Jun 18, 2007 4:05 pm US/Central
2 Plead Guilty To Charges On Eve Of Mob Trial
5 Defendents Due To Face Trial In Operation Family Secrets Case
CHICAGO (AP) ―
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Two men accused by federal prosecutors of ties to the Chicago mob pleaded guilty Monday on the eve of the city's biggest organized crime trial in years.
The guilty pleas reduced to five the number of defendants still due to face trial in the Operation Family Secrets racketeering conspiracy case, based on an FBI investigation of long unsolved mob murders.
Neither man was among the most prominent defendants.
Nicholas Ferriola, 32, pleaded guilty to racketeering, bookmaking and squeezing extortion payments or "street tax" 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., one of the trial's big names.
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 indictment names the Chicago Outfit, the city's organized crime family, as a racketeering conspiracy that led to 18 murders.
It also presents a panoramic picture of the Outfit, which it says consists of six "street crews," each with a franchise over organized crime in its sector of the city and suburbs.
Murder, gambling, pornography, extortion and loan sharking are among the activities detailed in the indictment.
The number of defendants has dwindled steadily as the time for jury selection has gotten 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.
Also last week, Zagel tentatively dropped reputed mob extortionist Frank "The German" Schweihs from the trial for health reasons.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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