Chicago Outfit Places of Origin

[cavita]

Salvatore Cannariato was born December 9, 1919 in Rockford, Illinois to Bernardo Cannariato and Rosa Marino of Prizzi, Sicily. Cannariato was employed in the 1930s by the Sunlite Dairy which was owned by Rockford LCN underboss Gaspare Calo and consigliere Joe Zito. In June 1949 Cannariato opened his own law practice in Rockford and over the years represented many Rockford LCN members and associates. In June 1981 Cannariato was filmed by the FBI leaving Joe Zito’s funeral and on September 10, 2006 he died in Rockford, Illinois.

[cavita]

Joseph J. Bonavia was born October 19, 1904 in Patterson, Louisiana to Marco Antonio Bonavia and Calogera Pernacciaro of Sambuca, Sicily. By the 1920s Bonavia was in Rockford where he started picking up arrests for robbery, concealed weapons, gambling and bookmaking for the Rockford LCN. Bonavia died June 26, 1978 in Rockford, Illinois.

[cavita]

Giacomo DeMarco was born December 29, 1891 in Linguaglossa, Catania, Sicily where he married Anna Canavo. By 1920 DeMarco was in Rockford, Illinois where he caught his first arrest for bootlegging and over the next few year he was arrested many times on these charges. In March 1928 DeMarco got in an argument with LCN boss Tony Musso and pulled a gun on him. Musso took the gun away and beat DeMarco severely. DeMarco and Musso, among two dozen other Rockford men were sentenced to terms in Leavenworth Prison for liquor conspiracy. While Musso was still in prison, DeMarco was released on the morning of January 18, 1932, DeMarco returned to Rockford and while having a homecoming party at his home that evening, four gunmen burst in and killed DeMarco.

[PolackTony]

Giacomo DeMarco was born December 29, 1891 in Linguaglossa, Catania, Sicily where he married Anna Canavo. By 1920 DeMarco was in Rockford, Illinois where he caught his first arrest for bootlegging and over the next few year he was arrested many times on these charges. In March 1928 DeMarco got in an argument with LCN boss Tony Musso and pulled a gun on him. Musso took the gun away and beat DeMarco severely. DeMarco and Musso, among two dozen other Rockford men were sentenced to terms in Leavenworth Prison for liquor conspiracy. While Musso was still in prison, DeMarco was released on the morning of January 18, 1932, DeMarco returned to Rockford and while having a homecoming party at his home that evening, four gunmen burst in and killed DeMarco.

It might speak to the strongly Sicilian-centric character of this family that they had several Catanesi in their circle, but only one (that I know of?) from the large Frosinonese community in Rockford.

[PolackTony]

Then there was Mariano Scardina, born ~1885, who was stabbed to death in 1907 in a tavern on Oak St owned by his father Antonio Scardina and partner Constantino Manzella. according to the Trib, Antonio told the police that his son had been in Buffalo for the past few years until he was forced to leave by a "secret society". the police apparently forced a confession out of Giuseppe Trogno, who claimed that he stabbed Mariano after an insult, but police believed that there was more to the story. Mariano's friend Gentilo Pacifico, who had also recently fled Buffalo due to the same "society", was living on Erie St (by Grand Ave) when he disappeared. Police suspected foul play, claiming that Pacifico was a "member of the same society" as Mariano (if his name was actually Pacifico or Pasifici, he was likely a mainlander, which could be a big deal that early if he was connected to the mafia already). The father here may have been the Antonino Scardina, born in Bagheria in the 1860s, who died in Chicago in 1941 (his wife was Vincenza Balstrieri of Santa Flavia). Partner Constantino Manzella I believe was also born in Bagheria ~1863 and died in Chicago in 1920.

Hadn't thought of it at the time, but the police and/or Trib got this guy Pacifico's name backward -- much more likely to have been "Pacifico Gentile". No records for anyone by that name around Buffalo (or for "Gentilo Pacifico" either there, Chicago, or anywhere in the US, for that matter), but there was a Pacifico Gentile, born ~1883 in Pesaro, Marche, who arrived in NYC bound for Chicago earlier in 1907 (September, while Mariano Scardina was murdered in November). The passenger manifest stated that he was bound for his brother Giovanni Gentile in Chicago, living at 121 Erie St. The Trib article that stated that "Gentilo Pacifico" had disappeared and was thought to have been a member of the same "secret society" as Scardina gave his address next door at 119 Erie, so it's clearly the same guy. It's possible then that he and/or his brother Giovanni Gentile may have been Marchigiani associates of the mafia already in 1907.

