Frank Colacurcio, Sr.
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Francis Colacurcio, Sr. (b. June 4, 1917) is a businessman and alleged organized crime boss. Known as Frank or "Big Frank", he is the alleged head of a Mafia crime family based in Seattle, Washington. Colacurcio has extensive ties to many politicians in the state of Washington, the most famous being Albert Rosellini, who he has known personally for more than 60 years.
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[edit] Early life
Frank Colacurcio was born on June 4th 1917. He gained a reputation as a tough guy and enforcer while in his teens. His only regular job was driving a tractor on his father's farm. He started out as an enforcer for a local crime organization in Seattle that his father was part of and quickly rose through the ranks. After his father died, he was eventually made Capo in the organization and brought his brothers into the organization as well.
[edit] Rise To power
During the 1970s, when the boss of the organization died, there was a civil war, where he was pitted against flamboyant gangster John "Handsome Johnny" Carbone. The war ended with them both being indicted on racketeering charges. Colacurcio was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1972. During the war he met with Salvatore Bonanno in Yakima to see if the Bonanno Family would help with enforcement in the war against Carbone.
In 1986, a top member of his crew testified against him in order to get witness protection. (Colacurcio was still in prison at the time.) It was said that the charges were an embezzlement scheme called "The Skim".
In 1991 he was again indicted on tax evasion charges along with his son Frank Jr. and top associate Nick Furfaro. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Following violation of his parole, he was sent back to prison till the year 2000.
Currently nobody knows who runs the Seattle crime organization, though some suspect Colacurcio Sr. or former Governor Albert Rosellini.
[edit] Recent years
Colacurcio was eventually released from prison and remains a 'Consultant' to his business Talents West. In 2003, an investigation called "Strippergate" was initiated, focusing on Colacurcio, his son Frank Jr., and former Washington Governor Albert Rosellini for bribing members of the Seattle City Council. Charges were brought in 2005, but in February 2006 the judge dismissed charges against Colacurcio, his son and Gil Conte. Albert Rosellini was not charged or fined in the investigation.
In March of 2006 the FBI started a multi-angency task force and started an investigation into alleged organized crime, racketeering and cold case murders that are tied to the Seattle crime family and their targets Frank Colacurcio and Albert Rosellini. In April 2006 the Supreme court of Washington State Rienstated the previous charges against Colacurcio Sr, Colacurcio Jr. and Conte saying the Prosecuters can charge them in a Money-Laundering and Political Corruption Case. Albert Rosellini was not charged or fined in the court ruling.
[edit] Further reading
- Crowley, William. Rites of Passage: a memoir of the sixties in Seattle. University of Washington Press, 1995. ISBN 0-295-97492-3
- Pepper, William F. Orders to Kill: The Truth Behind the Murder of Martin Luther King. New York: Carroll & Graf, 1995. ISBN 0-7867-0253-2
- Smith, Payton. Rosellini: Immigrants' Son and Progressive Governor. University of Washington Press, 1997. ISBN 0-295-97595-4
