Gangsters & Mobsters Tour

JOE AIELLO (1890-1930)
{born Giuseppe Aiello}

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: 41°51’59.2″N 87°54’26.1″W}

Mob Boss

Joe Aiello was a Sicilian-American bootlegger and organized crime boss in Chicago during the Prohibition era. He rose to power through alcohol smuggling, illegal liquor operations, and influence within the Sicilian-American organization known as the Unione Siciliana.

Aiello is best known for his violent rivalry with Al Capone. Throughout the late 1920s, he allegedly organized several unsuccessful assassination attempts against Capone and allied himself with North Side gang leader Bugs Moran. The feud sparked years of gang warfare that contributed to some of Chicago’s most notorious Prohibition-era violence.

By 1929, Aiello had become one of Chicago’s most feared gang leaders and was listed among the city’s top public enemies. However, Capone’s organization gradually eliminated many of Aiello’s allies and forced him into hiding. On October 23, 1930, Capone gunmen ambushed Aiello outside a Chicago apartment building and killed him in a machine-gun attack. Reports stated that he was struck by dozens of bullets, effectively ending his challenge to Capone’s control of Chicago organized crime.

Joe Aiello -> Wikipedia

ANTHONY “TONY” ACCARDO (1906-1992)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: 41°51’43.8″N 87°54’12.0″W}

Mob Boss

Anthony Accardo was one of the most powerful leaders of the Chicago mob, known as the Chicago Outfit. He began as a street gang member in the 1920s and rose through the ranks under Al Capone, earning the nickname “Joe Batters.” He was linked to bootlegging, gambling, loansharking, extortion, and other organized crime activities during Prohibition and afterward.

By the 1940s and 1950s, Accardo had become the Outfit’s top operational leader. Under his influence, the organization expanded into Las Vegas gambling, slot machines, vending-machine rackets, tax-stamp counterfeiting, and narcotics trafficking, greatly increasing its wealth and reach across the western United States.

Unlike many mob bosses, Accardo preferred to stay out of the spotlight. He officially stepped back from the boss position in 1957 but continued to wield enormous influence behind the scenes for decades, often having the final say on major Outfit decisions.

Despite a criminal career that lasted roughly 70 years, Accardo spent very little time in prison and died of natural causes in 1992, making him one of the longest-lasting and most successful organized crime figures in American history.

Tony Accardo -> Wikipedia

JOSEPH “JOEY” AIUPPA (1907-1997)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Crucifix Gardens, South Building, Tier 2, Crypt 7453 – 41°51’29.3″N 87°54’44.5″W}

Mob Boss

Joseph “Joey Doves” Aiuppa was one of the most powerful leaders of the Chicago Outfit, the organized crime syndicate that succeeded Al Capone. He rose through the Outfit’s ranks as a driver, enforcer, and gambling operator before becoming the organization’s boss in 1971.

During his criminal career, Aiuppa oversaw illegal gambling, bookmaking, labor racketeering, and organized crime operations throughout the Midwest. He was closely associated with longtime Outfit leaders Tony Accardo and Paul Ricca and helped expand the Outfit’s influence in Las Vegas casinos.

Aiuppa became nationally known after a 1962 arrest involving hundreds of illegally transported mourning doves, which earned him the nickname “Joey Doves.” He later became a major target of federal investigations into organized crime.

His downfall came in 1986 when he was convicted for participating in the Outfit’s Las Vegas casino-skimming scheme, which diverted millions of dollars from casino profits to mob leaders. He received a lengthy prison sentence and remained incarcerated until being released for health reasons in 1996.

Aiuppa died in 1997, leaving behind a reputation as one of the most influential and feared bosses in Chicago Outfit history. His era and the Outfit’s casino operations helped inspire elements of the movie Casino.

Joey Aiuppa -> Wikipedia

FELIX ALDERISIO (1912-1971)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: All Saints, St. Dorothy, Tier 4, Crypt 10101 – 41°51’42.4″N 87°54’08.6″W}

Mob Boss

Felix “Milwaukee Phil” Alderisio was a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit and one of the most feared mob enforcers of his era. He began his criminal career during Prohibition and rose through the Outfit’s ranks as a burglar, collector, enforcer, and later underboss to Sam Giancana.

Alderisio was linked to a wide range of criminal activities, including loansharking, illegal gambling, extortion, bribery, hijacking, burglary, and murder-for-hire. Law enforcement arrested him at least 36 times, but he frequently avoided conviction due to the Outfit’s political influence and lack of cooperating witnesses.

He gained a reputation as a brutal enforcer, often working with Charles Nicoletti and was suspected of participating in 13 or 14 gangland killings. He also headed a burglary crew that stole high-value jewelry from Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood and served as a key money courier for the Outfit’s gambling operations.

In the 1960s, Alderisio became one of the Outfit’s top leaders and briefly served as acting boss. His criminal career ended when he was convicted of extortion and sent to federal prison in 1969. He died of natural causes in prison in 1971.

Felix Alderisio -> Wikipedia

HARRY ALEMAN (1939-2010)

Jewish Waldheim Cemetery
1400 Des Plaines Avenue
Forest Park, IL 60130

_{GRAVE: 41°51’24.7″N 87°48’16.9″W}

Mobster

Harry Aleman, nicknamed “The Hook,” was one of the most feared hitmen associated with the Chicago Outfit during the 1960s and 1970s. He built a reputation as a violent enforcer, loan-shark collector, and suspected contract killer. Law enforcement officials believed he was involved in numerous murders, though he was convicted in court for only one.

Aleman’s most notorious crime was the 1972 shotgun murder of Teamsters official William Logan. In 1977, he was acquitted after a bench trial, but it was later discovered that the judge had been bribed. Because the original trial was deemed a sham, courts ruled that double-jeopardy protections did not apply, allowing Aleman to be tried again. He was convicted of Logan’s murder in 1997 and sentenced to 100–300 years in prison.

His case became famous in U.S. legal history because he is widely regarded as the only person to be acquitted of a murder and later legally retried and convicted for the same crime after judicial corruption was uncovered.

Aleman died of lung cancer in prison in 2010 while serving his sentence.

Harry Aleman -> Wikipedia

WILLIAM ALOISIO (1906-1979)

Oakridge Glen Oaks Cemetery
4301 Roosevelt Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: 41°51’46.1″N 87°53’23.5″W}

Mobster & Hit Man

William Aloisio (1906–1979), nicknamed “Smokes,” was a longtime member of the Chicago underworld and an associate and hitman for the Chicago Outfit. He began his criminal career as a member of Chicago’s notorious Forty-Two Gang, a Prohibition-era gang that served as a training ground for many future Outfit members, including Sam Giancana.

Aloisio accumulated arrests dating back to the late 1920s and became known as an Outfit enforcer and suspected contract killer. In 1945, he was sentenced to five years in federal prison for participating in a scheme to bribe Navy personnel so that his brother could avoid military service during World War II.

Although much of his criminal activity was never proven in court, law-enforcement and organized-crime histories describe him as a trusted Outfit hitman who remained active in Chicago’s mob circles for decades. He died in 1979 at age 72.

William Aloisio -> Wikipedia

SALVATORE AMATUNA (1898-1925)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: 41°51’46.9″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mobster

Salvatore “Samuzzo” Amatuna was a Chicago mobster affiliated with the Genna crime organization during the Prohibition era. He began as a young enforcer for the Gennas and reportedly earned his place in the gang through violent political and criminal activities tied to Chicago’s “Aldermen’s Wars.”

During Prohibition, Amatuna became a leading Genna lieutenant, overseeing illegal alcohol production, serving as a bodyguard to gang leader Angelo Genna, and participating in the gang’s efforts to control bootlegging and political influence in Chicago. He was also suspected of involvement in several murders connected to rival factions.

After Angelo Genna was killed in 1925, Amatuna attempted to take control of the weakened organization and declared himself president of the Sicilian-American fraternal group Unione Siciliana, a powerful position within Chicago’s underworld. His rise was short-lived, however, as he became a target in the ongoing gang wars.

On November 10, 1925, Amatuna was ambushed and shot in a Chicago barbershop. He died three days later at age 27. His death marked another violent chapter in the struggle for control of organized crime in Chicago during the 1920s.

Salvatore “Samuzzo” Amatuna -> Wikipedia

DOMINICK BASSO (1938-2001)

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery
1185 Algonquin Road
Palatine, IL 60067

_{Grave: 42°04’30.7″N 88°04’33.7″W}

Mobster

Dominick J. Basso was a Chicago Outfit mob associate and one of the Midwest’s most prominent illegal sports bookmakers during the 1980s. He allegedly oversaw large-scale gambling operations in Chicago’s northwest suburbs and DuPage County, taking bets on baseball, football, basketball, and horse racing events. Authorities believed he worked under several high-ranking Outfit figures involved in organized gambling.

In 1988, Basso was arrested and later convicted of syndicate gambling and conspiracy to commit gambling. He received 20 months of probation and 70 days of work release. He became nationally known in 1989 when investigators linked him to the gambling scandal involving baseball star and manager Pete Rose, alleging that Rose had placed bets through Basso’s bookmaking operation.

Dominick Basso ->

SAM BATTAGLIA (1908-1973)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: QA Chapel, St. Genevieve, Tier 2, Crypt 1055 – 41°51’41.9″N 87°54’08.4″W}

Mob Boss

Sam Battaglia, nicknamed “Teets,” was a longtime member and later boss of the Chicago Outfit, one of America’s most powerful organized crime syndicates. He began his criminal career as a teenager with the Outfit during the Prohibition era, working under mob leaders such as Johnny Torrio and Al Capone.

By the 1930s and 1940s, Battaglia had become a high-ranking enforcer and loan shark, earning a reputation for violence. His criminal record included numerous arrests and suspicions involving burglary, robbery, extortion, and homicide. He was closely associated with Sam Giancana and was widely viewed as Giancana’s successor.

In 1965–66, Battaglia served as boss of the Chicago Outfit. His reign was short-lived, however, because he was convicted of extortion under the Hobbs Act and sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in 1967. He was released in 1973 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer and died shortly afterward.

Sam Battaglia -> Wikipedia

JAMES BELCASTRO (1895-1945)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 32, Block 2, Lot 14, Grave 2 – 41°51’48.7″N 87°54’26.6″W}

Black Hand & Mob Bomber

James Belcastro, nicknamed “Mad Bomber” and “King of the Bombers,” was a notorious Chicago gangster associated with the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era.

Belcastro began as a Black Hand extortionist in Chicago’s Little Italy, using homemade explosives to intimidate business owners who refused to pay protection money. In the 1920s, he was recruited into the Chicago Outfit by Al Capone and became one of Capone’s most feared enforcers.

During Prohibition, Belcastro was accused of carrying out bombing campaigns against rival bootleggers, independent saloons, and political opponents. He was suspected of involvement in more than 100 deaths, although many claims from that era are difficult to verify. He was also linked to the violent 1927 “Pineapple Primary” election attacks in Chicago, where bombings and shootings were used to influence politics.

Although he faced arrests—including for the murder of political figure Octavius Granady—charges against him were dropped. By the late 1920s, he had gained a reputation as one of Chicago’s most dangerous gangsters and was listed among the city’s “public enemies.”

In the 1930s and early 1940s, Belcastro remained a high-ranking Outfit enforcer until his death from heart disease in 1945.

James Belcastro -> Wikipedia

FIORE BUCCIERI (1907-1973)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Queen of Heaven Mausoleum, Tier 3, Crypt 229 – 41°51’41.9″N 87°54’08.4″W}

Mobster

Fiore Buccieri, nicknamed “Fifi,” was a longtime member of the Chicago Outfit and one of its most feared enforcers. He began his criminal career as a young member of the 42 Gang, where he associated with future Outfit boss Sam Giancana. During the 1920s, he worked as a gunman connected to Al Capone’s organization during the violent Prohibition era.

By the 1950s and 1960s, Buccieri had become a powerful Outfit figure, specializing in loansharking, labor racketeering, intimidation, and enforcement work. He was known as a top lieutenant and close ally of Giancana, and federal investigators considered him one of the Outfit’s major violent operators.

Buccieri was also linked to the notorious 1961 torture and murder of loanshark William “Action” Jackson, carried out with other Outfit figures including Jackie Cerone and Samuel DeStefano. Authorities later described Buccieri as a key enforcer, with FBI agents reportedly giving him the label “the lord high executioner.”

He remained influential in the Outfit’s leadership circles during the 1960s but never became the organization’s official boss. Buccieri died of cancer in 1973 at age 65, ending the career of one of the Chicago Outfit’s most feared street-level power figures.

Fiore Buccieri -> Wkipedia

FRANK BUCCIERI (1919-2004)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: 41°51’32.3″N 87°54’13.0″W}

Mobster

Frank Buccieri, also known as “Frank the Horse” or “Big Frank,” was a Chicago Outfit associate who became a major figure in organized crime operations on the West Coast during the 1970s and 1980s.

Buccieri began his criminal career in Chicago and was involved in the Outfit’s illegal gambling and loansharking operations on the city’s West Side during the 1960s. He was the younger brother of Fiore Buccieri, a feared Outfit enforcer and close associate of Sam Giancana.

In the late 1970s, Buccieri moved into California and became a trusted representative of the national Mafia leadership. In 1981, the Mafia Commission reportedly selected him to oversee organized crime activities in California, including gambling and other rackets, after the murder of Los Angeles crime boss Frank Bompensiero.

Unlike many prominent mob figures, Buccieri avoided major criminal convictions after his early arrest for petty larceny as a teenager. He remained a behind-the-scenes operator, known more for managing rackets and maintaining Mafia connections than for public acts of violence. He died of natural causes in 2004 at age 85.

Frank Buccieri -> Wikipedia

MARSHALL CAIFANO (1911-2003)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 21, Block 6, Lot e11-19, Grave 1 – 41°51’48.7″N 87°54’26.6″W}

Mobster

Marshall Caifano, also known as “John Marshall” and “Shoes,” was a longtime enforcer and high-ranking figure in the Chicago Outfit. He began his criminal career in Chicago during the 1920s and became associated with powerful Outfit leaders such as Paul Ricca and Sam Giancana.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Caifano was known as a feared Outfit “problem solver,” with authorities linking him to extortion, gambling operations, and several suspected mob killings, although he was never convicted of murder. He was suspected in cases involving figures such as Bugsy Siegel and other organized-crime associates, but many allegations remained unproven.

In the late 1950s, the Outfit sent Caifano to oversee its interests in Las Vegas, where he became one of the first individuals placed in Nevada’s casino “Black Book,” a list of people barred from licensed gaming due to alleged organized-crime ties.

Caifano was eventually convicted of extortion in 1964 for taking money from an oil executive and later received another major prison sentence for a stock-fraud scheme. After his release, he lived quietly in Florida until his death in 2003.

