DOWNFALL OF CHICAGO MOB’S CHICAGO HEIGHTS CREW CAN BE TRACED BACK TO NORTHWEST INDIANA

[Tonyd621]

And I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t still outfit action going on in the region to this very day they are influential in certains unions across the whole state. I’ve told this story before but they were involved in a indiana concrete club up until 2010ish. The outfits response was to a close friend of the families(his brothers was the whistle blower but revenge was tAking on the least involved brother). It was a huge scandal tho the IMI brothers all did prison time.

I’d be interested at this point to see who people think are involved in any potential rackets still happening on the area. Would they be kicking up to Cicero or Chinatown? Or is it a few guys leftover from the old Heights crew operating more or less independently?

I think the latter. A few left over guys from the old Heights crew operating on their own. Jeff Sallet (Former F.B.I. Director in Chicago) said the Outfit is running on fumes. I would tend to go with him on that subject.

And what did Sallett did about the "fumes?" Nothing. Not one major pinch. Cant think of any really. Now hes in human resources. You should know what the government says on camera and the actions they take...are two different things.

[NickleCity]

Although the author didn't mention this...Valpo is not considered NW Indiana. It's about a 2 hour drive from Cal City and I'm talking with traffic...might even be longer depending on the time of day. Route 30 is a bitch starting at the Indiana border at least until you get past the mall.

I have family that grew up in “The Region” as it is known to locals and Valpo was definitely considered part of the “The Region” to them.

[Confederate]

And I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t still outfit action going on in the region to this very day they are influential in certains unions across the whole state. I’ve told this story before but they were involved in a indiana concrete club up until 2010ish. The outfits response was to a close friend of the families(his brothers was the whistle blower but revenge was tAking on the least involved brother). It was a huge scandal tho the IMI brothers all did prison time.

I’d be interested at this point to see who people think are involved in any potential rackets still happening on the area. Would they be kicking up to Cicero or Chinatown? Or is it a few guys leftover from the old Heights crew operating more or less independently?

I think the latter. A few left over guys from the old Heights crew operating on their own. Jeff Sallet (Former F.B.I. Director in Chicago) said the Outfit is running on fumes. I would tend to go with him on that subject.

And what did Sallett did about the "fumes?" Nothing. Not one major pinch. Cant think of any really. Now hes in human resources. You should know what the government says on camera and the actions they take...are two different things.

I don't believe he really did anything about the "fumes" because there was really nothing to do. What was he supposed to do? INVENT activity that didn't exist? Also, Sallet MAY have started some ongoing investigation that is continuing right now after he left for all we know. So, I'm not sure what your point is concerning your statement? Are you disagreeing with Sallett & saying the Outfit is NOT running on fumes? Are you saying he was lying about his statement?

[mafiastudent]

Although the author didn't mention this...Valpo is not considered NW Indiana. It's about a 2 hour drive from Cal City and I'm talking with traffic...might even be longer depending on the time of day. Route 30 is a bitch starting at the Indiana border at least until you get past the mall.

I have family that grew up in “The Region” as it is known to locals and Valpo was definitely considered part of the “The Region” to them.

I'm not arguing the point anymore. My definition of "The Region" from someone in the south suburbs and people who live that far out's definition is different. It's a moot point. The NW Indiana Planning Commission recognizes it as such - so it is. It's just not an area I would consider part of the region because it's so far out, but again, it is what it is.

[PolackTony]

Although the author didn't mention this...Valpo is not considered NW Indiana. It's about a 2 hour drive from Cal City and I'm talking with traffic...might even be longer depending on the time of day. Route 30 is a bitch starting at the Indiana border at least until you get past the mall.

I have family that grew up in “The Region” as it is known to locals and Valpo was definitely considered part of the “The Region” to them.

I'm not arguing the point anymore. My definition of "The Region" from someone in the south suburbs and people who live that far out's definition is different. It's a moot point. The NW Indiana Planning Commission recognizes it as such - so it is. It's just not an area I would consider part of the region because it's so far out, but again, it is what it is.

