Vincent “Vinny Unions” Ricciardo had arrived at the federal building in good time for his sentencing. But when people gathered in the Brooklyn courtroom to hear the judge’s pronouncement, there was an empty space where the 77-year-old defendant should have been. A commotion at a doorway drew people’s attention: Ricciardo’s wheelchair had got stuck.
His lawyer, Elizabeth Macedonio, tried to push the door open wider. “You’re almost in!” said a security officer encouragingly. But the wheelchair wouldn’t budge. After several minutes, attendants wheeled Ricciardo backwards and through another set of doors, before parking him next to Macedonio at the front of the courtroom and removing his handcuffs.
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