May 18, 1990 and the Death of Mr. Joe

[cavita]

May 18, 1990 marks 30 years that Rockford’s most famous mafia boss died. Joe Zammuto, or “Mr. Joe” as he was affectionately known, died on that day at the age of 94. Mr. Joe’s story starts with his birth on February 6, 1896 in Aragona, Sicily. On August 15, 1913 at the age of 17, Zammuto immigrated to the United States with his destination being listed as a cousin, Giuseppe Salamone in Rockford. Not much is known about Zammuto’s early years in Rockford but on July 1, 1920 he married Lena Schiro there. It seemed early on that the lure of easy money due to bootlegging appealed to young Zammuto or perhaps it was because of the urging of his older brother Francesco who may have possibly been an early Rockford mafia member. Whatever the reason, Joe took his first arrest on August 2, 1921 in Byron, Illinois for possessing alcohol with the intent to deliver. Zammuto was also charged with trying to strike a police officer with the crank handle of an auto. Over the next couple of years, Zammuto was charged with bootlegging but these charges were either dismissed or he paid a modest fine.

In late 1929 Zammuto opened up a pool hall at 1210 South Main Street but this business was just a front for alcohol distribution. On May 17, 1931 Zammuto was driving when he accidently rear ended a vehicle at Walnut and 1st Streets. Unfortunately for him it was in front of the police station and numerous officers came out to help. It was soon discovered that Zammuto had a machine gun under his seat and he was eventually fined $208.10. It was also during this time that Rockford LCN boss Tony Musso and dozens of other Rockford men were languishing in Leavenworth Prison on bootlegging conspiracy charges. While Musso was serving a year and a day there, fellow Aragonese Phil Caltagerone was named acting boss and while Zammuto escaped the net of the federal agents, he was undoubtedly helping this growing Italian organized criminal element in Rockford.
After Prohibition ended, Zammuto started a wholesale liquor company called Reliable Distributing Company and he began to involve himself in the various Italian social clubs and Catholic church in the “Little Italy” section of southwest Rockford in an attempt to gain an air of respectability. To add to this, Zammuto was naturalized a United States citizen on September 30, 1936.

Zammuto kept a low profile working for the Rockford LCN but on December 26, 1953 he found himself arrested in a gambling raid at the Rockford Veteran’s Club of World War II, 1026 ½ South Main Street along with Albert Caruso, 58, Charles Vince, 46, Charles Lazzio, 46, Tony Giametta, 60, Robert Achilli, 40, Tony DiGiovanni, 47, James Sansone, 41, Joe Cannella, 24, Frank J. Giardono, 42, Carl Sciortino, 44, Phil Emordeno, 42, Joe Lazzio, 43, Pasquale Mera, 27, Lee Bonavia, 63 and Mike Emordeno, 29, of Madison, Wisconsin. Caruso was charged as keeper of a gambling house and the club had just been formed in July by Sam F. Basile, John A. Basile and Tony Basile, who was a made member of the Rockford LCN along with DiGiovanni and Vince. Rather than face a trial, all of the men forfeited their bonds and life went on for the Rockford family that was now firmly entrenched and in control of organized crime in the greater Rockford area. The following year Zammuto became the owner of the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company and he used these profits to invest in many Rockford area properties.

In early 1958 Rockford boss Tony Musso was dying of cancer and according to FBI files while on his deathbed he named Phil Priola as his successor. When Musso finally did pass on May 22nd the Rockford family members rejected Priola as the new boss as he had just recently returned to Rockford after spending several years in Chicago. The family ended up naming Zammuto as the heir to Musso and thus began his reign at the top of the Rockford underworld.

Mr. Joe was boss less than a year when he gave the nod for his first sanctioned mob hit and it turned out to be a double murder. Leading up to May 2, 1959 two young gamblers, Joe Greco and Donald Burton were trying to get their foot in the door in Rockford’s gambling circles but their problem was they were using crooked dice. Both men had been warned to stay away or they’d “end up in a ditch” but they paid no mind. On the following day both men were found strangled and beaten in the trunk of Greco’s car on Montague Road just east of Meridian Road. Later FBI files indicated that Milwaukee mafia informant stated that Frank Buscemi and Phil Emordeno were both made members on the evening following the murders indicating this was their test they needed to pass to gain their “seat at the table” in the Rockford LCN. Buscemi had moved to Rockford a few months before and his sister Teresa had married Zammuto’s son George.

