Milwaukee Mob Revisited

Hello everyone. I've recently discovered the Milwaukee Mob dialogue from December 02, 2010 in searching the internet. It had a chart of current members according to the person who posted the information. I saw the same chart on another site called The Street Gangs Forum. Unfortunately, some of the guys mentioned were never in the mob and a few don't even exist. Especially a person named Ricco "The Killer" Bono. I grew up in the Brady St. neighborhood which was once known as Little Italy, and I went to school with some of the guys listed on that chart. Although I've never been involved with organized crime and do not admire the mob I'm very aware of who was mobbed up in my city. I no longer live in Wisconsin but keep in contact with some of the old crowd. Some were never in the mob either but a lot of my old friends were. There's eleven "made men" living, but only seven of these guys are still active. Before Tony Pipito died in 2010, they met once a month at Papa's Social Club, a bar owned by Pipito. I've just made this chart on the current Milwaukee La Cosa Nostra members still living. Believe it or not, they had between 60-65 members in total. If you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.




Boss

Joseph "Joe Camel" Caminiti
- became boss when Peter Balistrieri died in 1997
- former secretary-treasurer of local 257 Teamster's Union
- kept a very low profile for many years
- brother-in-law of the late Frank Balistrieri and Angelo Alioto
- born abt. 1926
- still involved in organized crime

Underboss

vacant since Joseph Balistrieri died in 2010

Consigliere

Peter "Pitch" Picciurro
- son of the late John J. Picciurro (died in 1966)
- cousin of the late Frank and Peter Balistrieri
- owner of Pitch's Lounge (1801 N Hombolt Ave.)
- born abt. 1930
- still involved in organized crime

Captain

Dennis "Libby" Librizzi
- son of the late Samuel Librizzi
- brother of the late Salvatore Librizzi (died in 1990)
- owner of Libby's Lounge (1682 N Van Buren St.)
- born abt. 1946
- still involved in organized crime

Soldiers

John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri
- became a made member in 1990
- former Criminal Lawyer
- disbarred from practicing Law
- son of the late Frank Balistrieri
- brother of the late Joseph Balistrieri (died in 2010)
- nephew of the late Angelo and Joseph Alioto
- grandson of the late Giuseppe Balistrieri
- born abt. 1949
- still involved in organized crime

Vincent P. Gallo III
- became a made member in 1980
- owner of The Savoy Room (1962 N Prospect Ave.)
- born abt. 1943
- retired member of La Cosa Nostra

Anthony C. "Tony" Cimino
- became a made member in 1980
- born abt. 1948
- retired member of La Cosa Nostra

Joseph "Joe" Enea
- son of the late Jack Enea (murdered in 1955)
- brother of Russell Enea, associate of the Milwaukee Mob
- born abt. 1935
- retired member of La Cosa Nostra

Joseph "Jo-Jo" Fugarino
- became a made member in 1993
- owner of Jo-Jo's Pizza & Pub in Wauwatosa, WI
- former owner of Jo-Jo's Martini Lounge (418 N. Mayfair Rd.)
- born abt. 1961
- still involved in organized crime

Angelo "Angie" Martellano
- once involved in illegal gambling
- owner of Angelo's Lounge (1686 N Van Buren St.)
- born abt. 1936
- still involved in organized crime

Joseph V. "Joey V." Basile
- once involved in cocaine dealing and extortion
- born abt. 1941
- retired member of La Cosa Nostra

John Safina
- became a made member in 1984
- owner of TUTTO Restaurant & Bar (1033 N Old Ward 3rd St.)
- co-owner of Giovanni's Restaurant (1683 N Van Buren St.)
- born abt. 1944
- still involved in organized crime

very interesting chart! i've been wondering what was left in terms of active made men there, 6 seems reasonable. nice job on your first post, and welcome to the boards!

Thanks for the reply. though there were seven.

This is great,thanks for this, and welcome to the board !

right, i misread it but this was a great first post and a topic that really interests me. couple of questions for you. #1 what kind of ventures are these few remaining guys still involved in? #2 this is hard, but any estimates on the # of active associates left? thanks.

