Steve DiSalvo was an Underboss and right hand man to Frank Balistrieri. DiSalvo was involved in many things, from gambling to burglary to helping operate the corrupt Del Chemical. There wasn’t much that DiSalvo wasn’t mixed up in.
Steve DiSalvo 1963
Note: This is not meant to be a fully-formed article. It is merely a repository of information at this time.
FBI Files and other public documents can be found here: https://kingsridgemedia.com/MM/fbi-files/
1959
Frank Stelloh was paroled from Waupun on January 5, 1959. This same night at midnight, Milwaukee Police noted that Steve DiSalvo, Anthony “Sheriff” Cefalu, Buster Balestrere and another man (Stelloh?) were hanging out at Fazio’s on 5th.
1961
On approximately April 13, 1961, Frank Balistrieri went to the office of Police Chief Howard Johnson to complain that he had been referred to as a “hoodlum”. During the ensuing discussion, Johnson asked Balistrieri about Steve DiSalvo, and Frank told him that DiSalvo was the official buyer of meats and produce for Gallagher’s.
1962
Special Agents observed the residence of Buster Balestrere (1634 North Jackson) on February 14, 1962. They saw Balestrere, Steve DiSalvo and Joseph Gurera enter DiSalvo’s 1961 Pontiac at 12:20pm and go to the Western Union office, where Balestrere sent a telegram. From there, they went to Gallagher’s and met Frank Balistrieri. At 3:05pm, all four men left Gallagher’s in DiSalvo’s car and went to the Para Corporation. This was the first time Gurera was observed in Milwaukee. He had a long history in Kansas City, where he was the nephew of mobster John Mangiaracina and a prime suspect in the murder of Kansas City boss Charles Binaggio. (Ironically, Gurera was one of Binaggio’s top hatchet men and his successor — Tony Gizzo — did not offer him the same level of respect.) Gurera was also related to the Balestrere family through marriage.
Milwaukee Police Department Special Squad detectives overheard Joseph Gurera, Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo and Buster Balestrere at the Holiday House on February 15, 1962. Gurera was talking about opening up an asphalt paving business in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Special Squad observed Gallagher’s around midnight on April 5, 1962. Steve DiSalvo arrived with Buster Balestrere, Joseph Gurera and an attorney in the back seat of his car. They picked up Frank Balistrieri and from there went to 1833 North Prospect, the home of Julian G. Orlandini, where they stayed fifteen minutes before returning downtown. (Orlandini was a well-known plaster artist who operated Orlandini Studios. His nephew Eugene Orlandini operates the studio today.)
The FBI ran surveillance on Unity Cleaners (1012 South 1st Street) on April 16 from 10:30am to 4:30pm and observed Buster Balestrere and Steve DiSalvo. They checked back on April 17 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm and saw Balestrere, DiSalvo and Joseph Gurera. On April 18 from 4:15 to 5:30pm, all three were seen again, with Gurera and Balestrere seen across the street at a coffee shop. And again on April 19 all three could be seen.
Two Milwaukee detectives observed Frank Balistrieri in the Red Lion Room at the Knickerbocker Hotel on August 9, 1962, meeting with Felix Alderisio, Joseph Gurera, Buster Balestrere, Steve DiSalvo and John Molle. After the meeting broke up, Alderisio and Molle continued on to the Holiday House.
A stag party was held on August 28, 1962 at Alioto’s Restaurant on Bluemound for the purpose of a craps game. Although approximately 40-60 gamblers showed up, the game never happened because strangers were present and suspected of being police. In fact, Waukesha County deputies were observing the premises from 9:00pm to 2:00am after being tipped off. Instead, the men played poker for bottle caps. Steve DiSalvo and Joe Gurera had organized the game and were expected to take a cut. Among those present were August Maniaci, Joseph Gagliano, Walter Brocca, Anthony Cefalu and Donald H. Heiliger of Cambridge. An informant told the FBI that Waukesha County District Attorney Roger P. Murphy had warned someone from Campbell’s Tap (618 East State Street) about a proposed raid and he passed the word on to Alioto’s.
Marlowe apparently contacted his boss, Sheriff George Witkowski, because a raid was ordered. Witkowski spoke with the Milwaukee Police Department, who tried to discourage Witkowski, explaining they were aware of the gambling and that an ongoing police-FBI investigation was underway. Inspector Raymond Dahl explained that the apartment was part of a “much larger gambling operation in the middle west.” The FBI, according to Dahl, was attempting to find where the gamblers were getting their odds. But Witkowski ordered the raid anyway, and four men were arrested: Anthony Cefalu, Richard Milcarek, Joseph Aliota and Steve DiSalvo. Police also confiscated betting sheets, racing forms and two short-wave radio receivers. They also found two telephones. During the raid, Deputy Marlowe sat by the phones and answered about 35 calls, giving out odds on horse races and baseball games (numbers he just made up, not the real odds). DiSalvo had actually shown up mid-raid, claiming to be an electrician, but the police knew better.
Joseph Gurera was in Kansas City from September 7 through 10, 1962 to attend a meeting there. On the evening of September 10, he was back in Milwaukee at a meeting at Gallagher’s. At the Milwaukee meeting were Steve DiSalvo, Buster Balestrere, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Dr. Vito Guardalabene and three men from out of town.
On Tuesday, September 11, 1962 at 2:00pm there was a meeting at Star Brite Cleaners, 2501 North Holton, with Joe Gurera, Steve DiSalvo and Buster Balestrere present. With them were Rocco Fischetti and two men from out of town. (Sadly, these names are all redacted.)
There was a meeting at the Para Corporation on September 18, 1962 between Frank Balistrieri, Joe Gurera and Steve DiSalvo.
At some point in October 1962, Joseph Gurera and Steve DiSalvo allegedly “put the bite” on the Magestro brothers, who were trash dealers.
On the evening of October 1, 1962, Joseph Gurera, Frank Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo were at the Holiday House. After midnight, Gurera used the pay phone to make a long distance call. A check revealed that at 1:03am (October 2), he had called the Leonard Produce Company of St. Louis, which was owned by John Joseph Vitale. Vitale was a top-ranking mobster in St. Louis, possibly the boss at this time (I do not know much about St. Louis). He was also distantly related to the Cianciolo, Sansone and Palmisano families.
On October 29, 1962, Special Agent John Holtzman ran surveillance on Gallagher’s at 1:20pm. Out front was Joseph Gurera’s car and Steve DiSalvo’s brand new blue Chevrolet. At 2:33pm, the two men and Frank Balistrieri drove to the Bockl Building (2040 West Wisconsin) and were inside until 4:55pm. At that point, they returned to Gallagher’s and split up.
An informant spoke with Steve DiSalvo on November 20, 1962, who said he had to meet with two “torpedo men” from Las Vegas.
On November 23, 1962, Dominic Frinzi threatened the Milwaukee Special Surveillance Squad with a lawsuit to stop harassing Steve DiSalvo. Earlier that day, DiSalvo had approached the surveillance officers as they were changing shifts.
Steve DiSalvo attended a meeting at Gallagher’s on November 24, 1962 with Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Joseph Gurera.
Frank Balistrieri held meetings at Gallagher’s on December 12, 15 and 18th with Peter Balistrieri, Joseph Gurera and Steve DiSalvo. Buster Balestrere also sat in on the 18th.
At the request of the FBI, Benny DiSalvo appeared at the Bureau Office on December 13, 1962. DiSalvo told them he grew up in Milwaukee but left for Brooklyn in August 1952 because construction jobs had dried up. While in Brooklyn, he worked for the Dic Concrete Company on Long Island and lived at 2816 Bath Childer Street. He had marital difficulties with his wife because of religious differences (she was Jewish, he was Catholic). She obtained a “Mexican divorce” in August 1962 and DiSalvo returned to Milwaukee in September 1962. He said he was a close friend of Carlo DiMaggio and the uncle of Michael Albano. He also knew the Balistrieris, Steve DiSalvo, Walter Brocca and August Maniaci. He said he was not related to Steve DiSalvo (something he would have to tell the Bureau again twenty-five years later). He denied any knowledge of the Mafia and denied having ever been to Las Vegas. He said he was just a “working man” trying to get by.
There was a meeting at Para Corporation on December 28, 1962 with Frank Stelloh, Walter Brocca, Joseph Gurera and Steve DiSalvo. There was also a white Lincoln there with license plate number J46265, registered to Missionary Exchange (414 South Third).
1963
Fred Klancnik, 4603 South 61st Street, was interviewed by Special Agents Knickrehm and Holtzman on January 2, 1963 concerning Gus Marzullo. He said he had known Marzullo for many years because they were both in the dry cleaning business. Klancnik said he was unemployed for a while when Marzullo invited him to work for Acino Cleaners. While there, the paychecks have always been signed by Steve DiSalvo. He has heard that Buster Balestrere and Joseph Gurera had an interest, but they did not sign the checks. Klancnik said the business was completely legitimate as far as he knew and it was rather successful, because it had primarily commercial accounts. They had one Ford Econoline van, which was registered in Klancnik’s name. He had never seen anything related to gambling on the property.
Dominic Frinzi met with John DiBella and Al Caruso in Fond du lac on February 13, 1963 and had a conversation in Italian. DA Tom Massey secretly made a recording of this conversation. The three of them went to a conference at the Fond du Lac police department with Sheriff Ray Howard, DA Tom Massey and Police Chief Rautenberg. DiBella said he was “fed up” concerning the governor’s recent comments that organized crime was in Fond du Lac, clearly referencing Grande. DiBella denied knowing any hoodlums, and when shown photos of Steve DiSalvo and Joseph Gurera, consulted with Frinzi and then denied knowing them, too. (At the same time, the FBI spoke with an informant who said that Leroy Summers was not a competitor with Grande, and his family’s claims that his suicide was really a murder were nonsense. A FdL police officer was also talked to, and he said a retired Milwaukee policeman who now worked for Pinkerton had done an investigation for the Summers family and found that DiSalvo and Gurera met with DiBella at the Retlaw Hotel. Whether or not this was accurate, by the time it got to the governor’s desk, the story was conflated to say they had met with Summers, which is not true. The officer even doubted the DiBella connection, saying that DiBella had met with two cheese makers from Alibia Cheese at the Retlaw, and the detective may have been exaggerating his claims. When photos were shown at the Retlaw, employees did not recognize either hoodlum and the hotel had no record of either of them staying there.)
A detective from the Milwaukee Police Department observed a meeting on February 18, 1963 around 5:00pm at the Para Corporation between Frank Balistrieri, Buster Balistrere, Walter Brocca, Steve DiSalvo, Joseph Gurera and Frank Stelloh.
The Italian Businessman’s Club held a meeting at Fazio’s on February 20, 1963. Attorney Dominic Frinzi attended and brought Steve DiSalvo and Joseph Gurera as guests. The Milwaukee Police Department ran surveillance outside, which created quite a furor from those present. Indeed, the vast majority of men inside were honest individuals.
