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| 1952 |
Vito Seidita was a member of the Milwaukee Family who served as Consigliere under Frank Balistrieri.
Born August 22, 1904 in Santa Flavia comune of Palermo, Sicily.
On June 15, 1909 the Seidita family arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard S.S. Martha Washington. Their destination was given as the residence of early Milwaukee Boss Vito Guardalabene at 164 Detroit St.
Vito Guardalabene died in 1921. The Seiditas returned to Sicily around the same time.
Vito Seidita returned to the United States with a son and daughter on February 16, 1948. They joined his wife, Frances Cefalu, at 2586 Murray Ave in Milwaukee. The two married in Santa Flavia in April 1930, and Frances had been residing in the US since late 1946.
On June 2, 1952 he filed Petition for Naturalization in USDC Milwaukee. He was then residing at 1632 North Warren Ave and working construction. Acting as witnesses were Milwaukee members Joseph Caminiti and John Alioto, who took over as Family Boss around this time. Seidita, possibly already a member of the Family as well, was naturalized the following month.
Although he applied for a bartender's license in April 1952, within a couple of days of his naturalization Vito began working with the City of Milwaukee's Street Sanitation Department. He remained with the city until his retirement twenty years later.
On January 11, 1965 FBI Agents observed Joseph Caminiti, now the Family's Underboss, visiting the Seidita residence at 3428-3430 North 48th St. Vito lived in a duplex alongside relative Salvatore 'Ted' Seidita, also a member of the Family.
Vito's rank at the time is not clear. Later that year an FBI source identified seven Family members as making up 'the chair' or council. Those named as council members were Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Caminiti, John Alioto, Peter Balistrieri, Joseph Gumina, Michele 'Mike' Mineo and Vito Seidita.
A member source, possibly Augie Maniaci, confirmed Seidita as Consigliere when providing Agents with a breakdown of Family leadership the following summer.
It was probably the same source who attended a political fundraiser hosted by Frank Balistrieri in March 1968. During the occasion Seidita informed the source of his assignment to Capodecina Peter Balistrieri and spoke with him about various Family matters: "[Seidita] told [CI] to get in line and keep in touch with Pete Balistrieri and, in effect, Vito was telling [CI] that he was not being ignored by the Milwaukee LCN Family leadership as he had been in the recent past. Seidita did mention that there was someone in the Milwaukee Family whom they do not trust. Seidita gave no indication that he knew who it might be."
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| c. 1970 |
Around early April 1970 Seidita's counsel was sought in a dispute between Soldier Vincent Maniaci and Boss Frank Balistrieri concerning Maniaci's restaurant and tavern. Balistrieri, knowing Maniaci had been forced to find a new location for the business, demanded in 'very strong terms' that Maniaci use Balistrieri-owned vending machines at the new location. Maniaci considered this approach an 'affront to [his] honor' and requested a meeting with Seidita and Underboss Joseph Caminiti to settle the matter.
The following month Seidita confided in a member source regarding his own unhappiness with the Boss: "[Seidita told CI] he has not been taken into Frank Balistrieri's confidence regarding problems of the Milwaukee LCN Family and was personally disgusted with the manner in which Balistrieri was leading the Family. Seidita mentioned that Balistrieri conducts no meetings and consults with no one concerning LCN matters. Seidita felt that demands would have to be made by the LCN membership and the Family become more active without ties to the Chicago LCN Family."
Despite the various complaints no overt action appears to have been taken. Seidita continued in his role as Consigliere and was present at nearly all of the wakes and other social functions held through the following years.
He remained employed with the city, now working for the Milwaukee Dump Sanitation Department. When tracked down there for an interview he told the FBI he had no knowledge of LCN.
Seidita retired from the City of Milwaukee by April 1974.
Two months later an FBI source provided another Family breakdown, confirming he remained as Consigliere.
He may have continued in this position until his death in Milwaukee on July 17, 1978.
He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum.
Underboss Joseph Caminiti, replaced by Steve DeSalvo, was shifted to Consigliere.
Those interested in learning more about the Midwest Crimes Families should check the Milwaukee Mafia site.
