Chicago - (Ass Mess): Racketeering mobster Conrad Black has been found guilty of three fraud charges and of perverting the course of justice.
The 62 year old former protege of ex-UK Prime Monster Margaret Thatcher now faces up to 35 years in the slammer for his part in systematically sluicing off neary $100 million from newspaper company Hollinger.
His lady Macbeth-esque wife Barbara Amiel broke down in court when the verdict was read out and screamed profanities at the jury incluidng "You framed him!"
The jury took 12 days to reach the verdict in the high-profile case and complained bitterly to the judge that it had been systematically leaned on from the start of the trial.
Black had once said that he was untouchable by the US law enforcement agencies because he knew too much about George W Bush's meteoric rise to the top.
Whether or not that is the case remains questionable.
But Black has always sworn that if convicted of fraud his journalist wife Barbara Amiel would be free to dispose of "damning evidence" that would irrepairably harm the US Justice Department.
US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has always said "call my bluff anytime, asshole".
Barbara Amiel is 69.
