Rockford Acting Boss Phil Caltagerone - A Profile

[cavita]

Filippo “Phil” Caltagerone was born January 24, 1895 in Aragona, Sicily to Pietro Caltagirone and Calogera Garlisi. Interestingly, in all the obituaries referencing her, the name is not Calogera, but Antonia so she must have used a middle name. Because Phil’s father died in 1900 it is assumable this is the reason why his mother immigrated to Rockford with Phil and his brothers, Sam and Carl. Another brother Rosario must have immigrated to Rockford with them but returned at some point as he was listed as living in Aragona in 1964. Their immigration to America saw them enter through Ellis Island on August 20, 1912 aboard the S.S. Duca D’Aosta and they found their way to Rockford where many Aragonese were already settling.
Working menial jobs, Phil was employed from 1912-1915 as a section hand with the railroad, from 1915-1916 he worked at the Burson Knitting Company where many Italian immigrants worked and from 1916-1917 as a molder for the Greely Brothers factory.

On January 2, 1917 Joe Tarantola, a recent immigrant from Camporeale, Sicily, was shot and killed outside his home at 1222 Ferguson Street by two men as his mother watched in horror as the murderers ran away. Shortly after, Phil Caltagerone and Frank Zammuto were arrested, convicted, and sent to Joliet prison for 14 years. Ten months into their sentence, however, their convictions were overturned and both were released. It was noted that while Caltagerone was at Joliet he had the following visitors- brother Sam Caltagerone, Joseph Verolese, James Palato and Frank Olinie, all of Cherry, Illinois and Tony Demozel of Rockford. It should be mentioned here that Frank Zammuto was the older brother of future Rockford LCN boss Joe Zammuto.

Caltagerone was united in marriage to Maria Provenzano in Rockford on April 6, 1921. Maria was from Roccamena, Sicily and just two years later in 1923 Caltagerone took a liquor arrest for possession of four gallons of alcohol in which he claimed he bought the hootch from a man named Sam Bronie. Interestingly, Phil’s wife had a sister named Giuseppa Provenzano that married Joe Stassi, another Rockford LCN member and Phil’s brother Carl married Paolina, yet another Provenzano sister.

In the months leading up to September 1926 as a liquor investigator, David Dotz had been testifying at bootleg liquor trials and had been warned numerous times to leave south Rockford, the Little Italy section of the city. On September 22, David and his brother Alex were entering their car when another car drove by and sprayed machine gun and shotgun slugs at the brothers. Though the brothers weren’t hurt badly, authorities indicated this was a message for them from the growing liquor syndicate forming in Rockford. Based on interviewing the brothers, authorities arrested Phil Caltagerone, George Saladino and Tony DiGiovanni for the attempted murders. After a lengthy trial, all three Rockford men were found innocent and this must have cemented their reputation for not cooperating with authorities by ratting on each other, because all three were later made members of the Rockford LCN family, though it is not certain when exactly they were made.

Another arrest for selling bootleg alcohol in June 1928 found Caltagerone being fined $300 and costs, but by this time Tony Musso had been organizing the Rockford Italian criminal element and was the de facto boss of the group. A sweeping 1931 liquor conspiracy trial sent nearly two dozen Rockford men to Leavenworth Prison including boss Tony Musso. Phil Caltagerone escaped the prosecution net and later FBI files stated that while Musso was in prison from February 1931 to September 1932, Caltagerone was named acting boss in Musso’s absence.

On August 1, 1936 Caltagerone was arrested in a gambling raid at a horse race bookie establishment upstairs at 1021 South Main Street. The bookie operation was being run by Leonard Ginestra and the raid saw the arrest of twenty-two other individuals.

A petition was filed and granted for naturalization on October 7, 1937 for Caltagerone and this was witnessed by Joe Zammuto, fellow LCN member and future boss.

