Milwaukee crime family

The Milwaukee Crime Family or Balistrieri Crime Family is an American Mafia crime family based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[1] The crime family was considered a branch of the Chicago Outfit. The family's most influential boss was Frank "Mr. Big" Balistrieri, who was greatly involved in the Las Vegas skimming casinos.^[2] Today, the crime family is nearly extinct, since Balistrieri died in 1993, with the Chicago Outfit gaining control over some of the illegal rackets in the area.^[3]

Historical leadership[]

Boss (official and acting)[]

• 1918–1921 — Vito Guardalabene — died on February 6, 1921 from natural causes.^[3][4]
• 1921–1927 — Peter Guardalabene — the son of Vito Guardalabene^[3][5]
• 1927 — Joseph Amato — died of natural causes on March 28, 1927.^[3][6]
• 1927–1949 — Joseph Vallone — retired from the rackets in 1949 and died of natural causes on March 18, 1952.^[7]
• 1949–1952 — Sam Ferrara — in 1952 he was voted out by his family and members of the Chicago Outfit forced him to step down.^[3]
• 1952–1961 — John Alioto — trained his son-in-law Frank Balistrieri.^[3][8]
• 1961–1993 — Frank Balistrieri — imprisoned March 1967-June 1971. In the late 1970s, with his two sons Joseph and John worked with Bonanno crime family capo Michael Sabella. He was imprisoned from 1983-1991 for his involvement in Las Vegas skim racket. He died of natural causes on February 7, 1993.^[3]
  • Acting 1967–1971 — Joseph Balistrieri Sr. — Frank's son and capo, became underboss in 1993.
  • Acting 1983–1993 — Peter Balistrieri — Frank Balistrieri's brother and underboss.^[3]
• 1993–1997 — Peter Balistrieri — he died of natural causes on August 17, 1997 ^[3]
• 1997–2014 — Joseph Caminiti — he was Frank Balistrieri's consigliere; died in January 2014.^[3]
• 2014–present — Peter Picciurro

Current members[]

• Boss — Peter "Pitch" Picciurro
• Consigliere — John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri — is the son of Frank Balistrieri the former boss of the Milwaukee family. John served as lawyer until 1984, when his license was suspended and he was later disbarred. In August 2014, John Balistrieri's application to get reinstate his law license was rejected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.^[9]
• Soldier — Aaron "Blue Eyes" Getrieri — operates loan sharking in nearby Brookfield, Wisconsin^[10]

It is believed that the Chicago Outfit have taken control of most of the rackets of the Milwaukee crime family due to no longer being as powerful as they once were, the Chicago Outfit also represented the Milwaukee family on the American Mafia Commission and played a large part during Frank Balistrieri's reign.

Notes[]

Further reading[]

• Schmitt, Gavin. Milwaukee Mafia. Arcadia, 2012. ISBN 0738594431
• Schmitt, Gavin. The Milwaukee Mafia: Mobsters in the Heartland. Barricade Books, 2015. ISBN 978-0962303265

External links[]

• American Gangland: Balistrieri Crime Family
• Dieland: The Milwaukee Family
• Milwaukee Mafia