Hey mafiastudent, what the current state of the Italian community in the south burbs? How cohesive and tight knit are they? Are they mostly Americanized now, or was there any ongoing immigration from Italy over the years as with the Northwest side/burbs?

For you or anyone else familiar with NW Indy, I'm wondering the same thing about "the Region"?

[mafiastudent]

Although the author didn't mention this...Valpo is not considered NW Indiana. It's about a 2 hour drive from Cal City and I'm talking with traffic...might even be longer depending on the time of day. Route 30 is a bitch starting at the Indiana border at least until you get past the mall.

I have family that grew up in “The Region” as it is known to locals and Valpo was definitely considered part of the “The Region” to them.

I'm not arguing the point anymore. My definition of "The Region" from someone in the south suburbs and people who live that far out's definition is different. It's a moot point. The NW Indiana Planning Commission recognizes it as such - so it is. It's just not an area I would consider part of the region because it's so far out, but again, it is what it is.

Hey mafiastudent, what the current state of the Italian community in the south burbs? How cohesive and tight knit are they? Are they mostly Americanized now, or was there any ongoing immigration from Italy over the years as with the Northwest side/burbs?

For you or anyone else familiar with NW Indy, I'm wondering the same thing about "the Region"?

That's not my wheelhouse so I can't answer that. I can tell you that the Italian community of Dolton dispersed and they all moved to NW Indiana - Schererville/Crown Point/St. John area. However, it's not the same as it was. The community is different there and obviously spread out.

[PolackTony]

I don't believe he really did anything about the "fumes" because there was really nothing to do. What was he supposed to do? INVENT activity that didn't exist? Also, Sallet MAY have started some ongoing investigation that is continuing right now after he left for all we know. So, I'm not sure what your point is concerning your statement? Are you disagreeing with Sallett & saying the Outfit is NOT running on fumes? Are you saying he was lying about his statement?

Given that it happened relatively early in the new guy Buie's tenure, possible that the DelGiudice investigation began under Sallet. But if that was the best they were able to come up with (with the questionable assumption this was Outfit related at all) it certainly would point to running on fumes. Besides, Sallet is a smart guy. He's lived in Boston, NYC, DC, NOLA and now realizes that Chicago is the Best City (based on his "exit interviews" with local media) lol.

[Tonyd621]

I don't believe he really did anything about the "fumes" because there was really nothing to do. What was he supposed to do? INVENT activity that didn't exist? Also, Sallet MAY have started some ongoing investigation that is continuing right now after he left for all we know. So, I'm not sure what your point is concerning your statement? Are you disagreeing with Sallett & saying the Outfit is NOT running on fumes? Are you saying he was lying about his statement?

Given that it happened relatively early in the new guy Buie's tenure, possible that the DelGiudice investigation began under Sallet. But if that was the best they were able to come up with (with the questionable assumption this was Outfit related at all) it certainly would point to running on fumes. Besides, Sallet is a smart guy. He's lived in Boston, NYC, DC, NOLA and now realizes that Chicago is the Best City (based on his "exit interviews" with local media) lol.

He is now in HR. That is where dreams go to die. Nobody wants to be in HR. Maybe, he just didnt have enough to make a convincing case? He publicly called out the outfit about making a case. And he wasnt able too. There is still unsolved murders, still social clubs, still mob activity to make a case. He just didnt. It's not like whatever was left went underground when he announced that. I mean he was there since at least from mid 2017 to recently and nothing. I mean you still got Dote, Caruso, Cataudella, Delaurentis, Spina, Vena, Gagliano, Bellavia, and the list goes on. He couldnt make a case, not a one.

[PolackTony]

He is now in HR. That is where dreams go to die. Nobody wants to be in HR. Maybe, he just didnt have enough to make a convincing case? He publicly called out the outfit about making a case. And he wasnt able too. There is still unsolved murders, still social clubs, still mob activity to make a case. He just didnt. It's not like whatever was left went underground when he announced that. I mean he was there since at least from mid 2017 to recently and nothing. I mean you still got Dote, Caruso, Cataudella, Delaurentis, Spina, Vena, Gagliano, Bellavia, and the list goes on. He couldnt make a case, not a one.

