CHICAGO (AP) — Jewelry collectors who don't mind if their gems have a rather shady past will soon get the chance to bid on a stash of valuables linked to reputed mobster Frank Calabrese Sr.
Agents found a hoard of jewelry in a secret compartment behind a family portrait in Calabrese's suburban Chicago home during a raid two years ago.
Now, the Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/Mxe8YZ ) reports an online auction July 10-24 will sell the items, including more than 250 loose diamonds, earrings and other jewelry.
Calabrese was one of several reputed mobsters convicted in 2009 in a racketeering conspiracy that included 18 decades-old murders. He was blamed for 13, sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay more than $24 million. The auction proceeds will go toward that restitution.
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Online: http://www.txauction.com
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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/index
