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| 1963 |
Joseph 'Gramps' Marinelli was a member of the Rockford Family.
Born January 14, 1918 in Rockford, Illinois to Ambrosio (54y) and Rose Paci (40y). Family from Ferentino comune of Frosinone, Lazio.
By Fall 1930 the Marinellis were living at 812 Ferguson St. Ambrose worked in a machine shop.
By April 1940 resided at 2626 Knight Ave.
Later that year Marinelli listed his address approximately fifteen miles north at 814 Broad St in Beloit, Wisconsin, located right at the border with Illinois. Operated the Olympia Bakery at 924 Pleasant.
From April 1943 to November 1945 served in US Army.
Born January 14, 1918 in Rockford, Illinois to Ambrosio (54y) and Rose Paci (40y). Family from Ferentino comune of Frosinone, Lazio.
By Fall 1930 the Marinellis were living at 812 Ferguson St. Ambrose worked in a machine shop.
By April 1940 resided at 2626 Knight Ave.
Later that year Marinelli listed his address approximately fifteen miles north at 814 Broad St in Beloit, Wisconsin, located right at the border with Illinois. Operated the Olympia Bakery at 924 Pleasant.
From April 1943 to November 1945 served in US Army.
Following his discharge from the army he was back in Rockford, first at 632 Cunningham St then, by early 1950, on Island Ave. Gave occupation as salesman for a collection company.
Marinelli was inducted into the Rockford Family, headed by Tony Musso, around the mid-1950s.
Joseph Zammuto was named Boss following Musso's death in 1958.
On June 22, 1963 arrested by Rockford PD.
On November 25, 1964 FBI CI, a Soldier in the Milwaukee Family, was contacted regarding activities in Rockford: "...Prior to interview of [CI] by [SAs], recent reports on Frank Buscemi and Joseph Zammuto furnished by Chicago were reviewed and names were selected therefrom for the purpose of stimulating [CI]'s recollections regarding the LCN Family in Rockford...Joseph 'Gramps' Marinelli - [CI] said Marinelli was a member of LCN, Rockford and was made while Tony Musso was Boss - perhaps ten years ago. He is a man in his 50s, and he runs around the country a lot and has been a siding salesman." Around that time Marinelli was designated the subject of an FBI anti-racketeering investigation.
The Rockford Family was believed to number around twenty members.
Aside from Marinelli, confirmed members were all Sicilian, primarily from Agrigento and Palermo provinces.
Known members circa January 1966 included:
Marinelli was inducted into the Rockford Family, headed by Tony Musso, around the mid-1950s.
Joseph Zammuto was named Boss following Musso's death in 1958.
On June 22, 1963 arrested by Rockford PD.
On November 25, 1964 FBI CI, a Soldier in the Milwaukee Family, was contacted regarding activities in Rockford: "...Prior to interview of [CI] by [SAs], recent reports on Frank Buscemi and Joseph Zammuto furnished by Chicago were reviewed and names were selected therefrom for the purpose of stimulating [CI]'s recollections regarding the LCN Family in Rockford...Joseph 'Gramps' Marinelli - [CI] said Marinelli was a member of LCN, Rockford and was made while Tony Musso was Boss - perhaps ten years ago. He is a man in his 50s, and he runs around the country a lot and has been a siding salesman." Around that time Marinelli was designated the subject of an FBI anti-racketeering investigation.
The Rockford Family was believed to number around twenty members.
Aside from Marinelli, confirmed members were all Sicilian, primarily from Agrigento and Palermo provinces.
Known members circa January 1966 included:
- Boss: Joseph Zammuto (1896-1990) [Aragona, Agrigento]
- Underboss: Frank Buscemi (1911-1987) [Aragona]
- Consigliere: Joseph 'Diamond Joe' Zito (1906-1981) [San Giuseppe Jato, Palermo]
- Captain: Lorenzo Buttice (1892-1967) [Aragona]
- Anthony Basile (1908-1977) [San Giuseppe Jato]
- Filippo Caltagerone (1895-1971) [Aragona]
- Philip Cannella (1914-1971) [Villafranca Sicula, Agrigento]
- Al Cicero (1906-1994) [Sambuca di Sicilia, Agrigento]
- Frank Correnti (1911-1985) [Linguaglossa, Catania]
- Philip 'The Tailor' Emordeno (1911-1981) [San Giuseppe Jato]
- Sebastian 'Knobby' Gulotta (1930-2000) [Sambuca di Sicilia]
- Joseph Maggio (1936-1980) [Sambuca di Sicilia]
- Joseph 'Gramps' Marinelli (1918-1980) [Frosinone, Lazio]
- Salvatore 'Sam' Oliveri (1895-1969) [Corleone, Palermo]
- Philip Priola (1907-1987) [Ficarazzi, Palermo]
- Charles Vince (1907-1994) [Camporeale, Palermo]
On August 31, 1967 included in the FBI's list of 17 identified Rockford Family members. 6 deceased members also identified. (Jasper Calo, included in the list of living members, is believed to have transferred to a Family in Sicily by this time.)
