St. Louis family info / Frank Bompensiero's St. Louis+Chicago visit

[B.]

In late 1968, Los Angeles member informant Frank Bompensiero traveled to St. Louis and Chicago where he had business related to a Teamsters loan he was pursuing along with high-ranking St. Louis and San Jose mafia members with the help of Detroit and Chicago leaders. Events are not necessarily in order.

St. Louis Family Info

- Former boss of the family identified as FNU Miceli, father of member Tony Miceli. This would be Pasquale Miceli, deceased.

- St. Louis boss at this time was Tony Giardano, underboss John Vitale, and consigliere John LNU (Ferrara). Giardano's nephew Jimmy Giammanco, a capodecina in the family.

- According to Giardano, the St. Louis family had 22 members "on his payroll" (seemingly this is the total number of members). He stated that the youngest member was his nephew, aforementioned capodecina Giammanco, who was in his 40s and that the average age among the membership was "62 or 63". Bompensiero apparently suggested that to become "effective" again they would have to induct younger members and Giardano agreed.

- Bompensiero was introduced to St. Louis member Ralph Caleca, a former business partner of Giardano in the juke box business. Another member he was introduced to was Frank Pisciotta, who was busy helping his son run a restaurant but wanted to send his regards to Nick Licata, who he knew.

- Giardano told Bompensiero that the local police were regularly bothering the family and that they had three card games in partnership with Greek associates, as well as a piece of a "barboot" game. It sounds like the family had very little going on in gambling and in general.

- Giardano introduced Bompensiero to Jimmy Michaels, who he described as "the toughest Syrian to ever live", a partner of Giardano in a vending machine business. He explained that a murder contract had previously been placed on Michaels by former boss Pasquale Miceli, but Michaels killed two St. Louis mafia members in the process before they "gave up". Pretty interesting -- you don't typically hear about a non-member killing a member, let alone two, and receiving a pass and continuing to work with the family. However, I believe he was killed many years later, though I don't know the reason.

- Michaels told Bompensiero that he had hid out in Los Angeles 25 years previous and first met Bompensiero along with John Roselli and boss Jack Dragna at that time.

- Giardano had previously been a partner in a juke box business with Tony LoPiparo but sold the business because he couldn't get along with LoPiparo's widow. He stated that Jimmy Michaels still had a juke box route in East St. Louis, Illinois, though unclear if it was the same business.

- At one point, Giardano told Bompensiero that Carlos Marcello of New Orleans had "a lot of money" he was looking to invest somewhere.

Rendezvous with James Licavoli and Introductions

- Cleveland capodecina James Licavoli was also in St. Louis at this time to attend the funeral of his nephew Joe, who had been murdered during a robbery in his restaurant by four black men. This nephew was not a mafia member and was not well-regarded in St. Louis mafia circles.

- During this visit, Bompensiero told Licavoli that Cleveland member Leo Moceri was planning to move to Southern California and that Nick Licata had approved the move and Moceri's transfer to the Los Angeles family, which Licavoli said he had no problems with. While in St. Louis, Bompensiero also called Moceri and Moceri indicated that he was still planning to move to California and transfer to the Los Angeles family, which Bompensiero assured him was approved by Nick Licata.

- Bompensiero and Licavoli also discussed non-sanctioned murders of bookmakers taking place in Los Angeles and Bompensiero also got information from Licavoli about the murder of someone named Pete DiGravio who was killed in Cleveland in 1968, as DiGravio had ties to Southern California that may have led to his murder.

- At the rosary for James Licavoli's murdered nephew, as mentioned in the Capone thread, Bompensiero was introduced to an elderly St. Louis member FNU Mirabella who had attended "peace talks" in Chicago in "1928 or 1929" where Jack Dragna and Frank Bompensiero also attended and where Dragna received permission/instruction from Al Capone to kill Los Angeles boss Giuseppe Ardizzone, who had been arbitrarily ordering too many murders in Los Angeles. This would no doubt be Giovanni Mirabella, a St. Louis member who also attended the infamous 1928 Cleveland hotel meeting with Profaci, Traina, etc. Bompensiero described Mirabella as a "hustler"

- Also at the rosary, Bompensiero was introduced to previously mentioned member Tony Miceli, son of the former boss, who was described as "well-educated". Miceli's brother was a partner in the mortuary where the rosary took place, though he was not a member himself.

