Chicago Outfit boss DiFronzo, 89, dies following illness

John DiFronzo, reputed boss of the Chicago Outfit, died Sunday, May 27, 2018, at his home in River Grove, according to published reports. (Chicago Tribune reports he died May 28) He was eighty-nine years old.

DiFronzo

Criminal defense attorney Joe Lopez told the media that the crime boss suffered with Alzheimer's disease and had been "extremely ill."

DiFronzo was widely suspected of involvement in the brutal 1986 murders of brothers Anthony and Michael Spilotro (depicted in the film Casino). His role was discussed during the 2007 Family Secrets trial of Outfit leaders. But DiFronzo was not a defendant in Family Secrets, and federal prosecutors were unable to assemble a convincing case against him.

Attorney Lopez told CBS-Chicago that DiFronzo's greatest achievement was "beating the G."

The press frequently referred to DiFronzo as "No Nose." The nickname sprang from an attempted robbery back in 1949, though the details of that story are disputed. Some sources say DiFronzo jumped through a window to escape capture and had a piece of his nose sliced off by the breaking glass. (Actually, he neither jumped through a window nor escaped, but a glass injury cannot be ruled out.) Others say a bullet fired by a police officer tore off the nose...

Read a biography of John "No Nose" DiFronzo
on the American Mafia history website.

See also:

• ABC-7.
• CBS-2.
• NBC-5.
• Chicago Tribune.

Chicago hit man Aleman dies at 71

Convicted Chicago underworld hit man Harry Aleman died May 15 at the prison infirmary of Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg, Illinois, according to stories by Andrew L. Wang of the Chicago Tribune and Robert Herguth of the Chicago Sun Times. Aleman was 71.

Regarded as a chief enforcer for the mob in 1970s Chicago, Aleman (left) was suspected of involvement in 20 or more murders. However, he was convicted only of the Sept. 27, 1972, shotgun murder of Teamsters union steward William Logan. It took many years for prosecutors to win that conviction. Aleman was acquitted of the murder in 1977. An informant later revealed that trial Judge Frank Wilson had been bribed. Wilson apparently took his own life during the ensuing investigation in 1990. The bribery accusation cleared the way for a second trial though defense attorneys argued it exposed Aleman to double-jeopardy (a second prosecution on a charge for which he had already been tried and found not guilty). Prosecutors successfully argued that Aleman faced no actual jeopardy in the first trial because of the bribery of the judge. Aleman was convicted of the Logan murder in 1997. Judge Michael Toomin sentenced him to a prison sentence of 100 to 300 years.

During his underworld career, Aleman was feared throughout the Midwest. Retired reporter John Drummond, who covered Aleman's murder trials, told the Tribune, "You were in trouble if you looked in your rearview mirror and saw Harry Aleman."

Read about the Chicago Outfit:
Family Secrets: The Case That Crippled the Chicago Mob
Capone: The Life and World of Al Capone
The Outfit: The Role of Chicago's Underworld in the Shaping of Modern America
Mr. Capone: The Real - and complete - story of Al Capone

Chicago West Sider Tornabene dies at 86

Alfonso "Pizza Man" Tornabene, reportedly a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit, died May 17 at the age of 86, according to a story by Bon Goldsborough printed in today's Chicago Tribune. The story indicated that Tornabene died at MacNeal Hospital in Berywyn of complications related to peptic ulcer disease.

Authorities say Tornabene (right), once owner of Villa Nova Pizzeria, was a member of the Outfit for decades. A 1997 book by the Chicago Crime Commission identified him as a lieutenant within the leadership of the Outfit's West Side Crew, then reportedly run by Anthony Centracchio.

Court documents show that he and Joseph "Joey Doves" Aiuppa presided over a 1983 induction ceremony for the criminal society. Among those inducted were Frank Calabrese Sr. and his brother Nick, both of whom figured prominently in the recent Family Secrets case. During the Family Secrets trial, a mob informant testified that Tornabene helped run the Outfit while boss James Marcello was in prison between 1992 and 2003.

