Operation Family Secrets Part 11

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah. Diagonal like this. But I left room.... Right off Laramie there you could park like this on, on Twenty-second.... I made sure when they got out, I made sure that I didn't have to back out, that you turn right out.... Yeah. Diagonal like this. But I left room.... Right off Laramie there you could park like this on, on Twenty-second.... I made sure when they got out, I made sure that I didn't have to back out, that you turn right out....

Frank Jr.: Okay, I understand what you're saying. Okay, I understand what you're saying.

Calabrese Sr.: This was done in a matter of seconds. I'm s.h.i.+elding them from the street so n.o.body could see what This was done in a matter of seconds. I'm s.h.i.+elding them from the street so n.o.body could see what they're doin'.... They [Nick and DiForti] both got out on the same side then. they're doin'.... They [Nick and DiForti] both got out on the same side then.

My father went into detail about the shotguns and the sh.e.l.ls used to blast Ortiz and Morawski to pieces.

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah, they emptied out. They, I made sure. Yeah, they emptied out. They, I made sure.

Frank Jr.: They were... They were...

Calabrese Sr.: Empty. No, they were automatics. Empty. No, they were automatics.

Frank Jr.: Oh, they were shotguns? Oh, they were shotguns?

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah. But they were... Yeah. But they were...

Frank Jr.: Oh. Automatics... Oh. Automatics...

Calabrese Sr.: Automatics...Yeah 'cause after they inject, we threw 'em away. Automatics...Yeah 'cause after they inject, we threw 'em away.

Frank Jr.: Oh, okay. Oh, okay.

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah. In fact, that's the first thing that's done.... And they worked, because we went and tried 'em. Anytime you use somethin', you make sure you try it. We took on, on, we took 'em both on, uh two different nights. On, uh, County Line Road up in DuPage County...The forest preserve up there. On the other side of uh, of, uh, Hinsdale...We went over there and we tried the shotguns. They both worked.... They worked perfect. They didn't jam up or anything. So that's what they used. They had, uh I think four apiece, or five apiece. They had one [sh.e.l.l] in there and four in the chamber. Yeah. In fact, that's the first thing that's done.... And they worked, because we went and tried 'em. Anytime you use somethin', you make sure you try it. We took on, on, we took 'em both on, uh two different nights. On, uh, County Line Road up in DuPage County...The forest preserve up there. On the other side of uh, of, uh, Hinsdale...We went over there and we tried the shotguns. They both worked.... They worked perfect. They didn't jam up or anything. So that's what they used. They had, uh I think four apiece, or five apiece. They had one [sh.e.l.l] in there and four in the chamber.

Frank Jr.: Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.

Calabrese Sr.: They were double-aughts, Frank. They were double-aughts, Frank.

Frank Jr.: That means what? Extra... That means what? Extra...

Calabrese Sr.: Bigger ones...Big big bearings. So them, them will f.u.c.kin' tear half your body apart. Bigger ones...Big big bearings. So them, them will f.u.c.kin' tear half your body apart.

Frank Jr.: So they must have tore them up pretty good then. So they must have tore them up pretty good then.

Calabrese Sr.: Oh yeah. Tore 'em up bad. Them'll tear your body up. They're called double-aughts. And you want me to tell you somethin'? The Polish guy that was with 'em was a nice guy. Okay? But he happened to be at the wrong Oh yeah. Tore 'em up bad. Them'll tear your body up. They're called double-aughts. And you want me to tell you somethin'? The Polish guy that was with 'em was a nice guy. Okay? But he happened to be at the wrong place. You know the-eh-uh, they were, it was said no matter who's with 'em, [the Outfit] want it done. Now if you back away and you have that opportunity and you don't, then you'd look like a f.u.c.kin' a.s.shole. place. You know the-eh-uh, they were, it was said no matter who's with 'em, [the Outfit] want it done. Now if you back away and you have that opportunity and you don't, then you'd look like a f.u.c.kin' a.s.shole.

I captured every word on tape. My father reminded me that when you agree to kill for the Outfit, you'll likely be killed if you back out. Outfit code states that if a guy working for you agrees to kill, then freezes, you have the right to kill him, too.