On February 27, 1963, a police captain from Milwaukee’s 6th District told the FBI that Joe Gurera had called the LoDuca Organ Company two or three weeks prior, and since then someone (the owner?) had left for Italy. This same day, Agent John Holtzman spoke to a Milwaukee police officer (may be the same contact). The officer said he had a source who was getting fed information by August Maniaci, but nothing new had come in since a newspaper report on January 31 gave bad publicity. He believed Maniaci was trying to get Frank Balistrieri and Joseph Gurera in some heat. The officer believed that the “four principals” in the Biernat killing were Stelloh, DiSalvo, Gurera and John Rizzo. He further believed Albert Albana, Dominic Principe and William Covelli were not involved but “mixed up” in some fashion. Lastly, August Maniaci, Walter Brocca, Nick Gentile and Frank Cicerello were not involved but may have “some knowledge”.
Special Agent Francis Mullen interviewed Winifred Pohl, 1554A West Odell Avenue, on February 27, 1963. Pohl was Frank Stelloh’s aunt and West Allis police records said Stelloh was living with Pohl. She said Stelloh was not living with her. Pohl explained that both of Stelloh’s parents, Conrad and Frances, were deceased and Stelloh had been an only child, so he was close to Pohl. As a child, Stelloh had been spoiled by his mother. As an adult, he had married and had two children, but was since divorced. She further said she felt the police were harassing her nephew and not giving him the opportunity to become a regular citizen. She said she had not seen him associating with any hoodlums other than Steve DiSalvo.
There was a party at Gallagher’s Steak House on March 3, 1963 for a singer (name redacted). Tickets were $10 and included cocktails, dinner and entertainment. Most of the guests were Italians, many from the old Third Ward. Steve DiSalvo, Joe Gurera and Buster Balestrere were conspicuously absent.
Joseph Gurera and Steve DiSalvo were seen having lunch at Alioto’s on Bluemound on March 22, 1963. The informant found this strange as he had believed that Gurera had left town. (While Gurera was apparently moved at this point, he may have been going back and forth between Kansas City and Milwaukee to finalize things.)
Steve DiSalvo met Joseph Alioto in the latter’s hospital room on Wednesday, March 27, 1963. Even from the Misericordia hospital on West Juneau Avenue, suffering from heart trouble and pneumonia, Alioto was seen as the replacement for Joseph Gurera and was “calling the shots” with local gambling.
On May 21, 1963, John Alioto’s son, Joseph, died at the age of 41 of cancer. The SAC in Milwaukee wrote that Alioto was “reputed to be high in the council of the local Outfit.” Among others attending the funeral was Angelo Marino, a San Jose hoodlum and relative of Santo Marino. Angelo Marino also had $40 worth of flowers sent to La Matto Funeral Home. (Angelo would later be the head of the San Jose family from 1978-1983.) The FBI wrote down license plate numbers at Alioto’s funeral, with many of them being from Illinois. They also used 4 rolls of movie film and 6 rolls of 35mm film. Others present were from Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Cleveland. An informant said that Angelo Alioto was expected to step into his brother’s role, but this is uncertain. Although he was investigated for gambling, I have no record of Angelo actually being involved in criminal activities whatsoever. Peter Balistrieri told an informant that it was the biggest funeral Milwaukee had ever seen, and that he had witnessed known killers crying. While watching the funeral, the FBI was able to get a palm print sample from Steve DiSalvo, but it did not match the print they found at the Biernat murder site.
Frank Stelloh met Steve DiSalvo on May 30, 1963 at Checker Cleaners, where they had coffee.
Steve DiSalvo helped Buster Balistrere move back to Kansas City on July 10, 1963.
Steve DiSalvo returned to Milwaukee on July 17. The absence of Balistrere and Gurera now put Steve DiSalvo firmly in the “underboss” position in Milwaukee, with Frank Stelloh also holding considerable power (though not officially a member due to his ethnicity).
On August 10, 1963, the Milwaukee Police Department looked in the Red Lion room of the Knickerbocker hotel and saw Frank Balistrieri, Felix Alderisio, Joseph Gurera, Steve DiSalvo and John Molle.
Special Agents Richard Thompson and Alexander LeGrand interviewed baker Peter Sciortino on October 24, 1963 in relation to rumors that he was paying the Outfit $20-30 per week in order to operate. He said he knew Steve DiSalvo, who occasionally would stop by the bakery, but denied knowing Frank Stelloh. He also said he had not paid any money, and that he did not know who had detonated a small bomb near his home in 1962. The same day, the agents interviewed Frank Dimiceli, the owner of the Rafters Steakhouse (7228 South 27th Street). Dimiceli also denied knowledge of any shakedowns. (Dimiceli would later be investigated for prostitution.)
1964
A “peace meeting” was held at Gallagher’s on January 6, 1964 between the Balistrieri and Maniaci factions of the Mafia. Frank Balistrieri told the group that he hoped this meeting would lead to a more organized and cohesive group, and said he expected Joseph Gurera and Buster Balestrere to return from Kansas City. Present for the meeting were: Tom Machi, Tony Machi, Angelo DiGiorgio, August Maniaci, Mike Albano, Harry D’Angelo, Benny DiSalvo, Vince Mercurio, John Aiello, Sam Cefalu, Steve DiSalvo, Frank Stelloh, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Joseph Balistrieri.
Agents LeGrand and Thompson spoke with Carlo DiMaggio again on January 13, 1964 at his residence (1536 North Franklin). DiMaggio said he was losing his house to Harry Kaminsky on a land contract, and he was going broke on legal expenses for his son Sam, who was unemployed and living upstairs. DiMaggio said he had known both John DiTrapani and Jack Enea, but did not know why they were killed. He said he knew Frank LaGalbo and Frank Balistrieri since they were boys, and that Frank LaGalbo had started out a bum and later became successful — he was now “too rich” to be concerned with “poor people” like DiMaggio. He admitted to knowing Joseph Vallone, Sam Ferrara and John Alioto very well, but did not know anything about the Mafia in Milwaukee. When statements made by Joseph Valachi were brought to his attention, he said he assumed that Valachi knew what he was talking about. DiMaggio said he did not know Steve DiSalvo, though he had heard of him. He also denied knowing Frank Stelloh, though had read about his shoplifting in the newspaper. He said he knew Benny DiSalvo, and he believed that DiSalvo’s wife was somehow important in Washington, DC.
On January 14, 1964, there was a “social gathering” at Gallagher’s, with 30-40 people present, including Walter Brocca, Steve DiSalvo, Frank Balistrieri, William Covelli, August Maniaci, a man from West Bend, and a few people from Madison. A second informant (beyond Maniaci) was invited but could not attend because he was not as his place of business when the call came in telling him about the meeting.
Special Agents interviewed Vito Aiello at his residence (3038 North Maryland) on February 26, 1964. He admitted knowing Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, John Triliegi, Walter Brocca, Carlo DiMaggio and August Maniaci. Denied being a “muscle man” for Balistrieri, and said he did not think Milwaukee had a Mafia or Syndicate and such things were confined to Chicago and New York. He did say he had formerly been a bartender for Balistrieri but now worked for the Eagles Club and was no longer associated with that group of people and was not invited to several social functions in January.
On May 25, 1964 Steve DiSalvo and Frank Balistrieri were at Fazio’s at some point. From noon to 4:30pm, they were at Gallagher’s with Peter Balistrieri, Joseph Caminiti and two California men in the company of Santo Marino.
Bernard Caputo, son of Carlo Caputo, died on June 8, 1964 at age 21. An informant said he amounted to “practically nothing” in the Mafia, but out of respect for Carlo, a number of Milwaukee men came to the funeral: Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Benny DiSalvo, Mike Albano and Mike Amato.
The funeral for car accident victim Bernard Caputo, son of Madison boss Carlo Caputo, was held June 10-11, 1964 at the Fitch-Lawrence Funeral Home and Blessed Sacrament Church in Madison. Attending from Milwaukee were Sam Ferrara (on the 10th), Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Mike Albano, Nick Fucarino and Benny DiSalvo (on the 11th).
The funeral for Rockford mobster George Saladino was held on June 10, 1964. Attending from Milwaukee were Peter Balistrieri, Harry D’Angelo, August Maniaci, Steve DiSalvo and Michael Albano.
Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri, Benedetto DiSalvo, Mike Albano, August Maniaci and Nick Fucarino were in Rockford on August 8, 1964 for a wedding. They went to Phil Priola’s home ahead of time, were at the reception at St. Mary’s hall from 7:00 to 9:00pm and returned to Milwaukee the same evening. Milwaukee informant 623-C-TE (Maniaci?) spoke with Tony “Mack” DeMonte and Joseph Zito at the wedding, where he learned that Jasper Gallo was in the United States at Springfield at the time. Gus Giovenco was also at the wedding. On August 10, the informant told the FBI that Gallo was a former Rockford boss and now lived in Sicily. He had been in the United States trying to raise money for incarcerated Sicilians. Gallo had once owned the Pinehurst Dairy with his brother-in-law Joseph Zito and had served time in Leavenworth for bootlegging.
On October 16, 1964, an informant said that Frank Balistrieri was hoping to officially bring Louis Fazio into the Mafia. He needed someone both strong and intelligent, and Fazio fit that description. The informant said that Steve DiSalvo was strong, but wasn’t particularly intelligent. The informant also said that a few days prior, Balistrieri had told Fazio that Felix Alderisio had just been made the #2 man in Chicago. (This raises some questions. One, if Fazio wasn’t already in the Mafia, why would Balistrieri tell him about Mafia business? And two, who is the informant in this case? Was it Fazio himself?) The informant also gave the FBI a run-down of Felix Alderisio’s history on this day, starting in approximately the 1930s, and explained how he fit into the John DiTrapani murder and other events (this is so redacted it’s impossible to tell exactly what was said).
The FBI interviewed Tony Albano at his residence (1538 North Milwaukee Street) on November 3, 1964. He denied knowing whether or not the Mafia exists in Milwaukee or elsewhere and denied being a member of any such organization. He freely admitted knowing Frank Balistrieri and said that Frank’s father had been a lifelong friend of his. He said he had known both Sam Ferrara and Nick Fucarino a long time, had heard of Steve DiSalvo, but did not know Joseph Gurera.
The funeral of LCN member Vito Balestrere was on December 28, 1964 at the Guardalabene and Amato funeral home at 2001 North Holton Street. Among others present were John Rizzo, Angelo DiGiorgio, Joseph Piscuine, Cono Librizzi, John Picciurro, William Covelli, Walter Brocca, Louis Fazio, Carlo and Jerome DiMaggio, Dominic Gullo, August Maniaci, John Aiello, Frank, Joseph and Peter Balistrieri, John Alioto, Harry DeAngelo, Joseph Caminiti, Michele Mineo, Santo Marino, Charles Zarcone, Joseph Spero, Sam Ferrara, Steve DiSalvo, Michael and Tony Albano, Jimmy and Buster Balestrere, John Molle (Vito’s brother-in-law), John Battista Blando, and Salvatore “Ted” and Vito Seidita. Nick Fucarino’s car, a 1960 Studebaker station wagon with license plate Q51-411 was observed parked nearby. Notably absent was John Pernice. Joseph Gurera was absent, allegedly because he was sick. Frank Balistrieri sat by Joseph Caminiti and was said to be “cold and aloof” towards everyone else. Sam Ferrara commented to an informant that the leadership needed to be replaced in Milwaukee, but it would cost too much. He referred to Balistrieri derisively as “camorista”. Tony Albano told the same informant that he had recently been contacted by the FBI and he found that very strange, not having been approached by law enforcement in 30 years.
