Jan 8, 2010 Article by Joseph Fosco | 124 comments

The Village of Rosemont’s Connection To The Chicago Outfit

I believe the late Mayor Donald Stephens knew some gangsters back in the 1950s and ‘60s. The question is what does it mean when you know someone? I know Billy Parrillo, Founder, Chairman and President of Safeway Insurance. I have called him numerous times to suggest that he think of Holy Name Cathedral when donating money (which he has graciously done). However, I am sure if I called him and asked him for a personal loan he would hang up on me.

My point is that knowing someone does not necessarily mean much. I know many people, but does that mean I could do business with them or vice versa? Sure, anything is possible. Is it a guarantee that we are doing business together because we know each other? No. I have dealt with many different kinds of people in life, from Bishops to Mob bosses and I am neither in the clergy nor in the mafia.

The late Mayor Stephens knew many people, as he was the Mayor of Rosemont. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but unlike Illinois State Representative Angelo ‘Skip’ Fosco Saviano, who accepted numerous political donations from immediate sources of major Chicago Outfit leaders, I doubt the late Mayor Stephens had ever acted so irresponsibly. There is the difference in knowing someone and not doing business with them.

Politicians cannot help who they meet. They are always out in the public shaking hands and networking – it’s their job. However, they must exercise prudence when deciding whose money to accept and with whom they do business. My rule is if you are not ashamed to introduce someone to your mother, he or she is probably okay to do business with (assuming you’re not Ma Barker’s kid).

Several years ago it came out that a ‘confidential informant’ reported to Special Agent John Mallul that he or she witnessed Mayor Stephens meet with Chicago Outfit members in May of 1999 at the old Armand’s Restaurant in Elmwood Park, Illinois. Of the gangsters reported present at this magical meeting were John and Pete DiFronzo, Joe Lombardo, Rudy Fratto, Joe Andriacchi and Willie Messino. Whoever this ‘confidential informant’ is, either he or she is the greatest con artist of all time, or Agent Mallul is as naive as an eight year old kid.

Don Stephens would have immediately exited any location if he saw one of the gangsters named by this ‘confidential informant’. The idea that Stephens would take a seat at a table with these people is like imagining the Pope singing a duet with Puff Daddy at Crowbar Nightclub on orgy night. In addition, the lineup of gangsters said to be at the meeting would not be seen in public together with any politician, accept for fools like Illinois State Rep. Angelo ‘Skip’ Fosco Saviano and Illinois State Senator Jimmy DeLeo.

The Village of Rosemont’s connection to the Chicago Outfit is non-existent. Whatever occurred in the ‘50s and ‘60s is ancient news and was obviously innocent. The fact remains that the Outfit never operated any of their rackets in Rosemont in all the years Rosemont has been around. How many other towns in Chicagoland can say the same thing?