Chicago Outfit Making Ceremony, 1983

[Snakes]

Thought it would be interesting to start a discussion on this topic, seeing as how it is the only documented making ceremony on record for the Outfit. Nicholas Calabrese is the only made member of the Outfit to testify in a court setting. Because of this, it is the only making ceremony where we have a listing of everyone who participated. Calabrese testified that the ceremony took place on Sunday, October 9, 1983. He remembers this because the Vikings were playing the Bears in Chicago that day. The attendees were as follows:

Boss: Joseph Aiuppa, 75
Administrator: Alfonso Tornabene, 60

Capo: Samuel Carlisi, 61
Carlisi sponsored James Marcello, 39, and Anthony Zizzo, 48

Capo: John DiFronzo, 54

Capo: Angelo LaPietra, 62
LaPietra sponsored Nicholas Calabrese, 40, his brother, Frank Calabrese, Sr., 46, and Rocco Infelise, 59

Capo: Vincent Solano, 63
Solano sponsored John Matassa, Jr., 32 and Frank Belmonte, age unknown.

Capo: Dominick Palermo, 63
Palermo sponsored Albert Tocco, 54 and Nicholas Guzzino, 42

Some interesting notes:

(a) According to Calabrese, Jack Cerone, the underboss, was not present at the ceremony. His top subordinate, John DiFronzo, was present but sponsored no one. A little more than a week earlier, Cerone, along with Aiuppa and LaPietra, were indicted for skimming money from the proceeds of Las Vegas casinos. This may explain not only the absence of Cerone but also the large amount of inductees as Aiuppa may have felt that his legal troubles would interfere with conducting future ceremonies.
(b) Tornabene assisted Aiuppa with administering the oath to the attendees. Tornabene was not in any officially recognized capacity at the time but had been an underling of Aiuppa's for years in the western suburbs.
(c) Joseph Lombardo, capo of the Grand Avenue crew, was not present as he was imprisoned at the time.
(d) Joseph Ferriola, another capo, was also not present. He was known to be having health problems at the time so this may have played some part in his decision not to attend. Infelise, one of Ferriola's top lieutenants, was accordingly sponsored by LaPietra.
(e) Not much at all is known about Frank Belmonte. Calabrese's trial testimony is the only time his name is mentioned concerning Outfit activities. It has been presumed that Belmonte was actually Frank DeMonte, but Outfit informant Victor Arrigo later provided information to the FBI that he was made at the same time as DeMonte, possibly between 1975-1977. I have been able to find information about "a" Frank Belmonte but it is not known if it was the same as the Frank Belmonte mentioned by Calabrese.
(f) Palermo's presence here shows that he was presumably acting capo of the Chicago Heights area at this time, as Alfred Pilotto had just begun serving a lengthy prison sentence. Not long after the ceremony, Tocco would take over this crew.

Where are they now?

Aiuppa: Imprisoned in 1986 for skimming from Vegas casinos. He would be released in 1996 but would die the next year at age 89.
Tornabene: Rose to a leadership position in the mid to late nineties after the imprisonment of many top Outfit members. His name was heard first by many during the Family Secrets trial testimony. He would continue to aid the Outfit leadership until his death in 2009 at age 86.

Carlisi: Took over as boss of the Outfit after Aiuppa's imprisonment. Led it for 6 years before being imprisoned himself in 1992. He would die in a Florida prison in 1997, aged 75.
DiFronzo: Took over as boss of the Outfit after his release from prison in 1994. Led it for the next several years before retiring. It is thought that he continued to be consulted up until a few years ago. He now appears to be suffering from some form of dementia or Alzheimer's.
LaPietra: Imprisoned with Aiuppa in 1986. Released in 1995. Held an upper leadership position in the Outfit until his death in 1999 at age 79.
Solano: Ran the North Side territory until his death in 1992 at age 73. Was never charged with any crimes, despite being named by government witness Ken Eto as being behind his attempted murder in February of 1983.
Palermo: Briefly resuming control of the Heights upon Al Tocco's imprisonment in 1989, Palermo would be indicted himself in 1990 and imprisoned in 1992. He would die in prison in 2005, aged 85.

