General Chicago Outfit Info Dumping Ground

[PolackTony]

To spin off of the theme of Agrigento/Chiusa Sclafani connections (as noted above with the whole Caltabellota/LoCascio/Ingo/Cannella/Bullaro saga).

In 1936, Salvatore Forestieri of Benton Harbor and Sarah Bacino of Chicago were married in Berrien County, MI. Salvatore was born in Chicago in 1913 to Antonino Forestieri of Cefalà Diana and Rosa Tuzzolino of Lercara Friddi. Sarah had been born in NYC to Tommaso Bacino and Giuseppina Sarvino of Burgio. Soon after, the family relocated to Herrin, in the Marion/Johnston City area of far downstate IL. Giuseppina had passed away and in 1920 the Bacinos lived with an Ingo family in Herrin. By 1921, they had relocated to Chicago, where Tommaso remarried Maria DiGiorgi of Chiusa Sclafani. After marrying, Salvatore and Sarah returned to Chicago.

Now, Tommaso Bacino was a relative of Phil Bacino and was apparently a Chicago member himself (he preceded Phil in Chicago by several years also). And, as it turns out, Phil Bacino was himself connected to Forestieris in Benton Harbor, as in 1940 he was busted as the head of a major illegal alcohol ring, which produced tax free alcohol in IN and then mainly distributed it in MI with a partner named Frank Forestieri.

Francesco “Chee Chee” Forestieri was from Cefalà Diana and immigrated to Benton Harbor in the 1920s with his family. I believe that he was a longtime mafioso in Berrien County, which we know had strong ties to Chicago for decades. In 1925, his brothers Ciro and Salvatore Forestieri were busted in Benton Harbor for bootlegging, while Francesco was pinched three times for bootlegging in the ‘20s. In 1930, Francesco was arrested as a suspect in the gangland slaying of Detroit radio announcer Jerry Buckley, who had apparently publicly declared himself an enemy of Detroit’s underworld. In 1940, he was the primary cog in the Michigan-side alcohol distribution under Bacino, which apparently was supplying customers across western MI.

More info on the 1940 Bacino operation:

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viewtopic.php?p=191824#p191824

Forestieri’s connections to Chicago (which had a colony from Cefalà Diana) weren’t just business-related either, as his wife was a Pecoraro, a Bagherese family from Chicago who relocated to Benton Harbor in the 1910s. His brother Ciro was married and lived in Chicago, where he returned later and died in 1946. The other brother, Salvatore (not the guy who married Sarah Bacino) lived in Chicago the entire time, where he died in 1963. While I haven’t confirmed the younger Salvatore Forestieri’s direct connections to these other Forestieris, it seems pretty clear that they were related.

I think it’s likely that the Forestieris would’ve been connected to the Chicago/Benton Harbor Domingo/DiMaria clan from CDG. Another likely connection was Rosario Davì, from Monreale/Palermo, who immigrated to Benton Harbor and was connected to the Tornabenes (not Pizza Al’s family; the other Tornabenes from Lascari) who were running an illegal alcohol ring in the 30s out of the Harvey area, near Bacino’s Cal City base.

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[B.]

Was Tommaso Bacino identified as a member / suspected member? He's one of the guys I'd like to know more about. He told the FBI Phil was an extended relative of his but claimed they weren't close.

Cefala Diana was the hometown of Genovese consigliere Pollaccia. He was closely tied to Chicago, could be something there.

[PolackTony]

Was Tommaso Bacino identified as a member / suspected member? He's one of the guys I'd like to know more about. He told the FBI Phil was an extended relative of his but claimed they weren't close.

Cefala Diana was the hometown of Genovese consigliere Pollaccia. He was closely tied to Chicago, could be something there.

Thanks for the reminder on Pollaccia. Since Chicago had a colony from Cefalà Diana, I had suspected there might be a paesani connection, so Forestieri could have been a link.

For Tommaso Bacino, I’m thinking now that he was never identified as a suspected member. I must’ve gotten that in my head as I haven’t looked at Phil Bacino’s file in a while and recalled that the Feds talked to him. From what I remember now they were just asking him about Phil, and as you noted he only stated that they weren’t close and only spoke about relatives.


Now that I’m thinking about it, was that Tommaso Bacino or Joe Bacino that the FBI talked to, or both? I forget and need to look at Bacino’s file again.

[B.]

Checked and it was actually Joe Bacino who said he was a distant cousin of Phil and didn't see him regularly. Joe was also the one the FBI included on their dead list.

[Snakes]

Was re-reading some of the prison tape transcripts and Frank Calabrese claims that if James LaPietra had not been around when Angelo LaPietra was convicted in '86, that Frank would have taken over the Chinatown crew ("next in line," in Frank's words). Frank also claimed that when Jimmy LaPietra died in '93, he could have taken over if not for an operation that he had that apparently laid him up for a while. Another interesting note is he said that John Monteleone took over as "number two" as well as capo of Chinatown after Jimmy LaPietra died. We know that Monteleone was already capo of the old Ferriola/Infelise (or Cicero) crew at this time, too, so he was wearing a lot of hats.

