Springfield IL Frank Zito article

[Patrickgold]

Interesting article about Frank Zito of Springfield, IL. I have heard that that he was either an extension of Chicago and even Rockford. Not sure the truth to either.

http://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6456

[cavita]

Interesting article about Frank Zito of Springfield, IL. I have heard that that he was either an extension of Chicago and even Rockford. Not sure the truth to either.

http://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6456

This was a really good article and I've never seen it before. I had hoped to research the Springfield family after the Rockford family but it won't be any time soon, sadly. I do know there was a brother Filippo Zito that stayed in Sicily and apparently he was also a made man in the San Giuseppe Iato family. Tony Zito, Frank's brother seemed to have a huge influence in the Springfield family as did Vincent Salvo, Nick Campo and Vito Impastato. It is true that brother Joe Zito escaped prosecution in the liquor case and ended up in Rockford where he became consigliere. Gaspare Calo, once he got out of Leavenworth around 1935 or so moved to Rockford and opened up the Sunlite Dairy together with his brother-in-law Joe.
I do think the two families stayed separate though Frank and Joe communicated often and FBI phone records showed that. Also, the FBI files I've seen showed that when Appalachin happened in November 1957 Rockford boss Tony Musso was dying of cancer and the family asked that Frank Zito go and represent them at the summit. Obviously Frank got caught and was exposed to national media attention and afterwards was named the most dangerous man outside the city of Chicago. The FBI didn't even know Frank and Joe were brothers until 1965 which I thought funny.
In 1966 the FBI raided a black policy wheel operation the Rockford LCN had under their control and it seemed in late 1965 Frank Zito met in a Rockford bank office with Joe Zito and capo Charles Vince and the men discussed a state of the art policy wheel that Frank could obtain from Tony Giordano in St. Louis. Ths was the only time as yet that I saw any cooperation on any rackets between Springfield and Rockford other than the organized kidnappings they cooperated on in the 1930s.
There was some illegal liquor stills that the Rockford guys cooperated on with some Springfield guys and LaSalle-Peru guys in 1938 for which they got caught but that was pretty much it.
Another close town with a rich history of mafia doings at the time was Streator, Illinois which was a hotbed of gambling and liquor that Springfield took an interest in during the early years.

[Patrickgold]

Interesting article about Frank Zito of Springfield, IL. I have heard that that he was either an extension of Chicago and even Rockford. Not sure the truth to either.

http://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6456

This was a really good article and I've never seen it before. I had hoped to research the Springfield family after the Rockford family but it won't be any time soon, sadly. I do know there was a brother Filippo Zito that stayed in Sicily and apparently he was also a made man in the San Giuseppe Iato family. Tony Zito, Frank's brother seemed to have a huge influence in the Springfield family as did Vincent Salvo, Nick Campo and Vito Impastato. It is true that brother Joe Zito escaped prosecution in the liquor case and ended up in Rockford where he became consigliere. Gaspare Calo, once he got out of Leavenworth around 1935 or so moved to Rockford and opened up the Sunlite Dairy together with his brother-in-law Joe.
I do think the two families stayed separate though Frank and Joe communicated often and FBI phone records showed that. Also, the FBI files I've seen showed that when Appalachin happened in November 1957 Rockford boss Tony Musso was dying of cancer and the family asked that Frank Zito go and represent them at the summit. Obviously Frank got caught and was exposed to national media attention and afterwards was named the most dangerous man outside the city of Chicago. The FBI didn't even know Frank and Joe were brothers until 1965 which I thought funny.
In 1966 the FBI raided a black policy wheel operation the Rockford LCN had under their control and it seemed in late 1965 Frank Zito met in a Rockford bank office with Joe Zito and capo Charles Vince and the men discussed a state of the art policy wheel that Frank could obtain from Tony Giordano in St. Louis. Ths was the only time as yet that I saw any cooperation on any rackets between Springfield and Rockford other than the organized kidnappings they cooperated on in the 1930s.
There was some illegal liquor stills that the Rockford guys cooperated on with some Springfield guys and LaSalle-Peru guys in 1938 for which they got caught but that was pretty much it.
Another close town with a rich history of mafia doings at the time was Streator, Illinois which was a hotbed of gambling and liquor that Springfield took an interest in during the early years.

