Mar 18, 2008 6:55 pm US/Eastern
Surgeon In Body Parts Scheme Pleads Guilty
Mastermind Mastromarino Faces Up To 54 Years In Prison
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Michael Mastromarino, 44, faces up to 54 years in prison for his role in a massive body parts scheme. He will be sentenced May 21.
CBS
The man authorities say ran a plot to steal corpses and sell them for millions plead guilty Tuesday in a Brooklyn courtroom.
The deal could send the former dentist to prison for the next five decades.
Michael Mastromarino, 44, stood in court and finally confessed that he was the mastermind behind a body-snatching scheme that made him a millionaire.
Prosecutors said Mastromarino would cut up dead bodies without their families' permission and sell the parts for dental implants, hip replacements and other medical procedures across the country.
Cheryl Stewart and her sister, Karen Delre, thought their father, James, was cremated after he died. They found out he was actually one of the victims.
"I can't believe that someone could be that sick," Stewart said. "It's just disgusting."
Added Delre: "Although Mr. Mastromarino got a sentence today we live with a life sentence of what they did to our father."
Prosecutors said Mastromarino looted almost 1,000 bodies without screening for disease.
Pamela Grigorian said she received someone's tainted parts.
"There was justice today but there wasn't really justice for me since I definitely received unscreened, unauthorized and possibly unsterilized bone tissue," Grigorian said.
Mastromarino was the owner of Biomedical Tissue Services in New Jersey. His attorney said the business started out legitimate but the need for tissue became so great that he began cutting corners and for that his client is remorseful.
"Today, instead of looking at him as the monster as he's been portrayed, we'd probably be looking at him as a pioneer in the industry," Mario Gallucci said. "Someone in advance science, advance medicine and help people live longer better lives."
Mastromarino will be sentenced on May 21. He'll serve a maximum of 54 years in prison and forfeit more than $4 million.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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