Federal Jury Convicts Coniglio’s Hairpiece on All Counts

Joseph Coniglio and the "Pierre"

Jurors in former state senator Joseph Coniglio’s political corruption case cleared him of mail fraud and extortion charges, but convicted the Democrat and his toupee of conspiracy and other counts not actually contained in the indictment.

As the court clerk read through the verdict form, Coniglio began crying quietly. His hairpiece showed no reaction.

The federal jury in Newark did not seem bothered by the fact it convicted the Bergen County resident and his hairpiece of charges that weren’t part of the original indictment, including criminal impersonation, assault and torture.

“We read the law. What Mr. Coniglio did in that courtroom for three weeks, by forcing us to look at the dead squirrel slapped on his skull and act like he had a full, natural head of hair, clearly constitutes torture,” jury forewoman Nancy Blanchard said. “I, for one, would rather be water boarded at some black site CIA prison in Uzbekistan.”

Several jurors who spoke after the verdict pointed to federal criminal code, Title 18, Chapter 113C, which describes torture as “an act committed by a person …specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon another person within his custody or physical control.”

The hairpiece, a helmet of synthetic fibers parted on the left side (and only the left side) and made to appear to be graying, is befitting a man of Coniglio’s stature and 66 years. Receipts introduced at trial indicate the former plumber purchased his “Pierre” toupee from BestWigOutlet.com, for $371.25.

“I’m pretty sure I saw it lunge at one of the prosecutors during closing arguments,” juror Brad Andrews said. “But a bailiff kind of pointed to his service weapon and the hairpiece settled down.”

Jurors said they spent little time deliberating on the original charges the government brought against Coniglio, who was accused of accepting a consulting job for $5,000 a month at Hackensack University Medical Center while using his influence on the senate budget committee to funnel more than $10 million in state money to the hospital.

“This is New Jersey,” forewoman Blanchard said. “Who are we to deprive marginally qualified state politicians the right to participate in and take advantage of the Jersey dream?”