Legal delays can't wash away shampoo hopes

ORMOND BEACH, Fla., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. actor John Martino said he is set to try to sell 13,000 bottles of shampoo he was finally reunited with after years of legal delays.

Martino, known best for his role as Paulie Gatto in "The Godfather," said he initially was going to sell the shampoo more than two years ago as part of his Florida business, Hollywood Movie Hair Products, The Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal said Tuesday.

Gatto said his business was derailed by a complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission against Michael J. Naste, the man whose New Smyrna Beach building housed Gatto's business.

With Naste facing lawsuits and debts, the complaint resulted in all assets in businesses connected to Naste being locked down as part of his legal battle.

Martino said when authorities began liquidating those assets as part of a $5.3 million judgment against Naste, he rejected the opportunity to buy back his bottles of shampoo.

The News-Journal said the shampoo bottles were finally given back to Martino after no new buyers could be found. Now the former "Godfather" actor is set to give his hair product sales another go.

"We might be selling it at the flea market, but we will be looking to turn it over," Martino said.