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.
Mr. And Mrs. Conrad Black and Joseph Fosco entering Conrad’s final sentencing hearing earlier this summer.
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.
8 Comments
I happened to see Rudy & his wife yesterday. 1.He needs someone new to dress him. 2. Wife lost some weight. 3. How do they afford the sports car they are riding in?!
He is probably borrowing it from a groupie.
Joe, I take it the mafia boss Mr. Black was incarcerated with was not Rudolph the red nosed Fratto?
No, it was not Fratto. I believe the true gangster-inmate was from the East. I will ask Conrad who the man is once he is settled in a couple of days.
Joe, I have only recently began following Conrad Black’s case through media coverage and what is posted here on ANP. I am intrigued by his character. I am curious to know how you came to know him so well?
We met through church several years ago, became friends and continue to remain close pals.
Joe,
I’ve been watching some snippets of Conrad Black interviews from Canadian television. He seems like an interesting guy to know. He sure pissed off a lot of Canadians when he renounced his Canadian citizenship for a place in the House of Lords.
Are you still in touch with him?
I am in contact with him as often as necessary. I communicated with him 2-days ago.