by cavita » Tue Feb 19, 2019 5:33 pm
Balistrieri was always arrogant and Augie Maniaci, the Milwaukee member who turned informant stated that there was talk among the older members of overthrowing Balistrieri in the early 1960s but the plan was nixed because they feared the Chicago Outfit wouldn’t approve of it.
In July 1978 Balistrieri was extorting who he thought was a Milwaukee vending machine company owner, Tony Conte, but he was in actuality FBI undercover agent Gail Cobb. A meeting to introduce Bonanno member Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero and “Conte” to Frank Balistrieri and his sons was set up by Rockford mob members Joe Zito, who was Rockford LCN underboss, Rockford LCN capo Charles Vince and Rockford LCN street gambling boss Phil “The Tailor” Emordeno. New Jersey Bonanno capo Tony Riela asked the Rockford guys to do the introductions because he had a long history and friendship with the Rockford group.
Secret recordings of Balistrieri’s conversations from the summer of 1978 meeting with the three Rockford mobsters and “Conte” were played in court. When Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero suggested he travel to Rockford to thank the Rockford men for setting up the meeting, Balistrieri was quoted as saying, “No, they’re nothing. They’re under the boss of Chicago,” and he (Balistrieri) proposed to introduce Ruggiero and Cobb to the top Chicago boss himself. It was well known that Frank Balistrieri was an arrogant, egotistical sort and this comment may have been said in an attempt to portray himself in a more important light because Milwaukee itself was under Chicago as well. Balistrieri was also caught on tape talking about Joe Amato, the area boss of McHenry County, who was in charge of gambling in that county and who also was a ranking member of the Chicago Outfit. Balistrieri had told agent Cobb that Amato was “put in McHenry County to control vending for the Milwaukee organization.” He was also quoted as saying, “now he’s (Amato) acting like he belongs to the Chicago crew rather than Milwaukee,” Cobb testified at the trial. The simple fact was that Amato always belonged to Chicago and was close to Outfit boss Tony Accardo. Balistrieri’s comments were clearly an attempt to try and downplay the roles of those around him and elevate himself to a higher position especially to agent Cobb.
Balistrieri was always arrogant and Augie Maniaci, the Milwaukee member who turned informant stated that there was talk among the older members of overthrowing Balistrieri in the early 1960s but the plan was nixed because they feared the Chicago Outfit wouldn’t approve of it.
In July 1978 Balistrieri was extorting who he thought was a Milwaukee vending machine company owner, Tony Conte, but he was in actuality FBI undercover agent Gail Cobb. A meeting to introduce Bonanno member Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero and “Conte” to Frank Balistrieri and his sons was set up by Rockford mob members Joe Zito, who was Rockford LCN underboss, Rockford LCN capo Charles Vince and Rockford LCN street gambling boss Phil “The Tailor” Emordeno. New Jersey Bonanno capo Tony Riela asked the Rockford guys to do the introductions because he had a long history and friendship with the Rockford group.
Secret recordings of Balistrieri’s conversations from the summer of 1978 meeting with the three Rockford mobsters and “Conte” were played in court. When Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero suggested he travel to Rockford to thank the Rockford men for setting up the meeting, Balistrieri was quoted as saying, “No, they’re nothing. They’re under the boss of Chicago,” and he (Balistrieri) proposed to introduce Ruggiero and Cobb to the top Chicago boss himself. It was well known that Frank Balistrieri was an arrogant, egotistical sort and this comment may have been said in an attempt to portray himself in a more important light because Milwaukee itself was under Chicago as well. Balistrieri was also caught on tape talking about Joe Amato, the area boss of McHenry County, who was in charge of gambling in that county and who also was a ranking member of the Chicago Outfit. Balistrieri had told agent Cobb that Amato was “put in McHenry County to control vending for the Milwaukee organization.” He was also quoted as saying, “now he’s (Amato) acting like he belongs to the Chicago crew rather than Milwaukee,” Cobb testified at the trial. The simple fact was that Amato always belonged to Chicago and was close to Outfit boss Tony Accardo. Balistrieri’s comments were clearly an attempt to try and downplay the roles of those around him and elevate himself to a higher position especially to agent Cobb.