Chicago Outfit Places of Origin

[cavita]

Giuseppe Guttilla was born September 5, 1887 in Casteldaccia, Sicily to Giuseppe Guttilla and Maria Pinello. In 1905 Guttilla immigrated to the United States settling in the LaSalle-Peru, Illinois area and he married Giuseppa Corso (of Montevago, Sicily) June 28, 1913 in Ladd, Illinois. By the mid-1920s Guttilla was living in Rockford and he was a confirmed early Rockford LCN member but he remains a mystery. He had no arrests and it is unclear what he did to achieve made status. He was the father-in-law of Augie Maniaci and the brother-in-law of LaSalle-Peru gangster Joe “The Crow” Corso. He was also the grandfather of Joe W. Saladino. Guttilla died November 28, 1963 in Rockford, Illinois.

[cavita]

Gaspare Calo was born September 13, 1890 in Casteldaccia, Sicily to Luigi Calo and Concetta Butera. Calo married Providenza Zito on June 20, 1914 in San Giuseppe Iato, Sicily. Zito was the sister of Frank and Joe Zito, boss of the Springfield LCN and consigliere of the Rockford LCN, respectively. Information exists that Calo was made a member of the SGI prior to coming to the United States, which he did in March 1923 according to his petition for naturalization. Calo was involved in bootlegging, gambling and prostitution and was Rockford underboss to Tony Musso and by 1961 he moved back to Casteldaccia, Sicily and Calo died there on July 16, 1973.

[cavita]

Joseph “Blackie” Calderotta was born October 22, 1909 in Rockford, Illinois to Luciano and Maria Calderotta of Castellana, Sicily. Calderotta took his first arrest at age 19 for robbery and kidnapping. Over the years other charges included carrying concealed weapons, assault, keeping a house of prostitution, liquor charges, gambling and in a 1946 police report he was listed as “being part of a local syndicate that controlled gambling in Rockford.” Calderotta was most likely an early Rockford LCN member and his life was cut short when he died October 1, 1948 near Ottawa, Illinois in a car accident in which Charles LaFranka was a passenger.

[PolackTony]

Great info on these guys Cavita, yet again. Interesting to see two guys from Casteldaccia, which of course is in the Chicago Palermo “triangle”, but who both married women from Rockford paesani areas in SGI and Agrigento. It really doesn’t seem to me that the Bagheria-Termini-Ciminna “triangle” had its own network in Rockford, despite this area being so formative for Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison. Even when we see guys from there in Rockford, one joined the SGI family before emigrating and the other married into the downstate AgrigentinI network.

Another interesting theme to note is that how involved Rockford members were involved with prostitution, despite the overwhelming Sicilian character of the family and it’s ok going ties back to Sicily . With Chicago, it’s easy to point at Capone being a Camorrist’ pimp before he was inducted into the mafia, but that explanation doesn’t work with Rockford. I wonder if this was just one of those rules, like narcotics, that was observed as much in the breach as not, or if there were specific paesani networks within the mafia that took that rule less seriously.

[cavita]

Great info on these guys Cavita, yet again. Interesting to see two guys from Casteldaccia, which of course is in the Chicago Palermo “triangle”, but who both married women from Rockford paesani areas in SGI and Agrigento. It really doesn’t seem to me that the Bagheria-Termini-Ciminna “triangle” had its own network in Rockford, despite this area being so formative for Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison. Even when we see guys from there in Rockford, one joined the SGI family before emigrating and the other married into the downstate AgrigentinI network.

Another interesting theme to note is that how involved Rockford members were involved with prostitution, despite the overwhelming Sicilian character of the family and it’s ok going ties back to Sicily . With Chicago, it’s easy to point at Capone being a Camorrist’ pimp before he was inducted into the mafia, but that explanation doesn’t work with Rockford. I wonder if this was just one of those rules, like narcotics, that was observed as much in the breach as not, or if there were specific paesani networks within the mafia that took that rule less seriously.

