The Chicago Outfit’s Activities Today?

[Frank]

I would think that they still have the offshore gambling and casinos.

Most modern day bookmaking operations of a significant size are going to be using offshore wire rooms and internet sites.

As far as the Outfit and offshore "casinos," I'm only aware of the Excelsior casino (formerly the Grand Hotel casino) within the Holiday Inn resort in Aruba that is run by reputed associate Michael Posner.

Thanks for info. Yes the modern way is the Internet sites and offshore wire rooms.

[Frank]

The problem with the current Outfit as I see it with current info is that all their members except a couple are at least in their sixties. I think it was determined that in 5 to 10 years it was possible that the majority could be dead. There are alot that are 70 and older. What we don't know if they have made any younger guys and how many. Sarno and Marcello reportedly made some new members. But how many member have died since then. We don't have any info about Delaurentis bringing in new members. I would guess he has. Lou Marino's son would be one name.

[Snakes]

I don't know if the old guys even care about making new members. A lot of them have done major time and probably aren't concerned with bringing new guys up.

[Stroccos]

My personal opinion is that todays Outfit or its top level administration went semi-legit but they still have some street people involved in gambling, loan sharking and burglaries.

In 2012, William Daddano Jr.’s previous partner and the late Ben Stein’s protégé Richard Simon was the owner of a cleaning company known as the United Maintenance Co. and with the help of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the company was awarded a $99.4 million O’Hare Airport janitorial contract. The United offices were based in the same South Loop building where the previous garbage hauling firm used to have its location. After that, Daddano Jr.’s name popped up in every news article around the country and so many union airport workers were holding a prayer vigil outside the Mayor’s house, while asking him to reconsider the decision to hand custodial work at O’Hare International Airport to a new company. But nothing ever changed and the decision remained. According to 2014 investigative report, Daddano Jr. through his sister’s name Mary, who spells her last name “Daddono”, still acquired all kinds of contracts in different places around the Melrose Park area, some regularly, and some probably with the help of corruption and under the threat of violence. 

Also back in 2011, Fosco claimed that the main problem for the recent bankruptcy of one of the largest grocery chains in the history of Chicago is or was the Outfit and its top leadership. So after that in 2017, the Central Grocers Inc., a wholesaler which supplied over 400 independent grocery stores all around the Chicago area and with over 500 employees, filed for bankruptcy after being in business for exactly 100 years, since it first opened up way back in 1917. So with no money, the company’s top administration began firing people and also selling its own store chains and establishments in different areas. Now, according to Fosco the alleged reason for the company’s downfall was in the board of members for Central Grocers, which again according to his statements, it included alleged organized crime figures such as Dominick Gambino, Tony Ingraffia and Paul Butera Sr., who are allegedly tied to DiFronzo and the Outfit. It is quite possible that Fosco received this info from one Teamsters Local, which he also admits it, and I believe it was Local 703, which represented about 300 workers at Central Grocer’s warehouse in the Joliet area. You see, the union tried to stop the company from selling its business by filling a federal lawsuit on April 27, 2017, just to block the whole process. But only seven days later, out of nowhere, the union suddenly withdraw the lawsuit, since they allegedly received some information regarding potential transactions or in other words, they withdraw everything because of “certain confidential information” which will allow the Teamsters to access the sale on its labor contracts. In July, the Central Grocers was purchased by a Minnesota-based grocery company for $61,000,000; a price which according to the sellers was well below the appraised value. The interesting thing was that all top individuals from both parties declined to comment on anything. 

I think that these days the Outfit doesnt need enforcers to scare certain individuals but instead they simply need corrupt and greedy people so they can accomplish their goal or in plane words they work like a firm

One lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns ,
is daddano Jr a made guy ?

[Snakes]

I don't think he is.

[Pete]

The best insight you'll get into what the Outfit (or any family) is involved in is recent indictments.

The Chicago mob is still involved in bookmaking and video poker machines. Not much in terms of loansharking charges in recent busts though. I don't see evidence of involvement in prostitution unless perhaps that goes on in some Outfit-run strip clubs. Relatively little involvement in the drug trade. In fact, you could probably count the number of Outfit narcotics cases over the past 20 years on one hand. There is still some union involvement here and there.