The Trib reported that a Giuseppe Tragno [sic] had confessed to Scardina's murder, though his lawyer produced a write of habeas corpus shortly thereafter, and it doesn't seem that "Tragno" was convicted of the crime. The best match seems to be the Giuseppe Tragna who was born ~1881 in Bagheria to Santo Tragna and Amalia Scardina. He married Francesca Fresina of Borgetto in Blessed Assumption Parish in 1905. Sometime between 1910 and 1920 he relocated to Berrien County, MI (in yet another link to that area).

[cavita]

Giacomo DeMarco was born December 29, 1891 in Linguaglossa, Catania, Sicily where he married Anna Canavo. By 1920 DeMarco was in Rockford, Illinois where he caught his first arrest for bootlegging and over the next few year he was arrested many times on these charges. In March 1928 DeMarco got in an argument with LCN boss Tony Musso and pulled a gun on him. Musso took the gun away and beat DeMarco severely. DeMarco and Musso, among two dozen other Rockford men were sentenced to terms in Leavenworth Prison for liquor conspiracy. While Musso was still in prison, DeMarco was released on the morning of January 18, 1932, DeMarco returned to Rockford and while having a homecoming party at his home that evening, four gunmen burst in and killed DeMarco.

It might speak to the strongly Sicilian-centric character of this family that they had several Catanesi in their circle, but only one (that I know of?) from the large Frosinonese community in Rockford.

Joseph “Gramps” Marinelli was born January 14, 1918 in Rockford, Illinois to Ambrogio Marinelli and Rosa Poci of Ferentino, Frosinone, Italy. Marinelli gained the distinction of being a made non-Sicilian member of the Rockford LCN around 1954, possibly being involved in the murder of Milwaukee’s Jack Enea. Marinelli was sponsored by then-capo Lorenzo Buttice who was related to him by marriage. FBI files stated how Marinelli aggravated the other members by being involved in “kid stuff” and capo Charles Vince once commented that Marinelli should never have been made. Marinelli over the years was involved in gambling, robbery, assault and weapons charges. Marinelli died in St. Louis, Missouri June 5, 1980.

[PolackTony]

As an update, these are the Chicago surnames specifically from Castellammare del Golfo that I’ve been able to confirm as such thus far:

Tavolino, Galante, Di Liberti, Buccellato, Buffa, Bosco, Renda, Domingo, Montana, Domingo, Schiavo, Bologna, Ferraci, Perrone, Adamo, Castelli, Clemente, Bevilacqua, Granatelli, Di Maria, Farina, Fontana, Magaddino. Of these, so far the Domingos and Di Maria/Farinas were connected to the mafia in the Chicago area.

Many of the Castellammaresi in Chicago married Sicilians from other provinces, including several from Palermo province linked to the Chicago “triangle”. For example, the Girolamo Buccellato from CDG who married a Morici from Palermo province in Chicago in 1930. Or even a Magaddino woman from CDG who married a Sottile guy from Altavilla Milicia before they then emigrated to Chicago. Could be that this is also pointing the close connections between Bagheria and the Castellammaresi in the US mafia.

[cavita]

Robert V. Achilli was born February 23, 1913 in Ferentino, Frosinone, Italy to Caesar and Enrica Achilli and he immigrated to the Rockford in 1919. Achilli was married in November 1938 to Clara Bovi and he attained citizenship in 1940. Achilli was a trusted Rockford LCN associate who was arrested for gambling and he was the frontman for the Midway Lounge which was secretly controlled by consigliere Joe Zito. Achlli was questioned in a federal gambling and liquor inquiry in 1968 and he died August 22, 2003 in Dallas, Texas.

[cavita]

Andrew J. Calcione was born June 8, 1915 in Rockford, Illinois to Salvatore Calcione and Caterina Massari of San Salvatore di Fitalia, Sicily. Calcione was a trusted Rockford LCN associate and front man who took his first arrest at age 14 for car theft. Burglary, larceny, auto theft and operating houses of prostitution was his specialty. Later in life Calcione was involved in the auto business and while operating a used car lot in 1971 was arrested for having stolen cars and auto parts out of Chicago. Calcione died November 7, 2007 in Rockford, Illinois.

