Milwaukee Mafia
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Milwaukee crime family, also known as the Balistrieri crime family or the Milwaukee Mafia, was an
Italian American Italian Americans () are Americans who have full or partial Italians, Italian ancestry. The largest concentrations of Italian Americans are in the urban Northeastern United States, Northeast and industrial Midwestern United States, Midwestern ...
Mafia "Mafia", as an informal or general term, is often used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the Sicilian Mafia, original Mafia in Sicily, to the Italian-American Mafia, or to other Organized crime in Italy, organiz ...
crime family A crime family is a unit of an organized crime syndicate, particularly in the Sicilian Mafia and Italian-American Mafia, often operating within a specific geographic territory or a specific set of activities. In its strictest sense, a ''family'' ...
based in
Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
,
Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...
.Peter J. Devico ''The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra.'
(pg.154-156)
/ref> The organization maintained links to other
Midwestern The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...
Mafia families, including those in
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
and
Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...
,3 Mob Families Linked to Teamsters Fund
George Lardner Jr., ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' (November 22, 1985)
and had over 50 "
made Made or MADE may refer to: Entertainment Film * ''Made'' (1972 film), United Kingdom * ''Made'' (2001 film), United States Music * ''Made'' (Big Bang album), 2016 * ''Made'' (Hawk Nelson album), 2013 * ''Made'' (Scarface album), 2007 *'' M.A.D.E. ...
" members at its peak. The family's most influential
boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, ...
was Frank "Mr. Big" Balistrieri, who took control of the organization in the early 1960s and was greatly involved in the skimming of revenue from
Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
casino A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...
s.United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Searches Conducted on March 8, 1980
Who was Frank Balistrieri, Milwaukee's reputed organized crime boss?
Mary Spicuzza, ''
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper and also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely read. It was purchased by the G ...
'' (July 24, 2024)
After the death of Balistrieri in 1993, the
Chicago Outfit The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Outfit, the Chicago Mafia, the Chicago Mob, the Chicago crime family, the South Side Gang or the Organization, is an Italian Americans, Italian American American Mafia, Mafia crime family based in Chicago, I ...
began gaining control over illegal rackets in the Milwaukee area.Jay C. Ambler
"Milwaukee, WI Crime family"
(2000) Rick Porrello's American Mafia.com
The Milwaukee family ultimately ceased to exist as an independent organization and was largely absorbed by the Chicago family.Milwaukee Mob Godfather “Pitch” Picciurro Passes Away Peacefully At 94, Linked Back To Old Balistrieri Regime
Scott Burnstein, ''The Gangster Report'' (January 10, 2024)


History


Origins

Italian-American organized crime in
Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
originated in the city's Third Ward, which was home to the majority of Milwaukee's Sicilian population in the early 20th century.The Milwaukee Mafia: An Interview With Gavin Schmitt
Matthew J. Prigge, ''
The Shepherd Express ''The Shepherd Express'' is an alternative monthly magazine published in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. History The paper originated in May 1982 as the ''Crazy Shepherd'', its name derived from a line in Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Footnotes to Howl ...
'' (March 9, 2015)
The first known Mafia
boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, ...
of Milwaukee was Vito Guardalabene, who immigrated to the United States from
Santa Flavia Santa Flavia (known as Solunto until 1880) is a town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy. Overview The town is situated between the Gulf of Palermo and the town and hot springs known as Termini Imerese, on the Tyrrhenian ...
, Sicily in 1903 and became naturalized U.S. citizen in 1911.Milwaukee (Balistrieri) Mob leaders
Thomas Hunt, ''The American Mafia'' (2021)
Guardalabene was mentioned in the memoirs of
Nicola Gentile Nicola Gentile (; June 12, 1885 – November 6, 1966), also known as Nick Gentile, was a Sicilian mafioso and an organized crime figure in New York City during the 1920s and 1930s. He was also known for publishing his memoirs which, violating th ...
as being "the king" of the
Little Italy Little Italy is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an Urban area, urban neighborhood. The concept of "Little Italy" holds many different aspects of the Italian cul ...
community in Milwaukee's Third Ward circa 1915.Mafia history and Nick Gentile
''Informer'' (October 18, 2020)
The syndicate headed by Guardalabene possibly originated as a branch of the
Chicago Outfit The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Outfit, the Chicago Mafia, the Chicago Mob, the Chicago crime family, the South Side Gang or the Organization, is an Italian Americans, Italian American American Mafia, Mafia crime family based in Chicago, I ...
. Upon Guardalabene's death from natural causes on February 6, 1921, his son Giovanni Battista "Peter" Guardalabene became boss of the Milwaukee crime family until 1924, when he turned over control of the family to a distant relative, Giuseppe "Big Joe" D'Amato. D'Amato died from pneumonia at the age of 41, on March 28, 1927.