- An Italian police sergeant attended the rosary who grew up with Licavoli's deceased nephew. Giardano introduced Bompensiero to the sergeant but treated him in an "insulting manner." He was also introduced to James Licavoli's brother, who lived in St. Louis but was not a member.

Meeting Milwaukee Phil and a Hunchback in Chicago

- When Bompensiero and Giardano struggled to get a non-Italian associate to cooperate in relation to the Teamsters loan, Giardano contacted Detroit member Tony Zerilli. Bompensiero stated that Giardano was "anxious" to keep Detroit family leaders in the loop regarding Teamster activities. Several days later, Giardano attempted to contact Zerilli again, which was again unsuccessful. As a result, he instead reached out to the Chicago family via an associate named "Arthur" LNU in East St. Louis, Illinois. Giardano asked Arthur to set up a meeting with Phil Alderisio in Chicago. Arthur later told Giardano he had contacted a "Joe in Chicago" and set up a meeting for the next day, and Arthur and Giardano planned to make the trip to Chicago together. Bompensiero met "Arthur" and believed him to be Irish and in his mid-50s. The FBI believed this to be Arthur Berne.

- During the car ride, Arthur told Giardano that they had a black police officer on their pay roll who was a candidate for police chief in East St. Louis. If the officer became chief, Arthur stated that they would expand policy / numbers rackets in the area.

- After arriving in Chicago, Arthur took Bompensiero and Giardano to the Towne Hotel in Cicero. Bompensiero remembered visiting this same hotel for meetings back when Capone still ran Chicago. Curious if this connects at all to Mirabella's story about the late 1920s "peace" meetings with Capone that Bompensiero apparently attended.

- Later they met with the aforementioned "Joe in Chicago", who was introduced to Bompensiero as a made member. He was described as "approximately 61", height 5'9, thin, with gray hair and hooked nose, a hunch back, cane, and bad limp. Following this meeting they drove to Phil Alderisio's house. Alderisio said that he would pass the information regarding the Teamsters loan to Allen Dorfman, who was currently on the west coast, and attempt to gain his help getting the loan for Bompensiero and Giardano. Alderisio would also pass word to "Tony", presumably Giardano or Zerilli. Bompensiero stated that Dorfman had also helped LA member Louis Tom Dragna get a Teamsters loan for a development in California. Alderisio gave the impression that he helped with that loan as well, though it was possibly going to fall through despite having authorization.

- Upon dropping "Joe" LNU off back at his home, Bompensiero observed in the dark that he appeared to be wealthy, having several acres of land, and that he trained dogs.

- At dinner, Alderisio, Bompensiero, and Giardano discussed "old times", but didn't discuss mafia activities whenever Alderisio's girlfriend and Arthur were present. At this dinner, Alderisio asked about Jimmy Fratianno's activities but "did not make any enlightening comments." This shows that Chicago was interested in Fratianno on some level.

- Before flying back to California from Chicago, Bompensiero called Chicago capodecina Frank LaPorte to tell him he didn't have time to visit and LaPorte told him that he didn't have plans to visit the west coast but would meet with Bompensiero there when he did.

Back to California, Debriefing, and Random Bits

- Before parting ways with Tony Giardano, Bompensiero discussed someone named Jessie Earl Miller, aka "Lefty". Bompensiero asked if Miller had done a "job" for Giardano, which Giardano denied, but stated that Miller was a "good kid" who was facing a long prison sentence and was seeking Bompensiero's help getting Miller out of the country. Bompensiero stated that he could get Miller a visa into Mexico but could not help him get a passport from Mexico to South America.

- After returning to California, Bompensiero met with boss Nick Licata in Los Angeles and told him about his trip. Licata felt that Tony Zerilli was most likely going to be the next Detroit boss and told Bompensiero that current Detroit boss Joe Zerilli had asked Licata to come to Florida in a couple of weeks where he would be introduced to the other Commission members. Bompensiero explained to the FBI that this was so that Licata, as a newly elected boss, could become acquainted with the Commission members face-to-face.