Nick Calabrese: Became a government witness in 2002, testifying against his brother and many others concerning more than a dozen Outfit-related slayings. He entered the Witness Protection Program where he remains to this day.
Frank Calabrese: Imprisoned in 1995 for running an extortion and bookmaking crew, he would never again be a free man. He was convicted of several murders in 2005, in no small part due to testimony from his brother, Nick. Frank would die on Christmas Day, 2012, at the age of 75.
James Marcello: Ran the Melrose Park territory upon Carlisi's ascension to boss in 1986. He would run that crew until his imprisonment in 1992. Upon his release in 2003, he assumed an upper echelon role in the Outfit, with some sources placing him as acting boss for the largely inactive DiFronzo. Indicted in 2004, he would be imprisoned a year later, again due to the testimony of Nick Calabrese. Marcello is currently incarcerated in the ADX Florence maximum security prison in Colorado.
Anthony Zizzo: Imprisoned in the same case as Carlisi and Marcello, Zizzo would be released in 2001 and attempted to resume control of the rackets in the western suburbs on behalf of Marcello. Zizzo became embroiled in a feud with another Outfit power, Michael Sarno, and disappeared in 2006, presumably a victim of a gangland murder.
Rocky Infelise: Assumed control of the far western suburbs upon Ferriola's death in 1989, although he had acted in that capacity for some time due to Ferriola's deteriorating health. Infelise's time on top would be relatively short; he was indicted in 1990 and imprisoned in 1992. He would die in prison in 2005 at age 81.
John Matassa: Assumed control of the North Side territory upon Solano's death in 1992. This territory would eventually be absorbed by the Elmwood Park crew, where Matassa was retained as a lieutenant. In 1998, Matassa was barred from engaging in labor activities due to his association with the Outfit. Matassa presumably still holds some type of senior position within the Outfit, although he has managed to avoid headlines since his barring.
Albert Tocco: Tocco ruled the Heights with an iron fist until his indictment in 1988. He fled to Greece but was captured there and extradited to the U.S., where he was imprisoned in 1989. Tocco would die in prison in 2009, aged 75.
Nicholas Guzzino: Becoming a senior member of the Outfit's crew in Chicago Heights, Guzzino was indicted along with Palermo and several others. He would serve more than 12 years in prison before his release in 2006, but by then the Heights was no longer a functioning Outfit crew. According to author Matt Luzi, there is no indication that Guzzino has resumed his Outfit activities.

[B.]

Great info and an even greater job going into detail about everyone. As someone who can't always sink his teeth into Chicago, having the info presented this way is f'n perfect.

Do you know if Chicago replaces deceased members and follows any of the other protocol related to inductions? Any lists passed around? There is limited info on actual ceremonies, as you said, but I'd be curious of Calabrese knew anything about the process surrounding inductions. I imagine the original Sicilian mafiosi in Chicago followed a pretty similar process to what Sicilians in the rest of the country were doing (which the east coast families have maintained pretty closely to this day) but a lot has been speculated about the Outfit deviating from this over time.

Also, I am surprised that Calabrese Sr. was made at the same time as his brother Nick. I would have thought he got in earlier.

[Antiliar]

Angelo LaPietra also apparently was responsible for the Chinatown crew due to Skid Caruso's ill health. Could explain why so many ex-Buccieri guys ended up in Chinatown.

Allegedly Rudy Fratto, Solly DeLaurentis and John Matassa were all made on Father's Day in 1988. There's been debate over Matassa's correct date ever since Nick Calabrese stated he was made in 1983. Also, that's probably not a complete list. Rudy Fratto was with the Elmwood Park crew, then headed by DiFronzo; DeLaurentis went with the Ferriola crew; and Matassa, as Snakes wrote, was with the North Side.

I reread Calabrese's testimony, and he said that in 1988 the following were made: Jimmy DiForti (Chinatown), Jerry Scarpelli (Ferriola/Infelise), Rudy Fratto (DiFronzo), Pete DiFronzo (DiFronzo), and Anthony Chiaramonte (Melrose Park). DiForti told this to Calabrese. Matassa wasn't mentioned.

We have a few names and dates for some older ceremonies, but their accuracy is debatable:

Sam Giancana, made around 1939 and sponsored by Louis Campagna and Frank Nitto.
Willie Messino, made around 1940 and sponsored by Jack Cerone and Joe Gagliano.
Jack Cerone, made around 1935 and sponsored by Tony Capezio.
Joe Ferriola and Tony "Pineapples" Eldorado, made around 1955/57 and sponsored by Willie Daddono and Fiore Buccieri.

[Pete]

Great info and an even greater job going into detail about everyone. As someone who can't always sink his teeth into Chicago, having the info presented this way is f'n perfect.

