Jul 9, 2007 7:32 pm US/Central
Calabrese Jr. Testifies On Mob Do's And Don'ts
Family Secret Trial Pits Father Against Son
by John Drummond / CBS 2 News
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Frank Calabrese Jr.'s testimony riveted jurors Monday. (File)
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A star government witness spilled the secrets of his father's syndicate family in the Family Secrets trial Monday.
CBS 2'ss John Drummond, who has covered the mob for five decades, reports the blockbuster testimony from Frank Calabrese Jr., the son of defendant Frank Calabrese, riveted the jury.
It was the first full day of son against father with young Calabrese opening a Pandora's box of mob secrets.
"Once you're in, you're in," Calabrese Jr. said. "You can step back and semi-retire but if you are called upon you have to report."
According to Calabrese Jr., his father worked for Chinatown boss Angelo "The Hook" LaPietra, who in turn reported to the big boss Joey "The Doves" Aiuppa.
The younger Calabrese said he served a 10-year outfit apprenticeship that included arson, beatings, juice-loan collections and keeping records of money owed.
Calabrese Jr. told the jury that his father trusted him to help build secret compartments for an assortment of weapons and records at the father's home in affluent Oak Brook and at the grandmother's house in suburban Norridge.
When asked if Monday's testimony would be damaging to his client's case, Calabrese Sr.'s lawyer, Joe Lopez said, "He is a witness. Like every story there are two sides. Right now we're hearing only one side."
Calabrese Jr. testified there are Outfit do's and don'ts. Among them: don't talk, don't steal without permission and don't do anything illegal without an OK.
But, he said, one rule trumps all others. Your Outfit family comes before your real family, and before God.
Calabrese Jr. recalled that his father was upset that mob godfather Tony "Big Tuna" Accardo had five burglars tortured and killed as punishment for breaking into his River Forest home. The old man was upset because he felt the murders brought too much heat on street crews like his. It was bad for business.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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