NEW YORK — Sam Spade, the hard-boiled private dick, in the 1930 novel “The Maltese Falcon” summed it all up: “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”

But in modern day Los Angeles it had better be within the law and that’s the question for federal jurors deliberating the fate of celebrity sleuth Anthony Pellicano.

Pellicano is accused of running a criminal organization that included a former police sergeant who allegedly ran illegal police checks on hundreds of people; a former telephone company worker who allegedly set up the illegal wiretaps; a software engineer who developed a program that recorded phone conversations; and a client who allegedly helped translate wiretaps.

If Pellicano is found guilty of racketeering, he could go to prison for the rest of his life.

In closing arguments, prosecutors described Pellicano as a “well-connected, well-paid thug.” During the course of investigations, they said, “tires get slashed, computers get hacked, houses get broken into. And of course, people’s phones get wiretapped.”

Pellicano, who is representing himself, tried to convince jurors there was no enterprise and he acted as a “lone ranger.” He maintained that “his job was problem-solving, through the acquisition of information.” The wiretaps were for his ears only, he said, and that if he’s guilty so is every other detective in the country.

While there was some star testimony during the trial, it hardly cast as a harsh a light as was expected on Hollywood’s heavyweights. Comedian Garry Shandling testified about a “smear campaign” he said Pellicano orchestrated against him while the gumshoe was working for Paramount Pictures executive Brad Grey. Chris Rock testified about hiring Pellicano to investigate a model who demanded money after falsely claiming she was carrying his baby and later accused him of sexual assault.

The probe was triggered in 2002 by claims that Pellicano had tried to intimidate Los Angeles Times reporter Anita Busch to keep her from pursuing stories about a suspected Mafia extortion plot against actor Steven Seagal. Busch had her car window smashed and an anonymous delivery of a dead fish and a rose.

FBI agents searching Pellicano’s West Hollywood office found computer files containing wiretap notes, as well as plastic explosives, grenades and guns. This led to his guilty plea on felony firearms charges in 2003 and a 2-1/2-year prison term.

It’s only a matter of time before we learn whether Pellicano’s defiance will pay off against what he claims are overzealous prosecutors. Pellicano has always asserted that he would never cooperate with authorities or testify against the numerous high-profile clients who hired him to dig up dirt on their adversaries. In one jail house interview he said, “I’m never going to do that. I am going to be a man until I fall — if, in fact, that happens.”

Would Sam Spade approve?

– Bob Regan, In Session senior executive producer