Kansas City, Des Moines and other Midwest families

Heu guys long time lurker here. I very seldom post but I wanted to ask if anyone on here could help me out? I'm looking for any books and/or documentaries on the Kansas City LCN family. I live in Des Moines Iowa and since we don't have much for LCN history here I tend to read up more about Chicago and Kansas City and other Midwest families. Only thing I've really been able to find concerning Des Moines is there was a crew out of Chicago here ran by Lou Fratto in the 30s and 40's but after he died so did the Des Moines "family" so I don't have much to read about hometown wise. So any help with documentaries and books (other then Casino by Nicholas Pileggi, already own it) on KC or other Midwest families would be appreciated. Thanks!

I mean....there hasn't been any indictments in the news so SURELY that means the Des Moines family is super powerful under the radar right? Probably have over 100 made guys and know how to not get caught! I would know since I live here....

Des Moines didn't have a family. Lew Fratto (Farrell) was an Outfit guy and like you said ran the territory for Chicago until he died in 1967. I have not read anything that would indicate Chicago or any other LCN family having any involvement in Des Moines since then, although Lew's brother Frank may have had some kind of presence there for a time.

Bobbybats is the guy to ask about KC although he doesn't post much here anymore.

There is a book called mobsters in our midst , that's about the KC mob , I do have the book but can't tell u what it's like as I haven't read it yet

open city covers the early kc mob

Black Hand Strawman, The History of Organized Crime in Kansas City by Terrence O'Malley

There's also a documentary of the same name..

Here's a link to the website, where you can buy the book and the DVD:

http://blackhandstrawman.com/story.html

Good doc by Al Profit about the Detroit family aka The Partnership aka The Combination..

His buddy Scott Burnstein, also in this doc, has also written a book about the Detroit Mob called Motor City Mafia..

Dom is right on suggesting mobsters in our midst. I read this a while back and its a very interesting look at thr KC family specifically alot about the river quay conflict involving the Cammisanos and a renegade faction within the family over control of this burgeoning entertainment district in the mid to late 70s. Although admittedly i wish the book delved a little more into the Strawman I case but overall id recommend it for anyone looking for further insight into a largely unknown family. Side note but kc has always been a wildly corrupt town with a shit load of illegal gambling..love to know if they still have lcn shit goin on as i did read that cammisanos grandson was either a boss or capo which would indicate maybe they do have shit goin on.. Altho im sure ivy or someone else will beg to differ

Also in relation to Louis Fratto, his son Johnny who recently died was a regular on Howard Stern and was a great funny guest. In his first appearance in 2006 b4 he became Eric the Midgets manager (lol) he spoke about his dads mob history and the Des Moines arm of the Outfit..cant find the full clip on youtube, only the portion regarding Johnny jr, johnny sr and how fuckin weird kc armstrong is...but i digress im goin way deep into the good ole days of Stern when the show was legit bc Artie Lange was still on...

Thanks guys I'll be keeping an eye out for said books and if there's anymore please let me know. Especially if any books get more detailed in the Strawman cases.

Mikey, I never met Johnny Farrell but Ive met (I think) his son Tommy (or does Johnny have any brothers or sisters?). Tommy Farrell is a nice guy although kind of intimidating given the history of his family. He had a really good itilian beef sandwich shop downtown and one night 3 young drunk guys got into a yelling match and eventually full on fight right in front of his store. He came out and yelled "take your bullshit away from my store" and one of the kids goes "oh fuck that's Tommy....we're so sorry Mr. Farrell. It won't happen again" and took off running. I'm almost absolutely certain Tommy has no ties to Chicago or any CN or OC group but still to see how scared these punk kids were because of who his family is was amusing.

Too bad his place either closed or moved. It was some of the best itilian beef and itilian sausage sandwiches I've ever had. He had it right off Court ave on 4th which is is right were all the major downtown bars are so I know he made good money off all the drunken people wanting something to eat.