judge handling the murder case as a bribe, in exchange for a lenient sentence for Virgilio.However Virgilio received a 12-20 year sentence. In 1978 he was released on early parole, and vowed revenge on Helfant who apparently had not fulfilled his end of the deal.
Virgilio tracked Helfant and his wife to a cocktail lounge, where he shot Helfant 5 times with a .22 caliber pistol.
At the time of his death, Helfant was facing conviction for bribery, due to accusations of taking bribes to kick out cases in the Somers Point Municipal Court, where he worked as a part-time Justice.
In 1988 the then boss of the Philadelphia mafia and 16 co-defendants were charged under the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(RICO) and several other murders and drug dealing, extortion and loan-sharking. The defendants were convicted of Helfant's murder.
Virgilio is currently serving a 40 year jail sentence, partly for this murder.