Frank Zito

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Frank Zito (February 24, 1893-August 22, 1974) was an Italian-American mobster who controlled criminal activities of central and southern Illinois for over twenty years providing protection from law enforcement and rival competitors.

Born in Sicily, Zito immigrated with his family to the United States and, settling in Illinois, eventually became involved in bootlegging, prostitution and illegal gambling during Prohibition. Based in Springfield, Illinois, Zito worked closely with the St. Louis crime syndicate overseeing illegal gambling and drug trafficking operations in the rural areas of the state.

In attendance during the 1957 Apalachin Conference, Zito was one of the many mobsters captured as the participants were captured trying to make their way out of the area as authorities raided the meeting. Although indicted in a federal investigation into organized crime in the Midwest, Zito remained in power throughout the 1970s until his death of natural causes on August 22, 1974.

[edit] Further reading

Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field Publication. Investigation of Improper Activities in the Labor Or Management Field, 1959. [1]
United States. Congress. Senate. Commerce. Effects of organized criminal activity on interstate and foreign commerce. 1972. [2]
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime and Use of Violence: hearings before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 1980. [3]
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime. For sale by the Supt. of Docs., Congressional Sales Office, U.S. G.P.O., 1988. [4]