Fred Aveni was an Associate of the Milwaukee Family involved in gambling during the 1960s.
Born Alfio Aveni on March 20, 1920 in Milwaukee to Dominic (34y), a street laborer, and Tecula LiBrizzi (20y). Parents both from Messina, with the father from Tripi and the mother from Sant'Agata di Militello. (At least one of Tecula's brothers was born in the nearby town of Mirto.)
By April 1920 the Avenis and LiBrizzis resided at 177 Michigan St in the city's Juneau Town neighborhood.
On August 8, 1921 Dominic Aveni's Petition for Naturalization was witnessed by Ike Kohn, a merchant, and Saverio F. LaPiana (46y), a druggist from the city's Third Ward. (LaPiana [1874-1961], from Piana dei Greci in Palermo, also witnessed the naturalization of Milwaukee Member Antonino 'Tony' Albano [1888-1970] and Possible Member Michele Vitucci [1870-1938], as well as that of one Joseph Giuli [1889-1978], who in turn acted as a witness in the 1917 naturalization of Member Nunzio Maniaci [1881-1962]. Nunzio's sons included Milwaukee Member and Confidential Informant August 'Augie' Maniaci, who was found out and shot to death in 1975.)
By April 1930 the family moved further north to 770 Franklin Place in Yankee Hill, situated between Juneau Town and the Lower East Side. Dominic listed his occupation as cement finisher.
By July 1941 they were residing about a block over at 1339 N Astor St. Fred worked for Local 113 headquartered at 3rd and Burleigh.
In September 1943 married Mildred Fillion.
By April 1950 they were residing at 1733 West Galena St in the Park View neighborhood located about a mile and a half from Fred's old neighborhood.
On October 9, 1951 arrested by Milwaukee PD. (See top)
On July 5, 1956 among three arrested by the Kenosha, Wisconsin PD for street peddling. Those arrested were Aveni, Sam LiBrizzi (36y) and Frank Sorrenti (41y). The Kenosha News reported: "Still mentally kicking yourself for buying an armful of shampoo from those car-to-car salesmen haunting the downtown area for the past seven weeks? Well, if you are, you'll be happy to know that these sometimes downright annoying peddlers were arrested. A Kenosha woman pestered by one of the salesmen Thursday afternoon got mad enough to do something about it...The trio, charged with disorderly conduct, were each fined $25 and costs in municipal court today by Judge Urban J. Zievers. The fines were suspended when the salesmen's license to peddle goods here was up. Best of all, the salesmen were 'washed right out of' your hair with a police order to leave town." (Sam LiBrizzi [1920-1970] is later identified along with Aveni as a Family-affiliated gambler. He may have been related to Aveni through the latter's mother, although various records indicate that his immediate family was from Naso rather than Sant'Agata / Mirto.)
By Fall 1957 listed residence at 2172 N 36th St in Washington Park.
Born Alfio Aveni on March 20, 1920 in Milwaukee to Dominic (34y), a street laborer, and Tecula LiBrizzi (20y). Parents both from Messina, with the father from Tripi and the mother from Sant'Agata di Militello. (At least one of Tecula's brothers was born in the nearby town of Mirto.)
By April 1920 the Avenis and LiBrizzis resided at 177 Michigan St in the city's Juneau Town neighborhood.
On August 8, 1921 Dominic Aveni's Petition for Naturalization was witnessed by Ike Kohn, a merchant, and Saverio F. LaPiana (46y), a druggist from the city's Third Ward. (LaPiana [1874-1961], from Piana dei Greci in Palermo, also witnessed the naturalization of Milwaukee Member Antonino 'Tony' Albano [1888-1970] and Possible Member Michele Vitucci [1870-1938], as well as that of one Joseph Giuli [1889-1978], who in turn acted as a witness in the 1917 naturalization of Member Nunzio Maniaci [1881-1962]. Nunzio's sons included Milwaukee Member and Confidential Informant August 'Augie' Maniaci, who was found out and shot to death in 1975.)
By April 1930 the family moved further north to 770 Franklin Place in Yankee Hill, situated between Juneau Town and the Lower East Side. Dominic listed his occupation as cement finisher.
By July 1941 they were residing about a block over at 1339 N Astor St. Fred worked for Local 113 headquartered at 3rd and Burleigh.
In September 1943 married Mildred Fillion.
