Chicago Mobster Frank Calabrese Sr. Yells At Federal Prosecuter

ABC TV Chicago reports:

Lawyers for four aging men convicted of a racketeering conspiracy involving extortion, loan sharking and murder in Chicago's biggest mob trial in years fought Tuesday to avoid life sentences for their clients.


All four were found guilty Monday by a federal court jury that deliberated for less than 20 hours over 10 weeks of testimony describing how 18 people were bludgeoned, strangled and shotgunned by members of the Chicago Outfit.

The murders include the mob's darkest secrets -- including that of Tony "The Ant" Spilotro, the Chicago mob's longtime man in Las Vegas who inspired the Joe Pesci character in the movie "Casino."

The defendants looked on, pokerfaced, as they heard Monday's verdicts. Those convicted are alleged mob boss James Marcello, 65; alleged mob capo Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo, 78; convicted loan shark Frank Calabrese Sr., 70, and convicted jewel thief Paul Schiro, 70. One of the most infamous hits in Chicago mob lore was the savage attacks on Spilotro and his brother, Michael, in 1986. The men were found buried in an Indiana cornfield.

The Spilotro murders were carried out without mercy, according to the government, and were shockingly evil.

The Spilotros were two of 18 people shot, strangled, stabbed, stomped and tortured in long-unsolved mob hits that were committed by these four Chicago hoodlums, say federal prosecutors.

During Tuesday's arguments to the jury, defendant Frank Calabrse outright laughed as assistant U.S. Attorney Mitch Mars described how Calabrese had cut the throats of some victims.

Lombardo alternated between picking his teeth, sleeping and staring at the ceiling.

Lawyers for all four men insisted that there was no evidence against their clients; the mobsters were each victims of rumors and guilt by association; and in Lombardo's case, he was just "an errand boy for the mob," not a capo as authorities say.

In his sarcastic final reply to the jury, prosecutor Mars said if defense lawyers are right, then the four mobsters must be the unluckiest men in the world...plagued by coincidences. Then Mars launched into a verbal assault on Frank Calabrese, alone charged with 13 killings.

"He's left a trail of bodies," Mars said of Calabrese.

At that moment, the mob boss had enough, and in a comeback, the fourth grade dropout Calabrese responded to the murder accusations.

"Them are lies," he said, trying to score points with the jury and save himself from a free ride for life at the greystone college.

Court security moved toward the 70-year-old Calabrese, but he calmed down and the proceedings finished.

Goodbye Franky.