Frank Calabrese, Jr.
For those of you that are unaware, one of the true creators of the Family Secrets case in Chicago, Frank Calabrese, Jr. (a.k.a. “Junior”), and Chicago Tribune Columnist John Kass were recently guests at the Show Case Studio. Greg Jarrett conducted the interview.
Aside from the bad Chicago diction and the deep cigarette voices heard throughout the interview, there was a lot of bunk about Junior’s childhood and his relationship with his father. John Kass inferred that Junior was in part a victim in this whole thing. I believe Kass insinuated that Junior’s exposure to his father’s criminal world made Junior a mobster. I was mildly impressed that Junior immediately corrected Kass, telling him that he was “not a victim at all.”
I was disappointed that Kass would offer Junior the excuse of being a partial victim when seconds earlier Junior admitted that he was once a “very bad guy.” While Junior’s damning admission came as Kass was walking into the studio, Kass had joined the conversation when Junior enumerated some of these “bad guy” traits. These included Junior’s involvement in a criminal entity headed by his dad, convicted gangster Frank Calabrese, Sr. (a.k.a. “Senior”), strong-arming people, conspiring in murder plots and last, but certainly not least, his personal willingness to commit murder if so ordered.
Instead of expressing his revulsion of Junior’s past acts, Kass went on to explain that he found it a pleasure to interview Junior. A pleasure? I would like to see Kass explain to his children why it was a pleasure to interview a man who admitted to being a violent criminal and potential killer-for-hire.
191 Comments
Joe, I liked your article. However, the Entertainment company in Las Vegas that had the problem with the self proclaimed Mafia princess did not kick her to the curb. She kicked herself to the curb because she is an arrogant asshole who everybody hated. She was the only person who was actually banned from coming to the entertainment company’s office. That’s how bad it had gotten with her rotten behavior and attitude. I’m sorry if you like her. I’m not trying to offend your relationship with her.
Dear The Don,
I am not offended one bit by your remarks regarding Her Majesty. lol
Joe, I graduated from Loyola University in Chicago. In my fraternity there were several Italian American guys who were my friends that had relatives who belonged to the Outfit as soldiers or made guys like myself. A couple of them were sons. Not one of them was a ‘victim’ and some of them became doctors and lawyers. John Kass has a lot to learn. Again, as always, I enjoyed your article.
Dear The Don,
It is sad to see Kass, FBI Agents and federal prosecutors treat Junior as if he is a great person. I admire that he helped put away a killer, but that does not automatically make him the best thing since sliced bread. I am sure Pat Fitzgerald would never get personal with him. I wonder if Kass would let Junior watch his kids for a weekend. We would see Kass suddenly be very realistic.
Joe, if Kass let Junior come to his house to watch his kids for the weekend, when he returned maybe all of Kass’s money would be missing just like the way some of Frank senior’s money was stolen. I believe Frank Senior’s accusation that Junior stole about $600,000 from him. I believe that was Junior’s primary motive for betraying his father. What you REALLY have is one bad guy screwing another.
The Don, too funny.
My comments in the article regarding the Hernandez segment pertained to eyewitnesses that came forward and Frank recanting his statements that he made to his son on tape (as you may or may not know Frank recanted his statements made to Junior). Frank’s explanation is that he was trying to impress his son with stories that he thought his son found impressive. Truthfully, I find it challenging to believe, however, it is not beyond a reasonable doubt that a father could tell a fib to impress his son. Nevertheless, most important, the other eyewitnesses that came forward naming a killer other than Frank were consistent with Frank recanting his statements. Moreover, this is what made me consider that Frank might not have killed Ortiz and the other person. However, as I said all along, I believe Frank is a killer and belongs in prison. I simply do not think that he killed Ortiz and Marawski. In fact, there was some speculation that Ortiz was Harry Aleman’s son or nephew.
Ortiz was from Taylor street, his mother had an affair with Harry Alemans uncle, became pregnant and not wanting him to have the name Aleman, gave him the name Ortiz on his birth certificate after she moved and birthed him in Texas. Ortiz half brother last name is Gomez. what’s
also interesting about that murder
and other Cicero murders is that the the suspicious unsolved ones all happened from 1981-1990 when a former Chicago mayor
was states attorney. allegations came out
to organized crime ties to the ASA office at that time.
I know.
Gentleman allow me to continue with all the Loyola Grad Italian-American love out here lol….Joe I grew up in Cicero and the rumor regarding Officer Friendly Charlie Hernandez has been out there forever along with his former partner-the Cicero equivalent of whom you have so eloquently referred as “Drumhead”…;) Their exploits are legendary and Im sure if Betty Loren-Maltese still writes here she can corroborate that…@Don I didnt join a frat I was too busy beating them up at Hamilton’s back in the day lol…but it’s funny as I do remember that downtown at the Water Tower Campus in the early 90’s there was a student who if I remember right was the stepson of one of today’s big 2 and did share his name…
JC, I graduated earlier than you. I stayed in Mertz Hall on the main campus up on the north side. I doubt you could have beaten up anybody in my fraternity. LOL
Mertz Hall huh??? Horrible cafeteria lol….Seriously though I agree with u about Jr….He was a cokehead and stole from his own father so frankly nothing is sacred to him I think he flipped simply because he wanted to get out from under the old man and not pay him back…There still wldve been indictments though without what Jr did as the G had Nick Calabrese’ dna on that rag after he had knocked down Johnny Fecarotta..Then Nick ratted out Jimmy Marcello-the man who supported his family while he was doing time…sounds like a great family full of honorable and loyal people..;)
Believe it or not, the most honorable guy in the screwed up Calabrese family is Frank Senior. His son, Frank Jr., was a drug addict of some sort and has that lying, conniving addict personality. I don’t think he has balls at all. What he did to keep his father in jail was all motivated by him stealing money from him. Junior knew if his father got out of prison he would have been in a whole lot of trouble. If you read the transcripts, Frank Senior really cared about his son in his own unconventional way. I think what Junior did to his father was despicable and if I ever see him on one of his ‘Book’ Tours I’ll tell him exactly that right to his addict face.
Dear The Don,
You had better be careful, Juniors #1 groupie, Mr. Kass, might come after you with his poisonous pen if he finds out that you are bashing his hero. lol
Willie liked Frank Sr. I believe Frank was hard on his kids. My dad was hard on his kids too. However, I could never put my father in prison, not for a second. If I lost my mind and stole my father’s money, he would have likely murdered me; I would have simply run away. Then again, in reality I would not have stolen my father’s money in the first place, so there is no need to figure out what would have happened to me.
Joe, do you know who actually brought Frank Calabrese into the 26th Street Group? I always knew Frank Senior lived in Elmwood Park. I wonder why he wasn’t part of the Elmwood Park Street crew. Did Willie ever say why? Willie & Frank would have made one hellava partnership. I would not have wanted to borrrow money from that crew!
I am not sure who brought Frank Sr into the picture. Willie never told me anything about Frank, other than he liked him.
For what it’s worth, in Junior’s book, he quotes his dad as saying that Angelo Lapietra was his “rabbi” in the Outfit.
In the 60’s, Senior and another hoodlum (a non-Italian) had some smaller rackets going that were pretty successful, but were independent of the Outfit. Their activities attracted the attention of the Hook. The Hook brought Senior in, and Senior brought Nick in later on in the 70’s.
According to Senior, he and his brother deserve the credit for LaPietra’s stature and reputation in the Outfit since they brought in a lot of money and were very reliable murderers up until the Fecarotta incident. Nick was actually the Hook’s favorite because he was so unassuming.
Eventually, the Calabreses fell out with the Hook when they went to prison 1995. He “shelved them,” according to Frank Sr., and didn’t give them any money to help with their defense after they were indicted.
Take this with a grain of salt if you want, but in the book it is alleged that Junior thought that the money he was stealing was his father’s, but it turned out to be LaPietra’s money that Senior was holding for the crew.
Supposedly, that is why his father was prepared to kill Junior over it–that is, Senior was enraged because his son put his life in danger by stealing the Hook’s money whether or not he knew what he was doing.
Merlin, I WOULD take what Junior says in his book with a Huge tablespoon of salt. I will not buy his book. In 1995, Angelo LaPietra was still in prison. He had already been away for about 8 or 9 years. It would have been unlikely that he would give the Calabrese brothers money. However, his brother, Jimmy LaPietra, who had been the Capo of 26th street for all that time, would have been responsible to to at least something for them. Some Capos like Jack Cerone aren’t as loyal to their men and are basically users and cheapskates. Also, in Junior’s book, he actually admits stealing the money? That’s interesting because previously he had denied it. Did Junior say how much of the money he stuck up his nose?
Merlin, Excuse me, I forgot that Jimmy LaPietra died in 1993. I believe Johnny Apes would have been the acting Capo in 1995. I believe Angelo got out of prison, finally, in 1997.
Don, I think you’re talking about about 2 different theft scenarios, re: Junior.
One he admitted to, and one he has denied.
Junior never denied stealing money from his dad in the 1990’s. During the trial and in his book, he admitted to stealing between $500,000 and $800,000 from what he thought was his dad’s money, which was taken all at once. (As it turned out, the stash he had swiped the money from belonged to the Chinatown crew.) Junior doesn’t know exactly how much he took because he grabbed rolls and stacks of bills indiscriminately. He used some of the money to invest in 2 restaurants, gave some of it to his youngest brother who was attending college in Boca Raton, and used the rest to bankroll his dealing coke enterprise and partying habits. I believe his mother received some of it, as well.
The accusation that Junior has repeatedlyt denied is that he stole money AFTER the Family Secrets indictments came down.
Frank Senior and Joe “the Shark” Lopez have accused Junior of testifying against him because Junior knew/knows all of the hiding spots for his dad’s cash. Appartenly, there is Calabrese cash all over the city, suburbs, and reportedly some in Iowa and Wisconsin. He has been accused of deliberately tying-up his father, so he can plunder his fortune.
Junior and Kurt Calabrese have both denied this, and I believe Junior has even aided the feds in locating some of these secret places, like the basement of the Calabrese residence in Oak Brook.
I have a good source that tells me that Junior definitely told the G where his dad’s money was hidden. I would not be surprised if Junior received a portion of it as an reward for turning it in.
Is Jonathan “John” Kass aware of this article? He should be.
Good one.
Joe did you know Junior, growing up? I’ve had encounters with him before. No opinion one way or another about the kind of man he is. He’s got balls. I feel a little bad about the MS thing.
Dear Mr. Jing…,
I knew/know his youngest brother.
Joe,
About your statements,
……
“From what I gather, a number of eyewitnesses purportedly saw Charlie Hernandez, Democratic Cicero Township Committeeman, allegedly shoot and murder these men. If this is correct, then Family Secrets is a defective trial and should be tossed out and retried with at least one additional defendant.”
…….
Frank Calabrese, Sr., admitted to participating in this double murder along with his brother and Jimmy DiForti. There is an audio recording of this conversation on the Department of Justice NDIL’s website.
Nick Calabrese corroborated this exact account, independently of his brother. Both Calabrese brothers gave the same account of the murder without knowing what the other had said. Any way you slice it, they killed these guys.
Dear Merlin,
Did purported eyewitnesses not testify at trial (Family Secrets) or give statements to investigators that Hernandez killed the two victims? Again, from what I gather, eyewitnesses have purportedly seen Hernandez allegedly shoot two of the victims. Do you know how Calabrese Sr claimed to “participate” in killing them? Did he order Hernandez to shoot them? I suppose we could split hairs and argue if the alleged shooter should be considered the killer, or if the order giver should be considered the killer. Again, if what I have gathered is correct, why should an alleged shooter go free? And, I stand by my assertion that Calabrese probably was not responsible for killing everyone that he was convicted of killing.
