Saturday, April 27, 2024

John SanFilippo (Cleveland)

1961
John SanFilippo was a member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters who associated with the Cleveland and Detroit Families.

Born June 8, 1914 in Cleveland to Giuseppe Cesaro (37y) and Carmella Dublo (27y). Parents from Militello Rosmarino comune of Messina, Sicily.

John grew up in the Central and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods located on Cleveland's East Side. His father worked as a fruit dealer and later became involved in real estate.

By Fall 1940 resided at 3670 Rolliston Rd in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Employed with White Front Provision Company located at 3657 Central Ave in Central, Cleveland.

1942
On April 3, 1942 arrested on unspecified charge.
 
L. Triscaro
By 1961 SanFilippo was a member of IBT Local 436. The union, representing parking lot attendants employed with the city's race tracks, was headed at the time by Cleveland Associate Louis 'Babe' Triscaro.

Around April of that year SanFilippo was observed by FBI Agents visiting LaMarca's Barbershop on Kinsman Rd. The location was described as a 'known hangout' of Cleveland Boss John Scalish and Member (Consigliere?) John DeMarco.


SanFilippo (L) and Unsub
On September 12, 1961 SanFilippo was photographed by Agents in discussion with an Unsub outside the barbershop (above).

On May 22, 1962 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised [Louis Triscaro]'s Teamsters Local 436 represents parking lot attendants at the Cleveland Race tracks and [Triscaro] has in the past made unsuccessful efforts to extend his local's jurisdiction over other racetrack employees. Source recalled that on Easter Sunday 1962 a meeting [was held] at the Hollenden Hotel to ratify a contract for the new racing year. At that time Triscaro and one of his henchmen, John SanFilippo, an officer of Local 436, appeared in the lobby of the hotel. Triscaro indicated a desire to address the meeting of the Para-Mutual employees union but was not allowed to do so."

On December 24, 1964 Cleveland Boss John Scalish held a party at his residence in Pepper Pike, Ohio. Triscaro and SanFilippo attended, as did Cleveland Members Angelo Lonardo, Dominic Sospirato and several other associates and union officials.

On January 2/4, 1965 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised he talked with 'Babe' Triscaro during the Christmas week at the Teamsters Union Hall. Triscaro told informant he had attended a party at the home of John T. Scalish the afternoon before Christmas. Triscaro said he sat at the table on the right side of [John] Scalish and that Angelo Lonardo sat on the left of Scalish. Seated on Triscaro's right was John SanFilippo. Triscaro told informant that Dominic Sospirato was at the party and also that John J. Felice Sr. (President of Local 293 Beer and Beverage Drivers, Teamsters Union) was present. Triscaro also said Skippy Felice (John J. Felice Jr.), son of John J. Felice Sr., and local union official, and 'Chuckie' O'Brien, who is a close friend of Skippy and is from Detroit, Michigan, were present. Source advised that O'Brien is close to James Hoffa and believes he may have been indicted with Hoffa in Tennessee."

By 1973 SanFilippo served as Local 436's Business Agent and resided with wife Lillian Gruttadauria on Bremerton Road in Pepper Pike.

On October 17, 1973 FBI CV reported: "[CI] advised [John SanFilippo] is inactive, to his knowledge, and has heard of no illegal activity on part of [SanFilippo] at the present time."

A 1978 Federal report titled Organized Crime and the Labor Unions noted: "...William Presser is a major international officer allied with organized crime. His ties to the crime syndicate are spread across the country...Presser is connected to the Detroit syndicate through John San Filippo, Business Agent of Cleveland Teamster Local 346 (sic; 436), who is allied to the Licavoli brothers of Detroit and Cleveland."

John SanFilippo died November 2, 2005 in Ohio.