nash143 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 6:47 am
Have recently looked at some Frank Balistrieri files from late 50s; here is some of the info I found interesting. Hopefully it's not all info that's been posted previously.
1958:
Informant advised that Frank Balistrieri is a nephew of “Big Jim” Balistrieri (Balestrere) of Kansas City. Later this information is stated as being ‘alleged'. - I know there was info on this on another thread, this is not definite in the slightest.
A daily newspaper in Milwaukee, carrying a ‘green sheet’ story dated May 18th 1957, reflected that, a Frank Balistrieri who came from Palermo in 1906 got into the hauling business and held the contract for garbage hauling in the city of Milwaukee. He had seven sons and as each one of them matured, he took them into business with him. All the sons of the elder Frank Balistrieri continue to operate a business known as ‘Balistrieri Brothers and Milwaukee Cinder Company’. Three of these sons now live in San Diego (more on them later), whilst the remaining live in Milwaukee (including Joseph, father of THE Frank Balistrieri.) All of the seven sons of the original Frank Balistrieri (born 1906) named their first son Frank.
Peter Balistrieri married Marie Zarcone (sister – I think, of former Consigliere Charles Zarcone) on April 15th 1939.
The Organisation has a meeting approx. once a year and it will not allow anyone be a member who has a criminal record.
Informant stated Arcardo attends yearly meeting of the Milwaukee organization.
At this time Frank Balistrieri is Alioto’s ‘lieutenant’ and handles a great many “fixes” with the Milwaukee police department and the local DA’s office.
Buster and Vito Balistrieri (spelling incorrect) (both members of KC) handle a good deal of the contact work for their cousin (Frank Balistrieri). This is the first time I’ve seen Buster named as a Milwaukee associate/member this early.
Frank Balistrieri’s uncle, Frank Balistrieri is the head of the Italian organization in San Diego and is described as an associate of Frank Bompensiero. Another Uncle, Peter (also previously of Milwaukee) is a leader in that city.
There is also a Thomas Angelo Balistrieri living in San Diego at this time presumably a brother of this Frank and Peter.
One informant stated that Frank Balistrieri is second in command to John Alioto and that August Maniaci is next in command.
1959:
One informant stated that it was difficult to determine who was leader of the Milwaukee Italian-American Hoodlum element but it appears John Alioto or Frank Balistrieri and/or Frank La Galbo is the leader. Informant felt John Alioto was probably no longer leader.
1960:
Frank Balistrieri is still the right hand man of John Alioto. Due to age, Joe Alioto (John’s son) is making a great many of the decisions, but where a large decision is involved, John gives the final word.
On Nov 29th 1960 (earlier than I have read in other FBI files), an informant advised that he had learned that John Alioto had stepped down as the Milwaukee Leader in favour of Frank Balistrieri. Informant advised he did not like to see Frank Balistrieri move into a policy making position as his judgment is not good- due to the arranged killing of Izzy Pogrob. Later in the file it states that Accardo/Chicago didn’t agree with the killing.
The same informant advised that August Maniaci who was once seen as a ‘near top leader’ was now Frank Balistrieri’s first lieutenant (maybe another reason why Maniaci was dissident and became an infomer). At this time, Frank Balistrieri and Maniaci had as their enforcers, John Aiello, Buster Balestrere and Steve Di Salvo. These five make up the ‘Round table’. Round Table meeting currently are held at Gallagher’s, Frank Balistrieri’s nightclub.