Vallone, Ferrara and Alioto

Following the death of D'Amato, the Milwaukee Mafia was led by Joseph Vallone, who immigrated to the U.S. from
Prizzi Prizzi is a town and ''comune'' of 5,711 inhabitants in the Italian Metropolitan City of Palermo, on the island of Sicily. It is located south of the city of Palermo at an altitude of 1045 m (3,428 ft) above sea level on a hill in the uppe ...
, Sicily in 1907. Vallone was the co-owner, along with Pasquale Migliaccio, of a wholesale grocery company which supplied sugar and other
moonshining Moonshine is high-proof liquor, traditionally made or distributed illegally. The name was derived from a tradition of distilling the alcohol at night to avoid detection. In the first decades of the 21st century, commercial distilleries hav ...
ingredients during the
Prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic b ...
era. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, a number of Sicilian ''mafiosi'' from
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
were inducted into the Milwaukee family after relocating to the area. When the Commission was formed in 1931, it was decided that the Milwaukee family would remain under the control of and answer directly to the Chicago Outfit. In the early 1930s, Vallone was among 45 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury for operating a regional bootlegging syndicate. Following the
repeal of Prohibition In the United States, the nationwide ban on alcoholic beverages was repealed by the passage of the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 5, 1933. Background In 1919, the requisite number of state legislatures ratif ...
in 1933, Vallone and Migliaccio opened the Broadway Liquor Company. Vallone retired from racketeering in 1949, and died from natural causes on March 18, 1952. Prior to his retirement, Vallone had groomed Salvatore "Sam" Ferrara, a relative and fellow native of Prizzi, to succeed him as boss of the Milwaukee family. In 1952, Ferrara became involved in a dispute with an underling,
Frank Balistrieri Frank Peter Balistrieri (May 27, 1918 – February 7, 1993) was an American mobster who served as the boss of the Milwaukee crime family from 1961 until his death 1993. He was a central figure in the skimming of Las Vegas casinos during the 197 ...
, when he attempted to acquire an ownership share of the Ogden Social Club, a gambling venue owned by Balistrieri, to which Balistrieri resisted. Ferrara then expelled Balistrieri from the family, causing dissention in the Milwaukee Mafia. The membership of the family subsequently deposed of Ferrara by vote and requested the intervention of the Chicago Outfit to oust Ferrara. In November or December 1952, a panel of senior mobsters from Chicago responsible for overseeing the Milwaukee family, including
Tony Accardo Anthony Joseph Accardo (; born Antonino Leonardo Accardo, ; April 28, 1906 – May 22, 1992), also known as "Joe Batters" and "Big Tuna", was an American longtime mobster. In a criminal career that spanned eight decades, he rose from small-time ...
,
Rocco Fischetti Rocco Fischetti, also known as "Rocky" and "Ralph Fisher" (March 24, 1903 – July 5, 1964), was a Chicago mobster with the Chicago Outfit criminal organization who ran many illegal gambling operations. Fischetti also accompanied singer Frank ...
and