[cavita]

Antonio Catalano was born June 22, 1899 in Piana degli Albanese, Sicily and arrived in Rockford by the early 1920s where he married Giovanna Rumore, also of Piana degli Albanese. Catalano, who also went by the name Tony Carlino, was involved in bootlegging and was a part of the kidnapping of a Dixon, Illinois bootlegger along with Giuseppe Stassi, Vincenzo Troia, Paul Scamardo and Tony Musso. Catalano continued the business of illicit alcohol and served a year and a day in Leavenworth Prison for liquor conspiracy charges. Catalano was sentenced to three years in federal prison on bootlegging charges yet again in December 1934. After he served his term he moved to California where he died December 29, 1964 in Studio City, California.

[cavita]

Giuseppe Ocello was born November 1, 1957 in Burgio, Sicily to Salvatore Ocello and Giuseppa Fiumarella and he immigrated to Rockford in 1972 with his family. Ocello was involved in the pizzeria business specifically the Sicilian Restaurant in Roscoe, Illinois. 1980s FBI files noted the Sicilian Restaurant was under surveillance for narcotics distribution relating to the Rockford LCN and Ocello was arrested in December 1986 for selling 51 gram of cocaine to an undercover FBI agent. This operation was tied to the Iron Tower II case. In 1994 Ocello married Francesca Intravaia in Rockford. Intravaia’s family was from Palermo, Sicily. As of today Ocello owns and operates Bravo Pizza.

[Patrickgold]

Giuseppe Ocello was born November 1, 1957 in Burgio, Sicily to Salvatore Ocello and Giuseppa Fiumarella and he immigrated to Rockford in 1972 with his family. Ocello was involved in the pizzeria business specifically the Sicilian Restaurant in Roscoe, Illinois. 1980s FBI files noted the Sicilian Restaurant was under surveillance for narcotics distribution relating to the Rockford LCN and Ocello was arrested in December 1986 for selling 51 gram of cocaine to an undercover FBI agent. This operation was tied to the Iron Tower II case. In 1994 Ocello married Francesca Intravaia in Rockford. Intravaia’s family was from Palermo, Sicily. As of today Ocello owns and operates Bravo Pizza.

Great info as always Cavita. Any idea if Ocello is made? And is that Bravo Pizza is Harvard? I have driven by it but have never ate there.

[PolackTony]

Given that there has been continuing migration to Chicago from Burgio and Chicago has an active Burgio Society that seems to be mainly composed of 1st Gen immigrants, I wonder if Ocello has connections with them.

[cavita]

Giuseppe Ocello was born November 1, 1957 in Burgio, Sicily to Salvatore Ocello and Giuseppa Fiumarella and he immigrated to Rockford in 1972 with his family. Ocello was involved in the pizzeria business specifically the Sicilian Restaurant in Roscoe, Illinois. 1980s FBI files noted the Sicilian Restaurant was under surveillance for narcotics distribution relating to the Rockford LCN and Ocello was arrested in December 1986 for selling 51 gram of cocaine to an undercover FBI agent. This operation was tied to the Iron Tower II case. In 1994 Ocello married Francesca Intravaia in Rockford. Intravaia’s family was from Palermo, Sicily. As of today Ocello owns and operates Bravo Pizza.

Great info as always Cavita. Any idea if Ocello is made? And is that Bravo Pizza is Harvard? I have driven by it but have never ate there.

I have no idea if he is made or not but it wouldn't surprise me. His pizzeria is there and I believe one in South Beloit as well.

[PolackTony]

Giuseppe Ocello was born November 1, 1957 in Burgio, Sicily to Salvatore Ocello and Giuseppa Fiumarella and he immigrated to Rockford in 1972 with his family. Ocello was involved in the pizzeria business specifically the Sicilian Restaurant in Roscoe, Illinois. 1980s FBI files noted the Sicilian Restaurant was under surveillance for narcotics distribution relating to the Rockford LCN and Ocello was arrested in December 1986 for selling 51 gram of cocaine to an undercover FBI agent. This operation was tied to the Iron Tower II case. In 1994 Ocello married Francesca Intravaia in Rockford. Intravaia’s family was from Palermo, Sicily. As of today Ocello owns and operates Bravo Pizza.

Great info as always Cavita. Any idea if Ocello is made? And is that Bravo Pizza is Harvard? I have driven by it but have never ate there.

I have no idea if he is made or not but it wouldn't surprise me. His pizzeria is there and I believe one in South Beloit as well.

Worth noting that the FBI specified that there was a Sicilian Cosa Nostra ring operating around South Beloit in that early 90s report that you shared with me. Wonder if this was related to Ocello.