Defense lawyer: Cobb DA outsourced prosecution to Glock

Print
E-mail

By Andria Simmons

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New motions filed late Friday in Cobb County provide the most pointed criticism yet of the involvement of gun manufacturing behemoth Glock Inc. in the prosecution of one of its former executives on racketeering charges.

Special to AJC Paul Jannuzzo, former general counsel for firearm maker Glock in the United States, Paul Jannuzzo, 55, could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the theft and racketeering charges for which he was indicted in 2009.

Defense case in Glock trial

More Atlanta area news »

The attorney for Paul Jannuzzo, the former general counsel and CEO of Glock Inc., is asking a judge to exclude a lawyer hired by Glock from participating in Jannuzzo's trial, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday. Jannuzzo's lawyer is also seeking information about the company's attorney, Robert Core, and Core's involvement in preparing the Cobb County District Attorney's case against Jannuzzo.

Jannuzzo, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of stealing a custom-made LaFrance pistol from Glock and conspiring with another former Glock executive to bilk the company of millions of dollars.

If the defense succeeds in getting Core out of the courtroom, it could damage the prosecution's case. In previous hearings, Assistant District Attorney John Butters has said Core's presence was needed to aid in the orderly presentation of evidence, because Core was hired by Glock to investigate the company's records and books.

Butters could not be reached for comment Monday, when most Cobb County government was closed in observance of Presidents Day. Defense attorneys Robert Citronberger and John Da Grosa Smith also did not return calls seeking comment.

Prosecutors have previously called upon Core's expertise and that of another Glock attorney, John Renzulli, in questioning witnesses and formulating a trial strategy. Core, who according to his website is a former FBI agent with 26 years of experience handling white-collar investigation, was hired by Glock to aid in the state's prosecution of Jannuzzo, according to the defense motion.

But the defense motion says Glock has already had too much influence over the Cobb County District Attorney's case. That's a conflict of interest, because Glock's attorneys are protecting their company and not the people of the state of Georgia, the defense claims.

"The prosecutor in this case has abdicated its responsibility and outsourced its responsibilities to an international corporation," the defense motion states. "From the outset, the prosecution has acted as though it represents Glock."

In October, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Glock handed its case to the Smyrna police department instead of going to the FBI, which employs a 250-agent national white-collar crime unit. In doing so, Glock gained the opportunity to participate in the prosecution of former employees who were accusing the company of corrupt business practices.

Glock, an Austrian company with its North American headquarters in Smyrna, has financially supported Smyrna Police over the years, including paying for a $10,000 police dog.

* Staff writer M.B. Pell contributed to this story.