Sam Giancana Salvatore "Mooney" Giancana ( ; born Gilormo Giangana, ; May 24, 1908 – June 19, 1975) was an American mobster who was boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1957 to 1966. Giancana was born in Chicago to Italian immigrant parents. He joined the 42 ...
, ruled that Ferrara had abused his position and demoted him, installing Balistrieri's father-in-law, John Alioto, as the new boss. Balistrieri was subsequently reinstated as a member of the Mafia. The Milwaukee family's influence grew significantly under Alioto's leadership, particularly within the
labor movement The labour movement is the collective organisation of working people to further their shared political and economic interests. It consists of the trade union or labour union movement, as well as political parties of labour. It can be considere ...
. Alioto also introduced a leadership panel known as ''sagia'' to resolve disputes within the family. In 1954, John DiTrapani, a relative and godson of Sam Ferrara, along with Frank LoGalbo and Jack Enea, plotted to seize control of the family from Alioto. The rebellion was quelled with the murders of DiTrapani and Enea. DiTrapani was shot and killed in his car on March 18, 1954,Few Clues in Car Murder
''
The Waukesha Freeman ''The Waukesha Freeman'' is a local newspaper that serves Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It was founded by Martin Cullaton in 1859 as a pro-abolitionism Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery ...
'' (March 19, 1954)
and Enea was found shot to death in a ditch in
Waukesha County Waukesha County () is a county (United States), county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 406,978, making it the third-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its median income of $88,985 placed ...
on November 29, 1955.Hunt Clues In Murder Of Jack Enea
''
The Sheboygan Press ''The Sheboygan Press'' is a daily newspaper based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States. It is one of a number of newspapers in the state of Wisconsin owned by Gannett, including the ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', '' Green Bay Press-Gazette'' ...
'' (December 5, 1955)
Slain hoodlum's body was dumped off in county
Len Worzalla, ''
The Waukesha Freeman ''The Waukesha Freeman'' is a local newspaper that serves Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It was founded by Martin Cullaton in 1859 as a pro-abolitionism Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery ...
'' (June 3, 1972)
LoGalbo survived by transferring from the Milwaukee family to a Chicago family crew in
Chicago Heights, Illinois Chicago Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 27,480 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. A south suburb of Chicago, it is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Its nicknames include "The Cro ...
, although he continued to reside in Milwaukee under the protection of the Outfit. During his reign, Alioto reportedly groomed his son-in-law Frank Balistrieri to take control of the family when he retired. According to
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
(FBI) reports, however, Alioto may have been opposed to Balistrieri becoming boss at the time of his retirement. The catalyst for this change in policy may have been an extramarital relationship that Balistrieri reportedly had outside of his marriage with Alioto's daughter. Nonetheless, Alioto attended a social function on December 27, 1961 which served as the official induction of Balistrieri as the new head of the Milwaukee family.


