General Chicago Outfit Info Dumping Ground

[RushStreet]

Or his wife knew about it but kept her mouth shut and placed the missing persons report just to try to cover things up for Tony to make it seem like she didn't know what happened. When in actuality she knew and kept his life a secret from that point forward. She passed away I believe a few years ago.

[Coloboy]

No man. He was 100% murdered. My post above is referencing the reasons why senior leaders would approve such a risky thing at that time.

[RushStreet]

Yes that makes much more sense. I apologize for the confusion in regards to that.

Secondly how do you think they killed him? Knife? Gun? Strangulation? I mean I guess it doesn't matter but its something to think about.

[Snakes]

On the topic of Zizzo ….

One would assume that during this tumultuous period not long after family secrets, the higher-ups in the organization would be pretty hesitant to approve a murder. It makes me think that whatever was going on with Zizzo and his crew, it must’ve been something that threatened to break the entire outfit apart.

I’m going to operate under the assumption that even if Sarno was official boss at this time, he still would’ve had to have backing from other senior members, people like DiFronzo, Andriacchi, and Tornabene.

My running theory is that Zizzo and the remnants of the Aiuppa/Carlisi/Marcello crew went totally rogue, and that they separated themselves entirely from the administration, and were intent on just doing their own things, particularly related to video poker routes, and planned on not paying any tribute to anyone . A contract would have been approved on the basis that it was the only way to keep the organization in one piece.

A quote that sticks out in my mind from Vince Dublino in the Sarno case…. “I don’t work for you, fat ass.” This could be interpreted as they were doing whatever they wanted.

Just food for thought

I believe that Marcello was still boss (or trying to retain the title of boss) and could have been trying to run things through Zizzo (he was doing this prior to Family Secrets, so why not during?). Maybe DiFronzo and the other Outfit leaders did not want this and preferred to have Sarno running Cicero and/or the Outfit (I'm not sure exactly when Sarno took over). Zizzo could have balked at this and was taken out.

[falco]

On the topic of Zizzo ….

One would assume that during this tumultuous period not long after family secrets, the higher-ups in the organization would be pretty hesitant to approve a murder. It makes me think that whatever was going on with Zizzo and his crew, it must’ve been something that threatened to break the entire outfit apart.

I’m going to operate under the assumption that even if Sarno was official boss at this time, he still would’ve had to have backing from other senior members, people like DiFronzo, Andriacchi, and Tornabene.

My running theory is that Zizzo and the remnants of the Aiuppa/Carlisi/Marcello crew went totally rogue, and that they separated themselves entirely from the administration, and were intent on just doing their own things, particularly related to video poker routes, and planned on not paying any tribute to anyone . A contract would have been approved on the basis that it was the only way to keep the organization in one piece.

A quote that sticks out in my mind from Vince Dublino in the Sarno case…. “I don’t work for you, fat ass.” This could be interpreted as they were doing whatever they wanted.

Just food for thought

casey szflarski had machines in a location where sarno told dublino to stay away. he took over the stops from james and mickey marcello (m&m amusements) after family secrets.

a bar owner from lyons testifed at his trial that he had machines from szflarski in his business for years, but switched to dublino for a better deal.

they were 100% beefing over routes.

[Coloboy]

On the topic of Zizzo ….

One would assume that during this tumultuous period not long after family secrets, the higher-ups in the organization would be pretty hesitant to approve a murder. It makes me think that whatever was going on with Zizzo and his crew, it must’ve been something that threatened to break the entire outfit apart.

I’m going to operate under the assumption that even if Sarno was official boss at this time, he still would’ve had to have backing from other senior members, people like DiFronzo, Andriacchi, and Tornabene.

My running theory is that Zizzo and the remnants of the Aiuppa/Carlisi/Marcello crew went totally rogue, and that they separated themselves entirely from the administration, and were intent on just doing their own things, particularly related to video poker routes, and planned on not paying any tribute to anyone . A contract would have been approved on the basis that it was the only way to keep the organization in one piece.

A quote that sticks out in my mind from Vince Dublino in the Sarno case…. “I don’t work for you, fat ass.” This could be interpreted as they were doing whatever they wanted.

Just food for thought

I believe that Marcello was still boss (or trying to retain the title of boss) and could have been trying to run things through Zizzo (he was doing this prior to Family Secrets, so why not during?). Maybe DiFronzo and the other Outfit leaders did not want this and preferred to have Sarno running Cicero and/or the Outfit (I'm not sure exactly when Sarno took over). Zizzo could have balked at this and was taken out.

Marcello attempting to retain control via Zizzo is a good theory too. I’ve always speculated that one of the reasons that Marcello has been in Supermax (which always seemed wild to me) was that he might have been trying to retain control behind bars

I’ll also add that if Fosco is to be believed, the Marcello and DiFronzo camps didn’t always see eye to eye going back to the late 80’s

[NorthBuffalo]

On the topic of Zizzo ….

One would assume that during this tumultuous period not long after family secrets, the higher-ups in the organization would be pretty hesitant to approve a murder. It makes me think that whatever was going on with Zizzo and his crew, it must’ve been something that threatened to break the entire outfit apart.