Cavita, I’m glad you liked the article. The fact that Frank Zito was asked to represent Rockford is probably why I heard that Springfield was an extension of Rockford. What you explained makes sense and it was not the case. Frank Zito was not actually the last Mafia boss in Springfield despite various reports stating this. The last known boss was actually Vito Impastato, who died in 1988. I would loved to get info on their 70s and 80’s operation. I have some friends from the Springfield area and they even told me back in the day, there was an area called Little Italy. I need to do some more research.

[Patrickgold]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6468

[cavita]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6468

Now I had heard that Impastato didn't want the top job because of health reasons and that Ernest "Buster" Dinora took what was left of the family. Hard telling unless some FBI files from the 60s and 70s are gotten. Vito Impastato was best man at Joe Zito's wedding I found out as well.

[Patrickgold]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6468

Now I had heard that Impastato didn't want the top job because of health reasons and that Ernest "Buster" Dinora took what was left of the family. Hard telling unless some FBI files from the 60s and 70s are gotten. Vito Impastato was best man at Joe Zito's wedding I found out as well.

I did not hear that Dinora took over. From the little research I have done, I heard Vito Impastato opened up a restaurant soon after the death of Frank Zito. His son Faro Impastato managed the place. There was an investigation into the family involving narcotics trafficking and the son Faro eventually got convicted for conspiracy to deliver cocaine and was sent to the federal joint, I think in Springfield, Missouri. After this, Vito closed the club and left Springfield to retire; first to New Mexico and then finally settled Arizona where he died in 1988. Faro Impastato was released in 1987 and moved to Arizona to live with his father, Vito. He died in 2010 in Prescott, Arizona.

[cavita]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6468

Now I had heard that Impastato didn't want the top job because of health reasons and that Ernest "Buster" Dinora took what was left of the family. Hard telling unless some FBI files from the 60s and 70s are gotten. Vito Impastato was best man at Joe Zito's wedding I found out as well.

I did not hear that Dinora took over. From the little research I have done, I heard Vito Impastato opened up a restaurant soon after the death of Frank Zito. His son Faro Impastato managed the place. There was an investigation into the family involving narcotics trafficking and the son Faro eventually got convicted for conspiracy to deliver cocaine and was sent to the federal joint, I think in Springfield, Missouri. After this, Vito closed the club and left Springfield to retire; first to New Mexico and then finally settled Arizona where he died in 1988. Faro Impastato was released in 1987 and moved to Arizona to live with his father, Vito. He died in 2010 in Prescott, Arizona.

Hmmm! When did he get busted for the narcotics? I think I have in Frank Buscemi's FBI files many calls logged to the Springfield area during his heroin and cocaine distribution days. I know he had made many calls to Bloomington as well.

[Patrickgold]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6468

Now I had heard that Impastato didn't want the top job because of health reasons and that Ernest "Buster" Dinora took what was left of the family. Hard telling unless some FBI files from the 60s and 70s are gotten. Vito Impastato was best man at Joe Zito's wedding I found out as well.

I did not hear that Dinora took over. From the little research I have done, I heard Vito Impastato opened up a restaurant soon after the death of Frank Zito. His son Faro Impastato managed the place. There was an investigation into the family involving narcotics trafficking and the son Faro eventually got convicted for conspiracy to deliver cocaine and was sent to the federal joint, I think in Springfield, Missouri. After this, Vito closed the club and left Springfield to retire; first to New Mexico and then finally settled Arizona where he died in 1988. Faro Impastato was released in 1987 and moved to Arizona to live with his father, Vito. He died in 2010 in Prescott, Arizona.

Hmmm! When did he get busted for the narcotics? I think I have in Frank Buscemi's FBI files many calls logged to the Springfield area during his heroin and cocaine distribution days. I know he had made many calls to Bloomington as well.

I believe he was convicted in 83. Not sure when he was indicted. Probably in 1981 or 1982. That would not surprise me at all if there was a drug connection.

[cavita]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6468

Now I had heard that Impastato didn't want the top job because of health reasons and that Ernest "Buster" Dinora took what was left of the family. Hard telling unless some FBI files from the 60s and 70s are gotten. Vito Impastato was best man at Joe Zito's wedding I found out as well.

