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Alleged Mob Boss Asks To Be Moved From Jail

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Dec 6, 2006 9:42 am US/Central

Alleged Mob Boss Asks To Be Moved From Jail

Frank Calabrese Says He Has Back Problems, Lacks Privacy

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CBS 2's John Drummond and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ― An alleged organized crime boss says he needs more space while awaiting trial in jail.

Frank Calabrese Sr. appeared in U.S. District Court on Tuesday and asked Judge James Zagel to be moved from the Metropolitan Correctional Center downtown to prepare for his case.

Calabrese said the conditions at the facility are preventing him from being able to work with his attorney on his defense. Among the complaints are overcrowding and a lack of privacy because he is kept in an open cell with 15 other inmates.

He says he is also taking 15 medications and has a chronic back problem.

Calabrese told Zagel he needs to be allowed to have privacy at the Correctional Center, and also needs a way of going to his attorney's office to review elements of his defense.

Zagel said moving Calabrese could put him in contact with other defendants in the case, which prosecutors want to avoid. But the judge said he would look into it.

Calabrese has been held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center for about 18 months. His trial is set for May of next year. Last June, Zagel rejected a motion for Calabrese's release, saying there was a "serious risk" Calabrese would attempt to prevent testimony from his brother and other potential witnesses "through intimidation, injury or bribery."

Calabrese is one of 14 reputed figures from the Chicago Outfit charged in a racketeering indictment that alleges at least 18 murders going as far back as 1970.

The government alleges Calabrese was a member of the South Side/26th Street crew and, with others, murdered 13 people in Chicago and surrounding suburbs between August 1970 and September 1986.

According to prosecutors, Calabrese's victims included reputed mob enforcer William Dauber and reputed mob hit man William "Butch" Petrocelli.

Calabrese's brother, Nicholas W. Calabrese, also was charged but has been cooperating with prosecutors.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.