On December 17, 1968 FBI CI (Milwaukee Member) reported: "[TE] advised he had received information from friends in Rockford, Illinois that the members of the Rockford LCN Family had received subpoenas to testify before a Federal Grand Jury at Freeport, Illinois. Receipt of these subpoenas has the Rockford LCN Family 'shook up'. TE expects to visit Rockford over weekend. Any information developed by TE will be forwarded."
On December 20, 1968 among nine who appeared before the FGJ. Those called to testify in addition to Marinelli were Boss Joseph Zammuto, Underboss Frank Buscemi, Captain Charles Vince and Soldiers Philip Cannella, Al Cicero, Frank Correnti, Joseph Maggio and Philip Priola.
On February 27, 1969 FBI CI (Milwaukee Member) reported:
"
On December 17, 1968 FBI CI (Milwaukee Member) reported: "[TE] advised he had received information from friends in Rockford, Illinois that the members of the Rockford LCN Family had received subpoenas to testify before a Federal Grand Jury at Freeport, Illinois. Receipt of these subpoenas has the Rockford LCN Family 'shook up'. TE expects to visit Rockford over weekend. Any information developed by TE will be forwarded."
On December 20, 1968 among nine who appeared before the FGJ. Those called to testify in addition to Marinelli were Boss Joseph Zammuto, Underboss Frank Buscemi, Captain Charles Vince and Soldiers Philip Cannella, Al Cicero, Frank Correnti, Joseph Maggio and Philip Priola.
On February 27, 1969 FBI CI (Milwaukee Member) reported:
"
On 2/23/1969, [CI] was visited by Nick Gentile, a former Milwaukee hoodlum, not an LCN member, who is now working for Foreman Brothers selling siding in the Beloit, Wisconsin area. Gentile told him that he received a telephone call in [Beloit] on 2/21/1969 from a Joe Roberts. Roberts is employed also in the siding business and was working in the Beloit area for the Jarvis Enterprises, Inc., whose offices are located in Rockford, Illinois. Roberts told him during the phone call he would give Gentile five days to get out of Beloit. According to Gentile, Roberts 'shot off his mouth' that Gentile may have Frank Balistrieri in Milwaukee, but he had more powerful friends in Rockford.
On 2/24/69 [CI] called Roberts and asked him what the story was in connection with his telephone call to Nick Gentile. [CI] said that he knew Roberts from the past, and Roberts told him he would drop the whole matter.
On 2/25/1969, [CI] received a telephone call from Knobby Gulotta, LCN member of the Rockford, Illinois Family. Gulotta said he understood Joe Roberts was in trouble in Beloit, WI and he either wanted to come to Milwaukee or wanted [CI] to come to Rockford to straighten the matter out. [CI] told him he did not think he should come to Rockford unless he was given authority to do so. On 2/26/1969, [CI] received a call from Charley Vince, LCN member of the Rockford Family, who told [CI] it would be permissible for him to come to Rockford. [CI] then made arrangements to meet both Vince and Gulotta in Rockford on 3/2/1969. [CI] said he recalled Joe Roberts was in the past a close friend of Joseph 'Gramps' Marinelli of the Rockford LCN Family, and if [CI] was correct, had in the past worked with Marinelli. [CI] did not know if Roberts was presently working for or closely associated with Marinelli.
On 2/24/69 [CI] called Roberts and asked him what the story was in connection with his telephone call to Nick Gentile. [CI] said that he knew Roberts from the past, and Roberts told him he would drop the whole matter.
On 2/25/1969, [CI] received a telephone call from Knobby Gulotta, LCN member of the Rockford, Illinois Family. Gulotta said he understood Joe Roberts was in trouble in Beloit, WI and he either wanted to come to Milwaukee or wanted [CI] to come to Rockford to straighten the matter out. [CI] told him he did not think he should come to Rockford unless he was given authority to do so. On 2/26/1969, [CI] received a call from Charley Vince, LCN member of the Rockford Family, who told [CI] it would be permissible for him to come to Rockford. [CI] then made arrangements to meet both Vince and Gulotta in Rockford on 3/2/1969. [CI] said he recalled Joe Roberts was in the past a close friend of Joseph 'Gramps' Marinelli of the Rockford LCN Family, and if [CI] was correct, had in the past worked with Marinelli. [CI] did not know if Roberts was presently working for or closely associated with Marinelli.
