United States v. Harry B. Helmsley, Leona M. Helmsley, Joseph v. Licari and Frank J. Turco, Harry B. Helmsley and Leona M. Helmsley

CHOLAKIS, District Judge:

On April 14, 1988, a grand jury in the Southern District of New York handed up an indictment charging Harry B. and Leona M. Helmsley, as well as Joseph V. Licari and Frank J. Turco, in 47 counts with tax evasion, false tax returns, mail fraud, extortion and conspiracy in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 7201 (1982) and 7206(1) and (2) (1982), and 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 (1982), 371 (1982), 1341 (1982) and 1951 (1982). Due to the Helmsleys’ prominence, a great deal of media attention focused upon the grand jury’s investigation during the period leading up to the indictment. As a…