The Milwaukee Crime Family, Balistrieri Crime Family, or Milwaukee Mafia is 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] Today, the crime family is nearly extinct, since Balistrieri died in 1993, with the Chicago Outfit gaining control over some of the illegal rackets in the area.[3]
Founded | 1918 |
---|---|
Founded by | Vito Guardalabene |
Founding location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Years active | 1918–present |
Territory | Greater Milwaukee and some cities in all Wisconsin (as Madison) |
Ethnicity | Italians, Italian Americans are made men. Other ethnicities as "associates". |
Criminal activities | Skimming, gambling, narcotics, racketeering, murder, extortion, prostitution, bookmaking, bribery, and loan sharking |
Allies | Chicago Outfit Five Families |
Rivals | various street gangs in Milwaukee |
After the death of Frank Balistrieri, the Chicago Outfit has taken control of the Milwaukee illegal rackets.[9] The Chicago Outfit had represented the Milwaukee family on the American Mafia Commission
[unreliable source]