In the summer of 2007, a news report by Chuck Goudie of WLS-TV in Chicago suggested that Tornabene might have risen to the position of consigliere in the crime family. The Chicago Sun-Times boosted him still further, speculating he might have taken over the position of boss.

Tornabene was the cousin of Sam "Wings" Carlisi, a former influential member of the Outfit. Authorities believe Tornabene's late brother Frank was also affiliated with the organization.

Deputy U.S. marshal guilty of leaking info

A jury yesterday found John T. Ambrose, former deputy U.S. marshal, guilty of leaking information about federal witnesses, according to published accounts. He was acquitted on two counts of lying to federal agents.

See:
ABC7-Chicago
CBS2-Chicago
Chicago Sun-Times

Ambrose (right) was convicted of stealing and leaking information from the file of Nicholas Calabrese, a former Chicago mobster who aided prosecutors on the Family Secrets Case and was placed in the Witness Protection Program.

Federal agents became aware of the leak after they bugged the visitors room at a prison in Milan, Michigan, where Chicago Outfit boss James Marcello was held. During a visit by Marcello's brother Michael, the two men were overheard discussing an underworld ally within federal law enforcement.

The Marcellos referred to their "mole" in law enforcement as "the Babysitter" and indicated that he was the son of a former Chicago policeman who went to prison years ago after extorting money from drug dealers. From that information, federal authorities decided that Ambrose was the source of their information leak.

Ambrose's jury deliberated for three days, according to a story by the Chicago Tribune. One of the jurors had to be excused from the 12-person panel because she was sick with flu-like symptoms. The law permits a jury of 11 to reach a verdict.

Ambrose remains free on bond. He is expected to appeal. Judge John Grady provided grounds for appeal when he was slow to stop the playing of an FBI video recording of the two mobsters discussing Ambrose. The judge ordered the jury not to consider the tape as evidence.

Leak case is in jury's hands

The case of a deputy U.S. marshal accused of leaking information about a federal witness to members of the Chicago mob has been in the hands of a jury since late Thursday afternoon (April 23), according to a story by Chuck Goudie of WLS-TV Chicago.

Deputy U.S. Marshal John Ambrose (left), 42, is charged with providing information about protected federal witness Nick Calabrese to a friend with connections to the Outfit. Prosecutors say he also leaked classified information regarding reputed Outfit boss John "No Nose" DiFronzo and leaked police information regarding the mob murders of the Spilotro brothers.

Through the testimony of convicted racketeer Mickey Marcello - brother of reputed Outfit leader James Marcello - prosecutors were able to link mob awareness of Nick Calabrese's cooperation in the Family Secrets investigation with Ambrose's friend. Robert Grant, special agent in charge of Chicago's FBI field office, testified April 20 to a confession made by Ambrose. Grant said Ambrose admitted to "a huge mistake" and to having improper friendships.

Ambrose's defense attorney Frank Lipuma argued that his client may have violated policies but committed no crimes. Among the character witnesses brought forward for Ambrose was longtime federal Judge Charles Kocoras. Kocoras did not choose to testify but was brought to the witness stand through a subpoena.

Four Secrets defendants to pay $24 million

Chicago mob bosses, convicted of racketeering and murders in the 2007 Family Secrets trial, have been ordered to pay more than $24 million in fines and restitution to their victims, according to stories by Mike Robinson of the Associated Press and Chuck Goudie of WLS-TV Chicago.

One defense attorney called the amount "ridiculous."

Judge James Zagel yesterday ordered Frank Calabrese Sr., Joseph Lombardo, James Marcello and Paul Schiro to pay $4.3 million as restitution to the families of 14 men who were killed by the mob. (Back in October, prosecutors calculated that the victims' families were owed $3.9 million in lost wages.) Calabrese, Lombardo and Marcello were found guilty of racketeering and murders. Schiro was convicted of racketeering. He was charged with racketeering murder, but a jury deadlocked on the question of his guilt.

