Here are some notable juice operators during the early 1960’s in Chicago…

Fiore Buccieri, the kingpin of the loan shark racket, oversaw three crews. One crew was led by Angelo LaPietra, the second one by Frank Buccieri and the third one by Angelo Severino. Sometimes these three crews were overseen by James Torello. Most notable members in LaPietra’s crew were James LaPietra, Louis DeRiggi, Carlo Morrelli, Johnny Monteleone, Steve Annoreno and Alfred Milstein. In Severino’s crew most notable juice men were Tony Monaco, Angelo Petitti, Frank Teutonica, Joe Rossi and Tony Ozzanto. Frank’s crew was made of Joe Spadavecchio, Carmen Buccieri, Chris Seritella, Tony Eldorado, Tony Catalano, Mike Tenore and John Varelli. Buccieri had spread his operations also in Gary and Hammond, Indiana and Milwaukee, Wisonsin. This group handled more than 3 million dollars a year.

Sam Battaglia’s juice crew operated in Melrose Park, Stone Park and Lakehsore and also in Gary and Hammond, Indiana, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Tucson, Arizona. Battaglia’s crews were mostly involved in lending money to companies that were on the downfall. For example in 1963 Battaglia lent $150,000 to the Lazarus Company, which resulted in fraudulent insurance claims and robberies. The Twin Food Company, which was known for the horse meat scandal, was a front for one of the biggest juice operations in Chicago headed by Felix Alderisio, Albert Frabotta and Leo Rugendorf. Also the Sterling-Harris Automobile Agency was making weekly payments to Rugendorf and Alderisio. Rugendorf forced the sale of 356 autos from the Sterling-Harris Ford agency to collect on one loan. The Bastone brother, especially Carmen Bastone also operated in the Melrose Park area. Their pime member was Tommy Tucker. If someone lent $500 from Tucker his juice payments were $50 a week. Rocco Pranno also operated a large scale of juice operations in Stone Park. Also Joseph DiCaro, associate of, Sam Battaglia’s crew had few big juice operations going onin Tcson, Arizona. This crew handled more than 3 million dollars a year.

Sam DeStefano’s crew operated on the West Side. Most prominent juice lenders were Peter Cappelletti, Tony Spilotro, Mario DeStefano, Art Pascucci and Sam Gallo. These guys handled 2 million dollars a year.

Lenny Patrick’s juice crew operated in the Lawndale area and Rogers Park. His most prominent juice operators were Jack Patrick, Morris Goldstein, Mike Patrick, Eugene Lufman, Norm Rottenberg and one known as Ruby “The Mule” last name unknown. These guys also handled juice operations in Gary and Hammond, Indiana and also in Dallas. Sam Yaras was their guy in Dallas. This crew handled about 2 million dollars a year.

Joseph "Big Joe" Arnold and Mike Glitta were involved in the juice loans on the North Side. Members of Arnold’s juice crew were Lawrence “Hornsby” Moretti, Lawrence “Larry the Hood” Buonaguidi, Joseph “Red” Amari, August Giovenco, Victor Musso, Michael "Bones" Albergo, Libero “Tony” Ingignoli and Thomas Immerso. James Allegretti and Caesar DiVarco also handled juice operations mostly on taverns and restaurants and thats why in the end the ended up owning almost every joint on the North Side.These guys handled 1.5 million dollar a year juice loan racket.

Joseph Gagliano, William Messino, Joseph Lombardo, John DiFronzo, Albert Sarno and Chris Cardi. These guys operated in Elmwood Park and their territory was bordered west by Austin Avenue, east by Ashland Avenue and south by Madison Av. This crew handled $500,000 a year

Willie Daddano had his own juice ledning headquarters on the corner of Cermak and Central Av. in Cicero. His crew was made of Tony DeRose, Buck Clemente, James Tortorella, John Allegretti, Frank Fratto, Ralph Detente, Mike Détente, John Reda and Alex Ross. This crew handled about $250,000 a year.

James Mirro was a Taylor Street guy but had his own headquarters on Grand Avenue where he operated large scale juice operations. His number one guy was James Capezio.

The Bravos brother, Nick and George, were known bookies all around the Chicago area but they also operated a successful juice supply of cash to their customers for many years. Some of their victims paid $300 a week interest. Bravos handled a high interest juice loan business and usually the debtors were kidnapped and severely beaten by him if they didn’t pay the required payments.

Jimmy Catuara from Chicago Heights also handled a large scale of juice operations. His crew was made of Billy Dauber, Gus Rubino and D'Andrea brothers, especially Nick D'Andrea. Their juice operations were mostly located in Gary, Indiana.


So in the end the Outfit made over 15 million of dollars a year and don’t forget that this was in the early 1960’s. The number of population doesnt prove anything, the kind of juice victims are the ones that count. And Evey League if you want to talk about numbers, lets talk about numbers than... Illinois had 11 million people in 1960's, Indiana had like 5 million, Wisconsin had like 4 million, Nevada had like almost half a mil and dont forget the operations in Miami, Dallas and Arizona and the fact that we are talking about one crime family here so somebody do the math around here please I’m done with this topic, cheers