"We worked on that guy [Ortiz] for nine months," he told me. "We had him one time [before] by his house. Jimmy [DiForti] was lead. He was supposed to shoot him, but he froze. Your uncle was backup and afterward I told him, 'Why the f.u.c.k didn't you shoot Jimmy Jimmy and leave him there? You shoulda shot the other guy first, then shoot Jimmy, too.'" and leave him there? You shoulda shot the other guy first, then shoot Jimmy, too.'"

He explained his role in the Half and Half Murder. He talked about the Spilotro killings and named most of the "fellas" who took part, remarking that if Uncle Nick flipped to the Feds, these were the guys most apt to be hurt by his cooperation.

My dad then asked me about a new tattoo I had on the upper right side of my back. It was a tattoo of a United States map trapped by prison bars, with a pair of handcuffed hands through the bars. At the time I was taped up with the old-school recorder and was wearing a sweats.h.i.+rt and a pair of sweatpants with no T-s.h.i.+rt underneath. He asked to see my new tattoo and, to my horror, reached for my sweats.h.i.+rt. I grabbed the front bottom of my s.h.i.+rt and, hiding my fear, motioned to him that a guard was standing nearby. (Prison tattoos are technically against regulations.) Calabrese Sr.: Let me see that tattoo you got on your back. Why you been covering it up? Let me see that tattoo you got on your back. Why you been covering it up?

Frank Jr.: I haven't been covering it. I haven't been covering it.

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah, you did. The other day you put your s.h.i.+rt on, blamin' the, uh, girls in the yard. And I start laughin' 'cause I spotted the tattoo then. Yeah, you did. The other day you put your s.h.i.+rt on, blamin' the, uh, girls in the yard. And I start laughin' 'cause I spotted the tattoo then.

Frank Jr.: But you've seen it. But you've seen it.

Calabrese Sr.: No I didn't. No I didn't.

Frank Jr.: You seen it all. You seen it all.

Calabrese Sr.: When? When?

Frank Jr.: Yes, you did. Yes, you did.

Calabrese Sr.: When did I see it? When did I see it?

Frank Jr.: When did you see it? You seen it when I showed you when we were sittin' out there, I showed 'em all to ya. When did you see it? You seen it when I showed you when we were sittin' out there, I showed 'em all to ya.

Calabrese Sr.: Did ya? Did ya?

Frank Jr.: Yeah. And remember I says, that guy Danny said, um, he goes, he goes, I want a copy of that? Remember I showed you the copy sitting on the thing, too? Yeah. And remember I says, that guy Danny said, um, he goes, he goes, I want a copy of that? Remember I showed you the copy sitting on the thing, too?

Calabrese Sr.: A copy of that tattoo? A copy of that tattoo?

Frank Jr.: Yeah. Yeah.

Calabrese Sr.: Why are you putting all those tattoos on you? Why are you putting all those tattoos on you?

Did my father ask to see the tattoo because he suspected I might be wired? At that moment, a couple hundred yards away from the SIS office, I had to make a quick decision. If I was found out, should I make a run for it? Should I fight him? Would the other inmates give chase and attack me? Luckily, he was just curious about the tattoo. I kept myself covered that day as a chill went through my body, and a close call was averted.

After I reported back to the SIS conference room for one briefing, Maseth could see the guilt and fear etched on my face. After a particularly long and stressful recording session, an agent held out a small bag.

"Want a cookie?"

My face showed a combination of disbelief, exhaustion, and sadness. I thought to myself, I just spent five hours out on the yard setting up my father. Do I look like I want a f.u.c.king cookie?

Not all of the conversations were confrontational. Dad liked to brag on the wire about winning every intermob sit-down, including those with Butch Petrocelli over turf or disputes and which bookmaker and juice loan collector belonged to whom. In one conversation on February 21, he showed a fondness for his old friend Tony Borsellino and a disdain for Petrocelli, who engineered Tony's death with Joe Nagall [Ferriola]'s blessing. Tony Borsellino and a disdain for Petrocelli, who engineered Tony's death with Joe Nagall [Ferriola]'s blessing.

Calabrese Sr.: Tony Borce, Tony Borce, when he died he was fifty years old. Tony Borce, Tony Borce, when he died he was fifty years old.

Frank Jr.: He was fifty when he died? He was that much older than you? He was fifty when he died? He was that much older than you?

Calabrese Sr.: He kept himself in good shape, Frank. He kept himself in good shape, Frank.

