Gerald Scarpelli
Encyclopedia
Gerald Hector Scarpelli was a hitman
for the Chicago Outfit
criminal organization who later became a government witness.
Born in Chicago, Scarpelli was the son of a baker on the Near West Side
of the city. Scarpelli was arrested in 1960, the first of 18 arrests in his criminal record. In July 1965, Scarpelli pleaded guilty to armed robbery in Wisconsin
and received a suspended sentence
and probation. Thirty days later, Scarpelli was arrested for burglary in Illinois
.
A crew member for caporegime
Joseph Ferriola
for several years, Scarpelli gained a reputation as a leading loan shark
. He oversaw illegal gambling operations in the suburban neighborhoods of Southwest Chicago. Scarpelli had dreams of being a legitimate business owner, but never realized them. He opened a boutique at one point, but it failed in a few months. His other ambition was to open an automobile salvage yard, but could not achieve it due to his criminal record.
in North Chicago. Mobster John Borsellini had received permission from the Outfit leadership to murder Christofalos because was impeding one of Borsellini's rackets. On March 11, 1979, Borsellini and Scapelli drove to Christafalos' club and waited for him in their car. When Christafalos emerged from the club and got in his car, the two masked hitmen went over to him carrying shotguns. While Scapelli guarded two passbys, Borsellini shot and killed Christafalos. Two months later, Borsellini was found dead in a field; Scarpelli was considered the prime murder suspect.
On another occasion, Scarpelli participated with Michael Oliver in a raid on an adult bookstore in Elk Grove Village during which Oliver was shot. Scarpelli and others buried a still masked Oliver in an area from which law enforcement were later to recover five bodies.
In 1980, Scarpelli and two other mobsters murdered William Dauber
and his wife Charlotte. Dauber was a ruthless Outfit mobster who had gained control over the South Side auto chop shop
s, places where stolen automobiles were disassembled so the parts could be sold. Dauber worked for gangster Albert Caesar Tocco. However, Tocco had grown tired of Dauber's independence and started worrying that Dauber was working with law enforcement. After getting word that Dauber would be attending court on July 2, 1980, Frank Calabrese with associates including Scarpelli stalked the Daubers from court, finally closing in on a country road to open fire with an M1 carbine and shotgun. The Daubers sustained multiple gunshot wounds, Scarpelli shot William two more times in the head with the shotgun at close range .
. After being confronted with wiretap conversations from James "the Duke" Basile, a Scapelli crew member, discussing assassination methods, Scarpelli agreed to become an informant. Scarpelli eventually admitted his involvement in the 1980 Dauber murders as well as the murders of mob chauffeur Gerald Carusiello and chop shop owner Timothy O'Brien.
On May 2, 1989, two days before a court ruling on his robbery charges, Gerald Scarpelli hanged
himself to death in a shower stall at the Metropolitan Correctional Center
in Chicago. Scarpelli allegedly killed himself because a judge had recently ruled against him regarding the Basile tapes.
Hitman
A hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
for the Chicago Outfit
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 who later became a government witness.
Born in Chicago, Scarpelli was the son of a baker on the Near West Side
Near West Side, Chicago
The Near West Side, one of the 77 defined community areas of Chicago, is located , adjacent to the downtown central business district . The rich history of the Near West Side of Chicago has its genesis in the Hull House phenomenon...
of the city. Scarpelli was arrested in 1960, the first of 18 arrests in his criminal record. In July 1965, Scarpelli pleaded guilty to armed robbery in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and received a suspended sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
and probation. Thirty days later, Scarpelli was arrested for burglary in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
A crew member for caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
Joseph Ferriola
Joseph Ferriola
Joseph Ferriola , also known as, "Joe Nagall," "Mr. Clean" and "Oscar," was an American mobster who helped run the Chicago Outfit, from 1985 to 1988, after Joseph Aiuppa and John Cerone went to prison for skimming Las Vegas casino profits.- Early life :Joseph Anthony Ferriola was a product of...
for several years, Scarpelli gained a reputation as a leading loan shark
Loan shark
A loan shark is a person or body that offers unsecured loans at illegally high interest rates to individuals, often enforcing repayment by blackmail or threats of violence....
. He oversaw illegal gambling operations in the suburban neighborhoods of Southwest Chicago. Scarpelli had dreams of being a legitimate business owner, but never realized them. He opened a boutique at one point, but it failed in a few months. His other ambition was to open an automobile salvage yard, but could not achieve it due to his criminal record.
Mob hitman
On March 11, 1979, Scarpelli participated in the murder of George Christofalos, the owner of a roadhouseRoadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
in North Chicago. Mobster John Borsellini had received permission from the Outfit leadership to murder Christofalos because was impeding one of Borsellini's rackets. On March 11, 1979, Borsellini and Scapelli drove to Christafalos' club and waited for him in their car. When Christafalos emerged from the club and got in his car, the two masked hitmen went over to him carrying shotguns. While Scapelli guarded two passbys, Borsellini shot and killed Christafalos. Two months later, Borsellini was found dead in a field; Scarpelli was considered the prime murder suspect.
On another occasion, Scarpelli participated with Michael Oliver in a raid on an adult bookstore in Elk Grove Village during which Oliver was shot. Scarpelli and others buried a still masked Oliver in an area from which law enforcement were later to recover five bodies.
In 1980, Scarpelli and two other mobsters murdered William Dauber
William Dauber
William "Billy" E. Dauber was a Chicago mobster, hitman and associate in the Chicago Outfit's South Side chop shop ring....
and his wife Charlotte. Dauber was a ruthless Outfit mobster who had gained control over the South Side auto chop shop
Chop shop
In motor vehicle theft, a chop shop is a location or business which disassembles stolen automobiles for the purpose of selling them as parts. It may also be used to refer to a location or business that is involved with the selling of stolen or fraudulent goods in general, an example of the latter...
s, places where stolen automobiles were disassembled so the parts could be sold. Dauber worked for gangster Albert Caesar Tocco. However, Tocco had grown tired of Dauber's independence and started worrying that Dauber was working with law enforcement. After getting word that Dauber would be attending court on July 2, 1980, Frank Calabrese with associates including Scarpelli stalked the Daubers from court, finally closing in on a country road to open fire with an M1 carbine and shotgun. The Daubers sustained multiple gunshot wounds, Scarpelli shot William two more times in the head with the shotgun at close range .
Arrest and suicide
On July 31, 1988, Scarpelli was arrested by federal agents for a robbery in Michigan City, IndianaMichigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
. After being confronted with wiretap conversations from James "the Duke" Basile, a Scapelli crew member, discussing assassination methods, Scarpelli agreed to become an informant. Scarpelli eventually admitted his involvement in the 1980 Dauber murders as well as the murders of mob chauffeur Gerald Carusiello and chop shop owner Timothy O'Brien.
On May 2, 1989, two days before a court ruling on his robbery charges, Gerald Scarpelli hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
himself to death in a shower stall at the Metropolitan Correctional Center
Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago
The Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago is a federal remand center in the United States, located in downtown Chicago, Illinois, at the intersection of Clark and Van Buren Streets. It has a triangular footprint, and has an exercise yard for the prisoners on its roof...
in Chicago. Scarpelli allegedly killed himself because a judge had recently ruled against him regarding the Basile tapes.