Marshall Caifano -> Wikipedia

RICHARD CAIN (1931-1973)

Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
6001 W 111th Street
Alsip, IL 60803

_{Grave: Section 1, Block 1, Lot 44 – 41°41’21.8″N 87°46’16.1″W}

Police Officer & Mobster

Richard Cain was a Chicago police officer who became a controversial figure in organized crime through his ties to the Chicago Outfit. He was known for living a double life: working in law enforcement while allegedly using his position and connections to assist organized crime figures.

After leaving law enforcement, Cain became closely associated with Sam Giancana, serving as a trusted operative and adviser. He was reportedly involved in gambling operations, skimming schemes, and other Outfit activities, while also becoming an informant for the FBI, providing information on organized crime figures.

Cain’s reputation as a fixer and enforcer grew during the late 1960s and early 1970s, but his alleged double-dealing made him a target within the criminal underworld. On December 20, 1973, he was murdered in a gangland-style hit at Rose’s Sandwich Shop in Chicago. The motive remains disputed, with theories ranging from mob retaliation over his suspected informant role to conflicts with other Outfit figures.

Richard Cain -> Wikipedia

FRANK CALABRESE, SR. (1937-2012)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: 41°51’28.2″N 87°54’32.9″W}

Mobster

Frank Calabrese Sr. was a longtime member of the Chicago Outfit, best known for running a powerful loan-sharking and extortion operation on Chicago’s South Side.

Calabrese began his criminal career with an early arrest for auto theft in the 1950s. By the 1970s and 1980s, he had risen within the Outfit and became associated with the 26th Street (Chinatown) Crew, where he controlled a large-scale “juice loan” operation that charged extremely high interest rates and used threats and violence to collect debts.

In the 1990s, Calabrese was convicted in a federal case involving loan sharking, extortion, and intimidation, receiving a prison sentence. His criminal career became nationally known during the FBI’s Operation Family Secrets investigation, which targeted the Chicago Outfit’s leadership. Prosecutors accused him of involvement in racketeering, murders, extortion, and illegal gambling.

A key turning point came when his son, Frank Calabrese Jr., cooperated with the FBI and recorded conversations with his father. His brother, Nicholas Calabrese, also testified against him. In 2007, Frank Calabrese Sr. was convicted of racketeering-related crimes connected to the Outfit’s violent activities and was sentenced to life in prison in 2009.

He died in federal prison in 2012, remembered as one of the most feared and influential figures of the later-era Chicago Outfit.

Frank Calabrese Sr. -> Wikipedia

NICHOLAS CALABRESE (1942-2023)

All Saints Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum
700 N. River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
_{Mausoleum, West Wing, Tier 7, Crypt 3444, Third Floor – 42°03’54.2″N 87°53’37.4″W}

Mob Hitman

Nicholas Calabrese was a longtime member of the Chicago Outfit, a successor organization to the old Chicago mob. He became a made member and worked closely with his brother Frank Calabrese Sr. and other Outfit figures.

Calabrese was involved in racketeering, extortion, loan sharking, and numerous gangland murders during his criminal career. He later admitted participating in 14 murders, including the 1986 killings of Anthony Spilotro and his brother Michael Spilotro.

In the early 2000s, after DNA evidence linked him to the 1986 murder of mob enforcer John Fecarotta, Calabrese began cooperating with federal investigators. His testimony became central to Operation Family Secrets, a major prosecution that exposed decades of Outfit crimes and led to convictions of several high-ranking mob figures.

In 2007, Calabrese pleaded guilty to murder and racketeering and testified against former associates, becoming the first made member of the Chicago Outfit to testify publicly against the organization. In exchange for his cooperation, prosecutors agreed not to pursue separate charges for the murders he admitted committing. He later entered the witness protection program.

Nicholas Calabrese -> Wikipedia

LOUIS CAMPAGNA (1900-1955)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 26 – 41°51’49.6″N 87°54’32.1″W}

Mobster

Louis Campagna, nicknamed “Little New York,” was a longtime high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit and a close associate of Al Capone.

Campagna began his criminal career as a teenager in New York’s Five Points Gang, where he became acquainted with Capone. In 1919, he was convicted of bank robbery in Illinois and served time in the Pontiac Reformatory. After his release, Capone brought him into the Chicago underworld, where Campagna became a trusted enforcer during the violent gang conflicts of the Prohibition era.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Campagna rose within the Outfit, becoming involved in labor racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling, and union infiltration. He helped control gambling operations in the Cicero area and was a key figure in the Outfit’s scheme to extort money from Hollywood through control of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

In 1943, Campagna was convicted of extortion related to the Hollywood labor rackets and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. After his release in 1947, he returned to Chicago and remained influential in Outfit affairs, later appearing before the Kefauver Hearings on organized crime.

Campagna died in 1955 of a heart attack while fishing in Florida. By the time of his death, he was regarded as one of the last major figures of the Capone era and one of the architects of the modern Chicago Outfit.

Louis Campagna -> Wikipedia

ANTHONY CAPEZIO (1901-1955)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 26 – 41°51’49.4″N 87°54’33.9″W}

Mobster

Anthony “Tough Tony” Capezio was a Chicago mobster associated with the early Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era. He was a leader in the Circus Cafe Gang, a North Side gang that became allied with Al Capone’s organization.

Capezio’s criminal career was built around bootlegging, gang activity, and enforcement work during the 1920s and early 1930s. He was suspected by authorities of involvement in the planning or aftermath of the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, although he was never convicted for the murders. Police also linked him to the gang’s violent activities and its role in Chicago’s underworld conflicts.

After Prohibition, Capezio remained connected to organized crime circles and was an early mentor figure to younger Outfit members, including Tony Accardo, who later became one of Chicago’s most powerful mob leaders. Capezio died in 1955, leaving behind a reputation as one of the older-generation Chicago gangsters who helped shape the early Outfit.

Anthony Capezio -> MyAlCaponeMuseum

ALPHONSE “AL” CAPONE (1899-1947)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 35 – 41°51’46.6″N 87°54’23.1″W}

Mob Boss

Al Capone was one of the most infamous organized crime figures in American history. Born in 1899 in Brooklyn, he rose to power in Chicago during Prohibition in the United States, when illegal alcohol trafficking created opportunities for criminal organizations.

Capone became the leader of the Chicago Outfit, a powerful criminal syndicate involved in bootlegging, gambling, racketeering, bribery, and other illegal activities. His organization gained control of much of Chicago’s illegal liquor trade and used violence to eliminate rivals, including events such as the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Although widely suspected of involvement in numerous violent crimes, Capone was ultimately convicted in 1931 for federal income tax evasion rather than for his alleged role in organized crime. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, serving time at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. After his release in 1939, his health declined, and he died in 1947. Capone remains a symbol of the rise of organized crime during the Prohibition era.

Al Capone -> Wikipedia

SALVADORE “FRANK” CAPONE (1895-1924)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 35 – 41°51’46.6″N 87°54’23.1″W}

Mobster

Frank Capone was an American gangster best known as the older brother of Al Capone and an early member of the Chicago Outfit. He worked alongside Al during the rise of the Capone gang in the Prohibition era, helping manage bootlegging and political influence in the Chicago suburb of Cicero.

Frank was involved in enforcing the gang’s control over illegal liquor operations and was known for using intimidation and violence against rivals and political opponents. During the violent struggle for control of Cicero’s government in 1924, Frank and his associates clashed with local police. He was killed by police officers during a gunfight on April 1, 1924, after refusing to surrender his weapons during an election-day confrontation.

Frank Capone’s criminal career was relatively short, but his role helped establish the Capone family’s early power before Al Capone became the dominant figure in Chicago organized crime.

Frank Capone -> Wikipedia

RALPH “BOTTLES” CAPONE (1894-1974)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Cenotaph: Section 35 – 41°51’46.6″N 87°54’23.1″W}

Al Capone’s Older Brother

Ralph Capone, also known as “Bottles,” was an Italian-American organized crime figure and the older brother of Al Capone. He was a key associate of the Chicago Outfit during its rise in the Prohibition era.

Ralph moved to Chicago in the early 1920s and became involved in his brother Al’s criminal organization. Rather than being a major street enforcer, he was known for managing the Outfit’s legitimate-looking business operations, especially bottling and soft-drink companies that benefited from the demand created by Prohibition-era liquor sales. His nickname “Bottles” came from these beverage operations.

During Al Capone’s rule, Ralph held an influential position within the organization and was listed by the Chicago Crime Commission as “Public Enemy No. 3” in 1930, behind his brother Al. After Al Capone’s 1931 conviction for tax evasion, Ralph remained connected to the Outfit and continued involvement in its gambling and vice-related activities.

In 1932, Ralph Capone was convicted of tax evasion and served about three years in prison. Afterward, he moved to Wisconsin, where he operated legitimate businesses while remaining associated with organized crime circles. He spent his later years living a quieter life and died in 1974.

Ralph Capone -> Wikipedia

SAM CARDINELLI (1869-1921)
{born Salvatore Cardinella}

Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery
2755 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

_{Grave: 41°41’04.5″N 87°41’30.0″W}

Black Hand Boss

Sam Cardinelli (born Samuele/Salvatore Cardinelli) was one of Chicago’s most feared early organized-crime figures before the rise of Al Capone. He led the Cardinelli Gang, a powerful Black Hand extortion organization that operated primarily in Chicago’s Little Italy during the 1910s.

His gang specialized in extortion, robbery, bombings, and murder. Between roughly 1915 and 1918, the organization carried out a violent bombing campaign against businesses and rivals, resulting in more than 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The gang also robbed hotels, gambling establishments, and other businesses while using threats and violence to control its territory.

Known by the nickname “Il Diavolo” (“The Devil”), Cardinelli became one of Chicago’s dominant Italian-American gang leaders before Prohibition. His criminal career ended after he was convicted of the 1919 murder of saloon owner Andrew P. Bowman. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging in 1921. His dramatic execution became infamous because he reportedly had to be carried to the gallows after refusing to walk.

Sam Cardinelli -> Wikipedia

SAMUEL CARLISI (1914-1997)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: 41°51’32.7″N 87°54’07.7″W}

Mob Boss

Samuel Carlisi, also known as “Black Sam” or “Sam Wings,” was a longtime member and later boss of the Chicago Outfit. He began his criminal career as a driver and courier for Outfit leader Joseph Aiuppa, earning a reputation for helping run gambling, bookmaking, and other rackets.

By the late 1980s, Carlisi had risen to underboss and then became the Outfit’s top leader after the death of Joseph Ferriola. His tenure came during a period when federal investigations were weakening organized crime in Chicago, and he was often described as a leader during the Outfit’s decline.

Federal authorities eventually targeted Carlisi in major racketeering cases involving illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and attempted arson. In 1993 he was convicted on racketeering-related charges and later sentenced to nearly 13 years in federal prison.

Carlisi died in prison in 1997 while serving his sentence, marking the end of a criminal career that spanned several decades and culminated in leadership of the Chicago Outfit.

Sam Carlisi -> Wikipedia

ANTHONY CENTRACCHIO (1929-2001)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: 41°51’29.8″N 87°54’40.1″W}

Mob Boss

Anthony Centracchio was a longtime member and later a reputed leader of the Chicago Outfit’s operations on Chicago’s West Side and in several western suburbs. He began his criminal career with theft and was convicted in 1962 for stealing trucks loaded with televisions and radios, serving about 18 months in federal prison.

Over the following decades, Centracchio allegedly oversaw illegal gambling operations, extortion schemes, and corruption networks involving local officials and police officers. Federal authorities accused him of paying bribes to protect video poker and gambling businesses and of collecting “street taxes” from adult entertainment businesses. Prosecutors also alleged that he rose to a leadership position within the Outfit after the death of mob figure Louis Eboli in 1987.

In 1999, Centracchio was indicted on federal racketeering, gambling, bribery, extortion, and firearms-related charges. He pleaded not guilty and was awaiting trial when he died of cancer at his home in 2001. Because of his death, the case never went to trial.

Anthony Centracchio -> Wikipedia

JOHN “JACKIE” CERONE (1914-1996)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 35 – 41°51’46.6″N 87°54’23.1″W}

Mob Underboss

Jackie Cerone, also known as “Jackie the Lackey,” was a longtime leader of the Chicago Outfit and one of the most influential organized crime figures in Chicago after the Al Capone era. He began as a chauffeur and trusted associate of Outfit boss Anthony Accardo, rising through the ranks to become a key enforcer and later the Outfit’s front boss in the late 1960s.

Cerone was heavily involved in illegal gambling operations and was linked by law enforcement to numerous violent crimes, including the torture and murder of loan shark William “Action” Jackson. Throughout his criminal career, he was arrested many times on charges ranging from bookmaking and gambling to robbery and embezzlement.

In 1969, he was convicted in a major interstate gambling case and served time in federal prison. After his release, he became the Outfit’s underboss and a member of its ruling administration alongside Joseph Aiuppa and Accardo.

Cerone’s downfall came in the 1980s when federal prosecutors connected him to the infamous Las Vegas casino skimming operation. In 1986, he was convicted of conspiring to skim millions of dollars from casinos and was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. He remained incarcerated for most of the rest of his life and died shortly after his release in 1996.

Jackie Cerone -> Wikipedia

JAMES “BIG JIM” COLOSIMO (1878-1920)

Oak Woods Cemetery
1035 E. 67th Street
Chicago, IL 60637

_{Grave: Section E, Division 4, Lot 18 – 41°46’10.0″N 87°35’57.3″W}

Mob Boss

James Colosimo, also known as “Big Jim” or “Diamond Jim,” was one of Chicago’s earliest and most influential organized crime leaders. After immigrating from Italy in the 1890s, he rose from petty crime to build a vast criminal empire centered on prostitution, gambling, extortion, and political corruption. By the 1910s, he controlled hundreds of brothels and numerous vice operations, making him one of the most powerful underworld figures in Chicago.

To protect and expand his organization, Colosimo brought Johnny Torrio from New York in 1909. Torrio became his chief lieutenant and helped organize the gang that would later evolve into the Chicago Outfit. Colosimo’s criminal empire flourished through connections with corrupt politicians and city officials.

In 1920, when Prohibition began, Colosimo reportedly refused to enter the bootlegging business, believing his existing rackets were profitable enough. Soon afterward, he was assassinated in Chicago. Historians generally believe Torrio ordered the murder to remove an obstacle to the Outfit’s expansion into illegal liquor trafficking, though no one was ever convicted. After Colosimo’s death, Torrio took control, and later passed leadership to Al Capone.

Big Jim Colosimo -> Wikipedia

DOMINIC CORTINA (1925-1999)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Christ the King Mausoleum, Building W-17, Tier 2, Crypt 21282 – 41°51’09.9″N 87°54’45.0″W}

High Ranking Mobster

Dominic Cortina, known as “Big Dom,” “Large,” and “The Hat,” was a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit who specialized in illegal gambling operations. He became one of the Outfit’s most important bookmakers and gambling supervisors, overseeing large sports-betting networks that generated millions of dollars in wagers.

