The Outfit on trial

How did Cooper come across? Also what do we know about the Hells Angels connection?

STEVE WARMBIR: Robert Cooper apparently came across well enough for the jury to convict Calabrese.

Cooper was pretty straight forward and testified without much emotion.

The place where his testimony seemed a little shaky was when he said he didn't care what time he received for the murder he committed, allegedly with Calabrese.

I'm not saying he lied in this instance. I'm only speculating that a typical juror would have trouble believing why anyone wouldn't care about the difference between receiving 22 years and receiving, say, 60 years, which Cooper could have gotten.

As for the Hells Angels, nothing came up at trial about any Calabrese connection to the motorcycle gang.

Steve, Does it seem funny to you that the so-called witnesses were bribed with a lesser sentence and given a cash settlement, but it seems the jury may have been as well after hearing Friday's events. What did the jury base their decision on? Thoughts???

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: There's nothing unusual about witnesses agreeing to cooperate for a lesser prison sentence or for people in witness protection to receive money.

The reason we know about this is because it was testified to at trial. The jury knew about it and was told to treat the testimony of those witnesses with caution.

I didn't talk to jurors after the case. But they made their decision in an extremely short amount of time.

That was probably because virtually everyone else involved in the robberies testified against Calabrese.

You also had the victims testify, and their statements on what happened jibed with testimony from the bad guys.

So you either had a vast conspiracy by the government to line up witness testimony, to make sure it all matched — or you had witnesses, many of them less than solid citizens, getting up on the witness stand and telling the truth, along with the victims of the crimes.

The jury chose the latter, more rational explanation.

Being a member of the jury for the Calabrese trial, I can tell you that the testimony of the "criminals" was taken with no less consideration than the testimony from the "good guys".

Naturally someone will do what they can to get a lighter sentence - but it doesn't mean they lied to do it. Not all was given a lessor sentence for their cooperation, and the evidence at hand was too incriminating not to take it all very seriously and without a shread of doubt in any of our minds.

I know they weren't allowed to mention any of his connections to the "Oufit", but did they mention who the "Mob Boss" was that's daughter got tattooed?

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: They prosecutors didn't share that detail in court.

Where can I find a witness list for trial?

STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: There is a public copy of the proposed witness list in the case file at the federal courthouse in Chicago.

From what I understand, Tony C. answered to James "Jimmy I" Inendino. I wonder if he has a daughter with a tattoo? I'm sure if the heat isn't on him now, it will be on him pretty soon.

STEVE WARMBIR NOTES: James Inendino is scheduled to be released from federal prison in October of this year.

To the member of the jury above: you don't think the "bad guys" would lie??? are you kidding me??

they admit to armed robbery,sticking a gun in a person's face and demanding cash,one admitted to smashing a innocent man's hand with a hammer while he pled for mercy..... but he would not tell a lie?

what world do you live in?

You all watch too much T.V. Calabrese was convicted because he is Italian and he looks like one of the "bad guy's" you see in every mob movie ever made.

You know how I determine who I would believe? If I trusted a person to baby sit my child,That person I would believe.

Would you let the guy swingging the hammer baby sit you'r child??? If anyone walked into a 7-11 today and shot a woker in the head for no reason, that person would serve less time in prison than Calabrese.

Is this the system you want to be a part of?

Don't you think if a person held you up at gun point that you would be able to ID that person,I know I would remeber that face.

NOBODY WAS ABLE TO I.D. CALABRESE. except the guy's that got the deal.....that by definition is REASONABLE DOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot reveal my name as I was one of the victims. I CAN say that when someone puts a revolver in your face you can only think of the size of the gun! You are in shock and looking at a face is the 3rd thing you think of. The first 2 things are the GUN and Your LIFE!