Just two months later, on December 21, 1937, bookie Charles Kalb was murdered while driving in his car just down the block from his house while in the company of his wife and business partner. Kalb was a huge bookmaker and horserace wire provider who was a holdout resisting a takeover by the Rockford LCN. Among others questioned in the murder was Phil Caltagerone, George Saladino, Leo Palmeri and Leonard Ginestra. The investigation amounted to nothing and Kalb’s murder was never solved and the Rockford LCN completely took over the bookie and racehorse wire business in the Rockford area.

After a lengthy investigation, on October 26, 1938, authorities raided Caltagerone’s house at 523 Michigan Avenue and he was arrested on federal charges of selling alcohol without federal tax stamps. The alcohol was cleverly concealed in a vault under his basement stairs only accessible by removing the last step and investigators stated that they suspected Caltagerone had long been involved in the bootleg alcohol business but had escaped prosecution for years. Later FBI files questioned the three years’ probation that Judge Woodward imposed on Caltagerone, calling it unusual.

The 1940s and 1950s were very profitable for the Rockford LCN and Caltagerone in particular who made money from real estate dealings and gambling. It was noted that he owned the building at 415 15th Avenue, which was the Anchor Tap, a business owned by his brother-in-law Joe Provenzano.

Intensive investigation by the FBI in the 1960s exposed the Rockford LCN family and it was noted that Phil Caltagerone made up the “inner ring” of the Rockford family and it further stated in an April 1965 file that Caltagerone was a capo of the family along with Lorenzo Buttice. Other FBI files stated that Caltagerone carried “considerable weight” in the family and its decision making. Further FBI entries noted Caltgerone’s attendance at weekly LCN meetings at the Aragona Club at 320 Kent Street in Rockford and files also stated Caltagerone was said to be a close friend of Pasquale Migliaccio, a onetime capo of the Milwaukee LCN family before he passed away. One more notable entry was the FBI listed a telephone call on November 14, 1965 from Bonanno LCN capo Pietro Licata to a redacted individual in Rockford. Further down in that same entry the FBI was trying to find out the relationship between the Caltagerone brothers and Licata, indicating that they had some connection.

A December 1968 federal liquor and gambling inquiry called nearly every member of the Rockford LCN before the Grand Jury. Caltagerone was not one of those called to testify because it was felt there was not enough evidence against him and because he was in failing health.
After a few years of heart problems, Phil Caltagerone passed away in Rockford on March 26, 1971 at the age of 76.

[B.]

Awesome work.

[PolackTony]

Excellent write-up. I don’t recall having seen any photos of Caltagerone before either.

Any idea who the source was who identified Caltagerone and Buttice as captains? I’m wondering if the Milwaukee sources like Gurera and Maniaci talked about him, given his relationship with Migliaccio. I didn’t know about Caltagerone having been an acting boss in the 30s, so I’m wondering who the source was for this given the early date.

[cavita]

Excellent write-up. I don’t recall having seen any photos of Caltagerone before either.

Any idea who the source was who identified Caltagerone and Buttice as captains? I’m wondering if the Milwaukee sources like Gurera and Maniaci talked about him, given his relationship with Migliaccio. I didn’t know about Caltagerone having been an acting boss in the 30s, so I’m wondering who the source was for this given the early date.

The photos I just received the other day in his FBI files and I have to admit before I got them I had no idea what Caltagerone looked like. I had always heard he was a bigger guy with a barrel chest. He had been described in his FBI files as 5'10" 220lbs. Buttice was identified as a capo by Maniaci in early 1964 so I suspect in April 1965 when it was stated Caltagerone was capo as well, that came from Maniaci since the entry came out of Milwaukee. I think after Buttice retired as capo in early 1966 and Charles Vince took over, Caltagerone may have stepped back due to his health. I had also seen that in addition to Vince being capo, they had listed Phil Emordeno as "street boss" which I guess could be interpreted as a capo as well.
The source giving info as Caltagerone as acting boss was also Maniaci. It was a lengthy section on the early history of the Rockford LCN and the file stated the informant had knowledge that Musso was boss as far back as that time which lines up with Maniaci when he lived in Rockford.

[PolackTony]

Thanks for the reply and great info.

