Alderisio, Felix Anthony (Apr 26, 1912 – Sep 25, 1971): boss of the Outfit from 1967-1969, known as Milwaukee Phil. Born at 133 Elm Street in Yonkers, New York as Felice Antonio Alderisio to Dominic and Ippolita “Pauline” Matarese Alderisio. Dominic was an Italian immigrant and shoemaker from Stigliano, Matera province; Pauline was a New York native.

Alderisio moved to Chicago at age 2 and lived at 918 Hope Street. His parents were in Chicago from 1914-1920 but returned to Yonkers by the 1930s. Alderisio seems to have gone back and forth between both cities in his youth. He dropped out of school in the 7th grade.

He was apparently involved in the assault of Joseph Grazioso in Yonkers in December 1930, although the case never went to trial and Grazioso later denied any such incident occurred and said as a boxer he would have been able to defend himself without aid of the police.

Alderisio was picked up for auto theft in May 1933 in Wheaton, Illinois. The charge was nolle prossed. He later said he was “trying to fill some drums of mash” at the time.

He worked at Armand Trucking Company in Chicago in 1935. Alderisio was arrested in December 1935 on an alcohol-related tax violation, pleaded guilty in March 1936 and put on one year probation. He later said it was an unfair arrest because the alcohol was in another guy’s car and he was just working in the garage at the time. His probation adviser was Rev. Anthony Coco.

Starting in 1939, Alderisio operated the Tasty Bar-B-Q at 725 North 5th Street in Milwaukee. When he joined the Army, he signed the property over to his wife, and from 1946-1958, Molly Alderisio was partnered with Robert Bundy. The business was sold in April 1958 for $15,500.

When Joseph Balistrieri was born in September 1940, his father Frank asked Alderisio to be the godfather. Frank was 22, and Phil was 28, so neither was a high-ranking mobster at the time.

He entered the US Army in October 1942 and was stationed at Camp Grant in Rockford. He was honorably discharged in August 1943 in Miami after being diagnosed as a hypochondriac with a variety of anxieties and a “defective ethical and moral outlook.”

Alderisio married Wanda C. “Molly” Prapopke of Indiana Harbor, Indiana in Miami Beach on April 8, 1943. She was not Italian and her family had no clear criminal connections.

He was arrested in Detroit in July 1945 for unlawfully driving away and released the next day.

Milwaukee police observed Alderisio and Bundy loading 100-pound bags of sugar into a station wagon in June 1946. This information was turned over to the Office of Price Administration (OPA).

He lived at 4540 North Magnolia Avenue (Sheridan Park neighborhood) from 1940-1951.

Molly operated a tavern (the 1221 Club) at 1221 West Wilson Avenue (also Sheridan Park, two blocks from Magnolia) from 1942-1953 which was owned by her husband. Robert Bundy met Molly through this tavern and helped her with its operation.

According to Marshall Caifano, Caifano was the one who brought Alderisio into the Outfit in the 1940s. I suspect he was an associate by 1940, so if this is correct, Caifano is off on his timeline.

He was picked up with Albert Frabotta in June 1950 for vagrancy. Alderisio was arrested in March 1952 for assault and battery and released on probation.

“Russian Louie” Strauss went missing from Las Vegas in April 1953. Alderisio, Frabotta and Marshall Caifano were considered likely suspects in the apparent murder. Caifano and Jack Dragna were among the last people to see Strauss.

He picked up in August 1953 during an investigation of the Graver case (?). Alderisio was arrested as a robbery suspect in February 1954 and released on a writ of habeas corpus.

When Milwaukee mobster and tavern owner John DiTrapani was murdered in March 1954, Alderisio was questioned. He acknowledged knowing DiTrapani for eight or nine years, as well as knowing DiTrapani’s friend Frank LaGalbo, another mobster and restauranteur. He claimed to have met both through Robert Bundy. He denied knowing Leonard Patrick, William Block, David Yaras, Harry Cutler or Senator Adduci.

He was in Las Vegas in August 1954 with Frank Ferraro and Albert Frabotta. Alderisio was

arrested as a robbery suspect on December 2, 1954 but released on a writ of habeas corpus.

Alderisio (using alias Phil Milno) and Marshall Caifano stayed at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills for three days in early December 1954.

Alderisio was picked up in Milwaukee at the end of December 1954 after being seen at the Milwaukee Arena watching a boxing match. He had $764 in his pocket that he refused to explain. On the way to the station, pimp Frank Sansone tried to intercede on his behalf. At the station, Frank Balistrieri tried to post bail for Alderisio but was denied. The police tried to get a warrant to charge Alderisio with vagrancy, but were denied by DA William McCauley. Alderisio’s attorney was Robert Curley, son of Milwaukee police officer Michael Curley.