Frank Jr.: I was arguing with Charlie one day he says, he was arguing about the date when he died. I was arguing with Charlie one day he says, he was arguing about the date when he died.

Calabrese Sr.: Tony Borsellino. Tony Borsellino.

Frank Jr.: Yeah it didn't make sense. Yeah it didn't make sense.

Calabrese Sr.:...Uncle Nicky was married, we were by his father-in-law when he lived in Norridge. Remember when he lived in Norridge? We were by his house, we were sitting on the back porch. We had eaten that day, on a Sunday. I'll never forget it. And we were talking. Him and I were on the back porch talking about knowing what was going to happen to Tony that night. And right around the time that we were figuring it, all of a sudden, it was real sunny and clouds were starting to come. And I'll never forget that and I made a comment. I says, you think it's G.o.d trying to say something?

Frank Jr.: And it bothered you? And it bothered you?

Calabrese Sr.: Oh, it bothered me. I loved that guy.... You want me to tell you. I tried everything to save him. I tried everything. I, I sat and I talked to Ange [LaPietra], I says, Ange that guy's a man. That f.u.c.king, f.u.c.king, that f.u.c.king what's his name, ah Butchie. Oh, it bothered me. I loved that guy.... You want me to tell you. I tried everything to save him. I tried everything. I, I sat and I talked to Ange [LaPietra], I says, Ange that guy's a man. That f.u.c.king, f.u.c.king, that f.u.c.king what's his name, ah Butchie.

Frank Jr.: Petrocelli. Petrocelli.

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah Butchie. He [Borsellino] was too much of a man for Butchie. And he had Joe Nagall's ear. Butchie had Joe Nagall's ear, well then half of these f.u.c.kin' guys, they're stealing. Butchie was a no-good motherf.u.c.ker. Yeah Butchie. He [Borsellino] was too much of a man for Butchie. And he had Joe Nagall's ear. Butchie had Joe Nagall's ear, well then half of these f.u.c.kin' guys, they're stealing. Butchie was a no-good motherf.u.c.ker.

Frank Jr.: Didn't you say he tried to set you up, too? Didn't you say he tried to set you up, too?

Calabrese Sr.: Well, he tried to always have sit-downs. And we'd win 'em, every sit-down we had we won with them. They used to be called the Wild Bunch. It was Harry [Aleman], Jimmy I. [Inendino], Tony, and Butchie. They were four partners, but they were f.u.c.kin' with almost everybody. They weren't winning anything with us, they weren't winning with Johnnie Bananas. The only guys they were winning with were n.o.body guys. We had a card game on Laramie on the South Side that Butchie started stickin' his nose in, in another direction, almost f.u.c.kin' up our game.... Butchie's a big mouth. I'll never forget one day I walked up to him on Twenty on Thirty-first. Remember where that fish joint was where you buy all the stuff to go fis.h.i.+n' and stuff like the Ca.n.a.l there? It was like a little shack that sold fis.h.i.+ng bait and stuff. Well, he tried to always have sit-downs. And we'd win 'em, every sit-down we had we won with them. They used to be called the Wild Bunch. It was Harry [Aleman], Jimmy I. [Inendino], Tony, and Butchie. They were four partners, but they were f.u.c.kin' with almost everybody. They weren't winning anything with us, they weren't winning with Johnnie Bananas. The only guys they were winning with were n.o.body guys. We had a card game on Laramie on the South Side that Butchie started stickin' his nose in, in another direction, almost f.u.c.kin' up our game.... Butchie's a big mouth. I'll never forget one day I walked up to him on Twenty on Thirty-first. Remember where that fish joint was where you buy all the stuff to go fis.h.i.+n' and stuff like the Ca.n.a.l there? It was like a little shack that sold fis.h.i.+ng bait and stuff.

Frank Jr.: I think I know what you're talkin' about. I think I know what you're talkin' about.

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah, you know where the hot-dog stand is on that, that Toots' stand is now? Yeah, you know where the hot-dog stand is on that, that Toots' stand is now?

Frank Jr.: Yeah. Yeah.

