Michael Marcello wasn't just a messenger boy for his half-brother, mob boss James Marcello, a federal prosecutor argued Tuesday.
But Michael "Mickey" Marcello did run his share of errands.
Like going to pay off the family of mob killer Nick Calabrese to buy his silence. Unfortunately for James Marcello, Calabrese flipped to help the feds.
Or providing payments to his brother's mistress.
But Michael Marcello had more important duties as well.
While federal prosecutor T. Markus Funk did not mention it Tuesday at Marcello's sentencing hearing, Marcello took part in a fascinating meeting with two mobsters in early November 2001, Anthony "The Hatch" Chiaramonti and Frank "The German" Schweihs.
FBI agents witnessed the meeting at a suburban pancake between the men, in which they argued.
There was a dispute over lucrative video poker machines in the suburbs.
A little more than a week later, Chiaramonti was gunned down in south suburban Lyons.
On the body of the mobster was a list of stops where Marcello's company had video poker machines.
Chiaramonti also had a pager number for Mickey Marcello.
Steve,
Whats the word on the Schweihs trail date? This guy's going to be gone by the time they get going.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: No trial date yet. He's still apparently quite ill.
has any specifics about the subject that schweihs and chiaramonti where arguing about and on what side of the argument the marcello's stood. ironically the route one would take from most of the spots on his list to Browns chicken in Lyons leads one past the pizza man.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: There weren't any specifics released on what the men were arguing about. The suggestion during testimony was that the FBI observed the argument but wasn't listening in.
There is a secret prison recording from James Marcello, indicating his unhappiness with how the hit on Chiaramonti was handled.
Not that he was killed, mind you, just how it was done.
Thanks for the insight, That makes it more clear to me, my understanding was that Chariamonti was in the Carlisi crew with James Marcello, so I was wondering if his murder was sanctioned by Marcello. et al., but it sounds like it was and it boiled down to greed, I am sure.
Chariamonti did his time and probably felt he "deserved some payback"
The fact that Schwiehs was muscle for Mickey Marcello, seems to me to back up the goverments assertion
that Lombardo is real close to the top if not above Marcello.
The outfit is weakened, but the guys left are pretty smart criminals, and have had years to legitimatize their business'
Any indication if Tony Calabrese may flip? If he did kill Chariamonti and the gov has any physical evidence beyond his partners testimony, they have some leverage. anyway thanks for the insight.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: All I can tell you is what Tony Calabrese said before the jury entered the courtroom with its verdict: "I came into this world a man, I'll go out a man."
Did you hear anything about a closed session from the press with the judge regarding the appeals and bail for some of these guys?
I have heard thru friends that something went on but details are not known.. thanks
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: There's nothing I know of recently that concerning the appeals for the five men who went to trial.
Their appeals aren't even pending because they haven't been sentenced yet.
They won't get bond pending appeal because they were all convicted of violent crimes.