From what I can tell, the 1993 organization would read something like:

Boss: Sam Carlisi (UI)
Acting/Street Boss: John DiFronzo (IP)
Underboss: John Monteleone

Ferriola/Infelise/Cicero Capo: Monteleone
Chinatown Capo: Monteleone
Melrose Park Capo: Al Tornabene (acting for James Marcello)
Elmwood Park Capo: Joe Andriacchi
Grand Avenue Capo: Tony Centracchio (possibly acting for Joe Lombardo)

North Side was probably absorbed by EP by this point. The Heights had also probably been disbanded after Palermo's imprisonment. Carlisi would be imprisoned for good in December of that year. Andriacchi would become acting boss for the next year or so while DiFronzo was serving his prison sentence. Frank later says that John was "passed over" for boss, which could be in reference to Andriacchi jumping him to become acting boss while Monteleone remained at number two, although Monteleone did become boss a few years later, around 1997 or so.

[PPPP]

Was re-reading some of the prison tape transcripts and Frank Calabrese claims that if James LaPietra had not been around when Angelo LaPietra was convicted in '86, that Frank would have taken over the Chinatown crew ("next in line," in Frank's words). Frank also claimed that when Jimmy LaPietra died in '93, he could have taken over if not for an operation that he had that apparently laid him up for a while. Another interesting note is he said that John Monteleone took over as "number two" as well as capo of Chinatown after Jimmy LaPietra died. We know that Monteleone was already capo of the old Ferriola/Infelise (or Cicero) crew at this time, too, so he was wearing a lot of hats.

From what I can tell, the 1993 organization would read something like:

Boss: Sam Carlisi (UI)
Acting/Street Boss: John DiFronzo (IP)
Underboss: John Monteleone

Ferriola/Infelise/Cicero Capo: Monteleone
Chinatown Capo: Monteleone
Melrose Park Capo: Al Tornabene (acting for James Marcello)
Elmwood Park Capo: Joe Andriacchi
Grand Avenue Capo: Tony Centracchio (possibly acting for Joe Lombardo)

North Side was probably absorbed by EP by this point. The Heights had also probably been disbanded after Palermo's imprisonment. Carlisi would be imprisoned for good in December of that year. Andriacchi would become acting boss for the next year or so while DiFronzo was serving his prison sentence. Frank later says that John was "passed over" for boss, which could be in reference to Andriacchi jumping him to become acting boss while Monteleone remained at number two, although Monteleone did become boss a few years later, around 1997 or so.

Poor Frank. A lot of woulda, coulda and shoulda's in there.

Was Apes acting capo for either of those crews?

[Snakes]

Was re-reading some of the prison tape transcripts and Frank Calabrese claims that if James LaPietra had not been around when Angelo LaPietra was convicted in '86, that Frank would have taken over the Chinatown crew ("next in line," in Frank's words). Frank also claimed that when Jimmy LaPietra died in '93, he could have taken over if not for an operation that he had that apparently laid him up for a while. Another interesting note is he said that John Monteleone took over as "number two" as well as capo of Chinatown after Jimmy LaPietra died. We know that Monteleone was already capo of the old Ferriola/Infelise (or Cicero) crew at this time, too, so he was wearing a lot of hats.

From what I can tell, the 1993 organization would read something like:

Boss: Sam Carlisi (UI)
Acting/Street Boss: John DiFronzo (IP)
Underboss: John Monteleone

Ferriola/Infelise/Cicero Capo: Monteleone
Chinatown Capo: Monteleone
Melrose Park Capo: Al Tornabene (acting for James Marcello)
Elmwood Park Capo: Joe Andriacchi
Grand Avenue Capo: Tony Centracchio (possibly acting for Joe Lombardo)

North Side was probably absorbed by EP by this point. The Heights had also probably been disbanded after Palermo's imprisonment. Carlisi would be imprisoned for good in December of that year. Andriacchi would become acting boss for the next year or so while DiFronzo was serving his prison sentence. Frank later says that John was "passed over" for boss, which could be in reference to Andriacchi jumping him to become acting boss while Monteleone remained at number two, although Monteleone did become boss a few years later, around 1997 or so.

Poor Frank. A lot of woulda, coulda and shoulda's in there.

Was Apes acting capo for either of those crews?

He was capo of both at the same time in the early 90s.

[PolackTony]

Was re-reading some of the prison tape transcripts and Frank Calabrese claims that if James LaPietra had not been around when Angelo LaPietra was convicted in '86, that Frank would have taken over the Chinatown crew ("next in line," in Frank's words). Frank also claimed that when Jimmy LaPietra died in '93, he could have taken over if not for an operation that he had that apparently laid him up for a while. Another interesting note is he said that John Monteleone took over as "number two" as well as capo of Chinatown after Jimmy LaPietra died. We know that Monteleone was already capo of the old Ferriola/Infelise (or Cicero) crew at this time, too, so he was wearing a lot of hats.

