Battle dead

The intro to the Miami Herald obit:

Jose Miguel Battle Sr., former godfather of the Cuban mob, died in federal custody at a dialysis facility in South Carolina, his attorney confirmed to The Miami Herald late Sunday. He was 77.
Battle, who had been suffering from liver failure, diabetes and cardiac problems, was awaiting a spot in federal prison to serve out his 20-year sentence on racketeering charges, attorney Jack Blumenfeld said. He died Friday morning.
''He was in a private place, an assisted-living facility,'' said Blumenfeld, Battle's attorney since 1978. ``He was sick for a long time.''

Battle was in the middle of an estimated year long trial in front of Judge Gold when he pleaded guilty. He was allowed to remain out on bond so that he could die at home instead of in jail. His health was so bad during the trial that he slept in a recliner chair throughout most of the day.

"He's waiting for Fidel to die so he can meet him in hell and beat him up."

A quote from one of my favorite lawyers, Jack Blumenfeld, about his client Jose Battle. Here's another interesting article from Category 305.