Kurt Calabrese
In the Family Secrets trial, we've heard from the patriarch of the family, Frank Calabrese Sr.
Accused of 13 murders, Calabrese Sr. has told jurors from the stand how he's the real victim in the case.
Calabrese Sr. described how his brother, Outfit killer Nicholas Calabrese, stole the affection and loyalty of two of Calabrese Sr.'s sons, Frank Jr. and Kurt.
The betrayals came even after Calabrese Sr. plead guilty in a 1995 loansharking case to get better deals for his two sons, who were also charged, according to Calabrese Sr.'s testimony.
We've also heard from Nicholas Calabrese and Frank Calabrese Jr., who tell a radically different story.
Calabrese Jr. spoke at trial of a tyrant of a father, who often made him fear for his life.
Nicholas Calabrese testified how his brother, Frank Sr., put Frank Jr. and Kurt through hell. Nicholas Calabrese believes his brother sold out his sons during the plea negotiations from the 1995 case.
The one man who has not spoken through all this is the second son, Kurt Calabrese.
Kurt Calabrese isn't charged in the Family Secrets case. He is not cooperating with the government and is deeply estranged from his father, according to sources familiar with the matter.
As of Friday, it didn't look like he was going to be called to the witness stand in the Family Secrets case, either for the prosecution or the defense.
He had received a subpoena from his father to testify last week but that subpoena was later withdrawn, sources said.
Kurt Calabrese appeared rather unhappy with the subpoena.
At one point during Frank Calabrese Sr.'s testimony, he pointed to Kurt Calabrese, sitting in the courtroom gallery, and urged prosecutors to ask Kurt Calabrese about Calabrese Sr.'s sacrifices for him. Calabrese Sr. appeared to be referring to his decision to plead guilty in the 1995 case, allegedly to help his sons.
Calabrese Sr. still appeared to feel hurt by the lack of gratitude his sons had shown him. Calabrese Sr., for instance, that Kurt Calabrese, thanks to him, could have received 6 months in a prison boot camp but decided he couldn't handle the discipline required and took two years instead in prison.
After his father's outburst, Kurt Calabrese stormed out of the courtroom, waiving the subpoena in his hand.
Several reporters went out after him, but he granted no interviews.
Perhaps at that point, it became clear to Calabrese Sr. that calling his son, Kurt Jr. to the stand would not be productive for his defense.
Steve, I was in the courtroom when Kurt stormed out of there.
Do you get the sense that he was there in support of his father and after this latest outburst by his father is ready to write him off?
I guess the question is...has Kurt shown any alliance with his father or brother for that matter?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: My understanding is that Kurt is not allied to his father at all and is estranged from him.
The Sun-Times has previously reported that the brothers have usually gotten along.
I must say that was a powerful moment when the young Calabrese got up and stormed out of the court room while his dad was trying to save his own life on the stand. It seemed so heavy to me when Mr. Calabrese said "Ask my son" I was there and will never forget it. I feel sorry for the torn apart family aspect. It is a pity.
What does Kurt do for a living now? I heard he was in the restaurant business.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I have no idea what he does for a living.
Sounds like a very dramatic part of the trial. Did he storm out right away after his father made his comment? You suggest that it was very noticeable when he did so; was it obvious who Frank Calabrese was referring to as his son, and do you think the jurors saw him storm out? Did the son show up because of the subpoena, is that how you can tell that he wasn't happy with it?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: It was quite dramatic.
Kurt Calabrese did leave right away after his father pointed him out.
I don't think the jurors could have missed it.
I don't believe he was there because of the subpoena. He had previously been in court to hear his father testify.
I heard from witnesses he was served out in the coutroom hallway.
There is a lot of us with tough hard nosed S.O.B's as fathers. Old World=father=provider/protector. Not friend/nurturer.
Yeah, it would have been best had the meathead Frank Sr. steered his two deadbeat sons out of the rackets.
But in the end, thats what Frank Sr knew, its what he was born into himself, and we're all products of our environment.
But I ask how could they turn on their old man? To the Feds? R u kidding me?
What satifasfaction could you get from seeing him die in the joint. Pure scumbags. Perhaps, this is Frank Sr.'s ultimate punishment.