1965
The funeral for former bootlegger Jack Iannello was held January 3, 1965 at the Strouf-Sheffield Funeral Home at 1101 High Street in Racine. Visitors included Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Benny DiSalvo, Steve DiSalvo, Dominic Principe, Albert Albana, John Aiello, William Covelli, John Rizzo and August Maniaci. An informant identified Iannello as a Racine member of the Milwaukee Family, although he had not been active for a long time. He had been a bootlegger, but after Prohibition worked for a foundry. His wife had already died, one son worked for Chrysler in California and the other two worked in Racine. An informant also said that Albert Albana and Benny DiSalvo were good friends and that Albana’s connection to Racine was counterfeiter Marty King, now deceased. At the funeral home Albana and DiSalvo embraced.
Angeline Principe Venci, sister of Dominic Principe, mother-in-law of William Covelli and wife of Antonio Venci, died of a heart attack on Sunday, January 24, 1965. Her death came as a surprise as she was only in her early 60s. A funeral was held on January 27 and was attended by Steve DiSalvo, Albert Albana and John Rizzo of Racine. Most of the Kenosha hoodlums were also there.
Steve John DiSalvo’s son was married on May 1, 1965 with the reception being at the Red Carpet Inn in Milwaukee. Among other attendees were Nick Fucarino, Albert Albana, Frank LaGalbo, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Joseph Spero.
The Milwaukee funeral of Vita Enea, wife of the deceased Joseph Enea and mother of Jack Enea, was held on June 7, 1965. Among other attendees were Salvatore “Ted” Seidita, Michele Mineo, Steve DiSalvo and Frank LaGalbo. At the funeral, Mineo was heard to express an opinion that he was not in favor of Balistrieri’s activities, although he was generally considered neutral in the ongoing dispute.
The funeral for Josephine Aiello LaMantia (sister of John and Vito Aiello) was held on July 17, 1965 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Among other attendees were Joseph Spero, Michael Albano, Charles Zarcone and Steve DiSalvo. Also attending was Joseph Romano, an alleged cousin of Angelo LaMantia who may have had a part in the murder of Frank Aiello. The LaMantia family lived at 1025 East Oakton in Arlington Heights, and had two children: John and Isadore.
On August 11, 1965, there was a funeral for Joseph Zammuto’s wife Lena in Rockford (she died in Rochester, Minnesota on August 7). Attending from Milwaukee were Nick Fucarino, Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri and Mike Albano. Nick Fucarino was supposed to pick up James Schiavo on the way to the funeral, but Carlo Caputo said Schiavo could not go because the FBI would be monitoring the event. When Frank Balistrieri heard that Schiavo was banned from going, he told an informant, “Who the hell is Caputo to say that?” Fucarino drove everybody down to Rockford. When they got there, Fucarino parked away from the funeral home and they took two cabs there to avoid FBI detection.
Frank Balistrieri threw a Christmas party at Fazio’s restaurant on Jackson on December 24, 1965. Attendees included Joseph Spero, Steve DiSalvo, Michael Albano, Jerry DiMaggio, Peter Balistrieri and Harry DeAngelo.
1966
Steve DiSalvo visited John Aiello’s house on March 6, 1966. They had recently run into each other at the place of business of a real estate developer, with Aiello hoping he could get some money. At that time, DiSalvo had instructed Aiello to stay away from the developer, and said it was on orders from Balistrieri. Aiello had then tried to see Balistrieri, but could only find Peter Balistrieri. He repeated what DiSalvo had said, saying the developer “fits into our plans”. (Due to the specific nature of this information, it appears it may have come from Aiello himself.)
A funeral was held for John Spero, who died of a heart attack while visiting Palermo, Sicily, on June 24, 1966. Nick Fucarino, Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, John Candela, Harry D’Angelo, brother Joseph Spero and many other hoodlums attended this funeral at the Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home. Allegedly, Myron Jennaro was hanging around with Frank Balistrieri. (Possibly meant Jimmy Jennaro? Refers to him as a “younger LCN member”, which I am pretty sure Myron never was.)
On June 28, 1966, a man showed up at the Milwaukee FBI office and asked to see an agent. Agents Reed and Joseph O’Connell spoke with him. The man said he had been employed by the Jennaro Brothers Fruit Company and was formerly employed as a driver for Joseph Gurera’s Encino Cleaners. He said three weeks ago some guys took him to Holy Cross Cemetery and told him they did not think he was a stool pigeon, and said it in such a way that he thought they might be thinking of knocking him off. The man said he was “running scared” and had “suddenly found religion” and wanted to tell the FBI as much as he could before it was too late. While working for Gurera he had overheard him talking with DiSalvo and had a list of guys who were referred to as “one of us”. (The list he gave is accurate, although he added Anthony Guardalabene, which is probably false.) He said Gurera had been Balistrieri’s muscle until he was forced back to Kansas City, and DiSalvo had filled that role since then. The man said he was occasionally employed as a “pyro technician” for events like church picnics and as such knows a man who owns a fireworks warehouse in Chicago, who he thinks may be a member of the Outfit in Melrose Park.
An informant spoke with the FBI on July 19, 1966 and said Louis DeRango had been talking to police about burglaries, specifically to Detective Heller. DeRango believed Steve DiSalvo was “out to get him” and wanted police protection. How DeRango knew about any crimes is unknown. His family was not Sicilian and had closer ties to the Kenosha Italians.
Steve DiSalvo’s father, Vincent DiSalvo of West Allis, died on September 5, 1966 with the funeral being on September 7. Nick Fucarino, Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Spero, Sam Ferrara, Vito Aiello, Michael Albano and several other hoodlums attended this funeral at the Schoff funeral home in West Allis. Anyone of any importance was there, including the local Italian gamblers and Vincent Mercurio. No one from out of town was recognized.
An informant met Frank Balistrieri in his office at The Scene on October 13, 1966. Various matters (redacted) were discussed, and Balistrieri excused himself to use the phone. Meanwhile, Steve DiSalvo and Frank Stelloh showed up together, and DiSalvo introduced the informant to Stelloh, who had been hired on by Balistrieri to supervise the custodians at his night clubs. DiSalvo mentioned that Balistrieri would be out of town for a while, as he had his tax trial in Springfield. He also told the informant not to talk to police or FBI without consulting an attorney because they would “twist around” the words.
1967
The Mat Corporation of America (7514 West Appleton Avenue) was incorporated on January 10, 1967 with Steve DiSalvo as vice president, treasurer and secretary. The business places mats at the entrances of industrial and commercial buildings. The office was shared with Herman Sosnay’s Greenfield Development.
Steve DiSalvo’s daughter was married on April 8, 1967. The reception was held at the Plankinton House Hotel with an open bar.
Frank Buscemi’s son, Vincent A. Buscemi, married Patricia Louise Ping on June 10, 1967 in Rockford. Frank Balistrieri was in charge of delivering invitations to Milwaukee LCN members. Nick Fucarino, among other old-timers, became upset with Balistrieri when they did not receive invitations. Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo and Peter Balistrieri were believed to have attended the event without telling the other Milwaukee members, according to Jerry DiMaggio (who worked for Balistrieri).
On July 25, 1967, an informant said there were conflicting reports about “The Office” gambling operation. Some said it was in debt, while others said it was ahead. The only one who would know for sure was Antonio “Sheriff” Cefalu. Other gamblers paying off to Frank Balistrieri included Frank “Hogan” Sansone, Tony “Petrolle” Machi, Tom Machi, and Steve DiSalvo.
The Ad Lib night club held a “sending off” party for Dr. Vito Guardalabene on November 9, 1967. Guardalabene was going to visit his daughter Carla in Spain and also planned to stop in Italy. At the party were numerous hoodlums and gamblers, including Dominic Principe, Vito Seidita, Steve DiSalvo, Joe Caminiti, John Alioto, Frank and Peter Balistrieri, Joseph Balistrieri (Sr.), Nick Fucarno, Louis Fazio, Anthony Cefalu, Tony Machi and Albert Albana.
1968
On January 5, 1968, an informant told the FBI that shortly before Christmas, while at Gallagher’s, Frank Balistrieri asked him to run for alderman of the First Ward. Also present were Paul Bogosian and Steve DiSalvo. Balistrieri offered to pay for his apartment so he could fulfill the residency requirements. He further said he would allow the man to keep his alderman pay, as well as his “current salary” (the informant apparently worked for Balistrieri). The informant declined the offer, saying he was running for office in Cudahy instead. Balistrieri was upset and acted cold towards the informant since that time (implying they saw each other multiple times since Christmas).
DiSalvo and Jimmy Jennaro were possibly at the Super Bowl in Miami on January 14, 1968. The National Football League champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American Football League champion Oakland Raiders by a score of 33–14.
Carlo DiMaggio died January 17, 1968 of a heart attack at Milwaukee County General Hospital. His funeral was January 20-21 at Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home on Holton, and was attended by Nick Fucarino, Dominic Principe, Steve DiSalvo, Cosmo DiSalvo, James Schiavo, Frank Sansone, Anthony Pipito and Joseph Spero among others. Sam Ferrara, Joseph Gumina, Vito Aiello, August Maniaci, Tony Seidita and Nick Fucarino were pallbearers. Principe was notably using two canes to help him walk.
Steve DiSalvo and Jimmy Jennaro were in Kansas City from January 22 through 26, 1968 in order to pick up a 1968 powder blue Cadillac Eldorado for Frank Balistrieri. The vehicle was purchased from Greenlease Motor Car Company on January 24 for an estimated $8,500.
Special Agent Daniel Brandt interviewed Herman Sosnay on January 23, 1968 concerning his relationship with Steve DiSalvo. Sosnay said he had known DiSalvo for 25 years, and that DiSalvo had earned $7500 in commissions in 1966 for appraisals on behalf of Greenfield Development. He earned nothing in 1967, and moved to his own business, the Mat Corporation of America. Sosnay was asked about Frank Balistrieri, and he said he knew him since “he used to play the saxophone when he was a kid.” He said that he did not believe all he read in the newspapers, as Balistrieri would not “hurt a fly”. Sosnay denied being a gambler, but did admit he liked to shoot craps.
Santo Marino attended a birthday party for his brother-in-law, Sam Ferrara, on February 26, 1968. The party was at the One Plus One Tavern on North Van Buren Street. Approximately 100 people were there, including Nick Fucarino, Joseph Gumina, Mike Mineo, Joseph Rizzo, August Maniaci, John Aiello, Charles Zarcone, Frank Sansone, Joseph Spero and other Milwaukee LCN members. Food and wine were free, though additional drinks from the bar were not. Notably, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo did not attend. Vito Aiello was invited but had to work as a bartender for the Eagles Club that night.
