Chicago mobster, priest, Stradivarius violin to feature at chaplain's federal trial

FILE - This 1983 file photo released by the Chicago Crime Commission shows reputed mobster Frank Calabrese Sr. A bench trial begins Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, for prison chaplain Eugene Klein, who is accused of trying to help the imprisoned Calabrese recover a rare, 250-year-old Stradivarius violin hidden in his old Wisconsin home. Prosecutors allege the plot was hatched in 2011 when Klein administered daily communion to Calabrese at the Missouri prison where he was serving a life sentence for 13 murders. Calabrese died in December 2012. (AP Photo/Chicago Crime Commission, File) (The Associated Press)

The Rev. Eugene Klein, left, and his attorney, Thomas Anthony Durkin, walk into Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, in Chicago. Klein pleaded guilty to charges of trying to help convicted mobster Frank Calabrese Sr. recover a rare, 250-year-old Stradivarius violin hidden years earlier in Calabrese’s then-Wisconsin summer home. Federal prosecutors allege the plot was hatched in 2011 when Klein administered daily communion to Calabrese at the Missouri prison where he was serving a life sentence for 13 murders. Calabrese died in December 2012. (AP Photo/Chicago Tribune, Anthony Souffle ) MANDATORY CREDIT; CHICAGO SUN-TIMES OUT; DAILY HERALD OUT; NORTHWEST HERALD OUT; JOLIET HERALD OUT; THE TIMES OF NORTHWEST INDIANA OUT; NEW YORK TIMES OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES; DAILY CHRONICLE OUT (The Associated Press)

A convicted mobster, a Roman Catholic priest and a Stradivarius violin will be taking center stage in a Chicago courtroom.

The bench trial begins Wednesday of prison chaplain Eugene Klein. He's accused of trying to help imprisoned Chicago mobster Frank Calabrese Sr. recover the rare, 250-year-old violin hidden in Calabrese's old Wisconsin home.

Prosecutors allege the plot was hatched in 2011 when Klein administered daily communion to Calabrese at the Missouri prison where he's serving a life sentence for 13 murders, strangling some victims with a rope.

Prosecutors say the pair believed the instrument Calabrese hid years earlier was worth millions.

Klein's charged with conspiracy to defraud and attempting to prevent the seizure of Calabrese's property. He pleaded not guilty. The trial is expected to last two or three days.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/chicago-mobster-priest-stradivarius-violin-to-feature-at-chaplains-federal-trial