Mastermind behind selling body-parts apologizes in court

Mastromarino was in court for a sentencing hearing but the sentencing was postponed because the probation report wasn’t finished. He is to be sentenced later in June.

Victims of the scheme called Mastromarino ‘greedy’ and ‘heartless’ and asked that he be sentenced to the maximum 54 years.

In March, Mastromarino admitted he ran the macabre operation from 2001 to 2005. He pleaded guilty to charges of enterprise corruption, body stealing and reckless endangerment.

Three others who worked at Mastromarino’s medical firm were charged, as were funeral home directors in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The bodies were carved up without permission and were not medically screened. They were sold around the country for dental implants, knee and hip replacements and other procedures. About 10,000 people received tissue supplied by BTS.

After the hearing, Mario Gallucci, Mastromarino’s lawyer, said his client felt the ‘full force and effect of what he did’ after listening to victims speak.