Chicago Outfit

The early years of organized crime in Chicago, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were marked by the division of various street gangs controlling the South Side and North Side, as well as the Black Hand organizations of Little Italy.

Big Jim Colosimo centralized control in the early 20th century. Colosimo was born in Calabria, Italy, in 1878, immigrated to Chicago in 1895, where he established himself as a criminal. By 1909, with the help of bringing Johnny Torrio from New York to Chicago, he was successful enough that he was encroaching on the criminal activity of the Black Hand organization.[8][9]

In 1919, Capone also left New York for Chicago at the invitation of Torrio. Capone began in Chicago as a bouncer in a brothel, where he contracted syphilis. Timely use of Salvarsan probably could have cured the infection, but he apparently never sought treatment.[10]

When Prohibition went into effect in 1920, Torrio pushed for the gang to enter into bootlegging, but Colosimo stubbornly refused. In March 1920, Colosimo secured an uncontested divorce from his wife Victoria Moresco.[11] A month later, he and singer Dale Winter eloped to West Baden Springs, Indiana. Upon their return, he bought a home on the South Side.[11] On May 11, 1920, Torrio called and told Colosimo that a shipment was about to arrive at his restaurant. Colosimo drove there to await it, but instead he was ambushed and shot to death.[12]

With the start of Prohibition in the United States, Al Capone saw an opportunity for himself and the Outfit in Chicago to make money and to further expand their criminal empire by racketeering small businesses. With Capone taking the role of an actual businessman and partner of the owner, the Outfit had a legitimate way to source their money, which prevented incrimination and unnecessary attention from law enforcement.[13]

Torrio headed an essentially Italian organized crime group that was the biggest in the city, with Capone as his right-hand man. He was wary of being drawn into gang wars and tried to negotiate agreements over territory between rival crime groups. The smaller North Side Gang led by Dean O'Banion (also known as Dion O'Banion) was of mixed ethnicity, and it came under pressure from the Genna brothers who were allied with Torrio. O'Banion found that Torrio was unhelpful with the encroachment of the Gennas into the North Side, despite his pretensions to be a settler of disputes.[14] In a fateful step, Torrio either arranged for or acquiesced to the murder of O'Banion at his flower shop on November 10, 1924. This placed Hymie Weiss at the head of the gang, backed by Vincent Drucci and Bugs Moran. Weiss had been a close friend of O'Banion and the North Siders made it a priority to get revenge on his killers.[15][16][17]

In January 1925, Capone was ambushed, leaving him shaken but unhurt. Twelve days later, on January 24, Torrio was returning from a shopping trip with his wife Anna, when he was shot several times. After recovering, he effectively resigned and handed control to Capone, age 26, who became the new boss of an organization that took in illegal breweries and a transportation network that reached to Canada, with political and law-enforcement protection.[18] In turn, he was able to use more violence to increase revenue. An establishment that refused to purchase liquor from him often got blown up and as many as 100 people were killed in such bombings during the 1920s. Rivals saw Capone as responsible for the proliferation of brothels in the city.[17][19][20][21]

Capone was widely assumed to have been responsible for ordering the 1929 Saint Valentine's Day Massacre in an attempt to eliminate Bugs Moran, head of the North Side Gang. Moran was the last survivor of the North Side gunmen; his succession had come about because his similarly aggressive predecessors Vincent Drucci and Hymie Weiss had been killed in the violence that followed the murder of original leader Dean O'Banion.[22][23][24]

Capone was convicted on three counts of income tax evasion on October 17, 1931[25][26][27] and was sentenced a week later to 11 years in federal prison, fined $50,000 plus $7,692 for court costs, and was held liable for $215,000 plus interest due on his back taxes.[28][29][30][31] Capone would later die of heart failure as a result of apoplexy on January 25, 1947.[32][33]

In 1931, Nitti was also convicted of tax evasion and sent to prison; however, Nitti received an 18-month sentence.[34] When Nitti was released on March 25, 1932, he took his place as the new boss of the Capone Gang.[34] Some revisionist historians claim that Nitti was a mere "front boss" while Paul "The Waiter" Ricca was the actual boss of the Chicago Outfit.[35]

Over the next decade, The Outfit moved into labor racketeering, gambling, and loan sharking. Geographically, this was the period when Outfit muscle extended to Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, Kansas City, and especially to Hollywood and other California cities, where The Outfit's extortion of labor unions gave it leverage over the motion picture industry.

