Prolific Outfit killer Nicholas Calabrese got a break in federal court Thursday afternoon after U.S. District Judge James Zagel gave him a prison sentence of a little more than 12 years.
Since he's already served 6 years, with his credit for good time, Calabrese will serve a little more than 4 years more before he can be released.
Zagel noted that leniency was required to get other people to come forward in the future and give the kind of extraordinary cooperation that Nick Calabrese did.
Family members of Calabrese victims, though, were outraged, for the most part.
Most family members could not get their minds around the fact that Calabrese was sentenced to less than a year per murder.
During the time victims' families had to address the court, some thanked Calabrese for coming forward, but none suggested that he should get anything less than life in prison.
Calabrese, dressed in a gray sweatshirt and jeans with the cuffs rolled up, appeared pained at times during the families' statements.
Some family members said they believed Calabrese, unlike his brother Frank Calabrese Sr., felt remorse, while other suggested that Calabrese only cooperated when it was clear he was caught.
I heard on the news tonight of large scale, impending indictments. What with Calabrese's testimony & now Marcello rolling over, I don't really see the Outfit recovering.
This is an injustice to us the victims familes. He killed 14 people in cold blood and got off with 12.4 years. I can't wait for him to be released and get shot dead with in 10 mins of being on the street. What does this say to all the other criminals out there? It says Go ahead and kill as many as you want, as long as you turn in others who have done the same you can get off scott free. Bite me.
You know i was seating here and going to wright a big comment but there are no words to express on how disappointed i am in the whole justice system give them what they want and you can walk free no matter what you do shit they saying molest 14 kids but give me 5 more child molesters and you wont have to spend half of time that you would of. I really hope the judge can sleep at night because being the victums son i sure had a tough time sleeping.
to Anonymous, You Wouldn`t have a Family Secrets Case without Nick`s help. The Feds had to give him something in return for his testamony. otherwise why would he talk. that`s what happens when you make a deal with the Devil.
Back to Anonymous:
I understand that, but with his age 20 yrs would have been sufficent for him to die in prision with out really having a life sentence. I hope his bladder cancer comes back full force and kicks his ass right out. That would be the justice we all need.
Anthony Ortiz, believe me I understand where you are coming from but would you rather not ever know who did that to your father. Wihtout Nick's cooperation you would not, you have every right to be mad be at least you got some closure.
I'm Very sorry to the Ortiz family, but it is correct if Nick Calabrese didn't cooperate there wouldn't have been any information at all. NO TRIAL and did you people really think he was going to get a long sentence really? The Government still needs him to testify against more Mob figures in part 2 of this trial thats what witness protection means . If he was going to get life why would he continue to be an informant . Think about what you write before you write it. Because some of you talk like you have no idea what organized crime is. Just step back and look at other high profile mob cases such as Gotti and Sammy ( The Bull ) the government handled this cases the same way. Why the surprise? I knew in 2002 when the FBI came to my house to question me about Lombardo and my father's dealings that Nick wasn't going to due any really time. He was there ace in the hole and even Steve and many other Chicago reporters said the same thing in 2001 when Nick first became MIA. One thing we should all be grateful for is that everything did come out in the trial about the murders and they were solved. Now the corruption in these murders is a whole different thing thats what's next who were the cops and Judges and Mayor Richard J. Daley and Mayor Jane Burne that looked the other way and allowed the corruption and murders to continue.
My loved one is dead but I know what happened to him and that gives me such peace. Did he deserve to spend more time in jail...certainly...at least in our eyes,the victims families.I will not let him continue to victimize my family by being angry or mad. I will let go of this and forgive. I so praise the FBI and attorneys that got the man to talk (even for selfish reasons)... they deserve an applause.
Nick Calabrese used the same defense the Nazis used at Nuremberg: "Just following orders, not my decision."
This really is ridiculous. There are people on Death Row right now and hundreds more who have been executed just in the last century for killing one person. This guy helps to kill 14 people and gets 12 years. I know a guy in prison right now who got 4 years in the Illinois prison system for growing marijuana on his first offense!
This is one of those "Only in America" comments that foreigners always throw at us. "Only in America can you get 12 years for killing 14 people."
Dr Pat showed his true colors with the letter he sent the judge on behalf of Nick.He couldnt come to court to read it in person because he is a coward,amongst other things.He said he got Nick to flip because he wore a wire on him but Nick wouldnt at first admit he did it so Dr Pat says he should stay in jail forever.Dr Pat should be where his 2 saintly brothers,the stone killer and best friends wife screwer,and the actor/wiseguy who never did anything wrong and was innocently killed. Dont waste anymore of anyones time listening to this crackpot trying to defend his brothers.Thats like the Calabrese sons trying to defend their Uncle and Father.
STEVE WARMBIR NOTES: Just to clear up a few issues, neither Frank Calabrese Jr. nor Kurt Calabrese has either defended their father.
Pat Spilotro suggested that Nick Calabrese should spend the rest of his life in prison because of what Nick did, not because of his failure to confess.
And I while I understand there are a lot of strong feelings out there involving Pat Spilotro, it should probably be noted for anyone who hasn't seen him speak or heard his letter read into the record, he doesn't go on at length in court defending his brothers or portraying them as stellar human beings.