By Robert Lopez
Greensboro News & Record
WINSTON-SALEM — Jurors in the federal racketeering trial of Latin Kings leader Jorge Cornell and five other men watched a video in open court on Tuesday and asked several questions about charges.
But the eight women and four men who heard the case failed to reach a verdict on their third day of deliberation.
Cornell, 36, is accused of leading a conspiracy to commit murder, arson and robbery. As the Inca, or head of the state’s Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, Cornell came to prominence in 2008 when he and local clergymen held a press conference denouncing what they saw as police harassment of minorities and calling for black and Hispanic gangs to make peace.
He also ran twice unsuccessfully for Greensboro City Council.
The defendants are among 14 named in a federal indictment. Six of those originally charged have struck plea deals, one will be tried later, and another had the single charge against him thrown out last week.
Testimony started Oct. 22. Jurors began deliberating Friday afternoon.
On Tuesday, the jury asked to see again a video that had been played during the trial of Cornell being arrested outside a music festival in downtown Greensboro in 2009.
A Greensboro police officer testified during the trial that he saw several of Cornell’s associates flashing gang signs and shouting gang slogans during the incident.
When the officer approached, Cornell got between him and the rest of the group and told the officer, “We’re just here to have a good time,” according to testimony.
Cornell was convicted of obstructing an officer in the incident.
A reporter for the Yes weekly newspaper, Eric Ginsburg, who recorded the video, testified during the trial that he didn’t hear any gang slogans or see any gang signs.
Jurors on Tuesday asked about an incident involving Cornell’s brother and co-defendant Randolph Kilfoil in which he robbed a man outside a Greensboro Wal-Mart in 2006. Kilfoil pleaded guilty in state court to the robbery.
U.S. District Judge James A. Beaty Jr., said that incident is a distinct act from the racketeering charge Kilfoil is facing and that just because it is mentioned in the indictment does not constitute double jeopardy.
Beaty also told jurors that Cornell’s use of an electronic benefits card that prosecutors said was stolen does not constitute a racketeering act.
Copyright 2012 News & Record