The Rockford LCN: Cozy With LE and Politicians

[cavita]

The Rockford LCN and its cozy relationship with law enforcement and politicians whether it’s been Rockford City Police, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police or mayors and state reps, has been reported on often over the years and is understandably a touchy subject.
Starting back in the late 1920s and early 1930s when the Rockford LCN was in its infancy, the newspapers reported on that relationship with some scathing articles. At that time the public at large was unaware of a formal Italian organized crime structure that was the Mafia, so the news reported on these individuals as “hoodlums” or “gangsters.”

The March 4, 1931 Rockford Register Republic citing the 1930 Wickersham Report that “Rockford officials are accused of fraternizing with bootleggers, two of whom are said to wear deputy sheriff stars.” Federal Prohibition Investigator Guy L. Nichols in submitting his report to the United States Senate asserted that “the sheriff of Winnebago county was friendly with most of the men credited with being the largest bootleggers in Rockford and its vicinity.” The sheriff was also said to be maintaining an attitude of tolerant respect for bootleggers in jail and ‘receiving the larger bootleggers in his private office.” The “celebrities” in the booze-making racket at the time of this article were Tony Musso, Peter Sanfilippo, Paul Giovingo, Ross Chiarelli, Ted Ingrassia, Frank Ingrassia and Tony Domino. The report had also stated that major bootlegger William “Big Bill” D’Agostin carried a deputy sheriff’s star and was good friends with Chief of Police, A.E. Bargren, going so far as to take personal trips with him to the spa baths in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The report also declared that D’Agostin was hooked up with a liquor ring in Monroe, Wisconsin.

In another shocking situation during a special investigation in 1934, the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners found Chief of Police Homer Read guilty of accepting bribes from gamblers and he was ordered discharged from the department. Mrs. Frances Ashworth testified that she passed along $25 a week to the Chief from Rockford’s largest bookmaker Charles Kalb as protection for local gamblers.

Years later in the 1960s, Milwaukee LCN member and FBI informant Augie Maniaci, when reflecting on the time he lived in Rockford, had stated that “the outfit in Rockford has had Sheriff Kirk King in their pocket since the 1940s.”

As the 1950s came about, it seemed that nothing had changed much in regards to King. The June 10, 1951 Rockford Morning Star issue reported that King had expressed shocked surprise at reports published in Chicago newspapers that the IRS was investigating his income tax returns for the most recent years. His name was listed with 150 others from northern Illinois along with people listed as gamblers, hoodlums and politicians. Other names from Rockford listed were LCN boss Tony Musso, underboss Gaspare Calo, LCN associates Charles Dursch and Joe Lazzio.

The September 26, 1954 issue of the Rockford Morning Star had reported that the newly constructed trapshooting range at the police pistol range was attracting many Rockford area shooting enthusiasts. Rubbing shoulders with Rockford police and detectives were men such as Rockford LCN boss Tony Musso, LCN member Joe “Gramps” Marinelli and LCN associates Anthony Zacharia and Charles Dursch.

In fact, part of Marinelli’s FBI file reported on this get together:

“General Investigative Intelligence File, Period: 12/15/53 to 6/15/54 reflected that the Rockford Morning Star of 9/26/54, depicted photos of TONY MUSSO, [CHARLES DURSCH, TONY ZACHARIA] and JOSEPH MARINELLI, all of whom are major hoodlums, in the “Rockford Syndicate”, as enjoying the pleasures of trap-shooting on the police range, in company with police officers, and executives. As might be expected this indiscreet if happy relationship, as publicized had been the basis of considerable acid comment in the community some of which reached print.”

Another FBI report from May 12, 1958 FBI stated that an informant said that if an individual wanted to place an illegal machine for betting purposes, they would have to pay Musso $90.00 per machine. It was further stated that Musso would arrange payoffs to county officials though it wasn’t known who was paid off or how exactly. This payoff most likely went through Sheriff Kirk King who continued to keep an eye out for the interests of the Rockford LCN.