Do you know if Chicago replaces deceased members and follows any of the other protocol related to inductions? Any lists passed around? There is limited info on actual ceremonies, as you said, but I'd be curious of Calabrese knew anything about the process surrounding inductions. I imagine the original Sicilian mafiosi in Chicago followed a pretty similar process to what Sicilians in the rest of the country were doing (which the east coast families have maintained pretty closely to this day) but a lot has been speculated about the Outfit deviating from this over time.

Also, I am surprised that Calabrese Sr. was made at the same time as his brother Nick. I would have thought he got in earlier.

with the outfit it is very hard to speculate on timelines on things like this. There was a lot of mystery surrounding their ceremony or lack thereof. According to the Feds for a long time they insisted that there was no official ceremony. They had to change their tune when nick flipped. Also they apparently did not make guys that often at all. Rocky infelise had been in the mix for many many years and finally got made in 83. Also you would think Pete difronzo should have been made before 1988 since he was involved since at the latest the 1960's.

[Pete]

Great info and an even greater job going into detail about everyone. As someone who can't always sink his teeth into Chicago, having the info presented this way is f'n perfect.

Do you know if Chicago replaces deceased members and follows any of the other protocol related to inductions? Any lists passed around? There is limited info on actual ceremonies, as you said, but I'd be curious of Calabrese knew anything about the process surrounding inductions. I imagine the original Sicilian mafiosi in Chicago followed a pretty similar process to what Sicilians in the rest of the country were doing (which the east coast families have maintained pretty closely to this day) but a lot has been speculated about the Outfit deviating from this over time.

Also, I am surprised that Calabrese Sr. was made at the same time as his brother Nick. I would have thought he got in earlier.

Also I don't believe they replace dead members as they have had many die over the last 20 years and it doesn't seem like they have anywhere near the manpower they had meaning those guys for the most part were not replaced

[cavita]

Great info and an even greater job going into detail about everyone. As someone who can't always sink his teeth into Chicago, having the info presented this way is f'n perfect.

Do you know if Chicago replaces deceased members and follows any of the other protocol related to inductions? Any lists passed around? There is limited info on actual ceremonies, as you said, but I'd be curious of Calabrese knew anything about the process surrounding inductions. I imagine the original Sicilian mafiosi in Chicago followed a pretty similar process to what Sicilians in the rest of the country were doing (which the east coast families have maintained pretty closely to this day) but a lot has been speculated about the Outfit deviating from this over time.

Also, I am surprised that Calabrese Sr. was made at the same time as his brother Nick. I would have thought he got in earlier.

with the outfit it is very hard to speculate on timelines on things like this. There was a lot of mystery surrounding their ceremony or lack thereof. According to the Feds for a long time they insisted that there was no official ceremony. They had to change their tune when nick flipped. Also they apparently did not make guys that often at all. Rocky infelise had been in the mix for many many years and finally got made in 83. Also you would think Pete difronzo should have been made before 1988 since he was involved since at the latest the 1960's.

I think the Outfit takes their time making guys so as to "test their mettle." Meaning, the longer they wait, the more they can observe a guy and see if he's worth making. Really, the Outfit's strength has always been in their ability to utilize their associates. With less guys being made, the less chance there is of a guy flipping and doing damage- Nick Calabrese is the exception. Also with less made guys, the more insular they can be. My two cents' worth anyways.

[Snakes]

Without repeating what anyone here said, Calabrese didn't mention any vetting, lists, or replacing of dead members - at least not in his testimony. He also mentioned that a made member was required to have participated in a murder, but I believe that if they made the organization money they could also be allowed in, at least based on other intelligence gathered regarding making ceremonies. B mentioned Calabrese being made later than expected but it should also be noted that Infelise and Tocco were definitely individuals of some stature several years before they were made. Infelise was listed on membership charts nearly twenty years prior to him being made. Like others have said, being made is perhaps a formality, especially when you consider some of the non-Italians who could never be made but in some instances ran entire territories. Joe Fosco (get your grains of salt ready, though) even mentioned that James "Turk" Torello was about to take over Fiore Buccieri's territory in the early seventies but it got out that he had never actually been made so they had to rush and induct him so he could take over the crew. Torello had for years before that been on FBI lists of made members.

Two things that are notable about the Outfit and made guys:

(1) The guys who are made stay silent about it. Frank Calabrese became extremely upset with Joe LaMantia in prison because LaMantia introduced him to an East Coast family as a made guy. LaMantia wasn't made but it goes to show you that made guys in Chicago didn't necessarily trumpet or promote the fact that they were made. Those that were also made knew and very few outside of that did, so accurate intelligence was hard to come by. This leads directly to...