Cortina first gained notoriety in the late 1940s through a cigarette tax-stamp fraud scheme linked to organized crime. By the 1960s, he was recognized by federal authorities as a significant Outfit figure and was named during a U.S. Senate investigation into organized crime.

In 1970, he was convicted on federal gambling charges and sentenced to prison as part of a major FBI effort to dismantle interstate sports-betting rackets. During the 1980s, he and fellow Outfit member Donald Angelini operated one of the Outfit’s largest sports-betting enterprises, reportedly handling more than $127 million in bets between 1982 and 1988.

In 1989, Cortina was indicted on racketeering-related charges involving gambling, loan sharking, insurance fraud, robbery conspiracies, and illegal automobile-import schemes. He later pleaded guilty to gambling-related offenses and received a 21-month federal prison sentence. After several prison terms, he was released in 1995.

Unlike many Outfit figures, Cortina was not widely associated with violent crime; law-enforcement accounts often described him as a gambling administrator and organizer rather than an enforcer. He died of cancer in 1999 at age 74.

Dominic Cortina -> Wikipedia

WILLIAM DADDANO, SR. (1911-1975)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Mausoleum, Upper Floor, St Barbara, Tier 6, Crypt 1011 – 41°51’10.6″N 87°54’44.0″W}

Mobster

William Daddano Sr., also known as “Willie Potatoes,” was one of the most feared enforcers and loan sharks in the Chicago Outfit during the mid-20th century. He began his criminal career as a member of Chicago’s Forty-Two Gang alongside future Outfit leaders such as Sam Giancana and Sam Battaglia. By his mid-20s, Daddano had accumulated arrests for bank robbery, auto theft, and other crimes.

After joining the Chicago Outfit, Daddano became a powerful capo and controlled gambling, loansharking, and other rackets across Chicago’s western suburbs, including DuPage, Kane, and Will Counties. Federal investigators and informants described him as a ruthless enforcer who was suspected in multiple murders and known for using violence to protect Outfit interests.

Throughout the 1940s–1960s, he was linked to major criminal enterprises, including an attempt to steal millions of wartime ration stamps, large-scale gambling operations, and robbery schemes. He was also associated with the Outfit’s Las Vegas casino interests and reportedly helped collect skimmed casino profits for the organization.

In the 1960s, Daddano was prosecuted for several major crimes, including a silver bullion hijacking and a bank robbery conspiracy. Although acquitted in some cases, he was eventually convicted in connection with a bank robbery plot and sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. He died in prison in 1975 while serving that sentence.

William Daddano, Sr. -> Wikipedia

MARCO D’AMICO (1936-2020)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Christ the King Mausoleum, Building W10, Tier 2R, Crypt 21181 – 41°51’10.6″N 87°54’44.0″W}

Mobster & Consigliere

Marco D’Amico, nicknamed “The Mover,” was a longtime member and later a senior leader of the Chicago Outfit. Active for decades, he was heavily involved in illegal sports betting, bookmaking, loansharking, extortion, and high-stakes gambling operations. Law enforcement considered him one of the Outfit’s top gambling figures and a close associate of Outfit boss John DiFronzo.

D’Amico’s criminal record stretched back to the 1950s with gambling arrests and other brushes with the law. In 1994, federal prosecutors indicted him on racketeering-related charges that included operating illegal gambling businesses, extortion, loansharking, and conspiracy to commit robbery. Faced with recorded evidence and cooperating witnesses, he pleaded guilty in 1995, admitting his role in the Outfit. He was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison and was released in 2005.

After his release, D’Amico remained an influential elder statesman within the Outfit and was widely described as serving in an advisory or consigliere-type role until his death in 2020.

Marco D’Amico -> Wikipedia

ANTHONY D’ANDREA (1872-1921)

Mount Greenwood Cemetery
2900 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

_{Grave: Section 34, Lot 18 – 41°41’47.2″N 87°41’31.0″W}

Mob Boss

Anthony D’Andrea was one of the most influential figures in Chicago’s early Italian-American underworld. Originally trained as a lawyer and ordained as a Catholic priest, he left the priesthood, became a translator and labor leader, and later rose to prominence in organized crime.

His criminal career began with a 1902 arrest and conviction for counterfeiting, for which he served about 13 months in prison. After his release, he expanded his influence through labor unions, political organizations, and the Italian-American community on Chicago’s South Side.

By the mid-1910s, D’Andrea had become a leading Mafia figure in Chicago and was closely associated with the Sicilian faction that later included the Genna family. He served as president of the Unione Siciliana, using the position to build political and criminal influence. He also became involved in violent political battles in Chicago’s 19th Ward, a conflict known as the Aldermen’s Wars, which saw numerous murders and bombings between rival factions.

D’Andrea’s power peaked between 1919 and 1921, when he was widely regarded as the leading Mafia boss in Chicago’s Sicilian underworld. His career ended on May 11, 1921, when he was shot outside his apartment and died the following day. His death helped pave the way for later Chicago Mafia leaders, including Mike Merlo and eventually the rise of Al Capone.

Anthony D’Andrea -> Wikipedia

MARIO DESTEFANO (1915-1975)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Queen of Heaven Mausoleum, St. Vincent DePaul Room, Tier 0, Crypt 407 – 41°51’42.5″N 87°54’08.3″W}

Mobster

Mario Anthony DeStefano was a Chicago mobster and a “made” member of the Chicago Outfit who became one of the organization’s leading loan sharks. Born in 1915, DeStefano grew up in Chicago’s Little Italy and entered a life of crime early; in 1935, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison, serving about 14 years before his release in 1949.

After prison, DeStefano joined forces with his brother Sam DeStefano and helped build a powerful loansharking operation that became one of the most profitable rackets in Chicago. The DeStefano crew operated with a degree of independence while still paying a share of earnings to Outfit leadership. During the 1960s, Mario was known as an enforcer for the crew, using intimidation and violence to maintain control over their operations.

In 1973, Mario DeStefano was charged along with Sam DeStefano and Tony Spilotro in connection with the 1963 murder of loan shark Leo Foreman. Mario was convicted and sentenced to 20–40 years in prison, although the conviction was later overturned by an Illinois appellate court in 1975. While awaiting retrial, DeStefano died of a heart attack on August 12, 1975.

Mario DeStefano -> Wikipedia

SAM “MAD SAM” DESTEFANO (1909-1973)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 20, Lot 53, Block 17, Grave 3 – 41°51’29.3″N 87°54’44.5″W}

Mobster

Sam DeStefano was one of the most feared and violent figures associated with the Chicago Outfit during the 20th century. Known as “Mad Sam,” he began his criminal career with street crimes, including robbery and other offenses, and spent years in prison before becoming connected to organized crime circles in Chicago. After his release, he became a major loan shark, specializing in high-interest “juice loans” and using extreme violence and intimidation against people who failed to repay their debts.

During the 1950s and 1960s, DeStefano operated as a powerful independent earner for the Outfit, with connections to leaders such as Sam Giancana and Tony Accardo. Although he was never made a formal member of the Mafia, he was tolerated because his loansharking operations generated significant profits. He gained a reputation for unpredictable behavior, brutality, and alleged involvement in torture and murders carried out to enforce debts and eliminate enemies.

DeStefano was linked by law enforcement and investigators to several notorious killings, including the murder of loan collector Leo Foreman and other suspected mob-related killings. His violent reputation eventually made him a liability even to fellow gangsters, who viewed him as unstable and difficult to control. In 1973, while facing charges related to the Foreman murder, DeStefano was shot and killed outside his Chicago home. His death ended the career of one of the most feared and infamous enforcers in Chicago organized crime history.

Sam DeStefano -> Wikipedia

JOHN DIFRONZO (1928-2018)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Christ the King Mausoleum, Building E21, Tier 3, Crypt 20230 – 41°51’29.3″N 87°54’44.5″W}

Mob Street Boss

John DiFronzo, known by the nicknames “No Nose” and “Johnny Bananas,” was a longtime figure in the Chicago Outfit and was widely regarded by law enforcement and organized crime historians as one of its later influential leaders. DiFronzo began his criminal career as a young burglar in Chicago, becoming associated with the “Three Minute Gang,” a group known for quickly breaking into businesses. His nickname came after a 1949 burglary attempt in which he injured his nose while escaping through a window.

Over the following decades, DiFronzo moved from street crimes into more organized activities, including alleged involvement in gambling, loansharking, extortion, and other Outfit rackets. He became connected with the powerful Elmwood Park crew and rose through the ranks of the Chicago mob, eventually becoming one of the organization’s most influential figures after the decline of older Outfit leadership. In 1993, he was convicted of federal racketeering charges related to an illegal gambling scheme, although the conviction was later overturned on appeal and he was released from prison in 1994.

DiFronzo was also linked by investigators and witnesses to some of the Chicago Outfit’s most notorious events, including the 1986 murders of brothers Anthony and Michael Spilotro, though he was never charged in connection with those killings. During the 2007 “Operation Family Secrets” trial, witness Nicholas Calabrese testified about DiFronzo’s alleged involvement, but prosecutors did not bring charges against him.

Known for maintaining a low profile and avoiding many of the prosecutions that damaged the Outfit’s leadership, DiFronzo was considered one of the mob’s most successful survivors. He remained a respected figure within Chicago organized crime circles until his death in 2018 at age 89.

John DiFronzo -> Wikipedia

VINCENT DRUCCI (1898-1927)
{born Ludovico D’Ambrosio}

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 12, Block 1, Lot 6 – 41°51’57.1″N 87°54’26.6″W}

Mobster

Vincent Drucci, also known as “The Schemer,” was a prominent member of Chicago’s North Side Gang during the Prohibition era. Born Ludovico D’Ambrosio in Chicago in 1898, Drucci began his criminal career with small-time offenses before joining the North Side Gang, where he became a close associate of leader Dean O’Banion. He gained a reputation as a violent enforcer involved in bootlegging, extortion, and gang warfare.

After O’Banion was murdered in 1924 and fellow leader Hymie Weiss was killed in 1926, Drucci briefly became the head of the North Side Gang. During his leadership, the gang continued its bloody rivalry with Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit, including involvement in violent confrontations and retaliatory attacks. Drucci was known for his unpredictable behavior, intimidation tactics, and willingness to use violence to protect the gang’s bootlegging operations.

Drucci’s criminal career was short-lived. In April 1927, he was arrested by Chicago police while carrying a concealed firearm. During the arrest, an argument broke out with Detective Dan Healy, who shot and killed Drucci while he was being transported. His death ended his brief reign as leader of the North Side Gang, after which Bugs Moran took control. Drucci remains remembered as one of the more colorful and violent figures of Chicago’s Prohibition-era underworld.

Vincent Drucci -> Wikipedia

TERRENCE DRUGGAN (1903-1954)

Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery
2755 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

_{Grave: Section 48, Lot 183 – 41°41’05.2″N 87°41’36.9″W}

Gang Boss

Terry Druggan was an Irish-American mobster and one of the leaders of Chicago’s infamous Valley Gang during the Prohibition era. Known as “Machine Gun” Druggan, he began his criminal career as a member of the Valley Gang, which was originally involved in street crimes such as robbery and intimidation before evolving into a major organized crime group. By the early 1920s, Druggan and his partner Frankie Lake transformed the gang into a powerful bootlegging operation, distributing illegal alcohol and gaining control of breweries.

During Prohibition, Druggan became one of Chicago’s wealthiest bootleggers, using profits from illegal alcohol sales to build political connections and influence. In 1924, he and Lake were convicted for operating illegal breweries and received prison sentences, but their ability to receive special treatment while incarcerated highlighted the corruption surrounding their organization. Afterward, their gang formed an alliance with Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit, giving Capone a share of their profits in exchange for protection from rivals.

Druggan’s criminal career declined after Prohibition ended, as the independent power of the Valley Gang faded and became absorbed into the Chicago Outfit’s broader operations. In 1932, Druggan and Lake were convicted of tax-related offenses, marking the end of their leadership role in organized crime. Druggan eventually retired with much of his fortune intact and remained a notable figure from Chicago’s Prohibition-era underworld until his death in 1954.

Terrance Druggan -> Wikipedia

MAURICE ENRIGHT (1884-1920)

Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery
2755 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

_{Grave: 41°41’28.2″N 87°41’27.8″W}

Gang Boss & Labor Racketeer

Maurice “Mossy” Enright was an Irish-American gangster and one of Chicago’s earliest labor racketeers during the early 20th century. He first gained influence during Chicago’s violent “Circulation Wars,” where gangs were used to control newspaper distribution, and later became a powerful figure in the city’s steamfitters’ union. Enright used intimidation, violence, and political connections to control labor activities and became known as a union enforcer who could use force against rivals and nonunion workers.

During the 1910s, Enright built alliances with powerful Chicago political figures and helped strengthen the influence of future crime leaders such as Johnny Torrio, who provided him with political protection through connections in Chicago’s First Ward. His control of labor unions made him an important figure in the city’s criminal underworld before Prohibition transformed organized crime.

Enright’s career ended when he was assassinated on February 2, 1920, outside his South Side Chicago home. The killing was believed to be connected to rival labor racketeers, with suspects including Timothy “Big Tim” Murphy and, according to some accounts, associates of Torrio and Al Capone. James Vinci was ultimately convicted in connection with Enright’s murder, though the circumstances surrounding the killing remained disputed.

Maurice Enright -> Wikipedia

JOSEPH FERRIOLA (1927-1989)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 32, Block 5, Lot 101, Grave 3 – 41°51’45.9″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mob Street Boss

Joseph Ferriola was a longtime Chicago organized crime figure who rose through the ranks of the Chicago Outfit and became one of its most powerful leaders in the 1980s. Born in Chicago in 1927, Ferriola started his criminal career under veteran mobsters and eventually became a trusted lieutenant and enforcer. He was closely associated with gambling operations and was known for running the Outfit’s Cicero-based crew, which was involved in illegal gambling, loan sharking, extortion, and other rackets.

In 1970, Ferriola was convicted for his role in an interstate gambling operation and served several years in federal prison. After his release, he gained a reputation as a feared enforcer and was linked by law enforcement to violent activities carried out to protect Outfit interests. His crew, sometimes referred to as the Ferriola Street Crew, used intimidation, bribery, and violence to maintain control over gambling operations and collect illegal payments from independent operators.

By the mid-1980s, Ferriola became the street boss and acting leader of the Chicago Outfit after other senior leaders were imprisoned. During his brief time at the top, he oversaw major Outfit operations while facing increasing pressure from federal investigators. His declining health, including serious heart problems, limited his ability to continue leading, and he died in 1989 at age 61 while awaiting further legal action.

Joseph Ferriola -> Wikipedia

ARMANDO FOSCO, SR. (1922-1987)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Mausoleum, St. Blasi, Tier 0, Crypt 10667 – 41°51’29.3″N 87°54’44.5″W}

Union Official & Mobster

Armando Fosco Sr., also known as “Mondo” or “Mondie,” was a Chicago labor figure who was widely reported by law enforcement to have connections to the Chicago Outfit. Fosco’s criminal career was closely tied to his influence in labor circles, especially through his position as secretary-treasurer of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 738. The FBI considered him an Outfit member or associate and documented his relationships with prominent Chicago mob figures, including Ross Prio.