In October 1960 Zammuto was faced with another tough problem. Apparently three Calumet City gangsters wanted to kill Rockford LCN member Joe “Gramps” Marinelli and Zammuto had to intervene. Zammuto tried to reach out to Chicago Outfit boss Sam Giancana but he was out of town. What ended up happening was that Zammuto, his underboss Gaspare Calo and Marinelli met with Jackie Cerone, Outfit underboss Frank Ferraro and Hy Godfrey at the Croyden Hotel in Chicago while FBI agents observed this meeting. Whatever agreement was reached is not known, but Marinelli’s life was spared and the three men returned to Rockford.

As the 1960s rolled on, Augie Maniaci in Milwaukee began cooperating with the FBI and he stated in early 1964 that Zammuto was the boss, that Buscemi had replaced Gaspare Calo as underboss in 1961, Joe Zito was the consigliere and Lorenzo Buttice was the underboss of the family. On August 9, 1965 the FBI noted with interest that Zammuto’s wife passed away at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and they surveilled all those Rockford and Milwaukee members that attended her funeral a few days later.

Just a few months later on November 9, 1965 Zammuto found himself in an embarrassing situation when Rockford Police were staking out a parking lot and watching two men deliver money and betting slips to Walter Babbitt inside his car parked in the 300 block of 7th Street. The passenger in Babbitt’s car was Joe Zammuto and he was questioned for being in the company of a known bookie. Zammuto explained that Babbitt would often give him rides to the horse racetrack in Chicago and he knew nothing about the money and betting slips. No charges were brought against Zammuto but the two men and Babbitt were arrested and Babbitt’s car was impounded.

The following July 1, 1966 FBI agents were watching as they observed Zammuto and his underboss Frank Buscemi meeting with the Outfit’s Chuckie English at his business Lormar Distributing Company in Chicago. The purpose of this meeting is unknown but it most likely had to do with the distribution of gambling machines in the area.

With increased FBI scrutiny and headlines, in September 1967 Life magazine ran a two part special on the mafia in America and the various LCN family heads were identified with headshot photos. Everyone outside the Rockford area may have wondered who Zammuto was that was shown as the head of the Rockford LCN but everyone in and around Rockford knew and respected Mr. Joe who by this time had moved to 1515 Harding Street still in the old Italian neighborhood. In a bit of “damage control” when the Life magazine special hit the newsstands, Zammuto ordered his men to buy up all the copies but clearly this wasn’t enough from people finding out and his much coveted “low profile” was blown. FBI agents noticed in their surveillance and information from Augie Maniaci that Zammuto and his men were meeting a few times a week at the Aragona Club and noted that Zammuto had an interest in the Northtown Lounge among many other businesses.

It was known for some time that Zammuto spent his winters at his home in Hollywood, Florida, but in March 1968 it was discovered that Zammuto had met with Florida mob boss Santo Trafficante, Jr. Whether this meeting was business or of a personal nature is not known but it could also have just been out of respect seeing as one mob boss was in the territory of another.

More unwanted headlines followed Zammuto and his men in December 1968 when he and most of the Rockford members were called before the Grand Jury investigating gambling and liquor violations in the Rockford area. Zammuto and many members and associates were called to testify but, in the end, only one member and two associates were fined for liquor violations in relation to taverns they owned. Later interviews with the FBI detailed how they were frustrated that these hearings came to nothing and that it was basically their first foray into prosecuting the family. After this embarrassment, Zammuto ordered his men to keep their heads down. Additionally, an August 22, 1969 Time magazine article on the mafia designated the Rockford LCN as the “Zammuto Family” but this was the only instance where this was used when most in Rockford just called them the “Rockford Outfit” or “The Syndicate.” Time magazine ascribed a total membership of the family as being 30 and described their influence as “weak.”

This must have worked or perhaps it was because of the murder of Augie Maniaci in September 1975 and the FBI losing the main inroad to the Rockford LCN, but by 1976 the FBI closed their files on the members of the Rockford mafia. By July 1978 the FBI found that Joe Zito, Phil Emordeno and Charles Vince were meeting in Milwaukee with that city’s boss Frank Balistrieri, his sons and Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero of the Bonanno family. Agents noted that the three Rockford men were responsible for making the introductions between the Bonanno and Milwaukee families regarding a vending machine scheme. The FBI later admitted the closure of their files on the Rockford LCN were premature and they took to actively surveilling the family once again. At that point they discovered that Zammuto was still the boss, Buscemi was underboss, Zito held firm as consigliere and Charles Vince was capo of the family.

