Friends of ours: James LaValley, Lenny Patrick, Frank "The German" Schweihs, Sal Romano, Frank Cullotta, Tony Spilotro
A former adult bookstore owner and an ex-juice loan enforcer who once threatened to cut off the remaining arm of an amputee are among the witnesses who could testify in the upcoming blockbuster Family Secrets mob trial in Chicago, the Sun-Times has learned.
Federal prosecutors are expected to put forward a parade of former wiseguys in the trial, beginning in May, that aims to solve 18 mob hits and puts some of the top reputed mobsters in Chicago on the hot seat.
Former enforcer James LaValley, who once belonged to the street crew of one-time top mobster Lenny Patrick, has cooperated with the government for more than 15 years after a career in which he specialized in so-called "hard-to-collect" debts.
LaValley, an intimidating, sizable man, testified in an earlier mob trial that he cut the hand of one deadbeat gambler and threatened to cut off the arm of a bookie who was an amputee.
Another potential witness in the Family Secrets case is former adult bookstore owner William "Red" Wemette, according to sources familiar with the matter. Wemette repeatedly helped record one defendant in the case, reputed mob killer Frank "The German" Schweihs, who was convicted of extorting Wemette during the 1980s.
Also on tap as potential witnesses are two former members of the burglary crew run by Anthony Spilotro, the Chicago mob's man in Las Vegas. Both Sal Romano and Frank Cullotta have testified previously at mob trials.
It's unclear exactly what the witnesses would testify about at trial, but they could provide jurors with expansive views of their slice of mob life in Chicago.
Attorney Joseph Lopez, who represents reputed mob hit man Frank Calabrese Sr. in the Family Secrets case, said he had seen LaValley testify in another case years ago and did not share the government's estimation of him. LaValley is "a real character," Lopez said. LaValley "loves himself to death. If he could look at himself in the mirror all day, that's all he'd do."
Thanks to Steve Warmbir
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Hughes Brothers to Direct The Ice Man
Friends of ours: Richard "Ice Man" Kuklinski, Gambino Crime Family
Allen and Albert Hughes last brought the graphic novel From Hell
to the screen. Now they’ve turned to the nonfiction shelves. Daily Variety reports the filmmakers are set to direct The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
, based on the Phillip Carlo book about Richard ‘Ice Man’ Kuklinski. Kuklinski was a contract killer for the Gambino family, who kept his job a secret from his wife and three children in New Jersey. The extent of his murderous career came to light only after he was convicted and given two life sentences, and gave extensive interviews to Carlo.
Kuklinski was described as “one of the darkest, most brutal and complicated killers in contemporary organized crime," according to producer Jason Blum who is working with Lorenzo DiBonaventura on the project. "He was a serial killer who found the perfect calling, carrying out hits for the Mafia." Kuklinski bragged about carrying out over 200 killings in his career. The Hughes brothers will move to The Ice Man after their next project, a big-screen version of the 1970’s television classic Kung Fu
.
Thanks to Dennis Michael
Allen and Albert Hughes last brought the graphic novel From Hell
to the screen. Now they’ve turned to the nonfiction shelves. Daily Variety reports the filmmakers are set to direct The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer, based on the Phillip Carlo book about Richard ‘Ice Man’ Kuklinski. Kuklinski was a contract killer for the Gambino family, who kept his job a secret from his wife and three children in New Jersey. The extent of his murderous career came to light only after he was convicted and given two life sentences, and gave extensive interviews to Carlo.Kuklinski was described as “one of the darkest, most brutal and complicated killers in contemporary organized crime," according to producer Jason Blum who is working with Lorenzo DiBonaventura on the project. "He was a serial killer who found the perfect calling, carrying out hits for the Mafia." Kuklinski bragged about carrying out over 200 killings in his career. The Hughes brothers will move to The Ice Man after their next project, a big-screen version of the 1970’s television classic Kung Fu
.Thanks to Dennis Michael
Monday, March 12, 2007
Soprano's Say Arrivederci with less Hype
Friends of ours: Soprano Crime Family
For "The Sopranos," this almost constitutes some kind of record. When the HBO mafia series begins its final run of nine episodes on April 8, "only" 10 months will have passed since the last new episode premiered last June. The only gap between seasons that was shorter than this one was the one between the show's The first
and second
seasons - approximately 91/2 months from April 1999 to January 2000. That was after the show's phenomenal, groundbreaking first season (and still, in the minds of some, the best "The Sopranos" ever had) and before the show's producers (apparently) began to fuss so obsessively with the show that the gap between seasons grew and grew, culminating in the unprecedented 21-month break between seasons 5
and 6
.