Fosco was believed to have used his labor position and connections to gain influence and participate in activities connected to organized crime, including alleged racketeering and financial schemes. He was also associated with the Taylor Street faction of the Outfit and had family ties to Chicago mob-connected figures, including political fixer Romie Nappi through his marriage.

Later in life, Fosco became the subject of allegations involving corruption and alleged misuse of union-related funds. His son, Joseph Fosco, later filed a civil RICO lawsuit accusing several Outfit figures of attempting to extort money connected to alleged financial wrongdoing involving Armando Fosco, although the case was dismissed on statute-of-limitations grounds.

Armando Fosco -> Wikipedia

ANGELO “BLOODY ANGELO” GENNA (1898-1925)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section 17, Block 1, Lot 8, near road – 41°51’53.8″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mob Enforcer

Angelo Genna, nicknamed “Bloody Angelo,” was a Sicilian-born Chicago mobster who became one of the most powerful figures in the city’s organized crime world during Prohibition. As a leader of the Genna crime family, he worked alongside his brothers to build a bootlegging empire based in Chicago’s Little Italy, illegally distributing alcohol and controlling rackets such as gambling and extortion.

Genna gained influence through alliances with other Chicago Mafia figures, including members of the future Chicago Outfit, and became involved in violent conflicts with rival gangs. His most famous feud was with the North Side Gang, led by Dean O’Banion. and later George “Bugs” Moran. The conflict escalated after disputes over illegal alcohol territories and contributed to O’Banion’s 1924 murder.

In 1925, Genna’s power began to collapse as the North Side Gang targeted the Genna organization. On May 26, 1925, he was ambushed during a high-speed car chase and fatally wounded by rival gang members. His death triggered further violence against his brothers, leading to the decline of the Genna crime family and helping clear the way for Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit to become the dominant criminal organization in Chicago.

Angelo Genna -> Wikipedia

MIKE “MIKE THE DEVIL” GENNA (1895-1925)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section 17, Block 1, Lot 8, near road – 41°51’53.8″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mob Boss

Mike Genna, also known as “Mike the Devil,” was a Sicilian-born gangster who became one of the leaders of the Genna crime family in Chicago during the Prohibition era. Along with his brothers, he built a criminal empire based in Chicago’s Little Italy through bootlegging, illegal alcohol distribution, gambling, and racketeering. The Gennas became powerful by exploiting Prohibition laws, including illegally selling alcohol that they were licensed to produce for industrial purposes.

Mike Genna was closely involved in the violent conflicts between Chicago’s Italian gangs and the North Side Gang. He and other Genna associates were connected to the 1924 murder of North Side leader Dean O’Banion, an event that helped ignite a major gang war in Chicago. As the fighting intensified, the Gennas became targets of retaliation from North Side rivals, weakening their hold on the city’s underworld.

On June 13, 1925, Mike Genna and two associates were involved in a gun battle with North Side gang members. After fleeing the scene, they exchanged gunfire with police officers; Genna was wounded and died from his injuries shortly afterward. His death, along with the murders of several of his brothers, marked the collapse of the Genna crime family, whose remaining members eventually lost their territory to rival factions and the emerging Chicago Outfit.

Mike Genna -> Wikipedia

PETER GENNA (1881-1948)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section 17, Block 1, Lot 8, near road – 41°51’53.8″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mobster

Peter Genna was a member of the Genna crime family, a Sicilian-American organized crime group that operated in Chicago during the Prohibition era. Unlike some of his more notorious brothers, such as Angelo Genna and Tony Genna, Peter kept a lower profile and was mainly associated with running a saloon and supporting the family’s criminal operations.

The Genna brothers became powerful in Chicago through bootlegging, illegal gambling, extortion, and political connections, controlling territory in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood during the early 1920s. Peter worked within this organization while his brothers handled leadership, enforcement, and business operations. The family was involved in conflicts with rival gangs, especially the North Side Gang, during the violent gang wars of the Prohibition period.

By 1925, the Genna family collapsed after several brothers were killed during their war with rivals, including Angelo, Mike, and Tony. After the downfall of the family, Peter left the center of Chicago’s underworld and survived for decades after his brothers’ deaths, dying in 1948. His criminal career was largely tied to the Genna family’s bootlegging empire rather than a personal reputation as a major gang leader.

Peter Genna ->

SAM “SALVATORE” GENNA (1884-1951)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section 17, Block 1, Lot 8, near road – 41°51’53.8″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mobster

Sam Genna was a member of the Genna crime family, a powerful Sicilian-American criminal organization that operated in Chicago during Prohibition. Unlike some of his more violent brothers, Sam was known primarily as the family’s business manager and political operator, helping maintain the organization’s influence through connections with local politicians and community figures. The Gennas controlled parts of Chicago’s Little Italy and were involved in bootlegging, illegal gambling, extortion, and racketeering.

During the early 1920s, Sam helped the Genna brothers build their criminal empire by managing finances and relationships while his brothers handled enforcement and street operations. The family became a major supplier of illegal alcohol during Prohibition and was briefly allied with Chicago Outfit figures such as Al Capone before conflicts with rival gangs, especially the North Side Gang, led to a violent decline.

By the mid-1920s, the Genna organization was weakened after several brothers were killed, including prominent leaders such as Angelo Genna and Mike Genna. Sam survived longer than some of his brothers but ultimately disappeared from the center of Chicago’s underworld as the Genna empire collapsed and much of its territory was absorbed by the growing Chicago Outfit.

Sam Genna ->

TONY “THE GENTLEMAN” GENNA (1890-1925)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section 17, Block 1, Lot 8, near road – 41°51’53.8″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mobster

Tony Genna, also known as “Tony the Gentleman,” was a Sicilian-born Chicago mobster who became one of the leaders of the Genna crime family during the Prohibition era. After arriving in the United States, he and his brothers established themselves in Chicago’s Little Italy, where they built a criminal empire based on bootlegging, illegal gambling, racketeering, and control of the local Sicilian community organization known as the Unione Siciliana.

During the early 1920s, Tony Genna worked alongside his brothers as part of the powerful Genna organization, which was allied with Chicago Outfit leaders such as Johnny Torrio. The Gennas became heavily involved in the illegal liquor trade during Prohibition, and their aggressive expansion brought them into conflict with the rival North Side Gang led by Dean O’Banion. The conflict contributed to the assassination of O’Banion in 1924, a killing that helped trigger a violent gang war in Chicago.

Tony Genna was considered one of the more business-minded members of the family and maintained a legitimate career as a building contractor while secretly overseeing criminal operations. However, the war with the North Side Gang weakened the Genna family. In 1925, several Genna brothers were killed, and Tony himself was ambushed and murdered on July 8, 1925, in Chicago by associates connected to North Side leaders Vincent Drucci and Bugs Moran. His death marked the decline of the Genna crime family, whose remaining influence was eventually absorbed into the growing Chicago Outfit.

Tony Genna’s criminal career lasted only a few years, but he played a significant role in the violent struggle for control of Chicago’s bootlegging empire during Prohibition. His rise and fall helped shape the early history of organized crime in Chicago.

Tony Genna -> Wikipedia

VINCENZO “JIM” GENNA (1888-1931)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section 17, Block 1, Lot 8, near road – 41°51’53.8″N 87°54’25.4″W}

Mob Boss

Vincenzo Genna, also known as “Jim” Genna, was a Sicilian-born organized crime figure who became the leader of the Genna crime family in Chicago during the Prohibition era. Along with his brothers, he built a powerful criminal organization based in Chicago’s Little Italy that was involved in bootlegging, racketeering, illegal gambling, and other criminal activities.

During the 1920s, Genna and his brothers became major players in Chicago’s underworld by producing and distributing illegal alcohol after Prohibition began. The family maintained alliances with other Italian crime groups, including the organization that would become the Chicago Outfit, but their aggressive expansion into rival territories brought them into conflict with the North Side Gang. The Gennas were also connected to the 1924 murder of North Side leader Dean O’Banion, which helped ignite a violent gang war in Chicago.

As the war intensified, several of Genna’s brothers were killed, weakening the family’s power. Vincenzo fled Chicago for Italy but later returned and attempted to rebuild his criminal influence. After facing continued threats from rivals, he withdrew from efforts to reclaim his former territory. He died in 1931 in Calumet City, Illinois, officially from heart disease, leaving behind a legacy as one of the key figures in Chicago’s Prohibition-era Mafia conflicts.

Vincenzo Genna -> Wikipedia

SAM GIANCANA (1908-1975)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section 38, Block 1, Lot 95 – 41°51’51.2″N 87°54’51.1″W}

Mob Boss

Sam Giancana was a major figure in American organized crime and the longtime leader of the Chicago Outfit during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He began his criminal career as a teenager in Chicago’s 42 Gang, where he gained a reputation for violence, robbery, and as a skilled getaway driver. He later became associated with Al Capone’s criminal network and rose through the ranks of the Outfit as an enforcer and racketeer.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Giancana expanded his power through illegal gambling, bootlegging, labor racketeering, and other criminal enterprises. By 1957, he had become the boss of the Chicago Outfit, replacing older leadership and overseeing one of the most powerful crime organizations in the United States. His leadership style was known for secrecy, intimidation, and violence, earning him the nickname “Momo.”

Giancana became nationally known because of his connections to politicians, celebrities, and alleged involvement in covert activities. He was reportedly linked to efforts involving the CIA and plots against Cuban leader Fidel Castro during the Cold War, though many details remain debated. He also attracted attention because of alleged connections between organized crime figures and the 1960 presidential election, although claims of direct influence remain controversial.

In the mid-1960s, pressure from law enforcement increased, and Giancana lost control of the Outfit. After refusing to testify before a federal grand jury, he served time in prison for contempt. He later lived abroad for a period before returning to the United States. In 1975, shortly before he was expected to testify before a Senate committee about his alleged connections to intelligence operations, Giancana was murdered in his basement at his home in Oak Park, Illinois. His killing remains one of the most famous unsolved events in Chicago organized crime history.

Sam Giancana -> Wikipedia

CHARLES GIOE (1904-1954)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 26, Block 1, Lot 332, Grave 3 – 41°51’49.2″N 87°54’35.5″W}

High Ranking Mobster

Charles Gioe, also known as “Cherry Nose,” was a high-ranking lieutenant in the Chicago Outfit during the 1930s and 1940s. He rose through the ranks after the decline of Al Capone and became closely associated with Outfit leaders such as Frank Nitti, specializing in extortion and labor racketeering. In 1936, Gioe was sent to Des Moines, Iowa, to expand Outfit operations before returning to Chicago.

Gioe was best known for his role in the Hollywood extortion scandal of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Along with Paul Ricca and Louis Campagna, he helped support schemes involving labor unions and movie studios, where the Outfit used its influence over projectionist unions to pressure Hollywood businesses into paying large sums of money. Gioe was convicted of extortion in 1943 and sentenced to ten years in prison, but he was paroled in 1947.

After his release, Gioe returned to the upper levels of the Chicago Outfit and was considered one of its important figures, operating behind more powerful leaders. His career ended violently in 1954 when he was shot and killed in Chicago. The murder was reportedly connected to a dispute involving labor racketeer Joseph Glimco, although no one was ever convicted for Gioe’s killing.

Charles Gioe -> Wikipedia

JOSEPH “HOP TOAD” GIUNTA (1887-1929)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 26, Block 2, Lot E19, Grave 2 – 41°51’52.1″N 87°54’39.5″W}

Mobster

Joseph Giunta was an Italian-American mobster who became a figure in Chicago organized crime during the Prohibition era. Born in Cicero, Illinois, Giunta rose through the ranks of the Chicago underworld and became associated with the Chicago Outfit. In 1929, after the murder of Pasqualino Lolordo, Giunta was named president of the Unione Siciliana, a position that gave him influence among Chicago’s Sicilian criminal factions.

Giunta later became involved in a power struggle with Al Capone. He was suspected of opposing Capone’s control of Chicago’s criminal operations and allegedly attempted to organize resistance against Capone’s gang. In May 1929, Giunta, along with fellow gangsters Albert Anselmi and John Scalise, was killed in a notorious incident often linked to Capone’s effort to eliminate rivals, though some details of the event remain disputed. Their bodies were later found in Hammond, Indiana.

Giunta’s criminal career was relatively short but significant because he represented one of the many factions that competed for control of Chicago’s lucrative bootlegging and racketeering operations during the rise of the Chicago Outfit. His death helped strengthen Capone’s dominance over organized crime in the city.

Joseph Giunta -> Wikipedia

JOSEPH GLIMCO (1909-1991)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 43, Block 5, Lot 31, Grave 4 – 41°51’16.5″N 87°54’26.8″W}

Labor Racketeer & Mobster

Joseph Glimco (1909–1991), born Giuseppe Glielmi, was a Chicago organized crime figure best known as one of the city’s most powerful labor racketeers. His criminal career began in the 1920s with arrests for offenses including theft, disorderly conduct, and violence. By the 1930s, he had become associated with the Chicago Outfit and built a reputation as a “labor slugger,” using intimidation and violence to help mob interests gain control over unions and businesses.

Glimco’s influence grew through his involvement with labor unions, particularly those connected to trucking, food distribution, and later the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He became a close associate of Chicago mob leaders such as Tony Accardo and Sam Giancana, overseeing labor rackets that included extortion, union corruption, and control of union leadership. By the 1950s, law enforcement and congressional investigators considered him one of the most influential labor racketeers in the United States.

Glimco’s greatest power came from his control of Teamsters Local 777, which represented taxi drivers in Chicago. He used his union position to maintain mob influence, collect illegal payments, and protect organized crime interests. His activities attracted national attention during investigations into corruption in labor unions, including testimony before the United States Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, where he became a prominent example of organized crime’s influence over American labor.

Although Glimco faced indictments and investigations for racketeering-related activities, he avoided major prison time and remained influential in Chicago labor circles for decades. He died in 1991, leaving behind a legacy as one of the Chicago Outfit’s most successful labor racketeers, using union power and intimidation as major sources of criminal influence and income.

Joseph Glimco -> Wikipedia

FRED GOETZ (1897-1934)

Irving Park Cemetery
7777 Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60634

_{Grave: 41°57’06.0″N 87°49’19.3″W}

Mobster and Bank Robber

Fred Goetz, also known as “Shotgun” George Ziegler, was a Chicago mobster associated with the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War I and earning an engineering degree, Goetz became involved in organized crime in the 1920s. He was linked to bootlegging, robberies, and violent enforcement work for criminal organizations.

Goetz became connected with figures working for Al Capone and was considered part of a group of outside enforcers sometimes called the “American Boys,” which included gangsters such as Fred Burke and Gus Winkler. He was also suspected of involvement in the 1929 Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, although his exact role was never proven in court.

