Aging Marlborough diamond robbers plead not guilty to Chicago bank robbery plot
By APTuesday, April 20, 2010
Diamond thieves plead not guilty to bank plot
CHICAGO — Two men once jailed in Britain for the 1980 Marlborough diamond heist and a companion have pleaded not guilty to charges that accuse them of scheming to rob a bank in a Chicago suburb.
Joseph “Jerry” Scalise, Arthur Rachel and Robert Pullia appeared Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber to answer the charge.
The three were arrested the night of April 8 outside the home of the late Chicago mob boss Angelo “The Hook” LaPietra. FBI agents say they appeared to be planning a home invasion.
The men, in their late 60s and early 70s, have been charged with conspiracy to rob a bank.
Scalise and Rachel went to prison in Britain for taking the famous diamond in a $3.6 million robbery of a posh London jewelry store.