- Following some updates from Licata concerning Casino payoffs, Licata also told Bompensiero to again tell Leo Moceri that he had approval to move to Southern California and join the Los Angeles family.

- Bompensiero planned to meet with San Jose capodecina Angelo Marino and Pueblo member Scotty Spinuzzi in Palm Springs in the coming weeks. The meeting, at least as it concerned Marino, was about the Teamsters loan.

- Joe Bonanno visited Beverly Hills and San Diego around this time. Bompensiero claimed that Joe Bonanno had inducted a member named "Marcusi" (ph) in Tucson years earlier and that this man moved to Long Beach, CA and transferred to the Los Angeles family sometime after 1956 when Bompensiero was in prison. Bompensiero believed "Marcusi" ran a motel, was active with the Shriners, and was Bonanno's point of contact in the Los Angeles and San Diego area. This is almost certainly Nicolo Marchese or his son Angelo -- the Marcheses were originally from Castellammare Del Golfo and later lived in Long Beach. Can't find any indication they lived in Tucson, but looks like Marchese arrived in NYC in 1920 and lived in San Diego by the late 1930s. Also curious if there is a relation to current elderly Bonanno member Salvatore Marchese. Bompensiero also claimed Bonanno was close with capodecina Joe Adamo and soldier Leo Dia.

- Bompensiero stated that John Roselli was visiting family in Boston during this period and would then be returning to the Los Angeles area. He also stated that Jimmy Fratianno was awaiting sentencing in the coming days after a guilty plea, was concerned that his prior convictions would factor into sentencing, and had moved most of his belongings from Sacramento to Los Angeles where he was staying with burglars Frank Velotta and Ray Ferrito. He was going to try to reverse his guilty plea and get a trial if he didn't receive probation.

[B.]

Some more detailed info on the St. Louis family. Not organized very well but some very good stuff, especially info that no doubt came from a high-level source with knowledge of the family's history and inner-workings:

- A local St. Louis informant gave this info leading up to Bompensiero's visit: Giardano was laying out the "red carpet" for a Frank LNU, an out of town mafia member who would be visiting St. Louis concerning a Teamsters loan. Stated that Frank LNU must be important as he would be wined and dined by Giardano and "the outfit" (a regional term used by many different groups in the midwest, not just Chicago). Just prior to Bompensiero's arrival, St. Louis members Giardano, James Giammanco, John Vitale, and Ralph Caleca held a meeting in a produce market.

- Following Nick Licata's elevation to Los Angeles family boss, Tony Giardano, Santo Trafficante, and John Roselli were said by an informant to have spread word to the Commission that Licata was an inadequate candidate for boss and were hoping to change the leadership.

- A St. Louis informant echoed Giardano's own comments to Bompensiero re: membership, that they had not been recruiting new members for many years and didn't offer younger Italians the opportunity to join the family and that as a result the family was not in a position to "do much good for its members." Informant stated that in contrast, the Kansas City and Chicago families inducted young members to take over as older members retired or died. Other information that doesn't cite a specific informant claims that the St. Louis family limited its membership to Sicilians from the general area of Palermo.

- Boss Anthony Giardano, his brother Joe Giardano, and underboss John Vitale were said to have been made in the same ceremony in 1934. Prior to being underboss, Vitale was identified by an informant as a "capo" in the family.

- Anthony Giardano said to be groomed for mafia leadership by Sam Viviano, formerly of St. Louis who moved to Battle Creek, Michigan until his death. Viviano, Sam Buffa, and Pete Corrado all described as former members who were close to Joseph Giardano. Joseph Zerilli made Giardano the boss of the family when Giardano finished serving his prison sentence.

- Informant claimed that when Pasquale Miceli was the boss of the organization, the outfit's leadership met at the "council table" at the Miceli Funeral Parlor where they decided on matters of policy. These meetings would typically take place when someone in the organization had died, which would give the membership "legitimate reason" to meet at the funeral parlor together and discuss matters within the organization. The "policy makers" would be members like Pasquale Miceli, Sam Viviano, and other now-deceased members. Other "policy makers" still living were Joe Giardano and consigliere John Ferrara. This "council" sounds identical to the "chair" meetings held in Milwaukee and similar "council" meetings held by San Jose, Detroit, and possibly other small families.