In the early 1930s, Goetz became involved with the Barker–Karpis Gang and was implicated in kidnapping-related crimes, including the gang’s operations during the period of the FBI’s major crackdown on organized crime. His criminal career ended in 1934 when he was shot and killed outside a café in Cicero, Illinois. The motive and killers were never conclusively established, though investigators believed his death was connected to conflicts among criminal groups.

Fred Goetz -> Wikipedia

FRANK GUSENBERG (1893-1929)

Irving Park Cemetery
7777 Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60634

_{Grave: Bethayers Section, Block 33 – 41°56’57.9″N 87°49’21.5″W}

Mob Hitman

Frank Gusenberg was a Chicago gangster and contract killer who became one of the most feared enforcers of the Prohibition era. He began his criminal career as a young man on Chicago’s North Side, committing petty crimes, burglaries, and robberies alongside his brother Peter Gusenberg and future gang figures such as Bugs Moran. He later joined the North Side Gang under Dean O’Banion, where he became known as a skilled gunman and enforcer.

During the violent Chicago gang wars of the 1920s, Gusenberg became involved in the North Side Gang’s conflicts with the rival organization led by Al Capone. He was suspected of taking part in several violent attacks and retaliatory killings, including the gang war that followed O’Banion’s murder in 1924. Gusenberg gained a reputation as a ruthless hitman and was closely associated with the North Side Gang’s efforts to challenge Capone’s growing power.

Gusenberg’s criminal career ended on February 14, 1929, when he was among the victims of the infamous Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. Members of a rival faction attacked a North Side Gang meeting place, killing Gusenberg and several others in what became one of the most notorious events in American organized crime history. Although he survived the initial shooting briefly, Gusenberg refused to cooperate with police and died from his wounds later that day.

Frank Gusenberg -> Wikipedia

PETER GUSENBERG (1888-1929)

Irving Park Cemetery
7777 Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60634

_{Grave: Bethayers Section, Block 33 – 41°56’57.9″N 87°49’21.5″W}

Mob Hitman

Peter “Goosey” Gusenberg was a German-American gangster and one of the most feared enforcers of Chicago’s North Side Gang during the Prohibition era. Born in Chicago in 1888, he began his criminal career with petty crimes before moving into burglary, robbery, and eventually contract killings. Along with his brother Frank Gusenberg, Peter became closely associated with North Side Gang leaders such as Dean O’Banion, Hymie Weiss, and later George “Bugs” Moran.

Gusenberg gained a reputation as a skilled gunman and participated in the violent gang war between the North Side Gang and the organization led by Al Capone. After serving prison time for a mail robbery conviction, he returned to gang activity and took part in retaliatory attacks against Capone’s allies, including the famous 1926 attack on the Hawthorne Hotel in Cicero, where North Side gunmen fired on Capone’s headquarters.

In the late 1920s, Gusenberg became one of Moran’s top hitmen and was involved in several violent conflicts with the Chicago Outfit. His criminal career ended on February 14, 1929, when he was among seven North Side Gang members killed in the infamous Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. The attack, widely believed to have been organized by Capone’s faction, effectively destroyed much of the North Side Gang’s leadership.

Peter Gusenberg -> Wikipedia

JAKE GUSIK (1886-1956)

Oak Woods Cemetery
1035 E. 67th Street
Chicago, IL 60637

_{Grave: Jewish Cemetery, Deliverance Section, D5 – 41°46’14.0″N 87°35’58.4″W}

Mob Money Man

Jake Guzik, also known as “Greasy Thumb,” was a major financial figure and political fixer for the Chicago Outfit during the early and mid-20th century. Born in 1886, Guzik began his criminal career in Chicago’s South Side vice districts, where he was involved in prostitution operations and later expanded into gambling and other rackets.

Guzik became closely associated with Al Capone in the 1920s and became one of Capone’s most trusted advisers. Unlike many gangsters of the era, Guzik was not known as a gunman; instead, he specialized in managing money, arranging bribes, and maintaining relationships with politicians and law enforcement officials. His role as the Outfit’s chief financial manager and “bagman” earned him the nickname “Greasy Thumb.”

After Capone’s imprisonment, Guzik remained an influential figure within the Chicago Outfit, working with later leaders such as Paul Ricca and Tony Accardo. He helped maintain the organization’s political connections and financial operations for decades. Guzik faced legal troubles, including tax-related issues, but avoided the violent reputation of many other organized crime figures. He died in Chicago in 1956, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most powerful behind-the-scenes figures in the history of the Chicago Outfit.

Jake Gusik -> Wikipedia

MIKE HEITLER (1876-1931)

Jewish Waldheim Cemetery
1400 Des Plaines Avenue
Forest Park, IL 60130

_{Grave: 41°51’26.2″N 87°48’25.0″W}

Gangster

Mike Heitler, also known as “Mike de Pike,” was a Chicago gangster active during the early 20th century and Prohibition era. He built his criminal career through control of prostitution operations, beginning with brothels on Chicago’s West Madison Street in the early 1900s. By 1911, Heitler had become a major figure in Chicago’s underworld and served as a top lieutenant for racketeer Jacob ‘Mont’ Tennes. He was involved in vice operations and helped push rivals out of parts of Chicago’s prostitution business.

Heitler was briefly arrested for violating federal prostitution laws but continued operating independently from early Chicago crime leaders such as James ‘Big Jim’ Colosimo and Johnny Torrio. After the rise of the Chicago Outfit, he reluctantly joined Al Capone’s organization. However, conflicts over control of prostitution activities, especially with Jake Guzik, led Heitler to become an informant who provided information about criminal activities to Chicago authorities.

Heitler later attempted to expose members of Capone’s organization, including allegations involving illegal operations and the murder of Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Lingle. His actions made him a target within the Outfit, and he was eventually removed from Capone’s organization. He was last seen with Capone associate Lawrence “Dago” Mangano before being found dead in 1931 after a fire at an ice house near Baker Lake, Illinois. His death was widely believed to be connected to his conflicts with organized crime figures.

Mike Heitler -> Wikipedia

WILLIAM JACKSON (1920-1961)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 27 – 41°51’50.6″N 87°54’46.0″W}

Mobster

William Jackson, also known as “Action Jackson,” was a Chicago mob enforcer and loan collector associated with the Chicago Outfit during the 1950s and early 1960s. He earned his nickname from his role as a “juice man,” a slang term for a debt collector who used intimidation and violence to collect unpaid gambling and loan-shark debts. Jackson worked closely with mob figures such as Sam DeStefano and became known as a feared street-level enforcer.

Before rising in the Outfit, Jackson had a criminal record that included arrests for assault, robbery, and other offenses. In 1949, he was convicted of robbery and served prison time before returning to Chicago’s underworld, where he became valued for his physical strength and willingness to use violence on behalf of organized crime figures.

Jackson’s criminal career ended in 1961 when he was accused by fellow mobsters of cooperating with law enforcement, although the exact reason for his murder remains disputed. He was kidnapped and brutally tortured by members of the Outfit before dying from his injuries. His death became one of the most infamous examples of internal violence within the Chicago mob and cemented his reputation as one of the organization’s most notorious enforcers.

William Jackson -> Wikipedia

JOHN “MUSHMOUTH” JOHNSON (1856-1907)

Oak Woods Cemetery
1035 E. 67th Street
Chicago, IL 60637

Grave: 41°46’09.5″N 87°36’16.6″W

Policy Czar

John “Mushmouth” Johnson was one of the earliest and most influential gambling figures in Chicago’s history, becoming known as the “Black Gambling King of Chicago.” Born in St. Louis in 1856, Johnson moved to Chicago and entered the gambling world in the 1880s by working in a gambling house, where he learned the business before opening his own operations.

Johnson built his criminal career around illegal gambling, especially the policy racket, a lottery-style numbers game that became extremely popular in Chicago. In 1890, he opened the Emporium, a saloon and gambling establishment on South State Street, which became the center of his operations for nearly two decades. His businesses included dice games, card games, roulette, and policy gambling, making him one of the city’s most successful vice operators.

To protect his gambling empire, Johnson developed connections with Chicago’s corrupt political machine, including powerful First Ward figures who could provide protection from police interference. He also expanded his influence by investing his gambling profits into legitimate businesses and supporting parts of Chicago’s Black community, though his fortune was built primarily through illegal gambling activities.

By the time of his death in 1907, Johnson had established himself as Chicago’s first major African American crime boss and a pioneer of organized gambling in the city. His career helped shape the later development of Chicago’s policy rackets, which continued for decades after his death.

John “Mushmouth” Johnson -> Encyclopedia of Chicago

ALBERT KACHELLEK (1887-1929)

Irving Park Cemetery
7777 Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60634

_{Grave: Bethayers Section – 41°56’53.3″N 87°49’24.4″W}

Mob Under Boss

Albert Kachellek, also known as Jim Clark, was a Chicago gangster associated with the North Side Gang during the Prohibition era. He began his criminal career as a teenager, committing robberies and burglaries in Chicago and serving prison time, including a sentence at the Joliet Correctional Center. After his release, he became involved in organized crime and eventually joined the gang led by George Moran, working as an enforcer and hitman.

Kachellek became known for his role in violent gang conflicts during the late 1920s. In January 1929, he participated with Peter Gusenberg and others in the murder of Patsy Lolordo, an associate of Al Capone, helping intensify the feud between the North Side Gang and the Chicago Outfit. A few weeks later, Kachellek was one of the victims of the infamous Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, when Capone’s men attacked Moran’s gang in a Chicago garage and killed seven men. Kachellek’s death effectively ended the criminal career of one of the lesser-known but active figures in Chicago’s violent Prohibition-era underworld.

Albert Kachellek ->

ANGELO LAPIETRA (1920-1999)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 26, Block 5, Lot 59 – 41°51’34.5″N 87°54’43.4″W}

Mobster

Angelo LaPietra was a longtime member and caporegime of the Chicago Outfit who became one of the most feared figures in the organization during the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Cicero, Illinois, LaPietra developed a criminal record beginning in the late 1930s and became involved in activities such as burglary, theft, gambling, and enforcement work for the Outfit. Over time, he rose through the ranks and became a trusted lieutenant under powerful Outfit leaders, eventually taking control of the 26th Street/Chinatown crew.

As a crew boss, LaPietra was heavily involved in loansharking, illegal gambling, and other rackets on Chicago’s South Side. He was known as “The Hook,” a nickname often linked to his reputation as a ruthless enforcer, although accounts differ on the exact origin of the name. His crew operated through intimidation and violence, and he was considered one of the Outfit’s most feared street-level leaders.

In the 1980s, LaPietra became a target of federal investigations into organized crime. He was charged along with other high-ranking mob figures in connection with the skimming of profits from Las Vegas casinos controlled by organized crime. In 1986, he pleaded guilty to charges related to concealing ownership interests in a syndicate-controlled casino operation and was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison. He was released in 1997 and remained a recognized figure in Chicago’s Italian-American community until his death in 1999.

Angelo LaPietra -> Wikipedia

ALFRED “JAKE” LINGLE (1891-1930)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section B, Block 5, Lot N9, Grave 11891- – 41°52’07.5″N 87°54’24.3″W}

Journalist

Jake Lingle was a Chicago newspaper reporter whose criminal career centered on corruption, gambling connections, and alleged ties to organized crime during the Prohibition era. Although he worked for the Chicago Tribune as a police reporter, Lingle used his close relationships with law enforcement officials, politicians, and gangsters to gain influence in Chicago’s underworld. He was closely associated with powerful figures such as Al Capone and was suspected of acting as a middleman who helped protect illegal gambling operations, speakeasies, and other criminal enterprises.

Lingle lived far beyond the means of a typical reporter, maintaining expensive homes, gambling heavily on horse races, and accumulating large amounts of unexplained wealth. Investigations after his death revealed financial dealings with gamblers, politicians, and organized crime figures, leading many to believe that he profited from his connections to Chicago’s criminal networks. On the afternoon of June 9, 1930, Lingle was murdered in the underpass leading to the Illinois Central Randolph Street station in what was believed to be a gang-related hit. A gangster named Leo Vincent Brothers was later convicted of the killing, though questions remained about who ordered the assassination.

Jake Lingle -> Wikipedia

ANTONIO LOMBARDO (1891-1928)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section M – 41°52’08.0″N 87°54’29.5″W}

President Unione Siciliana

Antonio Lombardo was an Italian-American organized crime figure who became a key adviser and political figure within Chicago’s underworld during the Prohibition era. Born in Sicily in 1891, he immigrated to the United States and became involved in Chicago’s criminal circles while also operating a legitimate wholesale grocery business. Lombardo was closely associated with Al Capone and served as Capone’s consigliere, acting as a strategist and mediator for the organization.

During the 1920s, Lombardo also became involved with the Unione Siciliana, a powerful group that had influence among Sicilian immigrants and was often connected to organized crime. He attempted to negotiate peace between Capone’s faction and the North Side Gang during the violent Chicago gang wars, but tensions continued. Lombardo was eventually assassinated in September 1928 in what was believed to be part of the ongoing struggle for control of Chicago’s criminal operations. His death helped escalate the violence that later contributed to events such as the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Antonio Lombardo -> Wikipedia

CLAUDE MADDOX (1901-1958)
{born John Edward Moore}

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: QH Chapel, Calvary, Tier 3, Crypt 96 – 41°51’44.7″N 87°54’10.0″W}

Mobster

Claude Maddox, also known as “Screwy” Maddox, was a prominent Chicago underworld figure during the Prohibition era and a close associate of Al Capone. Born John Edward Moore, Maddox began his criminal career in St. Louis as a member of the Egan’s Rats gang before moving into Chicago’s organized crime world. After his gang was absorbed into Capone’s organization, Maddox became the leader of the Circus Cafe Gang, the only major North Side gang allied with Capone’s Chicago Outfit.

During Prohibition, Maddox was involved in bootlegging, gambling, and enforcement activities for the Outfit. His gang included future Chicago crime figures such as Tony Accardo and Jack McGurn. Maddox was also suspected of having a role in the planning stages of the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, although he was never convicted for involvement. Police later discovered weapons and ammunition connected to his operations, but charges related to the massacre did not result in a conviction.

After Prohibition ended, the Circus Cafe Gang declined in power, but Maddox remained a respected figure within the Chicago Outfit’s hierarchy. He continued to hold influence in organized crime circles until his death from a heart attack in 1958. His long career made him one of the important transitional figures between the violent bootlegging era of Capone and the more structured syndicate that followed.

Claude Maddox -> Wikipedia

LAWRENCE MANGANO (1892-1944)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

Grave:

Mobster

Lawrence Mangano, also known as “Dago Lawrence,” was a prominent Chicago organized crime figure who operated as a member and caporegime of Chicago Outfit during the 1920s through the 1940s. He began his criminal career with activities such as pimping, burglary, and gambling before rising through Chicago’s underworld. During Al Capone’s reign, Mangano became a trusted lieutenant and controlled criminal operations on Chicago’s Near West Side, including illegal gambling, extortion, prostitution, and fencing operations.