In the early 1940s, a handful of top Outfit leaders went to prison because they were found to be extorting Hollywood by controlling the unions that compose Hollywood's movie industry, and manipulating and misusing the Teamsters Central States Pension fund.[36] In 1943, the Outfit was caught red-handed shaking down the Hollywood movie industry. Ricca wanted Nitti to take the fall. However, Nitti had found that he was claustrophobic, years earlier while in jail for 18 months (for tax evasion), and he decided to end his life rather than face more imprisonment for extorting Hollywood. Ricca then became the boss in name as well as in fact, with enforcement chief Tony Accardo as underboss—the start of a partnership that lasted for almost 30 years. Around this time, the Outfit began bringing in members of the Forty-Two Gang, a notoriously violent youth gang. Among them were Sam "Momo" Giancana, Sam "Mad Sam" DeStefano, Felix "Milwaukee Phil" Alderisio, and Fiore "Fifi" Buccieri.

Ricca was sent to prison later in 1943 for his part in The Outfit plot to control Hollywood. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, along with a number of other mobsters. Through the "magic" of political connections, the whole group of Outfit mobsters was released after three years, largely due to the efforts of Outfit "fixer" Murray "The Camel" Humphreys. Ricca could not associate with mobsters as a condition of his parole. Accardo nominally took power as boss, but actually shared power with Ricca, who continued behind the scenes as a senior consultant—one of the few instances of shared power in organized crime.

Accardo joined Ricca in semi-retirement in 1957 due to some "heat" that he was getting from the IRS. From then on, Ricca and Accardo allowed several others to nominally serve as boss, such as Giancana, Alderisio, Joey Aiuppa, William "Willie Potatoes" Daddano, and Jackie "the Lackey" Cerone. Most of the front bosses originated from the Forty-Two Gang. However, no major business transactions took place without Ricca and Accardo's knowledge and approval, and certainly no "hits." By staying behind the scenes, Ricca and Accardo lasted far longer than Capone. Ricca died in 1972, leaving Accardo as the sole power behind the scenes.

Along with the voting allegations, the Outfit was involved in a Central Intelligence Agency–Mafia collusion during Castro's overthrow of the Cuban government. In exchange for its help, the Outfit was to be given access to its former casinos if it helped overthrow Fidel Castro in Operation Mongoose or Operation Family Jewels.[37] The Outfit failed in that endeavor and faced increasing indictments under the administration of President John F. Kennedy (JFK). The Outfit is the subject of some theories regarding the JFK assassination and that of JFK's brother Robert F. Kennedy.

The Outfit reached the height of its power in the early 1960s. Accardo used the Teamsters pension fund, with the aid of Meyer Lansky, Sidney Korshak, and Jimmy Hoffa, to engage in massive money laundering through the Outfit's casinos. The 1970s and 1980s were a hard time for the Outfit, as law enforcement continued to penetrate the organization, spurred by poll-watching politicians. Off-track betting reduced bookmaking profits, and illicit casinos withered under competition from legitimate casinos. Activities such as auto theft and professional sports betting did not replace the lost profits.

The Outfit controlled casinos in Las Vegas and "skimmed" millions of dollars over the course of several decades. Most recently, top mob figures have been found guilty of crimes dating back to as early as the mid-1960s. It has been rumored that the $2 million skimmed from the casinos in the Court case of 1986 was used to build the Old Neighborhood Italian American Club, the founder of which was Angelo J. "The Hook" LaPietra.