Furthermore, please do not bother me with what Nick Calabrese corroborated. In my opinion, he would have corroborated that JFK was killed by Elvis to shave time off his sentence.
Dear Merlin,
My comments in the article regarding the Hernandez segment pertained to eyewitnesses that came forward and Frank recanting his statements that he made to his son on tape (as you may or may not know Frank recanted his statements made to Junior). Frank’s explanation is that he was trying to impress his son with stories that he thought his son found impressive. Truthfully, I find it challenging to believe, however, it is not beyond a reasonable doubt that a father could tell a fib to impress his son. Nevertheless, most important, the other eyewitnesses that came forward naming a killer other than Frank were consistent with Frank recanting his statements. Moreover, this is what made me consider that Frank might not have killed Ortiz and the other person. However, as I said all along, I believe Frank is a killer and belongs in prison. I simply do not think that he killed Ortiz and Marawski. In fact, there was some speculation that Ortiz was Harry Aleman’s son, if correct that would prove to me that Frank did not kill him.
Joe,
Frank Sr. was driving with Nick and Jimmy DiForti in the car. They used Frank’s car to block Ortiz’s car, which also contained Arthur Morawski.
frank Sr. order Nick and DiForti out of the car. They had shot guns and double-aught buck shot ammunition. They shot up the occupants of car, thoroughly. Also, as Nick and DiForti were approaching the car, Frank Sr. pointed a carbine rifle at them to make sure they went through with the killing because it had already fallen through once before, and LaPietra was angry and sick of waiting.
Dear Merlin,
Was this what Sr supposedly revealed on audio? And, what about the other eyewitnesses that have a different account of what happened?
Yes.
Dear Merlin,
Please forward me the transcript or audio clip of Calabrese making these statements. I have listened to a version that I take issue with.
jfosco@americannewspost.com
He mentions it on more than tape.
There are a TON of audio files and transcripts. But they are all here:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot/familySecrets.html
For the Calabrese conversations, it begins on July 9th and goes through 12th 2007. The audio files and transcripts download simultaneously and take a very long time.
Please understand that I respect your opinion and the information in your article.
Dear Merlin,
Thank you for the link. Since you are very familiar with it, would you be kind enough to cut and paste merely one of the conversations that you are talking about. I made a cursory review of the link and found it to be extremely voluminous, which you indicated. Again, you are much more familiar with the link than I am. Thank you.
Whatever version of PDF the transcipts are in, the DOJ site will not let me copy them. I’ll see if they’re elsewhere on the web.
Dear Merlin,
Tell me specifically how to get there. I will check it out.
Dear Merlin,
It is not very important for you to furnish the transcripts that I previously requested. My comments in the article pertained to eyewitnesses that came forward and Frank recanting his statements made to his son on tape (as you may or may not know Frank recanted his statements made to Junior). Frank’s explanation is that he was trying to impress his son with stories that he thought his son found impressive. Truthfully, I find it hard to fully believe, however, it is not beyond a reasonable doubt that a father could tell a fib to impress his son. Nevertheless, most important, the other eyewitnesses that came forward naming a killer other than Frank was consistent with Frank recanting his statements. Moreover, this is what made me consider that Frank might not have killed Ortiz and the other person. However, as I said all along, I believe Frank is a killer and belongs in prison. I simply do not think that he killed Ortiz and Marawski. In fact, there was some speculation that Ortiz was Harry Aleman’s son, if correct that would prove to me that Frank did not kill him.
Hello Joe, here is the link you are looking for http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot/familySecrets/2007_07_11/4_10_1999_clips_1_4.pdf
it is clip 3.
Dear Dom,
Thank you for the help, but my comments in the article pertained to eyewitnesses that came forward and Frank recanting his statements that he made to his son on tape (as you may or may not know Frank recanted his statements made to Junior). Frank’s explanation is that he was trying to impress his son with stories that he thought his son found impressive. Truthfully, I find it hard to fully believe, however, it is not beyond a reasonable doubt that a father could tell a fib to impress his son. Nevertheless, most important, the other eyewitnesses that came forward naming a killer other than Frank was consistent with Frank recanting his statements. Moreover, this is what made me consider that Frank might not have killed Ortiz and the other person. However, as I said all along, I believe Frank is a killer and belongs in prison. I simply do not think that he killed Ortiz and Marawski. In fact, there was some speculation that Ortiz was Harry Aleman’s son, if correct that would prove to me that Frank did not kill him.
Thanks, Dom. I was swamped yesterday and didn’t have time to do the leg work.
Yes, Dom, thank you.
Joe,
The Hernandez thing was also in the paper in an article by Steve Warmbir back on August of 2007.
…..
“But Calabrese Sr.’s attorney, Joseph Lopez, is putting forward a different killer of the two men — Charles Hernandez, who was a Cicero police officer at the time.
Hernandez, who retired from the force as a lieutenant, dismissed the allegation in an interview Monday night as a result of a political witch hunt by then Cicero Town President Betty Loren-Maltese, who put out a reward and allegedly ordered police officers to frame Hernandez for the murders. Hernandez was a political opponent of Loren-Maltese, who is in federal prison for helping funnel millions of dollars out of her town’s coffers in an embezzlement scheme.
“It’s absolutely ludicrous,” Hernandez said of the allegation.
Pretto said he witnessed the 1983 murders but did not tell anyone in law enforcement until 2000. He said police weren’t interested in listening to him before.
Even then, he did not tell a Cicero police lieutenant about Hernandez in the first interview Pretto had with the lieutenant in May 2000, only in the second interview two months later.
On the witness stand, Pretto did not recall various portions of his statements. And he denied having a vendetta against Hernandez, even though he once filed a complaint against him.
Pretto expressed fear of law enforcement, saying at one point, “people get thrown out of windows.”
“You know, you might come after me, tonight,” Pretto told the prosecutor.
“No, I can guarantee you, it won’t be me,” said prosecutor Mitchell Mars, as the courtroom erupted in laughter. “
Dear Merlin,
The newspaper clip is junk in my opinion.
OK, that’s fair. You are entitled to your opinion.
I’m not personally invested in any of this stuff, so I don’t have a strong opinion one way or another.
But, for my part, the way I look at it is that you have one guy that’s being secretly recorded by the government saying he did this murder. Then, you have another guy involved who says he did the same thing without knowing what the co-conspirator said. Their accounts totally corroborate each other. To my mind, that’s pretty convincing.
Then again, I wasn’t there, so I could be wrong.
The feds had a rock solid case against Frank Calabrese. What they had on everyone else was thin at best, which is why they all tried to get severances from Frank Senior. I’m surprise that Joe Lump and Marcello were convicted. Now there you have thin evidence.
Dear Merlin,
I agree that thin evidence exists with Marcello and Lump. However, please understand that I never suggested that thin evidence put Calabrese away. All I am suggesting is that I do not believe that he was responsible for every single victim that he stands accused of killing. As I have said in my article, I believe that he is a murderer and belongs in prison. Thank you.
Joe & Merlin, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THE PROSECUTION DIDN’T PLAY FRANK SENIOR’S AUDIO TAPE TO NICK CALABRESE BEFOR NICK GOT ON THE STAND TO TESTIFY? Maybe that’s why Nick’s testimony happened to be the same as Frank’s audio recording.
I would not be surprised.
Joe, even Frank Calabrese said in his taped conversations with his thief son, that Jack Cerone Junior is an idiot. Anyway, my question to any criminal lawyers who are readers is this : Why didn’t the prosecution take note that according to Frank Senior, Carlisi was the Top Boss in 1986 along with John DiFronzo who was considered the #2 Boss and the person who generally presides over the ‘making’ ceremonies when they take place. Nick Calabrese then corroborates the fact that the #2 Boss, John DiFronzo, was present at the Spilotro Brothers murders. Why? Not only was he there beating on them but he was also there under the guise of performing the ‘making’ Ceremony of Michael Spilotro who thought he was going to get made into the Grand Ave. Crew. The #2 Boss presides over the ceremony and DiFronzo was a Boss according to Frank Senior. Nick, the star witness, said DiFronzo was there at the murders. Wasn’t that enough corroboration along with the use of the power of the RICO Act to AT LEAST indict DiFronzo? They believed every other corroboration. the jury believed every corroboration. Why did they ignore THIS SPECIFIC corroboration?
Dear The Don,
Rumor has it that the Family Secrets defendants, especially Joe Lombardo, are focusing on the same question that you have posed. Do we really need an attorney to answer your question? There are three possible answers.
1) Someone in the U.S. Attorney’s Office is having a love affair with Johnny
2) Johnny is one of the most powerful men in the world and has enough power to boss Fitzgerald around (indirectly)
3) Johnny is a cooperator
I think we could rule out #2 because his power would have likely prevented his temporary incarceration in the 1990s.
Furthermore, if this were the Latin Kings instead of the Outfit, Johnny would have been shot to death years ago.
If Jimmy Marcello wins his Appeal, don’t be surprised if that is exactly what happens.
What about Louis Marino? I wonder why he got off. Nick C. said that he was present during the Spilotro double murder, too.
What about Louis Marino? I wonder why he got off. Nick C. said that he was present during the Spilotro double murder, too.
if the backstory was ever revealed of what pretto meant by stating being thrown out of a window, nobody would laugh, he was referring to a women last named Simone who went out a window 10 hours after being interviewed by an investigator regarding
a Cicero murder. Her death is listed as a suicide but many believe it to be
murder.
Joe and readers,
What do you think the odds are that Marcello wins his appeal? There was no physical evidence against him whatsoever.
I think Marcello has a 50% chance of winning his Appeal because he will be alone this time istead of being lumped in with Frank Calabrese and even Joey Lombardo. His lawyer should MAKE the prosecution prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was present at the murders & that he called Michael Spilotro’s house a couple of times. The prosecution should be MADE to provide phone records tying Marcello to the calls, not the word of a daughter looking for revenge against anybody connected to the Outfit. Then, it would be difficult to convict Marcello completely on the word of an informant. Also, just because Marcello was giving money each month to Nick Calabrese’s family doesn’t mean he was present at the murders or had anything to do with it. I also think that Marcello should go a step further and say that if anyone was responsible for the murders of the Spilotro brothers, it should be whoever was the Boss of the Outfit in 1986 which certainly wasn’t him.
Dear Merlin,
He should win it, but we are in the Seventh Circ. Its a tough court.
I have read your article Joe Fosco, and agree with it, and also disagree with i!. Yes, I feel that no one should profit for blood crimes, especially, from Organized Crime bloodshed. However, where I disagree at, is that I feel that Frank Calabrese Jr. should have a voice to speak out. A voice to speak out on the war on crime! AFTER ALL! If it weren’t for Frank Jr., we would not have Frank Sr. doing the sentence that he is! I believe that Frank Jr. will try to redeem his soul in his book! I hope to God he brings everyone down he could in his book! And it’s for that, I am GREATFUL for! SQE.
In further, I would also like to offer this information for anyone seeking places for help if they have been victimized.
U. S. Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
Keith Williams
Special Agent
230 S. Dearborn S. Street
Suite 1200
Chicago, IL. 60604
Telephone (312) 886-2856
Fax; (312) 886-1085
Email; keith.williams@usdoj.gov
Also try: http://www.dea.gov
Special Quest Explorer, Boy does Frank Junior have you fooled! Yes, it’s good that Frank Senior is in jail. However, you obviously have never experienced the ‘addict’ personality first hand. The ‘addict’ person is always the victim in every incident in life. The ‘addict’ person is usually always a very good liar and manipulator to get what they want and hide their habit. Frank Junior has the typical ‘addict’ personality which fools people and gathers sympathy from them. Yes, I gree with you that criminals should be punished for their wrong doing. That’s why Frank Junior, the lying manipulating thief, should be indicted for grand larceny for stealing $600,000 dollars of his father’s money. That can count towards his soul redemption.
