Frank A., Son of the Rockford LCN Underboss

[cavita]

Frank Albert Buscemi was born December 23, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Frank Buscemi and Vincenza “Jennie” DiMaria. Frank was the youngest of three sons of Frank and Jennie and Frank, the father, was already a Chicago Outfit associate and bookmaker working under Jimmie DeGeorge. Around late 1958 the Buscemi family moved to Rockford, Illinois where the elder Buscemi became heavily involved with the Rockford LCN, being made a member in 1959 and attaining the position of underboss in October 1961.

By 1969, young Frank was working at Stateline Vending, which was a vending machine company his father started upon moving to Rockford. The company was the dominant vending machine company in the Rockford area as a result of intimidation on the part of the Rockford LCN.
On November 21, 1970 young Frank married Judith Mandell in Rockford. Judith was the daughter of Joseph Mandell (the surname was originally Mandala) and Maria Guenzani. Joe Mandell was the Superintendent of the Winnebago County jail but was demoted amid a scandal-ridden year in 1974. The marriage between Frank and Judith didn’t last, however, and the couple divorced in June 1975.

Later that year in November, young Frank incorporated a business, F.A.B., Inc., 1407 North Main Street and the business correspondents were attorneys Sam Cannariato and Eugene Pigatti. The business at 1407 North Main Street became The Uptown Tap, in which young Frank was a front for his father’s business dealings and the previous front for the business was Robert Pauls under the name the Uptown Tavern. The tavern was the site of some gambling raids in the past and it was no secret that numbers were being run from there with bookmakers working inside.

By October 1980 young Frank was listed as the owner of the Plaza Suite at 640 Hollister Avenue, a hip, new nightclub which again was just a front for his father’s business interests. By early 1980 Rockford LCN boss Joe Zammuto informed the crime family they would be dealing in narcotics and the elder Buscemi was the spearhead for this by utilizing not only the relatively recent Sicilian immigrants he sponsored for immigration, but his son Frank. Young Frank was moving cocaine on a regular basis, especially at the Plaza Suite. Young Frank was also being investigated by Milwaukee law enforcement for running narcotics in and out of that city, most likely with the cooperation of the Milwaukee LCN family and FBI files showed telephonic contact between underboss Buscemi and contacts in Milwaukee.

In 1981 the IRS was ramping up investigation into the elder Buscemi and young Frank was also in the crosshairs. The IRS file indicated of young Frank that he frequented the Uptown Bar at 1407 N. Main Street, Dean’s Pub at 404 Elm Street, The Flame at 625 7th Street, Foxy’s at 1322 Broadway and the North Town Tavern, 1419 North Main Street. This investigation culminated on July 2, 1984 when young Frank was charged under four indictments with six counts of not reporting proper sales taxes. He had a tax liability of $1,956 on $41,460 worth of unreported sales from September 1982 through April 1983.

After the death of his father in December 1987 it seemed young Frank and his brothers lost whatever standing they had in the Rockford LCN. A bomb placed at a business owned by one of the Buscemi brothers destroyed an office in early 1988 and may have been a message to the boys that a new era was beginning. Young Frank in later years worked as a machine tool operator and as a bartender before going sober through Alcoholics Anonymous in 2002. Frank ended up passing away on December 5, 2016 in Rockford just shy of his 69th birthday.

There has been some discussion in the Rockford area if young Frank was an actual LCN member vs. just being an associate. He was afforded much respect in Rockford and was well-loved and respected by everyone. I personally have not seen any information giving Frank “made” status and it is my opinion he was a higher level associate helping his father in LCN business interests.

[Patrickgold]

Great write up Cavita as always. I would think he would be made if he tried to make any moves to keep the power. Would you say he was the most powerful of his brothers?

[PolackTony]

A+ Always looking forward to reading your deep dives into Rockford guys.

My assumption has been that Frank Albert wasn’t made, at least circa 1980, given that he was entrusted to personally oversee narcotics operations. I’d guess that he was probably never made, but who really knows for sure. It’s possible that he was made later; though I’m not aware of any info stating that Rockford has any ceremonies in the 80s, presumably they had one in this period as Gumba Saladino seems to have been made. That the Buscemi sons seem to have lost power following Frank’s death would, however, further suggest that Frank Albert was not a member.

[cavita]

A+ Always looking forward to reading your deep dives into Rockford guys.

My assumption has been that Frank Albert wasn’t made, at least circa 1980, given that he was entrusted to personally oversee narcotics operations. I’d guess that he was probably never made, but who really knows for sure. It’s possible that he was made later; though I’m not aware of any info stating that Rockford has any ceremonies in the 80s, presumably they had one in this period as Gumba Saladino seems to have been made. That the Buscemi sons seem to have lost power following Frank’s death would, however, further suggest that Frank Albert was not a member.

I spoke with a retired Milwaukee LE guy years ago and he said he was pursuing Frank A. hard in the early to mid 80s relating to narcotics distribution in the Milwaukee area. He said at one point he ended up at the elder Frank's house and warned him that they were closing in on him and his son and to cooperate would be the best thing for both of them. The old man basically replied, "Do what you have to do."
Also, Santo Colella told a source of mine that he knew Frank A. and that they worked together in the same time frame, presumably on narcotics deals.

[PolackTony]

A+ Always looking forward to reading your deep dives into Rockford guys.

My assumption has been that Frank Albert wasn’t made, at least circa 1980, given that he was entrusted to personally oversee narcotics operations. I’d guess that he was probably never made, but who really knows for sure. It’s possible that he was made later; though I’m not aware of any info stating that Rockford has any ceremonies in the 80s, presumably they had one in this period as Gumba Saladino seems to have been made. That the Buscemi sons seem to have lost power following Frank’s death would, however, further suggest that Frank Albert was not a member.

I spoke with a retired Milwaukee LE guy years ago and he said he was pursuing Frank A. hard in the early to mid 80s relating to narcotics distribution in the Milwaukee area. He said at one point he ended up at the elder Frank's house and warned him that they were closing in on him and his son and to cooperate would be the best thing for both of them. The old man basically replied, "Do what you have to do."
Also, Santo Colella told a source of mine that he knew Frank A. and that they worked together in the same time frame, presumably on narcotics deals.

Great info, thanks for sharing.

[cavita]

From left, Frank A. Buscemi with brothers Salvatore and Vince.