Family Secrets sentencing dates approach

Sentencing dates for a number of Family Secrets Case defendants are coming up, according to a blog entry by Steven Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times. Sentencing dates have not yet been set for several key defendants. Warmbir drew the following information from the docket of Judge James Zagel's U.S. District Court at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago.

Nicholas Calabrese, Sept. 24, 2 p.m.
Anthony Doyle, Oct. 1, 2 p.m.
Thomas Johnson, Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m.
Frank Calabrese Sr., date not set.
Joseph Lombardo, date not set.
James Marcello, date not set.
Paul Schiro, date not set.

Already sentenced:
Nicholas Ferriola sentenced yesterday to 3 years in prison.
Dennis Johnson sentenced to 6 months in prison.
Michael Marcello sentenced to 8 and a half years in prison.
Joseph Venezia sentenced to 40 months in prison.
Frank Schweihs died before trial.

Coroner delays Schweihs service

A legal technicality caused the remains of Frank "the German" Schweihs to arrive late for a July 28 funeral service attended by his family, according to a story by Michael Sneed and Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The medical examiner's office had not been properly notified when Schweihs died in custody at Thorek Memorial Hospital the previous Wednesday. The law requires an examination of all those who die in custody. On July 28, the medical examiner tracked Schweihs' remains to Salerno's Galewood Chapel and ordered them transported for examination.

Schweihs' family and friends, many of whom were already upset that they could not be with him during his last minutes of life, were gathering for a funeral service at that time. Facing trial on racketeering charges this October, Schweihs died of complications from cancer. He had recently battled lung cancer and a brain tumor.

Schweihs was one of the original defendants in the Family Secrets case. His poor health kept him from being tried with the rest of the accused.

Chicago mobster Schweihs dies at 78

Frank "the German" Schweihs (left), reputed assassin for the Chicago Outfit, died last night, according to stories by Chuck Goudie of WLS-TV-7 in Chicago and the staff of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Schweihs' poor health did not allow him to be tried with his Family Secrets Case codefendants last summer. He was reportedly suffering from cancer. A separate trial for Schweihs was to begin this October.

During a June court appearance, Schweihs made an impression, with his rude and vulgar comments. Schweihs was transfered recently from Metropolitan Correction Center to Thorek Hospital and Medical Center, where he died.

According to the WLS report, Schweihs was first arrested in 1949 and averaged more than one arrest per year since then.

Court ignores Schweihs' antagonism

U.S. District Judge James Zagel and federal prosecutors said nothing in response to antagonistic remarks by reputed Chicago mobster Frank "German" Schweihs (right) last week, according to reports by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun Times, and the staffs of the Chicago Tribune and the Chicagoist.

The Chicagoist, which reported how Schweihs' vulgar remarks were handled in the press accounts of the Sun-Times, Tribune and Associated Press, announced in its headline that Schweihs "has a potty mouth."

During a court appearance on June 10, Schweihs, 78, asked one male assistant U.S. attorney, "Are you makin' eyes at me?" After noting that another prosecutor wore a turban, he asked his attorneys if they were in a foreign country. Later, he called another prosecutor a vulgar name.

The court went ahead with its business, setting an Oct. 28 date for Schweihs' racketeering trial. Schweihs initially was charged in the Family Secrets case, but he was separated from the other five defendants because he was afflicted with cancer.

Imprisoned Schweihs signs DNR order

Alleged mobster Frank "the German" Schweihs may have to be moved to a prison medical facility due to his recent signing of a do-not-resusciate (DNR) order, according to stories by the Chicago Tribune and CBS-2 Chicago.

Schweihs had been named as a defendant in the Family Secrets case, which resulted in September 1997 guilty verdicts against five men linked to the Chicago Outfit. Schweihs missed the trial because he was battling cancer. A separate trial is scheduled for late October.

Schweihs, 78, is charged with a mob-related murder and with extorting payments from businesses. When he first learned he was indicted, Schweihs fled. He was apprehended by FBI agents in Kentucky. He has been behind bars for the past 17 months.

U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel said the recent do-not-resuscitate order could require Schweihs to be placed in a medical facility of the Bureau of Prisons. According to Zagel, other federal institutions would not be able to honor such an order.

Schweihs trial expected in April

Frank "the German" Schweihs is expected to be brought to trial in April in a sequel to the current Chicago Family Secrets case, according to a report by John Drummond of CBS-2 in Chicago.

Schweihs, 77, a reputed mob enforcer, was removed from the list of defendants in the current case when he was reportedly diagnosed with cancer. Authorities note that he has since made a miraculous recovery.

