Lennerts Rockford List

THE ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, FAMILY

?????Spring Valley shootout with police, Jim Pinto, Sam Mondeli and Joe Ramono

The city of Rockford, situated only ninety miles North West of Chicago, has been the home of an often forgotten crime Family for the better part of eight decades. Having been overshadowed in the national media by its more famous and often more violent counterpart in the Windy City, the Rockford Mafia has a relatively unknown history. And while both Federal and local law enforcement agencies have kept a close eye on various Rockford Mafia members in the period ranging from the 1950s up to the 1980s, the development of Federal informants within the crime Family’s inner circle has never been successful, resulting in a lack of information regarding the Family’s first years of existence. Were it not for the Rockford papers, which kept the local public amazingly well informed on the happenings in Northern Illinois gangland, this history would probably have been lost in time.

The Italian immigrant colony in Rockford, having come to the area in relatively large numbers by the early 1900s, appears to have been a rather quit community compared to many other cities across the United States. Black Hand outrages were almost unheard. But, to say Black Hand tactics were not practiced in the area is simply untrue. Within the city limits itself, Black Hand cases made an occassional appearance during the 1900s and 1910s. One notable case occured in March 1916, when three Black Handers were arrested after a shootout with police. The three lay in wait for their victim to deposit the demanded money on a street corner, who had informed police.

Another notable Black Hand case, one of Rockford’s most prominent and most definitely the one receiving most attention from both local and out of state newspapers, was the bombing of the Joseph Vitoli’s residence on February 15, 1911. Vitoli, known as a wealthy man, had received several Black Hand extortion letters, but had refused to comply with the demands. When his home was blown up, Vitoli himself escaped injury. His wife Rena and their one year old infant were not so lucky; they were seriousely wounded. Rena would die of her injuries a week later. Black Hand affairs of such a ferocious caliber however, were rare within Rockford’s Italian community.

Aside from the Black Hand bands, there is no indication of organized, structured Italian gang activity in the city in the years before prohibition, leading to believe the Mafia factions that were active in the late 1920s and early 1930s were not organized before the Volstead Act came into effect.* Both Federal and local law enforcement seems to support this belief, claiming the Rockford Mafia was formed during the later years of prohibition, out of the various Italian bootleg gangs operating within the city and in the surrounding area. The main character in this evolvement was Antonio Musso, recognized as the first boss of the Rockford Mafia.

*Although there is no indication there were Mafia factions in existence in Rockford before the 1920s, there were certainly already persons later identified as members of the Rockford Mafia living and in some instances criminally active in the city before that time. One clear example is Philip Caltagerone. Caltagerone was arrested in 1917, for the murder of one Giuseppe Tarantola. Caltagerone and Frank Zammuto, a brother of future Rockford mob boss Joe Zammuto,  were both convicted for the crime, but their convictions appear to have been overturned, since both were back in Rockford soon after. 

Antonio Musso, better known as Tony Musso, came to the United States from his native Sicily in 1912, and went to live with relatives in Detroit first. After having spent time in New Orleans and Johnston, Illinois, he went to live in St. Louis, where Musso’s first arrests would take place. By the early 1920s, Musso had settled in Madison, Wisconsin, were he quickly became known as the leader of the local Italian criminal element. He was forced to flee Madison by December 1924, due to the involvement of his associates in the murder of a police officer. Although Musso’s exact movements after his department from Madison are unclear, it can be assumed his next residence was Rockford, were he would live for the rest of his life.

Due to his travelling, it remains unclear when and where Musso became involved with Mafia activities, but it is obvious he had already been well established in the underworld before coming to Rockford. And this was certainly not only on a business level. In 1917, Musso had married the sister of the wife of John Piro, at the time a powerful New Orleans Mafia figure. Musso’s sister Carmella, in addition, was married to Tony Lombardo, Chicago’s Sicilian Mafia chief until his murder in 1928. Upon arrival in Rockford, Musso only expanded his criminal contacts.

Musso reportedly build up an association with the Springfield, Illinois bootlegging syndicate headed by Frank Zito, who would stay on as the city’s Mafia boss for more then thirty years. Social and business ties existed between the Rockford Mafia and their confederates in Milwaukee and Dallas. Bootleggers in the Ladd and LaSalle areas were alleged to have been closely aligned with the Rockford liquor racketeers. In addition, Musso was said to have been a close friend of Chicago’s Al Capone, which is not unimaginable, being the brother-in-law of Antonio Lombardo. According to various sources, it was Capone that not only supported him in his efforts to organize the Rockford liquor trade; they had more or less encouraged him in doing so.

The region around Beloit, Wisconsin, some sixteen miles north of Rockford, would become another important area of support for Musso. The Italian bootleggers operating in and around Beloit would allign themselves with Musso in the early 1930s. After prohbition had ended, the Rockford Mafia would continue to be a factor in the Beloit underworld.* In contrast to Rockford, the Italian immigrant colony of Beloit had been a rural one during the 1910s, with frequent violent encounters in which Black Handers figured. Interesting enough, on more then one occassion persons from Rockford figured in this apparent feud, which eventually resulted in the July 22, 1920, murder of Joe Mascoli in South Rockford.**

*Joseph DiGirolamo, was identified as a Rockford Mafia member by federal informants in the early 1960s. DiGirolamo, had been a longtime Beloit resident before relocating to Illinois, was active in the local bootlegging scene during much of the 1930s, in co-operation with the Rockford Mafia.

**The Rockford police department was assisted in the Mascoli murder case by Dan Torrisi, a Beloit police detective working on the Beloit Black Hand cases. Torrisi claimed the Beloit Black Hand was connected with a simular organization in Rockford. The Rockford organization consisted of some twenty members, but Torrisi did not provide any details. During the Mascoli investigation, Torrisi and a Chicago detective were accused of trying to beat a suspect into a confession. The suspect, one Vito Mortellaro, was a member of the Rockford Black Hand, according to Torrisi, who was eventually found not guilty in the assault case.

Musso started his drive to organize the Rockford bootleggers around 1927/1928. Although many were quick to subdue to Musso and his men, he did not succeed without the use violence. Various murders, shootings and a high profile kidnapping case were attributed to warfare among the bootlegging gangs, and Musso and his underlings figured in many of them. But violence was not only used against competitors in the bootleg business. Proprietors of drinking establishments refusing to buy from the right suppliers were often the subject of threats and assaults. Even the enforcers of the prohibition law were not always safe from the bootleggers. In September 1926, three of Musso’s associates had been arrested and charged with the attempted murders of liquor investigators Alec and David Dotz. The case proved only a minor inconvenience for Musso’s outfit; all three suspects were acquitted in July of the following year.

The high profile kidnapping case, which was widely measured out in the Illinois newspapers, involved the October 1927 kidnapping of Ezra Duffy. Duffy, a Sterling, Illinois bootlegger, had failed to pay for a load of liquor he received from Musso’s gang. In order to make sure payment would be secured from Duffy, he was abducted and told he would not be released until he would agree to pay his debt. After being held for several days, Duffy agreed to the terms, and was moved to Dixon, Illinois. There, Duffy was observed by the local sheriff in speakeasy with Giuseppe Stassi and Antonio Carlino, two members of Musso’s Mafia organization. Duffy was recognized by the sheriff as the kidnapping victim, and picked up the three men.

After having interviewed Duffy about his abduction, Rockford police raided the Rockford home were he claimed to have been held for several days. A farm in Rockton, Illinois, where Duffy had been held for several days after being held in Rockford, and before being moved to Dixon, was also raided. The raids resulted in the apprehension of three additional men. The three, Carlino and Stassi, and Tony Musso, who was also arrested, were all identified by Duffy as having been involved in his kidnapping. As in the Dotz case, there were little consequences for Musso and his gang, since it appears no charges were ever filed against the men. 

Although the 1920s saw several fatal gang shootings, the victim of the most noteworthy shooting of the period survived. He was Nicolo Licata, who was wounded on May 26, 1928. Licata, who years later would rise to prominence as the boss of the Mafia in Los Angeles, was claimed to have been send to Rockford by Al Capone,* to assist Musso in bringing the independent bootleggers under his control. In Rockford, he was said to have been involved in bootlegging and extortion, although he was never arrested on those charges. On that particular day in May, Licata was seriously wounded by a gunshot wound in his chest. He was dropped off in front of the Rockford Hospital by an associate, who fled to scene as soon as a nurse came to assist Licata. 

*In March 1929, Al Capone himself was reported to have come to Rockford to inspect Musso’s progress. It was reported that Capone was seen just outside Rockford’s city limits, and waited until darkness to be escorted into the city by Tony Musso.

While interrogated in the hospital, Licata insisted he was one George Pumilia, from 1117 Ferguson Street. Licata was sought by Chicago police on charges of working a confidence game, auto theft and various other crimes, thus reluctant to reveal his true identity. And although he kept insisting he was Pumila, Licata was positively identified by the Rockford police as the Chicago fugitive. The Ferguson Street address indeed turned out to bear a Pumila family. It was the household of Albert Pumila and his family. Pumila’s sons were later identified as Licata’s brothers-in-law. It seems Licata was never extradited to Chicago, since his arrest record does not reflect any Chicago arrests. His assailant, identified as Joe Raymond*, pleaded he shot Licata in self defence.

*Joe Raymond was most assumable Joe DiRaimondi, an alleged Rockford mob figure.

The surroundings of Licata’s shooting remain unclear. Licata, who was alleged to have been acting as a muscle man for Musso, was said to have been involved in extorting Rockford residents in a very aggressive manner. The possibility exists that Licata was shot down in an attempt to extort his assailant, who operated a roadhouse. But it is more plausible his shooting was connected with the looming battle for control of the bootleg trade. In Licata’s company at the time of the shooting was Paul Giovingo, a powerful local bootlegger. Giovingo and his brothers Tony and Joe were considered Musso’s main rivals, and were at the centre of the gang warfare in the early 1930s.

While Paul Giovingo was present at the scene when Licata was shot, it remains unclear what his role was, or why he was in Licata’s company. Licata was an alleged Musso muscleman, while Giovingo, at least in the years to follow, was clearly opposing the Musso mob. Was Licata the designated hitman in an early attempt on the life of Giovingo that did not went as it was supposed to? Was Licata himself the target of Giovingo, who felt more secure with one of Musso’s feared underlings out of the way? Or was Licata just in the wrong place at the wrong time. With the small amount of information available on the case, it is impossible to tell, and will probably remain unknown. Licata, at the time of the shooting said to have been a part-time resident of Rockford, appears to have left the city for Detroit not long after leaving the hospital.

While the 1920s did have the occasional bootleg related murders, the victims were petty figures in Rockford’s crime circles. Not until 1930, the first high profile gangster would fell to rival guns. It was Joe Giovingo, the least harmful of the Giovingo brothers, who was shot down on August 15. Eleven shotgun slugs ended the life of Joe, who, unlike his brothers, did not have an arrest record. Brothers Paul and Tony had been arrested earlier that year, having been indicted for liquor law violations. Indicted in the same conspiracy was Tony Musso, as well as several of his underlings. Musso had undoubtly ordered Joe Giovingo’s murder, but was conveniently in custody at the time. 

Giovingo was shot just seconds after he had greeted a Rockford policeman. The officer and his partner rushed to Giovingo, who lay dying on the sidewalk. Only six feet away from were Giovingo fell, the officers noted Tommy Abbott, real name Abbate, sitting in a car with three companions. Abbott was a notorious Chicago gangster and affiliate of Chicago’s North Side mob, dubbed the Moran/Aiello mob by the press. He convinced the officers he was not involved in any way with the killing, as did the other three passengers of the car. They were identified as Chicagoans William Sullivan and Elmer Whiteley, and Paul Picchioni, Abbott’s bodyguard and a Rockford Mafia member.

Although Abbott managed to escape arrest immediately after the shooting, he was brought in the following day for questioning. Although Paul Giovingo had already waved off the theory that Joe’s assassin mistook him for Abbott*, there was still the theory that Abbott has acted as the “fingerman” in the slaying. Picchione was also re-captured. He and Robert White, another Abbott associate, were found sitting in the slain Giovingo’s car only hours after his murder. Both were armed. Abbott and Picchioni were released after questioning, and never charged in connection with the Giovingo murder. Nor was anybody else, for that matter.

*Paul Giovingo, upon hearing the theory that his brother might have been mistaken for Tommy Abbott, was quickly dismissed by him. He claimed both he and Joe had received phone calls recently, from a person that seemed anxious to meet them. Paul claimed he and his brother decided to ignore the calls, but he now felt the unidentified caller wanted to get both of them out in the open in order to “get to them”.

Giovingo’s associates were furious about the killing, and were quick to start their own investigation in order to find out who was responsible. Apparently, they knew in which direction they had to look. A few hours after the shooting, seven or eight men, posing as dry agents and police officers, came to the house of Tony Carlino, whose wife was the only one home. The men demanded entrance into Carlino’s two car garage. She let the men enter the garage, and went inside the house to call the police to inquire about the raid. When they arrived, the fake law enforcement officials had already left, and their identity remained unknown. The police believed the men to be looking for the car used in the Giovingo murder.

On another occasion, the house where one of Musso’s closest associates roomed was fired upon. Rooming in the house was Vincenzo Troia, known in Rockford as Lorenzo Salvatore or Big Vince. Troia was described in the media as Musso’s main lieutenant, and was an important figure in the Rockford Mafia. He enjoyed close ties with the Zito mob from Springfield, lead by Frank Zito, and with the liquor syndicates in Southern Wisconsin. Because of his authority while Musso was in custody, Giovingo’s friends must have thought he had a hand in the killing, in which they were most assumable right. Troia disappeared from the Rockford area shortly after the attack on the house he roomed in, and settled first in Springfield, and eventually in Newark, New Jersey. However, Troia stayed in contact with his Rockford associates, and made occasional visits to the area.

Within a half year of Troia’s department from the Rockford area, Musso, his chief rivals Paul and Tony Giovingo, and several of their associates, were convicted of liquor law violations, and received prison sentences varying from one day to two years. The Giovingos were committed to the same jail as Musso, which apparently made them nervous. Paul Giovingo, at one point, was searched by a prison guard after the receiving of a tip that Giovingo was armed. A screwdriver was found in his possession, which he undoubtly carried to protect him from the grudge of Musso and company. But while in prison, even with their enemies in the same building, the Giovingos were relatively safe from harm.

But the feud was still brewing. Musso’s associates left on the street, reinforced with mob figures from Springfield, Illinois,* and southern Wisconsin continued their drive to bring the Italian bootleggers into their fold. Those who refused were dealt with, as were those who had infuriated the gang for other reasons. One of them was Jack DeMarco, who had been sentenced to prison in the same conspiracy as Musso and the Giovingo brothers. DeMarco, who appears to have been aligned with Musso’s group, was murdered within a day of his release from Leavenworth Penitentiary, in January 1932. DeMarco, it was alleged by Rockford police, was killed by his former associates for having been too talkative while in custody.

*Joseph Zito and Jasper Calo, both to become ranking members of the Rockford area, came from Springfield. Zito, a brother of Springfield’s Frank Zito, reportedly went to Rockford in the early 1930s. He was among the main suspects in the murder of Paul Giovingo in 1933. Calo was arrested in a Springfield bootlegging conspiracy in 1931. Joseph Zito was also indicted, although he was never been caught. Possibly, Zito had gone to Rockford in order to avoid prosecution. Calo, at the time of the indictment already described as a Rockford resident, settled permanently in the area after having been released from prison in 1934.

Paul Giovingo, after release from prison in October 1932, was still defying the Musso liquor syndicate. He reportedly made threats around Rockford to “get” certain people, most assumable Musso, whom he held responsible for his brother’s death. Four months after his release, on February 11, 1933, Paul Giovingo was shot to death after his car had been forced to the curb. With Giovingo’s murder, his former associates saw the benefit of cooperating with Musso. After more then five years of violence, Musso and his group finally succeeded in bringing Rockford liquor traffic under his command. And although prohibition would be repealed within a year, bootlegging kept an important source of income for the Rockford Mafia well into the 1940s.

But repeal did cause a decline on demand of bootleg liquor, in turn causing a decline of income. It appears that towards the end of prohibition, other rackets were explored. One of these was obviously committing armed robberies. In April 1933, less then two months after the Paul Giovingo murder, several young Rockford mob figures were arrested in connection with a string of hold-ups, robberies and car thefts. When it was suspected that one of the young gangsters, Nick Misuraca, had been too talkative to police about the affairs of his associates, he was shot to death. At the time of his murder, Misuraca was under indictment for a robbery, car theft and a delinquency charge. He had been released from prison only a few days prior to his murder.

Some six and a half year later, another alleged robbery related homicide took place, when Rockford crime figure John DeBenedetto was found shot to death in Chicago, in a car that was allegedly used in the robbery of John Cuneo, president of the Cuneo press, Chicago. DeBenedetto was identified by Cuneo and his wife as one their robbers. Chicago Police alleged DeBenedetto had been shot by his confederate in the robbery so the loot, said to have been $40,000, would not have to be shared. Rockford police however, doubted DeBenedetto was involved in the robbery; he had been seen in Rockford on a point of time that made it almost impossible to have been in Chicago in time to participate in the robbery. Mrs. Cuneo identified another robber, after having viewed several pictures shown to her by police, as Anthony “Tough Tony” Capezio, a notorious Capone gunmen. But when apprehended, John Cuneo was unable to confirm he had been one of his attackers, and Capezio was freed.

