Rockford LCN and the Sex Trade

[cavita]

Bordellos, whorehouses, cathouses, houses of ill-fame or whatever you want to call it have been around since the beginning of time and Rockford has had its fair share of the sex trade. Starting in the 1930s the Rockford LCN exploited this trade when the money from Prohibition dried up. There were dozens of places busted where the owner or proprietor of the house was charged with “operating a disorderly house” or being a “keeper of a house of ill-repute.” Early Rockford LCN-connected men such as Nick Misuraca and Joe “Blackie” Calderotta were exploiting women early on. Both Misuraca and Nick Pontos were arrested in September 1931 for operating a “clearing house” for girls at 302 East State Street while Calderotta had an arrest in August 1935 for operating a disorderly house at 1301 Seminary Street in which six men and four women were held on those charges as well as liquor violations.

In the 1930s it seemed the Italians were moving more into this business as numerous arrests were logged for one Guy Del Lago. As early as 1932 Del Lago was getting arrested for operating a disorderly house and liquor charges. Two more charges for the same thing followed him in the next year and deportation proceedings started against him in 1936 along with Rose Bianchi, Jack Martorana and Paulina Cirincione, all charged with “moral turpitude” in relation to these houses of prostitution. In January 1938 Del Lago was arrested in Milwaukee along with Rose Marco on charges with their involvement in operating a white slave ring in and around Chicago. Finally, in June of that year Del Lago was deported to Naples and authorities stated his true name was Gaetano Pontrelli and that Del Lago had been an alias.

Later FBI files noted that Rockford LCN consigliere Joe Zito and his brother-in-law Gaspare Calo, who was underboss, were listed as having been involved in “white slave traffic” in the 1930s and 1940s. The various LCN families across the country claimed they shunned away from this type of business but the fact remained that there was always a demand for this illicit business and this usually flowed into other vices for the customers- liquor and gambling being the biggest. The bottom line was, if there was a backroom business making money, the LCN wanted a piece of it or control it completely and the sex trade was no different.

In 1949 authorities busted the Double C Ranch and the Double L Ranch which were run by Andrew Calcione and the LaFranka brothers, respectively. Calcione was a longtime mob front and the LaFrankas were associates of the LCN over the years. These two ranches were exquisitely furnished and provided many women to out of town “guests” who needed to pass the time in the company of these women. In 1951 Calcione would find himself again charged with operating a house of prostitution when authorities again raided the Double C Ranch. Calcione and the LaFrankas would eventually sell both properties no doubt at the request of boss Tony Musso, who would suggest they find other means to fill the gang’s coffers. In 1963 Calcione and his wife would be subpoenaed to Chicago for their involvement in a $750,000 a year call girl ring, which showed Calcione wasn’t quite ready to give up the flesh trade.

On November 2, 1953 known pimp and Rockford LCN associate Vincent Gucciardo was arrested and charged with knowingly and unlawfully providing tickets and means of transportation for a 19-year-old girl in interstate commerce from Rockford to Lafayette, Indiana for the purposes of prostitution and other immoral purposes. Just before the 27-year-old former street and sanitation bureau worker was to be arraigned on these charges, Gucciardo died of a “sudden illness” on December 4, 1953.

By the 1960s into the 1970s the various Rockford LCN-controlled taverns were shifting their business model to include “Go-Go Dancers” as an attraction. These dancers often times were noted to be under age, from out of town and some were caught in the act of prostitution. Many newspaper articles detailed how prostitutes were hanging around outside the taverns plying their trade when the owners told them it wasn’t safe to work inside for fear of a bust and a mandatory suspension of their liquor license.

One place that employed Go-Go dancers in 1965 was the Golden Lantern at 517 15th Avenue, which was operated by newly made LCN member Sebastian “Knobby” Gulotta. The licensee for the business was George Zammuto, son of Rockford boss Joe Zammuto. It is therefore interesting to note that when an officer of the Rockford Police Intelligence Unit interviewed Gulotta on July 21, 1970 Intelligence Unit, he advised that he had recently engaged Gulotta in conversation. He said that Gulotta told him that “the “family” here has no traffic in narcotics whatsoever, nor does it have any in prostitution. He said that this has been the “family” rule for years and if anyone in the “family” was “busted” they would receive no family protection and might receive worse.” Rockford LCN member Joe “Gramps” Marinelli was interviewed on September 9, 1974 and he said that “the Rockford family is headed by a well-educated man who, though aging considerably, continues to have the respect of his people.” Marinelli further stated that “this man would tolerate no one fooling with narcotics dealings or dealing women.” These comments were obviously a way to make the Rockford family look less dirty and a little more respectable.

