Mafia Senator of Wyoming

[B.]

I agree, as always very nice and also quite informative piece B, thanks again. And yeah, God knows how many more of these made guys were infiltrated in political high levels at the time for which we probably never suspected or never heard of.

Yes D'Arco was a made member and i think that Snakes was the one who presented a file. Around the late 60s i think his place was taken by Fred Roti, another made guy and son of Outfit capo from the Chinatown area Bruno Roti Sr

Thanks, man.

I saw some documents that referred to D'Arco as a made member but wanted to be sure -- thanks. Diamond Joe Esposito who we talked about in the other thread was identified as a made member close to Mike Merlo in the early 1920s by Gentile, as you know, so that's an early politician in the Chicago mafia.

Gentile also said the Chicago Mayor was close to Merlo and attended his funeral. Merlo's own son later became a Chicago politician and senator. The Chicago mafia and politics were so deeply intertwined, given that Louis Boschetto was an alleged mafia member and former senator who traveled to Chicago on Eagles business, it seems like he would have come in contact with some of these Chicago figures, especially since he knew California mafia members.

Gentile also gave some info about an early California mafia boss who was closely involved with a senator but it's not clear who the senator was or what the relationship was. Like you said, who knows how deep it goes.

[Villain]

I agree, as always very nice and also quite informative piece B, thanks again. And yeah, God knows how many more of these made guys were infiltrated in political high levels at the time for which we probably never suspected or never heard of.

Yes D'Arco was a made member and i think that Snakes was the one who presented a file. Around the late 60s i think his place was taken by Fred Roti, another made guy and son of Outfit capo from the Chinatown area Bruno Roti Sr

Thanks, man.

I saw some documents that referred to D'Arco as a made member but wanted to be sure -- thanks. Diamond Joe Esposito who we talked about in the other thread was identified as a made member close to Mike Merlo in the early 1920s by Gentile, as you know, so that's an early politician in the Chicago mafia.

Gentile also said the Chicago Mayor was close to Merlo and attended his funeral. Merlo's own son later became a Chicago politician and senator. The Chicago mafia and politics were so deeply intertwined, given that Louis Boschetto was an alleged mafia member and former senator who traveled to Chicago on Eagles business, it seems like he would have come in contact with some of these Chicago figures, especially since he knew California mafia members.

Gentile also gave some info about an early California mafia boss who was closely involved with a senator but it's not clear who the senator was or what the relationship was. Like you said, who knows how deep it goes.

Yeah i completely forgot that both Merlo and Esposito were political leaders. I dont know who was Merlos previous mentor or boss but I think that Esposito came under one old time Chicago political boss and undertaker of the 19th Ward known as James Marzano. When Marzano retired in 1919 or 1920, thats when both Esposito and Merlo allegedly took over. Im also highly skeptical that Esposito was only a soldier in the family at the time.

Which do you think was the biggest political scandal in the history of the US with CN being behind it?

[500YearReign]

"...shows that we still don't know the entire scope of the US mafia, its connections, and its history."

I agree, there is much to be revealed. Great post B. Thank you.

[Nicholas]

Clyde Smaldone told his son (who wrote a great book based on taped interviews with his father) that in his heyday he traveled all around the US meeting people (i.e. mafia figures). Smaldone didn't tell his son much of anything about the mafia itself, only some of his operations/activities.

Do you mean the book by a guy named Dick Kreck? Amazon tells me the sons only wrote the Foreward of the book

[Peppermint]

Wow, pretty interesting stuff.

I would have imagined trying to become a public servant, while being a made member of the Mafia wouldn’t fly. With being in the spot light as a politician, wouldn’t this have potentially brought on some heat to the families involved? I know there have been plenty of associates who were politicians that were just in the mob’s pockets. JFK for example, was said to be a Genovese associate that landed in power, and his frequent visits to the Peppermint Lounge in NYC which was a mob spot almost proves this. But these are just associates, I know I’d be nervous if I was a boss and one of my made men are trying to launch a political career. I can see the obvious benefits, idk if the risk would be worth it though.

