The Outfit has been a dominant force in Chicago for nearly 100-years, and, despite a scorched earth campaign waged against them by the federal government over the last several decades, these princes of crime are still alive and well.
This is because the Outfit has evolved. The days of well-dressed thugs standing on the corner near a private club torturing people over unpaid juice loans or whacking federal informants like Frank Calabrese Jr. (who would have been skinned alive if the calendar said 1983 right now) are long gone. The Outfit and her relatives are thriving in Illinois’ political arena much more than most people would ever imagine.
Even in the days of Al Capone, Tony “Big Tuna” Accardo, Sam “Momo” Giancana this trend was starting to appear. The Outfit’s movement into “legitimate” politics only accelerated under guys like Marshall Caifano, Louie Capuzi, John “Jack” Cerone and Johnny “No Nose” DiFronzo. Now these blue collar criminals are heavily entrenched in vast and powerful channels of well-to-do Illinois politicos.
In 2013 members of the Outfit are as powerful as almost any Illinois politician. Relatives of Outfit heavies are just as influential as Speaker Michael Madigan, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, even The Dynamic Daley Dynasty.
To find an example of the partnership between the Chicago Outfit and political officials you need to look no further than the 2013 Presidential Election in the Village of Norridge, Illinois. There we have Thomas Benigno, a candidate running for Village President, who is presently a top official in the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.
17 Comments
Yes. They are far more Powerful, Organized and legitimate than the Wops out in New York. One of my relatives in my family used to be a lieutenant for the Southside Bridgeport/Chinatown/26th street crew. I’ve cruised around the west side, up and down Taylor in little Italy. The Rosebud sticks out like a shine from Stoney. That’s Joe Andriacchi territory. Lomardo’s cousin of coarse, It’s funny, I see a shitload of Enforcers and debt collectors hanging around corners where Outfit headquarters are.
Jill Cerone is a Mobster with High Heels…
Frank, great piece!!!
I also believe as Mr. Fosco does that there is a bigger game here, and that game is a take over by the City of
Let’s SUPPORT a candidate. You can’t beat poitical scum without a candidate.
I’ve known RICCARDO MORA for 3 1/2 years. He appears to be a good candidate for US TO SUPPORT.
Frank ? Joe ? What do you say?
Carl Segvich – Republican Committeeman
Wow. Talk about muckraking. This article has no factual basis and is an attempt to swing the vote in a different direction. Segvich & Coconate, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Coconate, if I’m not mistaken, didn’t you used to Pal around with the breeze?
Huh? Did you ever hear of circumstantial evidence? Common sense?
Also, shouldn’t we all be sure not to make cowardly statements and stop being an anonymous coward?
I don’t follow this stuff like you do, or know anyone in it or ever was. But I have had a few people faintly close to me in my life that benefited from the blood $. So threw that interest I read every so often your articles, and other stuff usually via wiki. A name came up that was a good short read. I was wondering if you could shed light on him, given your uncle was one of a few names given as frequent visitors to his place of business. “Ross Prio” (Rosario Priolo –
Dear Alan,
Frank Coconate wrote the piece that you responded to. However, it seems as if you might be addressing me. Please clarify. Thanks. JF
Either who has ifo w9oudl becool to read on Ross Prio, but it dose mention your uncle as a visitor to his business. So, Joe, it was sent your way toanswer.
The new sight is a bit tricky for someone comp dumb like myself;) Didn’t meen to post a Joe question in Franks area:) SORRY, ill try an get use to it
Not a big problem Alan. The person you mention, my “uncle,” is a bit confusing. Are you referring to the late Romie Nappi, or my father, the late Armando Fosco? According to Wikipedia (and my own knowledge), my father is indicated as an associate of Ross Prio (on Prio’s Wiki page, which stems from Prio’s FBI record).
Ya your right, sorry, it was your father they mention as a visitor to his business, not your uncle. My question with Prio was if he was the original boss that doesn’t take the title and ran things behind the scene. The bits I read could easy have him be that guy.
Alan,
Ross Prio was a very low-key powerhouse – a gigantic powerhouse. He and Paul Rica were extremely instrumental in my late Uncle Romie and father Armando’s success in learning how to stay under the radar and unknown by many. For gangsters like Romie Nappi, Armando Fosco, Ross Prio and Paul Ricca and a few others, who were not as well known to the scores of people associated with the Outfit, what would they gain if they were well known? They had each other and the power within their network, which was more than dozens of Outfit guys lumped together. Ross was bigger than Accardo at various timeframes. He was a true one-of-a-kind. Ross was an amazing person.
Sounds like it, the $ is what draws all into that life. But ive never heard of any having stakes in all that he did, I can hardly imagine the $$$$$$ he had when he passed. One article even gives him credit for Capone getting to the spot he did.
I have not talked to Ross Jr in a while. Jr is a kind man. He wants nothing to do with people associated with the Outfit.
Alan, now that you had me thinking of the Prios, I just called Ross Jr, who is presently in St. Petersburg, Florida. I took the opportunity to wish him a Happy Fourth of July. We made plans to get together for lunch as soon as he gets back to Chicago, which is a periodical thing for him to do. Ross Jr doesn’t know any of the “usual suspects;” I am the only person who he is in touch with among the children of our fathers and their friends. He is 82 years-old.
Good for him and you:) I never was aware RP even had children. Just got to reading on him threw looking someone else up. Each article I read was how you described him though, ut most power, but didn’t seem to flash it to strangers.