The only other immigrant from Casteldaccia I'm aware of that came to Rockford was a Salvatore Bonifacio. He arrived in the late 1950s and in the 1960s was hooked up with member Phil Priola in a mobile glass service. I would think Bonifacio would be familiar with Calo given their common hometown.
As for the prostitution, later FBI files detail how Zito and Calo we're involved in "white slave traffic" starting in the 1930s. It was very interesting seeing all the arrests for "disorderly houses" which was just a sterile way of saying brothel. The Calcione brothers and LaFranka brothers were heavily involved in organized prostitution for the Rockford LCN and associates Tony Cannella (brother to member Phil) and Nello Cellitti would run prostitutes out of their taverns. Member Phil Priola was noted as running prostitutes out of his motel and have someone perform abortions there as well. The business was definitely not taboo to the Rockford LCN.

[Antiliar]

Pimping out prostitutes seemed to be a thing in Chicago. Joe Aiuppa for one allegedly did it through his hotel. I believe the Rush Street and Chicago Heights crews were also involved in it. Grand Avenue boss Anthony Centracchio owned an abortion clinic.

[PolackTony]

I believe that there was even an FBI report on LCN from the 60s that stated that profiting from prostitution was prohibited by LCN, with the exception of the Chicago family. Rockford shows that this wasn't limited to Chicago only, which makes me wonder if this was a regional thing that developed in the Chicago area, or if there was something about the Sicilian background of some members that made this prohibition less important to them. Again, with Chicago, it could be easy to point at Capone and assume that the prostitution thing was a legacy of the Camorra. But this is belied not just by the heavily Sicilian Rockford family, but also the fact that the Sicilian-centered Northside crew was heavily involved in prostitution. Phil Priola's father was Joe Priola from Ficarazzi, who was probably an old-time Northside member himself, and I believe there were direct links between the Northside crew and Rockford in prostitution racket operations (Cavita has mentioned some of those before, I think). So I think it goes back far and seems to be linked to some of the most strongly Sicilian elements in the Chicago area mafia and can't just be chalked up to mainlanders and the old Camorra influence.

What about Milwaukee, STL, KC, Detroit? Not familiar with whether these families had any prostitution operations also.

[cavita]

I believe that there was even an FBI report on LCN from the 60s that stated that profiting from prostitution was prohibited by LCN, with the exception of the Chicago family. Rockford shows that this wasn't limited to Chicago only, which makes me wonder if this was a regional thing that developed in the Chicago area, or if there was something about the Sicilian background of some members that made this prohibition less important to them. Again, with Chicago, it could be easy to point at Capone and assume that the prostitution thing was a legacy of the Camorra. But this is belied not just by the heavily Sicilian Rockford family, but also the fact that the Sicilian-centered Northside crew was heavily involved in prostitution. Phil Priola's father was Joe Priola from Ficarazzi, who was probably an old-time Northside member himself, and I believe there were direct links between the Northside crew and Rockford in prostitution racket operations (Cavita has mentioned some of those before, I think). So I think it goes back far and seems to be linked to some of the most strongly Sicilian elements in the Chicago area mafia and can't just be chalked up to mainlanders and the old Camorra influence.

What about Milwaukee, STL, KC, Detroit? Not familiar with whether these families had any prostitution operations also.

I would think Milwaukee was involved as FBI files said besides Chicago, a lot of the prostitutes came from Milwaukee as well. They may have just rotated these women. Peoria was another area they came from if I recall. Additionally, the 1975 teen sex ring involved runaways that were from the Rockford Children's Home but who also came out of Milwaukee.

[B.]

Springfield is another that was rumored to control local prostitution under Frank Zito. They didn't have deep inside sources but that was an informant's perception. Interesting given Zito's ties to Rockford.

[cavita]

Frank “Fat Frank” Sparacino born August 2, 1929 in Rockford, Illinois to Charles Sparacino and Rose Chennilaro of Sambuca, Sicily. Sparacino married Giuseppa Laudicina of Marsala, Sicily on June 6, 1953 in Rockford. Sparacino was a Rockford LCN associate and bookmaker involved in gambling and was arrested in 1975 on charges of being involved in a teenage sex ring. Sparacino died November 22, 2001 in Rockford, Illinois.