Loan sharking was another racket the Rockford Mafia wanted a part of. In the early 1930s, the foremost money lender in the area was Walton Wheeler, who lived in Belvidere, Illinois. It is alleged that when Wheeler was approached by the Rockford mobsters for a piece of his business, he refused their demands. His refusal would cost him his life. On April 13, 1934, Wheeler was called on at his farm in Belvidere, according to his wife, by four masked gunmen. Two of them beat Wheeler to the ground, and took him outside. While one of the masked men drove Mrs. Wheeler and their eight children into the house, Wheeler was shot to death outside. And while local police were looking for suspects among Wheeler’s debtors, Musso was behind the murder.

Wheeler’s murder wasn’t the only mob related homicide in 1934. Only five days later, Louis DalCollo, a Rockford tavern operator, was murdered. Mrs. DalCollo, wounded in the attack on her husband, indicated several attempts to collect money from the tavern had been made, with DalCollo refusing every time. Police alleged the latest attempt got out of hand, with DalCollo being shot to death. Before dying however, he managed to fire five shots himself, wounding one of his assailants. Police, on a mysterious tip, went to find Angelo Buscemi, a Rockford Mafia figure, severely wounded in a car parked outside the local hospital. Buscemi had been shot in the back, and had been stripped down to his waist. He refused to talk to the officers, and lost conscience a short time later. Buscemi, the assailant wounded by DalCollo, didn’t survive the shooting either. Frank Buscemi, a brother of Angelo, was questioned in the DalCollo murder, but never charged. More the four decades later, a cousin of the Buscemi brothers, also named Frank, would become head of the Rockford Family.

1934 was also the year of a brief return of Vincenzo Troia to Rockford. Troia, during his absence from the Rockford area, had become a leading figure in the Newark Family, and was reported to be in control of a major lottery operation there. He had gained prestige in the national underworld when  he was asked to become a member of a general assembly that was established to mediate with Salvatore Maranzano, the opponent of Joseph Masseria in the notorious underworld struggle known as the Castellammarese War.

Troia’s return to Rockford turned out to be unsuccessful for him. In May 1934, he was arrested by local police on a warrant charging him with violations of the international revenue act, relating to his former bootlegging activities. Troia’s companions at the time of his arrest, both found to be armed after having been searched, were Frank Longo, of Springfield, and Phil Piccuiro, of Beloit. Longo, who together with Piccuiro acted as Troia’s bodyguard, had been a prominent Springfield Mafia member under Frank Zito, having been described as the “killer” for the Zito mob. All three were freed on bond the following day, and Troia quickly departed for Newark again. Apparently, Longo went with him.

On August 23, 1935, Vincenzo Troia was shot and killed in Newark, in the reputed headquarters of a lottery gang. One other person, his bodyguard Frank Longo, had been killed instantly, and three persons had been wounded, Troia’s son Joseph among them. Joseph would die of his wounds a short time later. News of Troia’s death reached the Italian communities in Rockford and southern Wisconsin within days, and Rockford police eventually heard rumours of his demise. Not having received any official reports of his demise, the exact surroundings around his murder were still unclear to the Rockford police department.

Since Troia was known under the name Lorenzo Salvatore in Rockford, the police reviewed several gangland slayings that could be a match. Eventually, officers were dispatched to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, were one Big Mike Mince had been slain, while other officers were send to Newark. Vincenzo Troia, according to residents of Rockford’s Italian district, was an alias of Salvatore. Although Newark police doubted Troia was the man the Rockford officers were looking for, fingerprints of Troia and Salvatore turned out to be the same.

Various theories for his murder surfaced. Newark police focussed their attention on a brewing lottery war among Italian racketeers in the city. This theory was collaborated years later, by Melchiore Allegra, a Sicilian Mafioso defector, who mentioned that after Troia’s murder, men were dispatched to empty certain safety boxes Troia kept. These boxes, where Troia was alleged to have kept his profits from his lottery operations, turned out to be empty already, according to Allegra’s confessions. Nicola Gentile also provided a theory, although years after the murder, in his memoirs. Gentile states that Troia’s former friendship with Salvatore Maranzano was the real reason behind his murder. Gentile however, fails to explain why there was an almost four year gap between Troia’ murder and the killing of Maranzano.

Theories of the Rockford and Springfield police investigators both focussed on local angles. According to Springfield police, the Troia murder was linked to a Springfield gangland slaying some two months earlier. The Rockford theory was that Troia had threatened to return to Rockford permanently and take over control of the underworld again, and was shot to death on orders of the Rockford syndicate to prevent him from doing so. Police in Beloit, Wisconsin, supported their Rockford colleagues by stating they were in possesion of concrete evidence that Troia had been in Rockford a short time before his murder making these threaths.

The real reason behind Troia’s murder was never discovered, although his involvement in the Newark Italian lotteries seems the most plausible explanation. But if the Rockford Mafia was indeed involved, as was theorized, there is one man who most likely played an important role in the killing. He was Tony Riela. At the time, Riela most was most assumable a member of the Newark Mafia, as was Troia. Before coming to New Jersey, he had lived in Rockford and Springfield, were he was acquainted with the local Italian criminal elements. In fact, when in 1930 Giovingos associates shot up the house in which Troia roomed, another roomer at the place was Riela. Riela appears to have followed Troia to Springfield, and later to Newark. Riela’s former association with the Rockford mob and his knowledge of Troia’s movements in Newark made him the ideal person to set up or even carry out the murder.

Although Troia had been a powerful figure in Rockford’s Family, being among its leading members as one Musso’s main lieutenants, his death proved to have very little to no impact on its affairs. Musso and his associates, whether they had a hand in Troia’s demise or not, continued their business as usual. The Families control of the local rackets was still expanding. By the late 1930s, early 1940s, they had a firm control of most illegal enterprises in the city, including the illegal liquor trade, loan sharking and prostitution. In addition, a variety of legitimate businesses was operated by various Family members. Gambling proved to be another important source of income. Like bootlegging and loan sharking, gambling had to be taken over by force, when

Before the Rockford mob could take control of local gambling, they had to deal with Charles Kalb. Kalb was the biggest horse bookmaker in the area, with his operation stretching from Rockford and surrounding area into Wisconsin. Reportedly, Musso had tried to get Kalb to join the Rockford syndicate, and later force him out and take over his operations. But although Kalb did not seem to have the availability of the same amount of muscle as Musso, he had been successful in keeping his independence. By 1937, while most other rackets had been brought under the control of Musso, Kalb still operated independently, refusing to join Musso’s organization. His luck finally ran out on December 22, 1937. While returning home from a movie with his wife and bodyguard, Kalb was shot to death. His wife was slightly injured by flying glass, while the bodyguard, Harry Dunn, remained unharmed. After Kalb’s murder, the Rockford mob had no more interference or resistance from other racket figures. Law enforcement however, was another story.

The Kalb murder caused a lot of unwanted publicity for Musso and his associates, which in turn caused a lot of attention from law enforcement. Directly after the murder, local police ordered gambling to a halt, temporarily disturbing Musso’s newly acquired racket. Two months later, members of a huge bootlegging ring, including various Rockford Mafia figures, received heavy prison sentences and fines for their participation in the ring. Several other bootlegging operations figuring Rockford mob figures were broken up in the next decade. The successful probe against the illegal liquor trade caused the loss of an important source of income for the Rockford Mafia. The 1940s closed with another financial setback, when in June of 1949, two highly profitable houses of prostitution were raided.

The early and mid 1950s were a relatively quit time in Rockford. With a few occasional arrests of individual Rockford Mafia members and associates, there was little interference from law enforcement for several years. When law enforcement agencies were putting pressure on almost every organized crime Family across the United States after the Apalachin meeting in 1957, the Rockford group appears to have escaped most of the attention. No Rockford residents were identified as having attended the meeting,* although there is some indication that Antonio Musso and Jasper Calo, another power in the Rockford Mafia, were planning to. Both were registered at a hotel in the nearby area. But while the presence of several other, non Rockford Mafia figures not identified as having attended the meeting but known to have been near Apalachin have been measured out by various sources, the presence of Musso and Calo is relatively unknown.

*In fact, only one Illinois resident had been detected by State Troopers. It was Frank Zito, boss of the Mafia in Springfield, and brother of Joseph Zito, a power in the Rockford mob. There was some speculation that Frank Zito was only present because his brother Joseph could not attend. However, Frank Zito controlled organized crime in the state capitol and the rest of Sangamon County,  and was among the most powerful Illinois racket figures outside of Chicago. Frank Zito representing his brother, who in Rockford held a lower rank in the Mafia’s hierarchy then Frank in Springfield, seems highly unlikely, and he was almost definitely there to represent his own interests.

Tony Musso retired around the same time as the Apalachin meeting, although it is unclear whether it was before or after the meeting. Jasper Calo, a high ranking figure for more then twenty years, was appointed the new boss. Calo, a brother in law of Joseph Zito, was respected among the membership of the Rockford Family, and had been Musso’s most logical successor. However, Calo seems to have lost the respect of his fellow mobsters at some point during his reign, and several of his underlings became disgruntled. In late 1958, when Calo opened the front door of his house, three shots were fired into his doorway. Calo understood what had to be done, and he stepped down in order to avoid a real attempt on his life. In 1961, after having kept an advisory role within the Rockford Family, Calo returned to his native Sicily, where he would die in 1973.

A new era in Rockford crime had started. The newly appointed boss was Joseph Zammuto, a long-time capo in the Rockford Mafia. The publicity shy Zammuto believed in a quit approach, and he and his direct underlings shed themselves from criminal activities. Zammuto managed to keep attention of himself and his Mafia Family for most part of the 1950s. Where Mafia bosses in other parts of the country became the subject of much publicity in the national press, the Rockford Mafia received little to no attention. But reigning in a time the Mafia was becoming a household name in America, it would have been nearly impossible for himself or his associates to stay unnoticed forever.

The existence of the Rockford crime syndicate was measured out nationally after the May 2, 1959, murder of Donald Burton and Joseph Greco Jr. Their bodies were found stuffed in the trunk of Greco’s car. Large quantities of fixed gambling pharameblia were also found in the car. Rockford Police learned that Burton, with Greco, had tried to force his way into the local gambling racket, and had been warned to stay out of town. It was clear to local law enforcement agencies the established gambling syndicate, headed by Zammuto, was to blame for the double slaying. However, even after Zammuto associates had been questioned in the murder, an out-of-town gambling syndicate was eventually blamed. The Grand Jury investigation that followed however, would focus on Rockford organized crime circles. And although Zammuto himself was never called to testify, several of his associates were not as fortunate.

A parade of witnesses was called to testify about their knowledge of local gambling operations, and of the Burton and Greco murders. Among the more notorious figures called were Sebastian Gulotta, a rising star in Zammuto’s organization, and Joseph Maggio, an associate of the murdered men, whose murder two decades later is recognized as the last Mafia related murder in Rockford. In the end, after the hearings had ceased, the Greco and Burton killings were still unsolved, and little to no damage had been done to the operations of the Zammuto mob. Despite a lot of unwanted publicity, the first major investigation into organized crime in Rockford proved to have little effect on Zammuto and his associates.

The 1960s would bring more investigations, primarily from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. By now, the FBI had started its drive on the various Mafia Families across the country, and the Rockford Mafia was no exception. Informants from Milwaukee and New York City had identified Joseph Zammuto as Rockford’s Cosa Nostra boss, making him the focus of their investigations. But Zammuto, it turned out, was hard to link to any criminal involvement. His name was occasionally linked to various gambling operations, but his involvement could never be proven. Several of Zammuto’s underlings were also under Federal surveillance, but were equally hard to incriminate.

Raids on gambling establishments and the arrests of several gambling operators failed to seriously damage the operations of the Rockford Mafia. Charges against gambling figures often did not stick, and if convicted sentences were often low. New Grand Jury investigations, this time focussing on the Rockford tavern scene and its connection to gambling also failed to disrupt the mob’s criminal operations. The probe, taking place in December 1968, uncovered a close connection between Rockford tavern operators and various criminal enterprises, eventually resulting in the indictments of eight Rockford mobsters. However, the majority of Rockford’s Mafia figures and their operations could continue without interference.

But both the Grand Jury Investigations and the raids on gambling establishments caused a lot of unwanted publicity, much to Joe Zammuto’s frustration. But the biggest blow to Zammuto’s publicity shy approach came a year before the Grand Jury hearings. In September 1967, Life Magazine published a series of articles about the American Mafia. In one article, a map of the United States with pictures of alleged Mafia bosses surrounding the map was printed. Although the picture was unclear, and only Zammuto’s last name was given, it was clear to most Rockford residents who the article was referring to. According to later revelations of a relative, Zammuto was grief-stricken by the article. The mob boss, his relative pointed out, felt terrible when he found out that his grandson had been confronted with the articles.

The 1960s also brought to attention again the close association between the Rockford Family and the Chicago Outfit. The association between both Families went back to the Musso regime, as discussed above, and had remained intact ever since. Several Chicago mobsters were in partnership with Rockford Mafia figures, and moved freely around the Rockford area. This became clear in 1962, when Rocco Pranno, ranking member of the Chicago Outfit, together with an associate, were suspects in the double slaying of Octavio Martinez and his eighteen year old girlfriend Ann Bergman. Martinez, known as Chico, was a Rockford racketeer linked to the local organized crime scene, who was found beaten and shot on a road south of Rockford. His girlfriend, who accompanied Martinez the night he was murdered, was found dead almost a week later. Pranno, it was alleged, had murdered Martinez after the latter had failed to repay a loan.

Chicago mobsters were also suspected of having teamed up with Rockford Mafiosi in various gambling operations, and on at least one occasion, Chicago crime figures were partners with a Rockford mob soldier and two other Rockford residents in a legitimate enterprise. Most assumable because of the close relationship between both Families, the Rockford Mafia has often been wrongly labelled as a satellite operation of the Chicago Outfit. The Chicago Tribune appears to have been the first to supply this false information. In 1966, the Tribune labelled Joe Zammuto as the boss of the Rockford branch of the Chicago mob in two separate articles focussing on the Illinois gambling scene. Federal informants however, have pointed out the Rockford Family has been an antonymous Family.

Zammuto grew tired of the continuing threat of getting either subpoenaed or indicted, and stayed more and more in the background. His administration took over much of his responsibilities over the years, and in or around 1973, Zammuto retired from active leadership. Frank Buscemi, a cousin of one of Tony Musso’s close associates in the 1920s and 1930s, was brought forward as the new boss. Zammuto, who already had passed much of his authority to Buscemi prior to his stepping down, would stay on in an advisory role. Although there was reported to be some distrust towards Buscemi by some members in the Rockford Family, Buscemi was accepted as the new leader.

Frank Buscemi got his start in the mob in Chicago, where he lived before coming to Rockford in 1959. Almost immediately after his arrival, Buscemi was observed meeting and socializing with known Rockford Mafia members. He set up a vending machine business in the basement of the Aragona Club, a known Mafia meeting place. But despite his known association with the Rockford Family, Buscemi managed to keep a low profile.  He had been arrested on occasion in Chicago, but had no arrest record in Rockford. Zammuto, whose son had married Buscemi’s sister, appears to have held Buscemi in a high regard. His closeness to Zammuto, in addition to his strong ties to the Chicago mob, paved the way for his fast rise within the Rockford Family. By the late 1960s, Buscemi was among Zammuto’s closest confederates.

During his tenure as boss, Buscemi remained his low profile. Although Federal investigations were still conducted, the intensity appears to have been reduced. Although various investigating agents were highly aware of the contrary, the Federal Bureau had the belief the Rockford Mafia was little more then a handful of “retired old Italians”. Local police were equally unsuccessful; occasional arrests were made, but the police department either failed or refused to link these to any organized crime activity. One theory provided by various sources for the lack of local law enforcement to recognize the overall organized crime situation is bribery. Although hard evidence for this theory has never been supplied, certain situations have occurred which were not in favour of local police. The best known example is probably the destroying of organized crime related police files in the mid 1980s. Claimed to have been part of a state-wide purge to get rid of unnecessary and irrelevant paperwork, this goal was not reached.

Despite the little interference Buscemi had from law enforcement, he still had his legal troubles. The Internal Revenue Service was more then interested in one of Buscemi’s businesses, Rondinella Foods. The company, supplying the ingredients for among others pizza toppings, had gained a near monopoly in the Rockford area through intimidation, and its owners were suspected of evading taxes. Nothing indicating tax evasion could be found in the company’s records, but the IRS made frequent checks. In 1981, Buscemi sold his interest in Rondinella to a cousin. The sale, to speak in the words of Buscemi’s associates, was because of the constant harassment from the IRS. The whole affair proved to be little more then inconvenient for Buscemi, and had no effect at all on the overall workings of the Rockford Mafia.

The interest of the FBI in the affairs of the Rockford Mafia returned when three ranking members figured into the undercover operations of Federal agents into both the Milwaukee mob and New York’s Bonanno Family.* Buscemi’s consiglieri Joseph Zito and gambling bosses Charles Vince and Philip Emordeno travelled to Milwaukee to make introductions between members of the Bonanno Family and Milwaukee’s Mafia boss, Frank Balistrieri in June 1978. The Bonanno Family contacted the Rockford mob through Tony Riela, who as stated above, had close connections to various Illinois mobsters. Riela, by now, was an aging Bonanno capo in New Jersey. Because the Bonannos lacked contacts in Milwaukee, the Rockford Mafia was asked to make proper introductions between both Families. Eventually, indictments in the cases were handed down in both New York and Milwaukee. Zito, Vince and Emordeno were named as co-conspirators in the Milwaukee case, none were charged. **

*This involved the undercover operations of Joseph Pistone, who had infiltrated New York’s Bonanno Family under the name Donnie Brasco, and of Gail Cobb, who as vending machine operator Tony Conte tried to infiltrate the Milwaukee coin machine scene in Milwaukee. For details see chapter X, the Bonanno Family, and chapter X, the Milwaukee Family.