The remainder of the $24 million, the judge said, "represents the total amount of proceeds acquired and maintained by the Chicago Outfit since the 1960s" in criminal endeavors charged in the Family Secrets trial.

Family Secrets defendant Anthony Doyle, convicted of racketeering but not charged with murder, was assessed a fine of $44,225.

Nick Calabrese gets 12+ years

A federal judge today sentenced Chicago Outfit hitman Nicholas Calabrese to 12 years and four months in prison, according to published accounts by the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. Calabrese, who became the only "made" member of the Chicago Outfit to testify against the organization in court, admitted involvement in a number of Mafia murders. He was convicted of killing 14 people.

In the Family Secrets trial of 2007, Nicholas Calabrese testified against his older brother Frank Calabrese Sr. and other leaders of the Outfit. His testimony helped to secure convictions and long prison sentences for several Outfit bosses.

Nicholas Calabrese, 67, will be credited for time already served. A previous loansharking sentence expired in 2002, but he has remained in prison since that time, as he cooperated with authorities. He is expected to serve an additional for years in prison.

Calabrese waits in solitary for sentencing

Frank Calabrese Sr., 74, convicted of racketeering murders in last year's Family Secrets trial in Chicago, now awaits sentencing in solitary confinement, according to a story by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Calabrese (right) was placed under strict lockdown measures at the Metropolitan Correctional Center after twice allegedly threatening a U.S. prosecutor. He is isolated from fellow prisoners and is only permitted visits by three members of his immediate family.

He is scheduled for sentencing next week.

Feds call for $3.9 million from convicted mobsters

Five convicted Chicago mobsters owe $3.9 million in restitution to the families of their murder victims, federal prosecutors insist. The prosecutors say Frank Calabrese Sr., James Marcello, Joseph Lombardo, Paul Schiro and Anthony Doyle should be held jointly and severally liable for the restitution amount, according to a report by Chuck Goudie and Ann Pistone of ABC-7 in Chicago. The amount took into consideration an accountant's estimate of the lost earning capacity of 14 victims.

The five men were convicted in the Family Secrets case last year. They are waiting to be sentenced. After the initial racketeering verdict, Calabrese, Marcello and Lombardo also were found guilty of participating in 10 racketeering murders. A jury deadlocked on Schiro's involvement. Doyle was not charged with racketeering murder.

Lombardo (right) has challenged the restitution and called for a forfeiture hearing in front of a jury. The Family Secrets defendants had waived the right to a hearing. But Lombardo argued that his bad ears kept him from learning that his defense attorney had waived the right. Defense attorney Rick Halprin has acknowledged that he never discussed the matter with Lombardo before or during the trial.

Prosecutors answered the challenge by pointing out that recent Supreme Court opinion has viewed forfeiture as an element of sentence, beyond the scope of the jury's responsibility.

'Lefty' Rosenthal dies in Florida at 79

Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who once supervised mob gambling rackets in Las Vegas, died of a heart attack Monday night at his Florida home, according to a story by Mary Manning of the Las Vegas Sun and a report by Fox5 Las Vegas. He was 79 years old.

Authorities believe Rosenthal (left), a Chicago native (born June 12, 1929), secretly supervised the Stardust, Fremont and Hacienda casinos for an underworld consortium that included the Chicago Outfit. He worked closely with the Outfit's enforcer in Las Vegas, Anthony "the Ant" Spilotro. The activities of the two men were depicted in the fictionalized movie Casino, with Robert DeNiro playing the role of Sam Rothstein (Rosenthal) and Joe Pesci playing Nicky Santoro (Spilotro). Spilotro, like his movie representation, was murdered by underworld associates. Rosenthal barely escaped a similar end.

In 1982, Rosenthal survived an apparent mob hit in a parking lot outside a restaurant at 600 E. Sahara Avenue. His 1981 Cadillac Eldorado exploded around him. Rosenthal suffered no serious injuries, but was burned on his legs, his left arm and the left side of his face. He refused to sign a police incident report or to cooperate in an investigation.