By April 1950 they were residing at 1733 West Galena St in the Park View neighborhood located about a mile and a half from Fred's old neighborhood.
On October 9, 1951 arrested by Milwaukee PD. (See top)
On July 5, 1956 among three arrested by the Kenosha, Wisconsin PD for street peddling. Those arrested were Aveni, Sam LiBrizzi (36y) and Frank Sorrenti (41y). The Kenosha News reported: "Still mentally kicking yourself for buying an armful of shampoo from those car-to-car salesmen haunting the downtown area for the past seven weeks? Well, if you are, you'll be happy to know that these sometimes downright annoying peddlers were arrested. A Kenosha woman pestered by one of the salesmen Thursday afternoon got mad enough to do something about it...The trio, charged with disorderly conduct, were each fined $25 and costs in municipal court today by Judge Urban J. Zievers. The fines were suspended when the salesmen's license to peddle goods here was up. Best of all, the salesmen were 'washed right out of' your hair with a police order to leave town." (Sam LiBrizzi [1920-1970] is later identified along with Aveni as a Family-affiliated gambler. He may have been related to Aveni through the latter's mother, although various records indicate that his immediate family was from Naso rather than Sant'Agata / Mirto.)
By Fall 1957 listed residence at 2172 N 36th St in Washington Park.
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| S. LiBrizzi Press |
By 1964 involved in bookmaking with Sam LiBrizzi and others.
On January 23, 1968 FBI CI reported that an Unspecified Gambler had gone partners in a tavern on North Farwell Ave. The informant noted Fred Aveni handled gambling at the location and believed that the proceeds would be split with Milwaukee Boss Frank Balistrieri.
On April 14, 1969 Aveni attended the wake of Milwaukee Associate Tony 'Sheriff' Cefalu. Others present included Milwaukee Captain Steve DiSalvo, Tony's younger brother Salvatore aka Sam Cefalu, Sam LiBrizzi and other Associates. (Sam Cefalu was inducted into the Milwaukee Family by 1976.)
Three days later FBI CI reported: "...Regarding the recent arrest by local authorities of Fred Aveni, the informant advised that two policewomen approached Aveni's front door, which Aveni opened but left on a chain lock. When Aveni spotted two police officers coming to the door, he slammed the door and raced to the basement and threw his records into a pail of water. The records were maintained on water-soluble paper, which immediately dissolved when they hit the water. The informant advised Aveni was arrested; however, was later released when it was determined the police had insufficient evidence on which to hold him. Informant believed Aveni was a partner of Tony Machi in a small bookmaking operation and was paying for 'line' information."
On January 23, 1968 FBI CI reported that an Unspecified Gambler had gone partners in a tavern on North Farwell Ave. The informant noted Fred Aveni handled gambling at the location and believed that the proceeds would be split with Milwaukee Boss Frank Balistrieri.
On April 14, 1969 Aveni attended the wake of Milwaukee Associate Tony 'Sheriff' Cefalu. Others present included Milwaukee Captain Steve DiSalvo, Tony's younger brother Salvatore aka Sam Cefalu, Sam LiBrizzi and other Associates. (Sam Cefalu was inducted into the Milwaukee Family by 1976.)
Three days later FBI CI reported: "...Regarding the recent arrest by local authorities of Fred Aveni, the informant advised that two policewomen approached Aveni's front door, which Aveni opened but left on a chain lock. When Aveni spotted two police officers coming to the door, he slammed the door and raced to the basement and threw his records into a pail of water. The records were maintained on water-soluble paper, which immediately dissolved when they hit the water. The informant advised Aveni was arrested; however, was later released when it was determined the police had insufficient evidence on which to hold him. Informant believed Aveni was a partner of Tony Machi in a small bookmaking operation and was paying for 'line' information."
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| c. 1970 |
On January 22, 1974 FBI CI reported: "Source advised that Fred Aveni is the bartender during the daytime at the Iron Horse on 10th Street and that [redacted] since the sale by the [Redacted] and this could have been where the rumor arose that [Redacted] was working at [redacted]." (The Iron Horse was formerly owned by Associate Louis Fazio, who was shot to death in September 1972.)
Aveni died July 14, 1980 and was buried in Milwaukee's Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum.
Aveni died July 14, 1980 and was buried in Milwaukee's Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum.
More Milwaukee Family posts can be found in the Index.