- This is mentioned in the same discussion as the "council table", but unclear if it's directly related: "later came lesser individuals involved in criminal activities like Anthony Giardano, John Vitale, Ralph Caleca, and the deceased Tony LoPiparo." Informant claimed all of these men were of Palermitani descent and that these people "came from different 'dons' and these 'dons' were considered to be controlling people." Informant explained that within the organization there is something of a "caste system" and that members standing is based on where their families came from in Italy. He says for example that someone "from an area called Favarotta would be called a Favarottado" and that "Favarottados" in the group are considered to be the "outstanding people from Sicily", more important than the "Cinisados or Partinicquadoes" [sic]. Note: Favarotta is the name of a village that later became Terrasini, so he is saying that members from Terrasini had higher standing in the organization, at least earlier on, than members from Cinisi or Partinico.

- Ralph Caleca was close to a deceased St. Louis member named Alphonse Pazzalo, said to have been one of the "original" mafiosi of St. Louis and a "hit man".

- Consigliere John Ferrara described as wholly legitimate on the surface, serving mainly as an arbitrator in the family. Said to have traveled to Sicily as recently as the 1960s.

- Frank Pisciotta described as an "old greenie" with a background in bootlegging when he was young, being in charge of keeping other bootleggers in line and making sure that whiskey stills in the homes of local Italians were kept operating. Informant claimed that Pisciotta was similar to John Ferrara in that both were "utilized to act as an arbitrators." Deceased member Charles Ruffino "along with Frank Pisciotta" also described as an "old-time arbitrator". Could be an indication that Pisciotta and Ruffina had been consiglieres? Said they handled matters where "no force or violence is involved."

- Anthony DiMartino described as a member who "never really amounted to anything" and ran a produce business.

- An informant claimed that in the 1920s and 1930s there was "no noticeable connection" between the St. Louis outfit and the Chicago outfit, but since the 1940s St. Louis answered to Chicago concerning high-level matters.

- A different informant claimed that the St. Louis family had previously been under heavier control from Chicago, but they were "gradually breaking away" from Chicago and getting closer to Detroit under Giardano, who was raised in Detroit. States that Giardano "takes orders" from Giancana in Chicago but checks in with Joe Zerilli in Detroit and "has to give him the final word." Informant believes that Zerilli gave the St. Louis family an interest in the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.

- Boss Giardano and underboss John Vitale said to have a close relationship to Kansas City boss Nick Civella and member Thomas Simone. One informant believed that St. Louis was heavily influenced and dominated by Kansas City and that Giardano was "answerable" to Nick Civella, however it is clear from other informants that Detroit represented St. Louis in national matters by this time.

- By the mid-late 1960s Giardano was using his nephew, capodecina James Giammanco, as the go-between to Detroit. Giammanco was "trained" for this position by old time member Ralph Caleca who took Giammanco to Detroit and introduced him to the Detroit membership. In 1965, Tony Giardano, Ralph Caleca, and Giammanco attended the wedding of Jackie Giacalone and Vickie Lucido. Previously Joseph Laudicina of the Wolverine Hotel in Detroit, who was originally from St. Louis, was a go-between for Detroit and St. Louis. St. Louis members would previously contact Laudicina who would point the St. Louis members toward whoever in Detroit could help with with a given issue, which was usually "Papa John" Priziola.

- Giardano was later believed to have visited John Priziola in San Diego and at one point in 1949 visited deported Kansas City members Frank Coppola and Sylvester Carrollo in Mexico along with his brother Joe Giardano and Joe Laudicina.

- Former St. Louis resident Vito Cusumano moved to Detroit and was going to be killed by the Detroit outfit in 1967. Cusumano's father Joe and Tony Giardano visited Detroit to discuss this with Joe Zerilli. Giardano's nephew, Detroit resident Mike Trupiano, picked them up and took them to Giardano's sister's home in Detroit, and they then met with Joe Zerilli and Vito Giacalone and resolved the issue.

- In 1967, Giardana visited Los Angeles to meet with John Roselli on behalf of the Detroit outfit to discuss the Frontier Hotel due to a large financial loss at the gambling tables during their opening week. Giardano and Detroit were hoping to use Roselli's influence with theatrical agents to book entertainment at the hotel. Roselli agreed to meet with Tony Zerilli to discuss this.