I'm inclined to agree, but it's hard to read Sallet's apparent turn from his statement at the beginning of his tenure to his "fumes" remark at the end. Maybe as you contend they just couldn't get anything to stick on the usual suspects. Seems plausible this could be because there just wasn't much happening to capture , I am of the personal belief that the Outfit is currently doing somewhat better than "running on fumes", but I don't think at this point that we really have enough to go on to make a firm conclusion either way. The apparent failure for the other shoe to drop on Vena especially is perplexing, given Hollingshead rolling and the Chuckie Russell recordings. From what I hear at least Grand Ave is certainly still active, and Elmwood may have some resurgence under Dote/Abbinanti, though it remains unclear if they warrant being considered a viable crew or if they're basically under Grand now.

[Tonyd621]

He is now in HR. That is where dreams go to die. Nobody wants to be in HR. Maybe, he just didnt have enough to make a convincing case? He publicly called out the outfit about making a case. And he wasnt able too. There is still unsolved murders, still social clubs, still mob activity to make a case. He just didnt. It's not like whatever was left went underground when he announced that. I mean he was there since at least from mid 2017 to recently and nothing. I mean you still got Dote, Caruso, Cataudella, Delaurentis, Spina, Vena, Gagliano, Bellavia, and the list goes on. He couldnt make a case, not a one.

I'm inclined to agree, but it's hard to read Sallet's apparent turn from his statement at the beginning of his tenure to his "fumes" remark at the end. Maybe as you contend they just couldn't get anything to stick on the usual suspects. Seems plausible this could be because there just wasn't much happening to capture , I am of the personal belief that the Outfit is currently doing somewhat better than "running on fumes", but I don't think at this point that we really have enough to go on to make a firm conclusion either way. The apparent failure for the other shoe to drop on Vena especially is perplexing, given Hollingshead rolling and the Chuckie Russell recordings. From what I hear at least Grand Ave is certainly still active, and Elmwood may have some resurgence under Dote/Abbinanti, though it remains unclear if they warrant being considered a viable crew or if they're basically under Grand now.

I also agree with this statement as well. Rarely on this forum do ppl agree to agree with different perspectives.
Difronzo could of been holding Elmwood back. Whether he was untrustworthy, suspicious of him being a CI, him wanting his crew to go legitimate; he probably rarely gave the ok for anyone in his crew to go out and hustle on their own. I mean even back in the mid 2000s frank calabrese sr was saying difronzo was afraid of taking another pinch in those prison tapes. Whatever happened to Hollingshead anyways? Vena is married to Chuckie Russels sister and part of the Grand Ave crew was caught by an informant or undercover, buying what 10 guns I think it was? I mean he couldnt attach that to any RICO or nobody else in Grand Ave crew? I mean you can only shoot one at a time. You also had the Jim Gerage (Omega Demo) murder that was rumored to be grand Ave related in 2016, in 2010 you had that bouncer that Velez who was shot was also under Grand Ave, supposedly and in 2006 zizzo disappears. And nothing? I think there is a possibility that Sallett just didnt have enough. Nobody has really rolled, either since Hollingshead and what did they get out of that?
My opinion which doesnt mean shit, is Sallett didnt have nothing. If he did I bet he would still be there basking in the publicity of an indictment just as did when he first arrived saying he was looking to arrest the running on fumes chicago for old unsolved murders not to mention the 3 I just listed, which is there more? Probably. I mean chuckie mentioned killing a black guy to an informant just 2 years ago and nothing. I cant imagine what else he said that we dont know or what he didnt say that happened that we dont know.

[Tonyd621]

And imo a viable crew to me is all you really need is one made guy or someone with connections then if you have 2 or 3 associates and you share your connections with those associates you have you kind of have a little crew going imo.