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Pasquale and Joe Gucciardo (twins) born October 3, 1933 in Rockford, Illinois to Domenico Gucciardo and Domenica Tamburello of Siculiana, Sicily. Pasquale died October 21, 1988 and Joe died October 11, 1994 in Rockford, Illinois. Both men were described by police as pimps and they were very close with Rockford LCN member Phil Priola being part owners in the Town and Country Motel with him. The Gucciardos also owned Twins Disposal and the Twinspot Tavern in Rockford.

[cavita]

Phil Damiano was born January 29, 1902 in San Gregorio, Sicily and immigrated through Ellis Island on October 27, 1920 stating his destination was to his cousin Antonino Scafidi in Milwaukee. Damiano took an arrest in 1926 in Milwaukee with Pete and Vito Balistrieri for assaulting and robbing Frank Pfaff. Damiano married Viola Simon in Rockford in 1937 and they made their home in Beloit, Wisconsin. Augie Maniaci stated that Damiano was an early Rockford LCN member as well. Damiano made at least one documented trip to Sicily and back in 1948. By 1960 he moved to San Diego and transferred his membership there working under capo Joe Adamo. Damiano died March 5, 1978 in San Diego, California.

[PolackTony]

Phil Damiano was born January 29, 1902 in San Gregorio, Sicily and immigrated through Ellis Island on October 27, 1920 stating his destination was to his cousin Antonino Scafidi in Milwaukee. Damiano took an arrest in 1926 in Milwaukee with Pete and Vito Balistrieri for assaulting and robbing Frank Pfaff. Damiano married Viola Simon in Rockford in 1937 and they made their home in Beloit, Wisconsin. Augie Maniaci stated that Damiano was an early Rockford LCN member as well. Damiano made at least one documented trip to Sicily and back in 1948. By 1960 he moved to San Diego and transferred his membership there working under capo Joe Adamo. Damiano died March 5, 1978 in San Diego, California.

Good info. San Gregorio, Catania? Damiano would seem to be the only Rockford member from Eastern Sicily, correct?

[cavita]

Phil Damiano was born January 29, 1902 in San Gregorio, Sicily and immigrated through Ellis Island on October 27, 1920 stating his destination was to his cousin Antonino Scafidi in Milwaukee. Damiano took an arrest in 1926 in Milwaukee with Pete and Vito Balistrieri for assaulting and robbing Frank Pfaff. Damiano married Viola Simon in Rockford in 1937 and they made their home in Beloit, Wisconsin. Augie Maniaci stated that Damiano was an early Rockford LCN member as well. Damiano made at least one documented trip to Sicily and back in 1948. By 1960 he moved to San Diego and transferred his membership there working under capo Joe Adamo. Damiano died March 5, 1978 in San Diego, California.

Good info. San Gregorio, Catania? Damiano would seem to be the only Rockford member from Eastern Sicily, correct?

Stand by, there's another even further.

[cavita]

Phil Damiano was born January 29, 1902 in San Gregorio, Sicily and immigrated through Ellis Island on October 27, 1920 stating his destination was to his cousin Antonino Scafidi in Milwaukee. Damiano took an arrest in 1926 in Milwaukee with Pete and Vito Balistrieri for assaulting and robbing Frank Pfaff. Damiano married Viola Simon in Rockford in 1937 and they made their home in Beloit, Wisconsin. Augie Maniaci stated that Damiano was an early Rockford LCN member as well. Damiano made at least one documented trip to Sicily and back in 1948. By 1960 he moved to San Diego and transferred his membership there working under capo Joe Adamo. Damiano died March 5, 1978 in San Diego, California.

Good info. San Gregorio, Catania? Damiano would seem to be the only Rockford member from Eastern Sicily, correct?

Frank Correnti was born October 11, 1911 in Rockford, Illinois to Alfio and Concetta Correnti of Linguaglossa, Catania, Sicily. Correnti was involved in theft, robbery and gambling before he was made a member in January 1965 after he participated in the murder of Charles LaFranka. Correnti died January 7, 1985 in Rockford, Illinois.