The outfit has virtually zero involvement in video poker. Just recently bobby panozzo was busted for coke But overall minimal involvement in drugs. Matassa was just busted for union stuff. The biggest stuff lately was the grand avenue crew who was involved big time in burglary and robbery. Elmwood park crew is pretty much legit besides bookmaking interests. Cicero and 26th Street still involved in the usual stuff bookmarking and loansharking. Overall I’d say they are pretty much into the same stuff as always but on a much smaller scale

[Frank]

Scott Bernstein wrote a number of times last year that Albert Vena was the top Outfit guy on the street, and an impending RICO indictment against Vena was on it's way. Here is one of the more interesting tidbits,

"Vena’s two headquarters, the timelessly trendy La Scarola Italian Restaurant and the adjoining Richard’s Bar next door. La Scarola and Richard’s Bar are located on the bottom floor of the Acacia Hotel, while the top two floors are used for low-income apartment rental. Per sources in Illinois law enforcement, Chicago mob busters suspect Vena holds mob meetings in the upper floors of the Acacia, containing 45 rental units."

Yes they have been trying to nail Vena for a few years now. I don't know if he is in the clear now of what they were trying to get him for. Wasn't he suspected of making Tony Zizzo disappear, on orders from the Bosses. I would assume they would have indicted by now if they had any evidence. That would be an interesting indictment as it could include the old Bosses. Like Snakes said Addriacchi and or DiFronzo probably didn't come right out and order it, but told Sarno to handle it the way he wanted to. It also looks very likely at this point the 2 old bosses will die free men.

[Pete]

The problem with the current Outfit as I see it with current info is that all their members except a couple are at least in their sixties. I think it was determined that in 5 to 10 years it was possible that the majority could be dead. There are alot that are 70 and older. What we don't know if they have made any younger guys and how many. Sarno and Marcello reportedly made some new members. But how many member have died since then. We don't have any info about Delaurentis bringing in new members. I would guess he has. Lou Marino's son would be one name.

As we have discussed previously there has been a lot of talk of new made guys over the past 10-15 years but certainly if that’s not true the family would be Cleveland within the next 10-15 years. There’s a lot of made guys that will probably kick the bucket in the next 5 years and it will be worse after That. There’s still enough youngish guys to go forward if they want but That really depends.

[FriendofFamily]

I just got wind of some Chicago "money lending" to some people in NJ and more specifically Atlantic City. Chicago people are looking for the Gamblers.

That's all I am going to say about it.

[Pete]

Scott Bernstein wrote a number of times last year that Albert Vena was the top Outfit guy on the street, and an impending RICO indictment against Vena was on it's way. Here is one of the more interesting tidbits,

"Vena’s two headquarters, the timelessly trendy La Scarola Italian Restaurant and the adjoining Richard’s Bar next door. La Scarola and Richard’s Bar are located on the bottom floor of the Acacia Hotel, while the top two floors are used for low-income apartment rental. Per sources in Illinois law enforcement, Chicago mob busters suspect Vena holds mob meetings in the upper floors of the Acacia, containing 45 rental units."

Yes they have been trying to nail Vena for a few years now. I don't know if he is in the clear now of what they were trying to get him for. Wasn't he suspected of making Tony Zizzo disappear, on orders from the Bosses. I would assume they would have indicted by now if they had any evidence. That would be an interesting indictment as it could include the old Bosses. Like Snakes said Addriacchi and or DiFronzo probably didn't come right out and order it, but told Sarno to handle it the way he wanted to. It also looks very likely at this point the 2 old bosses will die free men.

The only way we will see the zizzo hit included in an indictment if if one of the perpetrators rolls which will only happen if they are facing life for something else. Slim odds especially with no body. That one will most likely never be heard in court as well as the Jarrett hit. Vena will be indicted for something though in the next few years at the most. Someone will end up rolling on him

[Snakes]

Welcome back, Pete!

[Pete]

Welcome back, Pete!

Thanks buddy!

[Villain]

My personal opinion is that todays Outfit or its top level administration went semi-legit but they still have some street people involved in gambling, loan sharking and burglaries.