**Of the three, only Vince was still alive when the case was brought to court.

The affair led the FBI to the conclusion that the Rockford mob was more then only a few old Italians. But it was certainly not the only event that was noted with interest by the Bureau. During the 1970s and early 1980s, several cousins and various others were brought in from Sicily and set up to work in pizza shops across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. It was believed by Federal agents that the Sicilian arrivals were imported to strengthen the local crime Family, although hard evidence to acknowledge this is missing. As of today, several of these young Sicilian immigrants and their families continue to live in the Rockford area, some of them owning local restaurants.

Frank Buscemi died of natural causes on December 7, 1987. During his almost fifteen year reign, he and his associates had received little interference from law enforcement, despite several investigations. Even after the murder of mob member Joseph Maggio in April 1980, Rockford’s last recorded Mafia murder, operations could continue as usual. Although Buscemi himself had been under investigation in connection with the murder, as well as several other Rockford mobsters, none were arrested. Buscemi, who without any doubt had either ordered or approved the killing, was left untouched, and Rockford’s last known gangland slaying remains unsolved.

In 2006, the Maggio murder came to the attention of the public again, when a Rockford newspaper columnist suggested that sources indicated that Maggio opposed the decision of Joseph Zammuto to allow drug trafficking in the area. The same columnist indicated the drug operations Zammuto gave his approval to could have been part of the so called Pizza Connection, which was in operation at the time of Maggio’s murder. Buscemi’s importation of Sicilians, many of them working in pizza parlours spread throughout the state, was believed to have played a role in this narcotics network. However, hard evidence again was missing.

Succeeding Buscemi as the city’s Mafia boss was Charles Vince. Vince, former street boss supervising local gambling, was a long-time player in the Rockford Family. He was questioned in 1933 with regard to the murder of Nick Misuraca, a close friend of Vince. Vince’s further career included several arrests and convictions, including assault and gambling. His latest conviction was in 1971, for extorting a retired Beloit physician. By the time Vince had taken over the Rockford Family, he had recently been elevated to underboss. Vince, because of a nasty habit of gambling, was not the most respected member of the Rockford mob, but due to various deaths of prominent members during the two decades, he appears to have been the most logical successor.

Vince took over the Family in a relatively favourable time. The attention of the media was focussed on the high profile Mafia cases in New York, and the casino skimming cases in Kansas City. The Federal government had lost interest in many of the smaller, quit Families across the country, claiming several of these had ceased to exist. Local police, having denied over the years even the existence of a structured organized crime Family operating in the city, also failed to act. When Charles Vince died a natural death in 1994, little to no attention was given to his passing. The FBI already considered the structured Rockford Mafia organization history, and viewed the death of Vince as collaboration.

But the truth lay somewhere else. The very little attention the Rockford mobsters had received from both law enforcement and the media had resulted in an environment to operate unnoticed and in almost complete secrecy. Identified as successor of Vince was Sebastian Gulotta, although it appears he was not recognized in that capacity by law enforcement; naturally he couldn’t be recognized as such when the Rockford Mafia had already been considered dormant for several years. But knowledgeable sources have indicated Gulotta controlled a still smooth running and stable crime Family, holding a vast control on several gambling operations.

In March 2000, Gulotta died in his vacation home in Mesa, Arizona. His successor is unknown, although sources confirm there has been one, who is said to be still in position. Salvatore Galuzzo, first publicly identified as a Rockford Mafia member in the 1980s, appears to be a prominent and ranking figure, although it is unclear what his exact position in the current Family structure is. The Family is said to be still in control of a huge portion of illegal gambling in the Rockford area, and has remained in contact with the Chicago Outfit until at least 2005.

That year, Frank Saladino was found dead in a motel room, from an apparent suicide. Saladino was a Rockford born mob figure, who had been identified as liaison between Rockford and Chicago. He was about to be indicted in a major case against the hierarchy of the Chicago Outfit, called “Family Secrets”. The timing of his death leads some to believe his suicide was staged to prevent him from eventual cooperation. Saladino, the indictment read, was suspected of carrying out several murders on behalf of the Chicago mob, and was facing a possible life sentence. His knowledge on these killings certainly made him a dangerous risk for the Outfit bosses, but again, evidence to support this allegation is simply missing.

Saladino’s sudden death not only caused his own exclusion from the trial. A Rockford based sports betting operation in which Saladino figured, could not be linked to any defendants in the Family Secrets trial without Saladino. Federal authorities decided to indict the betting ring separately, which they did in February 2006. Nine Rockford area men were charged with running the operation, which netted more then half a million dollars over the years. Eight of them were arrested; one of them was already in custody on unrelated charges. The indictment clearly showed the continuing presence of illegal gambling in Rockford. But while the operation was publicly linked to Chicago, no mentioning was made of the local mob scene.  The defendants were convicted, but all received relatively low sentences.

But the convictions were certainly not the end of the Rockford gambling scene under the mob’s control. Illegal gambling parlours continue to operate. Gambling debts are still collected with the threat of violence, or if necessary, with violence itself. Salvatore Galluzzo and his brother Natale are suspected of running a large portion it. The Galluzzo controlled gambling ring is reportedly known as the Soccer Club, a combination of various gambling establishments.  Although raids on these establishments have been made on various occasions, the existence of a structured organization behind these operations are steadily denied.

One of the last major event relating to Rockford’s illegal gambling racket occurred in October 2007, when a group of criminals decided to make a quick buck by robbing a card game. The card game was run by Vaughn “Curly” Fitzgerald, allegedly connected to the Galluzzo’s Soccer Club. The police, who responded quickly when notified of a possible robbery in progress, managed to stop one of the fleeing robbers, and placed him under arrest. But Fitzgerald had his own ideas what to do with him. After having obtained a rifle, Fitzgerald wounded the robbery suspect while already under arrest. When he refused to put down his rifle, the police officers were forced to shoot Fitzgerald. The eighty year old Fitzgerald died instantly.

Within days of the robbery, two other suspects were arrested. The loot of the robbery, according to insiders around the fifteen thousand dollars, has not been recovered. It was alleged that one of the participants of the card game notified the robbers of the amount of money present. However, the police remains unclear who this participant is, or if he is among the three men under arrest. The police remains equally unclear about the other participants of the illegal card game, and until now have only released the name of one of them, while there was reportedly a relatively large party in attendance. Rumour has surfaced that the reason of this secretiveness is that among those in attendance were several prominent Rockford residents, including a police official. If true, these kinds of attitude will only aide the Rockford mob in continuing its present operations.

members/associates

Abbernethy, Harry –

*born November 14, 1886??

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*died in July 1969

Achilli, Mark -

*son of Robert

*alleged Rockford mob associtae

*gambling figure

*shot to death in Los Gatos, California, on March ??, 2003

*rumors in Rockford were that Achilli’s debts to loansharks had caught up with him

Achilli, Robert –

*member

*Born February 23, 1913

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died June 22, 2003, In Dallas, Texas

Adams, Thomas -

*arrested in November 1929, together with Peter and Tony SanFilippo, Charles Samsera, Tony LoMonaco, all of Rockford, and Michael Licari of Madison, for his involvement in the opartion of a huge still

Aglito, Lily -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Alderman, Charles “Charles Riggo, Charles Rizzo” –

*born approx. 1896??

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case with among others William D’Agostino and Sam Giovingo, alleged owner oi a farm on which a $25.000 still was found

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

Alfano, Dominic –

*born December 9, 1889, in Sambuca, Sicily

father of Leo Luca

*figured in bootlegging case in 1925, together with among others his wife Vita, Philip Vella and Peter SanFilippo

*passed away in February 1971, in Rockford

Alfano, Leo Luca “Luke” –

*born December 3, 1919

*son of Dominic Alfano

*associate

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*died August 23, 2005, in Pittsfield, Pike, Illinois

Aliosio, Lorenzo –

*born June 7, 1881

*bootlegging figure

*In January 1929, was put on trial for operating a still

*passed away in July 1965

Allen, Albert -

*associate of Phil Priola

*observed by federal informants in Milwaukee with Phil Priola, discussing possibilities with August Maniaci of Milwaukee to “move in” on some businesses

Allen, Freddy -

*born approx. 1890

*arrested in July 1938 on gambling charges, being accused of operating a bookmaking business

Alto, John (real name: Salvatore DiBenedetto) –

*born February 15, 1899, in Vicari

*figured in 1928-1930 bootlegging ring

*sentenced to 2 years in prison and fined $2.500

*Died November 11, 1975, in Rockford

Amato, Sam -

*born approx. 1892

*arrested in Rockford after shootout with police in March 1916, together with Joe Renaldo and Sam Cipollo, after having send Black Hand letters to one Giom Calderotta and lying in wait for him to deposit money. A fourth Black Hander escaped

Anastase, James –

*born May 11, 1897

*son-in-law of Andrea Saladino

*involved in 1938 bootlegging case involving mostly Calumet City Mafiosi. Most prominent among those arrested was Phil Bacino, who under the name Tony Bello attended the notorious Mafia meeting in Cleveland, in 1928. Anastase, in 1940, was sentenced to one and a half year for his involvement in the case

*died in July 1980, in Rockford

Anderson, George -

*questioned in murder of Charles Kalb, together with Phil Caltegerone, Leo Ginestra, Leo Palmeri and George Saladino

Andonna, Geno – (possibly Reno Sandona)

*involved in 1937 bootlegging case, sentenced in February 1938 to 30 months and fined $1,600

Angileri, Cosmo –

*member

*born March 4, 1895, In Marsala, Sicily

*alleged to be connected to Rockford liquor operations during prohibition

*arrested in April 1930 in Engelhaupt farm raid with Fred Gaulandri, Tony Bertelino, George Smith, all believed to be Rockford mobsters

*died in July 1977

Angona, Antonino (real name Renvenuto) -

*born January 23, 1902, in Castelvetrano, Sicily

*Rockford Mafia figure

*brother of Frank

*died August 1, 1982, in Dallas, Texas

*the Angona brothers real last name was Renvenuto, but they changed it to Angona, a variation of their mother’s maiden name due to their father abandoning them when they were young

Angona, Frank (real name Renvenuto) -

*Rockford Mafia figure

*born on December 12, 1911

*involved in DalCollo slaying in 1934

*moved to Dallas, Texas

*In Dallas, ran a liquor store

*in April 1966, store was robbed of $150, while robbers escaped, Angona fired five bullets at them

*died on July 23, 1997, in Dallas.

Angona, Sam (real name Renvenuto) -

*born July 3, 1914

*brother of Frank and Antonino

*arrested in april 1935 on bootlegging charges

*died May 8, 1983, in Upland, California

Anzaldo, Mike -

*South Beloit, Illinois based figure in 1937 bootlegging ring. Sentenced to 5 years and fined $3,000 in February 1938. Others figuring in the case were Rockford mob members Phil Cannella and Joseph Capriola, Angelo Baraconi, also of Rockford, Samuel DiGaetano, of Chicago, John Sardo, Genno Andonna and Joseph DiGirolamo of South Beloit, and Frank Brown and George Stassin of Beloit

Arbisi, Dominic –

*born May 26, 1895

*married sister of Sam and Leo Ginestra

*still operator put on trial in September 1929

*died May 38, 1989, in Loves Park, Illinois

Baden, John -

*South Beloit

*sought in April 1953, on gambling charges, with Charles Peperone and Frank Giardono Jr.

Baden, Matthew -

*South Beloit

*operator of Italian American Club (early 1960s)

*fined in Appril 1963 for failure to have proper license

Balsamo, Joe “Sam Caruso” (real name Domenico Padro) –

*associate

*arrested in October 1934 for using fake whisky labels

*indicted in April 1935 on liquor violation charges, given a suspended sentence with the provision that he leave the country within 90 days, at his own expenses

Baraconi, Angelo –

*born December 26, 1908, in Cardiff, Illinois

*son of Joe Baraconi

*involved in 1937 bootlegging ring. Sentenced in February 1938 to 30 months in prison and fined $1,6000

*died in April 22, 1964, in Rockford

Baraconi, Joe –

*born August 10, 1881, in Ronocco, Italy

*figured in 1930 bootlegging case

*sentenced one year and one day, fined $1.000

*died April 8, 1959, in Rockford

Barbagello, Tony –

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*born September 1, 1901, in Pawnee, Illinois

*brother-in-law of Frank Gambino

*died October 17, 1984, in Rockford

Barber, Wilbert J. -

*born approx. 1944

*arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Baroni, Thomas -

*born approx. 1911

*arrested in July 1938 on gambling charges, being accused of operating a bookmaking business

Barteli, John -

*born in 1946 ihn Rockford

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982

Bartolini, Victor -

*bootlegging figure allegedly alligned with Rockford Mafia, arrested in Mark, Illinois

Basile, Filippo -

*Rockford bootlegger

*father of Rockford mob member Tony Basile

*born in San Giuseppe Iato, Sicily

Basile, Tony -

*member of Rocford Mafia

*born June 17, 1908, in Rochester

*son-in-law of Peter Triolo

*died July 1977 in Denver, Colorado

Beatty, Robert -

*born approx. 1896

*arrested in April 1935, being accused as a member of a robbery gang, with among others Charles Vince

*acted as go-between for gang to dispose stolen loot to Charles Lazzio and Sam Casippi

*during search of his house, an illigal still was found, for which he was charged

Belle, Domenico -

*Oglesby bootlegger apparently alligned with Rockford Mafia

*arrested six miles south of Rochelle, trafficking liquor from South Beloit

Benard, Charles –

*born approx. 1892

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

Benedetto, John –

*born approx. 1904, in Donaldsville, Louisiana

*figured in 1930 liquor case

*sentenced to one year and one day in prison, fined $1.000

*murdered in November 1936

Bercato, Sam “Sam Bancato” –

*born approx. 1894

*figured in 1930 liquor case

*sentenced to one year and one day, fined $1.000

Berridge, Al -

*operator of gambling establishment

*place raided in December 1934, four patrons arrested, but himself not at premises at the time

Bertelino, Tony -

*arrested in April 1930 in Engelhaupt farm raid with Cosmo Angileri, Fred Gaulandri George Smith, all believed to be Rockford mobsters

Bianchi, Carlo “Carlo Carlo, Carlo Bortelucci, Bortoucci, Bartolucci” -

*indicted in June 1934 in connection with a major bootlegging operation figuring Frank Rumore, Tony Carlino, Nick Manzullo, Sam DeVito, Rosario Chiarelli and Frank Zammuto of Rockford, John Czyska of Chicago, Abraham Berman, Barney Berman, Max W. Brach, Fred Brach, Herman Brinkmeyer and Stanley Wells of Belvedere and James Jeffrita, Nick Jeffrita, James Battista and Mike Mavich alias Morvich with unknown addresses

*named in second indictment charing Tony Carlino, Ben Cannariato, Clifford Roy Dennison, Marion Lavern Locke and a Gilmore whose first name was unknown

Blake, Clyde -

*born approx. 1933

*twice arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Bloomquist, Percy -

*arrested as bookmaker in September 1941

Bonavia, Joe –

*born October 18, 1904

*arrested and convicted for violating Dyer Act in 1925 (transported stolen automobile from one state into another), sentenced to Leavenworth

*alleged head of robbery gang

*associate of Tony Giovingo

*arrested in May 1932 on robbery charges

*died June 1978

Boscio, Calogero “Charles” -

*born approx. 1882

*alleged Rock Island, IL, Black Hand figure

*murdered Frank Faracci, a witness for the defense in the Cordia murder trial, on July 9, 1920, in South Beloit. Arrested following day

*sentence to life inprisonment in November 1920 for the Faracci murder

*made the news in 1949, when he claimed to have been in priosn since 1920 while innocent. Boscio said Torrisi had beaten him into a confession, as well as at the time of his conviction his English was so bad he only realized that he was serving a life sentence by another prisoner, and he himself was under the impression he was only held as a material witness in the case

Bossi, Fred -

*Ladd bootlegger aligned with Rockford Mafia

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Branchini, Tony -

*born approx. 1885

*operated gambling out of Jolly Fifty Club

*arrested on gambling charges in Decermber 1935

Braught, John A. -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Brown, Frank -

*South Beloit

*figured in 1937/38 bootlegging ring, sentenced to five years and fined 3.000 dollars

Buckman, Carl –

*born approx. 1908, father from Austria

*arrested in June 1930 for bootlegging

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

*onetime Rockford Golden Glove boxer

Burton, Donald L. -

*gambling figure, murdered with Joe Greco in May 1959

Buscemi - Angelo -

*member

*born May 8, 1912, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother of Frank

*alleged head of slot machine operations in early 1930s

*arrested for carrying brass knuckles and having in possession obscene material in 1932

*gunman in murder of Louis DalCollo in April 1934. Himself critically wounded in the shooting

Buscemi, Frank “Frankie Bush” -

*alleged member of Rockford Mafia

*born June 23, 1904, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother of Angelo Buscemi

*??former boxer, indicted in May 1925 with Sammy Mandell and various Chicago boxers for violating Illinois boxing laws. Eventually found not guilty by jury in circuit court

*arrested in January 1926 on charges of having in possession a stolen car

*figured in 1930 bootlegging ring

*sentenced to one year and one day, fined $1.000

*questioned in murder of Louis DalCollo in 1934

*with Tony Calcione arrainged for bootlegging and transportation of stolen automobile in June 1934

*passed away on March 13, 1977, in Delray Beach, Florida

*lengthy arrest record, served time in Atlanta prison for violating Dyer Act

Buscemi, Frank A. -

*born December 23, 1957, in Chicago

*not known to have been criminally active within Rockford Mafia

*son of Frank J. Buscemi

*worked for his father in Stateline Vending with brothers Salvatore and Vincent

Buscemi, Frank J. -

*member, boss from approximately 1973 to 1984

*formerly active under and close to Chicago Outfit power Jim DiGeorge before moving to Rockford

*initiated into Mafia in Rockford

*born December 8, 1911, in Aragona, Sicily

*cousin of Angelo and Frank Buscemi

*fined in April 1963 for failure to have decal permanently affixed to a pool table

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*passed away on December 7, 1987, in Rockford

Buscemi, Salvatore - ???

