As illustrated in Addendums V, VII, IX, and X, my late step-uncle, and Chicago Outfit operative, Romie Nappi’s highly discreet, but mighty hold on the Cook County judiciary was detailed (or implied in some instances) in various examples.
Addendum XII will detail some of Romie’s involvement working directly, and indirectly, with other prominent Outfit and/or political figures. Some of you will be able to develop a better understanding of the multiple layers of protection that top Outfit bosses relied on for protection in matters of influencing justice and politics.
Judge Pasquale A. “Buck” Sorrentino, circa 1960, who eventually served as chief judge of Cook County’s law division for several years.
Now late former Cook County Judge Pasquale A. “Buck” Sorrentino, and Romie had a serious friendship that dated back to the 1930s. They met through intimate social circles within their mutual childhood neighborhood, Chicago’s Little Italy.
Here is a copy of an FBI 302 report from 1964 that supports pieces of information contained in American News Post’s Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit series. This report demonstrates how frontline political and labor racketeers of the Outfit discretely served as the first layer of protection for Chicago Outfit bosses. Indirect communications with top Outfit bosses for the purpose of giving progress updates, or seeking permission to perform important Outfit-related duties can be discovered here.
These front line functionaries brought intelligence to Romie, who served top Outfit bosses as a part of a deeper layer of protection. By the early to mid-1960s, Romie’s quiet but inexorable rise through Outfit ranks as a political and labor racketeer supervisor becomes clearer in the afore-referenced 1964 FBI 302 report.
In 1964, Chicago’s old First Ward’s Pat Marcy was very interested in a court motion then recently filed in front of Cook County Judge Raymond P. Drymalski (I believe Raymond Drymalski is incorrectly indicated as Joseph Drymalski in the 302 report). The attorney who filed the motion causing Marcy’s interest was the now late Anthony Tisci, Sam Giancana’s son-in-law.
Judge Raymond P. Drymalski became an attorney in 1932, and was elected to a 4-year term as treasurer for the City of Chicago in 1943. In 1948, Drymalski became an associate judge in Cook County. By 1954 Raymond was chief judge of Cook County where he served for 6-years. As a result of not being slated, his judgeship ended in 1960. However, he was later slated and elected back to the bench as a full circuit Cook County judge in 1962.
This FBI 302 report divulges Marcy’s obvious intention to consult Romie regarding the motion that was in front of Judge Drymalski, thus inadvertently throwing light on Romie’s otherwise very discreet position with the Chicago Outfit. My surrogate uncle, Charlie Nicosia, who I have mentioned in previous addendums, was relevant for Marcy’s communication with Romie on the matter of Tisci’s motion.
Judge Sorrentino routinely did favors for Romie and his Outfit colleagues, such as arranging meetings between frontline power-brokers in the now old First Ward and various sitting Cook County judges.
Addendum XIII will be out in the near future.
The Mafia Report Series:
5/13/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit
5/31/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum One
6/4/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Two
6/24/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Three
7/18/20 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Four
6/11/21 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Five
8/28/21 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Six
9/17/21 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Seven
9/29/21 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Eight
10/11/21 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum Nine
10/23/21 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum X
11/17/21 – Mafia Report: Chicago Outfit – Addendum XI