He lived at 4736 West Adams, Chicago from 1952-1955. This was also the address of S. Moretti, former police officer and hoodlum chauffeur who was murdered in 1957. Also lived at 515 Longcommon Road, Riverside from August 1954-1962. (This discrepancy is unclear to me. They either had two houses, or lived in Riverside and received mail in Chicago.) In April 1957, contractor J. Policheri constructed a dormer window at the Riverside home, along with electrical and plumbing modifications.

He was believed to be “made” around 1956 with the sponsorship of Caifano and Sam Battaglia and was given control of Melrose Park. Alderisio and Albert Frabotta “proved themselves” by murdering Gumph Grulicki.

In 1957, Alderisio was believed to run prostitutes out of the barbecue restaurant and have them bring clients to an apartment at 1725 North Prospect in Milwaukee. He hired only local women to avoid Mann Act violations. He was also believed to be taking a cut from Frank Balistrieri’s Tradewinds restaurant on North Third.

He appeared before the McClellan Committee in August 1958. Alderisio was arrested in October 1958 at 1073 West Polk Street for being the keeper of a gambling house. The charge was dismissed in November.

Alderisio was in Las Vegas in April 1959 using the name Phil Gato and associating with Wilbur Clark at the Desert Inn. The “Tribune” in July 1959 claimed that Alderisio and Frabotta were wanted for questioning in the murder of beer distributor Joseph Bronge.

In May 1960, Murray Humphreys was caught on tape telling Hunk Galiano that he told Alderisio to get close to Red and Allen Dorfman, owners of an insurance company that handled the Teamsters union.

Alderisio was revealed in court in March 1961 to be a stockholder in Twin Food Products (3250 Wentworth Avenue). Other stockholders included Sam Battaglia, Marshall Caifano and Albert Frabotta.

Alderisio was a guest at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas in June 1961, where Ruby Kolod was an officer. At that time, a check for $16,600 was issued to Alderisio by the Desert Inn after Kolod presented the hotel teller with cash in the same amount.

On July 6, 1961, Alderisio and Americo DiPietto visited attorney Robert Sunshine at his Denver office to collect on money Sunshine owed Kolod. Both men were unknown to Sunshine and had registered at the Brown Palace Hotel where Alderisio used a fictitious name and address. Alderisio introduced himself, sat down, and stated: “Ruby sent us. We came here to kill you.” DiPietto said nothing except to introduce himself as “Pete.” Sunshine attempted to reason with the two men. After over an hour of discussion, Alderisio told Sunshine that only Kolod could save him. Alderisio placed a long-distance call to the Concord Hotel in Monticello, New York where Kolod and William Alderman were staying. Sunshine was put on the telephone and Kolod told him that “he and Alderman had sent Alderisio to let him know that there was no fooling around; that they meant business.” Kolod agreed to meet with Sunshine in Las Vegas to work out a solution for repayment of the money. Alderisio warned Sunshine of severe consequences if he failed to work out a settlement satisfactory to Kolod. Then, he and DiPietto departed.

In May 1962, he was picked up with Charles Nicoletti for questioning in regards to the murder of Roger Touhy. Their vehicle, a 1961 Ford, was examined and determined to have tree modifications: a switch that turns off the tail lights, a box for revolvers where a speaker used to be and a secret compartment for storing rifles and shotguns. They were briefly held for violating automobile registration laws, but the charges were dismissed by Judge Harry Comerford.

In early summer 1962, Kolod told Sunshine by telephone he was leaving Las Vegas for a trip to Europe and would be seeing Alderisio en route, and he wanted to be able to tell Alderisio all of the money had been returned. Sunshine could not pay it all and continued to send monthly installment checks. Later that summer, Sunshine had a telephone conversation with Alderman who expressed the hope the money be paid in full before Kolod’s return to the United States so Sunshine could avoid another visit from Alderisio. By the end of the year, Sunshine’s payments stopped and he was indicted for embezzlement.

Two Milwaukee detectives observed Alderisio in the Red Lion Room at the Knickerbocker Hotel in August 1962, meeting with Frank Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo of Milwaukee, and Joseph Gurera, Buster Balestrere and John Molle of Kansas City. After the meeting broke up, Alderisio and Molle continued on to the Holiday House.

In October 1962, he moved to 505 Berkeley Drive in Riverside, one block away from his former residence. From April through November 1963, was making daily visits to Gaylur’s Mercantile (1728 North Michigan Street). (It seems this is where an FBI microphone was hidden.)

In May 1963, Alderisio was picked up by the police on vagrancy charges. While in lockup, he was visited by SA August Kempf. Alderisio told Kempf he thought it was proper to be polite and civil with agents, but civility did not extend to him consenting to an interview for the purposes of building a case against him. He further said he would appreciate it if the FBI stopped interviewing his business associates. Kempf responded it was “common knowledge” Alderisio was in the Outfit, and he should expect regular visits and interviews. Alderisio again said they could do their jobs as they saw fit, but he was in no way going to help them.