Balistrieri era

At the time he became boss, Balistrieri was overseeing a lucrative
loansharking A loan shark is a person who offers loans at extremely high or illegal interest rates, has strict terms of collection, and generally operates outside the law, often using the threat of violence or other illegal, aggressive, and extortionate ...
racket, held a monopoly over illegal sports betting in Milwaukee, and also had significant influence in the
vending machine A vending machine is an automated machine that dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card, or other forms of payment are inserted into the machine or payment is otherwise m ...
business. Seeking to increase the family's wealth and influence, Balistrieri imposed a " street tax" upon gambling racketeers as well as several legitimate businesses in Milwaukee, recruiting Joseph Gurera and Sebastian "Buster" Balestrere from
Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...
to enforce the
protection racket A protection racket is a type of racket and a scheme of organized crime perpetrated by a potentially hazardous organized crime group that generally guarantees protection outside the sanction of the law to another entity or individual from vio ...
. Balistrieri caused discontent in the family by promoting the newly-arrived Gurera to the rank of ''
capodecina A (literally 'head of ten',Schneider, ''Reversible Destiny'', p. 83 also called caporegime in the American Mafia) is the head of a , a branch within a Sicilian Mafia family. In the larger families, a is selected by the head of the family and coor ...
'' as well as abolishing the ''sagia'' process and ruling in an autocratic fashion. He was protected from any insurrection, however, by his close relationship with leaders in the Chicago Outfit, especially Felix "Milwaukee Phil" Alderisio. From the 1960s until the 1980s, Balistrieri and his associates controlled almost a dozen bars, including some of Wisconsin's earliest gay bars.Did the Mafia control Wisconsin's earliest gay bars?
Radio Milwaukee (August 2, 2022)
By the 1960s, the FBI had several
informant An informant (also called an informer or, as a slang term, a "snitch", "rat", "canary", "stool pigeon", "stoolie", "tout" or "grass", among other terms) is a person who provides privileged information, or (usually damaging) information inten ...
s in the Milwaukee Mafia, including Joseph Gurera and August "Augie" Maniaci.'Joey G' drops a dime and a body or two
Edmond Valin, ''The American Mafia'' (2019)
The FBI also had an illegal
wiretap Wiretapping, also known as wire tapping or telephone tapping, is the monitoring of telephone and Internet-based conversations by a third party, often by covert means. The wire tap received its name because, historically, the monitoring connecti ...
planted in Balistrieri's office. In March 1967, Balistrieri was convicted of
tax evasion Tax evasion or tax fraud is an illegal attempt to defeat the imposition of taxes by individuals, corporations, trusts, and others. Tax evasion often entails the deliberate misrepresentation of the taxpayer's affairs to the tax authorities to red ...
and sentenced to two years in federal prison.A renowned attorney. A powerful mob boss. The untold story of how Franklyn Gimbel won an early case against Frank Balistrieri
Mary Spicuzza, ''
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper and also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely read. It was purchased by the G ...
'' (January 17, 2024)
He appointed his
underboss Underboss () is a position within the leadership structure of certain organized crime groups, particularly in Sicilian Mafia, Sicilian and Italian-American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the Crime boss, boss. The un ...
and younger brother Peter Balistrieri to serve as acting boss during his absence. Balistrieri was released from the
Federal Correctional Institution, Sandstone The Federal Correctional Institution, Sandstone (FCI Sandstone) is a low-security United States federal prison for male offenders in Sandstone, Minnesota. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BoP), a division of the United States Unite ...
, Minnesota in June 1971. On September 11, 1975, Milwaukee mobster and FBI informant August Maniaci was shot and killed outside his home on the city's East Side after feuding with Balistrieri.My cousin was killed by a car bomb in Milwaukee. A mob boss was the top suspect. Now, I’m looking for answers
Mary Spicuzza, ''
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper and also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely read. It was purchased by the G ...
'' (January 17, 2024)
