Was porn being exchanged for breaks in Traffic Court?

 

Jeremy Roebuck, Inquirer Staff Writer

Last updated: Thursday, April 3, 2014, 7:04 PM
Posted: Thursday, April 3, 2014, 7:03 PM

Of all the evidence amassed in the federal case against nine former Traffic Court judges, there is one batch of recordings lawyers for South Philadelphia businessman Henry “Eddie” Alfano fear most. And they sure weren’t made by the FBI. This week, Alfano’s defense sought to block prosecutors from bringing the purported porn stash of former Judge Fortunato Perri Sr. – or any reference to it – into court when Alfano’s case heads to trial in May. Perri pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and mail and wire fraud last year, but Alfano has maintained he’s innocent.

Their motion Wednesday identified them for the first time as pornographic and named the shop where they came from – Venus Video, an Essington Avenue storefront owned by Alfano and leased to the business’ owner, Joe Caristo.

None of the men returned calls for comment Thursday.

Caristo, Venus’ owner, however, was hardly so circumspect when reached at his shop.

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