The Don: I do not know Frank Jr. personally, but there is something phony about him.
Dom, I’m glad you noticed.
Personally, I think Frank Jr. and Nick Calabrese did the right thing by cooperating.
I’m not in law enforcement and was not close to the activities of the “Calabrese crew,” so it’s impossible for me to assess how honest Junior has been. The only thing he “got” out of cooperating is, in a roundabout way, a book deal with Random House, which I don’t think is actually all that lucrative of an enterprise, as it’s co-authored by 3-professional journalists–which equals a 4-way split on the royalties.
(The book would have to hit the NYT Bestsellers list for Junior to make any real money. Even if it gets made into a movie, Junior would only get residuals if he wrote the screenplay, which is unlikely.)
Junior may have been a dealer and a drug addict, but he didn’t get a reduced sentence or anything for his cooperation. He has said that he doesn’t consider himself to be a victim.
Senior is an admitted killer and a psychopath, and it’s good that he’s in prison.
Merlin, what Junior got in return fot his betrayal of his father was to keep $600,000 stolen Dollars and not get killed for stealing. That’s way better than getting a reduced sentence!
Granted.
Joe Fosco and The Don
I have to tell you, i enjoy reading your articles and posts. i never really thought about posting, but what the hell. i have had in the past work with/for and also socially with some of the people you have discussed on various articles. nothing illegal. i have on accasssion had a few drinks at the loon when my uncle use to bartend there. its amazing how Mr D would be sitting there having laughs and i am sitting there knowing what this man has done. brings chills now that i think of it. i look forward to reading more.
Dear On the side…,
You might as well have been sitting at the bar with John Gacy. It is sad that most people that socialize with Johnny know what he is and do not mind it. I used to be one of them, unfortunately.
P.S.
Dear On the side…,
Welcome to American News Post – thanks for visiting.
Thank you for welcoming me!
JF I’m back but only briefly. These comments are in direct regards to anyone who thinks Johnny DiFronzo is a stool pigeon, dry snitch, informer etc. The Don and Merlin Tender on here seems to be really driving home the point DiFronzo is a snitch or just has to be because he did not get indicted for numerous reasons.
Okay I have a NEWS FLASH for all of youse (esp. the DON and Merlin T).. The Feds wanted the Outfit to whack ol Bananas on a ruse .. !! When the indictments fanned out in April of 2005. DiFronzo wasn’t indicted.. Probably could have been based on just hearsay (Nick Calabrese testimony). But every so often the Feds will test the discipline of the Outfit and see if it has a “knee jerk” reaction to who DID NOT get indicted.
The Feds will leave a heavyweight out their free in society to see if the other bosses (that was indicted) think said individual who wasn’t indicted with them is a stool pigeon. Very clever on the G’s part but it did not work this time or last time. And let me tell you something it did not work back in 1983 either when Jackie Cerone, Angelo LaPietra, Lumpy and Obrien was indicted. Who was missing from this picture ACCARDO.
If your head is spinning at the fact DiFronzo did not get indicted in Family Secrets. Then your head would of FELL OFF at all the evidence the G had on Accardo in Strawman. The Feds left Accardo setting out their like a pawn in a game of deadly chess. Their was talk in 1984 that Accardo was a stoolie (this turned out to NOT be TRUE).
Obrien vetoed anybody getting whacked that WAS NOT indicted with him in 1983. Obrien is a lot more clever than people think.. He was very smart in my opinion, because he was hard to fool. Obrien only sent word to Pepsi to have the Spilotros whacked (for reasons other than Vegas skimming) before he turned himself in after being convicted in 1986.
The point of all this is the Feds tried to test the discipline of the Outfit in 1983 and AGAIN in 2005 by NOT indicting Johnny. .. Trust me ANP followers Lumpy, Jimmy Light, Frank Calabrese sr. know their Outfit History well and no EXACTLY the deadly game the G tried to pull on ol Bananas. Because aforementioned individuals was around in the 1980s when the G tried to get Accardo whacked. Even Fat Ass Sarno was not fooled in 2005. For the record I did not like Accardo (still don’t), but I do not let that cloud my judgment on him being a informant, dry snitch, etc. HE WAS NOT.
Maybe in New York this type of shit works because their outfits aren’t disciplined like the Chicago Outfit. In New York Accardo and or Johnny would of probably been dead by 1984 and 2006 respectively. And if Obrien decided Accardo was to go .. The Lackey would of never made it to prison. As for Johnny DiFronzo he is no more a snitch than the man on the moon..
As for the Spilotro murders Nick Calabrese couldn’t remember everybody their because a lot of sleepers showed up for that event. Like one Pepsi Buonomo (Pepsi also drove the bodies to the Indiana cornfield because he knew where Obriens Indiana hunting lodge was located and knew the country roads very well.. The Spilotros temporary coffins where not far from Obriens Indiana lodge)..
But if Black Sam was Obriens right arm and Al Tornabene was Obriens left arm. Pepsi Buonomo was Obriens legs, mouth and most importantly EYES and EARS. (Especially through 1986 – 97) Obrien trusted Pep with his LIFE. If “Pep” gave Black Sam and or Bananas orders they followed them without question !!! Because of what Pepsi represented. I’m not saying Pepsi was more powerful than Black and Bananas but he represented Obrien on the streets during that time.. And that carried major weight on the streets.
Pepsi aka Jimmy Bananas was a MAJOR MAJOR SLEEPER !!! He was most valuable when Obrien went away in 1986 (that is when he was awoken by Obrien after 45 years of being sleep). But he was of primary purpose to visit Obrien in the can to relay messages back and forth to the streets and to dump those bodies off to Tocco and his crew for burial in Indiana.
Sorry this is so long Joe and thanks for having me back. Albeit briefly. Nice article by the way .. You certainly right Frank sr had nothing to do with those Cicero murders. As a matter of fact it wasn’t even Outfit related. I heard it was over a female or something along those lines.
Again For the record ANP readers.. Johnny DiFronzo Sr. is not a informant, dry snitch, stoolie.. a nice try Federal Gov’t with the old ruse. The Don and Merlin T submit good information as a whole, but have been bamboozled.. don’t be fooled in the future by the Feds and their tactics. Be smarter than that.
Dear Black,
I appreciate your opinion that the G is experimenting with DiFronzo’s life. However, I do not buy it. And I do not buy that the G experimented with Joe B’s life in the early ’80s. Show me what they had on Joe B regarding the Strwman case. I think you are wrong, but show me.
I appreciate your fondness for Pepsi. I liked Pepsi (Jimmy Buonomo) very much and I know that he was as loyal to Joe as humanly possible. However, Pepsi did not have the sort responsibilities that you think he did. His role was geared more towards Ginger than anything.
Black Angelo, Welcome back! I must admit I missed some of your more wilder theories. While I would not put anything past some of the crooked Feds, I also do not buy your theory of life experimentation. The Strawman case actually broke in 1985, not 1983. The feds had nothing on Accardo because he was very far removed from Outfit activities. He was asked his opinion on important matters and that was it. Auippa & Cerone ran the show. There was never any mention of Accardo whatsoever in the Strawman investigation. Like Joe Fosco said, show me where he was involved. As far as DiFronzo is concerned, he is the only Boss in the 80 or so year history of the Outfit to purposely divide it and sever himself from it. Accardo never did such a thing. I’ll leave you with this one thought. If Joey Lombardo thinks it’s possible that DiFronzo is a dry snitch, then who are you or anyone else for that matter to take a hard stand and say that it’s impossible?
Black Angelo, by the way, I left out Jimmy Marcello. How much do want to bet that he also thinks it’s QUITE POSSIBLE that old Elite,I’m better than you, I don’t want to break bread with you anymore, John DiFronzo, MAY be a dry snitch.
Glad to see ANP is getting back to serious business with solid comments on the threads and hopefully all those silly commenters have gotten the message. I check ANP every day and I am loving everyone’s participation lately.
Dear Tony,
Thank you.
If the Cicero murders were not Outfit-related, then the manner in which Frank Jr. got his father to brag about them is very troubling.
Junior said that his Uncle Nick was badmouthing Senior by saying that Senior ordered the murder of an innocent person–Arthur Morawski.
So, if Frank Sr. didn’t kill Morawski, then all he had to do to ease his son’s concern was and refute the baseless accusation was, “No, I don’t kill innocent people, and we weren’t even involved in the Morawski-Ortiz murder. It had nothing to do with the Outfit. I don’t know why Uncle Nicky is saying we did this one, when we didn’t.”
Instead Senior explained that Morawski was “an innocent” who “was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He was a guy who worked “8 to 5 everyday.”
What I mean is that if Senior was wrongly accused of a murder that he didn’t commit by his disgruntled brother—an accusation that troubled Junior—why would he brag about it? Why wouldn’t he just state that he wasn’t involved?
Dear Merlin,
Apparently, Frank contends that he lied to his son to impress him, thinking his son was eating up all of those tough guy stories. I am not sure that I believe him; however, it does pose a reasonable doubt. And, as Mr. Myles pointed out to me, if you consider Frank’s explanation that he was lying to his son, coupled with the eyewitnesses that claim that they saw Charlie Hernandez allegedly shoot and kill the victims, you have to clear Frank of those murders, hence making the current outcome of the entire Family Secrets case illegitimate.
Are you saying that just the Morawski-Ortiz aspect of the case is illegitimate, or that the entire Family Secrets case is illegitimate?
Joe,
I know you don’t think much of the newspaper clip that I pasted above, but the Hernandez theory was introduced at trial but was not considered to be credible.
The F.S. jury considered the testimonies of Nick C. and Frank Jr. more credible than that of Pretto who said he witnessed Hernandez commit the murders.
Also, as a side note, keep in mind that Frank Sr. was heard on tape telling his son that he worked to construct alibis that would account for his whereabouts during some of his murders.
Witnesses refused to come forward out of fear or came forward but because of fear were not entirely helpful. Fear is a product of coercion, and there is no place for it in a fair trial. Charlie Hernandez is rumored to be tightly connected to other ethnic mafias, besides the Outfit. A number of the witnesses are allegedly afraid of him for this reason.
The Morawski-Ortiz aspect makes the entire outcome illegitimate (from my point of view). In addition, I am confident that the other defendants have several issues of their own that will be argued to win an appeal.
Merlin, you have to remember that Frank Senior brought his son into the Outfit as a soldier working under Him & Uncle Nick in their ‘franchise’ which was part of the 26th Street group. He wanted his son to succeed in the same line of business as him much the way a father in the legitimate world would want a son to take over for him someday. I do believe Frank was boasting to his son. I do not believe Frank was involved in every murder he was accused of. Frank Senior was a strong made guy but he was not a Capo. Only Angelo LaPietra, the Capo of the 26th street group or the Top Bosses in the Outfit can sanction a murder. You stated that Junior said ” Uncle Nick was bad mouthing Frank Senior because he ordered the murder of an innocent man ” Frank Senior was not in a postion to ‘order’ anybody killed as previously explained. I believe Frank Junior was baiting his Father by that statement so he could get him to continue talking and mixing truth with exaggerations to impress him knowing all the while his father was being recorded. It really became a subtle form of manipulative entrapment. Joe, your thoughts?
I agree.
I agree with everything you said, but I think you are missing a few of my points—or maybe I failed to provide details.
Now, this information comes from trial testimony, and I followed the trial very, very closely.
Angelo LaPietra was incensed that the Ortiz murder was taking so long. I think the hit squad had been watching him for 9-months. Initially, Nick Calabrese and Jimmy DiForrti were going to try and shoot him at his home, but DiForti got cold feet. (Nick Calabrese was later told to shoot DiForti immediately if he ever did anything like that ever again.)
