Timeline
1986 to 1997: Samuel Carlisi
Acting 1989 to 1993: John DiFronzo
Acting 1993 to 1994: Joseph Andriacchi
Acting 1994 to 1997: John DiFronzo
1997 to 2001: John Monteleone
2001 to 2006: James Marcello
Acting 2001 to 2003: Alfonso Tornabene
2006 to 2010: Michael Sarno
Outfit boss Joseph Aiuppa was imprisoned in 1986 due to his role in the Las Vegas casino skimming operation. Initial FBI and law enforcement intelligence identified Joseph Ferriola as the succeeding boss, but more reliable sources later confirmed that it was actually Carlisi who had succeeded Aiuppa. Outfit member-sources were not very comprehensive in the 1980s so associates and second-hand intelligence were relied on more heavily. Gerald Scarpelli (Chicago LCN member) and Leonard Patrick (well-placed Chicago LCN associate) later identified Carlisi as the successor and this was later complemented by Nicholas Calabrese (Chicago LCN member) when he testified in the Family Secrets trial in 2005. As Nick was made at the time Aiuppa went away he would have been well aware of who the new boss was in 1986.
Sample of Scarpelli 302 identifying Carlisi as boss
Nick Calabrese testifying that Carlisi succeeded Aiuppa as boss
In 1989, Sam Carlisi semi-retired to Florida, leaving the "day to day" running of the Chicago LCN to reputed underboss John DiFronzo. A federal source cited in a 1992 Chicago Tribune article described DiFronzo as being in charge of "day to day" operations, stating that Carlisi was "semiretired" in Florida. A 1993 article covering DiFronzo's trial (for allegedly attempting to take over a San Diego tribal casino) stated that the prosecution in DiFronzo's 1993 trial described DiFronzo as "the boss of the Chicago mob" and that Carlisi had since "retired" to Florida. An additional article covering DiFronzo's 1993 conviction gave 1989 as the date of DiFronzo's promotion. However, it doesn't appear that Carlisi formally abdicated the boss position and it would not be unprecedented in LCN circles for a boss to play a less active role but still retain the title. For this reason, I deduced that DiFronzo was the acting boss and not overall boss.
News articles from 1992 and 1993, respectively, describing DiFronzo as boss.
1989 given as date of DiFronzo's accession to at least acting boss.
By 1992, both DiFronzo and Carlisi were under indictment and both were imprisoned in 1993. FBI informants described a new acting boss in July of 1993. Although the information is redacted, the physical description and other information ("intelligent"; "successful businessman"; "low profile"; "free of investigation") matches Joseph Andriacchi.
FBI identified a new boss July 1993
Physical description of new acting boss
Physical description of Andriacchi
DiFronzo's sentence was later overturned on appeal and he was released from prison in 1994. It can be assumed that he continued as acting boss during this time period, but some may argue that he immediately stepped down upon his release and Andriacchi continued in the acting boss position. Either way, Sam Carlisi died in 1997 and Nick Calabrese testified that Carlisi was succeeded by John Monteleone, making no mention of DiFronzo or Andriacchi in the boss succession. At the time of his death, Carlisi was still pursuing an appeal of his conviction and a date for preliminary arguments had been set for January 17 -- sixteen days after Carlisi's passing. A frequent visitor to Carlisi in prison was Al Tornabene, his cousin and alleged acting capo for the remnants of the Melrose Park crew (which may have been merged with Cicero by that point). It could be that Carlisi used Tornabene to preserve his influence on the street in the event that his sentence was overturned. James Marcello was known to be Carlisi's driver and protege, so Carlisi may have been hoping to keep the position of boss within his sphere.
