Bombs and Arson, the Rockford LCN Way

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Bombs and arson in the LCN were the tried and true method to get a message across to an individual or a business or simply to collect on an insurance policy and the Rockford LCN was no exception. The city of Rockford, with a population of only around 150,000 used these methods surprisingly often despite its small size. Bombs and arson were extremely common up through the 1930s with the Rockford LCN in relation to the early Blackhand threats and these methods increased with taverns that refused to buy the suggested alcohol from LCN members and alcohol stills of competitors were blown up frequently.

On November 26, 1931 the Tangorra grocery store at 2029 7th Street was bombed. Two girls witnessed two men placing the bomb at the business and speed away in a green sedan. The grocery store was owned by Anthony Tangorra of Bari, Italy and in the early morning hours of December 25, 1931 again, the grocery store was bombed. Yet again, on March 27, 1932 the business was bombed for the third time in six months. After the third bombing, Anthony Tangorra stated he had been threatened the previous two weeks by extortionists demanding $2,000. In an interesting twist just one month later, Anthony and his brother Joseph were indicted on 13 counts for fencing thousands of dollars of items looted from freight car thieves. The items were fenced through the grocery store and later FBI files hinted that fencing operations in Rockford was overseen by Rockford LCN member George Saladino and that Charles Vince, Sam Lazzio and Phil Cannella were principal members.

The evening of April 28, 1932 saw two bombs explode- one at the Puritan Dairy plant at 1116 Auburn Street and the other at the Oscar Ferm dairy at 1411 9th Street. The bombs tossed into the two plants exploded within five minutes of each other. Authorities surmised that the bombings were an outgrowth of a milk price war in the city. Later FBI files made mention of then-underboss Gaspare Calo and his brother-in-law Rockford LCN consigliere Joe Zito opening the Sunlite Dairy in the 1930s and becoming the dominant dairy in the area. The impetus for this dairy takeover may have begun with these bombings and could very well have been led by Rockford LCN boss Tony Musso and his men.

A fire tore through the Lincoln Tavern at 916 South Main Street on August 18, 1933 destroying the business. Two gallons of alcohol were dumped in the hall of the second floor beer garden starting the blaze about 45 minutes after the tavern closed. Two witnesses described a shiny black sedan driving into the alley on the north side of the building right before the fire started. Then exactly a week later on August 25th another fire gutted the All-Way Inn tavern at 2546 Kishwaukee Street. Several witnesses reported seeing a large black sedan in the vicinity when the blaze started at 3:45 a.m. Authorities deduced that racketeers were responsible for the two tavern fires in that attempts were being made to get tavern owners to purchase certain types of beer the racketeers wanted.

These violent and incendiary methods died down when the Rockford LCN solidified their control over Rockford and surrounding areas but on June 18, 1957 that calm was shattered again when a dynamite-rigged bomb exploded on the steps of the breezeway of the home Alderman Eric Anderson. Anderson’s wife Alma found a toolbox on the steps and when she opened it, a powerful bomb exploded causing her to lose a leg and an eye in the explosion. Investigators stated the bomb, rigged with an electric switch that included batteries was constructed by a “professional” and a large reward was offered for the person or people behind it. Focus of the investigation centered on Peter Scifo, a Rockford LCN connected man and “political fixer” according to FBI files. The previous August, Scifo was named on the City Council floor by Alderman Anderson as someone who was offering bribes for taxi cab licenses. Because of the ensuing investigation, Scifo was charged with operating a confidence game, attempted bribery and soliciting money for bribery but he was found not guilty on all charges most likely due to Rockford consigliere Joe Zito’s influence with the Rockford City Council and court system.

Things calmed down again until June 18, 1967 when a suspicious fire ripped through Philipo’s Restaurant at 4239 Charles Street. The business had only been opened a week and was owned by brothers Frank and Philip Vella and both were bookmakers for the Rockford LCN. This restaurant destruction was most likely a way to collect on the insurance and transfer the liquor license to another business.
Another suspicious fire involving Frank Vella happened on February 19, 1977 at a house he owned at 7103 East State Street. Nothing came of the investigation and Vella collected the insurance money on this.

On February 5, 1979 a fire at the Nite and Day Disco at 1051 West State Street was put out in time by firefighters but another arson at the business on February 12th destroyed the tavern and upstairs apartments causing the entire building to be condemned. This building was owned by Salvatore Galluzzo, who at the time was a Rockford LCN associate and frontman. FBI agents surmised this arson was a means to transfer the liquor license from the Nite and Day Disco to the Plaza Suite, a tavern secretly owned by Rockford LCN underboss Frank Buscemi and operated by his son Frank.
Another arson happened August 19, 1982 at 1028 Ferguson Street, which was a rental house owned by Natale Galluzzo, the brother of Salvatore. Authorities suspected Galluzzo of the arson but no charges were made and the insurance was paid on the house.