The night of the actual Ortiz-Morawski murder, there were 2-squads.
1) Frank Sr., Nick, and DiForti (driver, shooters)
2) Fecarotta and Monteleone (walkie-talkies, lookout)
LaPietra was in an apartment with a CB radio.
When the teams observed that Ortiz was not alone, they radioed into LaPietra that someone was in the car with him. LaPietra replied, “both of them.”
Frank Sr. ordered his brother Nick and DiForti out of the car and to go shoot Ortiz and his companion (Morawski). He aimed a carbine rifle at them to make sure they wouldn’t miss the opportunity again.
So, you’re right, Frank Sr. didn’t order killings. In this case, he just relayed the Hook’s order. In prison, years later, Junior told his dad that Uncle Nick blamed him for killing an innocent person.
I think that it is possible that Frank Sr. exaggerated and bragged to his son about his the extent of his involvement in certain things.
However, I think it is unlikely that he would lie or brag about the Ortiz-Morawski murders.
Frank Sr. was angry that his brother Nick was bending Junior’s ear, telling him all kinds of nasty things about him. Junior went his dad complaining about Uncle Nick’s suggestion that his dad had him kill an innocent person.
Senior was making an effort to get along with his son in prison. So why would he upset his son further by lying and bragging about a murder he didn’t commit? If he wasn’t involved, he would have said so.
(Think about it. If your son came up to you very upset because someone he knew said that you were responsible for the murder of an innocent person—which was NOT true—would you flatly deny it, or would you brag about it. If you bragged about it, you wouldn’t be impressing your son; you’d be devaluing your relationship.)
Instead of denying it, Frank Sr. tried to assuage his guilt and culpability by saying that Morawski was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and also by transferring the blame to LaPietra who was responsible for the whole operation in the first place.
Dear Merlin,
What I would do as a parent might be completely different from what Frank Sr would do. At least I would hope.
Ultimately, it was Aiuppa who wanted Ortiz dead–and it was given to Chinatown. LaPietra told his crew that he was tired of waiting and that if they didn’t get it done soon, he would do it himself.
Ortiz got on Monteleone, LaPietra, and Aiuppa’s bad side, because he stopped kicking up money from his juice operations. He also repeatedly ignored being whistled in by the Monteleone, was believed (by the Outfit) to have committed an unauthorized murder in Cicero, and was possibly selling drugs.
Merlin, Thank you for clarifying who allegedly ordered the murders. If true, the chain of command for the incident would now make sense. Your explanation about Frank Senior’s thoughts is a difficult one to really know. To the ordinary logical person, you’re right when you say that it would not be in the best interest of Frank Senior to boast about a murder he was not involved with knowing it might deter the relationship with his son. However, since you have studied the trial more than me, did it seem like Frank Junior was upset that an innocent man got killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? From what I read, Junior didn’t seem to be too upset about it. He seemed to be more INQUISITIVE about it. This would lean more towards the manipulative entrapment theory. If Frank Senior DIDN’T THINK that Junior was upset about an innocent man being killed, then Senior would most probably have continued with his boasting. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD QUESTION FOR JOE MYLES. Also, you still have the word of another witness who said the opposite. I also had heard in the past that Hernandez was involved in some way with one of those Latin street gangs. So, in concusion, either LaPietra directed the made guys you mentioned in his crew to muder those two men or the 26th Street crew wasn’t involved at all. Since the Feds had Nick Calabrese already on murder, maybe Nick invented the story about the Ortiz murders involving the 26th Street crew, because aren’t all the men he mentioned dead except Frank Senior and himself?
The Don … Jackie Cerone, Angelo LaPietra, and Obrien was all arrested in the fall of 1983 (all released on bond pending trial). Lumpy was already in prison when he was indicted. Trial took 2 years to start (1985).. convictions handed down in early 1986.
As for Accardo not being indicted. I’m in agreement the feds should of not indicted him.. but the feds shouldn’t of indicted Obrien either. They had nothing on him. Obrien was very well insulated.. but they hit him with RICO and webbed him up. The Feds always had a hard on for him and if Pepsi Buonomo was still alive he would tell you the same thing. Trust me. They had nothing on Obrien or Accardo. Obrien got indicted and Accardo didnt.
As for Family Secrets I think the whole thing was a charade. Like Sr telling Jr about being made. Again I’ll raise this pt again.. is their any evidence Sr and or Jimmy Light is even made ??
Remember this made ceremony only came to light once Nick Calabrese testified such a thing happen. Other than that.. nobody even had heard of the “alleged” 1983 making ceremony.. Besides the Feds who heard Sr. lying/boasting to his son to win his approval i.e. the making ceremony in 83, Ortiz murder.
The Ortiz murder falls in this same category.. Sr created a fib that would be believable in his own sons eyes and Nick Calabrese took those conversations recorded by the feds and turned believable Sr. Fibs into FACTS at trial.
Again you cant believe Nick Calabrese on the making ceremony and then think he is a liar on the murder of Ortiz. I believe you believe everything or discount everything. Its my guesstimation he lied about everything.. Show me the evidence Sr, Jimmy Light or Nick C is even made ! Their is none !! He said Rocky Infelise and Johnny was their. Nice try Nick. Rocky was not their !! neither was Johnny !
As for DiFronzo being a stool pigeon, dry snitch. He is not. The FBI did not indict him because they wanted to see if bosses would suspect such a thing (being a snitch) and have him whacked.
For the sake of arguement DiFronzo would of won that case and in indicting DiFronzo it very well could of helped Jimmy Light. FYI DiFronzo’s alabi would of been brought to light and embarrased the FEDS and they no this !! I dont think John gives two shits if he was or is to be indicted because he cant wait to emabarrass them.
Also remember the Feds had Jimmy on another murder the D’Andrea one and on major survaliance during that 1986 time frame, and conversations in the can during his incarceration.. for the record I think he will win his appeal.
If anything because Nick Calabrese collobarated “wild boast made by his brother” and turned them into facts. I dont think in all my life I’ve seen such an Ironic thing happen.
Dear Black,
No one would welcome an indictment to have a chance to embarrass the prosecution, at least no one living outside of an insane asylum.
Black Angelo, You’re wrong about noone ever hearing about the ‘making ceremony’ before Nick Calabrese. The feds had Rocky Infelice talking about it in the early 1990’s. Read the ‘Good Ship Lollipop’ court transcripts. In it, Rocky talks about DeLaurentis getting made in 1989 in a ceremony. I don’t want to upset you with an old arguement, but I believe you play down the whole ‘Making Ceremony’ because Marco wasn’t made back in the 1980’s because of discrimination by Jack Cerone. The making ceremony has been going on since the 1940’s. Also, why does the Family Secrets trial have to be 100% the truth or 100% a lie? All good liars mix the truth with lies. Without sounding religious, the greatest liar of all time, Satan, mixed the truth with lies. Why would Nick Calabrese, the prosecution, the defense or anybody else connected to the trial, for that matter, be any different? Why can’t I believe most of what Nick Calabrese said but not all of it?
I dont think Marco gives two shits if people believe he is or is not made. He is getting so much money from Aruban profits all that is mute. What if Nick Calabrese said Marco was made ? or told Feds during questioning he was made.. would you believe Nick then or that Marco is made.
Marco is perceived by the feds as being a made guy.. that is a problem for him. Perception is reality when your messing around with the Feds (just ask Frank Calabrese sr. lol)
Nick said Rocky Infelise was present at the Spilotro murders. Really is that fact !?!? And Rocky was caught on wire saying alot of things.. like Solly being made with a holy card and that “Roemer dont lie, he knows his stuff” (talking about Roemers first book Man vs the Mob)… So if Rocky says somehting on wire certainly dont make it gospel.
ps The Don I believe their is in fact a making ceremony.. I just question this 1983 ceremony or if Nick is made himself.. I dont trust him.
Dear Black,
If Nick Calabrese told me Marco was not ‘made’, I would believe him. However, if he told me that Marco was ‘made’, I would not believe him.
Black Angelo, I never said anything about MARCO caring if people think he is made. I said that YOU cared, at least in the past, if Marco was made. To answer your question, I will repeat what Joe said right above me. If Nick Calabrese said Marco was made, I would not believe him because I know better. If he said Marco was not made, I would believe him because I know why. By the way, right now in 2011, He probably is made into The Elmwood Park extended crew which is deactivated from the rest of the Outfit, but that’s a whole other subject.
Why would Nick Calabrese lie to Junior about being involved in the Ortiz-Morawski murders before he was cooperating with the government?
Nick and Frank Sr. both lied to Junior about their involvement in the murders–independently of each other–while they were in different prisons and weren’t on speaking terms with each other?
Nick C. was approached to cooperate only after the federal government had enough information from the Junior’s prison recordings to focus on Nick and obtain a subpoena to swab, x-ray him, and offer him a deal.
The Don,
I’m not sure if you read my comment immediately above this one (today, 2:40 p.m.), but I’m almost certain that Nick Calabrese made the statements about their involvement in the Ortiz-Morawski murders before the feds even had him on murder. And Frank corroborated it.
I guess it just comes down to this: After having followed the trial and all the background information and all the evidence very closely, I believe the prosecuation met its burdeon of proof on the guilt of Frank Calabrese, Sr.
Lopez, his attorney, floated the Hernandez theory, which, according to news reports, was laughed out of court as quickly as it was introduced. I’m not saying that it is a laughable theory, necessarily. That’s just how the attendees responded.
The guilt of the other defendants, however, is another matter.
Dear Merlin,
Coercion caused the theory that Lopez introduced to be laughed out of court. There is no place for coercion in a fair trial.
Pretto is a real witness who also 4 days before the ortiz murder witnesses a argument
between ortiz and the local police agency
involving Ortiz not paying envelopes anymore
that escalated with Ortiz shooting a person in the foot, allegedly a officer. This was confirmed by others and is another one of many reasons Frank Calabrese did not murder Ortiz and Morawski since this was not mentioned.
I understand.
“Others” confirmed this? Who are they, and why didn’t they come forward and bolster Pretto’s testimony? Also, the dramatic scene you described is certainly interesting, and, if it is true, it fails to prove anything at all with regard to the murders of Morawski and Ortiz.
I’d be willing to buy the Hernandez theory if there was some kind of evidence to show that the two individuals who said that they committed the murder (Nick & Frank Sr.) actually did not. And since there isn’t any evidence that shows that the government did, in fact, play the prison tapes for Nick Calabrese, then I don’t see how the “bragging to his son theory” holds water.
the others mentioned by merlin tenderpony
is in lopez case file, why he did not subpoena witnesses that confirmed what pretto saw I do not know, even though a dime was dropped to lopez aide on their location. Other witnesses he did not subpoena were Dick Devine who was circumstantial witness. And another who named the same killer as Pretto since 1983
and passed a lie detector stating such with the Il. state police. As for the shotgun shells used. That was common street knowledge. What I find real interesting is that the Calabrese were charged with only 2 shotgun murders
and with regard to the Ortiz Marowski
homicide FRANk said a SEMI AUTO WAS USED
THAT WORKED FLAWLESSLY. NICK RELATES THAT
A PUMP SHOTGUN WAS USED. AND MENTIONS
THE LIVE ROUND THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND ON THE WINDOW SILL. WHY IS THAT THEY CANNOT
MATCH THE WEAPONS THEY USED AND ALSO THE LIVE ROUND ON THE WINDOWSILL OF THE ORTIZ CAR WHEN THEY GOT CHARGED WITH 2 SHOTGUN MURDERS? BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DO THE CRIME
Frank Sr.–not Nick–said double-aught ammunition was tested and then used in the murders. (Double-aught ammunition is shotgun ammunition, period.) The audio clip is on the DOJ website and was played 2-weeks ago on ABC 7 News if you don’t believe me.
