PITTSBURGH,None — Four people accused of running a "mafia-like" organization in Penn Hill appeared in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Penn Hills police said Philip Vecchio, the son of a longtime political activist and former Penn Hills school board member Erin Vecchio, was arrested in connection with the burglary ring.
Shane Kesneck, Thomas Maxwell and Lous Amendola also face charges.
Investigators said the group is responsible for committing at least 17 burglaries in Pittsburgh, Wilkins Township, Plum Borough and Penn Hills.
Police said the group called themselves the "Penn Hills Family."
Vecchio's lawyer said his client was never part of the group and only called 911 to report a burglary. Vecchio's attorney made a motion for the judge to drop all the charges against him during the hearing.
"There is a postponement that the commonwealth had requested and the judge granted it. I made an oral motion to have all charges dropped against my client. In the affidavit of probable cause, it's clear that my client made a 911 call," said Phillip DiLucente, Vecchio's lawyer.
A preliminary hearing for Kesneck, Maxwell and Amendola was also continued. The judge did not say when the new court dates will be set.
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