Allen Dorfman, a key figure in the Outfit's money embezzlement operations, was investigated by the Department of Justice. In 1982, the FBI wire-tapped Dorfman's personal and company phone lines and was able to gather the evidence needed to convict Dorfman and several of his associates on attempts to bribe a state senator to get rid of the trucking industry rates. If Dorfman succeeded, the Outfit would have seen a huge gain of profit. This was known as Operation Pendorf and was a huge blow to the Chicago crime syndicate.[38]

Operation GAMBAT (GAMBling ATtorney) proved to be a crippling blow to the Outfit's tight grip on the Chicago political machine. Pat Marcy, a made man in the Outfit, ran the city's First Ward, which represented most of downtown Chicago. Marcy and company controlled the circuit courts from the 1950s until the late 1980s with the help of Alderman Fred Roti and Democratic Committeeman John D'Arco Sr. Together, the First Ward fixed cases involving everything from minor traffic violations to murder.

Attorney and First Ward associate Robert Cooley was one of the lawyers who represented many mafiosi and associates in which cases were fixed. As a trusted man within the First Ward, Cooley was asked to "take out" a city police officer. Cooley was also an addicted gambler and in debt, so he approached the U.S. Justice Department's Organized Crime Strike Force, declaring that he wanted to "destroy Marcy and the First Ward".

Cooley was soon in touch with the FBI and began cooperating as a federal informant. Through the years, he maintained close ties to Marcy and the big shots of the First Ward. He wore an electronic surveillance device, recording valuable conversations at the notorious "First Ward Table", located at "Counselor's Row" across the street from Chicago City Hall. The results in Operation Gambat (Gambling Attorney) were convictions of 24 corrupt judges, lawyers, and cops.

Accardo died in 1992.[39] In a measure of how successfully he had managed to stay out of the limelight, he never spent a day in jail (or only spent one day, depending on the source) despite an arrest record dating to 1922. Chicago's transition from Accardo to the next generation of Outfit bosses has been more of an administrative change than a power struggle, distinct from the way that organized crime leadership transitions take place in New York City.

Higher law enforcement investigations and general attrition led to the Outfit's gradual decline since the late 20th century. The Old Neighborhood Italian American Club is considered to be the hangout of Old Timers as they live out their golden years. The Club's founder was Angelo J. LaPietra "The Hook", who was the main Council at the time of his death in 1999.

On April 25, 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice launched Operation Family Secrets,[40] which indicted 14 Outfit members and associates under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), including Joseph Lombardo, Nicholas Calabrese, Frank Calabrese Sr. and James Marcello. U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel presided over the Family Secrets trial. The federal prosecutors were Mitchell A. Mars, T. Markus Funk, and John Scully.

As of 2007, the Outfit's size is estimated to be 28 official members (composing its core group) and more than 100 associates.[3]

From 1997 to 2018, the Chicago Outfit was believed to be led by John DiFronzo.[41] As of 2021, the Chicago Outfit is believed to be led by Salvatore "Solly D" DeLaurentis.[42]

The street boss is a high-ranking member appointed to run the outfit's daily activities for the boss. The position was created to protect the boss from federal investigations.

• 1996–2007: James "Jimmy the Man" Marcello – sentenced in 2007, imprisoned for life in 2009.
• 2007–2012: Michael "Fat Mike" Sarno – sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012.
• 2012–2016: Louis "Louie Tomatoes" Marino
• 2016–present: Albert "Albie the Falcon" Vena