On November 5, 1983 in the city of Beloit, Wisconsin, a fire tore through the Marsala Restaurant at 326 State Street causing extensive damage even before a meal could be served for the grand opening. This business was owned and operated by Sicilian immigrant Andrew Ingarra. Ingarra vowed he would repair the damage and reopen in a matter of weeks, which he did.

Just over a month later a Little Caesar’s Pizza restaurant had just had a grand opening at 617 Harlem Road in Machesney Park when not long after on December 19, 1983 just before midnight a pipe bomb was thrown through the window causing extensive damage to the pizzeria. Later FBI files stated that the bombing was a message to the franchise owner that there was to be no competing pizza businesses in the area of Sam’s Pizza at 1031 Harlem Road, which was owned (on paper) by Salvatore Galluzzo and his brother-in-law Salvatore DiGiacomo. This money for this pizzeria was put up by underboss Frank Buscemi and it was also a front for cocaine and heroin distribution. FBI files and confidential informants stated that as Rockford LCN capo, this bombing incident would have been overseen by Sebastian “Knobby” Gulotta.

Meanwhile, Andrew Ingarra was getting his restaurant fixed up and in a short time he reopened the Marsala Restaurant again, but on May 27, 1984 another fire swept through the dining room just before midnight completely destroying the restaurant. Was the Rockford LCN trying to send Ingarra a message for extortion or was it in cooperation with them for an insurance payout? This is unclear but what is highly suspicious is that in 1989 Ingarra was involved in a South Beloit, Illinois business with Rockford LCN capo Sebastian “Knobby” Gulotta and another Sicilian immigrant, Antonino Artale.

In the early morning hours of May 17, 1988, a pipe bomb was thrown through a window at 1128 South Winnebago Street causing moderate damage to an inside office. The building housed Rondinella Foods which was a pizza ingredient business founded in 1974 by Rockford LCN underboss Frank Buscemi. Buscemi had sold the business amid IRS investigation around 1981 to Sicilian immigrants Salvatore and Alfonso DiGiacomo, who were narcotics distributors and Rockford LCN associates. Buscemi died in December 1987 and the building on South Winnebago Street was owned by his son Vince Buscemi when the bombing occurred. It is unclear what message the pipe bomb was meant to be and for whom, but it could very well be that it was the Sicilian element in Rockford telling the younger Buscemi they were now in control.

All was quiet for a time until the evening of April 11, 1991 when a pipe bomb exploded on the front porch of David Hall’s home at 2727 Edgewood Drive while a high stakes poker game was happening. The blast injured Stefanos “Steve” Christidis who was just behind the door and threw Hall backwards down the stairs. What was the reason behind this bombing and who was responsible? The FBI began investigating immediately and soon discovered that David Hall was hosting poker games at his home three times a week and had refused to pay the street tax to the Rockford LCN, specifically to Rockford capo Sebastian “Knobby” Gulotta who personally warned Hall, “You’re out of business” a couple weeks earlier. The ensuing investigation revealed dozens of floating poker games that were paying street tax to the Rockford LCN, extortion, narcotics involvement and how it appeared that the Sicilian element was now in control of illegal gambling and vice in the Rockford area. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies investigated for approximately four years but nothing ever came of it and no one was charged in the bombing, much less the gambling or narcotics. Simply put, the Bureau did not have enough evidence to prosecute those responsible and the matter was closed.

Also mentioned within Gulotta’s FBI files from the 1990s was the Wagon Wheel Resort in Rockton, Illinois which got its start in the 1930s and was a destination for those wanting fine dining and entertainment. Celebrities and politicians from all over descended on the Wagon Wheel over the years to enjoy themselves and the private airstrip brought them in by the plane load. Curiously much of the mentioning of the Wagon Wheel in the FBI files relates to potential new owners and mortgages but it seemed to hint at hidden ownership through its investors. In its waning years the resort often held “charity casino nights” and these fundraisers were investigated by the IRS and the Illinois Department of Revenue for its connections to the Rockford LCN. On April 2, 1995 an arson fire tore through the resort leveling it. Investigators stated it was clear arson as all the electricity to the resort had been disconnected shortly before. This was perhaps a last ditch effort to squeeze money from the resort via an insurance payout.