Now the show that was (and maybe still is) arguably the most talked-about series in the history of television is returning after less than a year and there appears to be none of the hype, anticipation and excitement that accompanied the onset of previous "Sopranos" seasons. That's probably due to a couple of factors including the most obvious, which is: The excitement over this series has dissipated. That's only natural for a series that is now nearly eight years old. That might not seem like a long time, but think about it: When "The Sopranos" premiered on Jan. 10, 1999, Bill Clinton still had two years to go in his second term. It was a different world and when "The Sopranos" came along, none of us had ever seen anything like it. Since then, however, a number of great, comparable TV dramas have come and gone.
Moreover, now that "The Sopranos" has been chopped up for broadcast on A&E, this once special series has begun to look like any other TV show that's been packaged for syndication on commercial television, with its trademark language and brutal violence sanitized to keep the sponsors happy. In addition, maybe "Sopranos" fans have learned by now to keep their
expectations low. In the past, high expectations have frequently been met by disappointment (to be fair, no show could ever meet the high expectations set for "The Sopranos"). Last season was a case in point. While the season had some great moments (the mugging of Lauren Bacall comes to mind), the major storyline involving the closeted gay mobster, Vito, seemed to be
over-emphasized, at the expense of other mob business. Now, nine installments, produced in just 10 months, are all that is left of "The Sopranos."
Arrivederci.
For "The Sopranos," this almost constitutes some kind of record. When the HBO mafia series begins its final run of nine episodes on April 8, "only" 10 months will have passed since the last new episode premiered last June. The only gap between seasons that was shorter than this one was the one between the show's The first
and second seasons - approximately 91/2 months from April 1999 to January 2000. That was after the show's phenomenal, groundbreaking first season (and still, in the minds of some, the best "The Sopranos" ever had) and before the show's producers (apparently) began to fuss so obsessively with the show that the gap between seasons grew and grew, culminating in the unprecedented 21-month break between seasons 5 and 6.Now the show that was (and maybe still is) arguably the most talked-about series in the history of television is returning after less than a year and there appears to be none of the hype, anticipation and excitement that accompanied the onset of previous "Sopranos" seasons. That's probably due to a couple of factors including the most obvious, which is: The excitement over this series has dissipated. That's only natural for a series that is now nearly eight years old. That might not seem like a long time, but think about it: When "The Sopranos" premiered on Jan. 10, 1999, Bill Clinton still had two years to go in his second term. It was a different world and when "The Sopranos" came along, none of us had ever seen anything like it. Since then, however, a number of great, comparable TV dramas have come and gone.
Moreover, now that "The Sopranos" has been chopped up for broadcast on A&E, this once special series has begun to look like any other TV show that's been packaged for syndication on commercial television, with its trademark language and brutal violence sanitized to keep the sponsors happy. In addition, maybe "Sopranos" fans have learned by now to keep their
expectations low. In the past, high expectations have frequently been met by disappointment (to be fair, no show could ever meet the high expectations set for "The Sopranos"). Last season was a case in point. While the season had some great moments (the mugging of Lauren Bacall comes to mind), the major storyline involving the closeted gay mobster, Vito, seemed to be
over-emphasized, at the expense of other mob business. Now, nine installments, produced in just 10 months, are all that is left of "The Sopranos."
Arrivederci.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Cullotta
Friends of ours: Tony Spilotro, Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, James Marcello
Friends of mine: Frank Cullotta, Michael Spilotro
Frank Cullotta first met Anthony Spilotro when they were rival shoeshine boys on Grand Avenue in Chicago.
Spilotro's introduction went something like this: "What the f--- are you lookin' at?"
The volatile pair nearly brawled that day, but they became friends after realizing Cullotta's gangster-father had helped Spilotro's dad out of a jam once. The boys also became associates in crime, beating up enemies, sticking up bank messengers and -- as Spilotro rose to power as the Chicago mob's Las Vegas overseer -- robbing and killing people.
