Joey Aiuppa
Joey Aiuppa | |
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Skimming | |
Criminal penalty | 28 years imprisonment (1986) |
Joseph John Aiuppa (December 1, 1907 – February 22, 1997), also known as "Joey O'Brien" and "Joey Doves", was a Chicago mobster who became a leader of the
Early career
Joseph Aiuppa was born in Melrose Park, Illinois, the eldest son of Simone (Sam) Aiuppa (1883-1934) and Rosalia (Rose) Marie Greco (1886-1968), Sicilian immigrants from Lascari, Province of Palermo, Sicily.
During the 1920s, former
He graduated to operate several gambling establishments in
Beginning in the late 1940s and well into the 1960s, Aiuppa was in charge of the Cicero district of the Outfit. The Cicero district was the highest-earning neighborhood for decades, going back to Al Capone, who headquartered out of this area while he was in command. Aiuppa eventually owned or operated several establishments in Cicero, collectively called the Strip. This was the original "strip" before the mob-controlled casino strip in Las Vegas. Aiuppa operated handbooks at 4835, 4811, and 4818 Cermak Road in Cicero, IL. The various clubs located on Cicero Avenue were the Frolics, the Towne Hotel, the 411 Club, and a few others. Prostitution, slot machines, and various gaming activities occurred inside these nightclubs.[1]
Aiuppa also owned it for many years and eventually sold the Navajo Hills golf course outside suburban Chicago. This was one of his many real-estate dealings that he made money on with his personal take and share of running the most powerful and successful Outfit neighborhood for decades. Aiuppa operated his real estate holdings under "Rosemar Realty", named after his mother, Rose Marie. From time to time, Aiuppa also put cars or small real estate in her name, as he would rarely keep any assets in his name except for the home in which he resided in Oak Brook, Illinois. He also used other relatives, including brothers and later nephews, to hold title to his many constantly changing real-estate assets in and around the Chicago area.[1]
"Joey O'Brien" and "Joey Doves"
For almost 40 years, Aiuppa's original nickname was his old boxing name, "Joey O'Brien", often abbreviated in mob circles to just "O'Brien" or "Joey O." Irish boxers got paid more on the fight card in those days so Aiuppa chose an Irish name to fight under. This was one of his last known jobs before he started as a driver for the Outfit.[1]
In a move reminiscent of
Leadership
Joey Aiuppa gained control of the Chicago Outfit after the death of Sam Giancana, who had strong support from Paul Ricca and Tony Accardo.[2] Aiuppa became the boss in 1971 after Felix Anthony "Milwaukee Phil" Alderisio was sent to prison. Under the leadership of Aiuppa, the Chicago Outfit grew stronger ties to its Las Vegas Casinos. Eventually, he became one of several de facto leaders running The Outfit in Chicago. Following his indictment and subsequent imprisonment, Joseph Ferriola ran the Outfit from 1985 until 1988. Aiuppa's chauffeur driver and protégé, Samuel Carlisi, took over leadership operations shortly after.[3]
Sometime following the murder of Giancana, Aiuppa bought a house in Palm Springs, California, as had several other Chicago mobsters.[4]
Conviction and retaliation
In 1986, Aiuppa was convicted of
Release from prison and death
Serving nearly 10 years of his sentence, on January 19, 1996,[7] Aiuppa was released from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons Federal Medical Center at Rochester, Minnesota.[8] On February 22, 1997, Aiuppa died at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois.[5] He was buried in Hillside, Illinois at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery.[9]
Aiuppa's nephew Sam Aiuppa is a member of the IATSE Projectionists Local 110 union and does not share how he became part of the union. Sam Giancana's nephew, Andrew Giancana, was on the board for the IATSE. The IATSE Projectionists Local 110 in Chicago was once widely believed to be one of America's most mobbed-up locals.[10]
Filmography
The film Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese in 1995, is based on the Chicago Outfit ties to the Las Vegas Casino industry. The events that occur in the movie are based on the relationship between the associates of the Chicago Mob and Las Vegas businessman Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal. The character of Remo Gaggi, played by Pasquale Cajano, is based on Aiuppa. Other portrayals include Robert De Niro as main character Sam "Ace" Rothstein, based on Rosenthal, and Joe Pesci as Nicky Santoro, based on Chicago enforcer Anthony Spilotro.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Federal Bureau of Investigation. Joseph Aiuppa.
- ISBN 978-0-8160-6989-7.
- )
- Anthony 'Big Tuna' Accardo, Joey 'The Dove' Aiuppa, James 'The Turk' Torello, and Frank 'The Horse' Buccieri.
- ^ a b Tribune, Chicago. "JOSEPH AIUPPA, 89, REPUTED MOB KINGPIN". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
- ^ Kersten, Jason (November 30, 2010). "Gangsters Paradise". Maxim. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- United States Federal Bureau of Prisons. 2017. "Find By Name" search results. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ Koziol, Ronald (December 9, 1987). "Aiuppa Seeking Early Parole: Attorney Says He Is Near Death". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ Resting Places: The Burial Sites of Over 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson
- ^ Robb, David (2015-09-01). "Mob Relatives Drawing Pensions From Chicago IATSE Projectionists' "Endangered" Plan". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
- ^ Sheldon, David (7 September 2021). "7 Completely True Events The Movie Casino Is Based On".
External links
- FBI files on Joseph Aiuppa
- Influence on Frontenac, Kansas [1]