Find Me Guilty (2006) - Synopsis

Find Me Guilty is based on the true story of Giacomo “Jackie Dee” DiNorscio (VIN DIESEL), a member of New Jersey’s notorious Lucchese crime family. Already in the midst of serving a 30-year sentence, Jackie is offered an opportunity to shorten his time by testifying against many of his closest friends. Disgusted with the legal system bureaucracy, and refusing to betray his “family,” Jackie stands trial as defendant and attorney. “I’m no gangster, I’m a gagster,” insists Jackie as he overcomes the complicated politics of the courtroom, and comfortably takes over the spotlight. With his outrageous sense of humor, raw determination and unconditional loyalty, Jackie never fails to surprise the judge, the jury, or his skeptical fellow defendants.



Lasting 21 months during 1987-88, the Lucchese trial became the longest in U.S. criminal history. It has continued to stand out over the years as an epic moment in courtroom history: 20 defendants, 20 defense attorneys (one for each defendant), eight jury alternates (due to the anticipated length of the trial and the fear of bribery), and unusually extensive summations (one defense lawyer’s closing statement ran for five days). In fact, most of the courtroom testimony in the movie is drawn from actual trial transcripts.

Matching outrageous humor with genuine tragedy, Jackie’s desperate personal journey culminates in one of the most shocking verdicts in American judicial history, so shocking that the lawyers involved in the case are still arguing about it 20 years later.