Buscemi, Thomas -

*brother of Frank and Angelo

*born February 14, 1912

*arrested for attempted robbery in July 1934, together with one Joseph Francischi, son  of a Rockford physician. Both were still attending school when arrested. Buscemi was a high school student, Francischi, a senior at the University of Illinois

*died in January 7, 1980, in Rockford

Buttice, Lorenzo -

*born March 4, 1892, in Aragona, Sicily

*died October 3, 1967

*member of Rockford Mafia

*identified by Federal informants as capo in early 1960s

*figured in 1928-1930 bootlegging ring

*arrested in June 1930 on bootlegging charges

*sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison and fined a $1.000

*arrested in 1939 in Bureau County liquor bust

Cacciatore, Vincent “Jim” -

*bootlegging figure

*born November 23, 1901, in Aragona, Sicily

*as still operator was put on trial in September 1929

*died May 20, 1974, in Rockford

Cagnoni, Peter –

*born approx. 1887

*grandfather of Michael Cagnoni, Chicago Outfit murder victim in 1981

*arrested for liquor running in February 1923

*alleged to have been bootleg liquor supply for New Rochelle area, getting his liquor from Joseph Ippolito

*died October 26, 1937, in Rockford

Calacurcio, Frank –

*born November 9, 1880, in San Stefano del Sole, Sicily

*father-in-law of Phillip Vella

*figured in 1925 bootlegging case with among others Philip Vella. Said to have been landlord of the Vella family

*passed away April 6, 1976, in Rockford

Calcione, Andrew Joseph –

*born June 8, 1915 in Rockford

*suspected member

*involved in prostitution racket with LaFranka brother in 1940s

*passed away on November 7, 2007, in Rockford

Calcione, Anthony F. “Fred Calcione” -

*member

*born March 8, 1914, in Rockford

*Sam Marotta was a brother-in-law

*arraigned with Frank Buscemi on charges of bootlegging and transporting a stolen automobile in June 1934

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*indicted by 1969 Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Rockford

*died September 8, 1993, in Rockford

Calderotta, Joe -

*member

*born October 21, 1910, in Castellana, Sicily

*arrested with Phil Cannella and Nick Misuraca on robbery charges on April 8, 1933, in a succesful crime drive

Calderotta, John “Blackie” -

*leading Rockford gambling figure during 1940s

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

Calderotta, Thomas –

*born January 25, 1897, in Castellana, Sicily

*subpoenad before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*died in May 9, 1978, in Rockford

Callea, Benny F. –

*born March 14, 1921, in Rockford

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*still living

Calo, Gaspare Bernardo “Jasper Calo, Jasper Blanda” -

*born September 13, 1897, in Casteldaccia, Sicily

*brother-in-law of Joseph Zito

*alleged to have been involved with prostitution racket and Black Hand activity in Springfield during prohibition

*arrested in Springfield liquor conspiracy in 1930, as Jasper Blanda, sentenced to Leavenworth and fined $10,000

*after release in 1934 moved to Rockford

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*became boss of Rockford Mafia for a short time after Musso passed away

*retired to Italy in 1961

*made frequent trips back to US, being in contact with moob figures from New York, Milwaukee, Springfield, Illinois and Rockford

*passed away in July 1973, in his birth town

Caltegerone, Calogero “Carl” -

*member

*born January 3, 1998, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother of Philip, brother-in-law of Joe Stassi

*figured in kidnapping of Anna Domino

*named by Federal informants as a Rockford Mafia member, very close to Milwaukee capo Pasquale Migliaccio

*passed away on April 1, 1962

Caltegerone, Filippo “Philip” -

*member

*born January 24, 1895, in Aragona

*brother of Carl

*figured in attempted murders of David and Alex Dotz, Rockford liquor investigators, in 1926. Arrested with George Saladino and Tony DiGiovanni, put on trial, and acquitted

*questioned in 1937 murder of Charles Kalb

*arrested on October 26, 1938, for selling alcohol without tax stamps. Arrest followed a raid on Caltegerone’s residence, which was a direct result of an arrest of two Rochelle men who had untaxed liquor in their possession. They implicated Caltegerone as the person from who they had obtained the liquor

*passed away on March 26, 1971, in Rockford

Caltegerone, Sam -

*operated speakeasy in early 1920s

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with 22 others

Campello, Israel -

*born in 1941

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982

Cannariato, Ben -

*indicted in June 1934 on bootlegging charges involving among others Tony Carlino and Carlo Bianchi

Cannella, Phillip Francis “Phil” -

*born July 8, 1914, in Rockford

*married to daughter of Giorgio Saladino

*arrested in 1933 for robbing a meat market

*arrested in March 1937 following a raid on a farm in McHenry County were a huge still was discovered. Also arrested were Tony Laudicina of St. Louis, Missouri, and Mike Anzaldo and Tony Rizzo from Beloit. Owner of the farm, Russell Bussert not charged. Sentenced in February 1938 to five years in prison, fined $3,000

*indicted in August 1938 on grand larcey charges, relating to a false hijacking of a ;load of cigarettes in December 1937

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*passed away on May 12, 1971, in Rockford

Cannella, Luke -

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982, arrested in Las Vegas

Canova, Tony –

*born approx. 1875

*Freeport liquor racketeer

*figured in Joe Giovingo slaying

Cantone,Tony –

*member

*alleged liquor racketeer

*licence plates of car used in Joe Giovingo murder issued in his name

Capes, R. L. -

*born approx. 1905

*arrested in October 1925 on bootlegging charges, in operation linked to Phil Caltegerone

Capriola, Joseph -

*born December 20, 1905, in Rockford

*arrested in 1929 with Frank Oddo (his brother-in-law) while delivering sugar to an alleged still. The address the sugar was delivered to, had been raided a year before, at which time a still was also found. Also at the same address, a shooting had occurred in 1915, during a card game. The men shot were identified as Chicago Black Hand figurers

*figured in 1930 bootlegging coonspiarcy

*arrested in 1934 on bootlegging charges. Figured in Roloff farm still operation.

*figured in 1937 bootlegging ring, sentenced in February 1938 to five years and fined $3,000

*passed away October 31, 1992, in Rockford

Capriola, Louis –

*born September 23, 1902, in Lousiana

*South Beloit gambling figure

*purchased a Federal gambling stamp in 1954

*died July 14,1958, in Rockford

Capriola, Sam –

*member

*uncle of Joe Capriola

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with 22 others

*figured in 1930/1931 bootlegging conspiracy, convicted and sentenced to prison. Appealed sentence, appeal denied in July 1932

Cardillo, Joe -

*Peoria

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Carlino, Antonio “Tony Carlino, Tony Carleno, Antonio Catalano” -

*born on June 22, 1899

*alleged member of Rockford Mafia

*involved in kidnapping of Ezra Duffy

*figured in 1928-1930 bootlegging case

*home was visited by Giovingo supporters seeking clues to his murder

*indicted in June 1934 in connection with a major bootlegging operation figuring among others Frank Rumore and Frank Zammuto

*named in second indictment in connection with simular charges

*in 1934 was sentenced to a fine and prison sentence unless he paid $310 in taxes. After failment to pay, Carlino was sentenced to three years in prison and fines totalling $1,200 in November 1936

*at one time believed to hav ebeen kidnapped due to his failure to show up in court to answer the 1934 liquor conspiracy charges

*eventually moved to California

*passed away on December 29, 1964, in Los Angeles

Caruso, Alphonse R. –

*born June 1, 1893, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

*involved in bootlegging operation with Kenosha Camorra in late 1930s. Arrested with among others the Ricchio brothers and Frank Infusino of Kenosha. Caruso eventually plead guilty, and testified for government. Sentenced to 30 days in jail

*died in August 1968

Cascio, Joe -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Cascio, Gaetano “Guy” –

*born April 22, 1913, in Rockford

*cousin of Steve Cascio

*charged with burglary together with Steve, plead not guilty in October 1943

*arrested in January 1950 on robbery charges

*died September 10, 1973, in Phoenix, Arizona

Cascio, Rose -

*wife of Joe Cascio

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Cascio, Stefano “Steve” -

*born on August 31, 1891, in Roccamena, Sicily

*owned dry goods store with Caltagerone brothers during prohibition, which was a front for bootlegging operation

*close friend of Al Capone, who made an occassional visit to the Cascio home

*arrested in 1939 in Bureau County on bootlegging charges

*brother-in-law of Rockford mob member Tony Lombardo

*passed away November 19, 1952, in Rockford

Cascio, Steve –

*born April 30, 1916, in Rockford

*plead not guilty to burglary in 1943

*passed away August 24, 1990, in Rockford

Cassaro, Mike –

*Aragona

*still operator arrested in April 1929

Cassioppi, Sam -

*born approx. 1905

*arrested in April 1935 with Charles Lazzio, being accused of obtaining stolen goods from a robbery gang, which included Charles Vince

Castanza, Jasper -

*born approx. 1879

*arrested in January 1936 for liquor law violations

Castro, John -

*figured in 1925 bootlegging case involving Peter Sanfilippo and his wife, Joe Saladino and his wife, Dominic Alfano and his wife, Peter Cioppi and his wife, Phil Vella and his wife, Thomas Castro, Frank Colacurcio and Frank and James O’Donnell

Castro, Thomas -

*involved in 1925 bootlegging case

Celebron, William “Billy” (real name Celebrone) –

*born September 10, 1910, of parents of Venetian descent

*former Rockford Golden Glove boxer

*after retiring, owned several taverns partially controlled by Rockford Mafia

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died December 11, 1987

Cellitti, Lalio “Flash” -

*born November 16, 1921, in Rockford

*died in Rockford on June 28, 2006

Cellitti, Nello -

*member

*born may 14, 1926, in Rockford

*indicted by 1969 Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Rockford

*passed away on July 12, 2007

Cellitti, Nello - ????

*born on November 11, 1953, in Rockford

Cellitti, Victor “Victor Silletti” -

*born approx. 1913

*arrested in April 1935, being accused as a member of a robbery gang, with among others Charles Vince

*shot in foot while trying to escape from arrest

Chiarelli, Rosario “Ross” –

*born July 29, 1888, in Aragona, Sicily

*arrested for operating still in May 1930

*indicted in June 1934 in connection with a major bootlegging operation figuring among others Frank Rumore and Frank Zammuto

*died in March 26, 1970, in Rockford

Chiarre, James -

*bootlegging figure

*put on trial for operating a still in September 1929

Ciabatti, Chris -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Ciaccio, Anthony –

*member

*born May 11, 1888, in Sambuca, Sicily

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died January 26, 1973, in Rockford

Cicechello, Madeline E. -

*operated gambling operation on behalf of Rockford Mafia. Arrested for this in November 1967. operation involved at least $100,000 a year

Cicero, Alfred –

*born December 1, 1906, in LaSalle, Illinois

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died April 18, 1994, in Rockford

Cicero, Calogero “Alex” -

*member of Rockford Mafia

*born in 1925

*still living, currently residing in North Reddington Beach, Florida

*brother of Matt Cicero, Rockford attorney described as “very well connected”

Cioppi, Peter -

*figured in 1925 bootlegging case with among others his wife Jennie, Frank Colacurcio and Phil Vella

Cipollo, Sam -

*born approx. 1892

*arrested in Rockford after shootout with police in March 1916, together with Sam Amato and Joe Renaldo, after having send Black Hand letters to one Giom Calderotta and lying in wait for him to deposit money. A fourth Black Hander escaped

Cocivera, Carmelo -

*born September 26, 1876, in Raccuja, province of Messina, Sicily

*arrested for murder of Gaetano Cordia in February 1919, pleaded self defense, although police claimed the murder wa s a result of a Black Hand dispute

Coleman, George W. “Sleepy” –

*born September 5, 1887

*arrested in June 1930 on bootlegging charges

*associate during prohibition, indicted with Musso and many others in 1929/1930 rum indictment

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

Colleta, Joe -

*alleged member

*born 1909

*arrested in April 1933 in Rockford crime drive, suspected of being a member of robbery gang hauled in a week earlier

Collins, James –

*of African-American descent

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

Conti, Angelo “Phillip Conti” -

*arrested on bootlegging charges in early 1930s in Aurora, Illinois, in raid on Blackball Mine, operation possibly linked to Rockford mob

Cordia, Gaetano -

*alleged Beloit Black Hand figure

*held as material witness in 1917 shooting of Gaspare Lombardo in Beloit

*murdered February 2, 1919, in Beloit, by Carmelo Cocivero, in what police claimed to have been an argument over Black Hand affairs

Corirossi, Arthur -

*born September 2, 1847

*arrested in 1932 on liquor charges

*died in November 1959

Correnti, Frank –

*member

*born October 28, 1911

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*operator of Bel-Air Motel Sales in 1950s

*held interest in Twinspot

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*passed away in January 1985, in Loves Park

Corsentino, John -

bootlegging figure put on trial for operating a still in September 1929

Corso, Joe “The Crow” -

*LaSalle/Ladd crime figure apparently alligned with Rockford Mafia

*brother-in-law of Joe Gutilla

*arrested in Ladd in August 1930, on bootlegging charges

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

*arrested on counterfeiting charges with among others Ernest Dinora, Springfield Mafia member, in April 1938

Cox, Johnny F. -

*born approx. 1952

*arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Croon, Francis B. -

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

Croon, Rubin A. -

*Rockford gambling figure

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

Cuccia, Joe -

*member

*born January 20, 1894, in Independence, Louisiana

*brother-in-law of John and Tony Domino

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*died November 2,1949, in Rockford

Cuccia, Tony -

*member

*arrested with Phil emordeno on charges of transporting liquor

Cudia, Joseph -

*arrested in April 1963 for the operation of a large illigal still and possesion of gambling records

Curo, Charles -

Peoria

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

D’Agnolo, John -

*possible Rockford Mafia figure

*arrested in February 1935 afor involvement in an alleged alien smugling ring centering around New York City

D’Agostino, William “Big Bill” –

*born May 5, 1885

*among leading bootleggers in Rockford

*sided with Giovingo brothers in Giovingo/Musso struggle

*charged with bootlegging on various occasions

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case

*figured in 1930/1931 bootlegging trial

*named by media as main rival of Musso

*appeal in liquor case denied in July 1932

*died December 2, 1959, in San Bernardino, California

DalCollo, Evaristo “Evertt” -

*born October 19, 1905, in Vel D’Aspico, Sicily

*brother of Louis DalCollo

*arrested during a raid on a still located near Janesvile, Wisconsin, in May 1932. Arrested with him was Nunzio Ingrassia. Both were sentenced to six months in prison.

*died January 15, 1952, in Rockford

DalCollo, Louis -

*brother of Evaristo

*Rockford bootlegging figure

*operated tavern after prohibition

*murdered by Angelo Buscemi in 1934

Damiano, Filippo -

*born January 29, 1902

*Rockford Mafia member

*moved to San Diego somewhere in 1940s

*in San Diego, placed under Joe Adamo, San Diego mob boss, but reportedly “spend his all time fishing”

*died March 5, 1978, in San Diego

DeFay, Peter (real name probably DeMaio) -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

DeMar, Raymond -

*LaSalle bootlegger alleged to have been alligned with Rockford mob

*arrested on bootlegging charges ??together with Sam Saladino and his mother??

DeMarco, C. - (Jack???)

*arrested in May 1930 on bootlegging charges, together with Carl Lotta and Charles Muttimer

DeMarco, George - ???

DeMarco, Jack -

*associate, liquor racketeer

*born approx. 1885 in Lingualossa

*married sister of wife of Nick Vince

*figured in 1930 liquor case

*sentenced to 18 months, fined $7.500

*murdered in his home on January 18, 1932, after a homecoming party celebrating his release from prison

Dennison, Clifford Roy -

*indicted in June 1934 on bootlegging charges involving among others Tony Carlino and Carlo Bianchi

DePallo, John “Fred” -

Ladd, Illinois

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

DeVito, Sam -

*indicted in June 1934 in connection with a major bootlegging operation figuring among others Frank Rumore and Frank Zammuto

Diamond, Joe -

*Spring Valley, Illinois, and NYC

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

DiGiacomo, Alfonse –

*born in September 1957, in Aragona, Sicily (1948???)