I’m going to operate under the assumption that even if Sarno was official boss at this time, he still would’ve had to have backing from other senior members, people like DiFronzo, Andriacchi, and Tornabene.

My running theory is that Zizzo and the remnants of the Aiuppa/Carlisi/Marcello crew went totally rogue, and that they separated themselves entirely from the administration, and were intent on just doing their own things, particularly related to video poker routes, and planned on not paying any tribute to anyone . A contract would have been approved on the basis that it was the only way to keep the organization in one piece.

A quote that sticks out in my mind from Vince Dublino in the Sarno case…. “I don’t work for you, fat ass.” This could be interpreted as they were doing whatever they wanted.

Just food for thought

I believe that Marcello was still boss (or trying to retain the title of boss) and could have been trying to run things through Zizzo (he was doing this prior to Family Secrets, so why not during?). Maybe DiFronzo and the other Outfit leaders did not want this and preferred to have Sarno running Cicero and/or the Outfit (I'm not sure exactly when Sarno took over). Zizzo could have balked at this and was taken out.

Marcello attempting to retain control via Zizzo is a good theory too. I’ve always speculated that one of the reasons that Marcello has been in Supermax (which always seemed wild to me) was that he might have been trying to retain control behind bars

I’ll also add that if Fosco is to be believed, the Marcello and DiFronzo camps didn’t always see eye to eye going back to the late 80’s

Vince Dublino was Zizzo's driver at one point in the early 2000s if you read those transcripts. I think Zizzo's murder was predicated by that of their main muscle at that point - Anthony Chiaramonte - four years earlier.

[Coloboy]

Then boss Monteleone died in January 2001. Chiaramonte was killed in November of that year later on. I think it’s likely that it was decided sometime in that period that when Marcello got out, it was his spot. He certainly spoke as if he was the boss on the prison tapes with his brother around this time.

Tornabene is often thought to have kept things running for Marcello in this period. I would not be surprised based on that timeline if Marcello approved the hit on Chiaramonti from prison. He was seemingly well informed of goings on based on his prison tapes.

[NorthBuffalo]

Then boss Monteleone died in January 2001. Chiaramonte was killed in November of that year later on. I think it’s likely that it was decided sometime in that period that when Marcello got out, it was his spot. He certainly spoke as if he was the boss on the prison tapes with his brother around this time.

Tornabene is often thought to have kept things running for Marcello in this period. I would not be surprised based on that timeline if Marcello approved the hit on Chiaramonti from prison. He was seemingly well informed of goings on based on his prison tapes.

I agree - I think you also look at the timeline. Chiarmonte, Tournabene, Marcello and Zizzo are all Carlisi guys. Sarno and the Cicero guys were Infelise crew. There is always this idea of a power struggle because of Dublino and Sarno later beefing - but I do think that could have been one off.

Chiaramonte gets hit in 2001 and Marcello comes home 2003. Marcello goes back to prison in April 2005 and Zizzo is hit a few months later in August. It always looks, reads and sounds as if Zizzo was killed in a power struggle between Marcello and Sarno - however, one wonders if this was Marcello perhaps tying up loose ends. Perhaps the feds were pressuring Zizzo on Family Secrets or there was more going on there. I think a lot of people too often look at Sarno for the hit on Zizzo, while perhaps forgetting he may have still been working for Marcello at the time and following orders.

I also think you need to look at 2005 for the Outfit - they have the first made guy in history flipping and giving information. Indictments are coming for all of the top brass at that time. I just wonder if Zizzo was hit out of fear things could get worse - I'm not sure Sarno would simply 'usurp' the boss position from Marcello after he goes to prison and then hit Marcello's main guy (Zizzo) within a few months and not wonder if this would cause Marcello to flip himself and put Sarno behind bars.

[RushStreet]

https://youtu.be/32YG6v9qGjA?si=-DxiCGtgB23TXTbx

[RushStreet]

^^^ New Podcast discussing the State of the Outfit in 2025. Check it out.

[JoePuzzles234]

I watched it last night and unfortunately there are no more specifics on who makes up the "Sarno Boys", outside of like Rovito and Carparelli. Otherwise it seemed to be Scott mostly repeating stuff from last year for the rest of the family and recapping some more recent GR articles.

Notably, he also says there are 50-75 "buttons" in Chicago today which I guess is keeping in line with the whole 24+ members made by Sarno notion

[Ivan]

Notably, he also says there are 50-75 "buttons" in Chicago today which I guess is keeping in line with the whole 24+ members made by Sarno notion

FWIW, if you add up every single confirmed made guy as well as all the somewhat plausible rumored made guys (Mitria, Rovito, Marino, Gagliano, everyone) I think it does come to about 50.

[Wiseguy]

Notably, he also says there are 50-75 "buttons" in Chicago today which I guess is keeping in line with the whole 24+ members made by Sarno notion

And some people wonder why he gets so much flack.

[NorthBuffalo]

Nikolas 'Snuffy' Stravapoulos, longtime Chicago greektown gambling figure who co-owned Snuffy's diner in McCook, IL, which served as a gambling establishment. He is also the father of current Outfit figure Demitri 'Jimmy' Stravapoulos, the same individual targeted by Mandell a few years ago - I think that is Jimmy in this photo as a kid.