The Outfit on trial

They're going to get all of them on at least one, save of course Doyle.

They'll still run some operations while in jail/prison. (I can't remember which term is more severe)

I still think this is more a landmark case for the government, proving to themselves and the Outfit that they can't and won't stay silent and dormant in pursuing the criminals forever.

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: Just FYI, prison is the word you want.

Steve, do you know of any books, films, etc. in the works re: the Outfit or Operation Family Secrets? Are you going to write a book?

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: There are always rumblings of Hollywood interest as well as book contracts, but I haven't heard of anything solid.

As for me, I'm just focused today on fielding a flood of comments on the blog.

I am really torn by this verdict. It's not that I want criminals to "get off" when they are guilty but I really don't see how this was a fair trial with all of the slanted media coverage.

There is no way possible these jurors were not affected by media and family members. I hear Chuck Goudie report on the "thugs" and other newscasters smirk as they report this story--- it has an impact and ultimately I don't think these guys had a chance.

At any rate, I attended the trial almost every day in the beginning, but stopped going for reasons I can't say. I wasn't a fan of the govt and their tactics in getting a conviction and I really am torn by this verdict.

Steve you did a fantastic job in covering this. You really did your job 110%.
Question:

When is the sentencing?

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: No sentencing set yet. It will probably be early next year. The next status date is in November.

Steve - Please tell me you're going to write a book or at least publish more details you observed on the trial here! There is still so little covered in articles and on this Blog.

Great work, by the way.

What are your thoughts on any potential future indictments coming out of this trial and the government's witnesses?

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I think the next action will be in the forfeiture arena, as the government goes after millions of dollars from the defendants.

Thanks for the kind words. I've got to tell you that most of the details from the trial made it into the story or the blog.

Remember that the government cut its case by about a third, so a lot of the details hinted at never made it in.

on the 8 murders the jury deadlocked on, can the defendents be re-tried or are they just made to be not guilty? and if so how long before that would happen?

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: They almost certainly won't be re-tried on those cases.

I had heard on the news last night that there are 128 people that are still considered part of the "outfit".

Do you have any names or any info if there are more indictments?

By the way great job. I enjoyed reading your articles. If you do decide to write a book I'll be the first one to buy it.

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: Thanks for the kind words.

There are no looming indictments I've heard about for the 28 people the FBI says are made members, and the 100 or so associates.

We've written about many of those folks on this blog and on these pages.

Of course, the biggest names still standing are John DiFronzo, Al Toranbene, Joseph Andriacchi and Marco D'Amico, among many others.

There are a lot more than 130 or so guys who are still part of the Outfit. Way more people than that.

The FBI cannot know down to a man how many made members there really are out there, i.e., 28 made members as the FBI boss has claimed within the last week or so. Also, I don't believe he was counting all the made members who are in prison. There's probably around 28 made members JUST in prison.

And the associate membership estimate of "more than 100" is also extremely low.

Back in 1997 the Chicago Crime Commission estimated the associate level at 700-1,200 associates. Just on the low end of 700 associates, where did around 600 guys go? They all aren't in prison or have died in the past 10 years.

Admittingly, quite a few made members have died in the past decade, including Joseph Aiuppa (1997), Samuel Carlisi (1999), Angelo LaPietra (1999), Dominic Cortina (1999), Donald Angelini (2000), Albert Tocco (2005), etc. But that's just a drop in the bucket. There's a lot more out there, including still-yet unidentified made members who fly under the radar (Frank Calabrese Sr. would call them "sleepers").

As they say, "The FBI doesn't bat 1,000." They can't know about everybody, and their figures of today's Outfit of 28 made members and "more than 100" associates is a conservative (if not completely inaccurate) number.

My guess is there is somewhere close to about 700 members of The Outfit.

There are of course, people who are involved, that are not exactly involved--gang members who have to kick up money, when drug dealing, so they won't upset anyone in that particular territory.

It's common knowledge in Cicero that some drug dealers have to pass along some of their profits to a person "they know."

There's also plenty of bookies and small timers that don't directly involved themselves with violence or any bullying. They're actually quite harmless...but of course, that doesn't mean their friends aren't.

Sorry for the slight contradiction.

Anyhow, FBI estimates are usually very good, but they're not going to concern themselves with some of the no-bodies, so they don't need to tally everyone involved.

I'm not sure how Al Tornabene ever flew under the radar for such a long time, as a boss--amazing.

I think they keep their numbers low for obvious trust reasons and less competition and jealousy.