Rosenthal's forte was sports handicapping, and he is credited with pioneering lucrative sports gambling in Vegas. Between 1976 and 1988, Rosenthal battled with Nevada gaming authorities to obtain a state gaming license. The Nevada Gaming Commission banned him from casinos in the state in 1988, when it put him into the "Black Book" officially known as the List of Excluded Persons.

A planned "Mob" museum in Las Vegas is expected to feature items from Rosenthal's career. Current Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, once a Rosenthal attorney, said he would speak about his former client today (Wednesday, Oct. 15).

Rosenthal's writeup in the Black Book states: "Rosenthal was suspected of overseeing a Las Vegas casino on behalf of organized crime interests and directing the skimming of funds from the casino. In 1982, Rosenthal survived a car bombing in a failed attempt on his life. In 1991, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld Rosenthal's listing in the Black Book. Rosenthal now resides in Florida, the book and movie "Casino" chronicles his life."

Chicago's Ferriola will serve three years

U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel yesterday sentenced reputed Chicago mobster Nicholas Ferriola (right), 33, to three years in prison for racketeering, gambling and extortion, according to reports published by CBS-2 Chicago and the Chicago Tribune. Ferriola was also ordered to forfeit more than $9 million and to pay a fine of $6,000.

Ferriola, a defendant in the Family Secrets case, pleaded guilty on the eve of trial. He admitted to regularly collecting a "street tax" payment from a pizza restaurant and to operating a gambling racket that generated $160,000 a month in profits. The "street tax" was a protection racket reportedly run by Frank Calabrese Sr. Prosecutors described Calabrese as Ferriola's mentor.

Ferriola's father, Joseph, was a leader in the Chicago Outfit, according to Steve Warmbir of the Sun-Times.

Chicago mob associate gets more than 3 years

Joseph Venezia, 65, a minor player in last year's Family Secrets Case, was sentenced in Chicago yesterday to 40 months in prison, according to a story by Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune. Before the Secrets trial began, Venezia pleaded guilty to gambling and tax charges.

Yesterday, Venezia argued for a light sentence, saying he was a mere pawn of the Outfit as he collected cash from video poker machines. U.S. District Judge James Zagel explained the 40-month sentence: "Without the Joseph Venezias of the world, the enterprise of which he was a part... would, in fact, crumble."

Prosecutors said Venezia oversaw a portion of a gambling business owned by brothers James (right) and Michael Marcello and also served as a front man for an Outfit-run lounge in Cicero that was used for prostitution.

Coroner delays Schweihs service

A legal technicality caused the remains of Frank "the German" Schweihs to arrive late for a July 28 funeral service attended by his family, according to a story by Michael Sneed and Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The medical examiner's office had not been properly notified when Schweihs died in custody at Thorek Memorial Hospital the previous Wednesday. The law requires an examination of all those who die in custody. On July 28, the medical examiner tracked Schweihs' remains to Salerno's Galewood Chapel and ordered them transported for examination.

Schweihs' family and friends, many of whom were already upset that they could not be with him during his last minutes of life, were gathering for a funeral service at that time. Facing trial on racketeering charges this October, Schweihs died of complications from cancer. He had recently battled lung cancer and a brain tumor.

Schweihs was one of the original defendants in the Family Secrets case. His poor health kept him from being tried with the rest of the accused.

Chicago mobster Schweihs dies at 78

Frank "the German" Schweihs (left), reputed assassin for the Chicago Outfit, died last night, according to stories by Chuck Goudie of WLS-TV-7 in Chicago and the staff of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Schweihs' poor health did not allow him to be tried with his Family Secrets Case codefendants last summer. He was reportedly suffering from cancer. A separate trial for Schweihs was to begin this October.

During a June court appearance, Schweihs made an impression, with his rude and vulgar comments. Schweihs was transfered recently from Metropolitan Correction Center to Thorek Hospital and Medical Center, where he died.

