per KSL link above:
Their crimes included robberies, assaults and use of firearms during crimes of violence committed in support of an ongoing criminal organization.
Jurors at the time feared retaliation and wanted assurances from the judge that they would be safe. A note from a juror asking for such assurances nearly caused a mistrial in the case. The seven men were among 17 suspected TCG members indicted in 2010 under RICO, which prosecutors call a powerful tool for dismantling and disrupting street gangs.
Dang, I keep getting RICO and RINO mixed up.
Interesting. When I lived in NYC, I was always afraid of getting on one of those juries for a RICO case. Actually, on one low- level street gang trial, the family of the creep sat in the courtroom and stared fixedly at us throughout the trial. And a friend was on a trial where the family and friends of the creep verbally hissed threats at the jurors.