Frank Balistrieri held a party at his nightclub, The Scene, on March 20, 1968. Between 100 and 150 people were there, including almost all of the Milwaukee LCN. Two people were noticeably absent: Santo Marino and Al Albana. The party was a fundraiser for mob attorney Dominic Frinzi, who was running for Milwaukee County Judge. At this party, Balistrieri told a top echelon informant (likely Maniaci) that he wanted to “let bygones be bygones” and would be putting old-timers Sam Ferrara, Vito Aiello and Santo Marino under the leadership of Steve DiSalvo. Ferrara especially resented this decision, believing that DiSalvo did not show him (as a former boss) enough respect. Other old-timers such as Michele Mineo were put under John Alioto. Harry DeAngelo, Benny DiSalvo and an informant were put under Peter Balistrieri. Louis Fazio was collecting donations, looking for $100 per person if possible. Frank Balistrieri paid for the wine and dinner, with other drinks available for purchase. No speeches were made. Vito Seidita, the consiglieri, told the informant (probably August Maniaci) that he would be under Peter Balistrieri now and would no longer be marginalized in Milwaukee. Seidita mentioned that there was at least one member of the Milwaukee Family they knew they could not trust, but he did not say who it was. Non-members present included Frank Ranney, Harold Klein and Dr. Joe Regan. Vito Guardalabene and Phil Valley were also present. (Over a month later, on April 25, the Milwaukee Sentinel reported about this party, calling it a “Little Appalachin.”)
On the evening of March 23, 1968, a dinner party was held at Rudy’s Pizzeria (corner of North and Oakland). Attending the party were Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Walter Brocca, Harry D’Angelo, Vincent Maniaci, August Maniaci, Joseph Enea and Paul Bogosian. (Somewhere around this time, Bogosian broke his leg.)
On May 1, 1968, an informant said that Sheriff Cefalu had “retired” and the big bookie in Milwaukee was now Frank Sansone. Sansone took his orders from Steve DiSalvo, who was the go-between for Frank Balistrieri.
Biaggio Joseph Jennaro (father of James Jennaro) died June 15, 1968. The funeral was held at the Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home on June 17. Attendees included Frank Balistrieri, the Balistrieri brothers, Joseph Spero, Steve DiSalvo, Dominic Principe and Jerry DiMaggio. At the funeral, Balistrieri told an informant that he still wanted to “make” Joseph Enea and Walter Brocca but he had been so busy making repairs to his night clubs and working on his tax appeal that there had been no time to schedule the initiation.
On June 20, an informant (maybe the same one?) said that anyone who wanted to start bookmaking in Milwaukee had to go through Steve DiSalvo, and that all bookies would have to pay 20% or more of their profits to DiSalvo.
A representative of Cardinal Boiler and Welding was invited to lunch by Frank Balistrieri on July 19, 1968 to discuss the steel construction of 722 North Water Street. Cardinal had been awarded the contract with a $27,000 bid. They met at Alioto’s on Mayfair. Also at the lunch were Herman Sosnay, Steve DiSalvo, Joseph Caminiti, and Jimmy Jennaro. The man spoke with Balistrieri and got the understanding the project was jointly financed by Frank Balistrieri and Herman Sosnay. The man said he was worried about payment, because the general contractor was WB Construction, who had a poor reputation and had failed to pay him in the past. Balistrieri “personally guaranteed” the financing, and said if he needed $10,000 or $12,000 up front, just ask. The representative asked his Italian friends about this, and they said Balistrieri’s word was good. The man was hoping for a written guarantee, but his friends said it was not necessary. The man told the FBI he had also submitted a $9,000 bid on a stairway but had not yet heard back. He was under the impression that the owner was Frank Balistrieri and not Joseph, as he never dealt with Joseph at all. He always received instructions from either Frank Balistrieri or Herman Sosnay.
Mary Mercurio Picciurro died on July 19 and her wake was held on July 21, 1968. Those present were Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Frank Sansone and August Maniaci. On this date (possibly at the funeral), Frank Balistrieri told a to echelon informant (Maniaci?) that three new members would be “made” in September, pending his tax case. Jimmy Jennaro was sponsored by Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Enea was sponsored by Joseph Spero, and Walter Brocca was sponsored by Peter Balistrieri.
Steve DiSalvo was rumored to be involved in the construction of a 114-unit apartment complex in Mundelein, Illinois in August 1968.
On August 4, 1968, there was a stag dinner honoring the son of Vito Aiello, who was getting married. Nick Fucarino, August Maniaci, Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri, John Aiello, Sam Ferrara, Charles Zarcone, Nick Collura, Sam Cefalu, Sheriff Cefalu, Joseph Enea, Frank Sansone, Tony Machi, Vito Seidita, Walter Brocca, Joseph Spero and other hoodlums were in attendance. The dinner was held at Vitucci’s, 1832 East North Avenue. Attendees were charged $10 a plate, with the profits going as a wedding gift. Frank Balistrieri was noticeably absent. The dinner broke up at 9:30pm, and a car containing Steve DiSalvo and Sam Cefalu was pulled over as they left.
Jennie D’Angelo Alioto died on August 12, 1968 and her funeral was on August 16. Attending the wake were Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri, Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Caminiti, Vito Seidita, August Maniaci, John Alioto and Joseph Enea. A man was mugged by two black men outside of the funeral home.
Special Agents stopped by the Brass Rail at 8:45pm on August 20, 1968 and saw Steve DiSalvo speaking with the bartender. He left shortly after the agents arrived, and returned twenty minutes later with a paper bag containing what he said was toilet paper. A bartender named John told the agents he heard the Brass Rail had been sold and would be moved, though he did not know who bought it or where it was moving. They next went to the Downtowner, where Jerry DiMaggio was tending bar. DiMaggio said that the regular bartender, Rudy Porchetta, was on vacation. Stopping next at the Ad Lib, Joseph Enea was tending bar and Jimmy Jennaro was also in the building.
On August 31, 1968, there was a wedding reception for Cheryl Marie Principe, the daughter of Dominic Principe in Kenosha. Cheryl married James Reynold Gemignani, son of Roger Gemignani, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Kenosha. Nick Fucarino, Joseph Spero, Jimmy Jennaro, Walter Brocca, Albert Albana and most of the Milwaukee LCN attended the reception. Steve DiSalvo was in charge of invitations and declined to invite either Vito Aiello or John Aiello. August Maniaci, Santo Marino and Sam Ferrara also did not attend. This was yet another example of the old-timers being snubbed by the younger members.
The FBI followed Steve DiSalvo on September 18, 1968. At 2:40pm, his Buick Riviera was parked near Fiebrantz and Appleton Avenue. He then arrived in a Mustang and switched to the Riviera, which he drove to the A&W Root Beer at 7467 West Appleton Avenue. He made a 30-second phone call from the phone booth on the corner. He briefly drove home (4163 North 82nd), but then left again at 3:08pm and went downtown. They followed him to Markey’s Tap (2731 West Clybourn), at which point he jumped from his Riviera and ran down an alley. Surveillance was discontinued at 3:30pm, with DiSalvo successfully evading them.
Steve DiSalvo told an informant (probably August Maniaci) on September 23, 1968 that the Milwaukee Police Department had began a 24-hour surveillance on him the day before. He said he did not know the reason for the surveillance, but suspected it was somehow related to Bronson LaFollette running for governor. The informant reported this to the FBI on September 25.
Steve DiSalvo drove to Gary, Indiana and then to western Illinois on October 1, 1968, for no apparent reason. The police believed that since DiSalvo was aware of being surveilled, he was trying to frustrate the police.
A Milwaukee police officer met with Special Agent Daniel Brandt on October 2, 1968 and explained their surveillance of DiSalvo. They said their sources suggested DiSalvo would take over the Milwaukee Family if Frank Balistrieri went to prison, so they increased their surveillance of DiSalvo two weeks ago. At first he made his regular stops and daily visits. After about a week, he was at 722 North Water Street and apparently realized at that time he was being followed. Since then, he avoided personal contacts and changed his routine, and made daily trips to Illinois for no reason. The police believed he was trying to embarrass them or get them in a situation where he could sue for harassment.
Agents interviewed Herman Sosnay again on October 21, 1968. He told them he “didn’t need this” and said he had high blood pressure and diabetes. Sosnay indicated that working with Steve DiSalvo was not worth the hassle of being harassed by law enforcement.
Steve DiSalvo stopped by Danny’s Snack Bar at the corner of highways 45 and 175 in Mundelein, Illinois on October 23, 1968. (It was possibly highway 176, actually, unless this has dramatically changed.)
1969
An informant spoke with the FBI on March 26, 1969. He said that two weeks prior, he had been to the Harness Races in Chicago with Sam Dentice and some others. While there, Dentice said that someone (name redacted) had been put in charge of the books at the Office while Sheriff Cefalu had been ill, and this person was “juggling” the books. While the amount Dentice was aware of was small ($96), he indicated that if Steve DiSalvo found out there would be serious consequences.
Anthony “Sheriff” Cefalu had a fatal heart attack on April 13, 1969. His wake was attended by Steve DiSalvo, Frank Stelloh, Frank Sansone, Sam Cefalu, Sam Librizzi, Sam Dentice, Isadore Tocco, Fred Aveni and Tony Petrolle.
On the evening of April 24, 1969, Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo and one other person went to Chicago to see Balistrieri’s attorney.
On May 16, 1969, an informant told the FBI that Steve DiSalvo had closed “the Office” following the death of Sheriff Cefalu and was transferring the action to Sam Cefalu and Sam Librizzi. DiSalvo did not trust Sam Dentice to handle the money.
Around September and October 1969, Sam Ferrara was quietly going around seeking older members of the Milwaukee family to join him in contacting Chicago boss Tony Accardo. Ferrara’s goal was to convince Accardo that Frank Balistrieri was appointed Milwaukee boss by John Alioto without the rest of the family’s support, and that a meeting should be held to replace Balistrieri and possibly have Milwaukee separate from Chicago. Ferrara believed that Balistrieri was causing friction by giving too much power to Steve DiSalvo. Ferrara was able to gain the support of Joseph Rizzo, Santo Marino, Jerry DiMaggio, Nick Fucarino and August Maniaci. Joseph Spero was on the fence, but could probably have been convinced.
Frank Balistrieri threw a Christmas party on December 21, 1969 at the Kings IV Tavern (722 North Water Street). Approximately 150-200 guests were there, including Walter Brocca, Harry DeAngelo, Albert Albana, Frank Buccieri, Dominic Frinzi, Frank Stelloh, Steve DiSalvo, Benny DiSalvo, Jerry DiMaggio, John Rizzo, William Covelli, Dominic Gullo, Joseph Enea and the majority of the Milwaukee LCN. An informant told the FBI that Frank Balistrieri was telling people at this party that he would step down as boss of the Milwaukee Family because of his business (tax) problems. He also heard at this party that Jerry DiMaggio had been laid off from the Schlitz Brewery and tried to go work for Vincent Maniaci, but Maniaci told him to see Frank Balistrieri first. DiMaggio was then hired on as a bartender at the Downtowner.
