by B. » Sat Mar 21, 2020 1:53 am
For those wondering, we're talking seriously northern Italy here. The Boschettos were from Salorno and the Anselmis were from Lana, both in South Tyrol. When Louis Boschetto's father was born, this area belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire and it was still considered part of Austria when Louis was born. It wasn't until 1918 that this area was annexed by Italy and it was under Mussolini's fascist regime that the Italian government tried to re-Italianize the province's culture given its overwhelming Germanic influence.
Louis Boschetto's birth name was Lodovico Boschetto. While he was born in what is today Italy, he was an Austrian national through his birth and when he arrived in the US he was listed as having Austrian heritage, though both of his parents were ethnically Italian. These people didn't just learn about the mafia after coming to the US, they probably learned how to be Italian in America, too... as much as Wyoming could offer in that department. I kid, but South Tyrol spoke primarily German and despite Mussolini's efforts even today there are only five towns in the province that speak primarily Italian, including Boschetto's' hometown of Salorno. He had that going for him.
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Note that the original post was all compiled quite a while ago and I didn't want to edit it. I've had a chance to see some new info since then, including the FBI's follow-up to the initial information provided by the San Jose member informant.
- The FBI believed Boschetto came to the US in 1921, but that isn't entirely true. He and his family came to the US in 1904 and were living in Wyoming that early, at least through 1910, but it appears Louis returned to Italy at some point and arrived back in the US in 1921. Other relatives remained in Wyoming in the interim.
- Boschetto was friendly with both the local County Sheriff and Undersheriff, who the FBI interviewed. Neither man provided any incriminating information on Boschetto and spoke highly of him and his local activities in the area.
- Prior to entering the motel business and politics, Boschetto was a tailor. In addition to the motel business, Boschetto allegedly had an interest in the car business. He was also an officer in the Wyoming State Motel Association.
- One source stated Boschetto served two terms on the State Legislature and one term in the Senate, while further investigation stated that he served four terms in the House of Representatives and one Senate term.
- The County Undersheriff told the FBI that Boschetto was held in high standing in the community, involved in many civic affairs, and had been "instrumental" in helping establish a Police pension fund. He claimed that Boschetto was not known to be involved in any criminal activity or association. It should be mentioned that Rock Springs had a reputation for corruption at all levels of local government, so this should be kept in mind with regard to Boschetto's relationship to local police.
- Though Louis Boschetto was not involved in any confirmed criminal activity, his son Louis Boschetto Jr. was alleged to have been involved in gambling. In what role or to what extent is not clear. Both Boschetto Sr. and Jr. were visitors to Jackson Hole, where the SJ informant reported Boschetto was keeping an eye on SJ member Pete Misuraca, and Jackson Hole was known for its gambling operations.
- As an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, an FBI interview determined that Boschetto had traveled to Chicago in the 1960s to attend the National Convention of Eagles.
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- The address Boschetto lived at, on Pilot Butte Avenue, today has a nearby automobile repair shop owned by the Zanetti family. As mentioned, Peter Zanetti was an early Italian underworld figure in Rock Springs. The Zanettis were said by a local journalist to have formed a union of mine workers, the trade that brought many Italians to Rock Springs and was a foundation of the local economy.
- Rock Springs figure John Anselmi's son John Jr. went to a private school in Canon City, Colorado, just outside of Pueblo. Hardly evidence of involvement with the Colorado mafia, but shows that the Anselmis were not strangers to Pueblo, where the mafia leadership resided.
- Another corrupt political figure close to John's son Don Anselmi during Don's own time as a corrupt Democratic politician was Frank Mendocino, Wyoming Attorney General, described by a criminal investigator as a "crook".
- John Anselmi spent part of his retirement in Tucson, where he died. Like Louis Boschetto, Anselmi was involved in many civic organizations, serving as president of both the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club. Like Boschetto, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus as well. Anselmi's sister would marry and live in San Francisco, where Louis Boschetto apparently knew nearby mafia figures, though it would be a stretch to assume a connection.