Anthony Cannella was the brother of Rockford LCN member Phil Cannella and he was a front for Rockford mob operations as a February 1968 FBI file stated that he was the owner of the Casbah Tavern on Mulberry Street where he had several girls operating there in prostitution in the basement. Cannella was the property owner while the operator of the prostitute part of the business was Nello “Railroad” Cellitti. Anthony Cannella had been arrested as far back as 1948 on a charge of pandering, which meant he was acting as a pimp and in 1947 he was arrested for selling numbers at the Sportsman’s Tap, 1008 South Main Street and while working there he was arrested when a Waterloo, Iowa woman claimed she split money with him that she had made from being “in the company of” several gentlemen. The FBI file goes on to say that “entrance is made through the tavern with business primarily in the daytime with most of the business coming between 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. Source of girls unknown.”

In the 1960s Rockford LCN member Phil Priola had among others operating under him, twin brothers named Joe and Pasquale Gucciardo. Their older brother Vincent was the one who had died suddenly in 1953 just before being arraigned on his prostitution charges. 1960s FBI files stated the Gucciardo twins were described as pimps and that they supplied the women to the Towne and Country Motel while both worked regular jobs for the Illinois Highway Department. In addition, they also owned 3G’s Disposal Company and Twins Hauling. The Towne and Country Motel was just south of Rockford on 11th Street and they owned this with their “boss” Phil Priola. The motel was mentioned prominently in FBI files as a known place of prostitution and abortion. Certain rooms were set aside and many of the customers were men that worked in the area factories. Further, an FBI file stated “the girls being used by the twins, PAT & JOE GUCCIARDO, at the motel they operate with PHIL PRIOLA, apparently come from Wisconsin. Most of the customers make their contacts at the Twinspot Tavern on East State Street. The girls hang out in the cocktail lounge at the Holiday Inn and if they make any contacts of their own there, they take them across the street to the twins Town & Country Motel to turn their trick. Town and Country Motel currently has 4 girls operating out of the motel for the twins, PAT & JOE GUCCIARDO, charge is $20.00 plus cost of room. The girls stay 2-3 weeks. Current group comes from Milwaukee (3) and Madison (1). [REDACTED], WH 33, 5’9” 170# husky build, blonde wavy hair makes contacts for the girls. He comes from Beloit, Wisc. and lives in a hotel on Broadway.”

Now, why the following was never fully investigated is not known but Milwaukee informant Augie Maniaci told the FBI on July 3, 1966 that in the early part of 1966 the Rockford LCN family had put on a party for Raymond H. Cramer, the Supervisor of District #1, Illinois State Police at the Town and Country Motel. Maniaci stated that the girls for this party were furnished by a local pimp and the purpose was designed to aid in police protection for a new policy wheel the Rockford family was planning on bringing in and setting up after an FBI raid in the early part of 1966 shut down a lucrative one of theirs. Cramer retied in September 1969 and died just five years later in 1974 with not a blemish on his record.

Sadly, in 1975 the sex trade in Rockford really exposed its ugly side when four Rockford LCN connected men were arrested. On January 10, 1975 James Capicotte, Joe Inglima, Frank “Fat Frank” Sparacino and Nick Vince were all arrested on charges of contributing to the sexual delinquency of female minors in connection with a teenage sex ring on the near west side of Rockford. Judy Cheairs, 35, of 1150 Bruce Street was charged with keeping a house of prostitution as the ring operated out of her home which had operated since September 1974 and involved girls from the Rockford Children’s Home. Though it never came out in court, it was alleged that Cheairs was the “madam” for the Rockford LCN at this location. All the men had been arrested at one time or another on gambling charges and Nick Vince, being brother to Charles Vince the Rockford LCN capo, was a longtime trusted associate.

In July 1977, the Rockford Morning Star had an above-the-fold article on the front page of the newspaper that read “Local porno, Mafia linked.” The article went on to say how the local police had information that Rockford adult bookstores were linked to the New York mafia families. Police investigators had known since 1970 that local peek-show machines were purchased from the New York mafia families. They went on to say that the distribution of pornographic magazines in the city was traced to Reuben Sterman of Cleveland, Ohio and he was described as an associate of Joe Colombo, who headed the Colombo family of New York.

