Milwaukee Crime Family
Founded1918
Founded byVito Guardalabene
Founding locationMilwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Years active1918–present
TerritoryGreater Milwaukee and some cities in all Wisconsin (as Madison)
EthnicityItalians, Italian Americans are made men. Other ethnicities as "associates".
Criminal activitiesSkimming, gambling, narcotics, racketeering, murder, extortion, prostitution, bookmaking, bribery, and loan sharking
AlliesChicago Outfit
Five Families
Rivalsvarious street gangs in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Crime Family, Balistrieri Crime Family, or Milwaukee Mafia is an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] The crime family was considered a branch of the Chicago Outfit. The family's most influential boss was Frank "Mr. Big" Balistrieri, who was greatly involved in the Las Vegas skimming casinos.[2] Today, the crime family is nearly extinct, since Balistrieri died in 1993, with the Chicago Outfit gaining control over some of the illegal rackets in the area.[3]

Historical leadership

Boss (official and acting)

  • 1918–1921 — Vito Guardalabene — died on February 6, 1921, from natural causes.[3][4]
  • 1921–1927 — Peter Guardalabene — the son of Vito Guardalabene[3][5]
  • 1927 — Joseph Amato — died of natural causes on March 28, 1927.[3][6]
  • 1927–1949 — Joseph Vallone — retired from the rackets in 1949 and died of natural causes on March 18, 1952.[7]
  • 1949–1952 — Sam Ferrara — in 1952 he was voted out by his family and members of the Chicago Outfit forced him to step down.[3]
  • 1952–1961 — John Alioto — trained his son-in-law Frank Balistrieri.[3][8]
  • 1961–1993 — Frank Balistrieri — imprisoned March 1967-June 1971. In the late 1970s, with his two sons Joseph and John worked with Bonanno crime family capo Michael Sabella. He was imprisoned from 1983 to 1991 for his involvement in Las Vegas skim racket. He died of natural causes on February 7, 1993.[3]
    • Acting 1967–1971 — Joseph Balistrieri Sr. — Frank's son and capo, became underboss in 1993.
    • Acting 1983–1993 — Peter Balistrieri — Frank Balistrieri's brother and underboss.[3]
  • 1993–1997 — Peter Balistrieri — he died of natural causes on August 17, 1997[3]
  • 1997–2014 — Joseph Caminiti — he served as Frank Balistrieri's consigliere; died in January 2014.[3]
  • 2014–2024 — Peter "Pitch" Picciurro[9] — died of natural causes on January 6, 2024.[10]

Underboss

  • 1927–1949 — Steven "Steve" DiSalvo — demoted in 1949, retired in the 1980s, deceased in the 1990s.
  • 1952–1961 — Joseph Gumina — moved to Kansas City, deceased in the 1970s.
  • 1961–1993 — Peter Balistrieri — became boss.
  • 1993–2010 — Joseph "Joey Bal" Balistrieri Sr. — Frank's son, deceased in 2010.

Consigliere

  • 1927–1952 — Vito Seidita — stepped down, retired in 1971, deceased in 1978.
  • 1952–1961 — Carmelo "Charles" Zarcone — demoted in 1961, deceased in 1969.
  • 1961–1997 — Joseph "Joe Camel" Caminiti — became boss.
  • 1997–2014 — Peter "Pitch" Picciurro — became boss.
  • 2014–present — John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri

Current members

After the death of Frank Balistrieri, the Chicago Outfit has taken control of the Milwaukee illegal rackets.[9] The Chicago Outfit had represented the Milwaukee family on the American Mafia Commission

Administration

  • Boss — Vacant
  • Consigliere — John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri[9] — is the son of Frank Balistrieri, the former boss of the Milwaukee family. John served as lawyer until 1984, when his license was suspended and he was later disbarred. In August 2014, John Balistrieri's application to reinstate his law license was rejected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[11]

Former members

  • Peter "Pitch" Picciurro[9] — former family boss, the owner of Pitch's Lounge and Restaurant and blood relative to Frank Balistrieri.[12] The son of Milwaukee mobster John J. Picciurro and cousin to Frank and Peter Balistrieri.

Notes

  1. ↑ Peter J. Devico The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra. (pg.154-156)
  2. ↑ United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Searches Conducted on March 8, 1980 Archived January 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Jay C. Ambler. "Milwaukee, WI Crime family" (2000) Rick Porrello's American Mafia.com
  4. ↑ Schmitt, Gavin (25 October 2021). "Vito Guardalabene – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
  5. ↑ Schmitt, Gavin (26 October 2021). "Pete Guardalabene – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
  6. ↑ Schmitt, Gavin. "Joseph Amato – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
  7. ↑ Schmitt, Gavin (26 October 2021). "Joseph Vallone – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
  8. ↑ Schmitt, Gavin. "John Alioto – Boss of the Milwaukee Mafia". MilwaukeeMafia.com.
  9. 1 2 3 4 SANTOLO, DIMAIOLO (November 12, 2014). "Milwaukee mafia boss Frank Balistrieri son to remain disbarred". Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Obituaries in Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel". jsonline.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  11. ↑ Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects crime boss' son John Balistrieri bid to practice law, Journal Sentinel, August 12, 2014
  12. ↑ Westphal, Caleb (June 2, 2017). "178 consecutive Friday night fish fries and counting: Pitch's Lounge and Restaurant". Milwaukee Record. News Paper. Retrieved 8 January 2022.

Further reading

  • Schmitt, Gavin. Milwaukee Mafia. Arcadia, 2012. ISBN 0738594431
  • Schmitt, Gavin. The Milwaukee Mafia: Mobsters in the Heartland. Barricade Books, 2015. ISBN 978-0962303265

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