The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

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Ed
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The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Ed »

Here's an article on union leader and FBI informer Fred "Jukebox Smitty" Smith.

Smith provided some info on his Outfit associates in 1964.

https://twitter.com/mafia_rat/status/13 ... 1572360203
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

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Another great work Ed and thanks again. Back in the days i made a mistake for placing Smith with the Westsiders/Glimco because he was obviously with Vogel and the "leged" regarding Smith being one of the most lucrative guys is true.

It seems that Smith used to know a lot about the inner workings and he also gave info regarding Charlie Fish and Guzik for keeping the Outfit in one piece after the imprisonment of the bosses. Another informant who gave the same info was Dan Serritella.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Ozgoz »

All this research you guys have done on the outfit really show they were truly an underworld government. More so than any other LCN family.

In fact they don’t even suit the description of a family. They were too big (in influence).

Can you imagine the day to day workload of the boss at the Giancana / Auippa level.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Antiliar »

Ed wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:00 am Here's an article on union leader and FBI informer Fred "Jukebox Smitty" Smith.

Smith provided some info on his Outfit associates in 1964.

https://twitter.com/mafia_rat/status/13 ... 1572360203
Great job and a great read. Appreciate all the work you put into it, including the endnotes.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

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I remember there was some talk recently about whether Glimco was an inducted member or not. Smith, a close associate for decades, indicated Glimco wasn't by excluding Glimco from his Outfit member list. (DeRose also omitted Glimco.) It stands to reason Smith would be in a good position to provide accurate information in that regard. Of course, later member-informants identified Glimco as a member so who knows for certain.

I found it interesting (but not surprising) that a non-member and non-Italian like Smith believed that the strength (if that's the right word) of the Outfit lay mostly in the non-Italian associates.

The more I read the declassified FBI files that are now available, it's obvious Paul Ricca was considered by most informers to be Accardo's equal or even superior in authority and prestige throughout the 1960s. I never got that sense from reading Bill Roemer's books.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

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Really great piece on Smith here Ed. I had seen some old reports that erroneously identified Joe Arnold as Italian, I'm guessing that Smith may have been the source for this error.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

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Ed wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:01 pm I remember there was some talk recently about whether Glimco was an inducted member or not. Smith, a close associate for decades, indicated Glimco wasn't by excluding Glimco from his Outfit member list. (DeRose also omitted Glimco.) It stands to reason Smith would be in a good position to provide accurate information in that regard. Of course, later member-informants identified Glimco as a member so who knows for certain.
Out of curiosity, did Smith identify Sam DeStefano on his member list?
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Snakes »

Ed wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:01 pm I remember there was some talk recently about whether Glimco was an inducted member or not. Smith, a close associate for decades, indicated Glimco wasn't by excluding Glimco from his Outfit member list. (DeRose also omitted Glimco.) It stands to reason Smith would be in a good position to provide accurate information in that regard. Of course, later member-informants identified Glimco as a member so who knows for certain.

I found it interesting (but not surprising) that a non-member and non-Italian like Smith believed that the strength (if that's the right word) of the Outfit lay mostly in the non-Italian associates.

The more I read the declassified FBI files that are now available, it's obvious Paul Ricca was considered by most informers to be Accardo's equal or even superior in authority and prestige throughout the 1960s. I never got that sense from reading Bill Roemer's books.
Glimco was named on lists from the 80s that were pretty accurate so I would tend to believe he got made at some point. The FBI didn't want anyone on those lists unless they were almost certainly made.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

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Snakes wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:43 pm
Ed wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:01 pm I remember there was some talk recently about whether Glimco was an inducted member or not. Smith, a close associate for decades, indicated Glimco wasn't by excluding Glimco from his Outfit member list. (DeRose also omitted Glimco.) It stands to reason Smith would be in a good position to provide accurate information in that regard. Of course, later member-informants identified Glimco as a member so who knows for certain.