[PolackTony]

I also agree with this statement as well. Rarely on this forum do ppl agree to agree with different perspectives.
Difronzo could of been holding Elmwood back. Whether he was untrustworthy, suspicious of him being a CI, him wanting his crew to go legitimate; he probably rarely gave the ok for anyone in his crew to go out and hustle on their own. I mean even back in the mid 2000s frank calabrese sr was saying difronzo was afraid of taking another pinch in those prison tapes. Whatever happened to Hollingshead anyways? Vena is married to Chuckie Russels sister and part of the Grand Ave crew was caught by an informant or undercover, buying what 10 guns I think it was? I mean he couldnt attach that to any RICO or nobody else in Grand Ave crew? I mean you can only shoot one at a time. You also had the Jim Gerage (Omega Demo) murder that was rumored to be grand Ave related in 2016, in 2010 you had that bouncer that Velez who was shot was also under Grand Ave, supposedly and in 2006 zizzo disappears. And nothing? I think there is a possibility that Sallett just didnt have enough. Nobody has really rolled, either since Hollingshead and what did they get out of that?
My opinion which doesnt mean shit, is Sallett didnt have nothing. If he did I bet he would still be there basking in the publicity of an indictment just as did when he first arrived saying he was looking to arrest the running on fumes chicago for old unsolved murders not to mention the 3 I just listed, which is there more? Probably. I mean chuckie mentioned killing a black guy to an informant just 2 years ago and nothing. I cant imagine what else he said that we dont know or what he didnt say that happened that we dont know.

Again I'm sympathetic to your reading of Sallet here. If we take his "fumes" statement at face value, presumably Sallet was able to state this based on current intelligence. If so, one would think that they'd be able to bring something in where people are eating off of those "fumes". Then Sallet could've left Chicago claiming to have finally, truly brought down the Outfit. But again, we really just don't enough draw a firm conclusion.

I've tried to locate current info on Hollingshead's status and can't find anything. He was initially knocked in 2009 for participating in a home invasion and kidnapping for ransom of two (apparent) gangbangers. The only details I can find on this was an appeal filed in 2017 by one of the defendants who was convicted, and Hollingshead is named as a co-defendant. Don't see anywhere that Hollingshead was ever convicted for this, nor for the subsequent weapons charge that violated his bond and precipitated him flipping on Panozzo. I don't know what his status is at this pint, if he was offered immunity or some other deal in return for testifying or what.

The Velez and Gerage murders I agree both stink to high heaven. Velez of course being the next door neighbor of Holingshead and rumored to have been involved in drug distribution, then he's shot in his home with no signs of forced entry, a struggle, or robbery. And yes, Russell's very suggestive remarks caught on those recordings, to paraphrase "killing a guy's easy, just dump em off somewhere in the Southside and they blame another black guy for it". He could just be running his mouth to intimidate, but it was certainly enough to set my radar beeping. I've heard it claimed that Russell was big time involved in cocaine distribution on the Westside, and speculation that these guys were dropping bodies and leaving them in the hood to look like gang hits or robberies gone south. Chicago of course having a ~30% homicide clearance rate and hundreds of unsolved cold case homicides a year. Mostly still rumor and speculation, though in light of the Velez and Gerage murders, the nature of what Panozzo's crew was popped for, longstanding ties these guys have to street gangs via the C-Notes, the gun charge you referenced above, and Russell's statements on the recordings, my antennas have been up for a while.

[Tonyd621]

I also agree with this statement as well. Rarely on this forum do ppl agree to agree with different perspectives.
Difronzo could of been holding Elmwood back. Whether he was untrustworthy, suspicious of him being a CI, him wanting his crew to go legitimate; he probably rarely gave the ok for anyone in his crew to go out and hustle on their own. I mean even back in the mid 2000s frank calabrese sr was saying difronzo was afraid of taking another pinch in those prison tapes. Whatever happened to Hollingshead anyways? Vena is married to Chuckie Russels sister and part of the Grand Ave crew was caught by an informant or undercover, buying what 10 guns I think it was? I mean he couldnt attach that to any RICO or nobody else in Grand Ave crew? I mean you can only shoot one at a time. You also had the Jim Gerage (Omega Demo) murder that was rumored to be grand Ave related in 2016, in 2010 you had that bouncer that Velez who was shot was also under Grand Ave, supposedly and in 2006 zizzo disappears. And nothing? I think there is a possibility that Sallett just didnt have enough. Nobody has really rolled, either since Hollingshead and what did they get out of that?
My opinion which doesnt mean shit, is Sallett didnt have nothing. If he did I bet he would still be there basking in the publicity of an indictment just as did when he first arrived saying he was looking to arrest the running on fumes chicago for old unsolved murders not to mention the 3 I just listed, which is there more? Probably. I mean chuckie mentioned killing a black guy to an informant just 2 years ago and nothing. I cant imagine what else he said that we dont know or what he didnt say that happened that we dont know.

