This was while Nick Civella was in prison on his gambling charge, they traveled up to Chicago. Cork Civella stepped in as Boss, with Tuffy DeLuna serving as his Underboss. Anthony Chiavola Sr. was a Soldier, his son (pictured here) followed in his footsteps. Fun fact about Sr., he was a former Chicago cop.

FBI intelligence memos and surveillance reports from January 1965 concerning organized crime figures connected to Chicago and Kansas City, especially Murray “the Hump" Humphreys and Nick Civella.

Main points from the documents

Murray L. Humphreys, a major Chicago Outfit figure, was under FBI observation and described as being closely connected to organized crime leadership in Chicago.

The reports say Humphreys maintained frequent contact with a Chicago attorney and allegedly used law offices as a meeting point.

A source claimed Humphreys had influence in judicial elections in Illinois and had relationships with local judges, though the FBI source could not confirm any direct corruption or favoritism.

People mentioned

Paul “The Waiter” Ricca / Paul De Lucia

Identified as an important historic Chicago mob leader from the 1940s onward.

Observed meeting with Humphreys at the Palmer House Grill in Chicago on January 18, 1965.

Michael H. Brodkin

Described by an FBI source as an unethical Chicago attorney.

Seen in the company of Humphreys and other Chicago mob associates at the Palmer House Hotel.

Nick Civella

Identified as a top organized crime leader from Kansas City.

FBI reports say Civella traveled from Kansas City to Chicago in January 1965.

Sources claimed Civella and Humphreys were in contact because both were leaders in organized crime.

One memo notes Civella traveled under the alias “N. Callo.”

The FBI document labels him “armed and dangerous.”

Surveillance activity

FBI agents and confidential sources observed multiple meetings at the Palmer House Grill/Hotel in Chicago involving Humphreys, Civella, Ricca, and other unidentified mob figures.

One unidentified man seen with Humphreys was later described by a source as a “minor Chicago burglar and petty thief.”

Overall significance

The documents suggest:

Active coordination between Chicago Outfit leadership and Kansas City mob leadership in early 1965.

FBI concern about political influence, legal protection networks, and interstate organized crime relationships.

Ongoing surveillance of meetings among major mob figures at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago.

Rockford Crime Family

Boss / Founding Member

Early Life and Rise to Power

Born in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, in 1893, Antonio Musso immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Rockford, Illinois. During the Prohibition era, Musso established himself as a central figure in the local underworld, capitalizing on the city's strategic location between Chicago and Milwaukee.

Musso is widely credited with formalizing the **Rockford Crime Family**. While many small-town crews were merely satellites of the Chicago Outfit, Musso maintained a degree of autonomy for the Rockford faction, though he remained a staunch ally of the Chicago leadership throughout his tenure.

Leadership Style and Operations

Under Musso’s direction, the Rockford family controlled a diverse portfolio of illicit activities, including:

Bootlegging: Managing the distribution of spirits through the Midwest during the 1920s.

Gambling and Extortion: Establishing lucrative "protection" rackets and illegal betting parlors across Winnebago County.

Labor Racketeering: Exercising influence over local unions and the manufacturing sector.

Musso was known for being a low-profile, "old school" leader. He avoided the flashy public personas of Chicago counterparts like Al Capone, preferring to manage affairs through a tight-knit inner circle composed largely of fellow Sicilian immigrants.

The "Castellammarese" Connection

Musso’s Sicilian roots played a significant role in his status within the national Commission. Being from Castellammare del Golfo, he shared a lineage with powerful figures like Joe Bonanno and Stefano Magaddino. This heritage granted him respect and a "seat at the table" during the restructuring of the American Mafia in the early 1930s.

Later Years and Succession

Musso’s reign lasted several decades, providing the Rockford family with a period of relative stability. As his health began to decline in the 1950s, he began delegating more authority to his underlings.

Upon his death in 1958 the leadership of the Rockford family passed to Joe Zammuto, who would go on to become one of the longest-reigning and most influential bosses in the organization's history, further solidifying the foundation Musso had built.

Historical Note: Antonio Musso is often cited by organized crime historians as the architect of the "Satellite City" model, where a smaller family operates independently but remains in perfect synchronicity with a larger neighboring powerhouse (The Chicago Outfit).