There's still Italian American criminals in Wisconsin?

Hey Old Dom great chart bro. Just wondering is there not a couple more of Frank Balistrieri's grandkids in there Carlo "Connie" Balistrieri and Joseph "Baby Joe" Balistrieri Jr?

Nope.... Carlo and Joe were never mobsters or associates for that matter.... what most don't understand is these individuals making these phony charts do it to make these very small crews look much beefier than they really are... I saw a post about cleveland not sure if it was you but the person said there's an edwardo but this guy doesn't exist either.... some call these wishers fan boys i just call them wish boys... on the Danial Bonanno guy... he claims to be Joe's son (not Bill's son) and says his mom was Joe's mistress and not the adopted son of JB.... hard to believe him also....

It was me I was asking about some Edwardo Angelucci I have seen on some of these phony charts I guess. Thanks for the info and if you have more charts on other families real ones i would love to see them. Again thanks bro.

Pretty good stuff Old Dom, I also grew up on Brady Street. I went to school with some of their kids and have been in many of the restaraunts, and drank in many of the local bars.
So this is all pretty interesting to me, I moved to the area in the early 1980's, I picked up a book on the history of Brady Street a few years ago but doesn't include Mafia History. So I been researching this a few years now, and I saw one major edit I would include in your chart.
Joseph P. "Joe Camel" Caminiti died on May 9, 1995. So does that mean there's no boss or next in line is boss? So that would be Pitch?
Also in addition to the restaraunts you mentioned, Giovanni Safina also owns Centanni Piano Bar, and his son is listed as co-owner of Texture Night Club and Comedy Cafe on Brady, along with Donato Salvo.
Also Old Dom, do you know if any Cataldo's were connected?
Thanks
Fellow Brady Street'er

Nice info. Just that's very weird you say Joseph P. Caminiti died in 1995, because I have his obituary from October in the Milwaukee JS. It says he passed away on October 15, 2012.

As far as there still being a family left in Milwaukee, I really doubt it.

To put it one way, as far as I'm aware there hasn't been a mob-related bust in Milwaukee since the 1983 casino skimming case and 1984 vending machine case. So just about 30 years. And 1988 was the last time the feds had Milwaukee on a list of viable families. Of course, that doesn't mean individual members and associates aren't still alive there.

Any info on Nunzio Basile or George Busateri?

George Busateri is a popular jazz musician, never was in the mob and can't hurt a bug.

1986 to be exact on the last we heard of anything. That was the year drug dealer Enrique (Ricky) Perez was murdered and dumped in a field. The law suspect it was the family that did it, but never had any proof.

Let's not forget the family feud between Joseph Balistrieri and his sister in the early 90's.

I thought this piece from a Chicago tribune article might be interesting: One of the more revealing stories about the now-imprisoned Fort and his gang, for long considered the most violent on Chicago`s streets, was told by Henry Harris, a former Rukn general who testified for the prosecution as it crafted its case.

Harris, built like a nose tackle and wearing thick reading glasses, described from the witness stand a 1981 meeting between Fort and convicted Milwaukee mob chieftain Frank Balistrieri.

In the back room of a smoky bar, Balistrieri leaned over the table and calmly suggested to Fort that if the Rukn organization was in need of cash, it should consider selling heroin, Harris said.

Harris said that the remark infuriated Fort, who is black, and that Fort shouted this warning to his white counterpart:

``If you ever bring heroin to the South Side of Chicago, around my people, I will come down on you so hard your forefathers in Italy will hear your bones rattling.``

Despite his alleged outburst, events would demonstrate that Fort had taken the don`s advice to heart.

Interesting info, Black Family! Although I really don't think he was of any match to Frank Bal and his men.

Looks like Milwaukee only has 5-7 members still active since Caminiti died.

Old Dom -- great chart, probably the most accurate in existence today.

I would add that Joseph Frank Enea is also deceased, actually as far back as 1976. I believe Russell Enea is still alive, but probably not criminally active since Sally Papia's passing.

