Thomas Benigno
While it might be no shock Beningo is affiliated with top politicians, he is also near and dear to immediate relatives and/or close associates of Chicago gangsters, both dead and alive. The list of his supporters is a “who’s who” of a powerfully-connected group heavily intertwined with the criminals of the Outfit, to say nothing of the crooks back at the statehouse.
A list of committeemen for an upcoming March 6th, 2013 Beningo fundraiser is particularly illuminating. Please click here to see a brochure for the March 6, 2013 event.
The list contains a small mountain of blood relatives to several late Chicago Gangsters and, in some cases, their living protégés. Among these are:
– Richard Caifano, a relative of Marshall Caifano, a now late Outfit higher-up. Marshall Caifano was once reputed to be a top hit man for Sam “Momo” Giancana.
– Jack Cerone, son of the late Outfit underboss Jacky “The Lackey” Cerone. He is also father of Cook County Judge Jillian Cerone Marisie, who was once accused of abusing her power as judge by purportedly compromising justice in a then pending 2010 criminal court case in the Circuit Court of Cook County. This alleged accommodation was for a close relative of Dominic DiFrisco, another committee-member. In the opinion of some, Dominic DiFrisco is the Rev. Jesse Jackson of Italian-Americans.
– Nick Giranda, an ousted union official, who is purportedly related to the now late Tony Giranda, who was an Outfit higher-up in the China Town/Bridgeport crew of the Outfit (an area now allegedly under the control of reputed Outfit member Frank “Toots” Caruso). Before Nick Giranda was ousted as a union official, for many years he worked along side members of the infamous Caruso Family of Bridgeport.
– Tony Taromino, whose late father was reputed to be a torpedo for Chicago’s old First Ward, which served as the political front for the now late Chicago Mob Boss Tony “Big Tuna” Accardo.
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.