The insider-trading trial of Zvi Goffer, Emanuel Goffer and Michael Kimelman has entered the closing argument stage, with prosecutors characterizing the evidence as "overwhelming". The defense termed the charges "ridiculous".
The prosecutor, Richard Tarlowe, reminded the jury that it had "heard the defendant's own voice" and replayed tapes of several of the phone calls at the center of the trial. Tarlowe emphasized his contention that Goffer and his co-conspirators engaged in a vigorous cover-up of their nefarious activities. Regarding Goffer's use of prepaid cell phones, Tarlowe asked:
"Why do you conceal what you're doing? You conceal because you know what you're doing is wrong, and you don't want to get caught."
Emanuel Goffer's lawyer painted the case as the U.S. versus prepaid phones.
The lawyer for Zvi Goffer, William Barzee, took a different approach with the jury --Barzee called Zvi Goffer a "habitual exaggerator" who made up stories:
"God forbid somebody finds themselves in the cross-hairs of the federal government. They take absolutely innocent facts and they twist it to fit their story…[Goffer] wants to pretend he has inside information, he has an edge."
A second Zvi Goffer lawyer, David Pettus, admitted that Goffer wanted David Slaine's money and that Goffer had been stupid in his dealings. Regarding the insider information charges: "It's ridiculous," Pettus snorted. "It's the real world. Things get out."
© 2011 Hedge Fund Writer LLC
