From Chicago Tribune:
The federal judge presiding over the Family Secrets mob conspiracy trial said he believes former Chicago police officer Anthony Doyle lied on the witness stand last month when he testified on his own behalf.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel, considering whether Doyle should be released on bail, said today that he found the testimony to be so incredible that it calls Doyle's judgment into question. Doyle, who was accused of passing investigative information to Chicago Outfit members, testified that he was just visiting a friend and did not think he was doing anything wrong.
The judge said the idea that Doyle would think he was convincing suggests he could make a poor choice and flee if he were to be released before he is sentenced in the case.
"I think there was no chance that a jury would believe this," the judge said of the testimony.
Zagel made no immediate decision on bail, telling lawyers in the case he would rule soon.
The judge's comments followed arguments by Doyle's lawyer, Ralph Meczyk, and the lead prosecutor.
Meczyk said Doyle maintains his innocence, and that Doyle's family and his former partner in the Police Department both would put up their homes as security. There is no way Doyle would turn his back on those people, Meczyk said.
Doyle slumped in his chair in an orange jumpsuit as the laywers spoke.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Mitchell Mars said that Doyle was a desperate man who could now flee a sentence of up to 15 years if he is released.
Doyle violated department rules and lied to the FBI about his relationship with reputed mobster Frank Calabrese Sr., Mars said, so any promise he could make not to flee "is meaningless."
Doyle, 62, was among five men convicted Monday of a racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling, extortion, loan sharking and 18 long-unsolved mob murders.
He was the only defendant not accused of involvement in a murder and the only one free on bail; the others have been in federal custody for more than a year.
No sentencing date has been set.
The federal judge presiding over the Family Secrets mob conspiracy trial said he believes former Chicago police officer Anthony Doyle lied on the witness stand last month when he testified on his own behalf.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel, considering whether Doyle should be released on bail, said today that he found the testimony to be so incredible that it calls Doyle's judgment into question. Doyle, who was accused of passing investigative information to Chicago Outfit members, testified that he was just visiting a friend and did not think he was doing anything wrong.
The judge said the idea that Doyle would think he was convincing suggests he could make a poor choice and flee if he were to be released before he is sentenced in the case.
"I think there was no chance that a jury would believe this," the judge said of the testimony.
Zagel made no immediate decision on bail, telling lawyers in the case he would rule soon.
The judge's comments followed arguments by Doyle's lawyer, Ralph Meczyk, and the lead prosecutor.
Meczyk said Doyle maintains his innocence, and that Doyle's family and his former partner in the Police Department both would put up their homes as security. There is no way Doyle would turn his back on those people, Meczyk said.
Doyle slumped in his chair in an orange jumpsuit as the laywers spoke.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Mitchell Mars said that Doyle was a desperate man who could now flee a sentence of up to 15 years if he is released.
Doyle violated department rules and lied to the FBI about his relationship with reputed mobster Frank Calabrese Sr., Mars said, so any promise he could make not to flee "is meaningless."
Doyle, 62, was among five men convicted Monday of a racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling, extortion, loan sharking and 18 long-unsolved mob murders.
He was the only defendant not accused of involvement in a murder and the only one free on bail; the others have been in federal custody for more than a year.
No sentencing date has been set.
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