From what I can tell, the 1993 organization would read something like:

Boss: Sam Carlisi (UI)
Acting/Street Boss: John DiFronzo (IP)
Underboss: John Monteleone

Ferriola/Infelise/Cicero Capo: Monteleone
Chinatown Capo: Monteleone
Melrose Park Capo: Al Tornabene (acting for James Marcello)
Elmwood Park Capo: Joe Andriacchi
Grand Avenue Capo: Tony Centracchio (possibly acting for Joe Lombardo)

North Side was probably absorbed by EP by this point. The Heights had also probably been disbanded after Palermo's imprisonment. Carlisi would be imprisoned for good in December of that year. Andriacchi would become acting boss for the next year or so while DiFronzo was serving his prison sentence. Frank later says that John was "passed over" for boss, which could be in reference to Andriacchi jumping him to become acting boss while Monteleone remained at number two, although Monteleone did become boss a few years later, around 1997 or so.

Poor Frank. A lot of woulda, coulda and shoulda's in there.

Was Apes acting capo for either of those crews?

He was capo of both at the same time in the early 90s.

Great summary of the tape info.

My guess is that Apes was probably technically acting as capo for Cicero and Chinatown once he became UB (unless he was officially a capo and acting as UB, lol). With all of the busts that had gone down, he likely was put in as head of both crews until a permanent Chinatown capo could be installed. My guess is that sometime in the 90s Spano was put in as Cicero captain and Caruso as Chinatown captain (maybe this only happened once Monteleone got bumped up to boss?).

Monteleone made sense as someone to put in charge of both crews; like the LaPietras, he was actually from the Bridgeport neighborhood but then got made into the Cicero crew. So he would've had plenty of links to the neighborhood guys in Bridgeport and understood their main power base community.

Monteleone was like the last echo of Mike Merlo, IMO (speaking from the historical perspective here), as he immigrated from Sambuca as a kid and his family settled in Merlo's original Chinatown HQ during the time of Merlo's tenure as boss. Who knows if his family had any links to the mafia themselves (we're talking about Sambuca, so it's always a possibility), but they would've arrived to a community of paesani in Chicago where their "padrone" was the boss of the mafia and President of the Unione Siciliana, which I'm sure would've had an impact on their community.

[Snakes]

Monteleone was with Angelo in Chinatown for a couple of years, but then transferred back to Cicero in the early 80s. He then did four years for contempt, which seems like a lot, but don't ask me how the justice system works. Not too long after he got out, that crew was gutted by indictments and he was put in charge. It was implied that this was also a reward of sorts for doing time, and being a good "company man" for a number of years.

[PolackTony]

Monteleone was with Angelo in Chinatown for a couple of years, but then transferred back to Cicero in the early 80s. He then did four years for contempt, which seems like a lot, but don't ask me how the justice system works. Not too long after he got out, that crew was gutted by indictments and he was put in charge. It was implied that this was also a reward of sorts for doing time, and being a good "company man" for a number of years.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Was there ever any confirmation of when he was made, or is it just a best guess?

[Coloboy]

Frank's tapes are definitely important as they are some of very few insights we have into anything resembling modern times (post 1990). Obviously everything is very cryptic, but I think you are reading between the lines correctly here.

I've also always felt Frank saying John was passed over was in reference to Andriacchi getting that spot, albeit temporarily, while no nose was in prison.

Earlier this year when a few FBI files of Difronzo's were released (with no real bombshell information), we learned that there was extensive surveillance and an unsuccessful investigation into John Difronzo and brother Peter in about 95-96, where LE discusses the Difronzo's daily movements and also their "walk and talks". This all points to this being an active time period for them after No Nose's release.

What exactly occurred in or around 97 is still murky. @polacktony I think it's a good theory that at this time Monteleone becomes the #1 and that is when Caruso and Spano got their capo roles officially. What titles or roles DIfronzo and Lombardo possess at this time is the mystery. Based on what we know from earlier decades, it would seem likely they became senior members of the board or "consigliere" if you prefer that word.

[Snakes]

Monteleone was with Angelo in Chinatown for a couple of years, but then transferred back to Cicero in the early 80s. He then did four years for contempt, which seems like a lot, but don't ask me how the justice system works. Not too long after he got out, that crew was gutted by indictments and he was put in charge. It was implied that this was also a reward of sorts for doing time, and being a good "company man" for a number of years.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Was there ever any confirmation of when he was made, or is it just a best guess?

Not sure, but I would guess 1960s.

[funkster]

Its hard to know when Frank is bloviating about his own situation and when it's factual.

[PolackTony]

Bompensiero provides direct confirmation that Spilotro was assigned to Lombardo, at least in 1974. Bomp also reports that Spilotro told him that Giancana had been seized by Mexican authorities and returned to Chicago, where Spilotro met with Giancana at his brother’s restaurant (clearly Hoagies). Additionally, Spilotro was working with Springfield Genovese member Pinky Panarelli to divvy up the sportsbook racket in Vegas at the time. After a trip to Denver that same year, Bomp also stated that CO consigliere Gus Salardino had called Joe Bonanno to tell him that Bomp would be visiting Chicago (he subsequently went and met with Aiuppa); Bonanno asked Bomp to put in a “good word” to Chicago on his behalf to try and get Commission recognition for his Tucson “Family”.

[B.]

Great Intel there.