My impression is that without Maniaci we’d have close to zero insight into the history of the organization in Rockford up through the 60s. Was Maniaci the only confirmed member source giving intel on Rockford? Thats my impression at least. I can’t recall if Gurera ever talked about Rockford, though maybe he did as he also provided some Chicago intel.

[cavita]

Thanks for the reply and great info.

My impression is that without Maniaci we’d have close to zero insight into the history of the organization in Rockford up through the 60s. Was Maniaci the only confirmed member source giving intel on Rockford? Thats my impression at least. I can’t recall if Gurera ever talked about Rockford, though maybe he did as he also provided some Chicago intel.

I've pored through the files and it seems Maniaci was the only one giving that info on Rockford which makes sense as he was the son-in-law of old time Rockford member Giuseppe Guttilla which probably afforded him lots of inside information.

[cavita]

Thanks for the reply and great info.

My impression is that without Maniaci we’d have close to zero insight into the history of the organization in Rockford up through the 60s. Was Maniaci the only confirmed member source giving intel on Rockford? Thats my impression at least. I can’t recall if Gurera ever talked about Rockford, though maybe he did as he also provided some Chicago intel.

I've pored through the files and it seems Maniaci was the only one giving that info on Rockford which makes sense as he was the son-in-law of old time Rockford member Giuseppe Guttilla which probably afforded him lots of inside information.

I should also say too that Maniac described Zammuto, Buscemi, Zito, Buttice and Caltagerone making up the "inner ring" of the family, leading me to believe these five were part of the group's Consiglio.

[PolackTony]

Thanks for the reply and great info.

My impression is that without Maniaci we’d have close to zero insight into the history of the organization in Rockford up through the 60s. Was Maniaci the only confirmed member source giving intel on Rockford? Thats my impression at least. I can’t recall if Gurera ever talked about Rockford, though maybe he did as he also provided some Chicago intel.

I've pored through the files and it seems Maniaci was the only one giving that info on Rockford which makes sense as he was the son-in-law of old time Rockford member Giuseppe Guttilla which probably afforded him lots of inside information.

I should also say too that Maniac described Zammuto, Buscemi, Zito, Buttice and Caltagerone making up the "inner ring" of the family, leading me to believe these five were part of the group's Consiglio.

I would agree of course. As of 1964/65, these are the men that make up the Rockford outfit’s admin, based in Maniaci’s intel. Unless there was another captain at the time that I can’t think of? You believe that there were two decine at this time, right, one headed by Buttice and the other by Caltagerone? Did Maniaci outright say that, or can we just infer the number of crews then based on the men named as captains?. Do you think there were any members who were assigned direct to Zammuto as well? You’ve probably addressed your thinking around the Family’s structure before, but it can be useful to periodically revisit these kinds of questions I think.

[cavita]

Thanks for the reply and great info.

My impression is that without Maniaci we’d have close to zero insight into the history of the organization in Rockford up through the 60s. Was Maniaci the only confirmed member source giving intel on Rockford? Thats my impression at least. I can’t recall if Gurera ever talked about Rockford, though maybe he did as he also provided some Chicago intel.

I've pored through the files and it seems Maniaci was the only one giving that info on Rockford which makes sense as he was the son-in-law of old time Rockford member Giuseppe Guttilla which probably afforded him lots of inside information.

I should also say too that Maniac described Zammuto, Buscemi, Zito, Buttice and Caltagerone making up the "inner ring" of the family, leading me to believe these five were part of the group's Consiglio.

I would agree of course. As of 1964/65, these are the men that make up the Rockford outfit’s admin, based in Maniaci’s intel. Unless there was another captain at the time that I can’t think of? You believe that there were two decine at this time, right, one headed by Buttice and the other by Caltagerone? Did Maniaci outright say that, or can we just infer the number of crews then based on the men named as captains?. Do you think there were any members who were assigned direct to Zammuto as well? You’ve probably addressed your thinking around the Family’s structure before, but it can be useful to periodically revisit these kinds of questions I think.