Just reminds me of Frank Rosenthal, when he made himself entertainment director while running the Stardust Hotel and Casino for the Chicago Outfit, and decided to host his own talk show at the casino after being denied his gaming license. Which the Chicago Outfit hated because of all the heat it was creating. Especially with Anthony Spilotro running around the desert like he was fucking Al Capone.

Anyway, great read, really interesting, thanks for sharing!

[Frank]

Great info B.

[Villain]

I think that one of the biggest political scandals with CN being behind it was regarding the early release of the Outfits top admin in 1947. I mean, most the east coast and midwest organizations were involved in bribing many high level politicians in Washington and all around the country. After their release, it became a huge scandal

Rumours were that only the parole board members accepted a $500,000 bribe, so we dont know how much of additional money went in other directions. The main problem was that they were handed a sentences without the possibility of parole, but these were the times when the Mob had the ultimate power to walk free out of jail when ever they wanted to and with that they also had the licence to steal and kill. According to some reports, major players in making the parole come true were Chicago’s Jewish boss Jake Guzik, New York’s Genovese crime family boss Frank Costello and Owney Madden in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

[BeatiPaoli]

To B and Everyone: GREAT research and read, B!!! These are the types of articles that make the subject matter so engrossing! I don't know if anyone else has referenced this (and my apologies in advance if someone has), but I always found that Illinois Congressman Roland Libonati, who I believed served in Congress in the 60's, was a fascinating individual. IIRC, in Reid's book "Mafia", he claimed Congressman Libonati was a made member of the Outfit. If that were true, Libonati would certainly have been the highest ranking elected official/mafioso of that we are aware. I could be mistaken.

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

[B.]

Do you mean the book by a guy named Dick Kreck? Amazon tells me the sons only wrote the Foreward of the book

Yep, thanks for the correction. Kreck worked closely with Smaldone's sons in writing the book and they provided Kreck with the tapes of interviews made with their father, so I blurred them together.

Glad everyone appreciated the info. I don't think we'll find much confirmation on Boschetto's membership within the Colorado group, as Colorado (to my knowledge) faded considerably by the time the FBI was collecting extensive inside info on the US mafia and I have yet to see any signs of a member source who provided in-depth info from what's publicly available. Maybe if more of Bompensiero's cooperation becomes available we'll see if he ever brought up the senator rumor again. He says he heard about it from Fratianno and I don't recall Fratianno ever mentioning a senator who was a made member in his book, but maybe he mentioned it in FBI interviews after he flipped.

Villain -- Mayor Tom Dunn of Elizabeth being tape recorded soliciting direct support from Sam DeCavalcante in the 1960s election campaign was a pretty big scandal on a local level. He was the mayor for almost three decades, so we can see where local government there was complicit to some degree in mafia activity for a long time.

[Villain]

To B and Everyone: GREAT research and read, B!!! These are the types of articles that make the subject matter so engrossing! I don't know if anyone else has referenced this (and my apologies in advance if someone has), but I always found that Illinois Congressman Roland Libonati, who I believed served in Congress in the 60's, was a fascinating individual. IIRC, in Reid's book "Mafia", he claimed Congressman Libonati was a made member of the Outfit. If that were true, Libonati would certainly have been the highest ranking elected official/mafioso of that we are aware. I could be mistaken.

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

Well I remember reading when Libonati visited Ricca in jail during the late 50s, according to the prison warden i think, they allegedly both hugged each other and kissed on both cheeks....this might be irrelevant but still...a Congressman and the Outfits top boss....

[Villain]

Villain -- Mayor Tom Dunn of Elizabeth being tape recorded soliciting direct support from Sam DeCavalcante in the 1960s election campaign was a pretty big scandal on a local level. He was the mayor for almost three decades, so we can see where local government there was complicit to some degree in mafia activity for a long time.

Thanks for the info.

[Pogo The Clown]

the Outfits top boss....

Definitely the most important guy in this room.


Pogo

[Villain]

the Outfits top boss....

Definitely the most important guy in this room.


Pogo

Casino?

[Pogo The Clown]

Correct.


Pogo