His brother, Vincent Maniaci, survived an attempted car bombing in August 1977 when twenty sticks of dynamite attached to his
Buick Electra The Buick Electra is a full-size luxury car manufactured and marketed by Buick from 1959 to 1990, over six generations. Introduced as the replacement for the Roadmaster lines, the Electra served as the flagship Buick sedan line through its en ...
failed to explode.Mob-Style Killing in Milwaukee
''
Green Bay Press-Gazette The ''Green Bay Press-Gazette'' is a newspaper whose primary coverage is northeastern Wisconsin, including Green Bay. History The newspaper was founded as the ''Green Bay Gazette'' in 1866 as a weekly paper, becoming a daily newspaper in 1 ...
'' (July 1, 1978)
Two Chicago police officers suspected of making and selling pistol
United Press International United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ce ...
(September 30, 1980)
Vincent Maniaci subsequently fled to
Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...
.Murder of a Tyrant
Zach Brooke, ''
Milwaukee Magazine ''Milwaukee Magazine'' is a monthly city magazine serving the Milwaukee metropolitan area in Wisconsin, United States. It bills itself as "Southeastern Wisconsin's most authoritative source for Events and Dining," and reports a readership of 2 ...
'' (May 29, 2015)
In 1978, the FBI launched an undercover investigation into the Milwaukee family, with the FBI agent Gail T. "Ty" Cobb posing as a vending machine businessman using the undercover alias "Tony Conte".The Balistrieri Tapes, Part 9: "Undercover agent was target for Balistrieri's hit men"
Mary Zahn and Bill Janz, ''
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper and also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely read. It was purchased by the G ...
'' (January 17, 2024)
Another undercover FBI agent,
Joseph D. Pistone Joseph Dominick Pistone (born September 17, 1939) is an American former FBI special agent who worked undercover as Donnie Brasco between September 1976 and July 1981, as part of an infiltration primarily into the Bonanno crime family under the ...
, who was investigating the
Bonanno crime family The Bonanno crime family (pronounced ) is an Italian American Mafia crime family and one of the "Five Families" that dominate organized crime activities in New York City. The family was known as the Maranzano crime family until its founder Sal ...
of New York under the alias "Donnie Brasco", introduced Cobb to Bonanno family soldier Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero who, in exchange for a fee, assisted Cobb in establishing himself in the vending business.United States of America v. Frank Peter Balistrieri, John H. Balistrieri, and Joseph P. Balistrieri
Justia Justia is an American website specializing in legal information retrieval. It was founded in 2003 by Tim Stanley, formerly of FindLaw, and is one of the largest online databases of legal cases. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, Cal ...
(May 21, 1985)
Pistone visited Milwaukee several times in 1978 in an attempt to "form a marriage" between the Milwaukee and New York families.How former undercover FBI agent Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco, helped infiltrate the Milwaukee Mafia
Mary Spicuzza, ''
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper and also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely read. It was purchased by the G ...
'' (January 17, 2024)
Initially unaware that "Conte" was under the protection of the Bonanno family, Balistrieri allegedly assigned three men to kill Cobb because he had entered the vending business without his permission. Ruggiero later arranged a meeting between Cobb and Balistrieri, at which Cobb obtained permission from Balistrieri to operate in Milwaukee. Frank Balistrieri and his sons, John and Joseph, entered into an agreement with "Conte" in August 1978 in which they became silent partners in the Best Vending Company, an FBI
front company A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, terrorist organizations, secret societies, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy gr ...
.Alleged conspiracy was option agreement: Balistrieri
''
Racine Journal Times ''The Journal Times'' (known before 1972 as ''The Racine Journal-Times'') is a daily newspaper published in Racine, Wisconsin, serving Racine County. The newspaper is owned by Lee Enterprises. History The ''Journal Times'' traces its roots ...
'' (March 24, 1984)
Frank Balistrieri along with his two sons Joseph and John worked with Bonanno crime family capo
