Ex-Philly cop, Danny Castro, breaks down and cries during cross-examination in his corruption trial, sobbing about his sullied reputation after 25 years on the force. Castro was considering a top cop in the department. He wanted to be Commissioner one day. He’s being tried on charges that he tried to extort money he lost in a bad business deal.
For the second day in a row, former Philly cop Danny Castro breaks down on the stand, crying this time over his sullied reputation. Castro's accused of reaching out to debt collectors to recover $90,000 he lost in a bad investment.
"You could have said no... and when you look in that soul of yours, you know you are the one that's responsible," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Lou Lappen during cross-examination on Friday.
"You're making me look like something I'm not," Castro said, crying.
Castro claimed he wasn't a bad guy, but a guy who took bad advice, "He convinced me. He was my friend, d*** it, he was my friend!"
When Castro decided to try to get his money back, he unknowingly reached out to a guy who was working with the FBI as his go-between -- a guy who could find someone to strong-arm the businessman and force him to pay Castro his initial investment plus interest.
"You're making me look like a crook. I'm not a crook. I was a good guy. . .How dare you, I resent it," Castro sobbed.
Before he was indicted, Castro was considered to be one of the department's top cops. He was head of the Traffic Division and wanted to be Commissioner one day.
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On Thursday, Castro broke down on the stand when he admitted committing extortion, saying it was "the biggest mistake of my life."
Closing arguments are set for Monday.