The FBI also noted that the cause of the murder of Rockford LCN member Joe Maggio in April 1980 was because he was in opposition to Joe Zammuto’s decision that the Rockford family would be actively trafficking in narcotics. Apparently Zammuto was holding LCN family meetings at his home in Florida in February 1980 when he informed the family members. FBI agents had their cameras trained on St. Anthony’s Church and the Gasparini Oliveri Funeral home on April 22, 1980 for the wake and funeral of Zammuto’s son Joseph, who died at the age of 52. Bureau agents noted with interest that the funeral was attended by Joey “Doves” Aiuppa, the boss of the Chicago Outfit. FBI agents stated the attendance of Aiuppa was testament to the respect of Zammuto and the close ties between the two cities. Subsequent FBI files in 1981 stated that the 85 year old Zammuto was still the undisputed boss in Rockford and that Charles Vince may have been working in the capacity of acting boss while Zammuto was in Florida. FBI agents were again filming the wake and funeral of consigliere Joe Zito in June 1981 and again noticed that Joey Aiuppa was in attendance and they photographed Aiuppa along with Zammuto and Buscemi outside the funeral home.

Once again, the Rockford mafia was the talk of the town when in March 1984 an explosive article in the Rockford Register Star exposed the family’s sordid past, murders, shady business dealings and other tantalizing bits of information. The article was written using FBI interviews, detailed Rockford Police reports on the family members and public records. The article talked quite a bit about Zammuto and how at 88 years old he commanded a great deal of respect though it was stated that Zammuto was seen as more of an advisor and that Buscemi was now the day to day boss of the Rockford Outfit. When one Rockford member was asked why he cared about such an old man, the gangster replied, “I care enough not to go in the trunk,” showing that even at an advanced age, Zammuto was still one to be feared. The article went on to say that despite living in Rockford since 1913 Zammuto still spoke with a thick Italian accent and broken English, that he still lived in the old part of the Italian neighborhood in a ranch home guarded by a German shepherd dog and an elaborate alarm system. To confuse things a bit more in regards to Zammuto being the family’s advisor, mid 1980s FBI files still had Buscemi listed as the family’s underboss, but less and less was heard from Zammuto in the following years and his eight decade criminal career came to an end on May 18, 1990 with his death.

[B.]

A+. Do you know Lena Schiro's family background?

[cavita]

A+. Do you know Lena Schiro's family background?

I had a feeling I'd be asked that and I did look into it. Lena Schiro was born in Louisiana and her father George died sometime between 1905 and 1923 though I can't find an obituary for one in Rockford. He may have passed in Louisiana. I looked into Lena's mother, Antonia, and her obituary only states she was born in Sicily and doesn't even give her maiden name so I've reached a bit if a dead end with that.

[Villain]

Another great work Cavita! Top notch

I think we never managed to figure it out on whether the Sansones were connected to Chicagos Sansones, and i also think that we never managed to find out on who were the C City guys right?

[cavita]

Another great work Cavita! Top notch

I think we never managed to figure it out on whether the Sansones were connected to Chicagos Sansones, and i also think that we never managed to find out on who were the C City guys right?

Correct. The James Sansone in Rockford who was a gambling guy and fence was born in St. Louis in 1912 and by the 1940s was living in Rockford. The Calumet thing has me stumped. The FBI files make it seem that Cerone and Ferraro were being recorded in their conversation but I'm unsure of this. I did read where many of the Rockford members didn't care for Marinelli because he was always getting into trouble doing "kid stuff" which antagonized them so I'm wondering what he did that pissed off the Calumet guys.

[Villain]

Another great work Cavita! Top notch

I think we never managed to figure it out on whether the Sansones were connected to Chicagos Sansones, and i also think that we never managed to find out on who were the C City guys right?