"
On March 13, 1969 FBI CI reported:
"
On March 13, 1969 FBI CI reported:
"
[CI] said he went to Rockford, Illinois over the weekend of 3/1-2/1969 for the purpose of straightening out the incident involving Joe Roberts and Nick Gentile, which possibly involved the Rockford LCN Family. On 3/2/69, [CI] met with Frank Buscemi, Underboss of the Rockford LCN Family, and Charley Vince, Rockford LCN Member.
...Buscemi made the statement that as of the present time the entire Rockford LCN Family is experiencing a great deal of trouble. The entire membership has been forced to testify before a Federal Grand Jury, and they feel they will all have to go to Chicago to continue their testimony before the Grand Jury. He said the Federal and local authorities have been exerting tremendous pressure on many of the operations connected with the Rockford Family to the point where they are not able to make any move without being under the scrutiny of the authorities. In view of this added pressure, Buscemi said he wants no incidents to take place and was extremely upset at the possibility there was some possible 'muscle action' being exerted by Joe Roberts in connection with Nick Gentile. Buscemi said he wanted this matter to be straightened out completely, and later on that same day he was arranging with [CI] to meet personally with Roberts so this problem could be solved.
Before leaving, Buscemi told him if Joe Marinelli should come to Milwaukee, [CI] was to give him nothing, show him no respect, and make no effort to have any contact with him. Buscemi gave no reason for his instructions re Marinelli, but [CI] was of the opinion any individual who is treated in this manner is in bad straits with the LCN Family, and in many instances, many individuals who received this type of treatment are possibly set up for a 'hit'. [CI] commented the possibility existed Marinelli may have been suspected of talking to the Grand Jury about LCN matters.
...[CI] said he received the impression through the above meeting that everyone in the Rockford LCN Family is upset at the recent action by the Federal Grand Jury in that the pressure exerted by the Federal and local authorities has brought their gambling and other illegal activities to a standstill in Rockford.
...Buscemi made the statement that as of the present time the entire Rockford LCN Family is experiencing a great deal of trouble. The entire membership has been forced to testify before a Federal Grand Jury, and they feel they will all have to go to Chicago to continue their testimony before the Grand Jury. He said the Federal and local authorities have been exerting tremendous pressure on many of the operations connected with the Rockford Family to the point where they are not able to make any move without being under the scrutiny of the authorities. In view of this added pressure, Buscemi said he wants no incidents to take place and was extremely upset at the possibility there was some possible 'muscle action' being exerted by Joe Roberts in connection with Nick Gentile. Buscemi said he wanted this matter to be straightened out completely, and later on that same day he was arranging with [CI] to meet personally with Roberts so this problem could be solved.
Before leaving, Buscemi told him if Joe Marinelli should come to Milwaukee, [CI] was to give him nothing, show him no respect, and make no effort to have any contact with him. Buscemi gave no reason for his instructions re Marinelli, but [CI] was of the opinion any individual who is treated in this manner is in bad straits with the LCN Family, and in many instances, many individuals who received this type of treatment are possibly set up for a 'hit'. [CI] commented the possibility existed Marinelli may have been suspected of talking to the Grand Jury about LCN matters.
...[CI] said he received the impression through the above meeting that everyone in the Rockford LCN Family is upset at the recent action by the Federal Grand Jury in that the pressure exerted by the Federal and local authorities has brought their gambling and other illegal activities to a standstill in Rockford.
"
On July 15, 1976 among nine indicted by the US Attorney's Office in Illinois on mail and wire fraud related charges.
In January 1976 FBI reported: "The Rockford Family of the LCN continues as a separate entity with closer ties to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Springfield, Illinois than Chicago. The Chicago Family has virtually no influence in Rockford. Joseph Zammuto continues as Boss with Frank J. Buscemi as Underboss. This Family is relatively inactive having a membership of about fourteen persons. They exert little, if any, influence on the political, judicial or economic affairs in Rockford. There is some involvement with gambling activities in the area, however, this Family has elected to remain passive and uninvolved, being content to avoid publicity and exposure." (This was repeated verbatim in a report the following year.)
Marinelli died June 5, 1980.
On July 15, 1976 among nine indicted by the US Attorney's Office in Illinois on mail and wire fraud related charges.
In January 1976 FBI reported: "The Rockford Family of the LCN continues as a separate entity with closer ties to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Springfield, Illinois than Chicago. The Chicago Family has virtually no influence in Rockford. Joseph Zammuto continues as Boss with Frank J. Buscemi as Underboss. This Family is relatively inactive having a membership of about fourteen persons. They exert little, if any, influence on the political, judicial or economic affairs in Rockford. There is some involvement with gambling activities in the area, however, this Family has elected to remain passive and uninvolved, being content to avoid publicity and exposure." (This was repeated verbatim in a report the following year.)
Marinelli died June 5, 1980.