The Extortion of Dr. Albert Ottow

[cavita]

In 1963 Dr. Albert F. Ottow, a retired Beloit, Wisconsin physician was charged with performing three abortions on women that were set up by Sam Cerro of Madison, Wisconsin. Cerro, some reports said, had organized crime links to the Madison, Wisconsin LCN but this was never substantiated. The three women were transported to Madison from Beloit for these abortions. In March 1966 Dr. Ottow was given a $10,000 fine and placed on three years’ probation while Cerro was handed three years in prison relating to these abortion charges.

As early as June 1965 the FBI had made note that telephone calls were originating from the home of Rockford LCN member Charles Vince to the Dr. Ottow home and office at 550 East Grand Avenue in Beloit, Wisconsin. In just a few short months, Vince would be elevated to the capo position and he was largely responsible for gambling collections in the Rockford area at the time. In 1965 FBI reports it was noted that Dr. Ottow was currently on trial for his abortion practices and that he was an alleged gambler as well. The FBI further noted that:

“Doctor OTTOW was the victim on an extortion case where investigation by the FBI revealed that the subject CHARLES VINCE contacted Doctor OTTOW and after explaining that he knew the doctor had lost a considerable amount of money, offered arrangements wherein Doctor OTTOW would be able to make money on the races by defrauding the gambling syndicate in Chicago. CHARLES VINCE later pretended that something had gone wrong, the syndicate found out about it, and thereafter extorted money from OTTOW for a period of several years.”

In December 1965 while investigating Charles Vince, the FBI attempted to interview Dr. Ottow but he declined their offer. How long the extortion of Dr. Ottow went on is unknown but what is known is that under threat of death from Charles Vince, Dr. Ottow was forced to perform at least ten abortions from about 1968 to August 1970. Curiosly, by March 1967 while the FBI was investigating Rockford LCN member Phil Priola and his ownership of the Town and Country Motel relating to abortions, they interviewed a maid at the hotel and this is what she reported:

“She said that the motel consists of 12 units and that units 10, 11, and 12 are usually occupied by individuals who do not properly fill out registration cards. She pointed out that there is a white female, age 35, 5’4”, 125 pounds, currently residing at the motel who signed the registration card only with the name [REDACTED] and no address. She pointed out a blue Chevrolet, bearing 1967 license [REDACTED] which she said belonged to this woman. She exhibited two registration cards for the night of March 13, 1967, both of which were signed only with the name [REDACTED] one of which has license number [REDACTED] and the other with license number [REDACTED].

She said the owners told her that there would be instances like this and that she was to only be sure that the license number was the same as the number on the car of the person registering.

She said on occasions these rooms will be used many times on one night and she notices many girls who check in for one hour in automobiles bearing parking permit stickers from the Amerock Corporation.

She said that about once a week, an individual who signs only as [REDACTED] will check in with a woman and she believes that this individual is engaged in performing abortions inasmuch as the beds and linens in this room are soaked with blood when she cleans up.”

It is more than likely that the motel was used by Priola and Vince for prostitution purposes and also likely that Dr. Ottow at some point had traveled to the motel to perform abortions relating to this prostitution operation.

On February 19, 1971 for whatever reason, Charles Vince had traveled to Beloit and forced Dr. Ottow’s vehicle to the curb on Wisconsin Avenue. Vince then stuck a pistol to Dr. Ottow’s side and told him to withdraw $2,000 from his bank and give it to Vince. Perhaps tired of the repeated extortion by Vince and being forced to perform the abortions, Dr. Ottow marked the bills at his bank and gave the money to Vince. After Vince left, Dr. Ottow contacted the FBI and told them the whole story. Vince was subsequently arrested, found guilty and sentenced to two years in the federal prison at Sandstone, Minnesota, interestingly in the same dormitory where Milwaukee LCN boss Frank Balistrieri and Chicago Outfit member Joe Ferriola were housed.

[BeatiPaoli]

To Cavita: A tremendous coincidence, but this very morning, as I have more time from my day job due to Corona (the virus, not the beer), I finished reading a great piece on Sam Cerro and this doctor on author Gavin Schmitt's website. I am very interested in the smaller LCN families, particularly Madison, WI. I was hoping to see some evidence of Cerro inheriting what was left of the Madison Family's rackets after Caputo, et.al., voted to disband the Family in the early 70s (according to MF documents), but no evidence of that existed.

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

[cavita]

To Cavita: A tremendous coincidence, but this very morning, as I have more time from my day job due to Corona (the virus, not the beer), I finished reading a great piece on Sam Cerro and this doctor on author Gavin Schmitt's website. I am very interested in the smaller LCN families, particularly Madison, WI. I was hoping to see some evidence of Cerro inheriting what was left of the Madison Family's rackets after Caputo, et.al., voted to disband the Family in the early 70s (according to MF documents), but no evidence of that existed.

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

A tremendous coincidence indeed. In my further research into Dr. Ottow I happened upon Cerro and heard reports he was involved with the Madison LCN but this may have been just assumption because he was Italian. Now, he was a very bad invidiual don't get me wrong. I'm intrigued of his involvement in a narcotics ring in the late 1970s and early 1980s and will be looking into that. Also, he had control over at least one "massage parlor" and possibly more.
Given the closeness (location and fraternization) between Madison and Rockford, it seems to me that Rockford may have had some control over the former's rackets after the LCN there disbanded- either by paying some tribute or with the blessing of the elders. I have FBI files stating some of the Rockford guys having invovlement in gambling in Madison and Monona in the 1970s. They had already established themselves and had representation in Beloit and Janesville as well. Certainly I will need to take advantage of the CoVid19 break and do some more in depth research.

[BeatiPaoli]

To Cavita: From what I read on Schmitt's website about Cerro, he does not seem to have the character or background to have been the 'last crime boss of Madison.' I never considered whatever rackets were left post-Caputo could have been assumed by Rockford. I thought perhaps
Balistieri would assume them, considering he allegedly tried to take them over while Caputo was boss (IIRC, Chicago had to step in and reaffirm Madison's sovereignity).

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

[Villain]

Thanks, very interesting stuff.

[cavita]

To Cavita: From what I read on Schmitt's website about Cerro, he does not seem to have the character or background to have been the 'last crime boss of Madison.' I never considered whatever rackets were left post-Caputo could have been assumed by Rockford. I thought perhaps
Balistieri would assume them, considering he allegedly tried to take them over while Caputo was boss (IIRC, Chicago had to step in and reaffirm Madison's sovereignity).

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

Yeah I wouldn't even come close to saying he was the last boss of Madison. I should say I don't believe Rockford took over the rackets there, rather they were open to roam there since they had connections going back years. They had a good history with Milwaukee too so maybe both families had some agreement.