Convicted of extortion in 1989, Schweihs is now charged with participating in the murder of government witness Daniel Seifert in September 1974.

Click for CBS2Chicago video report.

Secrets: Shakedown video and the Clown's driver

Jurors in Chicago's Family Secrets trial on Tuesday were shown a videotape of an Outfit "street tax" collector at work. Frank "the German" Schweis, whose case was severed from the current trial because he is ill, was shown trying to persuade adult-bookstore owner William "Red" Wemette to pay the $1,100 a month tax, according to a story by Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune.

Cooperating with authorities, Wemette told Schweis (right) that an underworld competitor was already taking protection payments from him. Schweis suggested that no one would dare to compete with the Outfit. He recalled one competitor who was eliminated: "Lumbo made it real [expletive] clear to him."

Prosecutors say "Lumbo" is a nickname for Family Secrets defendant Joseph Lombardo.

On Wednesday, the jury heard from a former driver for Lombardo (left). Alva Johnson Rodgers, 78, was brought into the Outfit in 1973 after helping Chicago gangster Marshall Caifano in a successful legal appeal. Rodgers, a habitual criminal, and Caifano once shared a cell in Atlanta federal prison, according to a Coen story in the Tribune.

Rodgers recalled when Lombardo was promoted over Caifano within the Outfit. Rodgers then went to work as Lombardo's driver. Soon after, Rodgers and Caifano started a peep-show business in Chicago and moved to monopolize the porn industry in the city under Outfit control.

Prosecutors on Wednesday also played an audio tape of Lombardo threatening the life of a casino owner who failed to pay back a loan.

Related MobNews posts:

• 'Secrets' witness provides Outfit history 06-26-07
• Opening statements at 'Secrets' trial 06-21-07
• Chicago 'Secrets' trial opens 06-19-07
• Schweihs severed from 'Secrets' trial 06-18-07
• Chicago mobster paid hush money 06-18-07
• Ratting out the Outfit 06-08-07
• Chicago mobster admits 14 killings, cooperates 05-24-07
• TV report previews Chicago Outfit trial 05-15-07
• Family Secret jurors' names secret 04-25-07
• Feds look for $500K from Lombardo 04-24-07
• Witness list of Chicago Outfit trial revealed 04-23-07
• Deputy marshal charged with aiding mob 01-13-07
• Chicago commission papers subpoenaed 01-10-07

Schweihs severed from 'Secrets' trial

Ferriola, Venezia reach plea deals on eve of trial

Frank "the German" Schweihs will not be with his Family Secrets case codefendants when trial begins in Chicago tomorrow, according to a story by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times. Due to Schweihs' poor health - he reportedly has cancer - he was severed from the case and could eventually stand trial separately.

In Family Secrets, Schweihs (left) was charged with the 1974 killing of Daniel Seifert. Prosecutors also suspect him of involvement in the 1985 murder of Pasquale Ricciardi and other killings.

The Sun-Times also noted that Family Secrets defendants Nicholas Ferriola, 32, and Joseph Venezia, 64, reached plea deals removing them from the case today. They pleaded guilty to gambling-related charges. That leaves five defendants for trial starting tomorrow. Four other defendants have already entered guilty pleas.

Fourteen men were indicted in April 2005 in connection with the federal Family Secrets investigation. Last week, Michael Marcello and Thomas and Dennis Johnson pleaded guilty to paying hush money to a murder witness. In May, Nicholas W. Calabrese, 64, admitted involvement with 14 killings. He is expected to testify against the remaining defendants, including his brother Frank Calabrese Sr.

The remaining defendants are:
- Joey "the Clown" Lombardo, reputed former boss of the Outfit.
- James Marcello, who prosecutors say was the reigning Chicago boss at the time of his arrest.
- Frank Calabrese Sr., an alleged member of the Outfit's 26th Street crew.
- Paul "the Indian" Schiro, alleged loan shark.
- Anthony Doyle, former Chicago police officer.

Related MobNews posts:

• Chicago mobster paid hush money 06-18-07
• Ratting out the Outfit 06-08-07
• Chicago mobster admits 14 killings, cooperates 05-24-07
• TV report previews Chicago Outfit trial 05-15-07
• Family Secret jurors' names secret 04-25-07
• Feds look for $500K from Lombardo 04-24-07
• Witness list of Chicago Outfit trial revealed 04-23-07
• Deputy marshal charged with aiding mob 01-13-07
• Chicago commission papers subpoenaed 01-10-07