- At some point prior to 1967, an informant stated that Giardano had previously made trips to Italy and had contacted Charles "Lucky" Luciano while there.

- Giardano said to particularly loathe law enforcement of any kind, shun publicity, and due to his personality is not well-liked by even the membership of his own organization.

- ID'd as members circa 1967:
Ralph Caleca
Joseph Cammarata
Anthony DiMartino
Giovanni Ferrara
Vincent Filippello
Anthony Giardano
Joseph Giardano
Anthony Miceli
Frank Pisciotta
John Vitale
James Giammanco
Frank Bommarito
Anthony Giammanco
Joseph Geloso (deceased)
Charles Ruffino (deceased)

- Sam Guccione identified by one informant as a member, but another informant stated that he was not a member, and was a target of ridicule and insult by the St. Louis membership and used as a chaffeur, golfing companion, and go-fer to members. Also said to operate a craps game.

- The outfit's gambling operations were run primarily by associates William "Jack Harris" Spinelli and John Vainikos, with Giardano also involved with national gambling figure Dave Goldberg. Due to crackdowns from law enforcement, these associates faced legal scrutiny and the operations lost a great deal of money and traction. Agreements had also been worked out with local Syrian criminals including Jimmy Michaels Sr. and Jr. and Paul Leisure so as not to conflict with the Italian element. The Syrian group was also involved in robbing gambling games and cleared these robberies with Giardano before pulling them off.

- In 1965, an informant claimed that in earlier years the St. Louis outfit took a percentage of bookmaking in the St. Louis area but had to get approval from Chicago and New York before they could take their cut from the bookies. After receiving approval, they would collect a cut from all of the bookies operating in the area. The informant stated that the family still moves in on local bookmakers but it sounds like this was lessened over the years.

- In the mid-1960s, John Spatafore of San Diego held a card game in St. Louis and made $10,000 where he cheated an associate of underboss John Vitale out of $1000. Giardano reached out to members in the San Diego area and arranged to have Spatafore return the money, which he did immediately.

- During an early 1968 visit to California, Giardano apparently stated that the outfit's take from bookmaking was so small that he wasn't even taking the cut owed him as boss.

- Giardano and Vitale said to have influence over two labor locals in St. Louis and the ability to give associates jobs with these unions. Following his gambling bust, they gave union work to associate William Spinelli.

- Frank "Buster" Wortman was an East St. Louis gang leader who was close to the Chicago underworld died in 1968 and Tony Giardano and John Vitale served as pallbearers in his funeral. An informant felt this was strange as Giardano and Vitale had not been particularly close to Wortman and there was a lot of publicity, though their organizations worked together when Wortman was alive. Around this time Kansas City outfit leader Thomas Simone died and Vitale did not attend the funeral due to publicity, though Vitale had been close to Simone. The informant felt that Vitale and possibly Giardano served as pallbearers to Wortman due to pressure from above, though it's not clear what that would be -- I assume they mean the Chicago outfit.

[DPG]

Jimmy Michaels was blown up by a car bomb whole driving home on I-55 just south of St Louis. It was over control of the teamsters local according to 'Gangs of St Louis'

Amazing info thanks for posting.

There is a book in all St Louis city and county libraries on the life of Wortman, it was commissioned and published by his family. Everytime I saw it I mistakenly believed the book was about a 'Murder Inc.' hitman, so I never even picked it up and looked at it. Wish I would have now.

[Snakes]

Cool, thanks for the breakdown, B.

[Pogo The Clown]

Great stuff B. I believe UnderBoss John Vitale was later outted as an informant. Don't know if he was one of the oes mentioned here or if he was even cooperating at this time.

- Giardano was later believed to have visited John Priziola in San Diego and at one point in 1949 visited deported Kansas City members Frank Coppola and Sylvester Carrollo in Mexico along with his brother Joe Giardano and Joe Laudicina.

Carollo was the former Boss of New Orleans. Not positive on Coppola. I have seen him listed as a St. Louis, New Orleans and I believe a Detroit member.


