Jun 17 2007
Reputed Chicago Mafia boss’s brother pleads to paying murder witness
CHICAGO: The brother of reputed mob boss James Marcello pleaded guilty to racketeering and other charges Thursday and admitted he paid a witness $4,000 (€3,000) a month to keep silent about unsolved underworld murders.
Michael Marcello was one of three men to plead guilty in the case before federal Judge James B. Zagel on Thursday, five days before the scheduled start of Chicago’s biggest mob trial in years.
Marcello, 56, listened as lead prosecutor Mitchell A. Mars accused him of paying former mobster Nicholas Calabrese $4,000 (€3,000) a month — Mars did not specify for how long — in hopes that Calabrese would not talk to federal agents and tie brother James to the killings.
Among the victims: Tony “The Ant” Spilotro — the Chicago mob’s one-time man in Las Vegas who inspired the Joe Pesci character in the movie “Casino.” Spilotro was found buried alongside his brother in an Indiana cornfield.
“Did you hear what the prosecutor, Mr. Mars, just said?” Zagel asked.
“Yes, Your Honor,” said Marcello, clad in a bright orange prison jumpsuit and leg irons to keep him from making any quick exit.
“Is what he said the truth?” Zagel asked.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Marcello said.
James Marcello, described by prosecutors as the head of the Melrose Park street crew of the so-called Chicago Outfit, is one of nine men due to start trial with jury selection Tuesday in the case arising from the FBI’s Operation Family Secrets probe of long unsolved murders.
Other defendants include such big-name reputed mobsters as Frank Calabrese Sr. and Joseph “Joey the Clown” Lombardo, who was captured following a nine-month federal manhunt after the indictment was unsealed.
The nine men have pleaded not guilty.
Michael Marcello pleaded guilty to racketeering, conducting an illegal gambling business, hiding profits from federal tax collectors and obstruction of justice by paying Nicholas Calabrese to keep mum.
Calabrese, brother of Frank Calabrese Sr., ended up talking to the FBI and now figures to be the prosecution’s star witness. He is expected to tell an extraordinary history of the mob from the 1960s almost until now.
Michael Marcello faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison although the actual term is likely to be much less. A sentencing date was not set.
Also pleading guilty were two employees of Michael Marcello’s M&M Entertainment who acknowledged they altered video games so they could be used as gambling devices, placed them in taverns and clubs and collected the proceeds. Thomas Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and Dennis Johnson five years.
Reputed Chicago Mafia boss’s brother pleads to paying murder witness - The Associated Press - Thursday, June 14, 2007 - http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/14/america/NA-GEN-US-Mafia-Trial.php
