Friends of ours: Nicholas Ferriola, Frank Calabrese Sr., Joseph Venezia, Michael Marcello, James Marcello, Frank "The German" Schweihs
Two men accused of working with the Chicago mob pleaded guilty on the eve of the city's biggest organized crime trial in years.
The guilty pleas leave five defendants in the racketeering conspiracy case, scheduled to go to trial on Tuesday. The case is based on an FBI investigation of 18 long unsolved murders that federal prosecutors tie to the Chicago Outfit, the city's organized crime family. Neither man was among the most prominent defendants.
Nicholas Ferriola, 32, pleaded guilty to racketeering, bookmaking and squeezing extortion payments from a Chicago restaurant. He admitted he was part of the mob's South Side or Chinatown crew and that he worked with Frank Calabrese Sr., a defendant and reputed to be one of the city's top mob bosses.
Joseph Venezia, 64, pleaded guilty to running a gambling business and hiding the proceeds from the Internal Revenue Service.
No sentencing date was set. The men are to return to court Aug. 10.
The federal indictment presents a panoramic picture of the Outfit, which it says consists of six "street crews," each with a franchise over organized crime in its respective sector of the city and suburbs. The indictment details murder, gambling, pornography, extortion and loan sharking among the Outfit's activities.
The number of defendants has dwindled steadily as the date for jury selection has drawn closer.
Last week, Michael Marcello — brother of James Marcello, described by federal prosecutors as one of the top leaders of the Outfit — and two other men pleaded guilty to racketeering and other charges.
U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel also tentatively dropped reputed mob extortionist Frank "The German" Schweihs from the trial last week for health reasons.
Get the latest breaking current news and explore our Historic Archive focused on The Mafia, Organized Crime, The Mob, Mobsters, Gangs, Gangsters, Political Corruption, Crime, Clout and the Legal System on TheChicagoSyndicate.com
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Guilty Pleas on Eve of Family Secrets Mob Trial
Reactions: |
Related Posts
Family Secrets,
Frank Calabrese Sr.,
Frank Schweihs,
James Marcello,
Joseph Venezia,
Michael Marcello
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Best of the Month!
- Angelo "The Hook" LaPietra's Family Receives Discounted Chicago Water Bill
- Chicago Mob Infamous Locations Map
- Mafia Links of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
- The Chicago Syndicate AKA "The Outfit"
- One Family's Rise, A Century of Power
- Growing Up the Son of Tony Spilotro
- Mafia Wars Move to the iPhone World
- Sam Giancana Ordered JFK Whacked!!
- Hoboken Genovese Gang Not Seen Much Any More
- Firm with reputed mob ties flourishes

No comments:
Post a Comment