Pogo

[Stroccos]

Good info I read that on marry feral about moceri transfer I always figured it was Fratianno he was talking to , great stuff

[B.]

Great stuff B. I believe UnderBoss John Vitale was later outted as an informant. Don't know if he was one of the oes mentioned here or if he was even cooperating at this time.

- Giardano was later believed to have visited John Priziola in San Diego and at one point in 1949 visited deported Kansas City members Frank Coppola and Sylvester Carrollo in Mexico along with his brother Joe Giardano and Joe Laudicina.

Carollo was the former Boss of New Orleans. Not positive on Coppola. I have seen him listed as a St. Louis, New Orleans and I believe a Detroit member.


Pogo

That info about Vitale's 1934 making ceremony stood out to me, so that would make sense if Vitale was one of these informants. One of the sources was clearly a longtime member or someone close to a longtime member, so could be him.

Thanks for the info, re: Carollo. From what I've seen, Coppola was transferred around a few different families, like Gentile and others, then I believe ended up in Sicily with the Partinico family where he is from.

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One thing to note... with the informant saying that the men from Favarotta (Terrasini) were considered higher "caste" than those from Cinisi and Partinico, that may explain why Detroit had such heavy influence and control over St. Louis. As is pretty well-known, Joe Zerilli and a large number of important Detroit members were from Terrasini, so the informant's comments may explain why St. Louis deferred to them.

Would be curious where the Giardanos/Giordanos (I chose the spelling used in all of the old docs) and Giovanni Ferrara originally come from. Giardano's mentor, described above as grooming him for a leadership position, was Sam Viviano who was from Terrasini and it almost sounds like Viviano may have held a leadership position in the family. It should be noted that his wife's family was from Terrasini as well though he was from Cinisi himself.

Giovanni Mirabella is another one whose Sicilian origins I'm curious about. He was born in the USA but seems to have represented the St. Louis family in national matters in at least two important meetings circa late 1920s / early 1930s. His father was Antonio and census record says he came over in 1892 and I've found records of him coming over in 1896, ship leaving from Naples and heading to St. Louis, but no town of origin for him. Limey has a "Philip Mirabile" b. 1898 listed as a member and John Mirabella had a brother named Philip n. 1898 but not sure where he got the name from.

--

The family also looks to have had influential members from Agrigento. Former boss Pasquale Miceli was from Burgio and Calogero SanFilippo, who represented the family in Cleveland along w/ Mirabella, was from Casteltermini in Agrigento as well. Miceli lived in Southern Illinois for many years before St. Louis, where he worked as a coal miner. He was in St. Louis by 1930, would be curious if he was a member earlier and when he took over the family.

[Pogo The Clown]

You could be right on Sam Viviano. I have a Gaetano Viviano as an early Boss of the family (deported in 1914). Could be a relative.


Pogo

[B.]

You could be right on Sam Viviano. I have a Gaetano Viviano as an early Boss of the family (deported in 1914). Could be a relative.


Pogo

Sam had a brother named Gaetano Viviano but I don't think it's the same one. I've found an older Gaetano Viviano b. 1871 who died in St. Louis in 1920, so could be him if he returned after deportation (which did happen occasionally). I found a doc that mentions a telegram sent by Detroit members to an Antonio Viviano living in Terrasani, so the name continued to be relevant back there as well.

I'm coming across some history of the St. Louis family online that mentions names of interest, like an article written by Allan May, but a lot of it is twisted up in the whole "warring Italian gangs" narrative that also plagues cities like Detroit, etc.

[DPG]

The way early and prohibition era St Louis is explained in the book on its history has fascinated me since I read it. There are numerous Italian and non Italian groups that had varying levels of power and control over a 40-50 year span. Pretty interesting.

[eboli]

Great summary, B.!

- This is mentioned in the same discussion as the "council table", but unclear if it's directly related: "later came lesser individuals involved in criminal activities like Anthony Giardano, John Vitale, Ralph Caleca, and the deceased Tony LoPiparo." Informant claimed all of these men were of Palermitani descent and that these people "came from different 'dons' and these 'dons' were considered to be controlling people." Informant explained that within the organization there is something of a "caste system" and that members standing is based on where their families came from in Italy. He says for example that someone "from an area called Favarotta would be called a Favarottado" and that "Favarottados" in the group are considered to be the "outstanding people from Sicily", more important than the "Cinisados or Partinicquadoes" [sic]. Note: Favarotta is the name of a village that later became Terrasini, so he is saying that members from Terrasini had higher standing in the organization, at least earlier on, than members from Cinisi or Partinico.

