Milwaukee crime family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Frank Balistrieri, the most influential boss of the Milwaukee crime family. |
|
| Founding location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1918–present |
| Territory | Various neighborhoods over Milwaukee |
| Ethnicity | Italians, Italian Americans, Sicilians and Sicilian Americans are made men. Other ethnicities as "associates". |
| Membership | 10 made members 15-20 associates |
| Criminal activities | Illegal gambling, skimming, extortion, prostitution, bookmaking, racketeering, corruption, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, loansharking |
| Allies | Chicago Outfit, Bonanno crime family and others crime families |
The Milwaukee crime family or Balistrieri crime family is an American Mafia crime family based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] The crime family was considered a branch of the Chicago Outfit. The family's most influential boss was Frank "Mr. Big" Balistrieri, who was greatly involved in the Las Vegas skimming casinos.[2] Today, the crime family is nearly extinct, since Balistrieri died in 1993, with the Chicago Outfit gaining control over some of the illegal rackets in the area.[3]
Contents |
Historical leadership [edit]
- 1918-1921 - Vito Guardalabene - died on February 6, 1921 from natural causes[3]
- 1921-1927 - Peter Guardalabene - the son of Vito Guardalabene was boss until 1927[3]
- 1927- Joseph Amato - died of natural causes on March 28, 1927[3]
- 1927-1949 - Joseph Vallone - the Commission decided that the Milwaukee family would answer to and remain under the Chicago Outfit's power. Vallone retired in 1949 and died on March 18, 1952 from natural causes.[3]
- 1949-1952 - Sam Ferrara - in 1952 he was voted out by his family and members of the Chicago Outfit forced him to step down.[3]
- 1952-1961 - John Alioto - trained his son-in-law Frank Balistrieri[3]
- 1961-1993 - Frank "Mr. Big" Balistrieri imprisoned March 1967-June 1971. In the late 1970s, with his two sons Joseph and John worked with Bonanno crime family capo Michael Sabella. He was imprisoned from 1983-1991 for his involvement in Las Vegas skim racket. He died of natural causes on February 7, 1993.[3]
- Acting 1967-1971 - Peter Balistrieri - Frank Balistrieri's brother and Underboss
- Acting 1983-1993 - Peter Balistrieri - Frank Balistrieri's brother and Underboss, he became boss in 1993[3]
- 1993-1997 - Peter Frank Balistrieri - he died of natural causes on August 17, 1997 [3]
- 1997–present - Joseph P. Caminiti [3] - he was Frank Balistrieri's Consigliere
Notes [edit]
- ^ Peter J. Devico The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra. (pg.154-156)
- ^ United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Searches Conducted on March 8, 1980
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jay C. Ambler. "Milwaukee, WI Crime family" (2000) Rick Porrello's American Mafia.com
Further reading [edit]
- Schmitt, Gavin. Milwaukee Mafia. Arcadia, 2012.
External links [edit]
- American Gangland: Balistrieri Crime Family
- Dieland: The Milwaukee Family
- Milwaukee Mafia, 1918-present
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