(2) Intelligence on who is made and who isn't is extremely spotty. The crews oftentimes acted very independently of each other, almost like separate families. Even if a C.I. was made, he probably didn't have a completely accurate picture of who else was also made in other crews except for the very top guys. A lot of the information gathered by the feds concerning made members in Chicago, despite a thorough process, was still probably peppered with guesswork by their C.I.'s. See the Rocky Infelise example above. I also believe that in the seventies and sixties the making ceremonies could have been localized by crews or territories. The top bosses knew who was getting made and the boss of the territory knew and the ceremonies would therefore have been kept very low key. No involvement from other bosses or crews.

Just my two cents.

[Pete]

Without repeating what anyone here said, Calabrese didn't mention any vetting, lists, or replacing of dead members - at least not in his testimony. He also mentioned that a made member was required to have participated in a murder, but I believe that if they made the organization money they could also be allowed in, at least based on other intelligence gathered regarding making ceremonies. B mentioned Calabrese being made later than expected but it should also be noted that Infelise and Tocco were definitely individuals of some stature several years before they were made. Infelise was listed on membership charts nearly twenty years prior to him being made. Like others have said, being made is perhaps a formality, especially when you consider some of the non-Italians who could never be made but in some instances ran entire territories. Joe Fosco (get your grains of salt ready, though) even mentioned that James "Turk" Torello was about to take over Fiore Buccieri's territory in the early seventies but it got out that he had never actually been made so they had to rush and induct him so he could take over the crew. Torello had for years before that been on FBI lists of made members.

Two things that are notable about the Outfit and made guys:

(1) The guys who are made stay silent about it. Frank Calabrese became extremely upset with Joe LaMantia in prison because LaMantia introduced him to an East Coast family as a made guy. LaMantia wasn't made but it goes to show you that made guys in Chicago didn't necessarily trumpet or promote the fact that they were made. Those that were also made knew and very few outside of that did, so accurate intelligence was hard to come by. This leads directly to...

(2) Intelligence on who is made and who isn't is extremely spotty. The crews oftentimes acted very independently of each other, almost like separate families. Even if a C.I. was made, he probably didn't have a completely accurate picture of who else was also made in other crews except for the very top guys. A lot of the information gathered by the feds concerning made members in Chicago, despite a thorough process, was still probably peppered with guesswork by their C.I.'s. See the Rocky Infelise example above. I also believe that in the seventies and sixties the making ceremonies could have been localized by crews or territories. The top bosses knew who was getting made and the boss of the territory knew and the ceremonies would therefore have been kept very low key. No involvement from other bosses or crews.

Just my two cents.

From the transcript I read frank sr was upset with shorty for introducing him as made because to do that shorty would have to be made. Frank sr said something to the effect of "don't be introducing anyone. this guy thinks your made now doesn't he?" referring to shorty. shorty was trying to give the impression to the east coast wise guy he was made when he introduced frank sr as made.

Agree 100% about the crews being compartmentalized. Even the spilotro killing there were 3 guys there that killed tony that nick had no idea who they were. Also the people who buried them had no idea who killed them and vice versa. Point being Most guys had no idea who was who in the other crews and whether or not they were made.

[Attaboi 1]

May i ask where to find that transcript

[Pete]

May i ask where to find that transcript

https://web.archive.org/web/20120226031 ... crets.html

It's in one of the recordings of frank sr and jr. Sorry I can't point out which one I know there's a ton of material there but I haven't gone through it in a little while. There's numerous video recordings with transcripts of frank sr and jr and also James and Mickey marcello on that link

[Villain]

Thanks for the info Snakes.

Caruso previously financied the junk biz and so did Infelice. I wonder if LaPietra had any dealings?

[Snakes]

LaPietra was busted a few times for heroin before he joined the Outfit, so I doubt that he would be averse to financing deals.

[Pogo The Clown]

Speaking of LaPietra was it ever confirmed if he served as the UnderBoss during the late 90s? Thanks.


Pogo

[Snakes]

He was listed as an "advisor" in a Crime Commission chart put out in 1997 but that's not FBI. He was only out of jail for a couple years before he died and he was very sick towards the end so I am not sure what kind of capacity he served in.

[Pogo The Clown]

Thanks for the info.


Pogo