I did not hear that Dinora took over. From the little research I have done, I heard Vito Impastato opened up a restaurant soon after the death of Frank Zito. His son Faro Impastato managed the place. There was an investigation into the family involving narcotics trafficking and the son Faro eventually got convicted for conspiracy to deliver cocaine and was sent to the federal joint, I think in Springfield, Missouri. After this, Vito closed the club and left Springfield to retire; first to New Mexico and then finally settled Arizona where he died in 1988. Faro Impastato was released in 1987 and moved to Arizona to live with his father, Vito. He died in 2010 in Prescott, Arizona.

Hmmm! When did he get busted for the narcotics? I think I have in Frank Buscemi's FBI files many calls logged to the Springfield area during his heroin and cocaine distribution days. I know he had made many calls to Bloomington as well.

I believe he was convicted in 83. Not sure when he was indicted. Probably in 1981 or 1982. That would not surprise me at all if there was a drug connection.

Looks like the drug deal went down in 1979 in Pompano Beach, Florida and in 1982 he was sentenced to 10 years. The guy he was working with told agents that Faro and his father Vito were his narcotics connection and they were connected to the mafia.

[Patrickgold]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=6468

Now I had heard that Impastato didn't want the top job because of health reasons and that Ernest "Buster" Dinora took what was left of the family. Hard telling unless some FBI files from the 60s and 70s are gotten. Vito Impastato was best man at Joe Zito's wedding I found out as well.

I did not hear that Dinora took over. From the little research I have done, I heard Vito Impastato opened up a restaurant soon after the death of Frank Zito. His son Faro Impastato managed the place. There was an investigation into the family involving narcotics trafficking and the son Faro eventually got convicted for conspiracy to deliver cocaine and was sent to the federal joint, I think in Springfield, Missouri. After this, Vito closed the club and left Springfield to retire; first to New Mexico and then finally settled Arizona where he died in 1988. Faro Impastato was released in 1987 and moved to Arizona to live with his father, Vito. He died in 2010 in Prescott, Arizona.

Hmmm! When did he get busted for the narcotics? I think I have in Frank Buscemi's FBI files many calls logged to the Springfield area during his heroin and cocaine distribution days. I know he had made many calls to Bloomington as well.

I believe he was convicted in 83. Not sure when he was indicted. Probably in 1981 or 1982. That would not surprise me at all if there was a drug connection.

Looks like the drug deal went down in 1979 in Pompano Beach, Florida and in 1982 he was sentenced to 10 years. The guy he was working with told agents that Faro and his father Vito were his narcotics connection and they were connected to the mafia.

Impastato was his supplier or Impastato was buying from him? What year did the Rockford connection become established?

[cavita]

He was saying that he was buying from Impastato and his father Vito. The Rockford family didn't start importing and distributing until 1980. In May 1982 agents made a huge narcotics bust tied to the Rockford LCN but wasn't admissible in court. They were running drugs from Rockford to Chicago to Las Vegas.

[lennert]

Check out the August 2017 issue of the Informer magazine. There’s a 40 page in-depth article on Frank Zito and Springfield in there, which I wrote. You’ve seen it Cavita?


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[Patrickgold]

Check out the August 2017 issue of the Informer magazine. There’s a 40 page in-depth article on Frank Zito and Springfield in there, which I wrote. You’ve seen it Cavita?


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Anyway you can post it here?

[lennert]

I would not mind, but I know Thomas Hunt puts a lot of effort and money in publishing this magazine, and posting the article here would be like slapping him in the face....


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[CabriniGreen]

I forgot to mention that Vito Impastato had a brother named Nicolo that was a mobster in Kansas City. Here is a short article I found on Vito

The Impostatos might have a long history in narcotics..... Same guy here?

Genovese’s narcotics connections reportedly enabled Mussolini’s son-in-law to fly opium out of Turkey to refiners in Milan. The heroin was then flown to Mediterranean ports on Italian Air Force planes and routed by Genovese to Nicolo Impostato, an assassin from Kansas City who had replaced Nick Gentile, then in Italy assisting Genovese and Poletti, as general manager of the American Mafia’s national drug syndicate.36

Excerpt From: Valentine, Douglas. “The Strength of the Wolf.” Verso, 2013-10-01. iBooks.
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