So, again, Frank Sr. was the one recorded talking about the specific type of ammunition that was used in the murders 20-years after it happened.
You’re trying to say that the type of ammunition used in the murders was common street knowledge 20-years after it happened?? That seems unlikely.
The ‘semi-auto’ involved in the crime was the gun Sr. pointed at Nick and DiForti to make sure they did the deed, which they did, with shotguns.
The Hernandezs theory is a conspiracy theory.
You seem to favor some obscure, outside evidence and street knowledge, but the fact is that you’re ignoring the actual evidence, which was submitted and reviewed at trial.
By all means, believe what you want to believe. I’m just saying that the alternate explanation of what happens isn’t compelling and reeks of conspiracy theory.
LOL
Dear Merlin,
Show it to me.
Dear Joe,
What your asking me to do is satisfy your own personal, subjective criteria regarding someone’s guilt in matters that concern involved neither of us.
If the mountain of evidence submitted at trial (which includes video and audio of Frank Sr. himself explaining numerous times, and in great detail, that he participated in these murders) isn’t enough to convince you, then there’s nothing I’m going to be able to say in the threads that will convince you.
The prosecution’s case was enough to convince the jury, which, at the end of the day, is what counts.
Dear Merlin,
I am asking you to support your statement.
Intimidation and coercion contributed to the jury’s decision. Do not get me wrong, I think they are all guilty of crimes. The Outfit formed a murder conspiracy against me – I am not their friend. Look at what I write. Do I look like a friend of the Chicago Outfit? However, in the interest of fairness, the Family Secrets trial was not a just process.
Fair enough, Joe. But let me ask how you know that intimidation and coercion contributed to the jury’s decision?
Maybe they thought that Pretto was not credible, or that it was absurd for this to come out 20+ years after the incident. Perhaps, they thought that the Hernandez scenario was inherently outlandish and warranted no further consideration. Or, maybe they were convinced by all the evidence that supported Frank Sr.’s guilt.
Again, all I’m saying is that, in my opinion, Frank Sr. was shown to have been guilty of everything he was charged with and convicted of…well-beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dear Merlin,
Most human beings that are selected to be jurors, who are told that dangerous people will be the defendants whose fate will be decided by them, which will cause their identity to be kept secret, is, for all practical purposes something that would intimidate almost anyone. In addition, the witnesses that could give excellent testimony against Charlie Hernandez feel intimidated by well-known rumors that Hernandez is tied to a number of deadly mafias, which is the reason the witnesses felt coerced to refrain from being entirely helpful in the Family Secrets case. None of this has a place in a fair trial. The case should be retried under fair conditions in the spirit of America.
Merlin, can you show me or prove to me THE TIME FRAME of when Nick Calabrese made his statements. Why would Nick Calabrese make statements about the Ortiz-Morawski murders BEFORE they had him on murder charges? That doesn’t make any sense!
Merlin, It has to be that once the Feds had Nick Calabrese on murder charges, that’s when he made those statements about the Ortiz-Morawski murders. He wouldn’t make statements about those murders unless the Feds were gong to indict him. After the Feds had Nick ready to cooperate, they already had the audio tapes of Frank Calabrese talking to his son. Frank Junior wrote his letter to the Feds in 1998 requesting to be taken seriously an an informant. The audio recordings started in 1999. Here comes the million dollar question. When did Nick Calabrese start to cooperate with the Feds? That’s the question you should be asking yourself. Did Nick start cooperating shortly after Frank Senior was being tape recorded? If so, then it is quite possible that the Feds, during their debriefing of Nick, started telling him or started playing the tapes of Frank Senior to him so HIS STORY WOULD BE THE SAME AS HIS BROTHER. Do you see my point? It is completely logical and completely possible. Joe, do you see the problem I have with anyone saying that Nick and Frank both said the same things seperately without knowing what the other was saying. Really, says who? The Feds who would have done anything to win the biggest Mafia case in the history of the United States. The average juror doesn’t have my suspicions or my knowledge of how the Outfit is strucured and how it generally operates. I wish I had been on that jury because I truly believe I could have shown those jurors the flaws in the prosecution’s case. The flaws in Marcello’s case are much greater.
yes, i follow you.
The Don,
As I understand it, here’s how these events transpired. Now, keep in mind that I was not involved in these events, but have followed them very closely.
You’re correct, the Jr./Sr. tapes were made in 1999.
However, Nick Calabrese did not enter into whatever agreement was arranged with the feds until 2003.
The actual F.S. indictments were handed down two years later, in 2005.
So, the tapes were made 3 to 4-years prior to Nick’s cooperation.
Junior wrote at least one follow-up letter to federal agents after he began working with them. In one, he states that he would also wear a wire on his Uncle Nick (if they could put the two of them together)–meaning that Nick had not yet cooperated with the government, nor had he been approached to do so.
Junior told Senior that Nick Calabrese personally told him about the Ortiz-Morawski murders in a way that reflected very poorly on his dad, which is why Senior tried to explain away the Morawski killing and assuage his culpability in front of his son, rather than flatly deny his involvement.
So, I presume your question is:
“Why would Nick talk about the murders before he cooperated?”
Presumably, Nick told Junior (and no one else) about the Ortiz-Morawski murders (thus, implicating himself) to pit father and son against each other. Remember, a recurring theme in those tapes is that Nick and Sr. had a mutual visceral hatred for each other at that time.
However, Junior and Nick loved each other, which made Sr. extremely angry and jealous. And what made Sr. even angrier (and what got him singing like a canary on those tapes) is that his brother Nick was badmouthing him to Junior.
I, personally, have no problem with the chronology or explanation concerning any of those events.
Also, one reason I think the Hernandez theory was promptly rejected is because it would then allow the defense to put anyone on the stand to undermine the prosecution’s case against any of the other F.S. defendants for any crime that did not involve DNA evidence. I’m not trying to be sarcastic here, but allow me to say something else: If this Pretto witness had said that he witnessed Santa Claus murder Ortiz and Morawski over 20-years ago, should the jury entertain the theory? Obviously not. Should there be an inquest? Maybe but also unlikely. Should Zagel have tolerated that kind of testimony? Maybe, but he’d have to draw the line somewhere.
The Don,
Allow me to correct something. It is possible that Nick Calabrese’s cooperation with the feds began in 2002 rather than 2003. But keep in mind that 2003 is when his named abruptly disappeared from the BOP inmate index, meaning that he entered in the WITSEC in 2003–while he was still incarcerated.
Dear Merlin,
Be sure that Nick Calabrese started to cooperate years prior to the official date that he was classified as a cooperator. His cooperation came to a point where it could no longer be hidden, which is when he was moved to safety.
Some else made the point that Frank Sr. knew the precise type of ammunition that was used the Ortiz-Morawski shooting murders.
Joe,
You make an excellent point.
However, Nick Calabrese was being watched extremely closely in prison by James Marcello and Harry Aleman. Aleman, in fact, was Nick’s cell mate.
One of Nick’s handlers alleged that Marcello had a wannabe from Cicero (who was also incarcerated in Milan) at his disposal who was prepared to murder Nick Calabrese who was suspected, by Marcello, of snitching long before he actually was.
This is why Nick told the G to f*** off several times before he decided to flip. This prolonged the period before his cooperation.
Jimmy and Harry were unable to keep an eye on him 24/7. I know that Harry and Jimmy did not have access to Nick’s visits with his attorney, which would have been the ideal time for him to meet with the G. I doubt the G meets with cooperators in their cell or in the prison yard.
Joe, I’ll have to check with some sources, but I don’t believe Nick involved an attorney until he finally agreed to cooperate–at which time Harry Aleman was immediately moved (without explanation) and James Marcello was temporarily put in isolation while Nick was whisked away. Again, this was after the year 1999. You don’t need your attorney present when your telling the feds to go take a walk.
It’s not uncommon at all for prisoners, in general, to have contact with agents without an attorney present while incarcerated. James Marcello was swabbed in prison without either of his lawyers being present.
If so, then his clergy visit would have been the opportune time.
Merlin, I have one and only one question for you. Do you think that it was possible that the Feds, at some point, told Nick what his brother was saying on those tapes so Nick could say the same thing? If the answer is yes, then there is reasonable doubt. If the answer is no, then the jury was correct.
The Don,
My answer to your questions is yes, it is possible–though not plausible, and so not enough to negate the case against Frank Sr., and certainly not enough to throw out the whole Family Secrets case.
I don’t know how one could even begin to show that it is plausible.
Merlin, why was it not plausible? The Feds had plenty of time before Nick actually testifed to play him the tapes or at least tell him what his brother had said to Junior. They needed Nick’s corroboration to deflect the fact that Frank Senior said he was boasting to his son. So, are you saying that you believe the prosecution was above doing such a thing or are you saying it wasn’t plausible for some other reason? Please explain.
Joe let me clarify he would not welcome an indictment. But lets just say he does not care and has “piece of mind” if he is indicted he may even be able to set Jimmy free.
As for the Richard Ortiz murder. The reason the feds said he was murdered was because he was dealing drugs under the umbrella of the Outfit. LOL. Even if true Ortiz was not a made guy. So inasmuch could deal drugs and get away with it.
Everybody that was alive back then in the Chicagoland area recalls those double murders because it was a sensational hit. Frank Sr. has a great memory and remembers those double murders and was boasting to his son to make himself look like a big shot.
I’ve heard two theories why Ortiz was whacked. None involving the Outfit. 1) Over cocaine/herion profits not kicked up to the Corona, so Gino Colon had him killed and 2) I heard it was over a female or something along those lines (both may involve the ire of Gino who was incarcerated in Stateville at the time but certainly didnt stop him from having anyone DOA on the streets for violating him) .. Your on to something here JF. The 7th circuit needs to be awakened..
Dear Black,
No one would be without care over an indictment because of potential comfort in believing to have a chance to embarrass the prosecution, at least no one living outside of an insane asylum.
Dear Black,
Awaking the Seventh Circuit is as difficult as waking a bear during hibernation season. Ask my innocent friend Conrad Black.
DiFronzo would avoid an indictment from the Feds in the same way I would avoid being in the same room with a guy holding a detonated hand grenade.
The thing about Family Secrets is it was so wide ranging and a shot in the dark to me to try and pin all these murders on some of these defendants.
Make no question about it the FS investigation was all about murder. Because most of these defendants had served out their racketeering sentence (therefore double jeopardy to retry them).. so they used the murder to indict (the same thing happen 3 times to John Gotti jr. they added murder so they could try him after the fact or after he served his sentence on RICO).
The problem is .. is that their was so many hitman running rampid in Chicago in the 1970s that I dont know how the jury could convict Lumpy for instance just based on a partial fingerprint.
I beleive Tony Borsellino or The German murdered Daniel Seifert. I believe Lumpy put a contract out on Seiferts life.. But Lumpy did not get convicted of that. The jury actually thought he did the killing himself.
I believe Joe ordered the Seifert hit as well. However, he had a great alibi and could not have done the shooting. However, having a great alibi when a witness (against you) is murdered rather hints that you knew it was going to happen, which is why one would be establishing a great alibi. Again, Joe could not have been the shooter.
Black Angelo, On this one I think you’re right on the money. I’d like to ask you a question out of sheer curiosity. Are you Italian? Also, I would bet money you’re from the South Side. Joe & I have both admitted our current lack of knowledge about Chicago Heights. Do you know who is left down there and who is the Capo of that crew? If there are only a couple of made guys specifically down there in that area, then it’s possible they and their soldiers answer to the 26th St. Crew or even the extended Cicero Crew. I know Cicero has supplied that area with poker machines.
The Don, Yes I am Italian. I like to keep a good tan too lol. As for the Heights being a extension of the 26th street crew or extended Cicero crew I think is somewhat a myth. The Heights guys have always been very resilient. You must understand they are so far south out their they might as well be in another country lol.