Mangano was known for using bribery and political connections to protect his operations and was reportedly arrested numerous times without serving significant prison time. After Prohibition ended, he maintained a lower public profile but remained involved in organized crime, particularly gambling activities. In the early 1940s, authorities identified him as a major figure in Chicago’s gambling network.

In August 1944, Mangano was assassinated in a drive-by shooting on Chicago’s South Side while traveling with his associate and bodyguard Michael Pontillo. The killing was never officially solved, but investigators speculated it may have been connected to internal disputes within the Outfit, including conflicts over gambling profits or other criminal enterprises. His death marked the end of the career of one of the older-generation Capone-era figures who helped shape Chicago organized crime.

Lawrence Mangano -> Wikipedia

PAT MARCY (1913-1993)
{born Pasqualino Marciano}

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

Grave: 41°51’58.6″N 87°54’25.0″W

Mob Political Fixer

Pat Marcy, born Pasqualino Marciano, was a powerful figure in Chicago organized crime who combined political influence with his role as an alleged member of the Chicago Outfit. He began his criminal career as a gunman associated with the era of Al Capone and later became one of the Outfit’s key political operators.

Marcy’s greatest power came from his control of Chicago’s old First Ward, where he used political connections to influence city officials, law enforcement, and the courts. Known as the “Secretary of the First Ward,” he allegedly helped the Outfit fix legal cases, arrange favors, and protect associates through a network of politicians, lawyers, and judges. His influence reportedly extended through alliances with figures such as alderman Fred Roti and committeeman John D’Arco Sr., making him one of the most important links between organized crime and Chicago politics during the mid-20th century.

During the 1980s, federal investigations targeted Marcy and the First Ward political machine. Former associate and attorney Robert Cooley cooperated with prosecutors and provided evidence about alleged corruption, including the fixing of court cases for Outfit members. Marcy was eventually indicted on charges including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, and extortion, but he died in 1993 before the trial was completed.

Pat Marcy -> Wikipedia

LOUIS MARINO (1933-2017)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 26, Block 41, Lot 16 – 41°51’28.6″N 87°54’43.7″W}

Mob Boss

Louis Marino, also known as “Louie Tomatoes,” was a longtime member of the Chicago Outfit who became a prominent figure in the organization’s suburban operations. Born in Chicago in 1933, Marino rose through the Outfit’s Cicero faction and became closely associated with mob figures such as Ernest Infelise and Salvatore DeLaurentis. During the 1970s and 1980s, he gained a reputation as an enforcer and was involved in overseeing illegal gambling, loan sharking, and other rackets in the northern Chicago suburbs, particularly Lake and McHenry counties.

Marino was considered a trusted lieutenant within the Outfit and was linked by law enforcement to violent acts carried out by the organization, although he was not convicted of murder. He was implicated during investigations into the 1985 killing of bookmaker Hal Smith and was later connected by testimony during the 2007 “Family Secrets” trial to the events surrounding the murders of Anthony Spilotro and Michael Spilotro, though he was never charged in the Spilotro killings.

In 1990, Marino was indicted in a major federal racketeering case targeting Chicago Outfit members. He was convicted in 1992 of racketeering, illegal gambling, and tax-related offenses and was sentenced in 1993 to 28 years in federal prison. After his release in 2014, he was reported to have maintained influence within the Outfit’s suburban operations before his death in 2017 at age 83.

Louis Marino ->

JOHN MAY (1894-1929)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 22, Block 7, Lot S13, Grave 6 – 41°51’52.1″N 87°54’29.1″W}

Mobster

John May was a Chicago criminal associate connected to the North Side Gang during the Prohibition era. Unlike many gang members of the period, May was not a major underworld leader but worked as a mechanic and occasional associate for gang figures, including George “Bugs” Moran. He was reportedly present at the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre on February 14, 1929, when gunmen linked to Al Capone’s organization entered a North Side Gang garage and murdered seven men. May was among those killed, although historians note that he was likely not a primary target and was caught up in the attack because of his association with Moran’s group. His criminal career was relatively minor compared with the major gangsters of the era, but his death became part of one of the most infamous events in American organized crime history.

John May ->

MICHAEL CASSIUS McDONALD (1839-1907)

Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery
2755 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

_{Grave: Section 2, Directly inside front gates turn right – 41°41’28.1″N 87°41’37.3″W}

Mob Boss

Michael Cassius McDonald was one of Chicago’s earliest and most influential crime figures, often considered the city’s first organized crime boss. He built his power during the 19th century through gambling operations, corruption, and political influence. After settling in Chicago following the Civil War, McDonald became involved in illegal gambling and eventually controlled a network of gambling houses, saloons, and other vice businesses. He developed a protection system in which gambling operators and brothel owners paid him for political and police protection, creating an early model of organized crime in the city.

McDonald expanded his influence beyond street crime by building relationships with politicians, police officials, and judges. He used bribery, political connections, and election manipulation to protect his criminal enterprises and became a powerful figure in Chicago’s Democratic political machine. His control over gambling and politics earned him the nickname “King Mike,” and at the height of his power he was able to influence officials throughout Illinois.

Although McDonald was involved in criminal activities such as gambling, extortion, and corruption, he also invested in legitimate businesses and helped finance projects in Chicago, including involvement with the Lake Street Elevated Railroad. By the mid-1890s, he stepped away from much of his gambling empire, and his influence declined as other crime leaders took control of various operations. He died in Chicago in 1907, leaving behind a legacy as the man who helped establish the connection between organized crime, gambling, and political corruption that later figures in Chicago’s underworld would follow.

Michael Cassius McDonald -> Wikipedia

FRANK MCERLANE (1894-1932)

Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
6001 W 111th Street
Alsip, IL 60803

_{Grave: Section 2, Block 9, Lot N-10, Grave 5 – 41°41’19.7″N 87°46’16.0″W}

Gang Boss

Frank McErlane was a notorious Chicago gangster during the Prohibition era, best known as the violent leader of the Saltis-McErlane Gang alongside Joseph “Polack Joe” Saltis. Born in Chicago in 1894, McErlane began his criminal career with theft and robbery before becoming involved in organized crime. After Prohibition began in 1920, he built a powerful bootlegging operation on the South Side of Chicago, supplying illegal alcohol and becoming involved in violent turf wars with rival gangs.

McErlane gained a reputation as one of the most feared gunmen in Chicago’s underworld. During the Chicago Beer Wars of the 1920s, he carried out attacks against rival bootleggers, particularly the South Side O’Donnell gang, and was accused of numerous murders. He was also credited with helping introduce the Thompson submachine gun into Chicago gang warfare, further cementing his image as a ruthless enforcer.

Although he worked at times with the organization led by Al Capone and Johnny Torrio, McErlane remained an independent and unpredictable figure. His heavy drinking and violent behavior made him feared even among fellow criminals. By the early 1930s, his influence had declined, and he died in 1932 after a severe bout of pneumonia. McErlane is remembered as one of the most brutal and volatile figures of Chicago’s Prohibition-era gang wars.

Frank McErlane – Wikipedia

JACK MCGURN (1902-1936)
{born Vincenzo Antonio Gibaldi}

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section O, Block 31, Lot 86 – 41°52’10.4″N 87°54’11.6″W}

Mob Hitman

Jack McGurn, also known as “Machine Gun” Jack McGurn, was a prominent enforcer and hitman for Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era. Born Vincenzo Gibaldi, he entered the criminal underworld in Chicago and gained a reputation for violence after avenging his stepfather’s murder by killing three men connected to the Genna crime family in 1926. His actions brought him to the attention of Al Capone, who recruited him into his organization.

McGurn became one of Capone’s most feared gunmen and was heavily involved in the violent gang conflicts of the 1920s, including the Chicago beer wars. He was suspected of participating in several high-profile killings, most notably the 1926 assassination of Earl , a major rival of Capone. McGurn was also linked by investigators to other shootings and was considered one of Capone’s top enforcers because of his skill with the Thompson submachine gun, which earned him his nickname.

In 1929, McGurn was widely believed to have played a role in planning the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, in which members of the North Side Gang were murdered, although his exact involvement remains debated. After Capone’s imprisonment in the early 1930s, McGurn lost much of his influence within the Outfit and struggled financially while attempting to distance himself from organized crime.

McGurn’s criminal career ended violently when he was murdered in 1936 at a Chicago bowling alley by unknown gunmen. His killing is often attributed either to rivals seeking revenge or to members of the Outfit who viewed him as a liability. He remains remembered as one of the most notorious gunmen of the Prohibition era and a key figure in the rise of Capone’s Chicago crime empire.

Jack McGurn -> Wikipedia

MICHELE “MIKE” MERLO (1880-1924)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: Section D – 41°52’06.3″N 87°54’26.7″W}

Political Fixer

Michele Merlo, also known as Mike Merlo, was a prominent figure in Chicago’s Italian underworld during the early years of Prohibition. Born in Sicily in 1880, he rose through the ranks of the Unione Siciliana, eventually becoming its leader. Although he presented himself as a political and community leader, Merlo was closely connected to organized crime and became an important intermediary between rival gangs, including the groups led by Johnny Torrio and Al Capone.

Merlo’s criminal influence came less from direct violence and more from his ability to use political connections, labor influence, and his position within the Unione Siciliana to maintain order among Chicago’s bootlegging factions. During Prohibition, he helped mediate disputes between rival groups such as the South Side gang, the Genna brothers, and the North Side Gang, helping prevent open warfare for a time. He was also associated with illegal activities connected to bootlegging operations and the broader criminal network developing into what would become the Chicago Outfit.

Merlo died of cancer in 1924, and his death removed a key figure who had helped keep Chicago’s criminal factions in balance. Shortly afterward, tensions between gangs erupted into the violent conflicts of the 1920s, including the war between the North Side Gang and the forces that would eventually fall under Capone’s control. While Merlo was not known as a violent gang leader like later mob figures, his political influence and role as a crime-world negotiator made him one of the most important figures in early Chicago organized crime.

Michele Merlo -> Wikipedia

SAMUEL MORTON (1893-1923)

Jewish Waldheim Cemetery
1400 Des Plaines Avenue
Forest Park, IL 60130

Grave: 41°51’22.3″N 87°48’43.4″W

Gangster

Samuel “Nails” Morton was a Chicago gangster and a high-ranking member of North Side Gang under Dean O’Banion during the early years of Prohibition. Born in 1893, Morton first gained a reputation on Chicago’s West Side, where he was associated with a Jewish street gang and was suspected by police of involvement in violent crimes, including possible murders. His nickname came from his use of a nail-studded bat, which helped build his fearsome reputation.

After serving with distinction in World War I, Morton returned to Chicago and resumed criminal activities. He became involved in gambling operations and joined O’Banion’s North Side organization, where he worked as a trusted lieutenant. During Prohibition, he participated in the gang’s rackets, including illegal gambling and other organized criminal enterprises, while the North Side Gang competed with rivals such as the Chicago Outfit for control of bootlegging territory.

Morton’s criminal career was cut short in 1923 when he died in a horseback-riding accident in Lincoln Park. His fellow North Side gang members, including George Moran and Hymie Weiss, reportedly retaliated by taking the horse involved in the accident and killing it. Despite his short life, Morton became remembered as one of the early figures of Chicago’s Prohibition-era underworld.

Samuel Morton -> Wikipedia

TIMOTHY MURPHY (1885-1928)

Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
6001 W 111th Street
Alsip, IL 60803

_{Grave: Section 6, Block 11, Lot 2 – 41°41’19.0″N 87°46’23.7″W}

Labor Racketeer

Timothy D. Murphy, also known as “Big Tim,” was an Irish-American labor racketeer and organized crime figure who became one of Chicago’s most powerful gang leaders during the early 20th century. He rose to prominence through gambling and bookmaking before building a criminal organization that controlled parts of several labor unions, especially in the railroad, laundry, and dye industries. Murphy used intimidation, bribery, and violence to maintain influence over unions and businesses, making him one of the earliest major figures in Chicago’s labor racketeering scene.

Murphy was involved in numerous criminal activities, including extortion, gang warfare, and armed robbery. In 1920, he was suspected of involvement in the murder of rival gangster Maurice Enright, although he was never convicted. He was later convicted for his role in the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from a mail train robbery in Chicago and was sentenced to federal prison. Murphy also faced accusations connected to labor violence and the murder of a police officer, though those charges were ultimately dropped.

After his release from prison, Murphy attempted to rebuild his influence, but his power had declined as newer criminal organizations, including the emerging Chicago Outfit, gained control of the city’s underworld. On June 26, 1928, Murphy was shot and killed at the front door of his Chicago home in an unsolved gangland assassination, ending the career of one of the city’s most feared early racketeers.

Timothy Murphy -> Wikipedia

LESTER ‘BABY FACE’ NELSON (1908-1934)
{born Lester Joseph Gillis}

Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
N. Belmont Avenue & N. Cumberland Avenue
River Grove, IL 60171

_{Grave: Section C, Block 8, Lot 18 – 41°56’09.6″N 87°50’32.7″W}

Gangster

Lester Gillis, better known as “Baby Face” Nelson, was a violent Chicago-born gangster and bank robber who became one of the most notorious criminals of the 1930s. He began his criminal career as a teenager, committing auto theft, tire theft, bootlegging, and armed robbery before moving into organized crime. By the late 1920s, he became associated with Chicago underworld figures and worked with bootleggers connected to the era of Prohibition.

Nelson later shifted from small-time crimes to major robberies, gaining a reputation for extreme violence and recklessness. He became involved with criminals such as John Dillinger and participated in a series of bank robberies across the Midwest. Unlike some gangsters who avoided unnecessary violence, Nelson was known for his quick temper and willingness to shoot at law enforcement, which made him feared even among other criminals.

During 1934, Nelson became a major target of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was eventually labeled Public Enemy Number One. He was blamed for killing several law enforcement officers, including three FBI agents, during shootouts while attempting to evade capture. His criminal career ended on November 27, 1934, when he was mortally wounded during a gun battle with FBI agents near Barrington, Illinois, dying at the age of 25.

Lester Nelson -> Wikipedia

CHARLES NICOLETTI (1916-1977)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 33, Block 11, Lot 75, Grave 2 – 41°51’45.8″N 87°54’33.3″W}

Mobster

Charles Nicoletti, also known as “Chuckie the Typewriter,” was a longtime enforcer and hitman for the Chicago Outfit. Born in Chicago in 1916, Nicoletti entered the criminal world at a young age and became associated with the Forty-Two Gang, a street gang that produced several future Outfit figures, including Sam Giancana. He later became one of Giancana’s trusted gunmen and gained a reputation as a skilled and ruthless assassin.

