SENIOR ADVISOR

After being almost imprisoned by the government for the second time, 76 year-old Accardo began to feel the pressure, especially because of his old age. Sources say that in 1983 Joey Aiuppa presided over induction ceremonies of new members, which means that Accardo decided to stay in the “shadows” but it was too late. The government wasn’t going anywhere and investigators wanted to see the old man in jail. In June 1984, Accardo was called to testify before a senate committee in Washington and probably for the first time during his life the old man answered at least few questions. Accardo said that he knew Al Capone only as a long-lost “friend” and the only illegal thing he ever did was that he gambled, and he also denied that he was business associate of both Aiuppa and Cerone, and also denied that he was involved in organized crime by making statements such as “I’ve never been a boss” or “I have no knowledge regarding a crime family in Chicago.”


Accardo at the hearings

In 1985, both Joey Aiuppa and Jack Cerone were indicted regarding the Las Vegas casinos scheme but before going to jail, they ordered the murder of their Las Vegas representative Tony Spilotro. Some sources say that before his death, Spilotro allegedly visited Accardo somewhere outside of Chicago and also allegedly asked for help from the old man, while others speculate that Spilotro might’ve been called upon by Accardo himself regarding the problems which Spilotro’s crew caused in Vegas. Either way, in June 1986 Spilotro’s dead body was found in an Indiana cornfield.

According to some government investigators by the late 1980’s Accardo was allegedly retired and from time to time he also allegedly acted as senior advisor for some of the bosses, although some FBI surveillance showed that Accardo also had meetings with the new leading administration which was formed by Aiuppa’s protégé Sam Carlisi as the new boss of the Outfit, followed by Accardo’s protégé and capo for the Elmwood Park crew since 1971, John DiFronzo, who in turn became Carlisi’s underboss. With DiFronzo as the Outfit’s number two guy, Accardo obviously still kept his power within the top administration. In fact, there are few surveillance photos from one meeting and you are able to see DiFronzo opening doors for both Carlisi and Accardo.


John DiFronzo and Tony Accardo


THE END OF AN ERA

The 1980’s was a very troubled decade for the Chicago Outfit and besides the arrests of many members and associates, or the deaths and the imprisonment of many of their bosses, capos and crew bosses, they also lost their main protection and “license” to kill with the imprisonment of many if their corrupt judges, cops and politicians. On top of that many informants started popping up by wearing wires for the FBI, such as William Jahoda and longtime crew boss Lenny Patrick.

Lots of members and bosses fell in the hands of the FBI and so old man Accardo probably saw the writing on the wall and by 1990 or 1991 he was out of the business, but we must not forget that once a made man, always a made man. Besides his serious health issues and alleged retirement, still until his last day, old man Accardo always denied having any role in the Chicago mob and often said “I have no control over anybody.”

Tony Accardo died on May 27, 1992 at the age of 86 from heart and lung disease at the St. Mary of Nazareth hospital center. His funeral was very low-key sendoff which mostly attended by members of his own family, except for two individuals such as former Outfit lieutenant Joe Amato and also Accardo’s long time friend Rocco aka Robert DeGrazio who were arrested together back in 1933. Accardo was buried in a crypt in the mausoleum at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, in Hillside, Illinois.



Accardo’s death also marked the death of the old “Capone” organization and in fact, he died at the same time when the Outfit was being crushed by the government which means he again managed to elude the law one last time.

Cheers