Ironically I think the Heights has one capo but controls 2 factions (The Heights area, and Northern Indiana ). Don’t get me wrong they still pay allegiance to the Outfit, but to oversee them would be very difficult. I know their still involved in gambling, politics, and the sanitation/ construction businesses. Of course their has always been heavy gamblers out that way.
As for who the capo is out their I would have to say either Snooky Morgano or Jumbo Guzzino. Snooky died last year but was active all the way to the end. Snooky was more with the Indiana faction I would say.. But was a overall capo out that way. I only say this because he was 2nd in command to Anthony Gruttodauro. Anthony died in 2002 or 2001 and Snooky took on a more leadership role.
Snooky was also a disciple of Frank Zizzo (LT’s Father) and Frank was the Northern Indiana gambling boss for decades. Plus Snooky’s father was Tommy Morgano.. Tommy was a made guy out of Sicily and was very tight with Frank Zizzo. Tommy got deported back to Sicily in the 1960s when Snooky was a young adult.
But the Morgano family was rumored to have very close ties to the Sicilian mafia all the way up till 2010.
Al Tocco and Toots Palermo let those guys in Northern Indiana do their own thing.. Because Morgano and crew where huge earners for them. And Jumbo got out of prison about 4 or 5 years ago and took a low profile. But maybe he has stepped into the leadership role in 2010. But he is from the Heights.
As for the Indiana faction I would say without doubt somebody from the Nuzzo Family of Merrillville. Maybe Sam or Arthur Nuzzo is calling the shots. I mean their just big gamblers, but out that way that means power.
Of course where talking about the Heights and out their it would not surprise me if a city councilman or the mayor was a made member of the Outfit lol. All those northern Indiana towns are just as corrupt as well.
Black Angelo, your insight was good and it was as I suspected. I believed there still was an entire active crew done there, I just lost track of the names. Hell, the Chicago Heights Street Crew is one of the oldest of the six crews in Chicago. No reason for it to be any different now.
Black Angelo: The information you provided is very dated, about 20 years. Almost all those guys are dead, the one’s that are not, I’m sure have nothing to do with today’s Outfit. Times have changed. The Hts. is a slum, can’t even get a decent meal in that town, and whatever action that was left in NW Indiana was taken up by the casinos. The poker machines were big in the Hts. About 5 years ago they were everywhere, I don’t know about today. Bookmaking still goes on as well. If I had to guess, maybe there is a select few involved that are being backed by the guys in Cicero or Bridgeport.
Joe, who do you think is more accurate about Chicago Heights, Black Angelo or Dom? Either Chicago Heights has a complete functioning street crew with a Capo, Underboss, made guys & soldiers or there are only a few made guys who are part of 26th St. or report direct to Cicero. Which is it?
Dear The Don,
I will look into it. Personally, I do not know. Sorry.
DOM .. Not dated at all. Up till 2010 Snooky Morgano was very active. And the Nuzzo’s and Jimbo Guzzino are still very much alive.
And the Heights have always been a slum if you ask me going back to the Pilotto era. That is why all the mob bosses out that way starting with Frank LaPorte lived outside of the Heights (in other south suburban suburbs). Cal City is a mega moneymaker but very much a slum.
And from what I here The Heights have alot of their guys (fronts) in all those NW Indiana Casinos that are sprouting up everywhere.
I mean if somebody came on here and started talking about the last time when Jimmy Light was on the streets 1991/92 and 2003-05 I could argue that is dated or Melrose Park and that crew is dated.
But obviously not the case.
Cicero or 26th have nothing to do with the Heights. Its just like Elmwood Park had nothing to do with the 26th st. crew…
Even though alot of the Elmwood Park guys owned buildings in that area and went partners with alot of 26th street guys in different ventures such as beef stands, hot dog stands and real estate.
If anything Cicero and or 26th has went partners with some Heights crew members.
Black Angelo & Dom, If Chicago Heights has a full functioning Street Crew like I described earlier, then they are definetly partners with Cicero in the same way Bridgeport is partners with Cicero. All those poker machines down there and in Bridgeport came from Cicero. It would seem probable & logical there would be a full operating crew there like there has always been in the past. Some of the Media have suggested that there are only a few made guys with soldiers operating down there which means that the opposite is most probably true. They almost never get it right! Joe, what are your thoughts?
Again, I have to check it out.
Black Angelo, you never did answer one of my questions. Are you a product of the South side? I would bet on it. Do you think the Chicago Heights Crew is still involved in the ‘chop shop’ racket besides poker machines, bookmaking & extortion? Jimmy ‘the Bomber’ was a strong made guy. I think he and Al Tocco ran ‘franchises’ that specialized in the ‘chop shop’ business. I believe Jimmy and a couple of his soldiers got killed in the very late 1970’s, maybe early 1980’s. I remember hearing about the increase in violence around that time down in that area. I was told the Chicago Heights Crew was very strong, especially when Frank LaPorte was the Capo years ago. I believe he died in 1972 or close to that time. I always got the impression that they were really rough guys down in that area.
The Don,
I have an aversion to anything that even smells like a conspiracy theory.
Just hear me out, and, if this doesn’t give you some idea of where I coming from, then I suggest we move on and agree to disagree. Fair enough?
First, we have Nick and Junior’s accounts of what happened, which you’re entitled to take with a grain of salt if you’d like. But then you have Frank Sr. independently corroborating 100-percent of everything that they said. And, as has been made abundantly clear, there is the theory that Frank Sr. was only bragging to his son about the Ortiz-Morawski murders, but, aside from the time line that I have pointed out, there is plenty of information on the other tapes to refute that.
First of all, on another tape, Junior tells Senior that his least favorite part of “it” [the Outfit] is the murder aspect—especially murder perpetrated at the hands of a victim’s best friend. Senior explains that the only ones who get killed are guys that don’t listen, as if to minimize the murder aspect of mob business. Junior argues that recalcitrant business owners (such as Cagnoni) are often killed, too. Junior also throws the murder of Tony Borsellino in Senior’s face as an example of someone who was killed over greed—specifically, Petrocelli’s greed. Petrocelli lobbied LaPietra for Borsellino’s murder. (I am not saying that Frank Sr. murdered Borse; in fact, Senior loved Borse.)
Despite the fact that Junior was prepared to murder on behalf of his father, Senior knew that Junior’s perspective on murder was not a favorable one, in general.
Second, Frank Sr. was so paranoid in prison that often times he wouldn’t even refer to his son, Frank Jr., as “Frankie” when he was talking directly to him. Instead he’d say, “So how’s Mish doing?” or “How’s Smiley doing?” He’d also switch nicknames when talking about the same person in the same conversation. For instance, he would refer to Jimmy DiForti as “Poker,” “Rota” [Italian for “tires”], “the guy who likes cupcakes,” and “Jimmy” all in the same conversation so as to confound any potential surveillers.
Knowing that his son would not be impressed with the Ortiz-Morawski murders, and knowing that he could be under surveillance in prison, it does not make sense that he would (discreetly) take credit for a double murder that he didn’t commit.
On top of that is the fact that the government said (as observed by Joe Myles on the other thread) that the tapes weren’t played for Nick Calabrese. And, very importantly, there is no evidence to the contrary that would show that the feds DID, in fact, play Nick the tapes. So it is conjecture to say that they played the tapes for Nick. (That is why I say it is possible but not plausible.)
I do concede that not all the tapes were played; though, that could be because not-pertinent conversation cannot be submitted as evidence in any type of trial. So, for all we know, the tapes that were not played contain conversations about deep sea fishing or the Chicago White Sox. To presume that the withheld tapes contained information that would undermine the prosecution’s case is also conjecture.
As for the Hernandez theory, I’ll just say that it’s not credible—not that it’s laughable.
While Pretto could have been being honest about what he saw (or thought he saw), this information comes 20-years or more after the killings. If the court allows that, then it would have to allow for a revolving door of other “witnesses” who say they saw any number of other things the day and time of each and every other Family Secrets crime…Plus, there’s the whole matter of two of the murders saying that they did it.
It’s Occam’s Razor.
–There are far, far more “moving parts” in the “bragging to his son” theory (in which Hernandez is the killer) than in the case presented by the government, which was strengthened by myriad of evidence (of various formats) and testimony.
–There are is too much conjecture, wishful thinking, and “unknowns” in the “bragging to his son” theory, which makes it not plausible, in my opinion.
Keep in mind, too, that Senior was recorded manufacturing alternative explanations for different crimes in prison and bouncing them off Frank Jr. for his opinion. For instance, he said that there was someone in Chinatown who would provide an alibi for him in the event that he was ever indicted for his involvement in the Dauber murders. Also, if he was ever indicted in the Fecarotta killing (for which he served as a lookout), Senior planned to explain that it was Fecarotta who set-up Nick for murder and that Nick shot Fecarotta in self-defense. Senior was capable of reaching out to people to provide him with alibis, and so on. I’m not saying Senior convinced Pretto (or had someone convince Pretto) to stand up for him in the Ortiz-Hernandez murders (and to also introduce the Hernandez theory), but, to my mind, I think it’s enough to be suspicious of Pretto’s testimony.
This is only my opinion about the Ortiz-Morawski aspect of the case, as it pertains to Frank Sr. I’m not convinced that the government met its burden of proof in the matters involving James Marcello, even though I believe he was involved in the Spilotro killings.
As for Seifert case, I think that the crime itself—a husband / father being gunned down in broad daylight in front of his wife and child—was so terrifying to the human spirit, that a jury of chimps would have delivered a guilty verdict. Having said that, I believe the evidence against Lombardo was thin, but, again, I believe he is a killer who should have been locked up long ago.
Merlin, I agree with a lot of what you said and I can see you studied Frank Senior’s tapes very well. We should probably agree to disagree about whether the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Frankk Senior committed every murder he was accused of. You probably have more faith with what you saw & heard than me. I truly believe the Feds conspired with Nick & Junior to make sure they would convict Frank Senior. I agree to disagree like gentlemen. However, I agree with you about Marcello & Lombardo.
That’s OK. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. We’ll agree to disagree as gentlemen would do, as you said.
whats more important is the evidence that was not admitted one being several witnesses
either not subpoena by or not located by Lopez and also key witnesses that were denied to testify by Mars motion to exclude.
If these witnesses had been located and/or allowed to testify family secrets
and especially the ortiz/morawski homicide
would have a different outcome and the Government knows it!
@ Black Angelo, welcome back. I too missed your comments which sometimes swing wildly and miss. Ortiz was not murdered by the Latin Kings in Cicero 1983. LK’s were not and are still not the most powerful street gang or even in the top 4 in Cicero then or now. Ortiz was hit “connected” to Butchie’s removal a few years earlier. Butchie was a meglomaniac who overstepped his place and Auippa had him and anyone who was connected to him and didn’t quickly fall into line knocked down. The Ortiz hit was splashy because it was sending a message. I do not know who pulled the trigger or triggers, but it came from Auippa and certainly not Gino Colon the “corona.”
Thank You Guido, And I just dont trust the Gov’t. I would not put anything pass them to get convictions. As for the Ortiz murder I had a problem with the Gov’t saying it was over drugs and then connected to the Outfit.
I do know the Latin Kings back then and now would kill over drugs (its their cash crop). And I have heard rumors about the Ortiz slaying. Look in 1983 their was 900 plus murders in the city of Chicago. (900 murders almost every year from 1965 to 2003) And most of those murders that year (1983) was connected to drugs, and territorial disputes.
Ortiz was just another statistic. And even though the LK’s are the 2nd biggest street gang in America (and Chicago 2nd to only the Gangster Disciples).. has nothing to do with what their capable of in 38 states, Humboldt Park and or Cicero.