Calabrese Sr.: Right across the street from there, on the north side of the street, before the railroad tracks there, I was walkin' down Thirty-first Street because I had to meet the little guy [Ronnie Jarrett]. And I seen him with his hood up on his truck. He had a black pickup with a camper back on it. As I'm walkin' up, he made a comment. He say, man what'd ya, why did you walk up so sneaky? I says, sneaky? I'm just walkin' up. I says what do you got? A guilty conscience about something? I never liked him. f.u.c.kin' hated him. We sat there and talked for a while and he's telling me that he was looking for some pot for Turk [Torello]. No, because Turk was sick, he had cancer. Right across the street from there, on the north side of the street, before the railroad tracks there, I was walkin' down Thirty-first Street because I had to meet the little guy [Ronnie Jarrett]. And I seen him with his hood up on his truck. He had a black pickup with a camper back on it. As I'm walkin' up, he made a comment. He say, man what'd ya, why did you walk up so sneaky? I says, sneaky? I'm just walkin' up. I says what do you got? A guilty conscience about something? I never liked him. f.u.c.kin' hated him. We sat there and talked for a while and he's telling me that he was looking for some pot for Turk [Torello]. No, because Turk was sick, he had cancer.

The Milan prison yard recordings took place between February 14 and June 1, 1999. There were eight extraordinary sessions, one every ten days or so. My father had implicated himself in the murders of Billy and Charlotte Dauber, Michael Albergo, Richard Ortiz and Arthur Morawski, John Fecarotta, and Michael Cagnoni.

Each meeting was planned by the two of us. At times I would pick the location; at other times it was his choice. While I knew how to push his b.u.t.tons, I also knew when to back off. If I pushed too hard, he would catch on. One night when my dad wasn't feeling well, we rescheduled our conversation for the next morning, which meant I had to sneak back to the SIS conference room early to tell the Two Mikes that there would be nothing that night. They would have to come back. knew when to back off. If I pushed too hard, he would catch on. One night when my dad wasn't feeling well, we rescheduled our conversation for the next morning, which meant I had to sneak back to the SIS conference room early to tell the Two Mikes that there would be nothing that night. They would have to come back.

During one session, my father reminded me what the Outfit stood for, and described in a whisper his and Uncle Nick's madeguy ceremony. The tape revealed that he harbored doubts about swearing allegiance to his Outfit bosses.

Calabrese Sr.: Did you read the real book, the first Did you read the real book, the first G.o.dfather G.o.dfather? Whoever wrote that book...

Frank Jr.: It's pretty close. It's pretty close.

Calabrese Sr.: They wrote it very closely. So whoever wrote that book, either their father or their grandfather or somebody was in the organization. They wrote it very closely. So whoever wrote that book, either their father or their grandfather or somebody was in the organization.

Frank Jr.: So you mean like when...you and Uncle Nicky went? They actually p.r.i.c.ked the hand and the candles and all that stuff, too? So you mean like when...you and Uncle Nicky went? They actually p.r.i.c.ked the hand and the candles and all that stuff, too?

Calabrese Sr.: No, no. No, no.

Frank Jr.: I don't mean to laugh, Dad. It's- I don't mean to laugh, Dad. It's- Calabrese Sr.: Their fingers got cut and everybody puts the fingers together and all the blood running down. Then they take pictures. Put them in your hand. Burn them. Their fingers got cut and everybody puts the fingers together and all the blood running down. Then they take pictures. Put them in your hand. Burn them.

Frank Jr.: Pictures of... Pictures of...

Calabrese Sr.: Holy pictures. You stand there like this. There are the holy pictures. And they look at you and to see if you'd budge and while the pictures are burning. And they wait 'till they're getting down to the skin. Then they take them out of there. Holy pictures. You stand there like this. There are the holy pictures. And they look at you and to see if you'd budge and while the pictures are burning. And they wait 'till they're getting down to the skin. Then they take them out of there.

Frank Jr.: What happens if you budge? What happens if you budge?

Calabrese Sr.: Then it shows your fear. You have fear. Stand there like that with your hands cupped like that. Then they say okay. Then it shows your fear. You have fear. Stand there like that with your hands cupped like that. Then they say okay.

Frank Jr.: Um-hmm. Um-hmm.

Calabrese Sr.: One guy at a time. You don't see two up there. When one guy's on it, the other guy's sitting somewhere else. In the same place but in a different room. There's a panel like that about nine guys.... And the guy that's the second guy in charge is the guy that talks to you. Everybody else are the capos. One guy at a time. You don't see two up there. When one guy's on it, the other guy's sitting somewhere else. In the same place but in a different room. There's a panel like that about nine guys.... And the guy that's the second guy in charge is the guy that talks to you. Everybody else are the capos.