The problem with Joseph Caminiti is that there were three (father, son, grandson). The father was active in Chicago, the son was the secretary-treasury of the Teamsters and died in 1995. The grandson was born in 1926, and probably wasn't criminally active. There was confusion not just with the name, but both the son and grandson lived in Menomonee Falls.

Gavin, so it was his son that died this year. Thanks for telling us about the right Caminiti. I had it wrong, too.

Even the American Mafia site has it wrong. Can't believe Joe Enea actually died in 76, he was only 41 years old.

So everything's right on the chart but Joe Enea and Joseph P. Caminiti.

The obituary for Joseph Frank Enea can be found on this page:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tgQqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LSkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6152%2C5150262

He is the son of Jack (murdered in 1955) and Jennie Enea, brother of Russell. His wife was Frances LaGalbo, daughter of capo Frank LaGalbo and Angeline Brocca.

Are there two Joe Eneas with brothers named Russell? I just assumed there was only these guys, as they were the notorious Jack's kids.

I may as well throw a shameless plug here:

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Mafia-Images-America-Schmitt/dp/0738594431

So is there 'a' Joe Caminiti alive and still boss in Milwaukee?
If all three Joe Caminiti's are dead, then is Peter Pitch or Dennis Librizzi the new boss of whats left?
Also, the only guy on the list who is not a senior citizen is Joe Fugarino. Looks like the entire membership will be down to one person in five to eight years. Kinda like Pittsburgh is today.

There are no more Caminiti's left.

I honestly don't think there is a boss anymore these guys are not organized anymore.

The few players left are old and got legit businesses.

As Ivy likes to say they are no longer a viable family.

the "el rukns" were jeff fort's handpicked guys from the "blackstone rangers" which had about 4 thousands members. he picked a couple hundred of his must trusted and capable followers and they were more of a mob than a "street gang"

jeff fort probably had as much power as frank balistieri

Hi fellaz, looks like Caminiti is dead like what Gavin says. The only old players left are the men below.

Nothing is going on up there. Looks like they all legit businessmen. Maybe a few involved in some gambling, but that's about it.


Consigliere

Peter "Pitch" Picciurro
- son of the late John J. Picciurro (died in 1966)
- cousin of the late Frank and Peter Balistrieri
- owner of Pitch's Lounge (1801 N Hombolt Ave.)
- born abt. 1930
- still involved in organized crime

Captain

Dennis "Libby" Librizzi
- son of the late Samuel Librizzi
- brother of the late Salvatore Librizzi (died in 1990)
- owner of Libby's Lounge (1682 N Van Buren St.)
- born abt. 1946
- still involved in organized crime

Soldiers

John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri
- became a made member in 1990
- former Criminal Lawyer
- disbarred from practicing Law
- son of the late Frank Balistrieri
- brother of the late Joseph Balistrieri (died in 2010)
- nephew of the late Angelo and Joseph Alioto
- grandson of the late Giuseppe Balistrieri
- born abt. 1949
- still involved in organized crime

Vincent P. Gallo III
- became a made member in 1980
- owner of The Savoy Room (1962 N Prospect Ave.)
- born abt. 1943
- retired member of La Cosa Nostra

Anthony C. "Tony" Cimino
- became a made member in 1980
- born abt. 1948
- retired member of La Cosa Nostra

Joseph "Jo-Jo" Fugarino
- became a made member in 1993
- owner of Jo-Jo's Pizza & Pub in Wauwatosa, WI
- former owner of Jo-Jo's Martini Lounge (418 N. Mayfair Rd.)
- born abt. 1961
- still involved in organized crime

Angelo "Angie" Martellano
- once involved in illegal gambling
- owner of Angelo's Lounge (1686 N Van Buren St.)
- born abt. 1936
- still involved in organized crime

Joseph V. "Joey V." Basile
- once involved in cocaine dealing and extortion
- born abt. 1941
- retired member of La Cosa Nostra

John Safina
- became a made member in 1984
- owner of TUTTO Restaurant & Bar (1033 N Old Ward 3rd St.)
- co-owner of Giovanni's Restaurant (1683 N Van Buren St.)
- born abt. 1944
- still involved in organized crime