On July 10, 1979 Newark-based Bonanno member Anthony Riela flew to Los Angeles.
Two days later Bonanno Acting Boss Carmine 'Lilo' Galante was shot to death at a restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
The following day, July 13, FBI Agents observed Riela at the residence of Anthony Zito located at 506 Witherspoon Drive in the Oaks neighborhood of Springfield, Illinois.
Zito, whose deceased brother Frank was the local Boss, had long been carried as a suspected member of that Family. Anthony's membership was confirmed in a report dated November 1974, three months after his brother died. (Another brother, Joseph aka Diamond Joe, was Consigliere in Rockford. The Zitos were also related by marriage to other members and suspected members in the Midwest.)
Agents from the Springfield Field Office advised Newark: "...Surveillances indicated [Riela] was in constant contact with Zito and was lodged at Zito's residence. The only visitors observed were [Redacted] and [Redacted]. These visitations occurred at the [Zito] residence and at his [vending] business, the Modern Distributing Company located at 131 West Reynolds, Springfield."
On July 14 Agents photographed Riela, Zito and two Unsubs (one later identified as Frank Campo) meeting at an unspecified local restaurant:
Two days later Bonanno Acting Boss Carmine 'Lilo' Galante was shot to death at a restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
The following day, July 13, FBI Agents observed Riela at the residence of Anthony Zito located at 506 Witherspoon Drive in the Oaks neighborhood of Springfield, Illinois.
Zito, whose deceased brother Frank was the local Boss, had long been carried as a suspected member of that Family. Anthony's membership was confirmed in a report dated November 1974, three months after his brother died. (Another brother, Joseph aka Diamond Joe, was Consigliere in Rockford. The Zitos were also related by marriage to other members and suspected members in the Midwest.)
Agents from the Springfield Field Office advised Newark: "...Surveillances indicated [Riela] was in constant contact with Zito and was lodged at Zito's residence. The only visitors observed were [Redacted] and [Redacted]. These visitations occurred at the [Zito] residence and at his [vending] business, the Modern Distributing Company located at 131 West Reynolds, Springfield."
On July 14 Agents photographed Riela, Zito and two Unsubs (one later identified as Frank Campo) meeting at an unspecified local restaurant:
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| Restaurant in Springfield (July 14, 1979) L to R: F. Campo, A. Zito, A. Riela, Unsub |
Campo's details are not provided but he may be identical to the individual of that name born 1915 in Springfield to Dominico Campo (1881-1957) of Montevago, Agrigento, making him the nephew of Family Underboss Nick Campo.
(This is also probably the same Frank Campo arrested with Anthony Zito in Ottawa, Illinois in the Fall of 1936. The pair, stopped while driving a vehicle containing a high-powered rifle, shotgun and loaded pistol, were released on $1,000 bond each. Contemporary press reported that both Zito and Campo 'have political influence in Springfield' and 'are active in mine union affairs'.)
At the restaurant Agents noted: "[Zito] did most of the speaking with [Redacted; Campo?] and [Riela] listening and making comments. It was noted [Redacted] was not included in the conversation and as indicated in one of the enclosed photographs, [Redacted] appears to be only a chauffeur or 'errand boy'. These conversations were all spoken in Italian, therefore, could not be understood."
On July 16 Riela and Zito were observed at the latter's vending machine business on West Reynolds St: "[Upon arrival] they went inside for a short period of time and then walked back out and stood by the corner of the building outside where they carried on a lengthy conversation. They then went inside and [Redacted] arrived. They immediately returned outside to the corner and continued a lengthy discussion. From observation, it appeared they were arguing with much hand motion. Also, it was noted on occasion while at the residence of Zito, Zito and [Riela] would walk out into the yard and have conversations."
Riela then drove to Chicago and from there flew back to Newark.
In an August 2 interview at his motel in Newark, he admitted visiting Los Angeles but failed to mention his brief stay in Springfield.
(This is also probably the same Frank Campo arrested with Anthony Zito in Ottawa, Illinois in the Fall of 1936. The pair, stopped while driving a vehicle containing a high-powered rifle, shotgun and loaded pistol, were released on $1,000 bond each. Contemporary press reported that both Zito and Campo 'have political influence in Springfield' and 'are active in mine union affairs'.)
At the restaurant Agents noted: "[Zito] did most of the speaking with [Redacted; Campo?] and [Riela] listening and making comments. It was noted [Redacted] was not included in the conversation and as indicated in one of the enclosed photographs, [Redacted] appears to be only a chauffeur or 'errand boy'. These conversations were all spoken in Italian, therefore, could not be understood."
On July 16 Riela and Zito were observed at the latter's vending machine business on West Reynolds St: "[Upon arrival] they went inside for a short period of time and then walked back out and stood by the corner of the building outside where they carried on a lengthy conversation. They then went inside and [Redacted] arrived. They immediately returned outside to the corner and continued a lengthy discussion. From observation, it appeared they were arguing with much hand motion. Also, it was noted on occasion while at the residence of Zito, Zito and [Riela] would walk out into the yard and have conversations."
Riela then drove to Chicago and from there flew back to Newark.
In an August 2 interview at his motel in Newark, he admitted visiting Los Angeles but failed to mention his brief stay in Springfield.