As the 1960s got underway, the Rockford LCN’s relationship with law enforcement and public officials seemed to broaden as with increased profits from illegal enterprises meant increased amounts of bribes and influence.

Around 1965 the Rockford LCN was extorting money from the ****### element that was operating after-hours illegal liquor and gambling spots and offering them protection. One of these places was the Quality Club at 1100 South Pierpont Avenue. It was reported that someone from the club would meet with Rockford LCN member Charles Vince on Monday evenings at the Southside Sportsmen’s Club to deliver the street tax. That someone was most likely John Turner as he was one of the operators of that business and apparently he grew tired of paying street tax to the Rockford LCN and eventually stopped. It was at this point that Turner was called down to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department and he met with Homer Moore, who was an African-American deputy whose patrol area was around the Quality Club. According to an April 30, 1965 FBI file on this situation, the entry read:

“Winnebago County [Deputy Sheriff HOMER MOORE] speaking for Sheriff KIRK KING, allegedly told one [JOHN TURNER] to “get back in line” if [TURNER] wished to stay open, after [TURNER] had refused his weekly payment to CHARLES VINCE.”

It seemed that the Rockford LCN was still using Sheriff King to do their bidding some twenty years after they first got their hooks into him.

FBI files from May 12, 1966 also reported that Rockford City Mayor Ben Schleicher was observed meeting with Rockford LCN street gambling boss Phil “The Tailor” Emordeno at the Redwood Restaurant at 307 South Main Street. When FBI agents contacted Schleicher about this meeting, Schleicher stated that Emordeno claimed he owned 158 acres of land in southeast Rockford that he felt would be a good location for the new high school the city was planning to build. County records however failed to show any land in that area that Emordeno supposedly owned. Later FBI files from 1967 mentioned that Schleicher had done favors for Rockford LCN consigliere Joe Zito and member Phil Cannella in regards to liquor dealings in the Rockford area as Schleicher in his capacity as mayor was also on the liquor commission. Additionally, another 12-page report from 1968 stated that Mayor Schleicher refused to suspend the liquor license of Phil Emordeno because of “local pressures.” These local pressures were not outlined but it is assumable that consigliere Joe Zito was behind it as Emordeno was a front for Zito in two taverns- the Midway Lounge and the Grant Park Tavern. It is also interesting to note that the Sunset Tap, owned on paper by Frank Palmeri, had mysteriously avoided zoning issues relating to its expansion and proximity to a church located less than 300 feet away. Mayor Schleicher’s nephew just happened to be a bartender at the Sunset Tap. Palmeri himself had been called to testify before the Federal Grand Jury in 1968 regarding gambling and liquor violations relating to the Rockford LCN.

Before 1964 Mayor Schleicher was very much against gambling and liquor violations, often handing down severe suspensions against taverns that were caught in these violations. About 1964 things began to change and Schleicher became laxer in this regard for some reason. One possible reason could be the following- by September 1964 former Rockford underboss Gaspare Calo had been moved back to Sicily for three years. Calo’s former attorney William E. Collins was interviewed by the FBI and Collins stated he stayed with Calo for one week while on vacation in Europe. Collins went on to say that Calo was still well-versed with Rockford LCN matters. One particular bit of information Calo was aware of was that Mayor Schleicher had recently given up his mistress for political reasons and Calo also responded by saying he hoped that Schleicher would have enough sense to avoid future entanglements. Is it possible that the Rockford LCN had used this mistress information against Schleicher? If one remembers The Godfather II movie when the Corleone family sets up Senator Pat Geary in the motel, it’s not entirely far-fetched of some sort of blackmail.

It was no secret that Mayor Schleicher appointed Joe Zammuto, Jr. to be the superintendent of Rockford’s Sewer Department. Zammuto, Jr. said in an interview to the newspaper, “I didn’t really know much about sewers then, but I learned fast.” Zammuto, Jr. was the son of Rockford LCN boss Joe Zammuto. Quite a nice paying job to be appointed to so it seemed that the Rockford LCN’s reach knew no limits at the time.


