Milwaukee crime family

Milwaukee crime family
Foundedc. 1918; 106 years ago (1918)
FounderVito Guardalabene
Founding locationMilwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Years activec. 1918–Unknown
TerritoryPrimarily the Milwaukee metropolitan area, with additional territory throughout Wisconsin, as well as Las Vegas
EthnicityItalians as "made men" and other ethnicities as associates
ActivitiesSkimming, gambling, narcotics, racketeering, murder, extortion, prostitution, bookmaking, bribery, and loan sharking
Allies
RivalsVarious gangs in the Milwaukee area

The Milwaukee crime family, also known as the Balistrieri crime family or the Milwaukee Mafia, was an Italian-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] After the death of boss Frank Balistrieri, in 1993, members of the Chicago Outfit moved into the area gaining control over many illegal rackets in the Milwaukee area.[3] In 2024, boss Peter Picciurro and consigliere John Balistrieri, both died and it is unknown the current status of the family.

  1. ^ Peter J. Devico The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra. (pg.154-156)
  2. ^ United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Searches Conducted on March 8, 1980 Archived January 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Jay C. Ambler. "Milwaukee, WI Crime family" (2000) Rick Porrello's American Mafia.com