Again I'm sympathetic to your reading of Sallet here. If we take his "fumes" statement at face value, presumably Sallet was able to state this based on current intelligence. If so, one would think that they'd be able to bring something in where people are eating off of those "fumes". Then Sallet could've left Chicago claiming to have finally, truly brought down the Outfit. But again, we really just don't enough draw a firm conclusion.

I've tried to locate current info on Hollingshead's status and can't find anything. He was initially knocked in 2009 for participating in a home invasion and kidnapping for ransom of two (apparent) gangbangers. The only details I can find on this was an appeal filed in 2017 by one of the defendants who was convicted, and Hollingshead is named as a co-defendant. Don't see anywhere that Hollingshead was ever convicted for this, nor for the subsequent weapons charge that violated his bond and precipitated him flipping on Panozzo. I don't know what his status is at this pint, if he was offered immunity or some other deal in return for testifying or what.

The Velez and Gerage murders I agree both stink to high heaven. Velez of course being the next door neighbor of Holingshead and rumored to have been involved in drug distribution, then he's shot in his home with no signs of forced entry, a struggle, or robbery. And yes, Russell's very suggestive remarks caught on those recordings, to paraphrase "killing a guy's easy, just dump em off somewhere in the Southside and they blame another black guy for it". He could just be running his mouth to intimidate, but it was certainly enough to set my radar beeping. I've heard it claimed that Russell was big time involved in cocaine distribution on the Westside, and speculation that these guys were dropping bodies and leaving them in the hood to look like gang hits or robberies gone south. Chicago of course having a ~30% homicide clearance rate and hundreds of unsolved cold case homicides a year. Mostly still rumor and speculation, though in light of the Velez and Gerage murders, the nature of what Panozzo's crew was popped for, longstanding ties these guys have to street gangs via the C-Notes, the gun charge you referenced above, and Russell's statements on the recordings, my antennas have been up for a while.

Well, you sir have done your research and are more informed on the facts of the case(s) then I a am. Definitely a more polished response/thesis of what I was trying to state. You have summed it up to there is not much left to say. I just feel like Sallet seemed like he wanted to be the guy to be the "death knell" to the outfit and with all these aforementioned things happening he didnt do a thing. So imo it's either the same before Sallet came about or its stronger, but I deffinitley do not think they got weaker during Sallets time.

[Confederate]

I also agree with this statement as well. Rarely on this forum do ppl agree to agree with different perspectives.
Difronzo could of been holding Elmwood back. Whether he was untrustworthy, suspicious of him being a CI, him wanting his crew to go legitimate; he probably rarely gave the ok for anyone in his crew to go out and hustle on their own. I mean even back in the mid 2000s frank calabrese sr was saying difronzo was afraid of taking another pinch in those prison tapes. Whatever happened to Hollingshead anyways? Vena is married to Chuckie Russels sister and part of the Grand Ave crew was caught by an informant or undercover, buying what 10 guns I think it was? I mean he couldnt attach that to any RICO or nobody else in Grand Ave crew? I mean you can only shoot one at a time. You also had the Jim Gerage (Omega Demo) murder that was rumored to be grand Ave related in 2016, in 2010 you had that bouncer that Velez who was shot was also under Grand Ave, supposedly and in 2006 zizzo disappears. And nothing? I think there is a possibility that Sallett just didnt have enough. Nobody has really rolled, either since Hollingshead and what did they get out of that?
My opinion which doesnt mean shit, is Sallett didnt have nothing. If he did I bet he would still be there basking in the publicity of an indictment just as did when he first arrived saying he was looking to arrest the running on fumes chicago for old unsolved murders not to mention the 3 I just listed, which is there more? Probably. I mean chuckie mentioned killing a black guy to an informant just 2 years ago and nothing. I cant imagine what else he said that we dont know or what he didnt say that happened that we dont know.