A November 21, 1967 FBI file then stated “CG T-5 advised that it is his belief that JOE ZAMMUTO, JR. is “the bag man” for Mayor SCHLEICHER. CG- T-6 was asked if he had any knowledge that Mayor SCHLEICHER was involved in accepting graft and whether he was in possession of any information that JOE ZAMMUTO, JR. was his “bag man.” CG T-6 replied that it has been his experience that Mayor SCHLEICHER would “take it anywhere he could get it.” He said he does not believe that JOE ZAMMUTO, JR. is SCHLEICHER’s “bag man” but rather that SCHLEICHER’s brother handles this job.”

On July 3, 1966 Milwaukee LCN informant Augie Maniaci told the FBI 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, which Rockford LCN member Phil Priola owned. Girls for this party were furnished by a local pimp and the purpose was designed to aid in police protection for the policy wheel the Rockford family was planning on bringing in. Just a few months before, in January 1966, the FBI with the help of local law enforcement, raided a policy wheel the Rockford LCN owned at 905 Newport Avenue and arrested many men. This protection by Cramer was to ensure no interference with the operation of the new policy wheel.

In July 1967 the FBI reported on another instance of a police officer and a possible improper relationship to Rockford LCN member Joe “Gramps” Marinelli. Apparently Chief of Police Delbert Peterson relayed information to FBI Special Agent Bradner Riggs that one of his officers, who also was a National Academy Graduate, was severely reprimanded for his close relationship with Marinelli apparently picking him up at his house and traveling around with him.

The 1970s brought about a bit of change for the Rockford LCN- repeated FBI investigations, a federal grand jury inquiry in 1968 and a two-year prison stint on extortion charges for capo Charles Vince caused the organization to keep their heads down but their relationship to law enforcement and politicians expanded. By 1970 Joe Zammuto found someone to act as a chauffeur to drive him around according to an April 30, 1970 page in his FBI file. The entry reads: “On April 20, 1970, Officer [REDACTED] RPD, advised [REDACTED] a former police officer who retired on a disability pension, is working as a [REDACTED] for ZAMMUTO on his almost daily trip to Chicago area race tracks.” A record check from the previous few years showed that Billie L. Selk was a former Rockford police officer who was a detective, and had retired on March 31, 1967 on a disability pension. It would seem that having a retired police officer act as your chauffer would be a great idea in that he would be able to legally carry a pistol. It is unknown how long Selk worked for Zammuto, but Selk eventually passed away in Seminole, Florida in 1987 at the age of 62.

Another interesting tidbit of information related to LCN capo Charles Vince in that he would often tip-off Rockford Police to gambling activities where the operator refused to pay the street tax to the LCN. It was stated in a March 5, 1970 FBI file that a Rockford Police Sergeant revealed some information and it was explained in this way: “It is [REDACTED]’s observation that [WILLIAM E. COLLINS, Rockford Corporation Counsel] for City of Rockford, Illinois, makes frequent contacts with VINCE in various parts of the city. These contacts are made in an automobile rather than at a fixed location. For this reason [REDACTED] believes that [COLLINS] is the go-between at the present time between VINCE and JOE ZAMMUTO, boss of the Rockford Family. [REDACTED] states that [REDACTED] he observed Captain [PAUL J. BENGSTON] retired Rockford Police Department captain, and Rockford Corporation Counsel, [WILLIAM E. COLLINS] seated outside the location in a car. Sergeant [REDACTED] believed that these raids were set up for VINCE by [COLLINS] and/or [BENGSTON].” Regarding William E. Collins, you’ll remember that he was the former attorney for Rockford underboss Gaspare Calo, before Calo moved back to Sicily in 1961.