Well this is the FBI page direct from Maniaci and previous Intel from him. One has to remember it seems after a few years of no contact with Rockford, Maniaci started up again in the early 1960s. He was giving Intel to the FBI as he was getting it direct from the Rockford guys. Over a period of a few years there were members he had just found out about or had forgot about and was reporting that. The next page after this one outlines other individuals believed to be members at the time (April 1965) and included Tony Vella, Tony Calcione and Pasquale Gucciardo among other redacted men.
Based on other FBI files I've read I am almost 100 percent certain George Saladino was a capo until the late 1950s or so. I will have to order Buttice's file as I can't even make a guess when he was bumped to capo. Many Rockford members were direct with Zammuto too and it wasn't limited to just administration guys so it seemed to be a very fluid operating family

[PolackTony]

Yeah, if it was a Milwaukee member source at that time it had to have come from Maniaci. Gurera, who had a KC FO code, doesn’t seem to have ever given the Feds intel on Rockford, at least so far as I’ve seen.

We can see below in the 1968 list that the FBI was almost totally dependent on Maniaci (“NY T-48” == MI 623) for their organizational intel on Rockford. Zammuto, Zito, and Calò were additionally identified by Louie Fratto (“NY T-190” == OM 148) while Phil Damiano was only ID’d by Frank Bompensiero (“NY T-122” == SD 1046) [credit to Ed Valin, of course, for identifying the codes for these CIs].







Now, it’s interesting to note that Vella, Gucciardo, and Calcione were *not* identified as members on the ‘68 list. Nor were they on the 1973 list of then-living members below (Calo and Damiano are the redacted names there, for anyone reading). This makes me think that they did not in fact have a member source for the membership of these three. Also sorting noting that the FBI had gained another member source for Rockford by 1973 (“CG T-15”). The source codes are redacted on the 1973 list and I don’t know who this CI was, but he did not ID anyone indecently of Maniaci, Fratto, and Bompensiero, and also did not appear as a source for anyone in the Chicago members list.

[cavita]

Yeah, if it was a Milwaukee member source at that time it had to have come from Maniaci. Gurera, who had a KC FO code, doesn’t seem to have ever given the Feds intel on Rockford, at least so far as I’ve seen.

We can see below in the 1968 list that the FBI was almost totally dependent on Maniaci (“NY T-48” == MI 623) for their organizational intel on Rockford. Zammuto, Zito, and Calò were additionally identified by Louie Fratto (“NY T-190” == OM 148) while Phil Damiano was only ID’d by Frank Bompensiero (“NY T-122” == SD 1046) [credit to Ed Valin, of course, for identifying the codes for these CIs].







Now, it’s interesting to note that Vella, Gucciardo, and Calcione were *not* identified as members on the ‘68 list. Nor were they on the 1973 list of then-living members below (Calo and Damiano are the redacted names there, for anyone reading). This makes me think that they did not in fact have a member source for the membership of these three. Also sorting noting that the FBI had gained another member source for Rockford by 1973 (“CG T-15”). The source codes are redacted on the 1973 list and I don’t know who this CI was, but he did not ID anyone indecently of Maniaci, Fratto, and Bompensiero, and also did not appear as a source for anyone in the Chicago members list.

Yes, and it's noteworthy that not long after this file the family lost three members in three years with Oliveri passing in 1969 and both Caltagerone and Cannella dying in 1971. This was also at the time authorities said the dozens of Sicilian men brought into the Rockford area were to bolster the family and it was suspected some of them were made as well. With Maniaci being murdered in 1975 the FBI lost a lot of intel on Rockford and I suspect that's why they closed their files on the family as a whole in 1976. When they started back up investigating the family because of Zito, Vince and Emordeno meeting in Milwaukee with Balistrieri and the Bonanno group, they had to scramble to get updated information. I believe by that time in the late 70s and early 1980s the FBI changed up how they identified members, needing more than one good source.
I also think it's interesting that Maniaci identified Salvatore Immordino in 1964 as an "old time member" presumably having been made in Sicily and his membership carried to Rockford when he moved there. We all know that this is not a solid basis by FBI standards to confirm a member's identity and there were other Sicilian immigrants to Rockford I had heard were made in the "old country" and I always wondered if their status was such in Rockford.

