Mario Anthony DeStefano
Encyclopedia
Mario Anthony DeStefano was a "made" member
of the Chicago Outfit
and a leading loan shark
.
Born Mario Antonio DeStefano, he later anglicized his middle name. DeStefano grew up in Little Italy, Chicago
, with his brothers, including future "mob associate" Sam "Mad Sam" DeStefano
. In 1935, at age 20, Mario DeStefano was convicted
of murder
and sentenced
to 30 years in prison
. In 1949, after serving 14 years, he was released. DeStefano soon partnered with his brother, Sam DeStefano, in a loansharking operation, one of the earliest in Chicago
history. By the end of the 1950s, the DeStefanos dominated the racket
in Chicago. In 1955, police questioned the two brothers regarding the September 1955 death of their younger brother, Michael DeStefano; however, no charge
s were ever filed.
Although the Outfit controlled the DeStefano crew's loanshark operations, the Chicago mob's ruling eschelon allowed the DeStefanos a great deal of autonomy
in exchange for a percentage of the earnings. This independence might be attributed to Sam's DeStefano relationship with Outfit leader Paul "The Waiter" Ricca
, who DeStefano met when both were serving time for separate crimes in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in the 1940s. During the 1960s, Mario DeStefano was the primary enforcer for the crew. In 1964, DeStefano resided in Westchester, Illinois
.
In 1973, the DeStefanos and Anthony (Tony) "The Ant" Spilotro
were charged with the November 19, 1963 murder of Destefano-underling loan shark Leo Foreman. Mario DeStefano was eventually convicted in the Foreman murder and sentenced to 20-to-40 years in prison. Spilotro was acquitted
. While out on bail during the trial, Sam DeStefano was murdered in his garage. Police considered Mario DeStefano and Spilotro to be suspects in Sam DeStefano's murder, but the two men were never charged. On July 9, 1975, Mario DeStefano's sentence in the Foreman murder was overturned by the Illinois Appellate Court
. While awaiting retrial, DeStefano died on August 12, 1975, of a heart attack.
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
of 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...
and 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....
.
Born Mario Antonio DeStefano, he later anglicized his middle name. DeStefano grew up in Little Italy, Chicago
Little Italy, Chicago
Little Italy is a neighborhood on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. The current boundaries of Little Italy are Ashland Avenue on the west and Morgan Street on the east — bracketed by Harrison Street on the north and Roosevelt Road; i.e., 12th Street, on the south...
, with his brothers, including future "mob associate" Sam "Mad Sam" DeStefano
Sam DeStefano
Sam "Mad Sam" DeStefano was an Italian-American gangster who became one of the Chicago Outfit's most notorious loan sharks and sociopathic killers. Chicago-based Federal Bureau of Investigation agents such as William F. Roemer, Jr., considered DeStefano to be the worst torture-murderer in the...
. In 1935, at age 20, Mario DeStefano was convicted
Conviction
In law, a conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime.The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal . In Scotland and in the Netherlands, there can also be a verdict of "not proven", which counts as an acquittal...
of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
and sentenced
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
to 30 years in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. In 1949, after serving 14 years, he was released. DeStefano soon partnered with his brother, Sam DeStefano, in a loansharking operation, one of the earliest in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
history. By the end of the 1950s, the DeStefanos dominated the racket
Racket (crime)
A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes...
in Chicago. In 1955, police questioned the two brothers regarding the September 1955 death of their younger brother, Michael DeStefano; however, no charge
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
s were ever filed.
Although the Outfit controlled the DeStefano crew's loanshark operations, the Chicago mob's ruling eschelon allowed the DeStefanos a great deal of autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
in exchange for a percentage of the earnings. This independence might be attributed to Sam's DeStefano relationship with Outfit leader Paul "The Waiter" Ricca
Paul Ricca
Paul Ricca, also known as "The Waiter" , was a Chicago mobster who served as the nominal or de facto leader of the Chicago Outfit for forty years.-Early life:...
, who DeStefano met when both were serving time for separate crimes in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in the 1940s. During the 1960s, Mario DeStefano was the primary enforcer for the crew. In 1964, DeStefano resided in Westchester, Illinois
Westchester, Illinois
Westchester is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a western suburb of Chicago. The population was 16,824 at the 2000 census. The current Village President is Sam D...
.
In 1973, the DeStefanos and Anthony (Tony) "The Ant" Spilotro
Anthony Spilotro
Anthony "The Ant" Spilotro was an Italian-American mobster and enforcer for the Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s. His job was to protect and oversee the Outfit's illegal casino profits...
were charged with the November 19, 1963 murder of Destefano-underling loan shark Leo Foreman. Mario DeStefano was eventually convicted in the Foreman murder and sentenced to 20-to-40 years in prison. Spilotro was acquitted
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
. While out on bail during the trial, Sam DeStefano was murdered in his garage. Police considered Mario DeStefano and Spilotro to be suspects in Sam DeStefano's murder, but the two men were never charged. On July 9, 1975, Mario DeStefano's sentence in the Foreman murder was overturned by the Illinois Appellate Court
Illinois Appellate Court
The Illinois Appellate Court is the court of first appeal for civil and criminal cases arising in the Illinois Circuit Courts. Three Illinois Appellate Court judges hear each case and the concurrence of two is necessary to render a decision. The Illinois Appellate Court will render its opinion in...
. While awaiting retrial, DeStefano died on August 12, 1975, of a heart attack.
Further reading
- Chicago Crime Commission. 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.
External links
- "Mad Sam" DeStefano: The Mob’s Marquis de Sade by Allan May, details regarding the murder of Leo Foreman