Frank Jr.: They just sit there. They just sit there.

Calabrese Sr: They're watching you.... The guy that brought you in there is a capo. He is sitting at the table, too. They're watching you.... The guy that brought you in there is a capo. He is sitting at the table, too.

Frank Jr.: Him, the one that's gonna make all the promises and stand by your side and everything. Him, the one that's gonna make all the promises and stand by your side and everything.

Calabrese Sr.: I got to tell you a story.... I told him [my capo] I didn't want it.... He says how come? I says because I feel that I would be strapped down and that if I wanted to do anything else I couldn't. I got to tell you a story.... I told him [my capo] I didn't want it.... He says how come? I says because I feel that I would be strapped down and that if I wanted to do anything else I couldn't.

Frank Jr.: Yeah. Yeah.

Calabrese Sr.: He says to me, No you wouldn't. I says, That's not what I hear. I says once you belong. He said you always belong. I says I would rather do what I'm doing without having to have that. I says I don't need that. I carry enough respect for myself. He says to me, No you wouldn't. I says, That's not what I hear. I says once you belong. He said you always belong. I says I would rather do what I'm doing without having to have that. I says I don't need that. I carry enough respect for myself.

Frank Jr.: Do you regret it now? Do you regret it now?

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah...[but] you know what I regret more so than anything? Burning the holy pictures in my hand. It bothers me...and the other thing that I would think would bother me is somebody give me an order to do what you says you had to do before you can get one of those, you know? Yeah...[but] you know what I regret more so than anything? Burning the holy pictures in my hand. It bothers me...and the other thing that I would think would bother me is somebody give me an order to do what you says you had to do before you can get one of those, you know?

According to my dad, "the real [Outfit] model was not to hurt innocent people. In the beginning we went after guys who tried to hurt our people [Italians] or were stool pigeons. People got hurt when they didn't listen to us. They got one warning, a second, but never a third. By then it was too late."

Out on the yard, he postulated at length about the b.l.o.o.d.y gloves and how the delay of any conclusive DNA tests was encouraging news. He explained how Mike Ricci and Twan Doyle were providing confidential information about the b.l.o.o.d.y gloves and the status of the case. gloves and how the delay of any conclusive DNA tests was encouraging news. He explained how Mike Ricci and Twan Doyle were providing confidential information about the b.l.o.o.d.y gloves and the status of the case.

On the March 27, 1999, tape, he was hopeful that there wouldn't be any repercussions from the gloves: Calabrese Sr.: So, evidently there hasn't been anything. So, evidently there hasn't been anything.

Frank Jr.: Well, that's good. Well, that's good.

Calabrese Sr.: Now the thing that I'm happy about is it does not take that long to get a sample and go through the DNA? Now the thing that I'm happy about is it does not take that long to get a sample and go through the DNA?

Frank Jr.: No. No.

Calabrese, Sr.: Okay. So that means that they might be coming up with a blank. Okay. So that means that they might be coming up with a blank.

Frank Jr.: Which would be good. Which would be good.

Calabrese Sr.: Which would be, I'm, I'm, it's convincing me more and more. Again... Which would be, I'm, I'm, it's convincing me more and more. Again...

Frank Jr.: You saying? You saying?

Calabrese Sr.: I put it in G.o.d's hands, Frankie. I put it in G.o.d's hands, Frankie.

Frank Jr.: You say the way the gloves are his, ya know, that sounds... You say the way the gloves are his, ya know, that sounds...

Calabrese Sr.: Yeah. Those are his gloves. He had 'em on still. Yeah. Those are his gloves. He had 'em on still.

Frank Jr.: Then that's good. And if he had, ah, and if Gus [Nick] had his gloves on the whole time, that's good. 'Cause maybe... Then that's good. And if he had, ah, and if Gus [Nick] had his gloves on the whole time, that's good. 'Cause maybe...

Calabrese Sr.: They both wore gloves. They both wore gloves.

Frank Jr.: Maybe the blood dripped in the glove and didn't get anywhere on the car. Maybe the blood dripped in the glove and didn't get anywhere on the car.