For those wondering, we're talking seriously northern Italy here. The Boschettos were from Salorno and the Anselmis were from Lana, both in South Tyrol. When Louis Boschetto's father was born, this area belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire and it was still considered part of Austria when Louis was born. It wasn't until 1918 that this area was annexed by Italy and it was under Mussolini's fascist regime that the Italian government tried to re-Italianize the province's culture given its overwhelming Germanic influence.
Louis Boschetto's birth name was Lodovico Boschetto. While he was born in what is today Italy, he was an Austrian national through his birth and when he arrived in the US he was listed as having Austrian heritage, though both of his parents were ethnically Italian. These people didn't just learn about the mafia after coming to the US, they probably learned how to be Italian in America, too... as much as Wyoming could offer in that department. I kid, but South Tyrol spoke primarily German and despite Mussolini's efforts even today there are only five towns in the province that speak primarily Italian, including Boschetto's' hometown of Salorno. He had that going for him.
--
Note that the original post was all compiled quite a while ago and I didn't want to edit it. I've had a chance to see some new info since then, including the FBI's follow-up to the initial information provided by the San Jose member informant.
- The FBI believed Boschetto came to the US in 1921, but that isn't entirely true. He and his family came to the US in 1904 and were living in Wyoming that early, at least through 1910, but it appears Louis returned to Italy at some point and arrived back in the US in 1921. Other relatives remained in Wyoming in the interim.
- Boschetto was friendly with both the local County Sheriff and Undersheriff, who the FBI interviewed. Neither man provided any incriminating information on Boschetto and spoke highly of him and his local activities in the area.
- Prior to entering the motel business and politics, Boschetto was a tailor. In addition to the motel business, Boschetto allegedly had an interest in the car business. He was also an officer in the Wyoming State Motel Association.
- One source stated Boschetto served two terms on the State Legislature and one term in the Senate, while further investigation stated that he served four terms in the House of Representatives and one Senate term.
- The County Undersheriff told the FBI that Boschetto was held in high standing in the community, involved in many civic affairs, and had been "instrumental" in helping establish a Police pension fund. He claimed that Boschetto was not known to be involved in any criminal activity or association. It should be mentioned that Rock Springs had a reputation for corruption at all levels of local government, so this should be kept in mind with regard to Boschetto's relationship to local police.
- Though Louis Boschetto was not involved in any confirmed criminal activity, his son Louis Boschetto Jr. was alleged to have been involved in gambling. In what role or to what extent is not clear. Both Boschetto Sr. and Jr. were visitors to Jackson Hole, where the SJ informant reported Boschetto was keeping an eye on SJ member Pete Misuraca, and Jackson Hole was known for its gambling operations.
- As an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, an FBI interview determined that Boschetto had traveled to Chicago in the 1960s to attend the National Convention of Eagles.
--
- The address Boschetto lived at, on Pilot Butte Avenue, today has a nearby automobile repair shop owned by the Zanetti family. As mentioned, Peter Zanetti was an early Italian underworld figure in Rock Springs. The Zanettis were said by a local journalist to have formed a union of mine workers, the trade that brought many Italians to Rock Springs and was a foundation of the local economy.
- Rock Springs figure John Anselmi's son John Jr. went to a private school in Canon City, Colorado, just outside of Pueblo. Hardly evidence of involvement with the Colorado mafia, but shows that the Anselmis were not strangers to Pueblo, where the mafia leadership resided.
- Another corrupt political figure close to John's son Don Anselmi during Don's own time as a corrupt Democratic politician was Frank Mendocino, Wyoming Attorney General, described by a criminal investigator as a "crook".
- John Anselmi spent part of his retirement in Tucson, where he died. Like Louis Boschetto, Anselmi was involved in many civic organizations, serving as president of both the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club. Like Boschetto, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus as well. Anselmi's sister would marry and live in San Francisco, where Louis Boschetto apparently knew nearby mafia figures, though it would be a stretch to assume a connection.