I found it interesting (but not surprising) that a non-member and non-Italian like Smith believed that the strength (if that's the right word) of the Outfit lay mostly in the non-Italian associates.

The more I read the declassified FBI files that are now available, it's obvious Paul Ricca was considered by most informers to be Accardo's equal or even superior in authority and prestige throughout the 1960s. I never got that sense from reading Bill Roemer's books.
Glimco was named on lists from the 80s that were pretty accurate so I would tend to believe he got made at some point. The FBI didn't want anyone on those lists unless they were almost certainly made.
According to one wiretapped convo, even Humphreys said that the high level union spots were reserved ONLY for very close associates (non-Italians) or members of the family
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

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PolackTony wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:40 pm
Ed wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:01 pm I remember there was some talk recently about whether Glimco was an inducted member or not. Smith, a close associate for decades, indicated Glimco wasn't by excluding Glimco from his Outfit member list. (DeRose also omitted Glimco.) It stands to reason Smith would be in a good position to provide accurate information in that regard. Of course, later member-informants identified Glimco as a member so who knows for certain.
Out of curiosity, did Smith identify Sam DeStefano on his member list?
Smith (T-3) and DeRose (T-1) omitted DeStefano and Glimco on this membership list compiled in early 1964 soon after they both started cooperating. I guess I should add in Smith's case, it's unclear if he explicitly stated DeStefano and Glimco weren't members, or if the FBI inferred it from the things he said generally. It seems Smith during his debriefing just talked and the agent recorded what he said and didn't interrupt him.

Here's the link to the report:
https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 1&tab=page
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Villain »

Btw the photo of Vogel, Larner and Smith is priceless....these guys used to be the "backbone" for the old Chicago Outfit
Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God - Corinthians 6:9-10
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Ed »

Villain wrote: Mon Feb 01, 2021 7:02 am Btw the photo of Vogel, Larner and Smith is priceless....these guys used to be the "backbone" for the old Chicago Outfit
I included a photo of Johnny Bolton, allegedly personally killed by Giancana. His widow was the daughter of Rocco Fanelli.

Any relation to Carmen Fanelli, the business owner of Giancana's hangout? I believe Carmen Fanelli's widow, who continued to operate the business after her husband's death, might have shared some Intel with the FBI.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Villain »

Ed wrote: Mon Feb 01, 2021 8:07 am
Villain wrote: Mon Feb 01, 2021 7:02 am Btw the photo of Vogel, Larner and Smith is priceless....these guys used to be the "backbone" for the old Chicago Outfit
I included a photo of Johnny Bolton, allegedly personally killed by Giancana. His widow was the daughter of Rocco Fanelli.

Any relation to Carmen Fanelli, the business owner of Giancana's hangout? I believe Carmen Fanelli's widow, who continued to operate the business after her husband's death, might have shared some Intel with the FBI.
Yeah back in the days I used write about Bolton and he was a Taylor St guy so Im not much surprised that he was related to the Fanellis. Also to tell you the truth in the past i asked several times if there was any relation between Carmen and Rocco but i never received answer...as you said, Carmen used to take care of Giancanas Armory Lounge and if so there might be some relation....
Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God - Corinthians 6:9-10
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by SolarSolano »

PolackTony wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:38 pm Really great piece on Smith here Ed. I had seen some old reports that erroneously identified Joe Arnold as Italian, I'm guessing that Smith may have been the source for this error.
Arnold was or eastern european I believe originally from Ohio.
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Re: The Outfit's "most accomplished extortionist"

Post by Snakes »

SolarSolano wrote: Mon Feb 01, 2021 8:33 am
PolackTony wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:38 pm Really great piece on Smith here Ed. I had seen some old reports that erroneously identified Joe Arnold as Italian, I'm guessing that Smith may have been the source for this error.
Arnold was or eastern european I believe originally from Ohio.
Yeah, he was from Ohio. His true surname was Arranyos, I believe. Greek, I think.
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