STEVE WARMBIR NOTES: While the one son, Frank Jr., testified against his father, the other, Kurt has not.
Kurt Calabrese isn't cooperating with the defense, but he has no love lost for his father either, according to people familiar with the situation.
I know I've been posting alot lately. I've been following this story since it started.
Growing up in Cicero, there are names popping up that were very common back then.
Let me say first that I'm no fan of crime, I do have some background in law enforcement.
I hope this doesn't sound bad but the general feeling is, back when organized crime was big the streets seemed to be safer, that's not just my opinion.
We didn't see the things being brought up here.
I think alot of old timers have always felt that the ones killed knew what they were getting into and never thought about the families.
I have always said that if given a choice I would take organized crime over the disorganized crime of street gangs.
I would love to see the government go after street gangs as vigorously as they are on crimes commited some as long as 30 years ago. Just my thought.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: Megatrials or megaprosecutions involving a couple dozen gangbangers in federal court in Chicago are much more common than mob trials like the Family Secrets case.
You just hear about them less because they spark less media interest.
The voice that is really missing is JOEY Calabrese. Was it part of Nicky's deal to leave him out of everything?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: Both the prosecutors and the defense went through all the benefits Nick Calabrese received and excluding Joseph Calabrese from the trial wasn't one of them.
Interesting point on the street gangs, Steve and the poster.
I'm curious if these two criminal organizations ever mix paths? Have you talked with anyone, heard any testimony or researched that the Outfit tried to take control of the local gangbangers, have they ever crossed paths?
Something of that matter? Has there been any news stories that would suggest this? It seems like the street gangs in Bridgeport never go near the old men and Italians at near 26th street, when a couple of blocks away they sell drugs and whatever else.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: There has been some mixing of the Outfit and street gangs, according to people in law enforcement I've spoken to.
Some investigators believe the Outfit may occasionally farm out a hit to street gang or work with gang leaders on drug deals.
I know people can undergo an identity in these posts and say whatever they want, but I swear, I'm about to tell you something with absolute accuracy.
I don't know Kurt very well. I'm not going to say we're friends, but I do know him.
And he is one of the nicest, most considerate people I've ever met. He won't deny his past--which did involved some crime, but never to the extent that his father or brother were involved.
He did his best to detach himself from the lifestyle and he has. Even Frank Jr., whom I've never met, said his father was a sick man.
I've seen Kurt do some remarkable things for other people, by helping them when he barely knew them. I know he's not money-hungry like the rest of these animals and runs legitimate businesses.
These kind of mugshots will give people the impression that he's a part of all this mess...he's not. He's one of the good guys, and that's the best I can do to help you readers believe it.
Not for the rest of these men on trial and mentioned throughtout the trial....different story.
Just read Len's posting on Joey Calabrese, who is that? Do you have any backround info on him?
The comments romanticizing the 'good old days' when thugs pretended they were doing a community service==that people can buy that is ridiculous!
The crime wave following the mob crackdown of the late 70's may have been fueled by the 20 year lag between large lead emissions others have noted.
It wasn't because the feds finally had RICO to use against these Soprano-like animals.
Look what senior did to Kurt.
Sr's a bum.
Nothing to respect there, folks.
What is amazing is how deese guize have secured a spot in our 'warm memories' of the days when GM had eliminated public transportation across the country.
Mobsters and corporate executives profited during the 50s, 60s, 70s, and onward from road contracts and subdivision sprawl.
And now the planet is dying.
Well, we may not have been able to prosecute them.
But at least their children and grandchildren will all die with the rest of us.
What a waste.
Or. If we can trace all that money that their families shipped overseas to different banks--can we seize the fruit of all those ill=gotten gains and get the mass transit we need?
The new WPA style programs we need to build a renewable way of live?
Then we can say that the 50's to present, dominated by the mob/corporate elite will not have been entirely fallow times????
How was Anon refering to as "JOEY" Calabrese??? You also responded to it but gave no details??
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I gave no details because nothing of any substance. came up in the trial about Joseph Calabrese.
But who is Joey Calabrese??
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I believe they are referring to Frank Calabrese's brother. That's all I know about the man.