Michael Sabella Michael "Mikey Cigars" Sabella (1911–1989) was an American mobster who was a ''caporegime'' in the Bonanno crime family of New York City and a relative of Philadelphia crime family boss Salvatore Sabella. Biography Early years Born in Littl ...
, and soldier Benjamin Ruggiero in extorting Best Vending Company from May 1978 to February 1979. The Balestrieri's terminated the partnership in December 1978 due to their suspicions that "Conte" was a government agent.Agent heard Balistrieri conversation
''
Marshfield News-Herald This is a list of print newspapers in Wisconsin. There were 362 newspapers in Wisconsin at the beginning of 2020. :''This is a list of daily newspapers currently published in Wisconsin. For weekly newspapers, see List of newspapers in Wisconsin. ...
'' (August 21, 1982)
The Milwaukee family did not report these suspicions to the New York or Chicago families, however. Fifteen members and associates of the Milwaukee and Bonanno families, including Balistrieri and his sons, were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 1, 1980 at the culmination of the FBI's three-year investigation.Balistrieri, two sons indicted by grand jury
Ray Doherty,
United Press International United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ce ...
(October 1, 1981)
On April 9, 1984, Frank, John and Joseph Balistrieri were convicted in federal court in Green Bay of attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion.Balistrieris found guilty of extortion
''
Green Bay Press-Gazette The ''Green Bay Press-Gazette'' is a newspaper whose primary coverage is northeastern Wisconsin, including Green Bay. History The newspaper was founded as the ''Green Bay Gazette'' in 1866 as a weekly paper, becoming a daily newspaper in 1 ...
'' (April 10, 1984)
Simultaneous to the investigation into the vending business in Milwaukee, the FBI was also conducting Operation Strawman, a multi-state racketeering probe which focused on organized crime's infiltration of the casino industry in Las Vegas. Operation Strawman began in May 1978 and was carried out with the cooperation of the
Justice Department A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...
's Organized Crime Strike Force as well as state and local law enforcement agencies.FBI tip led to Operation Strawman
United Press International United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ce ...
(October 16, 1983)
FBI Milwaukee History
fbi.gov
Frank, John and Joseph Balistrieri were among 15 mobsters indicted in September 1983 in relation to the skimming of over $2 million from casinos in Las Vegas. The Balistrieris and six other defendants went on trial in federal court in Kansas City beginning in September 1985.Reputed Milwaukee Crime Figure Pleads Guilty in Kansas City Trial
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' (January 1, 1986)
On December 31, 1985, Frank Balistrieri pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to the skimming of profits from the Stardust and Fremont casinos.Reputed Mob Leader Enters Guilty Plea
''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' (January 1, 1986)
John and Joseph Balistrieri were each acquitted in the case.5 Reputed Crime Figures Convicted of Skimming Casino Receipts
William Robbins, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' (January 22, 1986)
Frank Balistrieri was sentenced to ten years in prison to run concurrently with his previous 13-year sentence. During his imprisonment, Frank Balistireri appointed his brother, Peter Balistireri, acting boss. The Strawman investigation resulted in the convictions of nineteen senior mobsters and virtually eliminated the leadership of the crime families in Milwaukee, Chicago and Kansas City. Balistrieri's imprisonment reportedly thwarted his appointment to the Mafia Commission.All in the Family: Frank Balistrieri’s Milwaukee Mafia
Sarah Biondich, ''
The Shepherd Express ''The Shepherd Express'' is an alternative monthly magazine published in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. History The paper originated in May 1982 as the ''Crazy Shepherd'', its name derived from a line in Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Footnotes to Howl ...
'' (September 30, 2009)
Balistrieri was released from the
Federal Correctional Complex, Butner The Federal Correctional Complex, Butner (FCC Butner) is a United States federal prison complex for men near Butner, North Carolina. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. FCC Butner ...
, North Carolina in November 1991.Reputed Milwaukee Mafia don dies
United Press International United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ce ...
(February 8, 1993)
He died from a heart attack on February 7, 1993, at the age of 74.