Cullotta's life is the subject of a soon-to-be-released autobiography titled Cullotta, from Nevada's Huntington Press Publishing.
The book is slated to hit stores this summer, possibly during the Family Secrets trial. The case aims to solve a host of old mob hits, including the 1986 murders of Spilotro and his brother Michael.
By the time of the Spilotros' demise -- they allegedly were killed by reputed mob boss James Marcello and others -- Cullotta already had flipped for the government, entered witness protection and begun testifying against fellow hoodlums, including Spilotro.
Cullotta, a hit man and burglar who ran Spilotro's infamous "Hole in the Wall Gang," left the mob 25 years ago this May as the law was bearing down and his relationship with Spilotro deteriorated to the point that Cullotta feared getting whacked.
Now, Cullotta might be called by the government to testify in the Family Secrets trial, expected to get under way in May.
Cullotta's book -- co-written with former cop Dennis Griffin with help from Cullotta's former FBI handler, Dennis Arnoldy -- is light on many details but does offer some nuggets for mob buffs, saying:
• • Cullotta had a strong inclination that associate Sal Romano was a snitch, and didn't want him along on the 1981 heist of Bertha's furniture and jewelry store that led to the gang's capture. But Spilotro reportedly insisted, and Romano indeed was an informant. Then Spilotro didn't bail out Cullotta or help him much in his legal troubles, slights that further soured Cullotta on Spilotro.
• • Reputed mob leader Joey "The Clown" Lombardo allegedly settled a dispute between Cullotta and another alleged mobster by letting the man beat Cullotta with a brick. Lombardo allegedly handled the matter this way because he feared the retribution would be worse when mob boss Joseph Aiuppa returned from vacation. Lombardo's attorney, Rick Halprin, however, called the story "fantasy" and said it had been discredited at a long-ago court hearing.
• • Cullotta befriended members of the Blackstone Rangers while in jail, and Spilotro once considered enlisting the gang to kill Las Vegas cops in retaliation for an earlier police shooting, the book says. The scheme never materialized, but Cullotta says he was hired by the gang to blow up a South Side business so the owner could collect insurance.
• • When Cullotta was in prison and wanted a plum assignment, he reached out to then-Chicago cop William Hanhardt to intervene because they knew each other from the street and Hanhardt was friendly with the warden. Cullotta ended up getting the assignment, he said. Years later, Hanhardt was convicted of running a jewelry theft ring with alleged ties to the mob.
• • Cullotta's father, Joe, a now-dead robber and getaway driver, allegedly helped Spilotro's restaurateur-dad Patsy out of a "Black Hand" extortion scheme. The elder Cullotta "and his crew hid in the back room of the restaurant until the Black Handers came in for the payoff," according to the book. "Then they burst out and killed them. After that Patsy wasn't bothered anymore."
If the book gets across one point, it's that Cullotta, 68, is a survivor -- because of his cunning, and luck. At least 44 pals or cohorts were killed by the mob or police.
Today, he has a new identity and lives out "west." He owns a business that leaves him "well off," although the book doesn't go deeply into the present day. He also is a partner in a new Las Vegas tour group that -- what else -- visits old mob haunts. He'll be making cameo appearances on the tour bus, but they won't be announced in advance.
Thanks to Robert C. Herguth
Friends of mine: Frank Cullotta, Michael Spilotro
Frank Cullotta first met Anthony Spilotro when they were rival shoeshine boys on Grand Avenue in Chicago.
Spilotro's introduction went something like this: "What the f--- are you lookin' at?"
The volatile pair nearly brawled that day, but they became friends after realizing Cullotta's gangster-father had helped Spilotro's dad out of a jam once. The boys also became associates in crime, beating up enemies, sticking up bank messengers and -- as Spilotro rose to power as the Chicago mob's Las Vegas overseer -- robbing and killing people.
Cullotta's life is the subject of a soon-to-be-released autobiography titled Cullotta, from Nevada's Huntington Press Publishing.
The book is slated to hit stores this summer, possibly during the Family Secrets trial. The case aims to solve a host of old mob hits, including the 1986 murders of Spilotro and his brother Michael.
By the time of the Spilotros' demise -- they allegedly were killed by reputed mob boss James Marcello and others -- Cullotta already had flipped for the government, entered witness protection and begun testifying against fellow hoodlums, including Spilotro.
