Jury selection completed in Asaro racketeering trial

Lawyers completed jury selection Thursday for the federal racketeering trial of Vincent Asaro, setting the stage for opening arguments and testimony to begin Monday in the first criminal case stemming from the legendary $6 million Lufthansa heist in 1978 that was chronicled in the movie "Goodfellas."

Asaro, now 80, an alleged Bonanno family captain from Howard Beach, is accused of being a core member of the mob crew that planned and pulled off the robbery at JFK Airport, but the government has said he quickly gambled away his share.

Brooklyn U.S. District Judge Allyne Ross was told that prosecutors plan to call two cooperating witnesses next week to open their case, including Gaspare Valenti, a cousin of Asaro. Former Bonanno family boss Joe Massino, now a government informant, is also expected to testify.