1970
Agents contacted Dominic Principe on February 4, 1970 at 555 Deepwoods Road, Apartment 20, Mundelein, Illinois where he was now working as an apartment manager for a 34-unit complex. Principe advised that his employers were the Deepwoods of Mundelein Corporation and Superior Construction, both companies based out of Milwaukee with connections to Steve DiSalvo. Principe further told the agents he was soon going to have major surgery where both hips were to be removed and he did not know his plans beyond that.
Rent was picked up by Steve DiSalvo and Herman Sosnay, and they were seen in the Mundelin office of Damako Realty (840 South Lake Street) picking up money on February 4. Monthly receipts were $18,125 with the total 114 units sitting at 90% capacity. There is also a chance that two attorneys, a Goldman and a Pump, were fronting for DiSalvo and falsely acquired FHA loans… but the records are too redacted to be sure.
Joseph Spero died April 17, 1970 of a stroke and the funeral was held on April 19 at the Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home. Attendees included Nick Fucarino, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Albert Albana, Steve DiSalvo and Dominic Principe.
Antonio “Tony” Albano died April 24, 1970. Nick Fucarino, Frank Balistrieri, August Maniaci, Sam Ferrara, Steve DiSalvo and Harry DeAngelo, among others, attended the wake at Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home.
The wake for Salvatore Anthony Librizzi, 50, was held on July 10, 1970 at the Guardalabene and Amato funeral home. He was the brother of Cono Librizzi and operator of Libby’s Cocktail Lounge and Libby’s South. The newspaper said he had the nickname “The Book” and was among the first people ever to be arrested for federal gambling violations. Those present included Steve DiSalvo, Frank Balistrieri, Thomas Machi, August Palmisano, Sam Cefalu, Frank Sansone, Walter Brocca, Joseph Enea, and Peter Balistrieri.
Frank Balistrieri threw a party at the Kings IV on July 26, 1970. He charged $15 a plate and roughly 100 people attended, including Vincent Maniaci and Steve DiSalvo.
Madison LCN underboss Joseph Aiello died on November 7, 1970 and a funeral was held in Milwaukee on November 9. Many Milwaukee members attended the funeral, including: Steve DiSalvo, Frank Balistrieri, Sam Ferrara, Vito Seidita, August Maniaci, John Alioto, Joseph Caminiti and John Pernice. A Madison service was held the same day, and guests there included Nick Fucarino, and cars from Gallo Leasing, TCI Leasing, Grande Cheese, and Stephens and Gregg of Franklin Park, Illinois.
Dominic Principe died in his sleep on December 19, 1970 in Palm Springs, California — a city he had moved to in only the recent past due to ailing health. His body was returned to Kenosha where a funeral was held at the Crossin-Proko Funeral Home and burial took place in St. James Cemetery. Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Nick Collura, Steve DiSalvo and Albert Albana attended the funeral at Mount Carmel Catholic Church on December 23.
1971
Some time in February, Sam Cefalu and Steve DiSalvo attended the wake for someone’s mother.
Steve DiSalvo attended a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game on April 21, 1971 with Sam Cefalu and Frank Leo Sansone. It was the first game of the NBA Finals against the Baltimore Bullets, with the Bucks winning 98-88. (The Bucks, only three years old, had an amazing season overall and won the finals 4-0, due in part to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.)
Steve DiSalvo purchased a 1971 Chrysler Imperial Lebron in May 1971. He financed the purchase through Marine National Bank.
John Fazio threw a party at Fazio’s on Jackson on June 13, 1971 that went until 5am. Attending were Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo and Frank Sansone.
Frank Balistrieri reported to Sandstone federal prison in Minnesota on June 28, 1971, being chauffeured there by Steve DiSalvo in a rented car rather than escorted by US Marshals in order to avoid handcuffs and publicity. While away, he placed Joseph Caminiti as the acting boss of the Milwaukee Family and his brother Peter as the underboss. DiSalvo maintained his position as one of the three captains. Warden Loren Daggett told the press, “They drove up to the gate and said Mr. Balistrieri was expected. We checked, including calling Washington, and he was admitted.” Daggett said there were “a handful of people that you newspaper folk take an interest in Sandstone”, but did not clarify. Balistrieri was eligible for parole in four months, and if he maintained good behavior as expected, would serve his full term after 294 days (rather than the sentenced 366).
1972
The Justice Department considered bringing evidence before a grand jury to charge Steve DiSalvo with a fraudulent loan. However, on January 19, 1972, the decision was made not to pursue such a case (despite a crime being committed) because DiSalvo was actively repaying the loan.
Joseph P. Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo were seen at Frank Balistrieri’s residence on April 18, 1972 from 9:00am to 1:30pm.
The FBI reports that Steve DiSalvo called an informant on August 28 and told him of the death and asked him to tell the Rockford Family. Phil Priola of the Rockford crime family (and owner of Towne and Country Motel) was made aware of Alioto’s death by the informant, but declined to have any of the Rockford family attend the funeral for fear that this would lead to them being placed under surveillance by the police or FBI. (It is generally believed that August Maniaci was the informant, as he knew both Milwaukee and Rockford members, and we know one of the Manaici brothers was, in fact, an informant. However, James Schiavo was being groomed as an informant, so it is possible this job fell to him.)
A testimonial dinner was held for San Francisco Mayor Joe Alioto on November 11, 1972 at the Marc Plaza Hotel in Milwaukee. It was organized by the Italian-American Men’s Club of Milwaukee. Four hundred people attended the event, including Frank Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo. (The Marc Plaza was formerly the Schroeder Hotel and is today the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.)
1973
Carmelo Jerome Curro (Santo’s brother) died on April 12, 1973. Nick Gentile, Peter Balistrieri, Sam DiMaggio, Steve DiSalvo and Vincent Maniaci attended the funeral.
From 12:05am to 1:02am on April 23, 1973, Special Agent [Redacted] was at the Centre Stage Dinner Playhouse (624 North 2nd Street). He saw Frank Balistrieri in conversation at the bar with another man. Steve DiSalvo was walking around the lobby. At 12:12am, Balistrieri struck up a conversation with Vincent Maniaci. At 12:20am, the agent overheard Balistrieri speaking in hushed tones to an unknown man. He was able to catch the comment that Louis Fazio should have been offered protection by the FBI. Balistrieri further said he would be hiding the next day, and if he could not afford to take a vacation in Europe, he would just have to vacation in West Allis.
Frank Balistrieri threw a large graduation party for John Balistrieri (who received his law degree from Valparaiso) at his Center Stage night club on June 3, 1973 with over 1,000 guests. The entire Maniaci family was invited, with one notable exception: August Maniaci. Baby Joey Balistrieri was absent because he was in Las Vegas. Nick Gentile, Tony Machi, Angelo Alioto, Joe Dentice, Dominic Frinzi, Nick Fucarino, Sam Ferrara, Joe Enea, James Schiavo, Frank Stelloh, Vince Maniaci, Frank LaGalbo, Vito Aiello, August Palmisano and John Rizzo were in attendance. City clerk Allen Calhoun was there, as was Judge Vel Phillips. Restaurant owner Joseph Sardino was there, allegedly as a favor for loaning Balistrieri the money he needed to pay the IRS. The party started at 8pm and went until 2am, and was hot and overcrowded. John received some gifts and a large number of cash-filled envelopes. A fight broke out between Steve DiSalvo and Vincent Maniaci at 4:00am, probably fueled by alcohol. Agents from the Wisconsin Department of Investigation sat outside taking pictures while Dominic Frinzi and Joseph Balistrieri banged on the sides of their panel truck.
Frank LaGalbo threw a benefit party at Fish’s Tavern on June 10, 1973 for someone who was sick. Guests included Frank Balistrieri, Vince Maniaci, Sam Cefalu and Steve DiSalvo.
An informant told the FBI on October 1, 1973 that Frank Balistrieri and Steve DeSalvo had recently met a Greek man from Palm Springs at Kosta’s White Manor Restaurant.
1974
Throughout January and February 1974, Steve DiSalvo was witnessed meeting with a group of known gamblers on Saturday mornings for coffee at the Pfister Hotel Coffee Shop. The men would meet from 9:00am until 10:15 or 10:30am and discuss basketball.
Bobby Pick voluntarily came into the Milwaukee FBI office on January 24, 1974. He said he started gambling when he was 18 years old, working as a wheel roller for his father (Sam Pick) at the Club Madrid in Milwaukee on Bluemound Road, just over the county line. The Club Madrid had been a controversial gambling spot from the 1930s through the 1950s, and was a hangout for actor Spencer Tracy, but was not a Mafia-run business. Bobby Pick said he left his father’s employ but then went on to sell football gambling cards — sometimes up to 30,000 a week — but lost money in this venture. Pick then went into the Army, and when he got out worked on gambling boats off the coast of Florida. By the 1930s, he was employed as a dealer in Las Vegas (before the city had barely been built). In the early 1950s, he moved back to Milwaukee and opened a tavern on the corner of Reservoir Avenue and 12th Street. He played poker and had a horse book that he laid off with Frank Sansone. In the late 1950s, he took action from Sidney Brodson. In the early 1960s, Pick heard that gamblers in Milwaukee were being harassed by the Mafia. One night at Gallagher’s, he was motioned into the bathroom by Steve DiSalvo. DiSalvo asked him if he had been pressured, and Pick said no and he would not pay if he was asked to. As Pick left the bathroom, a man with a pistol in his belt blocked the door, but DiSalvo waved him off. Around this time, gamblers were having trouble paying Pick — one man who owed $6000 paid Pick instead with tropical fish. One of Pick’s bartenders was told by Vince and August Maniaci that Pick was to pay $100 a week, but Pick was never told to pay directly and never did. In the mid-1960s, Pick was sent to Sandstone Prison for gambling. He had been getting his line from Frank Sansone. He left his meager $5000 business with two men, and when he was out of prison six months later, they had lost it all. He started with a new partner, and within a few years, he lost $175,000 to the partner who embezzled it. Some of the money ended up with John Rizzo and a Racine attorney. At this point, he moved to Marathon, Florida. Pick continued to provide the line to (redacted), who gave it to Halmo, who gave it to Brodson. He said he only deals with one bookmaker in Florida, a man in Islamorada. Pick said he never regularly paid off the police, but on occasion he “threw them a bone”. He said Halmo once loaned a banker he met through Louis Fazio $50,000 but never got paid back; he did not know if Halmo was paying a share to the Mafia.
Sam Ferrara died on April 12, 1974 at age 78. He had recently started drinking heavily and was losing a great deal of weight, but had been generally unhealthy since his wife passed away two years prior. The funeral was held on April 15 and 16. Frank Balistrieri attended the wake and then had dinner with Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri and an unidentified gambler at the Towne Room restaurant. Joe Caminiti, Dominic Gullo, Vito Seidita, Harry DeAngelo and Albert Albana also attended the funeral. August Maniaci attended and “was accepted by almost all of the LCN members… which would appear to indicate that Maniaci will be back in good graces of the Milwaukee LCN in the near future.”