In the 1970s it seemed nothing changed for the Rockford LCN’s relationship with those in charge politically. In 1972 Ciro Gargano was being housed in the Winnebago County Jail for his involvement in a shootout with Waukegan, Illinois police and he was said to be associated with the Chicago Outfit in an auto theft ring. While in the Winnebago County Jail Gargano was given such preferential treatment that he was allowed unlimited phone calls, a TV and stereo in his cell, he was put on furloughs for work release he was not eligible for and at one point on one of these furloughs he was accompanied to the Driver’s License Bureau by a sheriff’s deputy and he was given a new driver’s license. When questioned, this deputy stated he was told that Deputy Chief Michael Iasparro advised Gargano to contact Anthony Fiorenza at the license bureau and he would receive his license. One of the fallouts of this investigation was Lt. Sheriff Joe Mandell who was in charge of the jail. According to FBI files Mandell was related to LCN boss Joe Zammuto’s wife and the bureau desired to interview Mandell at length but he was too loyal to Zammuto and rebuffed them. For his loyalty, Mandell was eventually demoted from Lieutenant on the Sheriff’s Department because of the favoritism to Gargano. For his indiscretion, license examiner Anthony Fiorenza was fired.

This Gargano situation came to light during a 1974 investigation into the sheriff’s department and improprieties. One of those involved Deputy Chief Michael Iasparro again. In 1974 bank robber and kidnapper Ted Bacino had killed a sheriff’s deputy as he attempted to make his getaway. When he was arrested, authorities found the private phone numbers of LCN street gambling boss Phil “The Tailor” Emordeno and Deputy Chief Michael Iasparro. When questioned about this, Iasparro admitted he had gambled often with Bacino. When questioned about Emordeno, Bacino told investigators he knew “PHILLIP EMORDENO was one of the leaders of organized crime in Rockford, Illinois. He stated that EMORDENO was a loan shark and always carried a pistol in his belt.”

This serious breach of law enforcement and its relationship with the Rockford LCN caused Iasparro to retire prematurely from the Sheriff’s Department and though he cited health reasons for this, those in the know suspected it was because of this cozy relationship.

Another questionable relationship came to light with a huge gambling bust on March 10, 1979. Authorities raided the Mark II Restaurant and Lounge at 5011 E. State Street and found a gambling operation going on amongst 275-300 people. There were overtones that this was clearly part of the floating gambling games that the Rockford LCN backed but investigators stopped short of saying this. One bit of information that the newspapers picked up on from someone present was that just as the raid commenced, investigators recognized a “55-ish year old man” and hustled him out of there. What came out later in a bit of damage control was that Illinois State Representative Edolo “Zeke” Giorgi admitted he was there having dinner in the restaurant upstairs but that he left about 20 minutes before the raid started. Giorgi’s reputation seemed to be unscathed, but those in the Rockford area knew of his connected history.

Back in the mid-1960s Giorgi worked as a salesman for Northern Illinois Music Company which was a Rockford LCN connected vending machine company run by William V. Morris and Reno Sandona. Morris was one of those men that police reports stated in 1946 was part of a syndicate that controlled gambling in Rockford at the time that included among others boss Tony Musso and underboss Gaspare Calo. Giorgi’s son-in-law also happened to be Frank Vella, the son of Frank P. Vella, a man who the FBI investigated as a “known Rockford La Cosa Nostra associate and bookmaker.”

Giorgi, who was Rockford’s voice in downstate Illinois politics and was even named as “The Father of the Illinois Lottery” was very beloved by people in his hometown but no one knew of the FBI’s desire to want to have him secretly recorded because of his relationship with the Rockford LCN. Around 1981 an undercover special agent with the FBI gained the trust of capo Charles Vince. The agent was posing as a businessman who wanted to open a pornographic video tape/peep show/bookstore in Rockford. When the agent expressed concern about opening such a risky business venture in Rockford and potential union problems, according to FBI files “Vince advised UCSA to contact Illinois State Representative “Zeke” Giorgi for assistance regarding opening adult book store. Vince advised that Giorgi “has the fix” and can “fix anything from a traffic ticket on up.” Vince advised UCSA to meet with Giorgi re UCSA’s contemplated opening of adult book store and to tell Giorgi Vince sent him.” In view of this possible political corruption, the Chicago office of the FBI desired to have Giorgi secretly recorded by the undercover special agent. An opportunity existed on May 7, 1981 but no recording of Giorgi was ever made for some reason and the whole investigation was scrapped when the Rockford LCN somehow suspected the true identity of the undercover agent and cut all ties with him.

