The Milwaukee crime family, also known as the Balistrieri crime family or the Milwaukee Mafia, is an Italian-AmericanMafiacrime 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 Vegasskimmingcasinos.[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]
1918–1921 — Vito Guardalabene — died on February 6, 1921, from natural causes.[3][4]
1921–1927 — Peter Guardalabene — the son of Vito Guardalabene[3][5]
1927 — Joseph Amato — died of natural causes on March 28, 1927.[3][6]
1927–1949 — Joseph Vallone — retired from the rackets in 1949 and died of natural causes on March 18, 1952.[7]
1949–1952 — Sam Ferrara — in 1952 voted out by his family, so members of the Chicago Outfit forced him to step down.[3]
1952–1961 — John Alioto — trained his son-in-law Frank Balistrieri.[3][8]
1961–1993 — Frank 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 to 1991 for his involvement in Las Vegas skim racket. He died of natural causes on February 7, 1993.[3]
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.[3]
1993–1997 — Peter Balistrieri — died of natural causes on August 17, 1997[3]
1997–2014 — Joseph Caminiti — served as Frank Balistrieri's consigliere; died in January 2014.[3]
2014–2024 — Peter "Pitch" Picciurro[9] — died of natural causes on January 6, 2024.[10]
Underbossedit
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 son, deceased in 2010.
Consigliereedit
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–present — John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri
Current membersedit
After the death of Frank Balistrieri, the Chicago Outfit has taken control of the Milwaukee illegal rackets.[9] The Chicago Outfit had represented the Milwaukee family on the American Mafia Commission
Administrationedit
Boss — Vacant
Consigliere — John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri[9] — is the 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.[11]
Former membersedit
Peter "Pitch" Picciurro[9] — former family boss, the owner of Pitch's Lounge and Restaurant and blood relative to Frank Balistrieri.[12] The son of Milwaukee mobster John J. Picciurro and cousin to Frank and Peter Balistrieri.
^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 January 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ abcdefghijJay C. Ambler. "Milwaukee, WI Crime family" (2000) Rick Porrello's American Mafia.com
^Schmitt, Gavin (25 October 2021). "Vito Guardalabene – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
^Schmitt, Gavin (26 October 2021). "Pete Guardalabene – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
^Schmitt, Gavin. "Joseph Amato – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
^Schmitt, Gavin (26 October 2021). "Joseph Vallone – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
^Schmitt, Gavin. "John Alioto – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
^ abcdSANTOLO, DIMAIOLO (November 12, 2014). "Milwaukee mafia boss Frank Balistrieri son to remain disbarred". Retrieved 8 January 2022.
^"Obituaries in Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel". jsonline.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
^Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects crime boss' son John Balistrieri bid to practice law, Journal Sentinel, August 12, 2014
^Westphal, Caleb (June 2, 2017). "178 consecutive Friday night fish fries and counting: Pitch's Lounge and Restaurant". Milwaukee Record. News Paper. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
milwaukee, crime, family, also, known, balistrieri, crime, family, milwaukee, mafia, italian, american, mafia, crime, family, based, milwaukee, wisconsin, crime, family, considered, branch, chicago, outfit, family, most, influential, boss, frank, balistrieri, . The Milwaukee crime family also known as the Balistrieri crime family or the Milwaukee Mafia is an Italian 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 Milwaukee crime familyFoundedc 1918 106 years ago 1918 FounderVito GuardalabeneFounding locationMilwaukee Wisconsin United StatesYears activec 1918 presentTerritoryPrimarily the Milwaukee metropolitan area with additional territory throughout Wisconsin and in Las VegasEthnicityItalians as made men and other ethnicities as associatesActivitiesSkimming gambling narcotics racketeering murder extortion prostitution bookmaking bribery and loan sharkingAlliesBonanno crime family Chicago Outfit Cleveland crime family Kansas City crime family St Louis crime familyRivalsVarious gangs in the Milwaukee area Contents 1 Historical leadership 1 1 Boss official and acting 1 2 Underboss 1 3 Consigliere 2 Current members 2 1 Administration 3 Former members 4 See also 5 Notes 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistorical leadership editBoss official and acting edit 1918 1921 Vito Guardalabene died on February 6 1921 from natural causes 3 4 1921 1927 Peter Guardalabene the son of Vito Guardalabene 3 5 1927 Joseph Amato died of natural causes on March 28 1927 3 6 1927 1949 Joseph Vallone retired from the rackets in 1949 and died of natural causes on March 18 1952 7 1949 1952 Sam Ferrara in 1952 voted out by his family so members of the Chicago Outfit forced him to step down 3 1952 1961 John Alioto trained his son in law Frank Balistrieri 3 8 1961 1993 Frank 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 to 1991 for his involvement in Las Vegas skim racket He died of natural causes on February 7 1993 3 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 3 1993 1997 Peter Balistrieri died of natural causes on August 17 1997 3 1997 2014 Joseph Caminiti served as Frank Balistrieri s consigliere died in January 2014 3 2014 2024 Peter Pitch Picciurro 9 died of natural causes on January 6 2024 10 Underboss edit 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 son deceased in 2010 Consigliere edit 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 present John Johnny Bal BalistrieriCurrent members editAfter the death of Frank Balistrieri the Chicago Outfit has taken control of the Milwaukee illegal rackets 9 The Chicago Outfit had represented the Milwaukee family on the American Mafia Commission Administration edit Boss Vacant Consigliere John Johnny Bal Balistrieri 9 is the 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 11 Former members editPeter Pitch Picciurro 9 former family boss the owner of Pitch s Lounge and Restaurant and blood relative to Frank Balistrieri 12 The son of Milwaukee mobster John J Picciurro and cousin to Frank and Peter Balistrieri See also editAugust PalmisanoNotes 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 Archived January 2 2007 at the Wayback Machine a b c d e f g h i j Jay C Ambler Milwaukee WI Crime family 2000 Rick Porrello s American Mafia com Schmitt Gavin 25 October 2021 Vito Guardalabene Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia MilwaukeeMafia com Schmitt Gavin 26 October 2021 Pete Guardalabene Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia MilwaukeeMafia com Schmitt Gavin Joseph Amato Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia MilwaukeeMafia com Schmitt Gavin 26 October 2021 Joseph Vallone Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia MilwaukeeMafia com Schmitt Gavin John Alioto Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia MilwaukeeMafia com a b c d SANTOLO DIMAIOLO November 12 2014 Milwaukee mafia boss Frank Balistrieri son to remain disbarred Retrieved 8 January 2022 Obituaries in Milwaukee WI Milwaukee Journal Sentinel jsonline com Retrieved 2024 01 09 Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects crime boss son John Balistrieri bid to practice law Journal Sentinel August 12 2014 Westphal Caleb June 2 2017 178 consecutive Friday night fish fries and counting Pitch s Lounge and Restaurant Milwaukee Record News Paper Retrieved 8 January 2022 Further reading editSchmitt Gavin Milwaukee Mafia Arcadia 2012 ISBN 0738594431 Schmitt Gavin The Milwaukee Mafia Mobsters in the Heartland Barricade Books 2015 ISBN 978 0962303265External links editAmerican Gangland Balistrieri Crime Family Dieland The Milwaukee Family Milwaukee Mafia unreliable source Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Milwaukee crime family amp oldid 1221247901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