On June 7, 1974, Frank Balistrieri was in conversation with another person in front of the Brass Rail while A&D Cartage and Movers unloaded bar supplies. At 3:02pm, the person was given money by Balistrieri, but it was soon given back. Balistrieri walked to the Midland National Bank (201 West Wisconsin) and conducted a transaction. At 3:10pm, he left the bank and walked to the Boston Store (331 West Wisconsin). At that point, the agent stopped following him. At 3:13pm, Steve DiSalvo arrived at the Brass Rail where he stayed and chatted with the person there until 3:31pm. (The unknown man was probably Rudolph Porchetta.)
The FBI drove by the Brass Rail on June 10, 1974 around 2:00pm. Steve DiSalvo and Frank Balistrieri were observed talking while workers from the Schmidt Glass Company were remodeling the front windows.
The FBI set up surveillance on a brown Chrysler that was parked at Appleton Avenue and Perkins Street on June 13, 1974 at 3:28pm. At 5:24pm, Steve DiSalvo and an unknown man approached the Chrysler, and DiSalvo went in the passenger side and retrieved a brown package that was approximately 14 inches by five inches, and he gave it to the man. DiSalvo left in the Chrysler, and the other man brought the package to a red Plymouth. The man drove to 4687 North 75th Street and entered the residence.
Steve DiSalvo and Frank Stelloh were observed on July 3, 1974 eating breakfast at the Pancake House (Highway 100 just south of Grange Avenue in Hales Corners) at 10:00am. DiSalvo’s car had a trailer on the back with a motorcycle. A surveillance of DiSalvo showed him meeting a half hour later with a middle-aged man wearing glasses at Buffalo and Broadway. He then parked his car in the loading dock of Anderson, VanEngel and Zingale (115 South 2nd Street). He next went to the Marine Bank (111 East Wisconsin Avenue).
On July 9, 1974, DiSalvo and Stelloh were observed at DiSalvo’s home at 9:35am.
On July 22, 1974, DiSalvo and Stelloh were observed at the Pancake House from 8:34am to 9:59am. Agents followed DiSalvo and saw him enter the Jewell Food market at 10:05am and exit at 10:25am with two bags of groceries. He then went home.
Joseph Gumina was interviewed (again) at his home (3373 South 16th Street) on July 25, 1974. He was surprised by the agents, as he had been questioned only a few months earlier. Gumina said he was 72 so his activities were mostly limited to gardening and spending time with his family. He said he had not seen Frank Balistrieri or Steve DiSalvo in years and had no idea what their personal activities were.
The Junior Italian Open was held at the Tumble Brook Country Club on August 4, 1974. Steve DiSalvo and Peter Balistrieri intended to have a craps table set up there, although it is unknown if they did.
Around mid-September 1974, Anthony Pipito was released from Waupun State Prison and took up residence at the halfway house at the corner of 13th and Juneau. He spent his time working as a busboy and dishwasher at Sally’s Steak House, as well as helping out around Trovato’s. He also worked as a bodyguard for Steve DiSalvo, but had to be back at the halfway house at night.
An informant told Special Agent Eugene Murphy on September 19, 1974 that Steve DiSalvo had recently gone to Las Vegas with a wealthy Italian. DeSalvo was also attending a weekly poker or craps game at the Marc Plaza Hotel. The security guard there, as well as the Milwaukee police, were apparently aware of this game.
An unknown man (redacted, subject of 92-1459) was interviewed by the FBI on October 4, 1974. He acknowledged having financial dealings with Steve DiSalvo but declined to say what those dealings were without a summons.
Agents observed Steve DiSalvo, Frank Stelloh and a man in his mid-30s at the Pancake House on November 19, 1974 from 9:00am to 10:30am. The unidentified man left with DiSalvo.
On November 20, 1974, DiSalvo and Stelloh were at the Pancake House from 8:30am to 9:30am. As they were leaving, Stelloh ran into someone he knew (who drove a Cadillac with license plate number SC6-790) and the two of them went inside the restaurant.
On November 21, DiSalvo and Stelloh were at the Pancake House from 8:30am to 9:50am. On November 22, they were at the Pancake House from 8:20am until 9:35am. The man from November 19 was with them again, and afterwards DiSalvo dropped him off at a residence near 10509 West Wisconsin Avenue.
An informant told the FBI on December 2, 1974 that Frank Stelloh was told by a waitress at the Pancake House that the FBI had questioned her. The informant did not know if Stelloh and Steve DiSalvo were going to stop using the restaurant as a meeting place.
An informant told the FBI on December 12, 1974 that Frank Stelloh was planning on fencing stolen jewelry, though he did not know where said jewelry would come from. He also said that Stelloh told him that Steve DeSalvo expected to be indicted by a grand jury because of his aluminum siding business. Stelloh remarked that “the Jews have DeSalvo in a crack”.
A man who had financial dealings with Steve DiSalvo and was represented by Joseph Balistrieri testified before the grand jury on December 16, 1974 and pleaded the Fifth.
1975
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Charles P. Monroe observed Steve DiSalvo and Frank Balistrieri at the Towne Room East restaurant inside the Milwaukee Inn Hotel on February 28, 1975.
State agent Gary H. Hamblin subpoenaed Steve DiSalvo on March 4 to appear at a John Doe hearing on the 8th. DiSalvo fought Hamblin, saying, “I’m not taking anything. Don’t give me anything. I’ll knock you on your ass. I’ll twist that mustache around your neck.”
Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo met at the Milwaukee Inn on March 7, 1975. Among other things, they determined that Jimmy Jennaro would no longer be allowed at the Milwaukee Inn.
On Saturday, March 8, 1975, there was a “secret weekend John Doe investigation” in Washington County. Testifying were Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Enea, Jennie Alioto, Antonio Machi, Vincent Maniaci and Peter Balistrieri. Enea, Alioto and Peter Balistrieri were represented by Joseph Balistrieri. Frank Balistrieri’s testimony took about 20 minutes, and he probably said nothing. Both Enea and Alioto were granted immunity. Machi was represented by Gerald P. Boyle. State agent Gary Hamblin testified about his encounter with Steve DiSalvo. DiSalvo was scheduled to appear but did not, and was arrested for his failure to do so by the State Department of Justice and charged with criminal contempt. He was released on $1000 bond.
An informant told the FBI on September 18, 1975 that Steve DiSalvo had been appointed to the Board of Directors at Del Chemical by Frank Balistrieri, and this had upset Frank Stelloh. He did not know why Stelloh was upset.
On October 20, 1975, an informant told the FBI that Steve DiSalvo was putting ideas in Frank Balistrieri’s head in order to alienate him from other people. The informant also believed that DiSalvo was reporting to Tony Accardo about Balistrieri’s activities without Balistrieri’s knowledge.
A man who had financial dealings with Steve DiSalvo and was represented by Joseph Balistrieri testified before the grand jury on November 11, 1975 and pleaded the Fifth.
Steve DiSalvo, Frank Stelloh and various Italians met at the Pfister Hotel on November 30, 1975. At one point, DiSalvo took someone aside and scolded them for mentioning Frank Balistrieri’s name while being taped by the FBI.
1976
Steve DiSalvo was witnessed in late February 1976 removing a gun from a trash can outside of a McDonalds’s. Menomonee Falls Police arrested DiSalvo and took the gun. It was a .25 (6.35mm) caliber Astra-Unsety CIA S.A.-Guernica (Astra Cub) with a serial number of 939050. There was no clip or ammunition. A trace was made with negative results, and the police handed the gun over to the FBI on May 19. Their analysis also could not trace the gun to any crimes.
Steve DiSalvo was observed at the Shorecrest Hotel on May 24, 1976. At 2:23pm, he was sitting in the front seat of a red Plymouth talking with another man.
On July 13, 1976, Special Agents observed Frank Stelloh arrive at Meurer’s Restaurant and Bakery (Forest Home at Morgan) at 6:50am. Steve DeSalvo arrived at 9:56am and meet up with Stelloh. At 8:44am, both men left the restaurant and drove separately to 5746 South 116th Street. At 9:19am, DeSalvo left the residence and went to the Southgate Shopping Center where he was seen window shopping before joining five other men at the Walgreens Drug Store Restaurant.
On July 15, 1976, Stelloh arrived at Meurer’s at 7:06am where he met with a man driving a black over blue Cadillac (license R99-862) one minute later. At 7:53am, DeSalvo arrived. At 8:29am, the three departed separately. Agents chose to follow DeSalvo, who went home, parking his Cordoba in the garage behind his house.
On July 21, 1976, Steve DeSalvo was observed at Frank Balistrieri’s residence from 2:45pm to 3:00pm.
On July 28, 1976 at 6:50am, Stelloh arrived at Meurer’s. He was joined by the driver of a Cadillac at 7:07am. The Cadillac driver left at 8:24am. Stelloh and an unknown man in his early 30s exited the restaurant at 8:45am and walked to the man’s blue Ford pickup. The man drove off in his truck at 8:56am and Stelloh left a minute later. Some point this same day, the FBI went to Walgreens at the Southgate Shopping Center and wrote down the license plate numbers of the cars there, as Steve DeSalvo had used this as a meeting place and they wanted to know who he was meeting. (The file is redacted, so unless I want to run a VIN check on each of the cars, this will have to remain a mystery.)
Already waiting at Meurer’s on July 29, 1976 since 5:49am were the man who drives the black Cadillac and a man with a white Oldsmobile. Another man with a Cadillac arrived at 7:10am and purchased a newspaper from the stand there. Frank Stelloh arrived at 7:15am. DeSalvo arrived at 7:21am. At 8:27am, a man in his 20s arrived in a Ford Thunderbird. At 8:38am, everyone goes out to the parking lot to chat and the man in the T-Bird leaves. Stelloh and DeSalvo both left at 9:03am. The agents follow the black Cadillac after seeing the driver take an unknown item from Stelloh’s car. At 8:52am, the Cadillac parked at 6000 South 116th Street in Hales Corners and the surveillance stopped.
On July 30, Stelloh was seen at Meurer’s at 6:45am reading a newspaper. At 7:16am, another man arrived in his Cadillac and sat by Stelloh, conversing and reading the newspaper. DeSalvo arrived at 7:23am and joined them in conversation. DeSalvo left at 8:12am. The second man left at 8:21am, taking a newspaper from Stelloh’s car as he left. Stelloh left at 8:24am.
On August 5, 1976, Stelloh arrived at Meurer’s at 7:12am with his newspaper. At 7:24am, another man arrived and entered the restaurant with his newspaper. DeSalvo arrived at 8:23am. All three leave at 8:50am and talk in the parking lot. The unknown man left first, followed by DeSalvo at 9:26am and Stelloh at 9:28am. DeSalvo was observed at the Southgate Shopping Center and Walgreen’s Restaurant with an unknown white male from 9:30am to 9:41am. From 10:47 to 10:58, DeSalvo and the man were at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Stelloh arrived at Meurer’s on August 13, 1976 at 6:55am and brought a newspaper in with him. At 7:03am, the driver of a black Cadillac arrived and took a second newspaper from Stelloh’s car, bringing it into the restaurant. DeSalvo arrived at 7:48am. All three men, plus a fourth man, exited at 8:53am. The unknown man was followed in his brown Oldsmobile to Richie’s on Broadway. Once there, another unknown man came outside and talked to him briefly before the Oldsmobile drove off.
