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Boston Church Official Pleads Not Guilty In Looting Case
An official at a Boston church who claimed in an autobiography that he was a leg-breaker for reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger has pleaded not guilty to charges that he looted the church's assets.
Edward MacKenzie Jr. is the former director of operations at the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem Church, whose members belong to the Bible-based Swedenborgian denomination.
MacKenzie was arrested last week after a grand jury indicted him on charges including racketeering and extortion.
Federal authorities said MacKenzie began in 2003 to loot the church of its considerable financial assets through fraud, deceit, extortion, theft and bribery.
MacKenzie pleaded not guilty Tuesday to all 14 charges against him. Each count carries a maximum 20-year sentence.
His bail hearing was postponed until June 26 after a new defense attorney requested more time.
This program aired on May 28, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.