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PODCAST

Milwaukee Mafia

Did you know Milwaukee had a Mafia? Many people don"t realize how powerful the Milwaukee Mafia was - especially during Frank Balistrieri"s impressive 30-year reign! Gavin Schmitt has been researching and writing published works on the Milwaukee Mafia for over a decade, and is considered the top expert on the subject. Join Gavin Schmitt and Eric Wulterkens as Gavin takes you through stories of the Milwaukee Mafia, and related Wisconsin true crime. For more information, visit MilwaukeeMafia.com

true crime documentary

All Episodes

22:42

A Strippers Death - Part 1

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/08/30

We begin the story of a stripper Christina Calligaro from Peoria, IL. A wayward soul, she finds her way from Peoria to Milwaukee, and then to Hurley WI, only to return home to Peoria to be murdered. This is her story. The forthcoming second part returns to Milwaukee where someone close to her will be murdered.--Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at milwaukeemafia@gmail.comExplore the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family:

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24:50

Rocco Ditello and Local 200

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/08/16

Rocco Ditello is determined to clean up the corruption in the Local 200 Teamsters union. But when he is mysteriously shot in a hunting accident, you have to ask... Was it an accident? Or murder? --Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at milwaukeemafia@gmail.comExplore the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several

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37:02

Fox Head Brewing and the Mafia

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/08/02

In this episode, Gavin and Eric discuss Fox Head Brewing, a brewery located in Waukesha that gets entangled with the Mafia.--Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at milwaukeemafia@gmail.comExplore the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get

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30:01

The Pink Glove

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/07/19

In this Episode we discuss the Pink Glove an early gay bar in the Milwaukee area that has some unexpected Mafia ties to it.

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44:21

The Latin Kings of Milwaukee Part 4 of 4

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/07/05

Alberto discusses some of the high profile people he met during his stay in prison, and touches on what drove him to walk away from the life he had been living once he was released from prison.

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39:38

The Latin Kings of Milwaukee Part 3 of 4

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/06/21

In Part 3 of Alberto's story we talk about Alberto becoming a leader of the Latin Kings 19th Street subchapter and what happens up to his eventual arrest.

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50:46

The Latin Kings of Milwaukee Part 2 of 4

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/06/07

Alberto Vallejo shares some personal stories being in the Latin Kings. This time we focus on his early years -- how do you get in, and what is daily life like.

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35:27

The Latin Kings of Milwaukee Part 1 of 4

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/05/24

In this episode, our special guest Alberto Vallejo talks about the basic structure and rules of the Latin Kings, particularly in Milwaukee.

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26:01

The Provinzano Brothers

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/05/10

An informant claimed that Angelo Provinzano would be the next Mafia boss after John Alioto. But who the heck was Provinzano? We cover a bit on this mystery man and his brother.

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44:09

The Scanlon Heist

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/04/26

Possibly the most complex episode ever, how the Milwaukee and Detroit mobs worked together to defraud an endless team of wholesale suppliers. How did they use a shaky credit report to obtain toys, appliances and more?

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41:55

Ralph Capone

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/04/12

Everyone has a story about Al Capone... but the family member with the biggest impact on Wisconsin was his brother Ralph. We briefly cover Ralph's time in the Northwoods.

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34:45

Sheriff Lombardi & Dominic Picciurro's Club 166

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/03/29

On April 18, 1958, Waukesha County Sheriff Michael Lombardi was convicted of willful dereliction of duty in connection with numerous events occurring in Waukesha County. One count was related to Club 166, a licensed tavern and night club, in Menomonee Falls (Milwaukee suburb) that belonged to Dominic F. and Shirley Picciurro. (Dominic was Frank Balistrieri's maternal uncle). Lombardi was convicted of permitting Club 166 to violate laws related to prostitution, gambling, and the sale of liquor. A

