William Daddano Sr. (December 28, 1912 – September 9, 1975), also known as "William Russo" and "Willie Potatoes," was a top enforcer and loan shark for the Chicago Outfit and a participant in some high-profile robberies.
By 1936, at age 24, Daddano had accumulated an extensive criminal record in the 42-Gang, including nine counts of bank robbery, larceny and auto theft.[citation needed] Giancana and Battaglia eventually recruited Daddano into the Chicago Outfit. In 1944,[1] Daddano was arrested for attempting to steal three million war ration stamps. While police suspected that the Outfit was behind this crime, Daddano refused to name his accomplices. After World War II, Daddano became a leading enforcer for The Outfit. He also controlled illegal gambling operations in Dupage, Will and Kane counties[2] and in the Chicago suburbs of Cicero and Berwyn.
Though a "made man" and valued "capo" in the Chicago Outfit, Daddano was not unlike Sam "Mad Sam" DeStefano, who was not allowed by the Outfit bosses to be "made." Daddano has been described as a "ruthless and pitiless killer" who was refined in torture with ice picks and blowtorches, keeping victims alive for hours while torturing them.[2] In 1963, he had left a Capone-era mobster's wake with DeStefano, in his Cadillac, with Chicago police in hot pursuit of the speeding car.[3] Daddano was the main suspect in at least seven murders.[2]
Daddano also had the responsibility to know who every Chicago burglar was, so that the Chicago Outfit could take a "street tax ('Tribute')" percentage of everything he stole.[4]
Legitimate enterprises
A legitimate business that Daddano owned and operated in much of Chicago was a garbage collection company named, "West Suburban Scavanger [sic?] Service".[2][5]
On September 9, 1975, he died of natural causes in prison, three months after Giancana was executed in the basement of his home by someone who has never been positively identified.
Notes
^Russo, Gus, Outfit, The (2001), pgs. 184ff; Giancana was not part of the Outfit until February 1945, when he became Tony Accardo's driver; but Giancana apparently did not return to the 42-Gang after leaving prison in 1942. He went "legit" for those few years.
United States Congress House Government Operations Federal Effort Against Organized Crime: Role of the Private Sector. 1970.[2]
External links
AmericanMafia.com - The Rosemont Two Step By John William Tuohy
Chicago Sun-Times - Stephens: Probe proves no mob ties by Robert Herguth, Chris Fusco, Art Golab and Steve Warmbir
May 15, 2023
william, daddano, december, 1912, september, 1975, also, known, william, russo, willie, potatoes, enforcer, loan, shark, chicago, outfit, participant, some, high, profile, robberies, contents, early, years, enforcer, mobster, legitimate, enterprises, prison, d. William Daddano Sr December 28 1912 September 9 1975 also known as William Russo and Willie Potatoes was a top enforcer and loan shark for the Chicago Outfit and a participant in some high profile robberies Contents 1 Early years 2 Enforcer and mobster 3 Legitimate enterprises 4 Prison and death 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly years EditBorn in Chicago Illinois Daddano became a member of the Forty Two Gang a local street gang from Maxwell Street on Chicago s West Side Gang members included such future Outfit heavyweights as Sam Giancana also known as Momo or Mooney and Sam Teets Battaglia He lived in North Riverside Illinois with his wife Mary and five children He never had a known legitimate means of employment or business known to the FBI Enforcer and mobster EditBy 1936 at age 24 Daddano had accumulated an extensive criminal record in the 42 Gang including nine counts of bank robbery larceny and auto theft citation needed Giancana and Battaglia eventually recruited Daddano into the Chicago Outfit In 1944 1 Daddano was arrested for attempting to steal three million war ration stamps While police suspected that the Outfit was behind this crime Daddano refused to name his accomplices After World War II Daddano became a leading enforcer for The Outfit He also controlled illegal gambling operations in Dupage Will and Kane counties 2 and in the Chicago suburbs of Cicero and Berwyn Though a made man and valued capo in the Chicago Outfit Daddano was not unlike Sam Mad Sam DeStefano who was not allowed by the Outfit bosses to be made Daddano has been described as a ruthless and pitiless killer who was refined in torture with ice picks and blowtorches keeping victims alive for hours while torturing them 2 In 1963 he had left a Capone era mobster s wake with DeStefano in his Cadillac with Chicago police in hot pursuit of the speeding car 3 Daddano was the main suspect in at least seven murders 2 Daddano also had the responsibility to know who every Chicago burglar was so that the Chicago Outfit could take a street tax Tribute percentage of everything he stole 4 Legitimate enterprises EditA legitimate business that Daddano owned and operated in much of Chicago was a garbage collection company named West Suburban Scavanger sic Service 2 5 Prison and death EditIn May 1966 Daddano was arrested and tried for hijacking 1 million in silver bullion but was later acquitted He was later arrested for conspiracy to rob a Franklin Park Bank a heist planned by him six years earlier Daddano was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the Marion Illinois federal penitentiary a supermax prison at the time The prison was downgraded in 2006 6 On September 9 1975 he died of natural causes in prison three months after Giancana was executed in the basement of his home by someone who has never been positively identified Notes Edit Russo Gus Outfit The 2001 pgs 184ff Giancana was not part of the Outfit until February 1945 when he became Tony Accardo s driver but Giancana apparently did not return to the 42 Gang after leaving prison in 1942 He went legit for those few years a b c d Sifakis Carl Mafia Encyclopedia The Second Ed 1999 pages 106 Roemer William F Jr Accardo The Genuine Godfather 1995 pages 87 88 Roemer William F Jr Enforcer The 1994 pp 156 157 Russo Gus Outfit The 2001 p 356n Marion ILReferences EditKelly Robert J Encyclopedia of Organized Crime in the United States Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press 2000 ISBN 978 0 313 30653 2 Sifakis Carl The Mafia Encyclopedia New York Da Capo Press 2005 ISBN 978 0 8160 5694 1 Sifakis Carl The Encyclopedia of American Crime New York Facts on File Inc 2001 ISBN 978 0 8160 4040 7 Bureau of Narcotics U S Treasury Department Mafia the Government s Secret File on Organized Crime HarperCollins Publishers 2007 ISBN 0 06 136385 5Further reading EditA Report on Chicago Crime Chicago Chicago Crime Commission Reports 1954 1968 1 United States Congress House Government Operations Federal Effort Against Organized Crime Role of the Private Sector 1970 2 External links EditAmericanMafia com The Rosemont Two Step By John William Tuohy Chicago Sun Times Stephens Probe proves no mob ties by Robert Herguth Chris Fusco Art Golab and Steve Warmbir Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Daddano Sr amp oldid 1152382142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