It was also reported that the two Rockford adult book stores took in between $50,000 to $150,000 a year from the 25-cent peep shows alone and that estimate may have been on the low side. Under the arrangement, the New York mafia families get back 50 percent of the money brought in on the films shown in Rockford with the other 50 percent going to the stores’ owners, Eagle Books, Inc., a Delaware Corporation. The two stores in question were the Adult Book and Cinema Store at 322 E. State Street and the Book Mart II Adult Book Store at 623 7th Street. By 1979, the names of the bookstores had changed to International Amusements, but they were still in the business of selling “adult” books.

Police said the New York connection began in 1969 when a former bookstore owner in Rockford met with representatives of the New York mafia in Chicago and purchased movie machines. Local police said they were told by the FBI that agents have followed trucks which collect the proceeds from the coin-operated, peep-show machines, traveling from Rockford to Madison and Milwaukee. A man who had identified himself as the manager of the Adult Book and Cinema Store declined to talk about the police claims and he refused to tell a reporter who owned the store, where the profits went and what his name was. All he stated was, “I better not say anything.”

Rockford police provided this history of adult bookstore ownership in Rockford: Jacob “Bucky” Siebert owned the stores from the mid-1960s until 1969 when R.J. Sales Co., Inc. took over. That company was owned by Claude “Junior” Ridens and Joseph Lombardo or Lombardi Ridens and Lombardi added a partner and other corporate names while they owned the stores here, and the firms opened a Rockford warehouse which was raided by the police in December 1973. In 1973 all of the Ridens and Lombardo corporations were dissolved and the operations were taken over by International Amusements Limited, Inc., a Canadian corporation which Steve Baker was listed as the president. International Amusements was listed as being operated out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa but Baker was down as being from Ontario, Canada. Baker was also listed as the general manager of Cinematic-Vending Corp., which handled distribution and sales of films and projectors. Reuben Sterman, who was born in Canada, was associated with Cinematic. Eagle Books, Inc. took over operations in Rockford in 1975. Listed as president, secretary, treasurer and director of Eagle Books was James Forester, who listed his address as 322 E. State Street, the same address as the Adult Book and Cinema. Rockford police had said they traced Forester to a southern Indiana adult bookstore where he was only a clerk. Forester had apparently told Rockford police he was paid for the use of his name on the corporation records.

What is unclear is if the Joseph Lombardi mentioned in the Morning Star’s article is the Joseph Lombardi from the Chicago Outfit’s northside crew who was known as “Pretty Boy” or if he was in fact the notorious Joseph “The Clown” Lombardo. The Rockford police stated that persons in Rockford also receive a percentage of the profits but they have not been able to confirm it. It would stand to reason that the leaders of the Rockford mob would reap the monetary benefits of pornography distribution in the city.

It then seems as the 1970s gave way to the 1980s and 1990s the shift was made to “lingerie modeling” shops and “massage” parlors and there was no shortage of those in the Rockford area. A huge article in the Rockford newspaper in 1991 asked if these lingerie shops cover up illegal sex and the answer was most definitely yes. It was an open secret in Rockford for years that this was the case and making the collections for the “street tax” for the Rockford LCN was Frank “Gumba” Saladino. There is no way to know just how much was collected every month but with six of these shops in a ten-block radius, it made for easy pickups for Frank. Front owners were always necessary- people with a clean record who would operate day in and day out and keep their mouths shut.

As recently as early 2005 a restaurant-turned strip club that police officials say operated as a bordello was shut down when numerous arrests for prostitution occurred. The Flag at 3315 North Main Street was closed down when police said dancers were granting sexual favors to patrons in private lap-dance rooms. Connie Cavalzani was one of those dancers arrested and she stated that she and other dancers would be steered by the owner to men that were known to have money and the girls would then work on them into having lap dances. For each $20 lap dance, which almost always turned into a sexual act, Cavalzani said she would turn over a percentage to the owner. Of course the owner, a relatively recent Sicilian immigrant from Ribera would deny that he was paying any sort of street tax, but there were those in Rockford that would tell you otherwise.