According to the WLS report, Schweihs was first arrested in 1949 and averaged more than one arrest per year since then.

Imprisoned Schweihs signs DNR order

Alleged mobster Frank "the German" Schweihs may have to be moved to a prison medical facility due to his recent signing of a do-not-resusciate (DNR) order, according to stories by the Chicago Tribune and CBS-2 Chicago.

Schweihs had been named as a defendant in the Family Secrets case, which resulted in September 1997 guilty verdicts against five men linked to the Chicago Outfit. Schweihs missed the trial because he was battling cancer. A separate trial is scheduled for late October.

Schweihs, 78, is charged with a mob-related murder and with extorting payments from businesses. When he first learned he was indicted, Schweihs fled. He was apprehended by FBI agents in Kentucky. He has been behind bars for the past 17 months.

U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel said the recent do-not-resuscitate order could require Schweihs to be placed in a medical facility of the Bureau of Prisons. According to Zagel, other federal institutions would not be able to honor such an order.

Marcello sent away for 8 and a half years

U.S. District Judge James Zagel has sentenced Chicago mobster Michael Marcello to eight and a half years in prison, according to reports by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun Times and Azam Ahmed of the Chicago Tribune.

Marcello, 57-year-old brother of Chicago Outfit big shot James Marcello, pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in advance of the Family Secrets trial in which his brother was convicted. He acknowledged paying witness Nicholas Calabrese $4,000 a month to keep quiet about unsolved gangland murders. Calabrese eventually became the featured witness in the Family Secrets case.

Judge Zagel said emotional pleas by Marcello family members convinced him to trim some months off the sentence of more than nine years in prison he was planning to impose.

According to federal prosecutors, Michael Marcello operated a lucrative video poker machine racket and delivered orders for his imprisoned brother.

Secrets: Three defendants guilty of 10 murders

Calabrese, Lombardo, Marcello
could be sentenced to life in prison
Jury deadlocked on Schiro charge

The jury in Chicago's Family Secrets trial on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, convicted three aging mob bosses of ten gangland murders, according to an Associated Press story by Mike Robinson.

Frank Calabrese, Sr., 70 (at right, top); James Marcello, 65 (at right, second from top), Joseph Lombardo, 78 (at right, third from top); and already facing long prison sentences in connection with racketeering convictions, now face the possibility of life behind bars for the racketeering murders. The jury deadlocked on whether Paul Schiro, 70 (at right, second from bottom), was guilty of murder. Family Secrets defendant Anthony Doyle, 62 (at right, bottom), was not charged with involvement in the racketeering murders. Schiro and Doyle still face significant jail time - up to 20 years each - due to their racketeering conspiracy convictions in the case.
The five defendants were convicted of racketeering conspiracy on Sept. 10. Jurors then deliberated for eight days on the murder charges, which relate to slayings as long ago as 1970.
Joseph Lopez, attorney for Calabrese, complained of the media circus surrounding the case and promised an appeal, according to a story by Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune. "I don't think anybody charged with a case like this could get a fair trial anywhere, because of the publicity prior to trial," he said.

• Calabrese was convicted of seven murders: the 1980 shotgun deaths of William and Charlotte Dauber, the 1981 car-bombing of Michael Cagnoni, and the slayings of John Fecarotta, Michael Albergo, Richard Ortiz and Arthur Morawski. Calabrese was earlier convicted of racketeering conspiracy, extortion, running an illegal gambling enterprise. He was initially charged with 13 racketeering murders.
• Marcello was convicted of participating in the June 1986 beating deaths of brothers Anthony and Michael Spilotro. Marcello was earlier convicted of racketeering conspiracy, obstructing a criminal investigation, running an illegal gambling enterprise and tax fruad conspiracy. He was initially charged with three racketeering murders.
• Lombardo was convicted of the 1974 shooting death of Daniel Seifert, who was expected to testify in a federal investigation of Lombardo. Lombardo was earlier convicted of racketeering conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He was charged only with the Seifert murder.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining eight murders, including the 1981 slaying of Nicholas D'Andrea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Mars noted that jurors seemed to have difficulty convicting on just the testimony of mob turncoat Nicholas Calabrese.
"It seems that they... wanted to have some solid corroboration for our main witness," Mars said. "So it seems they're broken down along the lines of Calabrese's testimony."
Some of the murder charges were supported through statements on surveillance tapes and/or forensic evidence, he noted.

