Hide Article Text (OCR)
Tocco ‘king of the jungle’ in rackets: U. S.By PETE REYNOLDSAlbert Tocco was described as the “king of the jungle by a federal prosecutor during opening arguments Wednesday in the racketeering trial of the reputed south suburban crime syndicate boss.Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Rosenthal detailed the government’s case against Tocco for jurors, pleading with them to pay close attention to the evidence he would introduce.He talked of mob murders, extortion, threats and money laundering during his lengthy statement.Tocco, 59, of 2318 W. 207th St., in unincorporated Bloom Township near Chicago Heights, faces 49 counts of racketeering and tax fraud.He and an alleged associate, former Chicago Heights resident Clarence Crockett, 51, are suspected of heading a criminal organization that collected illegal street taxes from operators of brothels, gambling dens and auto chop shops in the southern suburbs and Northwest Indiana.They were indicted in October 1988 following a lengthy undercover probe by the FBI and agents of the Internal Revenue Service.During his open arguments, Rosenthal also referred to the 1980 murder of alleged mobster Billy Dauber in rural Crete, and that following the “hit, Tocco said Dauber was “no good.“Ladies and gentlemen, in their lingo, no good' means that he is an informant,” Rosenthal said. The prosecutor identified the “hit team” as the late Nick D’Andrea and Robert “Doug” Hardin, who under Tocco’s orders “set up on a deserted road and ... killed Billy Dauber and his wife, Charlotte.“They were killed in a way that sent a message that informants would not be tolerated. Later, Tocco bragged that Dauber got what was coming to him,” Rosenthal said.Rosenthal warned jurors they probably “would not like the government’s witnesses,” among them Harden, whom he described as “extraordinary.During his opening argument, Rosenthal also sought to paint a portrait of Tocco’s influence in Chicago Heights. To do so, he referred to convicted brothel operator Herb Panice, who is expected to be a government witness against Tocco.Panice, Rosenthal said, “wanted to open a house or prostitution, but to have a real good house of prostitution you have to have a liquor license. He tried to get one, but the mayor of Chicago Heights told him, ‘Oh no, I know what's going on over there. You can’t have one.’“But there's one person more powerful than the mayor in Chicago Heights — and that man is Albert Tocco. He pulls the strings. He told Herb Panice. Don't worry.’ And a few weeks later, like magic, Herb Panice had his liquor license — despite what the mayor had told him.' Rosenthal said.Also expected to testify against Tocco is his wife. Betty. “She arrived at the painful decision to cooperate with the government. You will hear her tell you what it’s like to be the wife of a crime boss. She will tell you about the payments,” Rosenthal said.Defense attorneys were to deliver their opening arguments Wednesday afternoon.Pre-trial activity early this weekincluded the prosecution's rundown of names likely to arise during the proceedings, including a tally of south suburban gangsters and a few public officials.Jury selection, completed Tuesday afternoon, was interrupted Monday when Tocco complained of kidney pain and was eventually taken to a Chicago hospital. A series of tests determined he was suffering from an unspecific muscle pain — not a kidney ailment, according to Deputy U.S. Marshal Rudy Gabel.Upon his return to court, Tocco participated fully in discussion with his defense lawyers Patrick Tuite and Jim Shallow as well as Crockett’s attorney Alan Burnell on which jurors would be selected and whichwould be challenged.U.S. District Judge James Holder-man had ruled favorably on a government motion last week to make jurors anonymous, keeping their actual names and addresses secret.Jurors were questioned at great length by Holderman.He inquired if any of the prospective panelists would have difficulty rendering a fair and impartial verdict once they learned that some of the government witnesses expected to testify during the four-to-six-week trial were doing so as “cooperating individuals” — some under grants of immunity.Holderman also quizzed jurors on their possible misgivings about how the FBI and the IRS gathered information used to indict the two defendants.He told them that tape recordings of conversations would be part of the testimony, as would testimony from agents who acted in an undercover capacity — “assuming another identity, the judge said.During pre-trial proceedings, Ros-’ enthal read a list of more than 40 names of persons who will either testify at the trial or be mentioned in testimony of others.The list packaged a virtual “who’s who of south suburban mob figures, as well as prospective witnesses and public officials.Also mentioned by Rosenthal in theofficials from the Chicago Heights area: Panici, mayor of Chicago Heights; Nicholas LoBue, Chicago Heights city commissioner; Douglas Barger, Chicago Heights chief of police; and Donald Prisco, former mayor of South Chicago Heights whowas defeated in a re-election bid last spring.Jurors were asked to raise their hands if they had ever heard of. or had business dealings with, the people on the list. None of the potential panelists responded-fkz PlaceuBECAUSE WE CARE”VETERAN DAY CEREMONYEveryone invitedSATURDAY, NOV. 11, 1989, 10:30 A.M.list of names that could arise during the trial were a quartet of public* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Sponsered by TINLEY PARKVETERN COMMITTEE at the VETERANS PLAZATINLEY PARK VILLAGE HALL 16250 S. OAK PARK AVE.SPEAKERSPlacing of Wreath Firing Squard TapsNO FASTING REQUIREDMore than 50 percent of Americans have blood cholesterol levels, high enough to be at risk for heart disease—and don’t know it!Coronary Heart Disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, out numbering deaths from cancer andaccidents combined.MCLIP AND SAVE!IDo You Know What Your Cholesterol Level Is?Find Out AtKmart7061 W. 159th St.Tinley Park 532-6220 Saturday, Nov. 11Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.5 MINUTE TEST RESULTS—$6.00 SERVICE CHARGE~\rCarol A. PloogPaulSmolinskiAttorneys at Law4th Annuallllomens tatina OutPersonal Injury • Real Estate ♦ Divorce • Wills/ProbateNovember 15, 19896 30 to 10 00 p.m.Holiday Inn Chicago South/Harvey 1 7048 South Halstea Street6446 West 127th Street • Palos Heights, Illinois(708) 371-9500SECURITY TO MATCH YOUR HOMEr rFENCES GATES ,aDEAL DIRECT—FACTORY TO YOUIT'S A STORM DOOR AS WILL ASA SECURITY DOORELEGANT CUSTOM IRON MANUFACTURERS A INSTALLERS• FENCES • SECURITY DOORS » GATES• FACTORY TO YOU • 26 COLORS AVAILABLE—NO EXTRA CHARGEWINDOW AND DOOR INSTALLATIONS AVAILABLEphone 235-7515uuiiumLLiumlmn ♦*»lt;«§..........»«|!; ! liiBi :| |ijESTIMATES“• PHoits 235-7686CallforinformationFeaturingJUDY MARKEYSyndicated Sun-Times columnist, author and humoristTooty, Inc. presentsBy the Way, a theatrical production on communication stylesFASHION SHOWPresented byof Homewood♦ # * • ♦ *-♦ ♦ 4Plus:# Local businesses exhibiting their products and services* Refreshments 0 Door PrizesSponsored by:The Star Newspapers Manny Hoffman State Farm Insurance~y ' / k
Newspaper Details
Tinley Park Star
Tinley Park, Illinois, US
Thu, Nov 09, 1989
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IL, USA 07 May 2020
Other Publications Near Tinley Park, Illinois
Tinley Park Daily Southtown News Marketer
Tinley Park Palos Star Herald
Tinley Park Pennysaver
Tinley Park Star Herald
Tinley Park Star Tribune