[Patrickgold]

Cavita, very interesting read. I had no idea the depth of Rockford’s involvement. Question, any connections to the last remaining strip clubs in Rockford? Bigfoot and tiger tail? I saw that the state street station was tore down recently. Was surprised by that because it was a big place in a prime location. But I heard that it was the same owner as tiger tail and he wanted it torn down bc he didn’t want competition. Also, I have heard numerous rumors about Rockford having operations in Beloit and Janesville. Any truth to this?

[cavita]

Cavita, very interesting read. I had no idea the depth of Rockford’s involvement. Question, any connections to the last remaining strip clubs in Rockford? Bigfoot and tiger tail? I saw that the state street station was tore down recently. Was surprised by that because it was a big place in a prime location. But I heard that it was the same owner as tiger tail and he wanted it torn down bc he didn’t want competition. Also, I have heard numerous rumors about Rockford having operations in Beloit and Janesville. Any truth to this?

To my knowledge the strip clubs in Rockford are on the up and up. Bigfoot is owned by a guy I believe who is eastern European and I can't remember the guy's name that owns Tiger Tail, and yes he owned State Street Station as well which was razed recently. Back in the day Rockford did have numerous operations in Beloit and Janesville to a lesser extent. Beloit had many taverns under their control and a couple bookies in Janesville. I will tell you that the last time I was in Rockford I was introduced to a younger Sicilian gentleman who has a business in Beloit. The person who introduced me to him later told me he was mafia. So, take that for what it's worth.

[Villain]

Great work Cavita and thanks. This was/is obviously one of those "never die" rackets.

[Peppermint]

Great work Cavita and thanks. This was/is obviously one of those "never die" rackets.

Just like selling drugs, prostitution will always exist. There will always be money because sex sells, and there will always be people to exploit the industry.

It’s quite literally, among humanity’s most ancient professions. It’ll exist so long as humans do.

[Patrickgold]

Cavita, very interesting read. I had no idea the depth of Rockford’s involvement. Question, any connections to the last remaining strip clubs in Rockford? Bigfoot and tiger tail? I saw that the state street station was tore down recently. Was surprised by that because it was a big place in a prime location. But I heard that it was the same owner as tiger tail and he wanted it torn down bc he didn’t want competition. Also, I have heard numerous rumors about Rockford having operations in Beloit and Janesville. Any truth to this?

To my knowledge the strip clubs in Rockford are on the up and up. Bigfoot is owned by a guy I believe who is eastern European and I can't remember the guy's name that owns Tiger Tail, and yes he owned State Street Station as well which was razed recently. Back in the day Rockford did have numerous operations in Beloit and Janesville to a lesser extent. Beloit had many taverns under their control and a couple bookies in Janesville. I will tell you that the last time I was in Rockford I was introduced to a younger Sicilian gentleman who has a business in Beloit. The person who introduced me to him later told me he was mafia. So, take that for what it's worth.

Cavita, interesting about the zip but I’m not surprised. With how small Rockford is, Rockford is tightnit and has always been connected to the motherland. Question, Alfano’s in Oregon, IL was involved in the Pizza connection case. Oregon is about a 30 minute drive from Rockford. I know the restaurant is still there and the old man was deported after his sentence. Was Alfano brought over by Rockford? If so, who sponsored him?

[cavita]

Cavita, very interesting read. I had no idea the depth of Rockford’s involvement. Question, any connections to the last remaining strip clubs in Rockford? Bigfoot and tiger tail? I saw that the state street station was tore down recently. Was surprised by that because it was a big place in a prime location. But I heard that it was the same owner as tiger tail and he wanted it torn down bc he didn’t want competition. Also, I have heard numerous rumors about Rockford having operations in Beloit and Janesville. Any truth to this?

To my knowledge the strip clubs in Rockford are on the up and up. Bigfoot is owned by a guy I believe who is eastern European and I can't remember the guy's name that owns Tiger Tail, and yes he owned State Street Station as well which was razed recently. Back in the day Rockford did have numerous operations in Beloit and Janesville to a lesser extent. Beloit had many taverns under their control and a couple bookies in Janesville. I will tell you that the last time I was in Rockford I was introduced to a younger Sicilian gentleman who has a business in Beloit. The person who introduced me to him later told me he was mafia. So, take that for what it's worth.