Steve DeSalvo was observed on September 10, 1976 at 4:30pm at Pitch’s Restaurant on Humboldt with an unidentified man.
Steve DeSalvo was observed on September 17, 1976 from 11:02am to 11:27am at the Walgreens on South 27th Street.
On October 2, 1976 (during the 1976 football season), FBI agents observed Sam Librizzi meet with Steve DeSalvo in the parking lot of St. Michael’s Hospital. When they were observed, Librizzi had the trunk of his vehicle open and both were standing at the rear of the vehicle talking. Photographs were taken of them on this occasion by government attorney J. Kenneth Lowrie. Later on October 2, 1976, after Librizzi and DeSalvo left the St. Michael Hospital parking lot, DeSalvo was observed going to Frank Balistrieri’s house and then leaving a short while later. Librizzi had gone to Sammy’s Tap at 630 East Locust.
On October 3, 1976, agents of the FBI observed DeSalvo again meeting with Sam Librizzi in the parking lot of St. Michael’s. DeSalvo was at the lot when Librizzi arrived. Upon arriving, Librizzi got into DeSalvo’s car. The two were observed discussing something in DeSalvo’s auto for approximately 10 minutes. On October 4, 1976, agents again observed Librizzi meet with DeSalvo at the hospital parking lot. On this occasion, DeSalvo got into Librizzi’s car for a short period of time and then both got out and stood alongside the vehicle. The meeting lasted approximately four minutes, and during it DeSalvo was gesturing in a forceful manner and speaking in a very loud voice. On this occasion, Librizzi said little or nothing, and was observed shrugging his shoulders.
On October 6, 1976, the Milwaukee Police Department began a “bumper hook” surveillance on Steve DeSalvo. The FBI observed DeSalvo and Stelloh meeting at Meurer’s at 7:45am.
On November 6, 1976, special agents saw Steve DeSalvo, a redacted individual and Frank Stelloh arrive at Meurer’s at 7:35am. The FBI noted that DeSalvo “was closely followed on his arrival by two unmarked cars obviously being driven by detectives of the Milwaukee Police Department.”
By December 1976, Steve DeSalvo was involved with United Commissary and Supply and was suspected of trying to muscle in on the produce business on Commission Row. This apparently upset the Italian community. (UCS was incorporated August 3, 1976 and its registered agent was attorney Joseph P. Balistrieri of 212 West Wisconsin Avenue.)
1977
On Wednesday, February 2, 1977, Federal Judge Myron L. Gordon declined a request from Steve DeSalvo and Joseph A. Logue to have the Milwaukee Police Department stop surveilling them. The two alleged that the police had used “unconstitutional strong-arm tactics, threats and obscene language” against them. Further, they alleged that the police had scared and intimidated friends of the Logues’ children.
On June 28, 1977, the FBI witnessed Steve DiSalvo in a white over red 1977 Thunderbird with license plate GP8974 (a rental car from Econo Leasing Corporation). The car had been rented by John Balistrieri. With DiSalvo was Nick George Montos.
The FBI followed Steve DiSalvo on June 29, 1977. He met with a man (redacted) at 9:25am at the Ryan Road Stop. At 10:46am, DiSalvo entered the Thunderbird being driven by Frank Balistrieri at the Shorecrest Hotel and they drive to Peter Balistrieri’s home and enter it. At 11:58am, DiSalvo and Montos have a conversation in the alley behind Peter’s house and then Montos walks to 1506 North VanBuren to make a call from a pay phone. At 12:27pm, Peter Balistrieri and a passenger leave in a white over red Cadillac. DiSalvo and Montos follow in the Thunderbird, going to the Summerfest grounds. They return already by 12:56pm. At 2:02pm, Joseph Balistrieri arrives in a Rolls Royce and drops off Frank Balistrieri. From 2:06 to 2:21pm, Montos makes another call from the pay phone. At 2:23pm, Montos and DiSalvo leave in the Thunderbird. At 2:41pm, DiSalvo unlocks the Brass Rail and watches the Towne Room Hotel with Montos. At 3:12pm, DiSalvo drops Montos off at the corner of North and Lake (outside St. Mary’s Hospital, where he had been admitted for kidney stones at 1:30am that morning) and returns to Peter Balistrieri’s house. Montos is picked up at 4:20pm by a 1977 gold Cadillac (driver redacted) and returns to the vicinity of the Towne Room Hotel before heading on to Summerfest. (One of the phone calls was to the residence of John W. Kelly, 53, 1642 West Edgewater Avenue in Chicago. Kelly was employed by the Penn Central Railroad and was not known to have Outfit connections.)
July 13, 1977: A Special Agent walked in and saw Steve DiSalvo in conversation with (redacted) in the restaurant of the Milwaukee Inn at 9:50am. DeSalvo exited out the rear at 10:03am. The two men with DiSalvo drove a blue Mercury that traced to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Agents followed DiSalvo on Tuesday, July 19, 1977 both on foot and through aerial surveillance. At 6:35am, he bought a newspaper at 76th and Nash. From 7:06 am to 7:51am, he met with a man in a green jeep at the Country Kitchen. DiSalvo dropped his Chrysler off at Sears Automotive Center in Brookfield Square to have new shocks installed. He was picked up by the green jeep at 8:29am and brought to a flea market in Jefferson where (redacted) was selling jackets and purses at a flea market. They had lunch at a cafe on Highway 26 and then returned to Milwaukee to pick up the Chrysler at 1:11pm. At 2:53pm, DiSalvo picked up John Molle, who flew into town the day before, and brought him to General Mitchell Airport. At 3:44pm, Molle departed on an Ozark Airlines airplane. (Also on this day, DiSalvo was seen with Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Joseph Balistrieri.)
On Wednesday, July 20, 1977, DeSalvo went to Arlington Park Race Track where he was watched by agents from both Milwaukee and Chicago. At the race track, DiSalvo met with approximately 8 to 10 individuals, one identified as Chicago mobster Joseph Anthony Ferriola, an associate of Frank Buccieri. Another man there was Paul John “the Indian” Schiro.
Friday, July 22, 1977: Surveillance began at DiSalvo’s residence (4163 North 82nd Street) at 6:15am. He leaves in a white Chrysler at 6:55am, buys a newspaper from a vending machine at 76th and Nash at 6:58am. At 7:18am, he enters the Country Kitchen restaurant at Edgerton Road and Highway 100 in Hales Corners. Man in a green jeep arrives at 7:40am. Frank Stelloh arrives. They have a conversation about DeSalvo having some “great steaks” (apparently a large quantity) and they think the FBI has paid people “a couple of bucks” to call in and give updates on them. DeSalvo also mentioned that he had to see “the man in the wheelchair”. The men leave the restaurant at 8:57am and converse in the parking lot. DeSalvo leaves and arrives at 317 North Broadway at 9:14am. At 9:28, DeSalvo leaves with another man and they walk to The Broadway. The men leave the Broadway at 9:50am, walk back to DeSalvo’s car, shake hands. At 10:00am, DeSalvo meets a 40-year old bespectacled black male at Atkinson Avenue just west of I-43. DeSalvo looks in the back seat of the man’s 1975 black Buick and then leaves at 10:08am. Between 10:20 and 11:31am, DeSalvo is at his home. He parks at Whitlock Auto Supply (Highway 100 at Grange Road) at 11:49am, collects a small brown bag and leaves. He heads south on Highway 45 and enters Illinois at 12:45pm. At 1:28pm, he stopped for lunch at Wendy’s in Mundelein on Highway 53. From 1:43pm to 3:45pm, DeSalvo stayed in the Classic Club area of the Arlington Race Track alone. He travels north and takes a bathroom break at 4:50pm at a wayside on Highway 45, just north of the state border. Surveillance was terminated at 5:13pm in Union Grove. By this time, the costs of rental cars and rental aircraft used in surveillance reached $904.
July 26, 1977: DeSalvo leaves his home at 6:59am, buys a newspaper at 76th and Nash, and then proceeds to eat breakfast at the Big Boy (2717 North 108th Street). After breakfast, he leaves and parks at the Milwaukee County House of Corrections at 8:20am. He meets another car and both of them continue to the Ryan Road Truck Stop (where Ryan Road meets I-94) at 8:40am. DeSalvo leaves at 9:18am, goes to the downtown area, is observed making numerous turns and u-turns, possibly to “shake” the surveilling agents. From 10:11am to 10:35am, he was inside an apartment complex near 28th and Kilbourn, using the rear entrance.
At 12:21pm July 28, 1977, DeSalvo used the phone on VanBuren between Pleasant and Lyon. He and another man then walk to Brady Street, where they each use a telephone at Brady and Astor. At 12:38pm, they return to where they were.
Special Agents again trailed Steve DeSalvo on August 2, 1977. He left his home at 7:06am, stopped and bought a newspaper at Nash and 76th. At 7:28am, he met (redacted) in the parking lot of Country Kitchen in Hales Corners. At 9:00am, DeSalvo leaves the Country Kitchen and goes to Ninth and Atkinson where he buys another newspaper. At 9:26am, he arrives at County Park at Green Bay and Hampton, where he reads his newspaper. At 9:40am, he leaves the park and takes I-43 south. At 9:49am, DeSalvo arrived at Produce Row (Buffalo at Broadway) and entered Maglio and Company. From there, DeSalvo and a white male go to Broadway Grill from 9:51am to 10:17am. DeSalvo returns to Maglio and Company, where a cardboard box is loaded into his car from a rear entrance. From 10:44 to 10:48am, DeSalvo was in the Plaza Motor Hotel (somewhere near Cass and State). He stops at home from 11:15 to 11:55am, and then uses the pay phone at 84th and Lisbon, and parks in the Sentry parking lot and enters 7504 West Appleton. At 12:22pm, he makes a call from Keefe and Appleton, then another call at 12:34pm at 56th and Burleigh. At 12:50pm, he parked his car at 29th and State and sat in his car. He makes a call from the phone booth on the corner, then walks to the rear entrance of the apartment complex at 2804 West Kilbourn. He leaves the apartment at 1:20pm and goes to the Mayfair Shopping Center. At 1:56pm, he returned to the Sentry parking lot and agents lost sight of him.
Sunday, August 7, 1977: the Italian Open, with many gamblers and hoodlums in attendance. People connected to Steve DeSalvo were on the committee.
On August 12, 1977, a wake was held for Frank Balistrieri’s aunt Rose Balistrieri-Balestrere (wife of Vito Balestrere) at the Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home. Steve DeSalvo(DiSalvo) was in attendance.