*cousin of Frank Buscemi, brother of Salvatore

*active in Rondinella foods

*associate of Galluzzo

DiGiacomo, Salvatore –

*born August 1947, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother of Alfonse, cousin of Frank Buscemi

DiGiovanni, Anna -

*born approx. 1880

*arrested in January 1936 for liquor law violations

DiGiovanni, Antonio –

*member

*born approx. 1907

*figure in Dotz murder attempts in 1926, put on trial, acquitted in May 1927

*arrested in Milwaukee in 1934, for carrying concealed weapons and transporting untaxed liquor. Fined and released after Federal agents failed to pick him up. Officer that released DiGiovanni under heavy fire because of his action

*indicted in April 1935 on liquor violation charges

DiGiovanni, Mike -

*member

*born in 1879 in Sambucca

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*stepfather of Lazio brothers

*died March 15, 1939, in Rockford

DiGirolamo, Joseph –

*born January 30, 1891, in Marsala, Sicily

*figured in 1937 bootlegging ring. As one of eight alleged ringleaders, was sentenced to five years and fined $3,000. Was one of four defendants from South Beloit

*died in December 12, 1965, in South Beloit, Wisconsin

DiSalvo, Gaetano -

*bootlegging figure

*murdered on September 4, 1928

*theory was that he was killed either in retaliation of Reda slaying, or because he was using fake labels on his bootleg liquor and continued doing so after he had been warned not to.

Dmskaka, Mary -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Dodaro, Luigi “Louis Todaro” –

*born October 10, 1884, in Cosenza, Italy

*owned Piedmonte Bakery

*figured in 1930/1931 bootlegging conspiracy, convicted and sentenced to prison. Appealed sentence, appeal denied in July 1932

*passed away in February 17, 1985, in Rockford

Domino, Anthony –

*born May 26, 1896, in Roccamena, Sicily

*liquor racketeer

*brother of John

*bootleg partner of Jasper Calo and Joe Zito

*arrested in June 1930 in Milwaukee for bootlegging, at the time wanted in Rockford as one of the heads of a bootlegging ring

*figured in a 1933 Wisconsin liquor conspiracy, sentenced to one day in prison. Among other persons figuring in this case were then Milwaukee mob boss Joe Vallone and Angelo Guardalabene, son of former Milwaukee mob boss Vito.

*pled not guilty to selling stolen merchandise obtained from Guy and Steve Cascio in October 1943

*officer of Illinois Wholesale Liquor Company in mid 1960s

*died in July 19, 1978, in Rockford

Domino, George –

*born around 1865

*arrested in June 1930 on bootlegging charges

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

Domino, John J. -

*member

*born June 26, 1899, in Louisiana

*married Lillian Capriola, sister of Paul Picchioni’s wife.

*related to Ginestra and Cuccia families

*son of Joseph Domino

*figured in 1930 bootlegging ring, described as one of principal figures

*sentenced to 18 months, fined $7,500

*worked as manager for Black Hawk Brewing, operated by ??Zammuto brothers”  in Freeport

*passed away in August 1977, in Tucson, Arizona

Domino, Joseph –

*born January 17, 1868, in Roccamena, Sicily

*father of Domino brothers

*arrested in 1925 for bootlegging with son Peter. Said to have wept when booze was destroyed

*arrested again on bootlegging charges in June 1930

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

*arrested in July 1930 on bootlegging charges

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*died July 12, 1939, in Rockford

Domino, Peter -

*brother of John Domino

*born December 8, 1908

*arrested in 1925 for bootlegging with his father

*arrested in 1928 on bootlegging charges

*arrested in July 1930 on bootlegging charges with his father, a Joliet youth and John C. Ross

*arrested in 1930 bootlegging case, sentenced to one year and one day in prison, fined $1.000

*arrested in 1937 during raid on a farm near Cedarville

*died in August 1995

D’Onofrio, Joe –

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

D’Onofrio, Sam -

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

Dorman, Charles -

*arrested on October 5, 1934, on counterfeiting charges. Arrested with him were Elmer Hall, and Tony and Jerome SanFilippo

Dugash, Alfred -

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case with among others William D’Agostino and Sam Giovingo

Dugash, Edward -

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case with among others William D’Agostino and Sam Giovingo

Dupree, Tyree -

*born approx. 1928

*arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Dursch, Charles -

*leading Rockford gambling figure during 1940s

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*operator of horse wire racing results on behalf of Rockford Mafia

*run Acme Ready Mix

Earle, G. E. -

*born approx. 1876

*arrested in July 1938 on gambling charges, being accused of operating a bookmaking business

Elliott, Lewis Edward -

*born appprox. 1924

*indicted in April 1963 in a Denver fraud scheme, with Joseph LaFranka and several others

Emordeno, Philip Joseph “Phil the Taylor” -

*born on April 6, 1911, in Frankfort, NY

*moved to Madison, were he becme involved with the local crime element

*later went to Rockford, became a member of Rocford Mafia

*arrested in Madison in July 1931 on charges of assault with intent to rob

*arrested with his father Samuel near Chicago in April 1934, on theft charge. Wanted on same charge in Watertown

*arrested in September 1934 on bootlegging charges, being operator of a huge still found on the farm of Henry Roloff

*involved in Madison gambling, sought on gambling charges in 1936

*sought by Dodge County officials in connection with a confidence game in June 1938. At the time also sought by two other counties

*fined on morals charge in January 1939. Charges resulting from Emordeno’s involvement with a 19 year old girl

*sentenced in Madison court to 18 months for possesing and transporting untaxed liquor in May 1939

*arrested in Dcember 1966 in gambling raid

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*indicted by 1969 Grand Jury with his wife Mary

*died on May 6, 1981, in Rockford

Engstrom, Gus -

*held in connection with September 1929 shooting in Oriental Tavern, together with Peter SanFilippo, Charles Sanzeri and Tony LoMonica

Faletti, Steve -

*arrested in Mark, Illinois, on bootlegging charges with several others in September 1930

Falzone, Alfred –

*born October 13, 1901, in Aragona, Sicily

*figured in 1930 bootleg case

*fined $1.000 and sentenced to one year and a day in prison

*died September 7, 1991, in Rockford

Fasula, Joe “Fezullo” –

*member

*born September 23, 1907, in Villafranca, Sicily

*closely associated with John Domino

*figured in 1930 bootleg case

*sentenced to 18 months and fined $7.500

*died November 13, 2000, in Rockford

Ferro, Dominick -

*born approx. 1916

*arrested in April 1935, being accused as a member of a robbery gang, with among others Charles Vince

Ferruggia, Peter -

*liquor racketeer

*in October 1932 was charged with attempted murder of Edward Medders and Phil Zizco (Zizzo)

*arrested in February 1939 for weapon violations. Fired shots at “ghost” Ferruggia saw in his house.

Ferruggia, Sam -

*operator of Da-Mar Lounge

*fined in April 1963 for failure to have proper license displayed and failure to have decal on pool table (owned by Frank Buscemi’s Stateline vending)

Fiorenza, Joseph F. “Pep” –

*born October 22, 1945, in Rockford

*arrested in February 2006, on gambling charges. Figured in a sports betting ring operating from the 1980s up to at least 2005. Others figuring in the case were John Frisella, Nicholas and Rick fiorenza, Charles Purin, Frank Giardono, Nick Provenzano Joseph W. Saladino and John Salamone. Frank Saladino named as unindicted co-conspirator

Fiorenza, Nicholas T. –

*born 1967, in Rockford

*son of Joseph Fiorenza, brother of Rick

*figured in 2006 gambling case

Fiorenza, Rick T. –

*born June 3, 1969, in Rockford

*figured in 2006 gambling case

Fitzgerald, Vaughn “Curly” –

*born July 3, 1927

*longtime Rockford gambling figure

*various arrests since 1964, last arrest in 2002

*on October October 17, 2007, was shot to death by police after robbery of Fitzgerald’s card game, after he had fired on one of the robbers alreday placed under arrest by police officers

Flowers, Dave -

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel, together with William Sherod, Andrew Morey, Philip Jackson, Robert Gilbert, Samuel Wilkins, Jim Rollins, David Lane and Lee King

Frazzito, Giuseppe “Joe Frozzito” -

*born January 12, 1890

*alleged Beloit Black Hand figure

*involved in July 1920 murder of Frank Faracci

*sentenced to life improsinment in Movember 1920 for Faracci murder

*died November 1970

Friels, Melvin -

*born approx. 1913

*involved in 1934 DalCollo slaying, confessed and implicated Frank Angona, Angelo Buscemi and Tony LaFranka

Frisella, John P. “Tiger” –

*born in December 9, 1948, in Rockford

*brother of Sam

*Rockford gambling figure

*arrested in July 1994 on gambling charges in Creative Jewelers raid

*arrested in February 2006, on gambling charges. Figured in a sports betting ring operating from the 1980s up to at least 2005. Others figuring in the case were Joseph, Nicholas and Rick fiorenza, Charles Purin, Frank Giardono, Nick Provenzano Joseph W. Saladino and John Salamone. Frank Saladino named as unindicted co-conspirator

Frisella, Samuel Andrew –

*born in 1943

*brother of John

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

Galluzzo, Natale –

*born in May 3, 1936, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother of Salvatore Galluzzo

*involved in Rockford gambling

*involved in 1981 arson case in Rockford

*currently alleged to be among the leading gambling figures in Rockford

Galluzzo, Salvatore –

*born in 1934, in Aragona, Sicily

*member of Rockford Mafia

*cousin of Frank Buscemi

*described as being the most logical person to be in command of the current Family in Rockford

*closely associated with certain elements of the Chicago Outfit

Gambino, Frank –

*born September 22, 1900, in Italy

*brother-in-law of Tony Barbagallo

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*died April 6, 1968, in Rockford

Gaserude, Lester –

*born December 2, 1915

*operator of Green Onions, Janesville, Wisconsin bar

*numerous arrests for gambling violations

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died November 1, 1996

Gaulandri, Fred -

*arrested in April 1930 in Engelhaupt farm raid with Cosmo Angileri, Tony Bertelino, George Smith, all believed to be Rockford mobsters

Gaziano, Sam (real name: Salvatore Graziano) -

*member

*both Joe Zito and Guy Cascio wwere his brothers-in-law

*born September 6, 1906, in Aragona, Sicily

*son married daughter of Natale Troia, Madison bootlegger

*died March 18, 1972, in Rockford

Gemonoco, Fifi -

*born approx. 1899

*arrested in January 1936 for liquor law violations

Geraci, Frank -

*Rockford fireman

*identified by Chicago mobster Nick Calabrese as a Rockford gambling “agent”

*gambling figure, formerly aligned with Chicago Outfit’s Chinatown Crew

*headed gambling operation in Rockford with Frank and Joe W. Saladino

Ghibellini, James –

*member

*born January 31, 1916

*arrested in May 1943 on charges of stealing  a load of food from an army camp near Rockford. Arrested with him was Ray I. Tuttle

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died June 15, 1989

Giacometti, Luigi -

*liquor racketeer

*born 1877

*murdered on December 12, 1932. Alleged to have been the victim of either robbers or rival liquor sellers. However, what the papers failed to mention was that Giacometti, like DeMarco, had also been involved with the 1930/1931 liquor conspiracy, and may have talked too much in that case.

Giacone, John -

*still operator in Domino liquor operations

Giambruno, Joe “Gembrone” –

*member

*born July 12, 1912, in Cornerview, Louisiana

*cousin of Stefano Cascio

*gambling associate of Giorgio Saladino

*died July 23, 1999, in Rockford

Giardono, Frank C. Jr. –

*born September 6, 1936, in Rockford

*brother of Sam

*stepson of Charles Vince

*brother-in-law of Angelo Pro

*arrested in July 1994 on gambling charges in Creative Jewelers raid

*figured in 2006 gambling case

Giardono, Frank J. Jr. -

*sought on gambling charges in April 1953, in connection with South Beloit gambling operation

Giardono, Frank Sr. -

*alleged member

*arrested on robbery charges in 1934, with among others Charles Vince

*after his death, wife married Charles Vince

*died in May 1954

Giardono, Sam J. -

*born approx. 1938

*brother of Frank

*stepson of Charles Vince

*arrested in July 1994 on gambling charges in Creative Jewelers raid

Gilbert, Robert -

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel

Ginestra, Leonard –

*born June 14, 1905, in Chicago

*member

*arrested in January 1928 on bootlegging charges

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*questioned in murder of Charles Kalb in 1937

*arrested in august 1939 on gambling charges, as operator of a gambling house

*died July 11, 1987, in Rockford

Ginestra, Sam -

*member

*born September 2, 1908, in Chicago

*brother-in-law of Dallas Mafia figure Joseph Civello

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*died February 10, 1986, in Rockford

Giglio, Mario -

*still operator

*put on trial in September 1929, for ownership of a still

Giomato, Tony -

*arrested for bootlegging

Giovingo, Joseph -

*born on July 13, 1897, in New Orleans

*brother of Paul and Tony

*married sister of Frank Rumore

*arrested in may 1930 for bootlegging with his brother Tony

*murdered August 13, 1930, in Rockford

Giovingo, Paul -

*born October 7, 1899, in Thibodeaux, Louisiana

*arrested in 1924 for robbery

*1930 arrest in Memphis, Tennessee, on charges of assault with intent to murder

*arrested in June 1930 for his involvement in bootlegging ring

*sentenced to 2 years and fined &10.000

*murdered on February 11, 1933, in Rockford

Giovingo, Sam -

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case

Giovingo, Tony –

*born October 23, 1901

*arrested in June 1923, with Tony Perrone on robbery charges

*sought in 1924 for bootlegging, not apprehended

*arrested in may 1930 for bootlegging, again in June

*believed to have been member of same gang that used a machine gun to scare away prohibition agents two days before he himself was arrested in May 1930

*again arrested for bootlegging in June 1930

*figured in 1930 bootlegging case

*sentenced to one year and one day, fined $1.000

*after his release appears to have hooked up with gang of robbers led by Joe Bonavia. Was arrested in May 1932, trying to arrange bail for Bonavia

*passed away in February 1967, in Rockford

Giuliano, Jerry -

*born approx. 1889

*arrested in January 1936 for liquor law violations

Graceffa, Phil –

*born January 21, 1922, in Rockford

*subpoenad before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Graco murders

*partner with Sebastian Gulotta in Phil and Knobby’s tavern in 1950s

*still living in Rockford

Grant, Tony -

*born approx. 1953

*arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Greco, Joseph Patrick –

*born approx. 1937, in Rockford

*low level gambling figure

*murdered in 1959. Body of him and his partner Donald L. Burton found strangled in trunk of car on May 2, 1959

*allegedly associated with Joseph J. Maggio

Green, Darrell –

*born July 21, 1918??

*associate, gambling figure

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died January 15, 1996, in Janesville, Wisconsin

Greffa, Joe -

*figured in slaying of Joe Giovingo

Greno, John -

*arrested in May 1930 on bootlegging charges in Raid on Flaherty farm with Joe  Viglia, both described as members of Sicilian syndicate

Guagliardo, Joe –

*member

*born April 30, 1914, in Hammond, Louisiana

*arrested in July 1965 on gambling charges

*died in March 16, 1985, in Rockford

Gucciardo, Pat -

*associate of Phil Priola

*observed by federal informants in Milwaukee with Phil Priola, discussing possibilities with August Maniaci of Milwaukee to “move in” on some businesses

Gugliotta, Samuel J. “Boone” –

*member

*born August 18, 1924, in Rockford

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*still living in Rockford

Guisti, August -

*arrested in Mark, Illinois, on bootlegging charges with several others, in September 1930

Gullo, Biagio “Blase” –

*born January 5, 1902, in Bayon Goula, Louisiana

*arrested for bootlegging in 1928

*died January 25, 1981, in Rockford

Gullo, Frank -

*member

*born January 27, 1891, in Roccamena, Sicily

*brother of Blase and Tony

*died December 1974, in Loves Park

Gullo, John -

*LaSalle

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Gullo, Tony -

*born June 17, 1882, in Roccamena, Sicily

*arrested with Blase for bootlegging in 1928

Gulotta, Frank –

*born February 5, 1900, in Baton Rouge, Florida

*bootlegger, owner of house where still was located

*arrested in January 1928 with Leo Ginestra, Pete Domino and Jerry Schiro for operating a still

*died December 26, 1982, in Rockford

Gulotta, George A. –

*born January 25, 1923, in Rockford

*brother-in-law of Angelo Pro

*arrested in January 1959 on gambling charges

*died September 10, 1997, in Rockford

Gulotta, Sebastian J. “Knobby” -

*member, boss 1994 – 2000

*born August 20, 1930

*arrested in 1952 for battery and assault

*arrested in 1958 for receiving stolen property

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*arrested in December 1966, in gambling raid

*held interest in Plantation Restaurant

*subpoenaed before 1968 Grand Jury investigating organized crime

*passed away on March 14, 2000, while on vacation in Arizona.

Guston, Joe –

*born around 1908 in New York

*associate

*figured in October 1927 Duffy kidnapping

*arrested with Paul Scamardo in January 1929 for operating a huge still

Gutilla, Giuseppe -

*Rockford Mafia member

*brother-in-law of Joe Corso

*father-in-law of August Maniaci, Milwaukee mob member and Joe P. Saladino

Hall, Elmer Joseph –

*born April 18, 1900

*arrested with SanFilippo brothers and Charles Dorman on counterfeiting charges in October 1934

Hicks, Earlee -

*twice arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Hill, Daniel E. -

*born approx. 1922

*twice arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Hill, Frank -

*born approx. 1903

*arrested in December 1937 on gambling charges, being the keeper of a gambling house known as Second Ward Social Club, in the rear of the A&R Smoke Shop

Holden, Dean S. –

*born October 1926

*gambling figure

*vice president of Wyman Buffet when place was raided in 1967

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*reportedly still alive

Ingrassia, Claude A. -

*born April 11, 1896

*arrested on December 30, on bootlegging charges

*arrested February 4, 1925, on bootlegging charges

*arrested October 9, 1929, on forgery charges

*according too FBI records on Joseph Civello, Ingrassia was in occassional contact with Civello

*passed away July 1972, in Rockford, IL

Ingrassia, Frank -

*alleged member of Rockford Mafia

*sister married to John Domino

*brother of Theodore and Joseph

*among the ranking bootleg bosses during prohibition

*arrested in December 1923, with Sigretto cousins, on bootlegging charges

*figured in 1930 bootlegging case

*sentenced to one year and one day in prison, and fined $1.000

*was best man at wedding of Sam Ginestra to Phyllis Civello in 1932

*arrested in 1937 during raid on a farm near Cedarville

Ingrassia, Joseph -

*active in bootlegging racket during prohibition

*appeared on police station to furnish bonds for the four persons arrested in January 1928 during the Gullato raid

Ingrassia, Nunzio -

*born August 9, 1893, in Camporeale, Sicily

*brother-in-law of Giuseppe Tarantola

*son-in-law of Joseph Monti

*arrested in May 1932 during a raid on a still located near Janesville, Wisconsin, together with Everett Diacollo (DalCollo??)

