Frank Calabrese Sr.
Mob killer Frank Calabrese Sr., who once threatened in open court to kill a prosecutor, has been placed under tough lockdown measures usually reserved for terrorists at the Metropolitan Correctional Center after he allegedly threatened again to kill the same prosecutor, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
Calabrese Sr., 74, has been placed in solitary confinement since last month and is extremely limited to whom he can talk to, in an apparent attempt by the feds to stop Calabrese Sr. from communicating any threats for outsiders to carry out.
Calabrese Sr. can only be visited by three immediate family members and cannot speak with fellow prisoners. His defense attorney, Joseph "The Shark" Lopez, said he was turned away from visiting Calabrese Sr. Tuesday even though Lopez signed a form swearing he will not pass on any communications from Calabrese Sr.
"If he has hemorrhoids, I can't tell his wife," Lopez said.
The U.S. attorney's office had no comment on the restrictions, called special administrative measures. White supremacist Matt Hale, who plotted to murder a federal judge, was put under similar restrictions five years ago.
Calabrese Sr. was found last year at the Family Secrets trial to have committed seven mob hits. He threatened prosecutor Markus Funk during his closing argument that he was a "f------ dead man."
Calabrese Sr. is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 11 and faces life behind bars.
Calabrese would have to be a complete idiot to be a party to any action that directly or indirectly hurt an AUSA whom he has already threatened. If he thinks he is in trouble with seven mob hits ... harming a federal prosecutor would up the punishment ante exponentially.
I don't believe Calabrese is that stupid. Such an action would prove him to be a fool. And it would reinforce every bad thing the USAO ever said about the Chicago Outfit. Those should be the last things he wants.
STEVE WARMBIR NOTES: The only point I would make is that if you need evidence as to Calabrese Sr.'s ability to hurt himself by speaking, look no further than his decision to take the witness stand and testify in his own defense — or to the hours of tape recordings made by his son, Frank Jr., of his father talking about mob hits.
Frank your going to rot in hell. You got caught, get over it. And do your time. The famous saying you do the crime you do the time... Well build a bridge and get the f*** over it. I can't wait to see your face next week when you are sentenced to life.
This proof positive that no matter who is behind bars, the goverment will never be one up on the mob. They will always be around, and they will always get their way.
Who are the 3 people allowed to see him?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: His current wife and the two children he has with her.
is there any reason to believe that this would post pone sentencing?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: Calabrese Sr.'s attorney Joseph Lopez is expected to ask the judge to postpone the sentencing, but the judge seems intent on getting them done by the end of the year.
If there's a new sentencing date set, I'll post it on the blog.
Hi Steve,
How does that work as far as "Attorney Client Privelage" etc. What I mean is...what if he needed to talk to Lopez about his legal issues?
I'm no "legal eagle". Doe's it not matter since the trial is over? I'm surprised that they can turn him away.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: You ask an excellent question.
Frank Calabrese Sr.'s attorney, Joseph Lopez, needs access to Calabrese Sr. to confer with about Calabrese Sr. about his sentencing and about restitution issues.
Lopez has been turned away from the MCC, even after signing the appropriate form that he won't communicate anything that Calabrese Sr. tells him to outside parties.
Lopez likely didn't get access because of bureaucratic snafus, since these type of restrictions are so rarely put in place, but Lopez does need access to Calabrese Sr., and he'll have to get it. Otherwise, I don't see how Calabrese Sr. can be sentenced.
do you think senator durbin will intervene? he is quite sympathetic to crying wives and prisoners over 70?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I'm guessing no. Then again, I was surprised by Ryan.
Thanks for answering. It seemed rather odd.
Is there any chance Lopez is suspected of passing info from Calabrese to other unsavory characters (signed form or not) like Lynne Stewart did ? Or is Lopez just a media whore?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: No one has made any allegations that attorney Joseph Lopez passed information from Frank Calabrese Sr. The form Lopez had to sign is what is required of all lawyers whose clients are put under special administrative measures.
Hi,
Thanks to Steven for sharing your thoughts. Very nice post.
Thank you
Nancy.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO NICK CALABRESE. IS HE DOING TIME? FRANK AND NICK HAD ANOTHER BROTHER BY THE NAME OF JOE. NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.
Nick Calabrese hasn't been sentenced yet. Joe Calabrese was not part of the Family Secrets case.