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Jury Convicts 5 For Roles In 18 Chicago Mob Killings

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By MIKE ROBINSON, The Associated Press

Published: September 11, 2007

CHICAGO - A federal jury on Monday found five aging men guilty in a racketeering conspiracy that involved decades of extortion, loan-sharking and murder aimed at rubbing out anyone who dared stand in the way of the ruthless Chicago mob.

The verdicts capped an extraordinary 10-week trial that laid bare some of the inner workings of 'The Outfit.'

The prosecution's star witness was an admitted hit man who took the stand against his own brother to spell out the allegations, crime by crime. The jury heard about 18 unsolved killings, including the beating death and cornfield burial of Tony 'The Ant' Spilotro, the mob's man in Las Vegas and the inspiration for Joe Pesci's character in the 1995 movie 'Casino.'

The jury deliberated for less than 20 hours. The defendants, all but one of whom already have spent years behind bars, simply looked on, poker faced, as the clerk read the verdicts.

It was a sweeping victory for prosecutors. The five men were found guilty of all counts, including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, illegal gambling and tax fraud.

Alleged mob boss James Marcello, 65; alleged mob capo Joseph 'Joey the Clown' Lombardo, 78; convicted loan-shark Frank Calabrese Sr., 70; and convicted jewel thief Paul Schiro, 70, could now face up to life in prison. The fifth man, retired Chicago police officer Anthony Doyle, 62, was the only one among the five not accused of taking part in at least one killing.

The trial focused on the killings, ordinarily among the deepest and most closely held secrets of the mob, whose members have sworn an oath of silence. Jurors will next be tasked with determining which men were responsible for each of the 18 deaths.

The government's star witness was Nicholas Calabrese, an admitted hit man who cooperated with the government in hopes of avoiding a death sentence.

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