Correct. The James Sansone in Rockford who was a gambling guy and fence was born in St. Louis in 1912 and by the 1940s was living in Rockford. The Calumet thing has me stumped. The FBI files make it seem that Cerone and Ferraro were being recorded in their conversation but I'm unsure of this. I did read where many of the Rockford members didn't care for Marinelli because he was always getting into trouble doing "kid stuff" which antagonized them so I'm wondering what he did that pissed off the Calumet guys.

Probably something that involves money

[cavita]

Another great work Cavita! Top notch

I think we never managed to figure it out on whether the Sansones were connected to Chicagos Sansones, and i also think that we never managed to find out on who were the C City guys right?

Correct. The James Sansone in Rockford who was a gambling guy and fence was born in St. Louis in 1912 and by the 1940s was living in Rockford. The Calumet thing has me stumped. The FBI files make it seem that Cerone and Ferraro were being recorded in their conversation but I'm unsure of this. I did read where many of the Rockford members didn't care for Marinelli because he was always getting into trouble doing "kid stuff" which antagonized them so I'm wondering what he did that pissed off the Calumet guys.

Probably something that involves money

I also found that Sansone's mother was Benedetta Centorbi and that although she was born in Sicily, she moved to St, Louis in 1905 and lived there for 20 years before coming to Rockford. It looks as if these Sansones were St. Louis all the way and not Chicago.

[Villain]

Another great work Cavita! Top notch

I think we never managed to figure it out on whether the Sansones were connected to Chicagos Sansones, and i also think that we never managed to find out on who were the C City guys right?

Correct. The James Sansone in Rockford who was a gambling guy and fence was born in St. Louis in 1912 and by the 1940s was living in Rockford. The Calumet thing has me stumped. The FBI files make it seem that Cerone and Ferraro were being recorded in their conversation but I'm unsure of this. I did read where many of the Rockford members didn't care for Marinelli because he was always getting into trouble doing "kid stuff" which antagonized them so I'm wondering what he did that pissed off the Calumet guys.

Probably something that involves money

I also found that Sansone's mother was Benedetta Centorbi and that although she was born in Sicily, she moved to St, Louis in 1905 and lived there for 20 years before coming to Rockford. It looks as if these Sansones were St. Louis all the way and not Chicago.

Thanks again man. Is it possible that Chicagos Sansones came from St Louis?

[cavita]

Another great work Cavita! Top notch

I think we never managed to figure it out on whether the Sansones were connected to Chicagos Sansones, and i also think that we never managed to find out on who were the C City guys right?

Correct. The James Sansone in Rockford who was a gambling guy and fence was born in St. Louis in 1912 and by the 1940s was living in Rockford. The Calumet thing has me stumped. The FBI files make it seem that Cerone and Ferraro were being recorded in their conversation but I'm unsure of this. I did read where many of the Rockford members didn't care for Marinelli because he was always getting into trouble doing "kid stuff" which antagonized them so I'm wondering what he did that pissed off the Calumet guys.

Probably something that involves money

I also found that Sansone's mother was Benedetta Centorbi and that although she was born in Sicily, she moved to St, Louis in 1905 and lived there for 20 years before coming to Rockford. It looks as if these Sansones were St. Louis all the way and not Chicago.

Thanks again man. Is it possible that Chicagos Sansones came from St Louis?

It could be possible. I guess we'd have to get the pedigree of the Chicago ones, namely Ernest Sansone.

[Patrickgold]

Zammuto was a true legend in Rockford. I think we talked about it before but his family building is still in the old neighborhood with the Zammuto name on it carved in Stone. Interesting that he met with Santo Trafficante in Florida. At one time I thought the were an extension of the Outfit but now I think they were their own family. They were just represented by the Outfit on the commission. What else is amazing is that they are still around while families that were more known are dead. Tight knit crew. Do you know if he was friendly with Accardo? They definitely followed the same path

[PolackTony]

A+. Do you know Lena Schiro's family background?

I had a feeling I'd be asked that and I did look into it. Lena Schiro was born in Louisiana and her father George died sometime between 1905 and 1923 though I can't find an obituary for one in Rockford. He may have passed in Louisiana. I looked into Lena's mother, Antonia, and her obituary only states she was born in Sicily and doesn't even give her maiden name so I've reached a bit if a dead end with that.