During his career, Nicoletti was suspected of involvement in numerous Outfit killings and served as a professional executioner for mob leaders. He worked closely with fellow Outfit enforcer Felix Alderisio and was involved in planning and carrying out violent assignments for the organization. Beyond enforcement, Nicoletti was connected to gambling operations and other criminal activities in Chicago’s West Side and Cicero areas.

Nicoletti’s name also became linked to various theories surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy, largely because of his connections to Chicago mob figures and alleged involvement in anti-Fidel Castro plots. These claims remain disputed and have never been proven. In 1977, after decades as a feared Outfit figure, Nicoletti was shot and killed while sitting in his car outside a restaurant in Northlake, Illinois. His murder was never officially solved, but it was widely believed to be a mob-related killing.

Charles Nicoletti -> Wikipedia

FRANK NITTI (1886-1943)
{born Frank Nitto}

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 32, Block 15, Lot 7-8 – 41°51’47.0″N 87°54’26.8″W}

Mob Boss

Frank Nitti, born Francesco Raffaele Nitto, was an Italian-American gangster who became one of the most influential figures in Chicago organized crime. He began his criminal career in Chicago as a fence for stolen goods and later joined Al Capone’s criminal organization, where he became a trusted lieutenant and was known as “The Enforcer.” During Prohibition, Nitti helped manage the illegal liquor trade and other rackets, becoming one of Capone’s closest associates.

After Capone was imprisoned for tax evasion in 1931, Nitti took over leadership of what became known as the Chicago Outfit. Under his leadership, the organization expanded beyond gambling and prostitution into labor racketeering, extortion, and other criminal enterprises. Nitti survived an attempted assassination in 1932 and continued to oversee the Outfit while facing pressure from law enforcement.

In 1943, Nitti was indicted along with other Outfit leaders for allegedly extorting money from Hollywood studios through control of labor unions. Facing the possibility of another prison sentence, Nitti died by suicide on March 19, 1943, near Chicago. His death marked the end of his era as the public face of the Outfit, which later came under the influence of figures such as Paul Ricca and Tony Accardo.

Frank Nitti -> Wikipedia

DEAN “DION” O’BANION (1892-1924)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section L, Block 1, Lot S7 – 41°51’44.5″N 87°54’09.4″W}

Mob Boss

Dean O’Banion was a prominent Chicago gangster during the Prohibition era and the founder of the North Side Gang. Born in 1892, O’Banion became involved in organized crime through gambling, bootlegging, and other illegal activities in Chicago. During the 1920s, he built a powerful criminal organization that controlled much of the city’s North Side and competed with the South Side gang led by figures such as Al Capone.

O’Banion became wealthy through the illegal liquor trade, using connections with breweries, speakeasies, and other criminal networks. His rivalry with Capone’s organization intensified over control of territory and profits, leading to years of violence between the two factions. In 1924, O’Banion was murdered inside his flower shop by members of the rival Chicago Outfit, an event that helped trigger a series of gang conflicts known as the Chicago Beer Wars. His death marked the decline of the North Side Gang and the rise of Capone’s dominance over Chicago’s organized crime world.

Dean O’Banion -> Wikipedia

JAMES O’DONNELL (1889-1962)

Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
87th Street & Hamlin Avenue
Evergreen Park, IL 60805

_{Grave: 41°43’47.8″N 87°43’03.6″W}

Mob Boss

James Edward “Spike” O’Donnell was a prominent Chicago Irish-American gangster who rose to power during the early 20th century and became the leader of the South Side O’Donnell Gang. Before Prohibition, O’Donnell and his brothers were involved in various criminal activities, including armed robbery, extortion, and other violent offenses. He was first arrested in 1906 and later gained notoriety after being convicted for the 1917 robbery of the Stockyards Trust & Savings Bank, which resulted in a prison sentence.

After receiving a pardon in 1923, O’Donnell returned to Chicago and built one of the city’s most powerful bootlegging organizations during Prohibition. His gang controlled territory on the South Side and became involved in violent conflicts with rival groups, including the Saltis-McErlane Gang and groups connected to Al Capone. O’Donnell refused to join Capone’s growing criminal empire and instead fought to maintain his independence, leading to a series of gang wars over control of illegal alcohol distribution and gambling operations.

O’Donnell became especially famous for surviving numerous assassination attempts, including a 1925 attack by Frank McErlane, who used a Thompson submachine gun in what is often described as one of the earliest recorded gangland uses of the weapon in Chicago. After years of violence, the decline of his organization, and the deaths of several associates and family members, O’Donnell gradually withdrew from organized crime. He later became involved in legitimate business and maintained political connections before dying of natural causes in 1962.

James O’Donnell -> Al Capone Museum

JAMES PATRICK O’LEARY (1869-1925)

Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery
2755 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

_{Grave: Section 10, Lot 94/110, Grave 16W – 41°41’27.3″N 87°41’38.4″W}

Gambling Boss

James Patrick “Big Jim” O’Leary was a major Chicago gambling figure during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His parents were Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, in whose barn the Great Chicago Fire is alleged to have started. He began his criminal career as a teenager working with bookmakers before eventually running his own illegal betting operation. After an unsuccessful start as a bookmaker in Long Beach, Indiana, O’Leary opened a saloon on South Halsted Street in Chicago that became a center for gambling, sports betting, and underworld activity. His establishment grew into one of the city’s most powerful gambling houses, with O’Leary taking wagers on horse races, elections, and even unusual events such as weather changes.

As his influence expanded, O’Leary became one of Chicago’s leading gambling bosses, controlling betting operations around the Union Stock Yards and building a reputation for resisting police interference. He operated illegal gambling ventures outside his saloon, including a gambling ship on Lake Michigan and the Stockade resort in DuPage County, though several of these ventures were eventually shut down. After the death of gambling leader Michael Cassius McDonald, O’Leary became one of the dominant figures in Chicago’s gambling world.

Although frequently associated with corruption and organized crime, O’Leary was rarely successfully prosecuted; despite numerous raids, he was convicted of gambling only once during his career. He was also suspected of having connections to later Chicago underworld figures, including involvement in the liquor supply network around Colosimo’s Cafe and suspicion surrounding the 1920 murder of its owner James Colosimo, though he was never charged. By the time of his death in 1925, O’Leary had become one of Chicago’s wealthiest and most influential gambling operators, leaving behind a legacy as one of the city’s early crime bosses.

James O’Leary -> Wikipedia

WILLIAM PETROCELLI (1937-1981)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 20, Block 7, Lot 86 – 41°51’27.0″N 87°54’29.0″W}

Mobster

William “Butch” Petrocelli was a Chicago mob figure associated with the Chicago Outfit during the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. He became known as a gambling operator, enforcer, and suspected hitman who was part of a violent crew sometimes referred to as the “Wild Bunch,” which carried out contract killings and other criminal activities for the Outfit.

Petrocelli was closely linked to mob figures such as Harry Aleman and was suspected by authorities of involvement in murders, including the 1980 killing of restaurant owner Eleftherios “Nick” Yalentzas, who was reportedly scheduled to testify against organized crime figures. He also ran gambling-related operations and was involved in collecting money and enforcing the Outfit’s interests.

In the early 1980s, Petrocelli’s criminal career ended amid internal mob conflicts. He disappeared in late 1980, and his body was discovered in March 1981 inside a vehicle in Chicago. Investigators believed he had been killed because of disputes within organized crime, including accusations that he had betrayed associates or mishandled money. His death marked the violent end of a career as one of the more feared street-level figures connected to the Chicago Outfit’s enforcement operations.

William Petrocelli ->

ROCCO PRANNO (1916-1979)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 30, Block 58, Lot 16, Grave 2 – 41°51’19.4″N 87°54’39.6″W}

Mob Boss

Rocco Pranno was a Chicago Outfit mobster who operated primarily on the West Side of Chicago and in the western suburbs, especially around Stone Park, Illinois. His criminal record began in the 1930s and included arrests and allegations involving armed robbery, extortion, murder, and bombings. Over time, he became associated with organized crime activities connected to the Chicago Outfit and was known as a crew leader who controlled criminal operations in the Stone Park area.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Pranno was involved in racketeering activities and gained attention from law enforcement investigations into organized crime. He was convicted of conspiracy and extortion and received a 15-year federal prison sentence. While incarcerated, he remained a subject of FBI interest because of his position within the Outfit and his connections to other Chicago mob figures.

After his release, Pranno continued to be viewed as an influential figure in the western suburban faction of the Chicago Outfit, using legitimate businesses and local connections as a cover for criminal activities. He died in July 1979, leaving behind a reputation as one of the more feared and aggressive figures of the Outfit’s mid-20th-century era.

Rocco Pranno -> Wikipedia

JAMES RAGEN, SR. (1880-1946)

Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery
2755 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

_{Grave: 41°41’21.0″N 87°41’37.5″W}

Gang Boss & Businessman

James Ragen Sr. was a prominent figure in Chicago’s early organized crime world and the founder of the Ragen’s Colts, a street gang and political organization that became involved in intimidation, election fraud, labor violence, and bootlegging during Prohibition. Working alongside his brother Frank, Ragen helped build the group into a powerful South Side organization that used political connections and strong-arm tactics to influence Chicago affairs.

During the 1910s, Ragen became involved in Chicago’s newspaper circulation wars, where gangs used threats and violence to control newspaper distribution. He later developed ties with businessman Moses Annenberg and became involved in the race wire service business, which provided gambling information to bookmakers across the country. By the 1930s and 1940s, Ragen controlled the Nationwide News Service, making him an important figure in the illegal gambling economy and a target for the growing Chicago Outfit.

Ragen resisted attempts by Outfit leaders such as Tony Accardo, Jake Guzik, and Murray Humphreys to take control of his news service. Fearing for his safety, he provided information about Chicago organized crime to authorities and sought protection. In June 1946, Ragen was ambushed in Chicago and seriously wounded by gunmen. He later died in August 1946 under suspicious circumstances, ending the career of one of the last major Irish-American power figures from Chicago’s early gang era.

James Ragen -> Wikipedia

PAUL RICCA (1886-1943)
{born Felice De Lucia}

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Crypt: QR Shrine, Scared Heart Room, Tier 3 – 41°51’44.5″N 87°54’09.4″W}

Mob Boss

Paul Ricca, born Felice DeLucia in Naples, Italy, was a powerful figure in the Chicago Outfit and one of the most influential organized crime leaders in America during the 20th century. Known as “The Waiter,” Ricca began his criminal career in Italy, where he was convicted of murder before fleeing to the United States. After arriving in Chicago, he became associated with Al Capone and rose through the ranks as one of Capone’s trusted lieutenants and advisers.

After Capone was imprisoned for tax evasion in 1931, Ricca became one of the main forces behind the Chicago Outfit’s operations, working alongside figures such as Frank Nitti and later Tony Accardo. Although he often avoided public attention, Ricca was considered the strategic mind behind the organization, helping expand its influence into gambling, labor racketeering, and other criminal enterprises. He also represented Chicago in dealings with the broader national organized crime network that emerged in the 1930s.

In 1943, Ricca was convicted with other Outfit members for extortion involving Hollywood film studios, after the mob used control over labor unions to pressure the movie industry. He received a 10-year prison sentence but was released after serving only part of it, a decision that later attracted government scrutiny. In 1959, he was convicted of tax evasion and served additional time in prison.

Following his release, Ricca maintained influence from behind the scenes rather than acting as a visible boss. He shared power with Accardo, and together they guided the Chicago Outfit through one of its most successful periods. Ricca remained a respected elder figure within the organization until his death in 1972, leaving behind a reputation as one of the most important architects of the modern Chicago mob.

Paul Ricca -> Wikipedia

FRANK RIO (1895-1935)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 26, Block 9, Lot N6 – 41°51’52.1″N 87°54’36.4″W}

Mobster

Frank Rio was an Italian-American organized crime figure who became one of the most trusted associates of Al Capone during the Prohibition era. Rio began his criminal career through activities such as robbery, burglary, and auto theft, gaining a reputation for escaping convictions in several cases. In 1921, he was implicated in the robbery of a mail train at Chicago’s Union Station, where hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonds were stolen, although charges against him were later dropped. His ability to avoid prosecution earned him the nickname “Slippery” Frank.

After joining Capone’s organization, Rio became one of Capone’s most loyal bodyguards and lieutenants in the Chicago Outfit. He was trusted with protecting Capone, handling sensitive matters, and assisting with maintaining control over the organization’s operations. Rio was reportedly involved in stopping an internal plot against Capone in 1929 and attended the Atlantic City Conference with him that same year. When Capone was imprisoned in Philadelphia, Rio served time alongside him and continued to act as a trusted aide.

Following Capone’s conviction for tax evasion in 1931, Rio was considered by some as a possible successor to lead the Chicago Outfit, but other senior gang members favored Frank Nitti instead. As his influence declined, Rio remained connected to organized crime through investments in clubs, casinos, and other businesses. His health deteriorated in the early 1930s, and he died of a heart attack in 1935 at the age of 39.

Frank Rio -> Wikipedia

THEODORE ROE (1898-1952)

Lincoln Cemetery
12000 S. Kedzie Avenue
Blue Island, IL 60406

_{Grave: 41°40’11.5″N 87°42’01.5″W}

Gambling Czar

Theodore L. Roe was a prominent Chicago organized crime figure who became one of the most powerful operators of the South Side’s illegal policy (numbers) gambling industry during the 1940s and early 1950s. Born in Louisiana in 1898 and raised in Arkansas, Roe had earlier involvement in bootlegging before moving to Chicago, where he entered the policy racket through his association with tailor and gambling operator Edward Jones. Over time, Roe became a major policy boss, overseeing a highly profitable gambling network that generated millions of dollars.

Roe gained a reputation as a tough and independent crime leader who resisted attempts by the Chicago Outfit to take control of the South Side gambling operations. When Outfit figures, including Sam Giancana, attempted to force him into paying tribute and surrendering control of his business, Roe refused. In 1951, he fatally shot Outfit associate Leonard “Fat Lenny” Caifano during an attempted kidnapping, leading to his arrest on murder charges. Roe claimed self-defense and was eventually acquitted, further enhancing his reputation as a gangster who had openly challenged the city’s Mafia leadership.

Despite being known among some South Side residents as “Robin Hood” because of his charitable acts toward poor neighbors, Roe remained deeply involved in illegal gambling and racketeering. His defiance against the Outfit ultimately made him a target, and he was assassinated outside his Chicago home on August 4, 1952. His career remains notable as the story of a powerful Black crime boss who built a gambling empire and stood against the dominant Chicago Mafia during its peak years.

Theodore Roe -> Wikipedia

JACK RUBY (1911-1967)
{born Jacob Leon Rubenstein}

Westlawn Cemetery & Mausoleum
7801 W. Montrose Avenue
Norridge, IL 60706

_{Grave: Violet Section, Lot 9, Plot 2 – 41°57’29.9″N 87°49’20.1″W}

Nightclub Owner & Mob Associate

Jack Ruby was not a traditional organized crime figure with a long criminal career, but he had connections and associations with individuals involved in the criminal underworld. Born Jacob Rubenstein in 1911, he worked in various jobs before becoming a nightclub owner in Dallas, where he developed relationships with local entertainers, police officers, and some people with alleged ties to organized crime. His businesses were sometimes associated with illegal activities such as gambling and liquor violations, though he was never a major crime boss or convicted of organized criminal activity.