Connecting the Outfit to that hit is sloppy police work. It would be like connecting the Outfit to the slaying of Mickey Cogwell or any other brazen hit.
This goes to Merlin T as well. Kurt Calabrese drove his father to prison in Michigan and once they got their he told his son their going to try and have Frankie (jr.)coroporate against me.
Frank sr. was doing alot of boasting. Also he used to read the newspaper alot while locked up at Milan. And their was a article about the Ortiz murder in the papers during that time frame 1998 or so and how it was unsolved for 15 years (up to that pt).
So Frank new alot about that murder. I know this might come as a shock to some people on here but their is no “physical” evidence at all connecting Frank Sr. to any murder.
By the way Tony Borse was killed because Joe Nick Ferriola did not protect him (and did not want to). Angelo Lapietra did not go to Obrien with contract to have Tony Borse killed.
That was Joe Nick and Butch conspired with Joe to have Borse killed. It’s not a coincidence he was murdered a month after Turk Torello died in 1979. Because had Turk been alive he would of laughed at the thought of going to Obrien to have Borse whacked.
And then Turk would probably of had Butch and his own good friend Joe Nick killed right their for thinking such a thing. They waited for Turk to die and then moved fast on Tony Borse. FYI Borse’s gaurdian angel was Turk.
Again Angelo LaPietra had nothing to do with that murder. Although Frank Sr. went to his capo to try and have the contract veto’d. That in itself was very ballsy.
If Frank would of went to Joe Nick and or Obrien to stop the Tony Borse contract. Joe Nick would of no doubt had Frank killed that same year. I’ll say one thing about Frank sr. he had BALLS and was very very loyal.
Black Angelo,
The main reason it was said that Ortiz was murdered was not over drugs, but over failure to give the Outfit its cut of his juice operation, which he had been running under their auspices. He also ignored the Outfit when he was whistled in. (I believe Father Guido mentioned this, too.)
Drug dealing and the unsanctioned murder supposedly committed by Ortiz were ancillary to the juice thing.
Also, Frank Sr. knew that double-aught shotgun ammunition was used in the Ortiz-Morawski killings, which was a detail never included in media reports. He talks about acquiring the ammunition and making sure the shotguns worked somewhere in DuPage County the day before the murder.
Frank Sr. is going to need a new attorney before he can appeal anything, seeing as his attorneys (including the Shark) were booted off the case by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals last week.
Black Angelo, Father Guido & Merlin, The top people in the United States Government are the largest and most powerful Organized Crime group in the world. The Chicago Oufit, even in it’s heyday years ago, compared to the top people in government, was like comparing a girl’s kindergarden basketball team to the Chicago Bulls. They would have done anything to get those convictions in the Family Secrets trial.
Dear The Don,
Girls/women are as capable as boys/men are. A fair analogy would have been leaving ‘girls’ out of it. Thank you.
Joe, I wasn’t aware that there was a professional women’s basketball team that was as good as the Chicago Bulls. If there is, I stand corrected.
Dear The Don,
There is not a boys or girls kindergarten basketball team as good as the Chicago Bulls (your words, girls kindergarten). Why do you want to argue about this?
Joe, I’m not arguing. You said that girls/women are as capable as boys/men. To be honest, I think your comment was in the interest of being politically correct, which in this case was unnecessary.
The Don, Yes the Heights has always had revered mob bosses like LaPorte, Zizzo, Pilotto, Catuara, Tocco, Palermo, Morgano.
And yes Frank LaPorte did die in 1972 and I was always told he was his own mob boss w/ his own crime family (own capos). He made his own guys too I heard. And had a lot of Zips working for him.
Obviously after 1972 Pilotto was his successor and became part of the Outfit. But the Heights has always been confusing to the average mob watcher and or Gov’t because they had guys in the woodworks that was made that no one had even heard of.
And the Heights was always known as a very ruthless area. That is why other Chicago crews and or made guys from other crews stayed far away from their.
They had a lot of “Hatch Chiaramonti types” if you know what I mean roaming around the Heights making sure things weren’t tampered with.
From the Wild 100s on the Southside up through Cal City to Crete.. And going west from Olympia Fields to South Bend, Indiana was the Heights crew vast territory.
And they ran everything with a iron fist.. Chop Shops, Juice Loans, Prostitution, Gambling, DRUGS and um Politics. The Chop Shops they controlled all of Chicago (the other rackets just in their territory).
The Heights from what I hear is still involved in a lot of stuff (including politics to a certain extent). But a lot of guys have taken a behind the scenes approach.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the Feds had a “hard on” for the Heights when it gave Ceasar 200 years (the most given to any mob boss in the country, besides life). So the Heights went low key after 1990.
Because during Ceasar’s reign their was: broad day light shootings and murders, daily bombings, beatings in public view and oh yeah Coup De Grace on the golf course. So inasmuch Ceasar was like no other mob boss ever.
The 1970s and 80s Chicago Heights was like Al Capones 1920s Chicago/Cicero. No law and order. Ceasar was for a long time law and order and judge and jury in The Heights. Pablo Escobar and Ceasar could have been seperated at birth.
Also in the 1990s the 26th Street/Chinatowns Apes not only became a Capo but also was the # 2 guy for all the Outfit. So there is this notion he overtook Toots Palermo, Gruttadauro or Snooky.
But Apes was just 2 overall so he was over every capo in a sense but he didn’t take over Cicero per say or the Heights.
That wasn’t the Apes style to “micro-manage” other crews. But as stated before a lot of these crews “partner up” on legitimate and illegitimate businesses w/ the heights (like Chop Shops and Video Poker). They probably even finance drug dealing still in the Wild 100s and other areas.
I know that my father was with Teets from the ‘40s up until Teets went to prison in the mid to late ‘60s. What I am afraid that I will never understand is how my father was connected with the guys from the Heights. According to Joe Ferriola, my father was powerful in the Heights. I remember my dad taking me for breakfast to a restaurant called the Seville because he had to meet some people, which was located in the Heights. This was in the late ‘70s. A few guys greeted my father. They treated him as if he were Wayne Newton. One of Joe Ferriola’s sons-in-law explained to me that the ‘guys’ in the Heights always made a big deal out of my father and showered him with respect. He told me that my father was with those guys. However, I truly do not see how or why.
Joe, besides Al Pilotto do you remember the names of some of the other guys in the Heights that your father knew?
Dear The Don,
Al Pilotto (whom my father referred to as ‘blue eyes’ or the ‘insurance man’), Al Tocco and Frank LaPaorte (whom my father was close to many years ago), are the only people that I am aware that my father knew from the Heights area.
Black Angelo, every guy you mentioned was with the Heights except Zizzo. Zizzo was direct with Auippa/Carlisi. All the other guys I totally agree were Heights guys including the DiCaro brothers and others. I do believe that it appeared as if the Heights was seperate in the old days with LaPorte, but in reality they actually were not a seperate entity. LaPorte was loyal to Ricca and then to Giancana. LaPorte operated like all the other Capos except he had a bit more freedom being further away. There was no doubt LaPorte and his crew were one of the six major crews of the Outfit. They partnered like the rest and were also called upon to do murder up on the North side sometimes. As far as drugs, I don’t really know except that the other crews in the Outfit got away with it by making ‘juice loans’ to certain entities who actually did the hands on work of distribution. The Outfit guys usually stayed more in the background because drugs were always considered a big no no because of the risk and other factors.
Joe, My uncle said the same thing. When Elmwood Park guys would go down to the Heights and sometimes on over to NW Indiana, the Heights guys were very polite and happy to see them. In particular, Al Tocco.
The Don, I’m sorry if I confused you I was talking about LT’s father.. Frank Zizzo.
And JF I think your dad Armando may have been a sleeper going way back. And he probably was involved in Union business with Frank LaPorte.
Black Angelo, Thank you for the clarification about Zizzo. Joe’s father was a well respected man across the board and I believe also dealt quite a bit with LaPorte’s Underboss who later became the Capo of that group in 1972, AL Pilotto, who was also a strong union man.
Here is a picture of Frank Zizzo:
http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/50573441.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=E41C9FE5C4AA0A14598EB813DA5CB59A07E986794B08F345C205FBDFB7C3092AB01E70F2B3269972
Merlin that image of Frank Z. did not come up…
Here’s one, hopefully if comes up:
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=31ad687bcf6b1895
Black Angelo, your image worked. Merlin’s image would not come up for me either. LT Zizzo looked just like his father, especially, if he had put on those same sun glasses! LT Zizzo’s car was left in the parking lot of Abruzzo’s restaurant in Melrose Park where I used to go eat. I know the owners well.
Thanks, Black Angelo. It is the same picture, by the way.
LT Zizzo and Jimmy Marcello are both interesting guys because their backgrounds are shrouded in mystery.
During the F.S. trial, it came out the Jimmy’s dad, Sam (juice collector) was murdered. Obviously Jimmy was with Black Sam. But there’s no other background on him.
I know LT Zizzo was with Black Sam, too, and I think he lived in Melrose Park at the time of his incarceration in the 1990’s. But aside from that, I don’t know too much about him. (I believe Chiaramonti was with them, too.)
Do you have any additional background on them?
Merlin, you’re right about them. They all kind of a suddenly came out of nowhere in the early 1980’s and became very prominent guys. Maybe Joe Fosco or Black Angelo know more about their background before they became made guys. I know Zizzo & Chiaramonti were partners running a big bookmaking/loan sharking franchise in the west suburbs directly under the Top Boss Carlisi & his personal Underboss, Marcello. Carlisi was obviously the chief financial backer. They all went down around 1993 along with several soldiers working under Zizzo & Chiaramonti. Other than that, I don’t personally know anything else about them.
Exactly. How did Jimmy go from being just some unknown guy to Carlisi’s driver and right arm?
Merlin, If I had to take and educated guess concerning Jimmy Marcello, I would say he got lucky by hitching his wagon on to a very fast train. I believe when Auippa was the Top Boss, he took Carlisi with him. Then, at some unknown point, Marcello came into the picture working under Carlisi as a soldier, probably during the 1970’s. Then, around 1983, Marcello got made and was in charge of a franchise. Shortly thereafter, Auippa went to prison and Carlisi became the Top Boss. Carlisi then elevated Marcello to be his personal Underboss leaving Zizzo & Chiaramonti to expand that particular franchise and be the day to day supervisors over it. I agree that when things happened for Jimmy, they happened quickly. I once asked my Uncle the same question around 2003 when Jimmy got ot of prison. After I translated his coded answer, which wasn’t always easy, what I just said was the basic explanation.
Michael Magnafichi and the Hatch were in business together shortly before Hatch was knocked down. They owned a trucking company together, based in Melrose Park.
The article posted a few minutes ago “DaddonoIII Part II” is an interesting read.
I see what you’re saying. There must have been something about Jimmy that set him apart from the other guys who were with Carlisi, like Hatch and LT. Jimmy is thought to be smart, from what I understand.
I have some background on Jimmy Marcello. He was given the position of overseeing Lyons strip joints by Auippa/Carlisi. Jimmy did a nice job for the outfit. While the feds, DEA hit these joints hard and they got some corruption convictions on Lyons police and public officials, the outfit survived this mostly intact. Solly C got his prison time during this time, connected to a Lyons joint. Lyons was a major cash cow for the outfit from the mid 1960’s until the late 1980’s. Marcello found all the angles and was a major earner. The so called Double O alliance. Outfit/Outlaws was forged during this time period in this area. Marcello maintains many of these contacts from his time in Lyons. This is also were he met his long time mistress, at Michaels Magic Touch on 1st Ave and Ogden where he spent most afternoons. Marcello like all of these Outfit bosses murdered to protect the rackets. Many people were murdered including a former police chief of Lyons..although it was officially ruled a suicide.