*operated stills in Wisconsin with brother Frank and John Domino, which were raided by Milwaukee hoodlum Joseph Scaffidi. Scaffidi murdered in Chicago on November 16, 1935, together with Angelo Klenomonos, another Milwaukee hoodlum. Police claimed their hijacking activities were the reason behind their murders

*died September 7, 1982, in Rockford

Ingrassia, Theodore Salvatore –

*born May 26, 1900, in New Orleans

*alleged member of Rockford Mafia

*figured in 1930 bootlegging case

*sentenced to two years in prison and fined $1.000

*arrested in 1937 during raid on a farm near Cedarville

*died in May 12, 1974, in Rockford

Ippolito, Joseph -

*born February 19, 1871, in Roccamena, Sicily

*father of Nunzio

*arretsed for bootlegging in February 1923, together with his wife

*died May 8, 1936, in Rockford

Ippolito, Nunzio “Lawrence” –

*member

*born January 19, 1900, in Roccamena, Sicily

*died November 3, 1973, in Rockford

Jackson, Philip -

*associate

*arretsed in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel

Johnson, Walter -

*born approx. 1891

*arrested in January 1936 for liquor law violations

Jones, Arthur -

*arrested in July 1938 on gambling charges, being accused of operating a bookmaking business

Jones, Jack -

*associate of Musso liquor ring

*figured in Duffy kidnapping, identified by Duffy in January court testimony during liquor trial as one of his abductors

*indicted in liquor conspiracy, but never apprehended

Kamrar, J. L. -

*arrested in February 1966 for running a casino, together with Bass Schmit. Alleged to have run casino for Charles Vince

Kane, Frank -

*arrested in January 1959 on gambling charges

Kanzenbach, Albert -

*Waupurn, Wisconsin

*South Beloit

*figured in 1937/38 bootlegging ring, sentenced to one year and fined 1.600 dollars

Kincheloe, Margery -

*indicted in April 1963 in a Denver fraud scheme with among others Joseph LaFranka and Lewis Elliott from Rockford, herself residing in Salt Lake City

King, Lee -

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel

Kirk, Melvin Henry “Mike” -

*indicted by 1969 Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Rockford

Labella, Louis M. -

*born aprox. 1949

*arrested in July 1994 on gambling charges in Creative Jewelers raid

Lacks, Henry John –

*born May 24, 1900, in Germany

*associate

*insurance salesman

*murdered on June 22, 1944

LaFranka, Charles -

*alleged member

*brother of Salvatore

*born February 4, 1913

*one of notorious LaFranka brothers

*arrested with Paul Picchioni on robbery charges in 1932, convicted and sentenced to one to twenty years

*numerous other arrests, including on charges of keeping a house of prostitution and assault with a deadly weapon

*murdered in January 1965, body found in trunk of car on January 16 in Elgin, Illinois

LaFranka, Joseph -

*born October 29, 1914, in Fort Dodge, Iowa

*arrested in June 1949 raid on luxury vice dens

*indicted in April 1963 in a Denver fraud scheme, at the time described as a siding salesman

*died November 26, 1995, in Rockford

LaFranka, Peter –

*born September 19, 1923

*arrested in June 1949 raid on luxury vice dens

*died March 24, 2002

LaFranka, Salvatore Theodore “Ted, Frenchy” –

*born July 25, 1909, in Council Bluffs, Iowa

*figured in 1930 bootlegging case

*sentenced to one year and a day in prison, and fined $1.000

*arrested in New Orleans in September 1934 as member of Rockford car theft ring

*arrested in June 1949 raid on luxury vice dens

*eventually moved to Denver, Colorado

*died August 3, 1969, in Fairplay, Colorado

LaFranka, Tony -

*born approx. 1912

*figured in DalCollo slaying

*arrested in 1949 vice raid

Lamendola, James -

*member

*born February 6, 1894, in Aragona, Sicily

*died March 31, 1966, in Rockford

Lamendola, Sam -

*alleged member

*born 1908, in Aragona

*died November 12, 1984, in Beloit, Wisconsin

Lane, David -

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel linked to Joe Zito

LaRosa, Jasper -

*born May 8, 1887, in Aragona, Sicily

*associate of Peter Schifo

*involved in 1928 kidnapping of Anna Domino

*died June 29, 1946, in Rockford

LaRosa, Sam -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

LaRosa, Tony -

*bootlegging figure

*put on trial in September 1929 for operating a still

Lazzio, Charles –

*member

*born April 10, 1907, in Convent, Louisiana

*stepson of Mike DiGiovanni

*related to Giovingo brothers (Lazzio’s grandmother was mother of Giovingos)

*arrested in April 1935, being accused of obtaining stolen goods from a robbery gang, which included Charles Vince

*indicted in August 1938 on grand larcey charges, relating to a false hijacking of a load of cigarettes in December 1937

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*during 1960s partner in North Towne Lounge with Joe Zammuto and Charles Vince

*died April 27, 1987, in Rockford

Lazio, Joe –

*born January 1, 1914

*stepson of Mike DiGiovanni

*purchased gambling stamp with August Musso in 1954

*died March 1981

Lazio, Sam -

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*operator of Spotty’s Tavern during 1940s with Frank Maragi. The tavern received wire service from Dursch

Leggio, George –

*member

*born June 24, 1918, in Rockford

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died January 10, 1980, in Rockford

Leggio, Joe –

*born approx. 1906 in Louisiana

*assumed associate

*involved in stolen car ring in early 1930s, arrested for it in January 1934. Eventually confessed his part in the ring. Other figuring in the case were Arthur Leese, Joe Sartino, Joe Vernasky, Ben Ognibene, Joe and Tony Sparacino and George Doshier. Among the stolen vehicles was the machine of former Rockford mayor Burt Allen.

Leumbroni, John S. –

*born January 1950

*alleged associate

*headed majr drug trafficking ring, allegedly connected to Rockford Mafia

*arrested in 1982 for cocaine trafficking. Arrested with him were his brother Mike, John Barteli, Jack Richardson, Dennis Lee Salisbury, John J. Schiro, Israel R. Campello, Rubin Yazez, all of Rockford, Luke Cannella, from Rockford but arrested in Las Vegas and Manuel Martin Gomez, of Chicago.

Leumbroni, Michael -

*born in 1952, in Rockford

*brother of John

*associate

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982

Licali, George –

*born around 1892

*owner of Rockford Celery company

*alleged associate of Musso liquor ring, was one of witnesses for one of the defendants

*shot to death on June 19, 1936, by Thomas Rumore

Licari, Frank “Frank Lecari, Frank Farina, Frank Roado” -

*alleged Rockford/Waterloo rumrunner

*owned truck in which Mangiaracina was killed

*arrested in September 1931 on bootlegging charges

*later moved to Iowa Falls, Iowa

*arrested in Iowa on charges of having an unregistered machine gun

*indicted in April 1935 on liquor violation charges

Licari, Joe –

*member

*born 1898, in San Giuseppe Iato, Sicily

*figured in 1930 bootlegging trial, charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*died June 13, 1976, in Las Vegas, Nevada

Locke, Marion Lavern -

*indicted in June 1934 on bootlegging charges involving among others Tony Carlino and Carlo Bianchi

Lolli, Renato –

*born around 1909

*longtime Rockford gunman and criminal

*occassional associate of Rockford Mafia

*arrested in may 1932 on robbery charges

*figured in 1944 Chicago gang case involving murder of Cecil “Red” Smith, and the fatal shooting of a policeman

Lombardo, Antonio “Tony” –

*member

*born January 11, 1895, in Marsala, Sicily

*brother-in-law of Stefano Cascio

*passed away in December 22, 1981, in Rockford

LoMonaco, Anthony -

*Madison Mafia figure, later moved to Rockford

*born approx. 1980/1884

*operator of Belvedere in Madison, later sold to Tony Musso

*called “King of Little Italy”  by Madison newspapers in 1924

*arrested various times on liquor charges in Madison

*arrested in 1929 in Rockford, on bootlegging charges. Also arrested were, among others, Peter and Tony SanFilippo

*held in connection with September 1929 shooting in Oriental Tavern, together with Peter SanFilippo, Gus Engstrom and Charles Sanzeri

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*fined in January 1936 on charges of running a speakeasy

LoPiccolo, Joseph –

*born May 8, 1911, in Whistler, Alabama

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime, himself stated he was only there with a friend

*died October 1981, In Rockford

Loreno, Nello -

*arrested in Dubeque, Iowa, in January 1926 on charges of transporting liquor, together with Frank Buscemi

Lotta, Carl -

*arrested on bootlegging charges in May 1930 with C. DeMarco and Charles Mutimer

Lucco, Joe -

*arrested with Stefano Cascio and Lorenzo Buttice for liquor law violations in 1939 in Bureau County

Lungo, Mike -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Maggio, Joseph -

*member

*born October 30, 1936, in Rockford

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*arrested in 1964 for gambling

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*convicted in Montgomery, Alabama, on mail fraud charges in 1972

*murdered on April 9, 1980, in Rockford

Maggio, Sam -

*alleged member during Zammuto regime

*born November 6, 1926, in Rockford

*died May 2, 2005, in Rockford

Mallot, Alf J. -

*Rockford gambling figure

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

Mandala, Frank “Frank Mandell” –

*born October 13, 1883, in Piana degli Albanese, Sicily

*liquor racketeer

*brother of Rockford boxer Joe Mandell

*arrested in April 1929 for operating a huge alcohol plant

Mangiaracina, Tony –

*born 1902 in Louisiana

*liquor racketeer, killed in auto accident in July 1931, while driving liquor in the truck of Frank Licari, who was sleeping in a hotel nearby the accident

Manzullo, Nick -

*indicted in June 1934 in connection with a major bootlegging operation figuring among others Frank Rumore and Frank Zammuto

Maragi, Frank -

*born approx. 1906

*brother-in-law of Anthony Zacharia, thus related by marriage to Dallas Mafia boss Joe Civello

*arrested September 14, 1941, on gambling charges

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*during 1940s, operator of Spotty’s Tavern with Sam Lazio, to which Dursch wire service delivered

*according to FBI records, in contact with Civello on several occasisons during 1960s

Marinelli. James -

*born February 27, 1898, in Ferentino, Italy

*steward at Club Roma

*brother-in-law of Anna Domino

*shot to death on November 6, 1928, within a month of the Anna Domino kidnapping

*cousin John Marinelli held for murder

Marinelli, Joseph “Joe Gramps” -

*born on Janary 14, 1918, in Rockford

*bodyguard for Tony Musso

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*associated in siding business with Sebastian Gulotta and Joe Maggio prior to the latter’s murder

*indicted in 1976 in a candy franchise scheme. Indicted with hime were: John Walsh, whose were abouts at the time of the indictments was unknown, Theodore Moore, Lawrence Ballard and Robert S. Doiel of Rockford, Morris Friedman, of Skokie, Larry Gold, of Scottsdale, Arizona, Louis Meyer, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Bartholomew Walsh, of Elke Grove Village and Philip Johnson of Viroqua, Wisconsin

*died June 5, 1980, in St. Louis, Missouri

Marino, John -

*born approx. 1893

*arrested in July 1938 on gambling charges, being accused of operating a bookmaking business

Marino, Tony –

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

Marotta, Sam –

*member

*born January 3, 1904, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

*brother-in-law of Tony Calcione

*died October 31, 1985, in Rockford

Martinez, Octavio “Chico” –

*born September 6, 1930

*alleged associate of Rockford Mafia

*murdered with girlfriend on August 8, 1962, allegedly by Rocco Pranno and Julius Cohn

Martorano, Jack -

*arrested in april 1935 on bootlegging charges with Sam Angona

Maura, Mike -

*LaSalle, Illinois, bootlegging figure allegedly alligned with Rockford Mafia

*arrested on bootlegging charges in February 1930

McCann, Matt –

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

Mela, Alfonso –

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

Mera, Sam -

*born November 5, 1881, in Siculiana, Sicily.

*arrested in 1930 as member of bootleg ring

*sentenced to 1 year and 1 day, fined $1.000

*passed away April 7, 1964

Messina, George -

*arrested with Emordeno, Joe Caioli, John Sardo, G. Motota, Henry Roloff and Theodore Colias of Milwaukee, in Roloff farm raid in September 1934

Metropolis, Nick -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Miller, Guy –

*born approx. 1892

*arrested in June 1930 for bootlegging

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

Miller, Harry -

*born approx. 1905

*arrested in October 1925 on bootlegging charges, in operation linked to Phil Caltegerone

Miller, Paul –

*born March 20, 1894??

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*died February 1977??

Misuraca, Nick -

*associate/member

*born in 1910 in Rockford

*arrested on robbery charges in April 1933, together with Phil Cannella and Joe Calderotta

*murdered on August 30, 1933, while under indictment with Rockford mobsters Joe Calderotta and Phil Cannella on robbery charges

*close friend of Charles Vince.

Moccero, Tom -

*Janesville, Wisconsin, associate of Peter Schifo

*involved in kidnapping of Anna Domino, owner of home were Anna was transported to after the kidnapping

Montalto, Gaspare –

*born April 29, 1887, in Marsala, Sicily

*arrested in 1934 Roloff farm raid with among others Phil Emordeno

*died April 23, 1963, in Rockford

Monti, Gino –

*member

*born August 1927

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

Monti, Joseph J. –

*born March 19, 1917, in Rockford

*son-in-law of Nunzio Ingrassia

*arrested in January 1949 on gambling charge

*died January 23, 2006, in Rockford

Morey, Andrew -

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel linked to Joseph Zito

Morris, William B. -

*Rockford gambling figure

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*arrested in August 1962 on gambling charges with Reno Sandona

*officer of Midwest Distributing Co., co-owned by Outfit members Willie Daddano and Anthony Cardamone

Mortellaro, Vito -

*born October 10, 1890

*alleged Rockford Black Hand figure

*arrested for murder of Joe Mascoli in Rockford on July 21, 1920

*claimed Beloit police officer Daniel Torrisi and Chicago detective Julian Bernacchi had beaten him into confessing the murder. Both policemen were charged, but eventually acquitted

*died March 1982, in Rockford

Moscarelli, Lorenzo –

*born February 21, 1886, in Roccamena, Sicily

*arrested in June 1930 for bootlegging

*died September 1, 1957

Mungiovino, Frank -

*arrested in 1932 in Rockford with Rocco Siciliano, Springfield and Sherman crime figure, on charges of carrying concealed weapons and transporting liquor

Musso, Antonio “Tony Musso” -

*born February 11, 1893, in Partinico, Sicily

*married Maria Piro, sister of wife of John Piro, NO/LA Mafia figure

*first recognized boss of Rockford Mafia

*reportedly send to Rockford by Capone Outfit to take over local bootlegging

*brother-in-law of Tony Lombardo, prohibition era Mafia leader in Chicago

*reportedly received Al Capone in Rockford in 1929

*arrested in St. Louis on weapon charges and suspicion of robbery in 1918, fined $100 and costs

*arrested in 1919 on burglary and weapon charges in St. Louis

*active during first years of the 1920s in Madison, Wisconsin, were he was the recognized leader among the Italian immigrants

*in Madison, operated Belvedere, formerly owned by Andrew DiSalvo and Tony LoMonaco

*figured in various mob related cases in Madison before leaving the city in approx. 1925

*arrested in December 1924 for having in possesion fake rumlabels

*arretsed in Los Angeles in 1930 on gambling charges, eventually extradited to Rockford

*Madison, Wisconsin, also made a bid for Musso’s extradition, but failed. Was wan’t on a rape charge in Madison

*in Los Angeles, most probably lived at house of John Piro, former New Orleans Mafia figure who was married to a sister of Musso’s wife

*figured in 1928-1930 bootlegging ring, claimed to have been one of principal bootleggers

*sentenced to two years in prison and fined $10.000

*arrested in January 1938 for assault relating to a truck driver’s strike

*latest known arrest in 1944, for an inquiry

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*passd away on May 23, 1958, in Rockford

Musso, August A. –

*born October 23, 1918

*son of Tony Musso

*purchased a Federal gambling stamp in 1954

*passed away July 23, 2006, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Muttimer, Charles -

*arrested in May 1930 on bootlegging charges with C. DeMarco and Carl Lotta

*figured in 1930 bootlegging trial involving Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

Nichols, Vernon Eugene -

*associate of Phil Priola

*observed by federal informants in Milwaukee with Phil Priola, discussing possibilities with August Maniaci of Milwaukee to “move in” on some businesses

O’Bannon, Michael -

*Peoria

*subpoenaed before Grand Jury investigating gambling and Burton/Greco murders

Oddo, Frank –

*born approx. 1886

*arrested with Joe Capriola in September 1929, for transporting corn sugar, an ingredient for bootleg alcohol

*died November 26, 1945

Ognibene, Ben -

*born approx. 1911

*involved in stolen car ring in early 1930s, arrested for it in January 1934. Eventually confessed his part in the ring. Other figuring in the case were Arthur Leese, Joe Sartino, Joe Vernasky, Joe Leggio, Joe and Tony Sparacino and George Doshier. Among the stolen vehicles was the machine of former Rockford mayor Burt Allen.