Cavita, interesting about the zip but I’m not surprised. With how small Rockford is, Rockford is tightnit and has always been connected to the motherland. Question, Alfano’s in Oregon, IL was involved in the Pizza connection case. Oregon is about a 30 minute drive from Rockford. I know the restaurant is still there and the old man was deported after his sentence. Was Alfano brought over by Rockford? If so, who sponsored him?

I don't think Alfano was ever a mafia member but was an associate, though I'm unsure if he was affiliated with a family when he came over in the 1960s. It seems he was hooked up with Phil Priola of Rockford early on but after that it and during the Pizza Connection he was doing what his Uncle Gaetano Badalamenti told him to do. The following is an excerpt from Phil Priola's FBI file on Alfano and how he came to the U.S. I've included names in brackets where I can identify the people:

CG T-2 advised that PHIL PRIOLA frequents the Twinspot Tavern on East State Street, Rockford and also Alfano’s Pizzeria, which is located next door. She said the Twinspot is owned by [PASQUALE AND JOE GUCCIARDO] “who also owned Twins Disposal and the Town and Country Motel with PHIL PRIOLA.” In addition, informant stated that on the evening of January 12, 1967, she observed PRIOLA together with FRANK BUSCEMI, underboss Rockford LCN family, and four other Italians who were unknown to the informant in serious conversation with the operators of SAM and JOE’S Pizzeria, Belvidere, Illinois. Informant stated that the conversation was in Italian, which informant does not speak.

CG T-3 stated that he had heard that PHIL PRIOLA is in some way involved in the operation of the Alfano’s Pizza chain and has frequently been in the company of [PETER ALFANO] who recently moved to Oregon, Illinois, where he is opening a pizza parlor.

Detective [REDACTED] stated that it was his understanding that [PETER ALFANO] came from Chicago to Rockford and is a partner of PHIL PRIOLA. He said that it is his understanding that [PETER ALFANO] has sold the pizza restaurant at 212 East State Street, Rockford, to [VITO GABRIELE] of South Beloit, son of [PIETRO GABRIELE].

Detective [REDACTED] said that he had interviewed the owners of JOE and SAM’S Pizzeria in Belvidere and determined that the owners are [GIUSEPPE CUCINELLA] and [SALVATORE VITALE] who reside in Room 302 at the Chandler Hotel, Rockford, Illinois. He said that these individuals speak English very poorly and he had difficulty conducting the interview, but determined that [CUCINELLA] was born [REDACTED] at Fiumicino, Italy, and entered the United States in February 1964. [VITALE] was born at Cinisi, Palermo, Sicily on [REDACTED] and came to the United States from Salvi Badalamenti, 137, Fiumicino, Italy. He entered the United States November 20, 1966, via Air France and his address at time of entry was Box 26, Ringoes, New Jersey.

[REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] when he first entered this country he had become acquainted with one [REDACTED] in New York City, and when he came to Belvidere, he accidentally bumped into him again. He said he purchased the pizza parlor from [REDACTED] who moved to Rockford and opened a new pizza parlor on South Main Street in the latter part of November 1966.

[REDACTED] stated he made inquiry in Rockford relative to this pizzeria located in the 200 block of South Main Street and determined that it had closed about two weeks earlier that [REDACTED] had left town and that a waitress, [REDACTED] who was employed by him, disappeared at the same time.

[REDACTED] stated that he had been in touch with Sheriff BILL SPENCER at Oregon, Illinois who told him that [PETER ALFANO] was setting up a pizza restaurant there.

On January 19, 1967, [PETER ALFANO] was contacted at his place of business, Alfano’s Pizza Restaurant, 801 South Fourth Street, Oregon, Illinois.
He stated that his name in Italian is [PIETRO ALFANO] and before coming to the United States he had been an independent dealer in cheese at Palermo, Sicily. He made available Italian Passport Number [REDACTED], which reflects that he was born at Cinisi, Palermo, Sicily, on [REDACTED] and has brown hair and brown eyes. He is married to [MARIA CRISTINA TRUPIANO] and has two children, a girl, age five, and a boy, age seven months, and residence is via [REDACTED] Palermo, Italy. He arrived in New York on January 3, 1967 via Al Italia Airlines.

[PETER ALFANO] stated that he came to the United States originally on April 1, 1964 and had gone to work for one [PIETRO ALFANO] at Alfano’s Pizzeria in Ottawa, Illinois. This [ALFANO] had a father, [PROCOPIO ALFANO] who lived and had a pizzeria in Spring Valley, Illinois. The [ALFANO] in Ottawa also operated an Alfano Pizzeria in Seneca, Illinois in which the interviewee was employed.

