Frank T. Caruso
Encyclopedia
Frank T. "Skids" Caruso (December 26, 1911–December 31, 1983) was a Chicago mobster involved in illegal gambling and racketeering activities for the Chicago Outfit
criminal organization during the 1950s.
Originally from Chicago's Near Southwest Side (known as "The Patch"), his relatives include brothers Joseph (Joe Shoes), Leo and Bruno Caruso, including his brother-in-law First Ward alderman Fred Roti
, and son Frank (Little Frankie) Caruso Jr. . As a youth, Caruso ran with the infamous Forty-Two Gang
, which included future gangsters such as Sam "Momo" Giancana
.
Starting in 1935, Caruso amassed a criminal record of at least 13 arrests on charges including grand larceny, illegal gambling and conspiracy. In 1956, on the death of his father-in-law, Bruno Roti, Caruso became the owner of several South Side, Chicago casinos and became the head of the 26th Street/Chinatown
"crew". Caruso now became involved in illegal gambling in Chicago's First Ward. On the side, Caruso operated a legitimate business, Caruso Plumbing, in the Chicago suburb of Hillside, Illinois
. In 1983, Caruso died of natural causes.
In March 1997, Frank T. Caruso's grandson, Frank Caruso Jr, was arrested with two other accomplices in connection with the beating of Leonard Clark in Armour Square, Chicago
. It gained worldwide attention, and even intervention by former President Bill Clinton
and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Subsequently, Frank Caruso Jr was sentenced to eight years in prison. The presiding judge for the trial was under full protection as his life was threatened. One witness was murdered in an alleged robbery attempt. He was present at the time of the initial beating incident.
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
criminal organization during the 1950s.
Originally from Chicago's Near Southwest Side (known as "The Patch"), his relatives include brothers Joseph (Joe Shoes), Leo and Bruno Caruso, including his brother-in-law First Ward alderman Fred Roti
Fred Roti
Fred B. Roti was a powerful and long serving Alderman of Chicago's First Ward. A federal jury convicted Roti on 11 counts of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, bribery and extortion.- Background :...
, and son Frank (Little Frankie) Caruso Jr. . As a youth, Caruso ran with the infamous Forty-Two Gang
Forty-Two Gang
The Forty-Two Gang was a teenage street gang in Chicago during Prohibition. Like Brooklyn's Italian and Jewish street gangs of Brownsville and Ocean Hill, the Forty-Two Gang served as a "farm team" for future members of the Chicago Outfit...
, which included future gangsters such as Sam "Momo" Giancana
Sam Giancana
Salvatore Giancana , better known as Sam Giancana, was a Sicilian-American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1957-1966...
.
Starting in 1935, Caruso amassed a criminal record of at least 13 arrests on charges including grand larceny, illegal gambling and conspiracy. In 1956, on the death of his father-in-law, Bruno Roti, Caruso became the owner of several South Side, Chicago casinos and became the head of the 26th Street/Chinatown
Chinatown, Chicago
The Chinatown neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, is on the South Side , centered on Cermak and Wentworth Avenues, and is an example of an American Chinatown, or ethnic-Chinese neighborhood. By the [ftp://ftp2.census.gov/census_2000/datasets/demographic_profile/Illinois/2kh17.pdf 2000 Census], has...
"crew". Caruso now became involved in illegal gambling in Chicago's First Ward. On the side, Caruso operated a legitimate business, Caruso Plumbing, in the Chicago suburb of Hillside, Illinois
Hillside, Illinois
Hillside is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,155 at the 2000 census.One notable landmark in Hillside is the Mount Carmel Cemetery. On the grounds of the cemetery are the graves of a number of organized crime figures, such as Al Capone and Dion O'Bannion...
. In 1983, Caruso died of natural causes.
In March 1997, Frank T. Caruso's grandson, Frank Caruso Jr, was arrested with two other accomplices in connection with the beating of Leonard Clark in Armour Square, Chicago
Armour Square, Chicago
Armour Square is both the name of a Chicago neighborhood on the city's South Side, as well as the larger, officially defined community area that the neighborhood is located in. The Armour Square community area also includes Chinatown and the CHA Wentworth Gardens housing project...
. It gained worldwide attention, and even intervention by former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Subsequently, Frank Caruso Jr was sentenced to eight years in prison. The presiding judge for the trial was under full protection as his life was threatened. One witness was murdered in an alleged robbery attempt. He was present at the time of the initial beating incident.
Further reading
- Cooley, RobertRobert CooleyRobert Cooley is a former Mafia lawyer, government informant and author of the 2004 autobiography, "When Corruption was King."-Early life:...
and Hillel Levin. When Corruption Was King: How I Helped the Mob Rule Chicago, Then Brought the Outfit Down. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0-7867-1583-9 - United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Crime. Administration's Efforts Against the Influence of Organized Crime in the Laborer's International Union of North America. 1997. http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0160542111&id=fmIa6EJlsY8C&q=Frank+Skids+Caruso&dq=Frank+Skids+Caruso&pgis=1
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime in Chicago: Hearing Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 1983. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC09599763&id=7I5LFfsYSl4C&q=Frank+Skids+Caruso&dq=Frank+Skids+Caruso&pgis=1
- A Report on Chicago Crime. Chicago: Chicago Crime CommissionChicago Crime CommissionThe Chicago Crime Commission is an independent, non-partisan civic watchdog organization of business leaders dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of organized criminal activity, especially organized crime, street gangs and the tools of their trade: drugs, guns, public corruption,...
Reports, 1954-1968. http://books.google.com/books?vid=0sD2OfgTYkPvc0Anpn&id=_LEKAAAAIAAJ&q=Frank+Skids+Caruso&dq=Frank+Skids+Caruso&pgis=1