Another instance of questionable practices involving law enforcement and the Rockford LCN related to the 1984 Rockford Morning Star expose on the local Mafia. In that huge revealing article, it was reported that besides speaking with sources and using FBI files, investigative reporters stated they used detailed Rockford police files on the Rockford LCN and its members. Not long after this article hit the newsstand, these police files were all destroyed. The destruction of these files was not known until 2005 when the Rock River Times was reporting on the Rockford connection to the Family Secrets case and its shared gambling operation. When the Rock River Times found out the police files were destroyed, they did an in-depth investigation. It came to light that in 1985 or 1986 Rockford Police Detective Dominic Iasparro and other unidentified police officials destroyed or transferred these police mob files as a sort of “space-saving purging.” When pressed further, Iasparro couldn’t recollect exactly who or how many police officials was part of this purging. Iasparro did state that it wasn’t his decision to destroy the files, but who made the decision isn’t exactly clear. With the Rockford Register Star’s expose on the Rockford mob in March 1984 still fresh in the minds of people a year later, could the file purging have been a concerted effort to push the mob out of the spotlight or even hamper federal investigation into their activities? It also makes one wonder when they know that Dominic Iasparro was the son of Deputy Chief Michael Iasparro, who retired amid suspicious circumstances regarding his connections to bank robber/gambler Ted Bacino.

As the 1980s gave way to the 1990s it seemed that the cozy association between the Rockford LCN and authorities continued to flourish. In April 1991 a bomb had exploded outside the home of a Rockford gambler who refused to pay the street tax to the Rockford LCN. As the FBI began its investigation it didn’t take long for them to center on Rockford capo Sebastian “Knobby” Gulotta as being the one who was responsible for ordering the bombing. When referencing a conversation at a local Rockford LCN connected restaurant about the bombing, under the heading “POSSIBLE POLICE CORRUPTION” in the FBI file it stated that a source advised the FBI that “the participants in the conversation indicate they are aware the FBI is the primary investigative agency of the bombing, that they know exactly what is going on (in the investigation) because of information at least one of them has received from [REDACTED].” This is a very interesting development in that it clearly points to a law enforcement individual feeding information to the unnamed persons. A file from June 19, 1991 cryptically noted that “The source stated it was learned from other patrons of the business that were also associates of [REDACTED] that this individual might be responsible for provision of police intelligence to [REDACTED] and/or associates.”

Branching out, the FBI continued its investigation of the bombing relating to gambling and other illegal business involving the Rockford LCN. It seemed that the Rochelle, Illinois police department had pulled surveillance on Rockford LCN associate Frank P. Vella picking up and dropping off gambling parlay cards in that city and returning to Rockford with the proceeds. The Rochelle Police had partnered with the Rockford Police and the Illinois Department of Revenue on the investigation into Vella’s parlay card gambling violations and his bookmaking and gambling operation at the storefront he owned in Rockford. In a January 21, 1992 FBI file the FBI made a special notation: “[REDACTED] ensure we do not reveal our investigative plans targeting LCN to this collective law enforcement group.” Clearly the FBI was worried about a possible leak to the members of the Rockford mob that this was investigation into the LCN and not just a simple gambling inquiry.

This is not all-inclusive when reporting on the relationship of the Rockford LCN and authorities and politicians at every level, but it does show how a criminal organization can survive with the tacit cooperation of these government entities whether it’s through bribery, blackmail or extortion.

[PolackTony]

Great write-up, as usual, Cavita.

[eboli]

Nice job, cavita. It was an interesting read.

[sdeitche]

Great stuff.