Ruby became internationally known on November 24, 1963, when he shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of assassinating John F. Kennedy, while Oswald was being transferred by police in Dallas. Ruby claimed he acted out of grief and anger over Kennedy’s death, but his connections to nightclub figures, law enforcement, and suspected mob associates fueled speculation about a possible larger conspiracy. He was convicted of murder in 1964 and sentenced to death, though the conviction was later overturned. Ruby died in 1967 from cancer while awaiting a new trial. His criminal legacy remains centered on the killing of Oswald rather than a career as a professional criminal.

Jack Ruby -> Wikipedia

PATRICK RYAN (1885-1920)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section S, Block 2, Lot 8 – 41°52’01.6″N 87°54’25.0″W}

Gang Boss

Patrick “Paddy the Bear” Ryan was an Irish-American organized crime figure who became the leader of Chicago’s Valley Gang during the 1910s. Operating out of the Bloody Maxwell neighborhood, Ryan built the gang from a street organization involved in robbery and intimidation into a feared criminal force. Under his leadership, the Valley Gang became known for labor racketeering, strikebreaking, protection schemes, and violence-for-hire, including alleged involvement in assaults and murders connected to Chicago’s labor conflicts.

Ryan ran much of his operation from a South Halsted Street saloon, where he controlled gang members and maintained influence in Chicago’s underworld. He was known as a tough and violent boss who helped train younger criminals who later became major figures in Chicago organized crime. As Prohibition approached, the Valley Gang was positioned to enter the lucrative bootlegging business, although Ryan did not live long enough to fully capitalize on the era.

In 1920, Ryan was assassinated by gunmen in Chicago during a period of escalating gang warfare. His death led to a power struggle within the Valley Gang, with Walter “Runt” Quinlan briefly taking control before being killed by Ryan’s son, Paddy “the Fox” Ryan Jr. The gang was later taken over by Frankie Lake and Terry Druggan, who transformed it into a major bootlegging organization during Prohibition.

Patrick Ryan ->

JOSEPH SALTIS (1894-1947) – GRAVE
{born Joseph Soltis}

Resurrection Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
7201 Archer Road
Justice, IL 60458

_{Grave: 41°45’29.1″N 87°49’38.6″W}

Mob Boss

Joseph Saltis, also known as “Polack Joe,” was a Prohibition-era organized crime figure who became one of Chicago’s leading bootleggers during the 1920s. After moving to Chicago following the passage of the Volstead Act in 1920, Saltis built a criminal empire with gunman Frank McErlane, forming the Saltis-McErlane Gang. The organization controlled illegal alcohol distribution on Chicago’s Southwest Side, particularly the Back of the Yards neighborhood, and became one of the few independent gangs operating outside the growing influence of Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit.

Saltis relied on bootlegging, political connections, and armed enforcers to maintain his territory. His gang became involved in violent conflicts with rival groups, including the Sheldon Gang and the South Side O’Donnell organization, during the Chicago Beer Wars. Several murders and attempted assassinations were connected to the struggles over control of liquor routes, and police suspected Saltis’s organization of involvement in numerous gangland killings during the mid-to-late 1920s.

Although Saltis initially maintained friendly relations with Capone, his independence eventually became a problem as the Chicago Outfit expanded. By the end of the 1920s, internal disputes, the loss of key allies, and pressure from Capone weakened the Saltis-McErlane Gang. After McErlane left the organization and political associate John “Dingbat” Oberta was killed in 1930, Saltis’s power collapsed. He retired from organized crime and moved to Wisconsin, where he lived a quieter life until his death in 1947.

Joseph Saltis -> Wikipedia

MICHAEL SPILOTRO (1944-1986)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 22, Block 8, Lot 36 – 41°51’23.0″N 87°54’29.2″W}

Mobster

Michael Spilotro was a Chicago Outfit associate who became involved in organized crime alongside his more notorious brother, Anthony Spilotro. While he never reached the same level of infamy as Tony, Michael was involved in the Outfit’s criminal activities in Chicago, including extortion and illegal gambling-related operations. He operated businesses that were reportedly connected to mob activity and was accused by authorities of helping enforce the Outfit’s influence through intimidation and violence.

In the 1980s, Michael became connected to a federal investigation known as Operation Safebet, which targeted organized crime involvement in prostitution-related businesses in the Chicago area. In 1986, he and his brother Victor were indicted on charges including extortion and tax-related offenses tied to alleged schemes involving those operations. His criminal career remained overshadowed by Tony’s role as the Chicago Outfit’s representative in Las Vegas, but Michael was still considered a trusted associate within the organization.

Michael Spilotro’s life ended in June 1986 when he and Tony were murdered in a gangland killing ordered by Chicago Outfit leaders. Prosecutors later argued during the federal Operation Family Secrets case that the brothers were lured to a meeting in Illinois under the false belief that Michael was going to be inducted into the Outfit, only to be beaten and killed before their bodies were found in an Indiana cornfield. His death marked one of the most famous episodes in the history of the Chicago Outfit’s internal violence.

Michael Spilotro -> Wikipedia

TONY SPILOTRO (1938-1986)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 22, Block 8, Lot 36 – 41°51’23.0″N 87°54’29.2″W}

Mobster

Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro was a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit who became one of the most feared figures in the Las Vegas underworld during the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Chicago in 1938, Spilotro entered organized crime as a young man and gained a reputation as a violent enforcer, allegedly being involved in murders, intimidation, and extortion for the Outfit. His reputation for brutality helped him rise through the ranks and eventually led to his assignment as the Outfit’s representative in Las Vegas.

After arriving in Las Vegas in 1971, Spilotro was tasked with protecting the Chicago Outfit’s interests in the city’s casino industry, including overseeing illegal profits skimmed from casinos connected to organized crime. Instead of remaining behind the scenes, he expanded his own criminal operations, forming the “Hole in the Wall Gang,” a burglary crew known for breaking into homes and businesses. His aggressive behavior, high-profile lifestyle, and involvement in independent rackets eventually created problems with both law enforcement and his Mafia superiors.

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Spilotro faced numerous investigations and legal challenges related to racketeering, burglary, and suspected violent crimes, but he avoided major convictions for much of his career. His actions drew unwanted attention to the Outfit’s Las Vegas operations, and Chicago mob leaders reportedly viewed him as a liability because he was becoming too visible and difficult to control.

In 1986, Spilotro and his brother Michael were murdered in what authorities later determined was an organized crime hit carried out because of Spilotro’s conflicts with Outfit leadership. Their deaths marked the end of one of the most notorious careers in American organized crime history. Spilotro’s life later inspired the character Nicky Santoro in the film Casino, which was based on the book by Nicholas Pileggi.

Tony Spilotro -> Wikipedia

MONT JACOB TENNES (1873-1941)

Calvary Catholic Cemetery
301 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 6020260

_{Grave: 42°01’28.6″N 87°39’59.0″W}

Gambling Boss

Mont Tennes was one of the most influential gambling figures in early 20th-century Chicago, building a criminal empire centered on illegal betting and race wire services. Born in Chicago in the 1870s, Tennes entered the gambling world as a young man through bookmaking and gradually expanded his influence by controlling gambling operations and information networks.

Tennes became known as the “race wire czar” because he developed a nationwide system for collecting and distributing horse-racing information to bookmakers, allowing him to dominate off-track betting markets. He used his control over race results and betting information to force competitors and independent bookmakers to work with his organization, while also relying on political connections and alleged corruption to protect his operations.

During his rise, Tennes was involved in violent conflicts with rival gambling interests, including a period of bombings and intimidation known as the “Gamblers’ War.” Although he was frequently targeted by law enforcement investigations and public criticism, he avoided major criminal convictions and maintained his influence for decades.

By the 1920s, as younger gangsters such as Al Capone began gaining power, Tennes stepped away from direct bookmaking and eventually sold his race wire business. He spent his later years focused on family, philanthropy, and investments, leaving behind a legacy as one of the architects of Chicago’s organized gambling system. His house still stands at 632 W. Belden.

Mont Tennes ->

ALBERT TOCCO (1925-2005)

Evergreen Hill Memorial Gardens
3901 Park Avenue
Steger, IL 60475

_{Grave: Section D – 41°27’30.5″N 87°38’33.7″W}

Mob Boss

Albert Tocco, also known as “Caesar” Tocco, was a high-ranking figure in the Chicago Outfit who controlled criminal operations in Chicago’s southern suburbs and parts of northern Indiana during the 1970s and 1980s. He rose through the Chicago Heights crew, becoming one of the Outfit’s influential leaders and was involved in racketeering activities, extortion, and the collection of illegal “street taxes” from businesses and criminal operations.

Tocco was also linked by authorities to several gangland crimes, most notably the 1986 murders of Anthony Spilotro and his brother Michael Spilotro. Prosecutors alleged that Tocco helped dispose of their bodies in an Indiana cornfield, a claim that was strengthened when his wife, Betty Tocco, testified against him during his trial. After fleeing to Greece, Tocco was captured in 1989 and later convicted in federal court on charges including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion, and tax fraud. In 1990, he received a 200-year prison sentence and remained incarcerated until his death in 2005.

Albert Tocco -> Wikipedia

JAMES TORELLO (1920-1979)

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section 20, Block 1, Lot 22, Grave 5 – 41°51’24.8″N 87°54’28.5″W}

Mob Capo

James Vincent “Turk” Torello was a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit who became one of its leading enforcers during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Chicago in 1930, Torello entered a life of crime at a young age, with early arrests for offenses such as auto theft, armed robbery, burglary, and hijacking. He later served time in federal prison for firearms violations before rising through the ranks of organized crime.

Torello became closely associated with the South Side/26th Street crew and eventually became a caporegime, or crew leader, within the Outfit. Known for his reputation as a violent and trusted enforcer, he was allegedly involved in the torture and murder of suspected informant William “Action” Jackson in 1961 and was recorded by the FBI discussing a possible murder plot against another associate in 1962. By the early 1970s, after the death of Outfit figure Fiore “Fifi” Buccieri, Torello took on a more prominent enforcement role and became involved in activities including illegal gambling, loan sharking, and other rackets.

During his later years, Torello remained a powerful figure in Chicago organized crime and was considered one of the Outfit’s most feared operators. He died of cancer in 1979 at the age of 48, ending the career of a mobster who had built a reputation as a loyal but ruthless figure within the Chicago underworld.

James Torello -> Wikipedia

ALPHONSO TORNABENE (1923-2009)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: 41°51’58.9″N 87°54’24.6″W}

High Ranking Mobster

Alfonso “Al the Pizza Man” Tornabene was a longtime figure in the Chicago Outfit who was considered by law enforcement and organized crime investigators to be a high-ranking member of the organization, although he was never convicted of a crime and maintained a public image as a successful pizzeria owner. He began his alleged criminal career as a bookmaker and later became associated with the Outfit’s West Side and Chicago Heights crews.

Tornabene gained influence over several decades and was reportedly involved in the Outfit’s leadership structure, eventually being described as a lieutenant and a key figure in managing operations in Chicago’s western suburbs and south suburbs. He was also identified as participating in a 1983 Outfit initiation ceremony alongside Joseph Aiuppa, where several future prominent mob figures, including Frank Calabrese Sr. and Nicholas Calabrese, were reportedly inducted.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Tornabene was believed to have been part of the Outfit’s upper leadership and was reported to have helped oversee the organization while boss James Marcello was imprisoned. He was also named as an original target in the federal Operation Family Secrets investigation, though he was never charged in that case. Despite his alleged power within organized crime, Tornabene was known publicly for owning the Villa Nova Pizzeria, which earned him the nickname “Al the Pizza Man.” He died in 2009 at the age of 86, leaving behind a reputation as one of the quieter but influential figures in the later history of the Chicago Outfit.

Al Tornabene -> Wikipedia

ROGER TOUHY (1898-1959)

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section Q, Block 8, Lot 20, Grave 5 – 41°51’57.5″N 87°54’37.0″W}

Mobster

Roger Touhy was an Irish-American organized crime figure who became one of Chicago’s most prominent bootleggers during Prohibition. Born in Chicago in 1898, Touhy entered the criminal underworld by operating illegal breweries and distributing beer to speakeasies, eventually building the powerful Touhy gang on the city’s North Side. His organization competed with the larger Italian-American crime syndicates that would later form the Chicago Outfit, creating a violent rivalry for control of gambling, bootlegging, and other rackets.

Touhy’s criminal career became most famous because of the 1933 kidnapping of John Factor, also known as “Jake the Barber.” Touhy was convicted of the kidnapping and sentenced to 99 years in prison, but he maintained that he had been framed by rivals connected to the Chicago Outfit. Later investigations and court proceedings supported claims that the kidnapping had been staged and that Touhy had been wrongly convicted.

While imprisoned, Touhy continued to attract attention, including a 1942 escape from Stateville Correctional Center with several associates before being recaptured by authorities. He spent roughly 25 years behind bars before finally being released in 1959 after legal efforts overturned his conviction.

Shortly after his release, Touhy was assassinated in Chicago in December 1959 in a shotgun ambush, an attack widely believed to have been ordered by organized crime rivals. His life became one of the most notable examples of the violent power struggles between independent gangs and the growing Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era.

Roger Touhy -> Wikipedia

EARL “HYMIE” WEISS (1898-1926)
{born Henryk Wojciechowski}

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 S. Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162

_{Grave: Section K, Block 4, Lot 6 – 41°52’02.7″N 87°54’31.9″W}

Mob Boss

Hymie Weiss (born Henryk Wojciechowski) was a Polish-American gangster who became one of the most powerful figures in Chicago’s North Side Gang during the Prohibition era. He began his criminal career with petty crimes as a teenager before becoming associated with Dean O’Banion and joining the North Side Gang, which was involved in bootlegging, gambling, and other illegal rackets. After O’Banion was murdered in 1924, Weiss took control of the gang and became one of the strongest rivals of Al Capone.

As leader, Weiss launched a violent campaign against Capone’s organization and its allies, including the attempted assassination of Capone and an attack on former Chicago crime boss Johnny Torrio. He strengthened the North Side Gang’s influence and became known for his fearlessness and determination in the Chicago gang wars of the 1920s. His rivalry with Capone made him one of the most famous mob figures of the era, with some accounts describing him as one of the few criminals Capone genuinely respected as a threat.

Weiss’s criminal career was short-lived. On October 11, 1926, he was ambushed and killed by gunmen connected to Capone’s faction while leaving his headquarters near Chicago’s North Side. His death weakened the North Side Gang, which continued under leaders such as Vincent Drucci and later Bugs Moran, but never regained the same level of power it had under Weiss.

Hymie Weiss -> Wikipedia