He said that after learning the business from these [ALFANOS], he moved to Belvidere, Illinois in June 1965 and opened a pizza restaurant there which he operated for 13 or 14 months.

He said the [PIETRO ALFANO] in Ottawa came to the United States about 18 years ago and for a period of about 3 ½ years he owned a pizza restaurant in Rochelle, Illinois which he never personally managed and which he eventually sold to an Italian, name unknown, who operated it under the name Alfano’s Pizza until recently when he closed it and left town. In June 1965 he returned to Italy with his wife and sold his restaurant business to (Salvatore “Sam” Vitale) who comes from the same town in Sicily and is supposed to marry (Alfano’s) wife’s sister, [REDACTED] partner in the purchase of the restaurant from the interviewee who was the interviewee’s uncle, who came to the United States 10 or 12 years ago and was employed in Chicago by the Salerno Biscuit Company. This is the [SAM] and [JOE] currently operating the Belvidere Pizzeria.

He was asked about the [REDACTED] who was interviewed by Detective [REDACTED] and he said that [REDACTED] must have been confused by his inability to understand Italian. He said that the [REDACTED] in Belvidere is [REDACTED], a brother of [REDACTED] who is visiting in Belvidere on a tourist visa and will soon be returning to Italy.

(Alfano) stated that Maria’s Pizza in Belvidere is operated by (Lorenzo Palazzolo) an uncle, and (Santina Palazzolo), a cousin by marriage. (Alfano) said that when he had owned the restaurant currently operated by [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] had been his partner but because of a disagreement decided to move across the street.

[REDACTED] said that his father, [REDACTED], came to the United States about one year ago. At this time [REDACTED] opened the place in Rockford, at 212 East State Street and his father ran it and continues to run it. He said that his father is unhappy in this country and is returning to Italy probably in one week and the restaurant is being sold to “some Sicilian from Beloit, Wisconsin,” whose name is unknown to [REDACTED].
He said that the restaurant in the 200 block of South Main Street, operated by [REDACTED] is now closed and [REDACTED]’s whereabouts is unknown to him. He suggested that [REDACTED] might know [REDACTED]’s whereabouts, inasmuch as [REDACTED] had worked for [REDACTED] for a period of time.

He [PIETRO ALFANO] said that he met PHIL PRIOLA under the following circumstances. He said while operating his restaurant in Belvidere, he did business with a juke box company “Lundberg Music Co.” from Cherry Valley, Illinois. He indicated an intent to open a place in Rockford. The serviceman [PAT C. GUCCIARDO] from the juke box company suggested he contact the GUCCIARDO’S at the Twinspot Tavern in Rockford, who were cousins of his. He accidentally met PHIL PRIOLA in the Twinspot, told him of his plans to open a business in Rockford and PRIOLA suggested that he might be able to help him.

PRIOLA made the arrangements for renting the building at 212 East State Street and paid for the repairs and decoration of the restaurant, about $1,400. He paid PRIOLA this money back but PRIOLA charged him no interest and in fact was merely buying PRIOLA out because the business did not make out and he did not want PRIOLA to be hurt financially because he had done [ALFANO] a favor. He said PRIOLA was in the restaurant frequently and in fact sometimes helped with the cooking.

When he was questioned about how he paid PRIOLA back when the restaurant was losing money he said that he did this using the profits from his restaurant in Belvidere.

He said he is not related to PRIOLA, had never met or heard of PRIOLA prior to the accidental meeting at the Twinspot and that he himself was not now, nor had he ever been a member of the Mafia.

He was asked if PRIOLA was helping in any way in the current sale of his business and he replied that PRIOLA was not.

On January 23, 1967, Attorney [REDACTED] advised that he had handled the sale of Alfano’s Pizza Restaurant at 212 East State Street, Rockford, for the current owner [VITO GABRIELE]. He said that [REDACTED] had been accompanied to [REDACTED] office at the time the transaction was closed by PHIL PRIOLA.

[cavita]

Also, here's an ad for the grand opening of the pizzeria in April 1966

[Villain]

Also, here's an ad for the grand opening of the pizzeria in April 1966

What does it mean "Peter Alfano came from Chicago"? He just passed through or lived there for awhile, or was sent by Chicago?