Regardless of Carlisi's intentions, his death still created a void that needed to be filled. DiFronzo, as underboss and suspected acting boss, was first in the line of succession. However, it appears that his wealth and stint in prison had lowered his aspirations for becoming overall boss of the Outfit. As a result, DiFronzo declined the position (LCN member Frank Calabrese and associate Joseph Fosco --former driver for William Messino who had known DiFronzo -- confirm DiFronzo's hesitancy) and allowed (for lack of a better term) John Monteleone to take the position instead. DiFronzo may have also instructed Andriacchi to not pursue the role and encouraged members of the Elmwood Park crew to distance themselves from the Cicero power-base that Monteleone was a part of. DiFronzo, in the words of Fosco, was now "consigliere" and retained "discrete" and "limited" access to Outfit affairs while also retaining a position of power and influence should he choose to use it. I hesitate to go as far as Fosco by saying Elmwood Park was completely "deactivated" as subsequent information and cases confirm some continuation of involvement in criminal activity by the crew. The Elmwood Park Crew still remained part of the Outfit but was distanced from the day to day operations (see Frank Calabrese quote below). Fosco describes it as a "split," but Calabrese's description is probably more apt
Frank Calabrese telling his son that DiFronzo had "stepped down."
Frank Calabrese reiterating that DiFronzo does not want the top spot and is very wealthy.
Joe Fosco's description of DiFronzo's position within the Outfit.
Frank Calabrese describing the "friction" between the groups (Andriacchi/North and Monteleone/Tornabene/South) but it's still "one system." This indicates that the Outfit was still whole but different "groups" were at odds.
Monteleone died in 2001 and FBI sources conveyed that Al Tornabene had taken over, at least on an interim basis.
FBI file mentioning Tornabene becoming boss.
Tornabene was apparently only boss in an acting capacity, and Monteleone's successor was in fact James Marcello, who was imprisoned at the time with a 2003 release date.
Marcello captured on a visiting room wire speaking to his brother in prison.
Snippet from Marcello's PSR (pre-sentencing report) for Family Secrets citing an FBI agent's opinion that Marcello had become boss in 2001.
Another court document identifying Marcello as "Boss of the Chicago Outfit."
Consensually recorded conversation between Mark Hay (cooperator) and Samuel Volpendesto (Outfit associate) where it's implied that Marcello succeeded Monteleone but Volpendesto was of the opinion that it should have been "Large" [Michael Sarno].
Recorded conversation from 2001 with Frank Calabrese saying that the "pole" [boss position] isn't "over there" [north/Elmwood Park] but "over here" [Cicero/South]. He mentions that people think Andriacchi (a.k.a. "guy who used to flip pancakes" and possibly DiFronzo, by extension) and Lombardo ("funny guy from up east") are the top guys but it was really Marcello.
Marcello was only on the street for around two years before he was indicted and subsequently convicted and imprisoned as a result of the Family Secrets trial. It's possible that Anthony Zizzo may have acted as boss in his stead, but this would have lasted no later than 2006, when Zizzo disappeared -- allegedly due to a power struggle with Sarno. Marcello had yet to be sentenced but would certainly be going away for a long time and Sarno probably saw an opportunity to grab power by eliminating Zizzo.
At any rate, FBI source information had Sarno pegged as the Outfit boss by 2007.
Snippet from an affidavit describing Sarno as boss.
Additionally, FBI sources related that Sarno was still sharing part of Outfit proceeds with John DiFronzo, indicating that DiFronzo still held some sort of senior position within the Outfit ("consigliere," as described by Fosco above). Also mentioned is information that Frank "Toots" Caruso (Chicago LCN Member and possible Chinatown capo) was kicking up to Sarno, implying that Sarno was the boss.
FBI source information describing Sarno as being at the "top" of the Outfit, while another stated he was turning over money to DiFronzo and was "higher in the leadership structure" than Frank Caruso, described as a "crew boss" or capo.
Now, who succeeded Sarno is really anybody's guess. Popular choices seem to be Salvatore DeLaurentis or Albert Vena, but I've yet to see any type of "official" source (such as those shared above) naming either of these individuals as boss of the Chicago LCN.