Oliveri, Salvatore “Sam Olivera” -

*born January 17, 1898, in Corleone, Sicily

*attended Cleveland Mafia meeting in December 1928 as one of several Chicago figures

*transferred membership from Chicago to Rockford in mid 1930s

*musscled his way into Gasparini funeral home, there after named Gasparini and Oliveri funeral home

*died in Rockford on November 4, 1969

Paganelli, Joe -

*arrested in September 1930 in Mark, Illinois, on bootlegging charges with several others

Paganelli, Ray -

*arrested in Mark, Illinois, on bootlegging charges with several others, in September 1930

Palazzolo, Joseph “Palazoto -

*came to Rockford from Louisiana

*linked to Frank Ingrassia

*cousin of Cacsio family

*either Joe F. Palazzolo (Polozola), born October 25, 1915, died December 6, 1988, or Giuseppe “Joe” Palazzolo (Polozola), born December 1, 1901, died April 1957. Both men were cousins to the Cascio family

Palmeri, Frank F. –

*member

*born 1920

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*still living

Palmeri, Leo –

*member

*born August 10, 1892, in Marsala, Sicily

*questioned in 1937 murder of Charles Kalb

*died in July 5, 1975, in Rockford

Paollos, James -

*born approx 1908

*arrested in July 1965 on bookmaking charges

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

Parrino, Frank –

*born December 19, 1891

*arrested in April 1929, with Frank Mandell and Mike Cassaro, for operating a huge still

*passed away in July 1974

Patti, Frank -

*father-in-law of Giorgio Saladino

*born approx. 1881

*arrested in March 1929 on bootlegging charges with Giorgio Saladino

Pauls, Robert Eugene -

*born approx. 1929

*arrested in August 1961 as being the keeper of a gambling house

Pearce, Ralph Orlando James “Fuzzy” –

*born January 4, 1887

*high level associate

*race horse bookmaker

*victim of kidnapping for ransom in November 1931. Later returned after ransom had been paid. Lawrence Mangano, Chicago Mafia figure, was named by media as possible key figure in the case, because Pearce was released after Mangano was arrested in Chicago. However, it appears Chicago police had broken up a high level Mafia meeting instead, since among the persons arrested with Mangano were Paul Palmeri, powerful Buffalo Mafioso, and Angelo Caruso, boss of the non-Castellammarese members in the Maranzano Family.

*arrested in December 1934 on gambling charges, as operator of a bookmaking establishment

*questioned in 1937 Kalb murder

*died on March 19, 1953, in Santa Barbara, California

Pelo, Frank -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Pendergast, Thomas -

*born approx. 1904

*Rockford gambling figure

*unidentified sources in 1946/1947 stated the gambling scene in Rockford was controlled by a gambling syndicate consisting of Charles Dursch, Tony Musso, Alf J. Mallot, Jasper Calo, Charles Lazio, John Calderotta alias Blackie, Thomas Pendergast, Francis B. Croon, Rubin A. Croon, William B. Morris, Sam Lazio and Frank Maragi.

*arrested as bookmaker in September 1941

*present on August 20, 1966 during gambling raid on Uptown Lounge. but was not arrested due to his bad health

Peplos, Pete -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Peri, Frank -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Perrone, Anthony John –

*born June 24, 1898, in Louisiana??

*arrested with Tony Giovingo on robbery charges, both accused of being a members of a robbery bandit gang

*died February 7, 1988??

Peterson, Swan A. -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Philbrook, Herbert M. -

*indicted in April 1963 in a Denver fraud scheme with among others Joseph LaFranka and Lewis Elliott from Rockford, himself residing in Quincy, Illinois

Picchioni, Paul “Peachy” -

*born November 1, 1908, in Cherry, Illinois

*brother-in-law of Louis Capriola

*bodyguard of Chicago gangster Tommy Abbott

*member of Rockford Mafia

*onetime chauffer to John Domino

*questioned after murder of Joe Giovingo

*arrested in 1932 for robbery

*died in Dallas, on December 27, 1974

Piccuro, Phil -

*Beloit Mafia fgigure

*associate of Frank Longo, Springfield mobster, and Vincenzo Troia

*arrested in May 1934, with Longo and Troia, on chargesa of having a concealed weapon

Pinella, Joe -

*bootlegging figure allegedly alligned with Rockford Mafia, arrested in Mark, Illinois

Pipitone, Charles -

*South Beloit

*owner of Shuffle Inn, a Bar (early 1950s)

*sought on gambling charges in April 1953, together with Frank Giardono Jr. and John Baden

Plager, C. A. -

*born approx. 1890

*arrested in July 1938 on gambling charges, being accused of operating a bookmaking business

Poshard, Kenneth –

*born October 3, 1935??

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died December 24, 1989, in St. Petersburg, Florida??

Powers, Walter -

*Rockford gambling figure

*arrested with Leo Ginestra in one of various raids on Rockford handbooks in August 1939, as operator of Hermit Club (linked to Leo Ginestra)

Priola, Phil Jr. -

*born in 1943 in Rockford

*son of Phil Sr.

*figured in recent fraud case involving Texas Grill restaurant

*after having served his prison sentence in the fraud case, moved to Las Vegas, Nevada

Priola, Phil Sr. –

*member

*born April 11, 1907, in Chicago

*father of Phil Jr.

*oil station operator

*arrested by Beloit police on bootlegging charges in June 1934

*arrested in July 1934, as last member of kidnapping gang involved in among others the kidnapping of Fred DiFilippi. Charges dropped after DiFilippi was killed in a car accident

*arrested that same year in Beloit for bootlegging

*close to Milwaukee Mafia member August Maniaci

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died July 6, 1987, in Rockford

Pro, Angelo “Dingo” -

*born in 1930 in Rockford

*active in gambling, loansharking and prostitution, the latter after the Calcione brothers ceased this activity

*said to have been close to Rockford’s African American community

*subpoenad before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

*still alive

Provenzano, Al -

*distantly related through marriage to Joe Zammuto

*Rockford gambling figure

*owner of apartment building were Charles Vince lived when he died

*owner of Creative Jewelers, were gambling was alleged to have taken place during early/mid 1990s

*arrested July 1994 on gambling charges, not charge when he denied knowledge of gambling activties because he rented basement

Provenzano, Carolyn -

*proprietor of Victory Tap (early 1960s)

*fined in April 1963 for failure to have proper license displayed for pool table

Provenzano, Nick –

*born February 1961??

*arrested in 2006 gambling case

Purin, Charles A. –

*born in March 1943 in Rockford

*figured in 2006 sports betting case

Radwan, Azmi S. -

*born approx. 1943

*arrested in July 1994 on gambling charges in Creative Jewelers raid

Ranieri, Cleto -

Dalzell, Illinois

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Ranieri, Raldo -

*Spring Valley,, Illinois

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Reda, Tom -

*low level bootlegger

*murdered on February 4, 1928

*theory evolved he knew too much about the shooting of policeman Arthur Bassett, and was silenced for it. More assumable he was killed because he had informed on various bootlegging establishments

Renaldo, Joseph -

*born approx. 1892

*arrested in Rockford after shootout with police in March 1916, together with Sam Amato and Sam Cipollo, after having send Black Hand letters to one Giom Calderotta and lying in wait for him to deposit money. A fourth Black Hander escaped

Ripi, Giovanni -

*born August 18, 1867

*claimed by Beloit detective Dan Torrisi to have been a member of the Black Hand in Rockford

*arrested in February 1919 in connection with the death of Gaetano Cordia, after Cordia’s killer claimed Ripi had been hired by Cordia to murder him

Rizzi, Anthony -

*Beloit bootlegging figure

*arrested in March 1937 on bootlegging charges with among others Phil Cannella

Roberts, Joe -

*alleged Beloit gambling figure

*close associate of Gramps Marinelli

*involved in dipute wwith Nick Gentile, Milwaukee mob figure then also resding in Beloit, in or around 1969

Rocchio, Frank -

*LaSalle bootlegger alleged to have been alligned with Rockford mob

*arrested on bootlegging charges together with Phil Scortino and John Violo

Rocconi, Leo –

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

Riccoro, Joseph -

*arrested in 1937 during raid on a farm near Cedarville

Richardson, Jack -

*born in 1956, in Rockford

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982

Rizzo, Pete -

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case with among others William D’Agostino and Sam Giovingo

Rollins, Jim –

*born February 1931??

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel

*still alive??

Ross, John C. -

*arrested in July 1930 on bootlegging charges, together with Peter and Joseph Domino, Frank Theodore and a Joliet, Illinois, youth

Rotello, Joe -

*Rockford Mafia figure

*born December 24, 1899, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

*brother-in-law of Cosmo Angileri

*died December 19, 1974, in Rockford

Roth, Thomas M. -

born approx. 1931

*indicted in April 1963 in a Denver fraud scheme with Joseph LaFranka and Lewis Elliott from Rockford, Margery Kincheloe of Salt Lake City, Herbert M. Philbrook of Quincy, Illinois, and Theodore J. Venable of Redding, California

*indictment result of a Denver Grand Jury investigation regarding fraudulent FHA home improvement loans obtained by Statewide Builder’s Supply Co. in Denver, of which the six were officers and salesmen, in connection with sales of alluminium house siding

Rowe, L. C. -

*born approx. 1886

*arrested as bookmaker in September 1941

Rumore, Frank - 

*born November 24, 1898, in Contessa Entellina, Sicily

*alleged cousin of Thomas Rumore

*brother-in-law of Joe Giovingo (sister’s first husband)

*arrested for auto theft in 1924 as alleged to have been the head of a stolen car ring, case linked Rumore to one Rosario Calamia, gangster from Madison

*arrested in may 1930 for bootlegging, again in June

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

*sentenced to 18 months and fined $7.500

*indicted in June 1934 in connection with a major bootlegging operation figuring among others Tony Carlino and Frank Zammuto

*Died September 3, 1954, in Rockford

Rumore, Thomas -

*alleged member

*arrested in may 1930 for operating a still

*arrested again in June 1930

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

*sentenced to a year and a day in prison, fined $1.000

*brother of Tony

*murdered Joe Licari, his neighbour, in 1935

*himself shot to death a year later, on October 6, 1936

Rumore, Tony –

*born approx. 1910???

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

*brother of Thomas

Ryan, William “Red” -

*Beloit gambling associate of Ralph Pierce

*charged with accessory to Pierce’s kidnapping, acting as go-between in obtaining Pierce’s release, in November 1931

Sagona, Mike -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Saieva, Carl -

*born February 23, 1902

*arrested in 1932 on liquor charges

*died August 1985

Saieva, Salvatore –

*member

*born October 16, 1905, in Aragona, Sicily

*Lorenzo Buttice was his uncle

*died February 6, 1990, in Rockford

Saladino, Andrea “Andrew” -

*born September 8, 1887, in Marsala, Sicily

*brother of Jospeh Saladino

*father-in-law of James Anastase

*father of Joseph P. Saladino

*grandfather of Joseph W. Saladino

*figured in 1930 bootleg case

*sentenced to one year and one day, fined $1.000

*died May 29, 1959

Saladino, Frances (maiden name Barbara) -

*wife of Joseph saladino

*arrested with husband and several others on bootlegging charges in 1925

Saladino, Frank “Gumba” -

*born December 9, 1945, in Rockford

*son of Giorgio Saladino

*half sister married to Phil Cannella

*arrested in 1981 in Chicago in connection with burglary. Also arrested were Ronald Jarrett, Frank Bertucci, Michael gurgone, George Ravnic, Phil Lazzaro, Sam Bills, Sam Ciancio and Tom Versetto

*various other arrests, including assault and rape

*closely associated with Chicago Outfit

*used by Outfit in several murders

*involved in  a bitter feud with Salvatore Galuzzo and several of his relatives and associates evolving out of a car accident Saladino and Galluzzo had with Galluzzo’s car.

*one of persons figuring prominently in Family Secrets trial involving the Chicago Outfit. Officers send to arrest him found him dead in his room

*died April 24, 2005, in Hampshire, illinois, allegedly a suicide

Saladino, Giorgio “George” -

*member

*born September 13, 1892, in Roccamena, Sicily

*father of Frank “Gumba” Saladino

*gambling associate of Joe Giambruno

*figured in attempted murders of Alex and David Dotz in September 1926. Put on trial, eventually acquitted

*arrested in March 1929 on bootlegging charges, together with his father-in-law Frank Patti

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*arrested and charged with selling liquor in a Social Club to non-members in February 1957

*questioned in 1937 murder of bookmaker Charles Kalb

*associated with Milwaukee Mafia boss John Alioto

*died June 7, 1964, in Rockford

Saladino, Joseph –

*born November 19, 1882, in Marsala, Sicily

*brother of Andrea

*figured in 1925 bootlegging case with among others his wife Frances Barbera

*died June 29, 1953, in Rockford

Saladino, Joseph P.  -

*born July 17, 1918, in Rockford

*father of Joseph W. Saladino

*figured in 1940s burglary case involving Cascio cousins. Allegedly solled stolen liquor to Milwaukee resident, Sylvester McCarthy formerly from Rockford.

*died October 14, 1990, in Rockford

Saladino, Joseph W. –

*born October 11, 1945, in Rockford

*grandson of Andrew Saladino

*son of Joseph P. Saladino

*figured in 2006 gambling case

Saladino, Sam -

*LaSalle, Illinois, bootlegging figure, formerly from Rockford

*arrested in January 1931 on bootlegging charges, together with his mother

Salamone, Carmelo “Carl” -

*Rockford Mafia figure

*born October 28, 1892, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother Filippo had maried the sister of Vincenzo Tarallo, Wisconsin mob figure

*died February 12, 1946, in Rockford

Salamone, Carl -

*born June 28, 1925, in Rockford

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*operator of Times Lounge in 1950s

*died December 1, 1994, in Rockford

Salamone, John F. “John Finooch” -

*born Approx. 1978

*arrested in February 2006, on gambling charges. Figured in a sports betting ring operating from the 1980s up to at least 2005. Others figuring in the case were Joseph, Nicholas and Rick fiorenza, Charles Purin, Frank Giardono, Nick Provenzano Joseph W. Saladino and John Frisella. Frank Saladino named as unindicted co-conspirator

Salisbury, Dennis L. -

*born in Rockford in 1950

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982

Salvaggio, Alex -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Sandona, Reno –

*born March 12, 1916, in Rockford

*member

*arrested in August 1962 on gambling charges, together with William Morris

*held interest in Northern Illinois Music Company with Chicago mobsters William Daddano Jr. and Anthony A. Cardamone, and Rockford residents William F. and William V. Morris

*died March 19, 2002, in Rockford

SanFilippo, Anthony Joseph –

*born June 30, 1911, in Wisconsin

*son of Pietro

*arrested with among others his father for his alleged involvement of a huge alcohol distilling plant. Others arrested were Tony LoMonaco, Michael Licari of Madison, Charles Samsera and Thomas Adams

*arrested in October 1934 on counterfeiting charges, with among others his brother Jerome

*arrested in March 1935 on theft charges, with his brother Jerome

*died January 6, 1956, in San Diego, California

SanFilippo, Antonina “Anna” -

*wife of Peter, mother of Anthony and Jerome

*arrested on bootlegging charges with Peter and 21 others on Thanksgiving Day 1924

SanFilippo, Jerome Joseph –

*born November 12, 1913, in Wisconsin

*son of Pietro

*arrested in 1934 on counterfeiting charges

*arrested in March 1935 on theft charges, with his brother Anthony

*died April 12, 1981, in San Diego, California

SanFilippo, Pietro “Peter SanFilippo” –

*born September 18, 1884, in San Giuseppe Iato

*alleged member

*father of Jerome and Tony

*before going to Rockford (around 1920) lived in Madison, Wisconsin

*arrested in December 1920 for grand larceny (alleged to have stolen $6,000 worth of goods from a Madison concern). Was not extradited to Madison from Rockford

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with 22 others, including his wife

*figured in 1925 bootlegging case with his wife Antonina Licari and various others

*arrested in September 1929 for alleged involvement in huge alcohol ring, together with among others his son

*held in connection with September 1929 shooting in Oriental Tavern, together with Charles Sanzeri, Gus Engstrom and Tony LoMonaco. SanFilippo wounded in shooting affray

*figured in 1930 liquor case

*sentenced to 1 year and 1 day, fined $1.000

Sansone, James -

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

*operator of jewellery store in 1950s

Sanzeri, Charles -

*held in connection with September 1929 shooting in Oriental Tavern, together with Peter SanFilippo, Gus Engstrom and Tony LoMonaco

*arrested in November 1929 on bootlegging charges

Sardo, John -

*Beloit/Rockford liquor racketeer

*arrested in Roloff farm raid in September 1934

*figured in 1937 bootlegging case. One of three South Beloit based ringleaders, was given five years in prison and a fine of $3,000 in February 1938

Sartino, Joseph -

*born approx. 1910

*involved in stolen car ring in early 1930s, arrested for it in January 1934. Eventually confessed his part in the ring. Other figuring in the case were Arthur Leese, Joe Leggio, Joe Vernasky, Ben Ognibene, Joe and Tony Sparacino and George Doshier. Among the stolen vehicles was the machine of former Rockford mayor Burt Allen.