• 1910–1920: John "Papa Johnny" Torrio – became boss in 1920.
• 1920–1925: Alphonse "Scarface Al" Capone – became boss in 1925.
• 1925–1931: Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti – became boss in 1931.
• 1931–1943: Louis "Little New York" Campagna – arrested in 1943, deceased in 1955.[43]
• 1943–1947: Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo – became boss in 1947.
• 1947–1957: Salvatore "Mooney Sam" Giancana – became boss in 1957, murdered in 1975.
• 1957–1964: Frank "Strongy" Ferraro – died in 1964.
• 1964–1966: Samuel "Teets" Battaglia – became boss in 1966, deceased in 1973.
• 1967–1986: John "Jackie the Lackey" Cerone – imprisoned in 1986, deceased in 1996.
• 1986–1992: John "No Nose" DiFronzo – became boss in 1992.
• 1992–1996: James "Jimmy the Man" Marcello – became street boss in 1996.
• 1996–2006: Anthony "Little Tony" Zizzo – disappeared and probably murdered in 2006.
• 2006–2009: Joseph "Joe the Builder" Andriacchi – retired briefly due to illness.
• 2009–present: Salvatore "Sammy Cards" Cataudella

• 1925–1928: Antonio "Tony the Scourge" Lombardo – murdered in 1928.
• 1928–1947: Charles "Trigger Happy" Fischetti – retired in 1947, deceased in 1951.[43]
• 1947–1957: Paul "The Waiter" Ricca – retired in 1957, deceased in 1972.[43]
• 1957–1992: Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo – deceased from natural causes in 1992.
• 1992–1999: Angelo J. LaPietra[43] – deceased from natural causes in 1999.
• 1999–2007: Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo – sentenced in 2007 and imprisoned in 2009; died on October 19, 2019, at the age of 90.[44][45]
• 2007–2009: Alfonso "Al the Pizza Man" Tornabene – deceased in 2009.
• 2009–2016: Marco "The Mover" D'Amico – asked to step down so that Andriacchi could help advise the power shift from DiFronzo to DeLaurentis.
  • Acting 2012–2016: Joseph "Joe the Builder" Andriacchi – retired in 2016.
• 2017–2020: Marco D'Amico – deceased from natural causes in 2020.

• Boss: Salvatore DeLaurentis[46]

• Street Boss: Albert "Albie the Falcon" Vena[47] – born in 1949. Part of the new administration following the retirement of John DiFronzo.[48] Vena was once a powerful capo of the Grand Avenue crew and replaced Joseph Lombardo after his 2007 conviction of a 1974 murder.[49] FBI investigators from the August 2006 disappearance case of Anthony Zizzo considered him a suspect.[50] In 1993, Vena was acquitted of the November 4, 1992 murder of Samuel Taglia who was shot twice in the head and had his throat cut with a knife, his body was dumped in the trunk of his 1983 Buick car. His most trusted confidants were reported to be Joseph Andriacchi and James Inendino.

• Underboss: Salvatore "Sammy Cards" Cataudella[46]

• Consigliere: Vacant

• James Inendino – Cicero
• Vacant – Elmwood Park; Peter DiFronzo before his death in December 2020.[51] In 1965, he was sentenced to 10 years at Leavenworth Prison after he and two Outfit affiliates robbed a warehouse in Forest View, Illinois, of cigarettes, razor blades, and ladies hosiery.[52] According to a report from an Illinois Gaming Board officer in 2005, DiFronzo and his brother John had obtained contracts for a waste-hauling business in Chicago through illegal payoffs and intimidation.[53]
• Frank "Toots" Caruso – 26th Street