Again I'm sympathetic to your reading of Sallet here. If we take his "fumes" statement at face value, presumably Sallet was able to state this based on current intelligence. If so, one would think that they'd be able to bring something in where people are eating off of those "fumes". Then Sallet could've left Chicago claiming to have finally, truly brought down the Outfit. But again, we really just don't enough draw a firm conclusion.

I've tried to locate current info on Hollingshead's status and can't find anything. He was initially knocked in 2009 for participating in a home invasion and kidnapping for ransom of two (apparent) gangbangers. The only details I can find on this was an appeal filed in 2017 by one of the defendants who was convicted, and Hollingshead is named as a co-defendant. Don't see anywhere that Hollingshead was ever convicted for this, nor for the subsequent weapons charge that violated his bond and precipitated him flipping on Panozzo. I don't know what his status is at this pint, if he was offered immunity or some other deal in return for testifying or what.

The Velez and Gerage murders I agree both stink to high heaven. Velez of course being the next door neighbor of Holingshead and rumored to have been involved in drug distribution, then he's shot in his home with no signs of forced entry, a struggle, or robbery. And yes, Russell's very suggestive remarks caught on those recordings, to paraphrase "killing a guy's easy, just dump em off somewhere in the Southside and they blame another black guy for it". He could just be running his mouth to intimidate, but it was certainly enough to set my radar beeping. I've heard it claimed that Russell was big time involved in cocaine distribution on the Westside, and speculation that these guys were dropping bodies and leaving them in the hood to look like gang hits or robberies gone south. Chicago of course having a ~30% homicide clearance rate and hundreds of unsolved cold case homicides a year. Mostly still rumor and speculation, though in light of the Velez and Gerage murders, the nature of what Panozzo's crew was popped for, longstanding ties these guys have to street gangs via the C-Notes, the gun charge you referenced above, and Russell's statements on the recordings, my antennas have been up for a while.

Well, you sir have done your research and are more informed on the facts of the case(s) then I a am. Definitely a more polished response/thesis of what I was trying to state. You have summed it up to there is not much left to say. I just feel like Sallet seemed like he wanted to be the guy to be the "death knell" to the outfit and with all these aforementioned things happening he didnt do a thing. So imo it's either the same before Sallet came about or its stronger, but I deffinitley do not think they got weaker during Sallets time.

A lot of what you said is pure speculation & sounds like "Wishful thinking" that the Outfit is more active than what Sallett said & he simply didn't do his job. Sallett never said the Outfit was dead, he simply said it is "Running on Fumes". No need to "over analyze it" because you find it hard to believe that the Outfit is weak & on it's last leg.
In addition, there is no evidence that Sal DeLaurentis is the head of anything. He is an 82 year old grandpa who is with his family all the time running his legit business. He doesn't give a fuck about whatever is left of the Outfit. He doesn't want to die in Jail. There's no future in it. There will only be "remnants" of it left here & there & SOME of the relatives who don't belong to any Mafia will benefit in legit business & good connections in the future. There doesn't seem to be any Administration over them. They are fragmented & "running On Fumes". I'll take Sallet's word over you or anyone else on this Forum.

[Tonyd621]

I also agree with this statement as well. Rarely on this forum do ppl agree to agree with different perspectives.
Difronzo could of been holding Elmwood back. Whether he was untrustworthy, suspicious of him being a CI, him wanting his crew to go legitimate; he probably rarely gave the ok for anyone in his crew to go out and hustle on their own. I mean even back in the mid 2000s frank calabrese sr was saying difronzo was afraid of taking another pinch in those prison tapes. Whatever happened to Hollingshead anyways? Vena is married to Chuckie Russels sister and part of the Grand Ave crew was caught by an informant or undercover, buying what 10 guns I think it was? I mean he couldnt attach that to any RICO or nobody else in Grand Ave crew? I mean you can only shoot one at a time. You also had the Jim Gerage (Omega Demo) murder that was rumored to be grand Ave related in 2016, in 2010 you had that bouncer that Velez who was shot was also under Grand Ave, supposedly and in 2006 zizzo disappears. And nothing? I think there is a possibility that Sallett just didnt have enough. Nobody has really rolled, either since Hollingshead and what did they get out of that?
My opinion which doesnt mean shit, is Sallett didnt have nothing. If he did I bet he would still be there basking in the publicity of an indictment just as did when he first arrived saying he was looking to arrest the running on fumes chicago for old unsolved murders not to mention the 3 I just listed, which is there more? Probably. I mean chuckie mentioned killing a black guy to an informant just 2 years ago and nothing. I cant imagine what else he said that we dont know or what he didnt say that happened that we dont know.

