Manocchio's legal team shrinks

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - One member of the legal team for accused former mob boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio is stepping down from the case.

Boston attorney Juliane Balliro, who signed on as one of Manocchio's defense lawyers in May, filed a "notice of withdrawal" motion with the courts on Tuesday.

"Mr. Manocchio will continue to be represented by attorneys Joseph Balliro and Edward J. Romano," Balliro wrote in the filing.

The elder Balliro – Juliane Balliro's father – was the sole lawyer at a detention hearing last week where Manocchio lost his second attempt to spring from the Wyatt Detention Center on bail.

Balliro is a well-known lawyer in New England. He has represented such names as Boston’s reputed former underboss, the late Gennaro Angiulo.

In 2010, Juliane Balliro represented Boston’s Peter Limone – who at one time the Massachusetts State Police identified as the boss of the Patriarca crime family – in an organized criminal gambling case. Limone spent 33 years in prison for the gangland slaying of Edward “Teddy” Deegan, but was set free after evidence proved he had been wrongfully convicted.

Limone won a landmark civil suit against the federal government four years ago for the three decades he spent behind bars.

A call to Juliane Balliro's office has not yet been returned.

Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @white_tim