Authorities say DiFronzo is top man in Outfit

John "No Nose" DiFronzo (right), 78, is a top man in the Chicago Outfit, according to a video report by ABC-7 in Chicago. The report indicated that DiFronzo's younger brother Peter is his top lieutenant.

In the recent Family Secrets trial, mob turncoat witness Nicholas Calabrese spoke of John DiFronzo's participation in the murder of the Spilotro brothers. Federal authorities also have surveillance video showing Chicago mobsters referring to DiFronzo in conversation by touching their noses rather than by using his name.

Asked why they chose not to include DiFronzo in the Family Secrets case, prosecutors responded that they did not want to go after the mob bigshot with just a single witness against him.

Secrets: Jurors break until Sept. 20

The Family Secrets trial jury, now considering whether four defendants were responsible for 18 Chicago mob murders described in the case, will not deliberate again until Thursday, Sept. 20, according to a story in the Chicago Tribune.

The jury break was announced Friday by U.S. District Judge James Zagel's office. Four days earlier, the same jury convicted defendants James Marcello, Joey "the Clown" Lombardo, Frank Calabrese Sr., Paul "the Indian" Schiro and Anthony "Twan" Doyle of racketeering conspiracy.

Marcello, Lombardo, Calabrese and Schiro could be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty of the racketeering murders.

The defendants:

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James Marcello
Guilty of racketeering conspiracy, obstructing a criminal investigation, running an illegal gambling enterprise, and tax fraud conspiracy. Charged in connection with three racketeering murders.

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Frank Calabrese Sr.

Guilty of racketeering conspiracy, extortion, running an illegal gambling enterprise. Charged in connection with 13 racketeering murders.

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Joey Lombardo
Guilty of racketeering conspiracy, obstruction of justice. Charged with one racketeering murder.

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Paul Schiro
Guilty of racketeering conspiracy. Charged with one racketeering murder.

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Anthony Doyle
Guilty of racketeering conspiracy. Doyle is not facing charges in connection with the racketeering murders.

'Secrets' jury finds all guilty

Second round of deliberations

to focus on 18 gangland murders

The five defendants in Chicago's Family Secrets trial were convicted on all counts today, according to a story by Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune.

A federal jury convicted James Marcello, 65; Joey "the Clown" Lombardo (below right), 78; Frank Calabrese Sr. (left), 70; Paul "the Indian" Schiro, 69; and Anthony "Twan" Doyle, 62, of racketeering conspiracy. Doyle is a former Chicago police officer who was charged with providing secret details of a federal investigation to the mob. The other four defendants reputedly served in leadership positions in the Chicago Outfit.

After a trial of 10 weeks, the jury deliberated for four days before reaching the verdict. Jurors' names are being kept confidential.

The panel's responsibilities are expected to continue tomorrow, when they will hear arguments relating to 18 gang murders - including the 1986 slayings of brothers Anthony and Michael Spilotro - charged to the defendants. A second round of jury deliberations will follow.

Any subsequent convictions could result in imprisonment for life.

The defendants were among 14 indicted for racketeering conspiracy in April 2005.

One of the key witnesses in the case has been Nicholas Calabrese, brother of defendant Frank Calabrese Sr. Just before the trial opened, Nicholas Calabrese pleaded guilty to participating in at least 14 mob murders. Other defendants, including Nicholas Ferriola and Joseph Venezia, reached plea deals with prosecutors before the trial began.

Defendant Frank "the German" Schweihs was severed from the trial because of poor health. Authorities say Schweihs appears to have made a miraculous recovery from cancer, and a separate Schweihs trial is planned for April.