Current status

The Milwaukee family began to decline during Frank Balistrieri's imprisonment and continued to weaken following his death. He was succeeded as head of the family by his brother and former acting boss, Peter Balistrieri, who died of natural causes on August 17, 1997. Joseph "Joe Camel" Caminiti, the former ''consigliere'', then took control of the family. As the Milwaukee family deteriorated, the Chicago Outfit assigned South Side ''capo'' and street boss John "Johnny Apes" Montelone to seize control of organized crime in Milwaukee.Midwest Mafia on last leg with passing of Joseph Caminiti
Dimaiolo Santolo, ''About the Mafia'' (July 1, 2014)
By the late 1990s, the organization had less than 15 "made" members, and most of the lucrative rackets in the Milwaukee area had been taken over by the Chicago Mafia. Further diminished by attrition, the Milwaukee Mafia ceased to function as an independent family, and essentially became a faction of the Chicago Outfit, in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Caminiti died, at the age of 87, on January 30, 2014.Joseph P. Caminiti obituary
''
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper and also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely read. It was purchased by the G ...
'' (February 2, 2014)
Peter "Pitch" Picciurro, the last known titular boss of the family, died on January 6, 2024, aged 94. As of 2024, there are as many as eight "made" members of the family still living.


Historical leadership


Boss (official and acting)

* 1918–1921 — Vito Guardalabene — died on February 6, 1921, from natural causes. * 1921–1927 — Peter Guardalabene — the son of Vito Guardalabene * 1927 — Joseph Amato — died of natural causes on March 28, 1927. * 1927–1949 — Joseph Vallone — retired from the rackets in 1949 and died of natural causes on March 18, 1952. * 1949–1952 — Sam Ferrara — in 1952 voted out by his family, so members of the
Chicago Outfit The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Outfit, the Chicago Mafia, the Chicago Mob, the Chicago crime family, the South Side Gang or the Organization, is an Italian Americans, Italian American American Mafia, Mafia crime family based in Chicago, I ...
forced him to step down. Died in 1977. * 1952–1961 — John Alioto — trained his son-in-law Frank Balistrieri. * 1961–1993 — Frank "Mr. Big" Balistrieri — imprisoned March 1967-June 1971; imprisoned 1983-1991 involvement in Las Vegas skim racket. Died on February 7, 1993. ** ''Acting'' 1967–1971 — Joseph Balistrieri Sr. — Frank's son and capo, became underboss in 1993. ** ''Acting'' 1983–1993 — Peter Balistrieri — Frank Balistrieri's brother and
underboss Underboss () is a position within the leadership structure of certain organized crime groups, particularly in Sicilian Mafia, Sicilian and Italian-American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the Crime boss, boss. The un ...
. * 1993–1997 — Peter Balistrieri — died of natural causes on August 17, 1997 * 1997–2014 — Joseph P. "Joe Camel" Caminiti — served as Frank Balistrieri's ''consigliere''; died on January 30, 2014. * 2014–2024 — Peter "Pitch" Picciurro — died of natural causes on January 6, 2024.


Underboss

*1927–1949 — Steven "Steve" DiSalvo — demoted in 1949, retired in the 1980s, deceased in the 1990s. *1952–1961 — Joseph Gumina — moved to Kansas City, deceased in the 1970s. *1961–1993 — Peter Balistrieri — became boss. *1993–2010 — Joseph "Joey Bal" Balistrieri Sr. — Frank's older son, deceased in 2010.


Consigliere

*1927–1952 — Vito Seidita — stepped down, retired in 1971, deceased in 1978. *1952–1961 — Carmelo "Charles" Zarcone — demoted in 1961, deceased in 1969. *1961–1997 — Joseph "Joe Camel" Caminiti — became boss. *1997–2014 — Peter "Pitch" Picciurro — became boss. *2014–2024 — John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri — Frank's younger son, deceased on June 7, 2024.


Current members


Soldiers

* John Candela — former member of the Madison crime family; transferred to the Milwaukee family after the family disbanded. * Joseph "JoJo" Fugarino — initiated into family in 1993 by Peter Balistrieri. * Dennis "Libby" LiBrizzi — former ''capo''. * Giovanni "Johnny Italy" Safina — became a "made" member in 1984.


Former members

*John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri — the younger son of Frank Balistrieri, the former boss of the Milwaukee family. John served as lawyer until 1984, when his license was suspended and he was later disbarred. In August 2014, John Balistrieri's application to reinstate his law license was rejected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He died on June 7, 2024. * Peter "Pitch" Picciurro — former family boss, the owner of Pitch's Lounge and Restaurant and blood relative to Frank Balistrieri. The son of Milwaukee mobster John J. Picciurro and cousin to Frank and Peter Balistrieri. He died on January 6, 2024


List of murders committed by the Milwaukee crime family


See also

* August Palmisano


Notes


Further reading

*Schmitt, Gavin. ''Milwaukee Mafia''. Arcadia, 2012. *Schmitt, Gavin. ''The Milwaukee Mafia: Mobsters in the Heartland''. Barricade Books, 2015.


External links


American Gangland: Balistrieri Crime Family



Milwaukee Mafia
{{Organized crime groups in the United States 1918 establishments in Wisconsin 2010s disestablishments in Wisconsin Crime in Milwaukee Defunct organizations based in Wisconsin Gangs in Wisconsin History of Milwaukee Italian-American crime families Italian-American culture in Wisconsin Organizations based in Milwaukee Organizations disestablished in the 2020s Organizations established in 1918