Again I'm sympathetic to your reading of Sallet here. If we take his "fumes" statement at face value, presumably Sallet was able to state this based on current intelligence. If so, one would think that they'd be able to bring something in where people are eating off of those "fumes". Then Sallet could've left Chicago claiming to have finally, truly brought down the Outfit. But again, we really just don't enough draw a firm conclusion.

I've tried to locate current info on Hollingshead's status and can't find anything. He was initially knocked in 2009 for participating in a home invasion and kidnapping for ransom of two (apparent) gangbangers. The only details I can find on this was an appeal filed in 2017 by one of the defendants who was convicted, and Hollingshead is named as a co-defendant. Don't see anywhere that Hollingshead was ever convicted for this, nor for the subsequent weapons charge that violated his bond and precipitated him flipping on Panozzo. I don't know what his status is at this pint, if he was offered immunity or some other deal in return for testifying or what.

The Velez and Gerage murders I agree both stink to high heaven. Velez of course being the next door neighbor of Holingshead and rumored to have been involved in drug distribution, then he's shot in his home with no signs of forced entry, a struggle, or robbery. And yes, Russell's very suggestive remarks caught on those recordings, to paraphrase "killing a guy's easy, just dump em off somewhere in the Southside and they blame another black guy for it". He could just be running his mouth to intimidate, but it was certainly enough to set my radar beeping. I've heard it claimed that Russell was big time involved in cocaine distribution on the Westside, and speculation that these guys were dropping bodies and leaving them in the hood to look like gang hits or robberies gone south. Chicago of course having a ~30% homicide clearance rate and hundreds of unsolved cold case homicides a year. Mostly still rumor and speculation, though in light of the Velez and Gerage murders, the nature of what Panozzo's crew was popped for, longstanding ties these guys have to street gangs via the C-Notes, the gun charge you referenced above, and Russell's statements on the recordings, my antennas have been up for a while.

Well, you sir have done your research and are more informed on the facts of the case(s) then I a am. Definitely a more polished response/thesis of what I was trying to state. You have summed it up to there is not much left to say. I just feel like Sallet seemed like he wanted to be the guy to be the "death knell" to the outfit and with all these aforementioned things happening he didnt do a thing. So imo it's either the same before Sallet came about or its stronger, but I deffinitley do not think they got weaker during Sallets time.

A lot of what you said is pure speculation & sounds like "Wishful thinking" that the Outfit is more active than what Sallett said & he simply didn't do his job. Sallett never said the Outfit was dead, he simply said it is "Running on Fumes". No need to "over analyze it" because you find it hard to believe that the Outfit is weak & on it's last leg.
In addition, there is no evidence that Sal DeLaurentis is the head of anything. He is an 82 year old grandpa who is with his family all the time running his legit business. He doesn't give a fuck about whatever is left of the Outfit. He doesn't want to die in Jail. There's no future in it. There will only be "remnants" of it left here & there & SOME of the relatives who don't belong to any Mafia will benefit in legit business & good connections in the future. There doesn't seem to be any Administration over them. They are fragmented & "running On Fumes". I'll take Sallet's word over you or anyone else on this Forum.

I dont think anyone mentioned solly d as head of anything. At least I didnt in this thread. Go ahead and believe everything the government says. That's your right. The government's assertion or public statements on all things mob related are 100% honest and truthful that's your right.
But if they knew all this all the time they wouldnt need informants to fill them on guys they never knew or unsolved crimes and Sallet would have every remaining guy locked up in 6 months.