L to R: Operation Family Secrets Program; Exterior of The Mob Museum.
(Photos courtesy of The Mob Museum)
THE MOB MUSEUM ANNOUNCES PROGRAM WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT-ORGANIZED CRIME DUO CREDITED FOR TAKEDOWN OF THE CHICAGO OUTFIT
Program Part of New Collaboration between Museum and Frank Calabrese Jr.
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces its public program Operation Family Secrets: The Case that Took Down the Chicago Outfit, with retired FBI Special Agent Michael Maseth and mobster-turned-government informant Frank Calabrese Jr. The program, which takes place on Thursday, Jan. 18, is part of a new collaboration between the Museum and Calabrese Jr.
In 1998, Maseth began his career with the FBI as a special agent. Assigned to the Chicago Division’s Organized Crime Task Force, Maseth soon began being assigned to work with source and Mafia turncoat Calabrese Jr. For much of his first decade as an agent, Maseth’s priority was Operation Family Secrets, the investigation that eventually resulted in a major takedown of the Chicago Outfit.
As a key government witness, Calabrese Jr.’s testimony devastated the Outfit and helped Maseth and the FBI solve 18 murders and many other crimes. Today, he is a renowned public speaker who discusses his former life with the Mob, his journey of amends and his complicated relationship with his father, feared hitman Frank Calabrese Sr. In addition, Calabrese Jr. partners with law enforcement agencies, providing key insight into organized crime. He has also volunteered his time with the Arizona Department of Corrections, coaching inmates on their pending release as part of the department’s rehabilitation program to prevent recidivism.
More insightful programming with Calabrese Jr. will continue throughout the first half of the year. The full roster of these upcoming programs and conversations follows.
Operation Family Secrets: The Case That Took Down the Chicago Outfit
Date: Thursday, Jan. 18
Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m. followed by a book signing
Location: Inside the historic courtroom on the second floor. A livestream of the presentation will be available on the Museum’s website. To RSVP to attend in-person or for the livestream link, click here.
Cost: Free for Museum Members or with Museum admission.
Description: In 1998, a letter landed on the desk of the Chicago FBI office, setting in motion an extraordinary seven-year investigation. Its source? Frank Calabrese Jr., the son of notorious mobster Frank Calabrese Sr., offering to help the FBI bring his father and other Chicago Outfit leaders to justice. The operation, known as Family Secrets, stands as one of the FBI’s most successful organized crime takedowns. Mobster-turned-government informant Calabrese Jr. and retired FBI agent Michael Maseth will provide the ultimate insider’s view of the Family Secrets case. A book signing of “Family Secrets: How a Mobster’s Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago’s Murderous Crime Family” with Calabrese Jr. will follow this program.
Speakers:
- Special Agent Michael Maseth started with the FBI in 1998. He was assigned to the Chicago Division’s Organized Crime Task Force and shortly thereafter was assigned to the investigation of Frank Calabrese Sr., which eventually became known as Operation Family Secrets. Maseth spent countless hours working with Frank Calabrese Jr. and debriefing Nick Calabrese. After spending more than 11 years investigating members of the Chicago Outfit, Maseth was assigned to a white collar/public corruption squad in Chicago’s western suburbs. In 2011, he transferred to the Omaha Division in Nebraska. Most notably he was the case agent for the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Sydney Loofe. In addition to his investigative duties, Maseth was the Omaha Division’s Behavior Analysis Unit (BAU) coordinator and a member of the Omaha Division Evidence Response Team.
- Frank Calabrese Jr. is a former member of the Chicago Outfit and co-author of the best-selling book “Operation Family Secrets: How a Mobster’s Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago’s Murderous Crime Family.”
Coffee with Calabrese
Dates: Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in January.
Time: 10 to 11:15 a.m.
Location: The Underground speakeasy.
Cost: $25 per person. Tickets may be purchased with Museum admission online or at the box office.
Description: Frank Calabrese Jr. wanted out of the Mob, but his father — a soon-to-be convicted killer — wouldn’t let him leave the life. Instead, he risked it all and cooperated with federal law enforcement, prompting one of the most expansive organized crime investigations and trials of the 21st century — Operation Family Secrets. This January, guests are exclusively invited to hear the ex-Chicago Outfit member’s firsthand account while enjoying coffee, tea and an assortment of pastries.
