Nick Calabrese
The attorney for prolific mob killer Nicholas Calabrese is asking a federal judge for a substantial reduction in his prison sentence given Calabrese's "extraordinary" cooperation in the historic Family Secrets mob case.
The lawyer, John Theis, did ask not U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel for a specific prison sentence for Calabrese, who killed more than a dozen people for the Chicago Outfit, including taking part in the 1986 murders of Anthony and Michael Spilotro in the basement of a Bensenville area home.
Calabrese was the star witness in the Family Secrets case, helping put behind bars his own brother, mob killer, Frank Calabrese Sr., along with Outfit chief James Marcello and top Outfit leader Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo.
Theis argues that Nick Calabrese was the first made man of the Chicago mob to cooperate and testify at a federal trial and notes that a lengthy sentence for his client, who is 67, would effectively be a death sentence.
Theis argues that Calabrese's cooperation did much to undermine the operation of the Outfit and "almost certainly saved the lives of others."
Calabrese began cooperating with the government after they tied him to a mob murder through blood evidence, but his attorney argues that Calabrese's decision was influenced by other factors.
His attorney writes that Calabrese's decision to cooperate "was the result of a much more complex and difficult process, beginning with the many years of anguish with which he lived, fearful of his own safety as well as that of his family, and unable to find the courage to extricate himself from the criminal activity in which he had so long participated."
At trial, Nick Calabrese testified that he feared his brother, Frank Sr., would kill if he didn't complete the mob hits they often did together.
Theis noted that by asking for a break Nick Calabrese's request "is meant in no way to diminish his complete remorse and contrition for the pain and sorrow which he has caused many individuals and their families."
Calabrese is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in federal court in Chicago.
What time is the Thursday sentencing scheduled?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: 2 p.m.
Nick Calabrese's lawyer John Theis filed this "...fearful of his own safety as well as that of his family..." That Nick is afraid his wife(?) and children(?) or other relatives will get hurt by the MOB as a result of his testimony. I have not seen any mention of Nick's relatives. Were any introduced at trial in any way?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: The lawyer is saying Calabrese fears for his safety and his family's safety. Nick Calabrese has a wife and two children. I don't recall them being mentioned in any substantive way at trial.
I just got Jeff Coen's book. Jeff who works for a different paper (sorry Steve, we love ya) is the first book out on the trial. I pre-ordered it from Amazon and it came Friday. It is a real nice hard cover book with great pictures. I can't wait to read the parts in which was was there watching. Also part covering Nick on the stand.
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: No apology necessary. I read the book, and Jeff does a fine job giving a detailed look at the Family Secrets trial. I recommend the book to anyone who's interested in getting a blow-by-blow account of the trial.
Only thing is that the book is strictly on the case and information that came out during the trial. There is nothing else in the book on the Outfit, either currently or past happenings, besides what came out at the trial. In other words, no research outside of the trial. Still a good book, though, as a summary of the trial. Not that the book is misleading, either. It clearly states that it's about the trial, even in the title and subtitle. I do, however, think he should have waited until after the sentencing so he could include it, but I'm sure the publisher wanted to get this book out first before other books on this case that are sure to come out in the near future (I've heard of at least two more in the works). I'm quite certain a paperback edition will be released within the next year or so that will surely be updated with the sentencings.
Whatever he did in the past, and they were horrific things, he has broken the cycle so that HIS children will not feel they must follow their father's footsteps. he did the right thing for his family in doing so, and regardless of the sentence today, should be admired for that.
his children are college educated and productive members of society....and they love and miss their father.
I was wondering what other books are in the works as stated by Anonymous and who is doing them? I had heard that there is a movie in the works also by some local guys.Anyone know anything about this and who might be doing it?Also,are they also about the trial or the story about how all this stuff started.Someone needs to tell the real Family Secrets story,dont you think so Steve
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I know the Tribune's Jeff Coen has a book out and what I'm sure would be an entirely different take, Frank Calabrese Sr. indicated in a letter released a few months ago that he is also writing a book about the trial. While I've heard various rumors about movie deals, there's been nothing substantive reported in the Hollywood trade newspapers about such a deal.