[Patrickgold]

Cavita, great write up. Seems like their connection to the sheriff’s department was the leak. Very curious about the file purge. I remember that coming out in the family secrets trial. I wonder where order came from. This also goes to show how little interest the FEDs had in Rockford.

[cavita]

Cavita, great write up. Seems like their connection to the sheriff’s department was the leak. Very curious about the file purge. I remember that coming out in the family secrets trial. I wonder where order came from. This also goes to show how little interest the FEDs had in Rockford.

I think the order came from LCN boss Joe Zammuto to destroy those files and they reached out to contacts at the police department to do just that. The feds tried their dogged best to prosecute and indict the family since 1964 but were largely unsuccessful. They made mention they desired to have an informant within the family but they admitted they were unable to because the family was too tight-knit. Since 1964 they were only able to indict two members- one in 1971 and one in 1973 on charges they were unable to connect to LCN matters. The feds spent a lot of money in the 1980s trying to do controlled narcotics buys relating to the family's drug operation but with all that money spent they weren't able to snag a member. It seems in this case that indictments didn't show a level of activity on the part of an LCN family rather they remained active no matter how the feds tried.

[Patrickgold]

Cavita, great write up. Seems like their connection to the sheriff’s department was the leak. Very curious about the file purge. I remember that coming out in the family secrets trial. I wonder where order came from. This also goes to show how little interest the FEDs had in Rockford.

I think the order came from LCN boss Joe Zammuto to destroy those files and they reached out to contacts at the police department to do just that. The feds tried their dogged best to prosecute and indict the family since 1964 but were largely unsuccessful. They made mention they desired to have an informant within the family but they admitted they were unable to because the family was too tight-knit. Since 1964 they were only able to indict two members- one in 1971 and one in 1973 on charges they were unable to connect to LCN matters. The feds spent a lot of money in the 1980s trying to do controlled narcotics buys relating to the family's drug operation but with all that money spent they weren't able to snag a member. It seems in this case that indictments didn't show a level of activity on the part of an LCN family rather they remained active no matter how the feds tried.

Cavita, did any LCN members from other cities attend Joe Zammuto’s funeral? And was Zammuto close to anyone in Chicago?

[cavita]

Cavita, great write up. Seems like their connection to the sheriff’s department was the leak. Very curious about the file purge. I remember that coming out in the family secrets trial. I wonder where order came from. This also goes to show how little interest the FEDs had in Rockford.

I think the order came from LCN boss Joe Zammuto to destroy those files and they reached out to contacts at the police department to do just that. The feds tried their dogged best to prosecute and indict the family since 1964 but were largely unsuccessful. They made mention they desired to have an informant within the family but they admitted they were unable to because the family was too tight-knit. Since 1964 they were only able to indict two members- one in 1971 and one in 1973 on charges they were unable to connect to LCN matters. The feds spent a lot of money in the 1980s trying to do controlled narcotics buys relating to the family's drug operation but with all that money spent they weren't able to snag a member. It seems in this case that indictments didn't show a level of activity on the part of an LCN family rather they remained active no matter how the feds tried.

Cavita, did any LCN members from other cities attend Joe Zammuto’s funeral? And was Zammuto close to anyone in Chicago?

I don't know if anyone from Chicago attended his funeral. I know Aiuppa attended the funeral of Zammuto's son in 1980 and the funeral of consigliere Joe Zito in 1981. Zammuto had a good relationship with Aiuppa, English, Giancana, Cerone and other ranking members. Even before he became boss, Zammuto would travel to Chicago on gambling matters- this was back in the 1940s even.

[Villain]

I just read this. Another good job cavita and thanks

[FriendofFamily]

Nice synopsis - Bravo!

[Tonyd621]

Its amazing to me that no one has really been indicted on an rico or flipped in all the years its been active.

[cavita]

Its amazing to me that no one has really been indicted on an rico or flipped in all the years its been active.