Cocktails and Conversation with Calabrese
Dates:
- Wednesday, January 10: Family, the neighborhood and the Chicago Outfit
- Tuesday, February 6: How the Chicago Outfit operated
- Wednesday, March 20: A game of cat-and-mouse – the law and the Mob
- Wednesday, April 3: The Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas
- Wednesday, May 8: Prison recordings and building the Family Secrets case
- Wednesday, June 12: The Family Secrets trial and takedown of the Chicago Outfit
Time: 8 to 9 p.m.
Location: The Underground distillery.
Cost: $35 per person. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. To purchase tickets, click here.
Description: Guests are invited to join reformed mobster Frank Calabrese Jr. in The Underground distillery for the exclusive opportunity to hear stories from his past with the Chicago Outfit. Each month from January to June, Calabrese Jr. will talk about a different chapter from his life, including his family dynamics, the inner workings of the Chicago Outfit and wearing a wire while in prison with his father, notorious hitman Frank Calabrese Sr. Calabrese Jr. will also discuss how his cooperation with federal law enforcement launched the most prolific American Mob investigation of the 21st century. One craft cocktail is also included with each ticket purchase.
The Family Secrets Package Raffle
The Mob Museum presents the thrilling opportunity to win a trip to Las Vegas, featuring airfare, hotel stay, transportation and an evening with reformed mobster Frank Calabrese Jr. Guests will have the chance to hear firsthand accounts of his time in the Chicago Outfit, his reason for leaving the crime family and his role in assisting federal law enforcement with Operation Family Secrets, one of the biggest Mob prosecutions in American history.
Dates: Raffle tickets are available for purchase through Dec. 31, 2023.
Raffle details and rules at the following link: themobmuseum.org/raffle
Winner Announcement: Jan. 2, 2024
One lucky raffle participant will win:
- Dinner for two at The Mob Museum with Frank Calabrese Jr.
- A two-night stay at Circa Resort & Casino
- Airfare for two guests
- Transportation to Circa and The Mob Museum
- Two copies of Calabrese Jr.’s book “Operation Family Secrets: How a Mobster’s Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago’s Murderous Family”
ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND
The Underground is an immersive Prohibition history exhibition featuring a speakeasy, distillery and private VIP room in the basement of The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. Artifacts from the 1920s and 1930s tell the intriguing story of the Prohibition era, which not only saw a proliferation of bootlegged booze and the meteoric growth of organized crime outfits but also had a profound, lasting impact on society, specifically making way for modern cocktail culture. A seasonal cocktail menu gives guests the opportunity to try contemporary takes on classic Prohibition-era cocktails. The menu and atmosphere have landed the speakeasy on several “best cocktail bars in Las Vegas” lists. Distillery tours allow participants to learn about Prohibition and its impact on a variety of spirits and drinking habits while tasting a few of the Museum’s moonshines. The distilling program has received various accolades, including Best Moonshine at the 2020 International Whiskey Competition. Complimentary entrance to The Underground is granted at the secret side door to visitors who know the password, which is published daily on Instagram Stories @MobMuseum_Underground.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
www.Facebook.com/TheUndergroundAtTheMobMuseum
www.Instagram.com/mobmuseum_underground
ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provides a world-class journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. The Mob Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through hundreds of artifacts and immersive storylines. Numerous interactive exhibits include a Crime Lab, Firearm Training Simulator and Organized Crime Today exhibit. The Museum is also home to The Underground, a Prohibition history exhibition featuring a speakeasy and distillery. The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 U.S. Museums;” one of Las Vegas Weekly’s “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History” and “Best Museum” by its 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards; one of National Geographic’s “Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas;” USA Today’s “Best Museum in Nevada,” 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for “Best Las Vegas Attraction” in 2021, “Top Five Best History Museums in the United States” in 2021 and one of its “12 Can’t Miss U.S. Museum Exhibits;” named “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times and one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by FOX News. The Museum is a two-time winner of the Mayor’s Urban Design Award for Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Museum is open daily; visit the website for admission rates and operating hours. For more information, call (702) 229-2734, visit themobmuseum.org, or download the Museum’s free mobile app.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
www.Facebook.com/themobmuseum
www.Twitter.com/themobmuseum
www.Instagram.com/themobmuseum