1978
On August 25, 1978, Special Agents Gail Cobb and Joseph Pistone of the FBI, acting in undercover capacities, and Benjamin Ruggiero went to Snug’s Restaurant in Milwaukee, where they observed Balistrieri seated at a table with Steve DiSalvo and others. Balistrieri motioned Ruggiero over to his table, and Cobb and Pistone remained in the bar area. After about twenty minutes, Cobb and Pistone were escorted to Balistrieri’s table and Pistone was introduced to Balistrieri and DiSalvo. After this meeting, Ruggiero told Cobb and Pistone what Balistrieri had said to him before they were escorted to his table. Ruggiero’s statements were recorded en route from Snug’s to the Midway Motor Lodge in Agent Cobb’s automobile. In this recorded conversation, Ruggiero repeated in substance that Frank Balistrieri had told him that football was the biggest thing in Milwaukee and that he (Balistrieri) had his own “office” which he wanted to discuss with Ruggiero and Pistone. Agent Pistone, experienced in these matters, understood Balistrieri’s reference to “office” to mean that Balistrieri had his own bookmaking operation.
Late on the evening of August 26, 1978, at the Peppercorn Restaurant in Milwaukee, Balistrieri and DiSalvo revealed their roles as owner and manager respectively of the gambling business operated by Sam Librizzi in 1977. This conversation began with a discussion between Pistone and DiSalvo concerning the upcoming football season and bookmaking in general. As the conversation proceeded, DiSalvo advised Pistone in the presence of Cobb, Balistrieri, and Ruggiero, that he was the one who handled Balistrieri’s sports bookmaking operation, that he wanted to get out of it, and that he was trying to talk Balistrieri out of the bookmaking business. The reason given by DiSalvo was that most of the bookmakers in Milwaukee were “stool pigeons” and he was attempting to convince Balistrieri to charge the other bookmakers in Milwaukee $1,000 a week in order to operate. In this way, DiSalvo explained, the bookmakers would be prevented by their own illegal activities from going to the FBI. DiSalvo further stated that there were so many stool pigeons in Milwaukee that they would need “Castro’s army to kill all the stool pigeons that Milwaukee had.” At this point in the conversation, Balistrieri confirmed that DiSalvo was in charge of his bookmaking operation and that he “Was looking for an individual to oversee the day-to-day operation, because the person that was running it last year, by the name of Sam, did not tend to business and wasn’t doing a good job and he was looking for someone he could trust to run the daily, the day-to-day operation for the upcoming football season.” Balistrieri further advised that they wanted somebody to take over this gambling operation from Sam, “so Steve wouldn’t have to spend so much time taking care of the book.”
After Frank Balistrieri announced that they were looking for someone to replace “Sam”, Ruggiero volunteered Pistone’s services to take over the day-to-day handling of Balistrieri’s bookmaking operation. Pistone concurred in Ruggiero’s offer. At that point, Balistrieri took Ruggiero aside and spoke with him out of the presence of Agents Pistone and Cobb. Although Cobb was only able to hear brief portions of this conversation to the effect that Balistrieri would have to call New York and that he (Balistrieri) was holding Ruggiero responsible, the full substance of this conversation was later revealed by Ruggiero to Cobb and Pistone in a tape recorded conversation in the early morning hours of August 28, 1978, after the trio left the Peppercorn.
After Balistrieri and Ruggiero concluded their private discussion at the Peppercorn, they returned to the area where Pistone and Cobb were standing and Balistrieri, in DiSalvo’s presence, advised Pistone to contact DiSalvo and make arrangements to meet with him to go over their bookmaking operation. At this point, DiSalvo agreed that Pistone should contact him to set up a meeting for Tuesday.
On September 13, 1978, Agent Cobb met with Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri, and Joe and John Balistrieri at Snug’s. Peter and Frank Balistrieri had just returned from a federal grand jury appearance. Cobb heard Peter Balistrieri tell DiSalvo, “You got a problem.” Frank Balistrieri then told DiSalvo that the government had pictures of him meeting Sam Librizzi, “At the hospital … where you picked up the money.”
1979
While running surveillance on Balistrieri’s house on August 16, 1979, agents observed Steve DeSalvo drive north on Shepard past the house in his white Chrysler Cordoba, then make a U-turn and come back south past the house around 2:40pm. From 2:46pm to 2:49pm, DeSalvo was seen making a phone call from a pay phone at the northwest corner of Maryland and Locust near the U-Frame It shop. After he left, an agent wrote down the number of the pay phone: 414-961-9748. At 3:19pm, Steve DeSalvo went to the Shorecrest Hotel. At 3:29pm, an agent could see DeSalvo and Frank Balistrieri in Snug’s through the window.
On August 24, 1979, a party was held at Leonardo’s in honor of Frank Fitzsimmons, president of the national Teamsters Union, who was in town as a guest for the Italian Open Golf Tournament. Steve DeSalvo(DiSalvo) served as a doorman at the party to make sure no unwanted people could join. The party was on the second floor and lasted until 5:00 in the morning. Members of Local 200 were there, as were attorneys from the Goldberg, Previant and Uelman law firm. The party was billed $745.03.
At the end of September 1979, Agent Michael DeMarco met with an informant. The informant said he was a good friend of Tony LaRosa, owner of Prize Steak Company, and knew there was “bad blood” between LaRosa and Balistrieri for a long time. About seven years prior, Steve DiSalvo had been visiting Prize Steak on a daily basis and LaRosa was afraid the mob wanted to take over his business. To help stand up to the mob, LaRosa hired August Maniaci, and Maniaci told DiSalvo to “stay the hell out of Prize Steak.” This resulted in a violent argument between the two in the company’s parking lot.
1981
On October 1, 1981, a federal grand jury handed out numerous indictments. Frank, Joseph and John Balistrieri on extortion, fraud, and tax charges. A separate indictment came down against John Balistrieri and Thomas J. Cannizzaro for mail and insurance fraud. Among other things, Joseph and John were said to have “unlawfully seized control of Alioto Distributing from one Connie Alioto, the lawful owner of Alioto Distributing, by fraudulent misrepresentations and extortionist threats.” John was alleged to have altered Alioto’s books and made fabrications. Charged with multiple violations of gambling laws: Steve DiSalvo, Peter Frank Picciurro, Salvatore Anthony Librizzi, Dennis Librizzi, Carl Micelli, John Piscuine, and Eugene Kawczynski. Charged with single counts of violating gambling laws: Joseph Volpe, Richard Panella, George Kopulos.
1983
Testimony was given before a federal grand jury in the Eastern District on July 19, 1983. One man (name redacted) denied that he had been given orders not to testify to the federal grand juries in 1979 and 1980 investigating the attempted murder of Vincent Maniaci. He also refused to answer questions concerning his association with Steve DeSalvo(DiSalvo).
On September 7, 1983, FBI agents began their testimony in the trial of Frank Balistrieri, Salvatore Librizzi, Dennis Librizzi, Steve DiSalvo, Peter Picciurro, Carl Micelli, and John Piscuine. Defense attorney Stephen Glynn, representing Sam Librizzi, took a bold approach. He said, “Number one: Sam Librizzi is a bookmaker.. (But) this is not a gambling case. The gambling in this case is by the government.” Defense attorney John Tucker, representing Frank Balistrieri, noted that of the 550 taped conversations the government made, not a single one was a recording of Balistrieri. He said Balistrieri was not the boss but that “the buck stopped with Sam Librizzi.”
September 9, 1983: FBI agent Gail T. Cobb testifies that a second agent, Joseph Pistone, was offered a job in bookmaking by Frank Balistrieri. Frank said that a man named Sam “wasn’t doing a good job”. Sam was probably Salvatore Librizzi. Cobb also testified that Steve DiSalvo had claimed it would take a large effort to kill all of the “stoolies” in Milwaukee.
1984
Others fell for their involvement in Balistrieri’s illegal gambling ring. On Wednesday, May 30, 1984, Steve DiSalvo, 65, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Salvatore Librizzi, 41, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and fined $15,000. Carl “Matches” Micelli, 64, was put on three years probation and fined $5,000.
1985
On November 13, 1985, Allen Glick testified that Frank Balistrieri did not threaten him or ask him for money. (He was, however, threatened by Frank Rosenthal and Nick Civella.) The two never had “any confrontation”. Glick said he had initially approached Balistrieri because “he was the most influential person who could help me obtain the loan.” Glick also said that Joseph and John Balistrieri “never made demands” on him and did not see the brothers at all between 1976 and 1979. In fact, Glick acknowledged making $70 million in profit when he sold the Stardust. Prosecutors tried to argue that a 50% option agreement was evidence that the Balistrieri family had a hidden interest in the casino; Glick said, however, that such an agreement was common, and was never carried out anyway. (Glick testified that he thought the option was “voided”; as recently as 2015, John Balistrieri had suggested the option was still valid, though what this means when there is no casino is unclear.) The trial was delayed when Frank complained of dizzy spells after he was told that his appeal for his bookmaking conviction had been turned down by a Federal Appeals Court. The court also upheld the convictions of Steve DiSalvo and Dennis Librizzi.
1986
A confidential informant in Sherman, Texas told the FBI on February 6, 1986 that Steve DiSalvo told him about a time that he and Frank Stelloh (who DiSalvo called “a legend” in the prison system) were wiring a car to explode. DiSalvo also complained about the failure on Balistrieri’s part to help him get out of prison. DiSalvo said “we made the Balistrieris” and “we did a lot of work for them, but they aren’t helping.”
A special agent stopped at Benny DiSalvo’s residence on December 31, 1986, and spoke with him. DiSalvo said his parents were from Sicily and he had visited there. He said that while he recently retired from Pabst, he had been in the construction business for many years, including the 12 years he lived in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn. He said he was not related to Steve DeSalvo(DiSalvo), but knew him from growing up in the same neighborhood. DiSalvo denied, however, that he knew anything about any organized crime activities.
1987
On February 2, 1987, a special agent visited Benny DiSalvo in the hopes of turning him into a “137” (informant). DiSalvo said he knew Frank Balistrieri, Steve DeSalvo(DiSalvo) and Harry D’Angelo, as he grew up with them. He denied knowing anything about any criminal activity. He said he was retired and simply lived with his wife and daughter.
An FBI agent telephoned Benny DiSalvo on March 3, 1987 and asked him outright if he was interested in being a confidential informant. DiSalvo insisted that while he did use the Brady Street Pharmacy, he knew nothing of any criminal activities. The agent said if he changed his mind, arrangements could be provided.
1989
The Milwaukee Office of the FBI sent a memo to the Miami Office on September 11, 1989. They believed that at the present time, the Milwaukee Family was largely destroyed due to both Frank Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo being in prison. They acknowledged there were still people who could step into leadership roles. They had also heard that DiSalvo was scheduled for release in May 1990 and had planned to go into the heroin and cocaine trade.
1990
Frank Balistrieri’s right-hand man, Steve John DiSalvo, died of brain cancer at age 73 on Saturday, June 9, 1990 at a Las Vegas hospice. He had just been released from the Federal Medical Facility in Springfield, Missouri less than a month earlier.