Definitely the most interesting part for me. It seems the a big reason for the decline was not only due to attrition, but also self-inflicted. Maybe that was the case with a lot of families. Frattiano's funny description of San Francisco in the 70's seems a lot like St. Louis in the 60's.

[Antiliar]

- Alphonse Pazzalo was Alphonse Palazzolo, a leader of the "Green Ones." "Green" refers to "greenhorns" and means a recent immigrant. Apparently they were a crew that tried and succeeded in taking over the leadership of the St. Louis Family. When he was killed Vito Giannola took over, but he was killed months later. I think Frank Agrusa was the next leader, but he moved to Indiana under the name Frank Abbate. The boss may have been Gaetano "Tom" Buffa, who testified against another member's girlfriend in a narcotics trial then moved to California. He was murdered in Lodi in 1947. Pasquale Miceli succeeded him.

- The St. Louis Family appears to go back to the 1870s, possibly founded by a Matranga from New Orleans. The first alleged Mafia murder there took place in 1875.

- There were several Vivianos in the 1910s and 20s, many with the same names. Gaetano "Big Tom" Viviano was apparently a leader of some sort, but not sure if he was a boss. He may have been forced out by the Green Ones and moved to California, where he died in 1934.

- An Antonino Triolo may have been an early boss. His name is on a passenger manifest with Toto D'Aquila and Giuseppe Traina in 1910. He came from Borgetto and was 50 years old at the time.

- Another early man of importance was Frank Sicola, a Black Hander during the 1910s who was murdered in 1922. His name was mentioned in a letter found on Vito Di Giorgio when he was arrested in New Orleans a few years before he became the boss of Los Angeles (who was also murdered in 1922).



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[DPG]

- Alphonse Pazzalo was Alphonse Palazzolo, a leader of the "Green Ones." "Green" refers to "greenhorns" and means a recent immigrant. Apparently they were a crew that tried and succeeded in taking over the leadership of the St. Louis Family. When he was killed Vito Giannola took over, but he was killed months later. I think Frank Agrusa was the next leader, but he moved to Indiana under the name Frank Abbate. The boss may have been Gaetano "Tom" Buffa, who testified against another member's girlfriend in a narcotics trial then moved to California. He was murdered in Lodi in 1947. Pasquale Miceli succeeded him.

- The St. Louis Family appears to go back to the 1870s, possibly founded by a Matranga from New Orleans. The first alleged Mafia murder there took place in 1875.

- There were several Vivianos in the 1910s and 20s, many with the same names. Gaetano "Big Tom" Viviano was apparently a leader of some sort, but not sure if he was a boss. He may have been forced out by the Green Ones and moved to California, where he died in 1934.

- An Antonino Triolo may have been an early boss. His name is on a passenger manifest with Toto D'Aquila and Giuseppe Traina in 1910. He came from Borgetto and was 50 years old at the time.

- Another early man of importance was Frank Sicola, a Black Hander during the 1910s who was murdered in 1922. His name was mentioned in a letter found on Vito Di Giorgio when he was arrested in New Orleans a few years before he became the boss of Los Angeles (who was also murdered in 1922).



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Frank Abbate was eventually killed in Hot Springs. According to Pup I believe.

[Antiliar]

Abbate was killed in February 1944, last seen with Vito Impostato. His body was found in Hot Springs on April 22.

[Villain]

Before flying back to California from Chicago, Bompensiero called Chicago capodecina Frank LaPorte to tell him he didn't have time to visit and LaPorte told him that he didn't have plans to visit the west coast but would meet with Bompensiero there when he did.

It seems that besides being the boss of Chicago Heights and all southern suburbs, still during the late 1960s LaPorte was also the Outfit's voice or overseer on the west coast, including Vegas. As a matter of fact theres one document from that same time period which states that LaPorte was Rosellis capo.