Outfit killer Frank Calabrese Sr. has repeatedly threatened to kill one of the federal prosecutors who put him away for life, Markus Funk.
But you wouldn't know it from Calabrese Sr.'s recent sentencing in federal court, where Funk appeared to make it a point that Calabrese Sr.'s threat had zero effect on him.
At times, the two men stood side by side at a lectern in front of the judge, the taller Funk towering over the shorter Calabrese Sr.
At one point during the sentencing, U.S. District Judge James Zagel made it a point to blast one of the arguments made by Calabrese's attorney, Joseph Lopez, on his client's behalf.
Lopez argued in the filing that society suffered no loss from the murders that Calabrese Sr. allegedly committed, since the victims were criminals themselves.
The judge blasted that argument.
Funk apparently anticipated the judge might have a problem with the argument.
In an unusual scene, Funk slid over the relevent highlighted section of Lopez's court filing to Calabrese Sr., who was standing right next to Funk.
Just so Calabrese Sr. would have no doubt what the judge was calling him on the carpet for.
Steve- Great job on the trial. Your work is awesome. Did you hear Mr. Lopez say at the end of the sentencing that Calabrese would like to appeal, and that Calabrese would like an attorney appointed? Mr. Lopez wont be his attorney for the appeal because Calabrese has no money? or is it just a total waste of time?
Will we know where Calabrese ends up in terms of prison? Someone told me he might end up at Supermax in Colorado?
Lastly, would you ever try to interview Marcello, Lombardo or Calabrese in prison after this all ends? Calabrese seems to enjoy talking.
Thanks Steve, cant wait to follow your next assignment.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: We'll have to see who the court appoints for Calabrese Sr. It could be Lopez, it could be someone else. I believe Lopez would have to be appointed for the appeal to get paid.
Lopez, of course, was appointed for the trial itself.
I've put in interview requests with some of the defendants. Calabrese Sr. likely will never be able to do an interview, because he is not allowed to speak to the press under the extremely restrictive conditions he is being held under. Given that, what we heard from him his last time in court was likely his last public words.
Calabrese is a pig. But I don't think he has repeatedly threatened Funk. And the reason for the "terrorist-level" confinement of Calabrese seems unrelated to the courtroom during-the-closing threat, if you read all the documents. This whole threat thing seems to be a media invention based on blowing one incredibly stupid comment by a over-the-hill mobster out of proportion.
Funk knows that.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I'm unclear about what documents you're referring to, since virtually every document regarding Calabrese Sr.'s confinement is not public.
But if you look at what is public, you'll find that the judge in the case made a finding that Calabrese Sr. did in fact threaten Funk during closing arguments. You'll also find that Calabrese Sr.'s attorney, Joseph Lopez, acknowledges in a sentencing filing that a jailhouse snitch told the feds that Calabrese Sr. was overheard saying he wanted to have Funk killed. Lopez disputes whether the snitch was telling the truth.
It was those incidents, combined with the allegation that Calabrese Sr. was still trying to run aspects of his operation while in prison, that resulted in the restricted administrative measures for Calabrese Sr.
So to call it a media invention is not based on the facts. The media didn't decide to put more restrictive measures on Calabrese Sr. The feds did. And they did it well after the comment Calabrese Sr. made at trial. Those measures had been in effect for weeks before the media reported them.
Excellent coverage. Grea work by federal gov't prosecutors.
Will we know where Calabrese ends up in terms of prison? Someone told me he might end up at Supermax in Colorado?
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He will more than likely serve his time in the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, due to all his health issues.
Same for Lombardo, who it seems has a lot of health issues of his own, not to mention evidently being wheelchair-bound. Lombardo will almost definitely go to MCFP Springfield.
There also a couple other medical prison centers, but this is the main one and also in the Midwest. I know there's one in Massachusetts, too.
You will be able to find out where they went at the Federal Prison of Prisons website found at the following web address: http://bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jsp
It shows Calabrese still in the MCC. Pretty soon it should show "In Transit" and then once he's processed at the prison where he is going to it will tell you where he is. Again, same thing for Lombardo and the others.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: You're right on the money on most of your information. My only question — and I'm looking into this — is whether Calabrese Sr. can be held at Springfield under the special administrative measures. Calabrese Sr. will likely be held under those conditions for the rest of his life, according to two sources familiar with the matter. That's why the speculation centers on the Supermax in Florence, Colorado, as his future home.
Who cares where they send this idiot. I would be willing to bet if they were to let Frank SR. go free, he'd probably worse off then being in prison. lol!!!!
IF HE GOES TO THE CENTER IN MISSOURI, IT ONLY MEANS THAT SOMEONE MADE A DEAL. THIS IS A COUNTRY CLUB WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO MARION IN ILL OR FLORENCE IN COLORADO