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29:16

Parole & Pardon Scandal Involving Louis Fazio

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/03/15

It was alleged by the Board of State Bar Commissioners that Attorney Mark Catlin, Jr. induced or led various people to believe that he possessed influence in pardon or parole matters; that he accepted money from people who had the corrupt intention of influencing official conduct; and that Catlin knew of such intention.Louis Fazio, John Mandella, Jerome Mandella, and Dominic Lampone were convicted of murder in 1946. [An exclusive write-up about Mike Farina's murder is available on our Patreon:

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41:28

Mafia Genealogy with Justin Cascio

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/03/01

In the podcast's first ever guest appearance, Justin Cascio from Mafia Genealogy, talks about his research into his family roots that lead to Giuseppe Morello, aka “The Clutch Hand” - a member of the mafia in Corleone.https://mafiagenealogy.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/mafiagenealogyMacaroni WarsMoral Basis of a Backward Society by Edward C. Banfield: Analyzing families in southern Italy in 1955, Moral Basis of a Backward Society discusses how poverty is a result of the inability to trust

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34:32

Jack Enea

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/02/15

Jack Enea was a member of the Milwaukee Mafia, and was considered to be one of the “Young Turks”, which also included John DiTrapani and Frank LaGalbo, who had angled to take over leadership from Milwaukee Mafia boss John Alioto. Under Alioto’s rule, the muscling of gamblers and legitimate businesses stopped, but internal dissent continued. DiTrapani spread the word that he would pay for “hits” in order to get the leadership role. This would lead to his eventual death, Enea’s death, and cause

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33:37

John DiTrapani

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/02/01

John DiTrapani rose to prominence within the Milwaukee Mafia in the early 1950s. He was considered to be one of the “Young Turks”, which also included Jack Enea and Frank LaGalbo, who had angled to take over leadership from Milwaukee Mafia boss John Alioto. Under Alioto’s rule, the muscling of gamblers and legitimate businesses stopped, but internal dissent continued. DiTrapani spread the word that he would pay for “hits” in order to get the leadership role. This would lead to his eventual death,

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28:38

Blackie Sullivan

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/01/18

Frequent mob target John Sullivan, more commonly known as “Blackie”, and later “Blackie the Sieve”. He earned the nickname due to how many times he's been shot, and survived.For more on Blackie Sullivan, visit: https://milwaukeemafia.com/blackie-sullivan/Links:Visit MilwaukeeMafia.com for more informationGavin's Books: https://amzn.to/3ssKOQHPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia

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23:26

Gambler Sidney Brodson

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/01/04

Sidney Brodson was very smart, and was able to use his intelligence to profit, legally, as a gambler. On March 24, 1951, Sidney Brodson testified before the Kefauver Committee to provide his advice on how Congress could address illegal gambling. Brodson opted to overshare by revealing the names, addresses and telephone numbers of individuals across the country with whom he placed bets. The hearing was televised, and police officers viewing the televised proceedings learned for the first time of the

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03:23

Patreon Clip - Requesting Records

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2022/01/01

To jumpstart 2022, we are giving you another sample of our exclusive Patreon audio. It's a more casual podcast where Gavin answers listener questions.Patreon is $2/month, and includes 2 exclusive podcast episode of behind the scenes content each month: https://www.patreon.com/MilwaukeemafiaThis Patreon clip is from our 11/30/2021 release where Gavin talks about requesting records, and the various agencies he's worked with. He discusses who has been the best to work with, and which have been the

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23:35

Meat Hijacking

Milwaukee Mafia ·

2021/12/21

The 1950s were a time of great heists in the Milwaukee Mafia. Most notably there was the burglary at the Reno home of Lavere Redfield. Lesser known was the fraudulent bankruptcy surrounding Scanlon's Music in downtown Milwaukee. And then, one of the least successful... the hijacking of meat.This episode includes names such as Anthony LaRosa, Joseph "The Viper" Guarniere, Harold Klein, Thomas "Tommy Fish" Piscitello, and Sam "Banjo Eyes" Vermiglio.Additional information can be found at:

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