Guido good stuff but Jimmy Light was already on the map or rise because of his “direct” relationship to Black Sam.
I’m not sure how lucrative running prositution jts was for Jimmy but usually the best way for a fast rise is via “juice loans” and or gambling profits.
Jimmy probably rose faster in the Outfit than anyone else (Giancana’s rise would be comparable because of the money he brought the Outfit via gambling in the 1940s).. Plus Giancana was a genius.
But I believe Jimmy met his goomah in the 1980s and he also had that strip joint or a couple off Roosevelt in Cicero. I know he got his foothold in that industry (strip clubs) via Juice Loans.
But as I stated previously he always had alot of money .. by making dividends (profits) on his Juice Loan operation.
And yes he was partnered with Solly C for a while and also the Caliendo brothers (Vito and Philly). I know nothing of when the Double O alliance started.
Thanks, Fr.
What’s your source? I’m just curious.
Does anyone know where Marcello is from? Someone said Galewood in another thread. I know that Mickey and John Matassa were childhood buddies. (And I believe Matassa attended Holy Cross High School in River Grove.)
Also, as I understand it, the so-called “Double O Alliance” is an invention of ABC 7 News. It’s a not really an active business relationship. They 2 groups have only ever worked together when necessary and out of convenience.
One of the murders cleared in the Family Secrets investigation was the Outfit’s bombing of an Outlaws member. Apparently, the guy was overheard in a Cicero tavern saying that he was going to kill Joey Aiuppa and take over some of the Outfit’s rackets in that area. Someone spotted a myserious vehicle on 22nd Ave. in Melrose Park near Aiuppa’s home, so Jimmy DiForti was sent out to follow the biker. He eventually blew up a truck the guy was driving.
Wasn’t there believed to be some kind of Outfit-motorcycle gang cooperation in connection to the Chiaramonti murder? Obviously, the Outfit was the prime mover behind the hit, but did they give it to a motorcycle gang or something?
The now-incarcerated Anthony Calabrese, who is believed to have been involved, is some kind of biker, isn’t he?
@Black, the joints in cicero and lyons for that matter where not Jimmy’s but he was the Outfit man “on site” like Bobby Salerno was in Elk Grove. But we are splitting hairs. Jimmy showed Auippa he was “the man.” in how he dealt with a lot of federal heat. in the early 1980’s. The G only got Carlisi/Marcello Chiarimonti/Zizzo because of the breakdown in Centracchio’s area Melrose Stone Park. Jimmy was very careful, crafty, and ruthless. Centracchio was careless. Hence the nickname “the man”
@merlin
as for my source, I was close to the situation is all I care to say. Also in the Auippa threat, that is true and the Outlaws blew their own guy up for his stupidity. I can’t recall his name.
And Anthony Calabrese was rumored to be involved with the Hell’s Angels not the Outlaws. The Hell’s Angels have a clubhouse in Harvey. The Outlaws shotgunned the sgt at arms of that club in the south suburbs in the late 1980’s. The biker gangs just like the street gangs make great partners in the drug business at the retail level. The Anthony Calabrese info was in the paper or online. It is not firsthand knowledge from myself or anyone I know. The Outlaw stuff I know from my own background.
LT Zizzo’s father Frank is from Sicily and was a made guy their. His background (Frank’s) is similar to that of Paul Ricca’s.. murdered a bunch of guys in his native land and then fled to the USA (Chicago) in the 1920s/30s.
Frank Zizzo in particular came to the states and was taken in by Frank LaPorte and helped him run his bootlegging empire. As gambling became a huge racket for the mob in the 1940s and 50s Frank Z. became a Capo under LaPorte and ran Indiana for him controlling all rackets out that way.
It seemed like the Heights was the place to run and hide for Sicilians or Southern Italians who had created a reputation in their native land and wanted refuge. It was a smart place to go because Frank LaPorte could protect those guys (because he basically was like the Mayor, Mob Boss and Police in one).
Plus lets face it .. It never hurts to have some crazy Zips working for you. I already in a earlier thread told you about Snooky Morgano’s father and how he was deported back to Sicly in the 1960s.
Their was some rumor on the streets a while ago that LT Zizzo was born in Sicily in 1936.. But this is not true he is a US citizen. I’m not sure where LT was born (either Indiana or Melrose Park) but I would have to check with somebody.
LT grew up for a time with Snooky in Indiana (both where the same age and their fathers was friends). I also believe LT’s mom was related to either Obrien or Obriens wife.
LT grew up in both Melrose Park and Northern Indiana.. He was arrested in Indiana for Gambling in the 1960s and at some point.. He left The Heights and went back to Melrose Park and Cicero where he partnered up with Black Sam.
As for Marcello his rise in the Outfit is blurry. I do believe his father Lil Evil Sam was from Taylor Street and a 42 gang member, but raised Jimmy Light in Cicero (I’ve heard.. But would have to check).
Sam “lil evil” Marcello was partners with the DeStefano brothers , Buck Clementi, Joseph Grisafe and the Carlisi brothers in the Juice rackets.. so Black Sam already new of Jimmy Light.
From what I hear Jimmy had no intentions of joining the life but his dad left a fortune on the streets after his untimely death and Black Sam helped him collect that and they became partners in the mid 1970s. Jimmy moonlighting as his driver.
Jimmy made so much money off his fathers fortune he doubled it and became in the early 1980s sort of like the CFO for the Outfit. He could finance anything. Money was not an issue w/ him at all.
As fir Black Sam began working for Obrien in the late 1940s/50s and had a reputation like that of Hatch Chairamonti from what I was told. It’s interesting because a lot of people where scared of the Hatch or had a tough time managing him.
But Black Sam loved the Hatch and knew how to control him. Because they was basically the same (except Black Sam may have had more of a personality if he didn’t want to choke or kill you. The Hatch was always mean.)
Black Sam, Jimmy Light and LT all have one thing in common all of their fathers was involved in Organized Crime. I’ve even heard Hatch’s father was involved but got whacked in the 1930s.
And yes The Don your correct LT used to frequent Abruzzo’s in Melrose Park a lot (last seen their). LT also has homes in Arizona, Florida and Wisconsin and owns a villa in Sicily.
Um who knows maybe he is blending in with society in one of those 4 places.
Black Angelo, I naturally assumed Frank Zizzo, being a made guy in the Outfit under LaPorte, ran a franchise in NW Indiana for him. What I didn’t realize was that he was born in Sicily. That’s interesting. You’re right, it didn’t hurt having a least a couple of Zips with you. What about Tony Pinelli? I believe he belonged either to the Chicago Heights Crew under LaPorte, or he was direct with whoever were the Top Bosses of the Outfit at the time. I believe he was involved in running a franchise also in a part of Indiana. Do you remember him?
Frank Zizzo was born in Chicago not Sicily. He was from Taylor st. Outfit guys from Chicago controlled gambling and prostitution in the steel mill areas of NW Indiana, in the beginning. Anthony Pinelli and John Formusa are two names that come to mind. The Hts. had Calumet City. A guy named Jimmy Emery and others ran the Hts. for years, LaPorte was attached to them.
Dom, If you say Frank Zizzo was from Taylor St., that’s even better! I also always knew Pinelli & Formosa were connected to Indiana. Well, we have a little descrepancy about Frank Zizzo. Me, being a North Sider and Elmwood Park/Melrose Park kind of guy, have no idea who is correct. I will say that the Zip thing was more in New York, not Chicago.
Frank Zizzo is not orig from Taylor Street. Maybe another Frank Zizzo but not LT’s father. If anything he had settled their upon coming to America very briefly.
Because the Gov’t tried to deport him, his son (LT) and Tommy Morgano in the 1960s. They succeeded with Morgano but not with the Zizzo’s.
(for the sake of arguement Frank Z did maintain close ties with Taylor Street guys but during Frank Zizzo’s reign of power in the late 50s early 60s all the Taylor Street guys was top echelon in the Outfit anyways because of Giancana.) Frank Z got all his power via LaPorte.
And Emery I believe was Laporte’s right hand man in the Heights (Pilotto was LaPorte’s driver and union man).
And The Don yes the term “Zips” is normally associated with cities such as New York.. But the original Zips found safe havens in the Chicago Heights area and or New Orleans.
A lot of Zips that came over in the 1970s liked to deal cocaine and finance cocaine via Columbia and or Sicily (that was their thing).
Pietro Alfano and Frank Rappa come to mind. Frank Rappa for a while in the early 1970s was partnered with Rocky Infelise in the selling of narcotics.
I’ve heard it said before that Infelise was a New York wanna be. Narcotics activities could be an example of that. I didn’t know him, obviously, so I’m not really sure.
Was he ever #2 of the entire Outfit? I ask because someone once told me that Infelise was the one responsible for implementing the East Coast LCN “making ceremony” in Chicago. Supposedly, Accardo and Mooney had no use for the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony, with the Catholic overtones and everything.
Number 2? For a period, Rocky was the boss, something his idol Joe Ferriola never accomplished. His wife’s affair with old man Cerone secured his prominent position.
Rocky didn’t implement anything except to look the other way while the Boss carried on with his wife. The making ceremony had been going on since the 1940’S.
Black Angelo, Was Pietro Alfano in Rockford or in Chicago. He was a Zip direct from Sicily sent over to America to be on the receiving/ distribution end of heroin. Nobody could beat the Sicilian Mafia as far as organization and secrecy. The New York Italian American Mafia guys were afraid of them. Anyway, Alfano was part of the Pizza Connection case in 1984. Most of the Zips were on the East Coast and were connected to the Bonnano Family in New York. However, there were a least a few Zips in the Midwest. The Feds were really upset that the Zips had been doing this for years beginning in the mid 1960’s and had acquired too much power. The C.I.A. thought the Sicilian Mafia was too much competition for them so they had to find a way to try and stop it!
Black Angelo: I am not going to argue with you over this, because I know I’m right. What is your source for information?
Pietro was from some small hick town near Rockford called Oregon, Illinois. I believe he was shot in Chicago once walking down Michigan Ave. in broad daylight (obviously a Sicilian hit).
But he lived and still did not flip (a true Sicilian lol). I would have to check where he was shot, but I believe it was in Chicago around 1984 or 85.
But they was moving a lot of dope around the Rockford area and probably (more than likely) paying a tribute to the Outfit. I heard Marco D’Amico had some “guys” (a crew) out that way that liked to deal in the 1980s….
As did Joey DiFronzo (John’s brother). I always had a hunch Joe D and Marco D where silent partners in the narcotics game.
As for Rocky Infelise he was the main guy in the early 1970s that flooded black and hispanic communities with cocaine and HEROIN !!!
In a government report dated in the early 1970s Rocky was the GO TO GUY for narcotics for the black street gangs in Chicago. So he obviously had a connect (Frank Rappa) to get the herion and cocaine from Columbia and Sicily.
And JF is right that Old Man Cerone’s alleged affair with “Hucks” wife probably elevated him and saved his raw hide from being whacked after his stay in Leavenworth (although Rocky was not yet made then).
And it didnt help Accardo was best friends with Rocky’s wifes father (Tough Tony Cap).
By the way the Don the Gov’t was concerned about Sicilians not accustomed to American mafia values, in that alot of Sicilians would take out murder contracts on Judges, Police and who ever (kind of like the Caruso’s in modern times lol)
Black Angelo, your’re right about The Sicilians killing Judges or Police. They are much tougher than the American Mafia. My wife is Sicilian. Her mother was born there. They are organized into many different clans( what we would call street crews) through blood and intermarriage. Very tight knit. Like I said, the New York Mob Guys were afraid of them.
Okay Pietro was shot in Manhattan (NYC)
Why doesn’t someone ask Cicero native Anthony Ortiz who he thinks murdered his father?
He’s got his ear to the street. THinks it was Frank and Nick C.