Good observation on the RICO thought. I know the FBI lost key intel on the family when Augie Maniaci was killed in September 1975, By June 1976 the FBI closed their files on the family because they said the members weren't observed doing anything illegal but I have instances where they were still involved and committing illegal activity. By 1979/1980 the FBI reopened investigation into them and were surveilling them hard due to the murder of a member and their narcotics, gambling and two, possibly three bombings. I think since the area FBI field offices were poorly staffed and they were having success prosecuting the Chicago family and the headlines that came with it, Rockford was never really a priority for them.

[Tonyd621]

Its amazing to me that no one has really been indicted on an rico or flipped in all the years its been active.

Good observation on the RICO thought. I know the FBI lost key intel on the family when Augie Maniaci was killed in September 1975, By June 1976 the FBI closed their files on the family because they said the members weren't observed doing anything illegal but I have instances where they were still involved and committing illegal activity. By 1979/1980 the FBI reopened investigation into them and were surveilling them hard due to the murder of a member and their narcotics, gambling and two, possibly three bombings. I think since the area FBI field offices were poorly staffed and they were having success prosecuting the Chicago family and the headlines that came with it, Rockford was never really a priority for them.

Towards the end when you noted how they destroyed documents... well, when I was in the military capturing some pretty bad guys and we were in the middle of an op and a govt official who worked for a clandenstine 3 letter organization with high security clearance told me in the middle of the moment he said,
"There is many reasons to collect intel, but there is only ONE reason to destory it" lol

[cavita]

Its amazing to me that no one has really been indicted on an rico or flipped in all the years its been active.

Good observation on the RICO thought. I know the FBI lost key intel on the family when Augie Maniaci was killed in September 1975, By June 1976 the FBI closed their files on the family because they said the members weren't observed doing anything illegal but I have instances where they were still involved and committing illegal activity. By 1979/1980 the FBI reopened investigation into them and were surveilling them hard due to the murder of a member and their narcotics, gambling and two, possibly three bombings. I think since the area FBI field offices were poorly staffed and they were having success prosecuting the Chicago family and the headlines that came with it, Rockford was never really a priority for them.

Towards the end when you noted how they destroyed documents... well, when I was in the military capturing some pretty bad guys and we were in the middle of an op and a govt official who worked for a clandenstine 3 letter organization with high security clearance told me in the middle of the moment he said,
"There is many reasons to collect intel, but there is only ONE reason to destory it" lol

Great comparison on that. I would have loved to get my hands on those files as they most likely named more members and associates. I had spoken a long time ago with one of the reporters that wrote the 1984 newspaper expose on the Rockford LCN. He told me he thought he had copies of those files in a box in his attic. I gave him time and touched base with him once in a while and got a cool response from him. He altogether stopped responding to my emails which was incredibly frustrating.

[Patrickgold]

Its amazing to me that no one has really been indicted on an rico or flipped in all the years its been active.

Good observation on the RICO thought. I know the FBI lost key intel on the family when Augie Maniaci was killed in September 1975, By June 1976 the FBI closed their files on the family because they said the members weren't observed doing anything illegal but I have instances where they were still involved and committing illegal activity. By 1979/1980 the FBI reopened investigation into them and were surveilling them hard due to the murder of a member and their narcotics, gambling and two, possibly three bombings. I think since the area FBI field offices were poorly staffed and they were having success prosecuting the Chicago family and the headlines that came with it, Rockford was never really a priority for them.

Towards the end when you noted how they destroyed documents... well, when I was in the military capturing some pretty bad guys and we were in the middle of an op and a govt official who worked for a clandenstine 3 letter organization with high security clearance told me in the middle of the moment he said,
"There is many reasons to collect intel, but there is only ONE reason to destory it" lol

Great comparison on that. I would have loved to get my hands on those files as they most likely named more members and associates. I had spoken a long time ago with one of the reporters that wrote the 1984 newspaper expose on the Rockford LCN. He told me he thought he had copies of those files in a box in his attic. I gave him time and touched base with him once in a while and got a cool response from him. He altogether stopped responding to my emails which was incredibly frustrating.

Wonder why he stopped responding. Did you offer him some money? Maybe somebody else got to him to make him change his mind.