Tougher Than A Gangster: Conrad Black

Posted on 05. Sep, 2011 by Joseph Fosco in Current Events

Conrad Black leaving a federal court building in Chicago

Tougher than a gangster and more financially solvent than the entire Mafia, tomorrow, Conrad Black begins what amounts as the end of the judicial farce that plagued him for several years. He reports to prison in Miami, Florida.

On his final sentencing day, Conrad Black told me that he could do the prison time that U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve ordered “on his hands.” Earlier this summer, the original prison sentence ordered in December 2007 was cut down considerably to 42-months. Conrad has remained free on bond for over one-year after the court released him from prison in July of 2010, pending the determination of his appeal. With time served and the mandatory deduction of ‘good time’, Conrad will only serve eight-months, which is roughly two-years less than his original sentence. Most would call it a big score for Conrad Black.

Shortly after the court imposed Conrad’s new sentence on June 24th, 2011, I told him that I know a supposed ‘rough and tough’ gangster who lacked the testosterone Conrad has when it came to serving prison time. When I made this comment to Conrad, I was thinking of Chicago Gangster Rudy Fratto’s sentencing day, which I covered. During Gangster Fratto’s sentencing, he initially shielded himself from the court with his handicap wife and minor child, both of whom begged the judge for mercy. After his family finished babbling and whimpering, Gangster Fratto himself begged the court for mercy.

All these tactics did nothing to move the court. In the case of Rudy Fratto, mercy was, rightfully, denied.

In a communication with Conrad today, he expressed his thanks and gratitude to everyone that stood by him in support of his innocence. Conrad and his loved ones will remain in my prayers until he returns home next May.

Tags: Amy St. Eve, Coleman, conrad black, florida, joe fosco, joey fosco, joseph fosco, rudy fratto, united states