Saulter, Fred D. -

*born approx. 1937

*arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Saulter, Lee R. -

*born approx. 1931

*arrested on gambling charges in March 1989

Scalia, Peter -

*Beloit bootlegging figure

*son-in-law of Joe DiGirolamo

*brother married into Schifo family

*arrested in June 1934 for operating a still with James Valenti

*operated a liquor store in South Beloit during 1960s

*shot in a hold up in September 1969, and transported to hospital in serious condition

Scamardo, Paul –

*born June 21, 1883

*member

*figured in Ezra Duffy kidnapping

*arrested with Joe Guston in January 1929, on bootlegging charges. Raid was reason for re-opening the Duffy kidnapping case, eventually resulting in the arrest of Tony Musso. Still was located at same address were Duffy claimed to have been held a few months before

*indicted in 1930 liquor conspiracy trial, but never apprehended

Schifo, Peter “Peter Scifo” -

*member

*born on July 5, 1904, in Aragona, Sicily

*orchestrator of Anna Domino kidnapping in October 1928. Reason for kidnapping said to have been because Anna rejected Schifo. Other possibility is that Schifo tried too intimidate Domino family

*charged with bribery in August 1950

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*passed away on September 22, 1969, in Rockford

Schiro, Jerry -

*bootlegger

*arrested in January 1928 in raid on Frank Gulotta house

Schiro, John J. -

*born August 20, 1959, in Rockford

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982

Schmit, Ivan “Bass” -

*arrested in February 1966 for running a casino, together with J. L. Kamrar. Alleged to have run casino for Charles Vince

Sciortino, Sam “Sam Scartino” (real name Sam Salvatore) -

*born December 7, 1885, in Siculiana, Sicily

*figured in 1930 bootlegging case

*sentenced to 18 months, fined $7.500

*died October 22, 1976, in Rockford

Scortino, Phil -

*LaSalle bootlegger alleged to have been alligned with Rockford mob

*arrested on bootlegging charges together with Frank Rocchio and John Violo

Segalla, Victor Augistine -

*born approx. 1913

*arrested in April 1935, being accused as a member of a robbery gang, with among others Charles Vince

Seminerio, Carl -

*born May 6, 1951, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother of Iggy, cousin of Frank Buscemi

*died July 7, 2000, in Rockford

Seminerio, Ignazio “Iggy” -

*born November 27, 1941, in Aragona, Sicily

*cousin of Frank Buscemi, brother of Carl

*alleged member

*brought to Rockofrd by Frank Buscemi in early 1960s

*died in Rockford on February 4, 2001

Sendele, Gilbert E. -

*indicted in August 1938 on grand larcey charges, relating to a false hijacking of a ;load of cigarettes in December 1937, together  with Charles Lazzio and Phil Cannella

Shaul, Ollie -

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case with among others William D’Agostino and Sam Giovingo

*arrested in June 1930 on bootlegging charges

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

Sherod, William –

*born September 25, 1909

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel linked to Joe Zito

*died March 1986

Sigretto, Sam “Segretta” -

*born August 10, 1893, in Sambuca, Sicily

*bootlegging associate of Frank Ingrassia

*brother of Steve Sigretto

Sigretto, Stephen “Segretta” -

*born January 4, 1889, in Sambuca, Sicily

*associated in bootlegging with Frank Ingrassia

arrested with Ingrassia and brother in December 1923, on bootlegging charges, after a still operated by the three had blown up. 

*died June 30, 1971, in Rockford

Simmons, John -

*indicted by 1969 Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Rockford

Smith, George -

*arrested in April 1930 in Engelhaupt farm raid with Fred Gaulandri, Tony Bertelino and Cosmo Angileri, all believed to be Rockford mobsters

Sparacino, Anthony -

*born approx. 1914

*involved in stolen car ring in early 1930s, arrested for it in January 1934. Eventually confessed his part in the ring. Other figuring in the case were Arthur Leese, Joe Sartino, Joe Vernasky, Ben Ognibene, Joe Leggio, Joe Sparacino and George Doshier. Among the stolen vehicles was the machine of former Rockford mayor Burt Allen.

Sparacino, Joseph -

*born approx. 1911

*brother of Anthony

*involved in stolen car ring in early 1930s, arrested for it in January 1934. Eventually confessed his part in the ring. Other figuring in the case were Arthur Leese, Joe Sartino, Joe Vernasky, Ben Ognibene, Joe Leggio, Anthony Sparacino and his brother Joseph and George Doshier. Among the stolen vehicles was the machine of former Rockford mayor Burt Allen.

St. Angel, Jasper -

*born April 8, 1885

*prominent Rockford Italian

*figured in 1930 liquor trial, although not named directly

*FBI records indictae St. Angel was associated with Rockford Mafia

Stasin, Geroge -

*South Beloit

*figured in 1937/38 bootlegging ring, sentenced to five years and fined 3.000 dollars

Stassi, Joe -

*member

*born January 1, 1892, in San Giuseppe Iato, Sicily

*two of his sisters married Carl and Phil Caltagerone

*figured in Ezra Duffy kidnapping

*figured in 1928-1930 bootlegging operation

*sentenced to two years, fined $2.500

*died August 7, 1963, in Rockford

Steel, A. J. -

*born approx. 1903

*arrested on gambling charges in Decermber 1935

Stello, Giuseppe “Joe Stello” -

*alleged Beloit Black Hand figure

*arrested in Rockford in December 1917 for the Beloit shooting of one Gaspare Lombardo during an argument relating to a two dollar bet

*sentenced to five years for manslaughter in March 1918

Tassoni, Angelo -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Tassoni, John -

*born approx. 1917

*arrested in 1933 in connection with escape plot of Donald Loftus, a notorious Rockford bank robber, after he threw a gun over the fence of the penintentary in which Loftus was locked up

*arrested in April 1935, being accused as a member of a robbery gang, with among others Charles Vince

*at the time of 1935 arrest on parole from Joliet prison in connection with the 1933 arrest

Tati, Tony -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Terrace, Rose -

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating gamblling and Burton/Greco murders

Terrazino, Frank –

*born January 18, 1921, in Rockford

*member

*indicted by 1969 Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Rockford

*died November 24, 1977, in Rockford

Theodore, Frank (real name Frank Todaro) –

*born January 25, 1905, in Melville, Louisiana

*lengthy arrest record

*related to Giovingo and Bonavia family

*arrested in July 1930 on bootlegging charges, with Pete Domino and his father, a Joliet youth and John C. Ross

*figured in 1930 bootlegging case

*owner of house raided in May 1930

*sentenced to one year and one day, fined $1.000

*arrested in 1937 during raid on a farm near Cedarville. Others figuring in case were Peter and Tony Domino, Frank and Theodore Ingrassia and Joseph Riccoro. All defendants rleased under probation except for Theodore Ingrassia, whose case was dismissed

*died March 1957, in Rockford

Tisdale, Robert –

*born approx. 1888 in Alabama

*still operator

*put on trial in September 1929 for owning a still

Tortorici, Mary -

*arrested in 1924 on bootlegging charges with among others Sam Caltagerone and Sam Capriola

Torzeski, Nicholas -

*union “connection” guy for Joe Zito

*from South beloit, Wisconsin

*indicted in huge fraud case on October 29, 1965

moved to Los Angeles

*dealings with Hollywood movie unions

*named defendant in 6.75 million dollar damage suit, as partner of tv personality Ed McMahon 

Triolo, Peter -

*early Rockford Mafia figure

*father-in-law of Rockford Mafia member Tony Basile

Troia, Vincenzo Elia “Lorenzo Salvatore, Elia Costanza” -

*born in San Giuseppe Iato, approximate year of birth in dubious.

*Mafia power in Rockford during 1920s

*involved in bootlegging racket

*involved in kidnapping of Ezra Duffy, Sterling liquor racketeer

*arrested for the attempted murder of Madison, Wisconsin, bootlegger Joe Gelosi and the murder of Gelosi’s three year old son Frank, together with Charles Guidera, Madison Mafia figure

*moved first to Springfield, then to Newark, New Jersey after shooting of Joe Giovingo in August 1930, upon arrival quickly rose in rank of Newark Family

*When Castellammarese War erupted in New York City, Troia was appointed to a commission to mediate with Salvatore Maranzano

*according to Nicola Gentile, Troia became friendly with Maranzano, and sided with him, against the orders of the Assembly

*murdered on August 23, 1935, in “the reported headquarters of a lottery gang” in Newark

*killed with him was Frank Longo, member of the Springfield, Illinois, Zito mob, wounded were Troia’s son Joseph, who would die a few days after the shooting as a result of his wounds, Jerome Bevinetto and Antonio Sunsaro

*Gentile attributed his murder to his former close friendship with Maranzano, while the confessions of Sicilian Mafia figure Allegra, attribute Troia’s murder to a feud involving the Newark lottery racket

*Possible (co)conspirator in murder Anthony Riela, Newark based Bonanno Family member and former roomer in same Rockford house as Troia at the time of the Giovingo shooting. Longo also known to Riela, since Riela had lived in Springfield for a time also, were he associated with Zito mob. Riela, years later, would contact the Milwaukee Family through his old Rockford associates, on behalf of Lefty Ruggiero and Donnie Brasco, undercover FBI operative whose real name is Joseph Pistone

Tulini, Joe -

*arrested in Mark, Illinois, on bootlegging charges with several others, in September 1930

Turner, John -

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Graco murders

Valenti, James -

*arrested in June 1934 for operating a still at Monroe Madison, Wisconsin, together with Peter Scalia

Vanderah, Melvin –

*born January 26, 1914

*indicted by 1969 Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Rockford

*died June 21, 1999

Vargas, Frank J. -

*born approx. 1956

*arrested in July 1994 on gambling charges in Creative Jewelers raid

Vella, Frank P. Sr. –

*born June 20, 1922, in Rockford

*alleged member of Rockford Mafia

*father of Frank Jr., attorny trying to bring legal gambling boats to Rockford in 1990

*arrested in July 1965 after raid on his bookmaking establishment, at the time owner of a doughnut shop

*indicted in February 1966 on gambling charges. Of ten indicted persons, only resident of Rockford, and the only one to be named in all four counts of indictment

*passed away of natural causes on February 3, 2007, in Rockford

Vella, Philip –

*born February 19, 1895, in Siculiana, Sicily

*member of Rockford Mafia

*father of Frank Vella Sr.

*son-in-law of Frank Calacurcio

*figured in 1925 bootlegging case with among others his wife Jennie and Peter SanFilippo

*involved in 1930 bootlegging conspiracy. Charged with Musso and many others

*freed due to the prosecution’s failure to link them to the conspiracy

*indicted in April 1935 on liquor violation charges

Venable, Theodore J. -

*indicted in April 1963 in a Denver fraud scheme with among others Joseph LaFranka and Lewis Elliott from Rockford, himself reesiding in Redding, California

Vento, Angelo -

*LaSalle

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Verace, Louis –

*born November 11, 1904

*figured in 1928-1930 bootlegging case

*sentenced to one year and one day, fined $1.000

*related to Calacurcio family

*died in September 28, 1972, in Rockford

Vernasky, Joseph -

*born approx. 1912

*involved in stolen car ring in early 1930s, arrested for it in January 1934. Eventually confessed his part in the ring. Other figuring in the case were Arthur Leese, Joe Sartino, Joe Leggio, Joe and Tony Sparacino and George Doshier. Among the stolen vehicles was the machine of former Rockford mayor Burt Allen.

Viglia, Joe -

*arrested in May 1930 on bootlegging charges in Raid on Flaherty farm with John  Greno, both described as members of Sicilian syndicate

Vince, Charles (real name Vinci) –

*born August 18, 1907, in New Orleans, Louisiana

*stepfather of Giardono brothers

*member, street boss before becoming boss in 1987

*arrested in April 1935 on robbery charges

*appeared by 1969 Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Rockford

*arrested in December 1966 in gambling raid

*sentenced to prison in 1971 for extortion (extorted $2,000 at gunpoint from Dr. Alfred Ottow, a retired Beloit physician)

died of natural causes on January 24, 1994, in Rockford

Vince, Nick –

*born August 26, 1913, in New Orleans, Louisiana

*member

*brother of Charles Vince

*appeared before 1969 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*died August 21, 2007, in Rockford

Violo, John -

*LaSalle, Illinois

*arrested on bootlegging charges together with Frank Rocchio and Phil Scortino

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Vitale, Leo -

*Peru, Illinois

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

*sentenced to prison, deported after release

Vota, Angelo -

*alleged bootlegger during prohibition

*member of Chicago centred kidnap gang broken up by law enforcement in mid 1930s, believed to have been responsible for various kidnapping in Illinois, among them the kidnapping of Fred DiFilippi, Spring Valley, and Admehar Huughe, of East Moline.

*arrested in February 1933, together with Jules Vey and Dan Zook of Moline and Mike Talerico of Davenport

*others figuring in case were Chicago gangsters John Siciliano, Rocco Gareffa, Joe Varsalona and Joe Marando, Ted Patterson  of Spingfield and Edward Moore, Joe Castagna of Cherokee, Kansas and Vince Burman of Spring Valley, and Archie Brown of Chicago, Frank “Fat” Smith of Rock Island, Wesly Pritchett of Chicago and Victor Ciesielski of Davenport

*gang also thought to have been responsible for a Beloit bank robbery

*at the time of his arrest, Vota was said by arresting officers to be one of supervisors of vice, gambling and bootlegging in Moline, Davenport and Rock Island

*Vota himself appears to have escaped charges, since he was not among those put on trial

Walker, Lee -

*subpoenaed before 1959 Grand Jury investigating Burton/Greco murders

Walsh, John F. –

*bond broker

*arrested for bootlegging on June 5, 1930

*figured in 1929/1930 bootlegging operation

*appeal denied in July 1932

*associated with Charles Kalb in bookmaking business.

*indicted in February 1935 with Kalb in corruption case, evolving out of a bribe. Among the other persons indicted was Walsh’ daughter

*???indicted in 1976 in a candy franchise scheme???

Wheaton, Charles -

*figured in May 1930 bootlegging case with among others William D’Agostino and Sam Giovingo

Wilkins, Samuel -

*associate

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges involving syndicate policy wheel

Winn, Kenneth -

*born approx. 1891

*arrested in July 1938 on gambling charges, being accused of operating a bookmaking business

Wolf, Jack -

*Beloit gambling associate of Ralph Pierce

*charged with accessory to Pierce’s kidnapping, acting as go-between in obtaining Pierce’s release, in November 1931

Wolf, Paul -

*Hollowayville and Ladd, Illinois

*arrested in 1938 Bureau County liquor bust with among others Lorenzo Buttice and Stefano Cascio

Yanez, Rubin -

*born February 11, 1950

*arrested as member of John Leumbroni drug ring in 1982

Zacharia, Anthony –

*born November 8, 1909

*associate/member

*brother of August Zacharia, a Rockford dentist and brother-in-law of Dallas mob boss Joseph Civello

*married to aunt of Knobby Gulotta

*arrested in 1966 on gambling charges, together with Sebastian Gulotta, Robert Joseph Priddle, Ann Louise White, Jane Elvida Hall, Felix David Harbison, Charles Vince and Howard William Crosby

*died November 1995

Zammuto, Frank -

*born January 5, 1887, in Aragona, Sicily

*brother of Joseph P. Zammuto

*with Phil Caltagerone was arrested for the murder of Giuseppe Tarantola in January 1917. Arrested and put on trial, convicted to 23 years in prison. Conviction appears to have been overturned.

*indicted in June 1934 in connection with a major bootlegging operation figuring among others Frank Rumore and Tony Carlino

*passed away on November 6, 1953, in Rockford

Zammuto, George –

*son of Joseph P.

*brother-in-law of Frank Buscemi

*reportedly acted as driver for his father

Zammuto, Joseph P. –

*born February 16, 1897, in Aragona, Sicily

*long time figure in Rockford Family, boss from approx. 1958 until 1973, the acting as counsellor to new leadership

*minor arrest record

*involved in multiple legitimate enterprises

*died in May 18, 1990, in Rockford

Zammuto, Joseph -

*born June 21, 1927, in Rockford

*not known to have been involved with Rockford Mafia

*son of Joe Zammuto

*associated with father in legitimate business

*died April 19, 1980. Funeral attended by Chicago mob power Joey Aiuppa

Zito, Joseph “Joe Bruno, Diamond Joe” -

*born on June 5, 1906, in San Giuseppe Iato, Sicily

*brother of Springfield’s Frank, Tony and Joe Zito. Possible other brother Philip, also of Springfield

*sister married to Jasper Calo

*married to sister of Sam Gaziano

*involved with liquor operations in Springfield during late 1920s. Indicted in Springfield liquor conspiracy in 1930. Never apprehended. Most assumable had left for Rockford

*questioned in murder of Paul Giovingo

*indicted in April 1935 on liquor violation charges

*former Rockford mayor Ben Schleicher reportedly committed favors for Zito and Phil Cannella

*according to informants held interest in the Midway Lounge, the Grand Park, the Cyprus, the Playroom and the Roma Club during 1960s

*appeared before 1968 Grand Jury investigating Rockford organized crime

*indicted in 1971 for falsifying tax returns

*allegedly extorted $15,000 from Peter Zammuto, cousin of Joe Zammuto. Case dropped after Peter Zammuto testified he had willingly paid Zito

*passed away June 14, 1981, in Rockford