In August 1963, the IRS seized the books of the Central-West Dry Wall Company, which had Alderisio on the payroll. Owner Edward West acknowledged Alderisio was employed by him, but would make no further statement to the press or FBI.

In October 1963, he was arrested for the extortion of Denver banker James William Egan and indicted by a grand jury in Miami the next day. Alderisio allegedly threatened Egan while the two were at Sam Kay’s office in Miami Beach together, as Egan was involved in a deal concerning Cuban pesos and his partner Charles W. Bray owed Irwin Weiner $60,000. Alderisio allegedly told Egan that “we don’t use courts to collect.” He was free on $40,000 bond.

Alderisio was seen repeatedly meeting with Santo Trafficante at the Fontainebleu Hotel in Miami in November 1963.

In February 1964, he was arrested by federal agents for extortion and was released on $100,000 bond. At the time of arrest, he was at 188 West Randolph with attorney Mike Brodkin. Alderisio, along with William Alderman and Ruby Kolod, was accused of conspiring to threaten and extort Robert Sunshine from July 1961 through December 1962. He was ordered by Judge Robinson to appear in a Denver courtroom at the end of the month, providing his own transportation.

In May 1964, Anthony Panzica was pulled over after leaving Alderisio’s home. Found in his possession were loan shark records.

With the passing of Frank Ferraro in August 1964, Alderisio was believed to move up into the Outfit’s #2 position.

In October 1964, Alderisio’s Egan extortion trial went to the jury and he was found not guilty. Weiner was also on trial for aiding and abetting Alderisio, and found not guilty. At trial, Alderisio testified he had worked for Joseph Stein’s First National Mortgage for about three years, describing his job as referring people to the company if they are looking for a mortgage.

He was convicted in May 1965 (along with Alderman and Kolod) by a jury in Colorado of conspiracy to transmit murderous threats in interstate commerce regarding the July 1961 meeting with Robert Sunshine. He was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $7,500. Americo DiPietto was also charged, but was acquitted. There were a series of appeals, leading to an evidentiary hearing in June 1969 where FBI transcripts of secret bugs were revealed.

Alderisio testified before a grand jury in August 1966 leading to the indictment of Harold Lurie, president of Gaylur Mercantile, for insurance fraud. Alderisio at first refused to talk but was then granted immunity. Robert Price, a former police officer who worked for Gaylur, had his wife and children threatened if he told the truth to the grand jury. Essentially, Gaylur was running an insurance scam where they had suppliers claim losses due to fires and other disasters, but had actually salvaged a good deal of material first. In one instance, the Fullerton Metals company claimed losses, but had actually sold large quantities of steel to Gaylur.

In March 1967, Alan Rosenberg (an Alderisio front man) was found handcuffed and shot seven times in the back seat of a car. Rosenberg had recently been indicted and was also a suspect in a major stock market swindle. The Tribune alleged Rosenberg had swindled as much as $7 million, with half getting kicked up to Alderisio. Authorities suspected Alderisio ordered the murder to hinder further investigations.

In July 1969, Alderisio was indicted for conspiring to defraud the Parkway Bank of Harwood Heights of $78,900. A search found two safety deposit box keys, four switchblade knives, a billy club, a notebook of names and phone numbers, and the registry from a funeral. Also indicted were Richard Jackowski and Irwin “Pinky” Davis. Davis and Alan Rosenberg incorporated the Chemical Mortgage Investment Corporation in order to secure loans approved by Jackowski. Alderisio was said to have financed the operation. At trial, Davis testified concerning threats of torture and murder from Alderisio towards his family. Mid-trial, Alderisio switched his plea to no contest and was sentenced to five years in prison for the bank fraud in January 1970

In August 1969, indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of unlawful possession of firearms. He had 36 guns in his Riverside home when the FBI searched, including a Belgian automatic rifle. One revolver had been reported stolen in 1963. Two other guns were registered to Nick “Peanuts” Danolfo of the Desert Inn. Alderisio claimed these guns belonged to his son. Due to these indictments, Alderisio forfeiting his appeal bond and finally began serving prison time for the Sunshine case. Alderisio’s maternal cousin Patsy Ricciardi (Patsy Rich), an approved prison visitor, was the owner of State Street Currency Exchange and a suspected loan shark. He later (1985) was the owner of the Admiral adult theater and was murdered, dumped in a car trunk.

Following Phil’s death in September 1971, the IRS filed tax liens totaling $8,352,620 against Molly in October 1971. She passed away in 1973 at age 55. Their adopted(?) son, Dominick, died of liver failure at age 27 in November 1974.