Appeals court: No retrial for ex-police Inspector Danny Castro

Former Philadelphia Police Inspector Daniel Castro's latest attempt to clear his name was thwarted last week when a federal appeals court refused to grant him permission to appeal his conviction in an extortion case.

Castro, 53, who once had designs on becoming police commissioner, was indicted in November 2010, accused of plotting to shake down a business partner who he said owed him $90,000 from a failed real-estate venture. Castro was caught on tape authorizing the use of "enforcers" to collect the cash through threats and violence.

Castro's April 2011 trial ended with the jury hung on most charges. He later pleaded guilty to a related conspiracy count to avoid a retrial, but now maintains his innocence and says he was coerced into pleading guilty to save his pension. He served about four years in prison.

On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected Castro's request. The trial judge in the case had previously ruled against Castro's ineffective-counsel motion.

Castro's lawyer, George Newman, said he was "very disappointed" in the court's ruling. Acting U.S. Attorney Louis Lappen, who prosecuted the case, said the government was "pleased with the court's decision denying Castro relief in this matter."

Castro said Monday that he intended to continue to appeal.

"It's a miscarriage of justice when the system ignores testimony of grossly erroneous advice from counsel and independent witness testimony contrary to the government's position," he said. "Credible evidence shows I was misled to plea. My faith remains steadfast and I still believe in our system to get it right."