Hey this is kind of a tangential point. Any idea how many Sicilians came into the Chicago region via New Orleans as opposed to NYC? I know of Joe Bulger (Giuseppe Imburgio) as an example, as he apparently fled an infamous lynching of Sicilians in Louisiana as a child and was whisked away to refuge in Chicago. I also recall looking over early 20th century census documents for Taylor St, Grand Ave etc and seeing a few Italian Americans born in Louisiana. While Chicago's immigration routes were very tied to NYC and Ellis Island, I'd imagine places like St Louis saw a lot more people that came in via NOLA?

[cavita]

A+. Do you know Lena Schiro's family background?

I had a feeling I'd be asked that and I did look into it. Lena Schiro was born in Louisiana and her father George died sometime between 1905 and 1923 though I can't find an obituary for one in Rockford. He may have passed in Louisiana. I looked into Lena's mother, Antonia, and her obituary only states she was born in Sicily and doesn't even give her maiden name so I've reached a bit if a dead end with that.

Hey this is kind of a tangential point. Any idea how many Sicilians came into the Chicago region via New Orleans as opposed to NYC? I know of Joe Bulger (Giuseppe Imburgio) as an example, as he apparently fled an infamous lynching of Sicilians in Louisiana as a child and was whisked away to refuge in Chicago. I also recall looking over early 20th century census documents for Taylor St, Grand Ave etc and seeing a few Italian Americans born in Louisiana. While Chicago's immigration routes were very tied to NYC and Ellis Island, I'd imagine places like St Louis saw a lot more people that came in via NOLA?

That would be interesting to research and I don't know the answer. Louisiana was a huge entry point for mostly Sicilians so it surprised me that this area did not have a larger OC presence. Perhaps it's because these immigrants did indeed move north.

[Patrickgold]

A+. Do you know Lena Schiro's family background?

I had a feeling I'd be asked that and I did look into it. Lena Schiro was born in Louisiana and her father George died sometime between 1905 and 1923 though I can't find an obituary for one in Rockford. He may have passed in Louisiana. I looked into Lena's mother, Antonia, and her obituary only states she was born in Sicily and doesn't even give her maiden name so I've reached a bit if a dead end with that.

Hey this is kind of a tangential point. Any idea how many Sicilians came into the Chicago region via New Orleans as opposed to NYC? I know of Joe Bulger (Giuseppe Imburgio) as an example, as he apparently fled an infamous lynching of Sicilians in Louisiana as a child and was whisked away to refuge in Chicago. I also recall looking over early 20th century census documents for Taylor St, Grand Ave etc and seeing a few Italian Americans born in Louisiana. While Chicago's immigration routes were very tied to NYC and Ellis Island, I'd imagine places like St Louis saw a lot more people that came in via NOLA?

That would be interesting to research and I don't know the answer. Louisiana was a huge entry point for mostly Sicilians so it surprised me that this area did not have a larger OC presence. Perhaps it's because these immigrants did indeed move north.

Cavita, have you ran across any files that talked about Zammuto’s relationship with Tony Accardo? They both were the same style leader. Using fronts while they were the real power

[cavita]

A+. Do you know Lena Schiro's family background?

I had a feeling I'd be asked that and I did look into it. Lena Schiro was born in Louisiana and her father George died sometime between 1905 and 1923 though I can't find an obituary for one in Rockford. He may have passed in Louisiana. I looked into Lena's mother, Antonia, and her obituary only states she was born in Sicily and doesn't even give her maiden name so I've reached a bit if a dead end with that.

Hey this is kind of a tangential point. Any idea how many Sicilians came into the Chicago region via New Orleans as opposed to NYC? I know of Joe Bulger (Giuseppe Imburgio) as an example, as he apparently fled an infamous lynching of Sicilians in Louisiana as a child and was whisked away to refuge in Chicago. I also recall looking over early 20th century census documents for Taylor St, Grand Ave etc and seeing a few Italian Americans born in Louisiana. While Chicago's immigration routes were very tied to NYC and Ellis Island, I'd imagine places like St Louis saw a lot more people that came in via NOLA?

That would be interesting to research and I don't know the answer. Louisiana was a huge entry point for mostly Sicilians so it surprised me that this area did not have a larger OC presence. Perhaps it's because these immigrants did indeed move north.

Cavita, have you ran across any files that talked about Zammuto’s relationship with Tony Accardo? They both were the same style leader. Using fronts while they were the real power

I have yet to see any file regarding Rockford and Tony Accardo. His name may be in the files I I have but his name could be redacted.