• Michael Carioscia: born 1933. In December 1950, he was arrested on charges of armed robbery and was sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment, he was released in 1954. He was sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment in October 1961 on narcotics charges after he and Armando Pennacchio made three sales of large quantity of heroin to an undercover FBN officer.[54][55] He has a brother named Frank.
• Robert "Bobby the Boxer" Salerno: Salerno was a former boxing trainer who knew Ernie Terrell. In 1995, he was sentenced to life in prison for murder.[56]
• Robert Bellavia: former member of the Ferriola crew.[57] He was involved in the February 7, 1985 murder of bookmaker Hal C. Smith, the body was recovered 3 days later in the trunk of his car.[58][59][60] In 1990, he was indicted and later convicted in the Good Ship Lollipop case, a large-scale racketeering and murder indictment alongside Ernest Infelice, Solly DeLaurentis, Harry Aleman, James Nicholas and William DiDomenico.[61] He was released in 2016 after serving 25 years in prison.
• Paul Carparelli: born 1969. Current Outfit soldier and member of the Cicero crew. In 2016, judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced him to 3½ years in prison on extortion charges meanwhile prosecutors sought after at least 11 years' imprisonment. The extortion conspiracies were allegedly based around Chicago, Las Vegas, Wisconsin and the East Coast. He was a former firefighter in Bloomingdale, Illinois.
• Michael "Jaws" Giorango: former associate of the Chicago Heights crew.[62] He pleaded guilty to operating a bookmaking ring in the suburbs of South Chicago in 1989 and used threats of violence to collect unpaid debts including threats of beatings, bombings and robbery. In 1990, he was sentenced to prison and served 4 years. In 2010, reports linked him and Alexi Giannoulias, the 72nd Democratic Illinois treasurer, to a $11–20 million loan.[63][64][65] In 2004, he was sentenced to six months of intermittent confinement and three years of probation for prostitution charges in Miami. He was granted early release from probation in 2008. In 2010, he filed for bankruptcy protection and listed assets and liabilities between $500,000 and $1 million.[66] His case was dismissed in 2013.
• Frank Orlando: born in 1968. It was alleged he made threatening demands towards an unpaid debt of $200-500,000.[67] At his trial, the FBI alleged Orlando introduced printing firm owner Mark Dziuban to Paul Carparelli to discuss extortion attempts.[68] In 2014, he was sentenced to almost 4 years in prison on extortion charges.[69][70]
• Nicholas "Nick" Ferriola: born in 1977. He is the son of Joseph Ferriola. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Zagel in 2008 to 3 years in federal prison for his role in the Family Secrets case, he was accused of extortion and illegal sports gambling charges over an 8-year period, Ferriola admitted to earning over $150,000 per month.[71] He served as a trusted confidant to Frank Calabrese Sr. during the operation including after Calabrese's life imprisonment sentence in 2009.
• Michael "Handsome Mike" Talerico: Talerico is related to Anglo LaPietra and was a small-time bookie. He was also once married to former Chicago Outfit hitman Frank Schweihs's daughter.[72]
• Tony Saviano: Saviano was involved in an Outfit gambling operation during the 1980s. Pete Rose placed bets with his organization when in Chicago.[73] Authorities speculate that his nephew Tony Saviano out of West Chicago had great influence in the operation.
• Sam Sei: Sei and his nephew Keith had great influence in Melrose Park, Illinois and controlled the town after Rocky Infelice was convicted during the 1990s.[74]
• Robert Panozzo: Panozzo is a former member of the C-Notes street gang and soldier of the Grand Avenue crew. He was sentenced to 18 years on state racketeering charges on January 8, 2019.
• Anthony Ferro: Ferro is a former member of the C-Notes street gang and soldier of the Taylor Street crew. He was sentenced to 6 years on state racketeering charges on January 8, 2001.

• Binder, John (2003). The Chicago Outfit. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-2326-7.
• Cooley, Robert (2004). When Corruption Was King: How I Helped the Mob Rule Chicago, Then Brought the Outfit Down. ISBN 0-7867-1583-9.
• Cooley, Will (2017). "Jim Crow Organized Crime: Black Chicago's Underground Economy in the Twentieth Century", in Building the Black Metropolis: African American Entrepreneurship in Chicago, Robert Weems and Jason Chambers, eds. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 147–170. ISBN 978-0252082948.
• Lombardi, Mark; Richards, Robert Carleton & Hobbs, Judith Richards (2003). Mark Lombardi: Global Networks. Independent Curators. ISBN 0-916365-67-0. (Published for the traveling exhibition of Lombardi's work, Mark Lombardi Global Networks).
• Nolan, John Matthew. 2,543 Days: A History of the Hotel at the Grand Rapids Dam on the Wabash River.
• Russo, Gus (2002). The Outfit: The Role of Chicago's Underworld in the Shaping of Modern America. Bloomsbury USA. ISBN 1-58234-279-2.