[B.]

Maniaci heard or believed that Calo transferred to Sicily so he wouldn't have been a Rockford member any longer in the later 60s or 70s.

When Bomp first reported on Damiano interestingly he said he was a Milwaukee member and later reported he was originally made in Rockford, then later indicated Damiano had transferred to the LA Family in Adamo's decina. The Milwaukee info could have been a mistake though I know Damiano did live in WI for a time.

The unknown 1970s source could be one of the other Milwaukee members who cooperated. There was a second one as far back as the 1960s but in the 1970s even after Maniaci's death one was cooperating who I suspect was either Palmisano or Vince Maniaci. Definitely someone from the anti-Balistrieri group.

[cavita]

Maniaci heard or believed that Calo transferred to Sicily so he wouldn't have been a Rockford member any longer in the later 60s or 70s.

When Bomp first reported on Damiano interestingly he said he was a Milwaukee member and later reported he was originally made in Rockford, then later indicated Damiano had transferred to the LA Family in Adamo's decina. The Milwaukee info could have been a mistake though I know Damiano did live in WI for a time.

The unknown 1970s source could be one of the other Milwaukee members who cooperated. There was a second one as far back as the 1960s but in the 1970s even after Maniaci's death one was cooperating who I suspect was either Palmisano or Vince Maniaci. Definitely someone from the anti-Balistrieri group.

Definitely Calo was a non-factor in Rockford after he moved back to Sicily in October 1961 though he did return in 1964 briefly and visited. A later FBI file said that his old attorney from Rockford visited him in Sicily in the 1960s and was surprised to hear Calo was up to date on the goings-on in Rockford LCN matters, so someone was obviously keeping him up to date.

As far as Damiano goes, I know he immigrated to the U.S. in 1920 and settled in Milwaukee and was there through at least the late 1920s. By the mid 1930s through 1948 however, he was living in Beloit, Wisconsin and involved with the Rockford LCN. I do have him in San Diego as early as 1951 so that's when his transfer must have been complete. I always assumed Maniaci gave the FBI info on Damiano in Rockford simply because of their connection to Milwaukee but I'll look again at the FBI files I have.

I also feel too that Vincent Maniaci was cooperating and though I don't know how much he knew about Rockford I know he kept in touch with Phil Priola. FBI files said there was a vending machine owner who was run out of Chicago by the Outfit and Vincent Maniaci put him in touch with Priola in Rockford and he was able to get the okay to operate in Rockford.

[B.]

Yeah, Maniaci also identified Damiano as a Rockford member along with Bomp. What's interesting about Bomp's info is when he initially identified him he didn't say Damiano was an LA member, only a SD-based Milwaukee member from what I've seen. It was only later that he identified him under Adamo to my knowledge so he may have been a remote member who transferred to LA later.

I do wonder if Bomp initially confused Damiano's Rockford affiliation for Milwaukee or if Milwaukee was somewhere in his formal trajectory. Bomp was close to Milwaukee, being born there and friends with the elder Balistrieri uncles and Frank himself, so he was more Familiar with that group than Rockford, who to my knowledge he never had much if any interaction.

[cavita]

Yeah, Maniaci also identified Damiano as a Rockford member along with Bomp. What's interesting about Bomp's info is when he initially identified him he didn't say Damiano was an LA member, only a SD-based Milwaukee member from what I've seen. It was only later that he identified him under Adamo to my knowledge so he may have been a remote member who transferred to LA later.

I do wonder if Bomp initially confused Damiano's Rockford affiliation for Milwaukee or if Milwaukee was somewhere in his formal trajectory. Bomp was close to Milwaukee, being born there and friends with the elder Balistrieri uncles and Frank himself, so he was more Familiar with that group than Rockford, who to my knowledge he never had much if any interaction.

The only interaction I could find was in September 1973 the FBI notes many calls from Bompensiero to Rockford LCN member Joe Maggio but the FBI didn't know the nature of the calls