In 2012, William Daddano Jr.’s previous partner and the late Ben Stein’s protégé Richard Simon was the owner of a cleaning company known as the United Maintenance Co. and with the help of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the company was awarded a $99.4 million O’Hare Airport janitorial contract. The United offices were based in the same South Loop building where the previous garbage hauling firm used to have its location. After that, Daddano Jr.’s name popped up in every news article around the country and so many union airport workers were holding a prayer vigil outside the Mayor’s house, while asking him to reconsider the decision to hand custodial work at O’Hare International Airport to a new company. But nothing ever changed and the decision remained. According to 2014 investigative report, Daddano Jr. through his sister’s name Mary, who spells her last name “Daddono”, still acquired all kinds of contracts in different places around the Melrose Park area, some regularly, and some probably with the help of corruption and under the threat of violence. 

Also back in 2011, Fosco claimed that the main problem for the recent bankruptcy of one of the largest grocery chains in the history of Chicago is or was the Outfit and its top leadership. So after that in 2017, the Central Grocers Inc., a wholesaler which supplied over 400 independent grocery stores all around the Chicago area and with over 500 employees, filed for bankruptcy after being in business for exactly 100 years, since it first opened up way back in 1917. So with no money, the company’s top administration began firing people and also selling its own store chains and establishments in different areas. Now, according to Fosco the alleged reason for the company’s downfall was in the board of members for Central Grocers, which again according to his statements, it included alleged organized crime figures such as Dominick Gambino, Tony Ingraffia and Paul Butera Sr., who are allegedly tied to DiFronzo and the Outfit. It is quite possible that Fosco received this info from one Teamsters Local, which he also admits it, and I believe it was Local 703, which represented about 300 workers at Central Grocer’s warehouse in the Joliet area. You see, the union tried to stop the company from selling its business by filling a federal lawsuit on April 27, 2017, just to block the whole process. But only seven days later, out of nowhere, the union suddenly withdraw the lawsuit, since they allegedly received some information regarding potential transactions or in other words, they withdraw everything because of “certain confidential information” which will allow the Teamsters to access the sale on its labor contracts. In July, the Central Grocers was purchased by a Minnesota-based grocery company for $61,000,000; a price which according to the sellers was well below the appraised value. The interesting thing was that all top individuals from both parties declined to comment on anything. 

I think that these days the Outfit doesnt need enforcers to scare certain individuals but instead they simply need corrupt and greedy people so they can accomplish their goal or in plane words they work like a firm

One lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns ,
is daddano Jr a made guy ?

Nicely said.

We still cannot define today's definition of a made guy in the Outfit, but still Daddano Jr is the son of we know who and Junior was schooled since the 1960's. For example during those days Juniors name came up at the infamous West Suburban Scavenger Service Co. which in fact was controlled by Daddano Sr, the elder Rudy Fratto and Frank LaPorte. And as a matter of fact, Fratto’s daughter is the wife of Daddano Jr. and his name was on the business cards with the “Jr.” deleted from his name since “William Daddano” meant a great deal at the time.

[Frank]

Pete likes that Outfit talk. Burnstein mentioned the Zizzo disappearance, but I would imagine that they were trying to get Vena on some kind of Rico charge. I agree with you about the Zizzo case that it would take someone to roll to convict anyone of that. The modern Outfit is more under the radar and more carefully about important matters than ever. They are basically down to only people that can be trusted.

[Wiseguy]

The outfit has virtually zero involvement in video poker. Just recently bobby panozzo was busted for coke But overall minimal involvement in drugs. Matassa was just busted for union stuff. The biggest stuff lately was the grand avenue crew who was involved big time in burglary and robbery. Elmwood park crew is pretty much legit besides bookmaking interests. Cicero and 26th Street still involved in the usual stuff bookmarking and loansharking. Overall I’d say they are pretty much into the same stuff as always but on a much smaller scale

If the Outfit is no longer involved in video poker the change has happened post-2009. That was the year the last 2 mob cases I'm aware of occurred. Was it the result of them being legalized that same year? There was a big raid in 2013 of a warehouse in Peoria Heights that had over 1,100 machines but I don't recall if that was mob connected. Anyway, that seemed to be one of their core rackets for years. You still see bookmaking cases now and again but not the size some might expect.

You're right, Grand Avenue has had some of the most notable cases lately. In terms of unions, there was also the Coli IBT extortion case.

We still cannot define today's definition of a made guy in the Outfit,

Whatever the case was in the earlier years, the definition of a made guy in Chicago has been the same as anywhere else for a long time now.

The FBI defines a "made member" as a person who has participated in a formalized ceremony and has the right to share in the profits of the Chicago Outfit.
http://www.ipsn.org/orourke_affidavit.php