Cullotta, a hit man and burglar who ran Spilotro's infamous "Hole in the Wall Gang," left the mob 25 years ago this May as the law was bearing down and his relationship with Spilotro deteriorated to the point that Cullotta feared getting whacked.
Now, Cullotta might be called by the government to testify in the Family Secrets trial, expected to get under way in May.
Cullotta's book -- co-written with former cop Dennis Griffin with help from Cullotta's former FBI handler, Dennis Arnoldy -- is light on many details but does offer some nuggets for mob buffs, saying:
• • Cullotta had a strong inclination that associate Sal Romano was a snitch, and didn't want him along on the 1981 heist of Bertha's furniture and jewelry store that led to the gang's capture. But Spilotro reportedly insisted, and Romano indeed was an informant. Then Spilotro didn't bail out Cullotta or help him much in his legal troubles, slights that further soured Cullotta on Spilotro.
• • Reputed mob leader Joey "The Clown" Lombardo allegedly settled a dispute between Cullotta and another alleged mobster by letting the man beat Cullotta with a brick. Lombardo allegedly handled the matter this way because he feared the retribution would be worse when mob boss Joseph Aiuppa returned from vacation. Lombardo's attorney, Rick Halprin, however, called the story "fantasy" and said it had been discredited at a long-ago court hearing.
• • Cullotta befriended members of the Blackstone Rangers while in jail, and Spilotro once considered enlisting the gang to kill Las Vegas cops in retaliation for an earlier police shooting, the book says. The scheme never materialized, but Cullotta says he was hired by the gang to blow up a South Side business so the owner could collect insurance.
• • When Cullotta was in prison and wanted a plum assignment, he reached out to then-Chicago cop William Hanhardt to intervene because they knew each other from the street and Hanhardt was friendly with the warden. Cullotta ended up getting the assignment, he said. Years later, Hanhardt was convicted of running a jewelry theft ring with alleged ties to the mob.
• • Cullotta's father, Joe, a now-dead robber and getaway driver, allegedly helped Spilotro's restaurateur-dad Patsy out of a "Black Hand" extortion scheme. The elder Cullotta "and his crew hid in the back room of the restaurant until the Black Handers came in for the payoff," according to the book. "Then they burst out and killed them. After that Patsy wasn't bothered anymore."
If the book gets across one point, it's that Cullotta, 68, is a survivor -- because of his cunning, and luck. At least 44 pals or cohorts were killed by the mob or police.
Today, he has a new identity and lives out "west." He owns a business that leaves him "well off," although the book doesn't go deeply into the present day. He also is a partner in a new Las Vegas tour group that -- what else -- visits old mob haunts. He'll be making cameo appearances on the tour bus, but they won't be announced in advance.
Thanks to Robert C. Herguth
Saturday, March 10, 2007
The Clown and the German Face Obstruction of Justice Charges
Friends of ours: Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo, Frank "The German" Schweihs
Federal prosecutors say reputed mob boss Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo and another alleged organized crime figure have been charged with going on the lam to avoid arrest. The obstruction of justice charges were approved by a federal grand jury Thursday and tacked onto a sweeping indictment of 14 defendants.
The 78-year-old Lombardo and 77-year-old Frank "The German" Schweihs allegedly went on the lam after prosecutors unveiled the racketeering indictment in April 2005.
Schweihs was captured in Kentucky hill country in December 2005 and Lombardo was cornered in an Elmwood Park alley in January 2006.
Lombardo attorney Rick Halprin said the government could not charge Lombardo with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution because it could not prove he had crossed state lines.
Federal prosecutors say reputed mob boss Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo and another alleged organized crime figure have been charged with going on the lam to avoid arrest. The obstruction of justice charges were approved by a federal grand jury Thursday and tacked onto a sweeping indictment of 14 defendants.
The 78-year-old Lombardo and 77-year-old Frank "The German" Schweihs allegedly went on the lam after prosecutors unveiled the racketeering indictment in April 2005.
Schweihs was captured in Kentucky hill country in December 2005 and Lombardo was cornered in an Elmwood Park alley in January 2006.
Lombardo attorney Rick Halprin said the government could not charge Lombardo with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution because it could not prove he had crossed state lines.
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