[cavita]

Also, here's an ad for the grand opening of the pizzeria in April 1966

What does it mean "Peter Alfano came from Chicago"? He just passed through or lived there for awhile, or was sent by Chicago?

That's a good question and I've thought about that. This was an observation by a Rockford Police Detective and what he believed. From what I can see when the feds interviewed Alfano he made it sound like he went right to Ottawa, Illinois which is quite a ways south of Chicago.

[Villain]

Also, here's an ad for the grand opening of the pizzeria in April 1966

What does it mean "Peter Alfano came from Chicago"? He just passed through or lived there for awhile, or was sent by Chicago?

That's a good question and I've thought about that. This was an observation by a Rockford Police Detective and what he believed. From what I can see when the feds interviewed Alfano he made it sound like he went right to Ottawa, Illinois which is quite a ways south of Chicago.

Thanks. Its interesting because during the 60s there were many pizzerias and also frozen pizza companies in Chicago and northwest Indiana involved in the dope trade, and there were still some during the 70s.

[cavita]

Also, here's an ad for the grand opening of the pizzeria in April 1966

What does it mean "Peter Alfano came from Chicago"? He just passed through or lived there for awhile, or was sent by Chicago?

That's a good question and I've thought about that. This was an observation by a Rockford Police Detective and what he believed. From what I can see when the feds interviewed Alfano he made it sound like he went right to Ottawa, Illinois which is quite a ways south of Chicago.

From what I can gather it appears Alfano's uncle Lorenzo Palazzolo was employed in Chicago at the Salerno Biscuit Company in the 1950s but that's the only other Chicago reference I can see.

[Patrickgold]

Also, here's an ad for the grand opening of the pizzeria in April 1966

What does it mean "Peter Alfano came from Chicago"? He just passed through or lived there for awhile, or was sent by Chicago?

That's a good question and I've thought about that. This was an observation by a Rockford Police Detective and what he believed. From what I can see when the feds interviewed Alfano he made it sound like he went right to Ottawa, Illinois which is quite a ways south of Chicago.

From what I can gather it appears Alfano's uncle Lorenzo Palazzolo was employed in Chicago at the Salerno Biscuit Company in the 1950s but that's the only other Chicago reference I can see.

He probably just passed through Chicago on the way to Ottawa. Ottawa is an interesting place for a zip to go too. I actually ate at that Alfanos, not knowing it was connected to him.

Cavita, little off topic but maybe you can answer this. Was Frank Buccieri Chicago’s rep in Milwaukee. That’s what I heard. I know his girlfriend was Sally Papia but I heard he was the Outfit’s man up there. You have any information on this? This was before he was supposedly sent out to the west coast to run some operations out there, which I have found nothing to verify this either.

[cavita]

Also, here's an ad for the grand opening of the pizzeria in April 1966

What does it mean "Peter Alfano came from Chicago"? He just passed through or lived there for awhile, or was sent by Chicago?

That's a good question and I've thought about that. This was an observation by a Rockford Police Detective and what he believed. From what I can see when the feds interviewed Alfano he made it sound like he went right to Ottawa, Illinois which is quite a ways south of Chicago.

From what I can gather it appears Alfano's uncle Lorenzo Palazzolo was employed in Chicago at the Salerno Biscuit Company in the 1950s but that's the only other Chicago reference I can see.

He probably just passed through Chicago on the way to Ottawa. Ottawa is an interesting place for a zip to go too. I actually ate at that Alfanos, not knowing it was connected to him.

Cavita, little off topic but maybe you can answer this. Was Frank Buccieri Chicago’s rep in Milwaukee. That’s what I heard. I know his girlfriend was Sally Papia but I heard he was the Outfit’s man up there. You have any information on this? This was before he was supposedly sent out to the west coast to run some operations out there, which I have found nothing to verify this either.

I too have eaten at many of the Alfano restaurants in that area and it is a little surprising still of the remaining Sicilians around that way. I guess years ago there were no Italian restaurants in those smaller towns and it was a good idea to open one there and get the business, plus they weren't that terribly far from the bigger cities.
As for the Buccieri thing, I don't know. I always thought Phil Alderisio was the Outfit's man there but I will ask a buddy of mine who is knowledgeable in the older Milwaukee information and see what he says.