Mario Anthony DeStefano

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Mario Anthony DeStefano (March 21, 1915 - August 12, 1975) was a member of the Chicago Outfit and a leading loanshark with his older brother "Mad" Sam DeStefano.

Born Mario Antonio DeStefano, he later anglicised his middle name because he didn't like the way it sounded. Mario DeStefano grew up in Chicago's Little Italy with his brothers including future mobster Sam DeStefano. In 1935, at the age of twenty, DeStefano was convicted of murder and sentenced to thirty years imprisonment. After serving fourteen years, DeStefano was released in 1949 where he became partners with his older brother Sam DeStefano. With his brother they would begin loansharking operations, one of the earliest in the cities history, eventually dominating the racket by the end of the 1950s. In 1955 DeStefano, along with his brother Sam, were questioned by police regarding the death of their younger brother Michael DeStefano however no charges were filed and they were later released.

Although independent of the Chicago syndicate, the DeStefano's operations were given a great deal of self-autonomy, most likely the result of Sam DeStefano's relationship with Chicago Outfit leader Paul Ricca, in exchange for a percentage of their loanshark earnings. DeStefano, acting primarily as an enforcer for the Destefano organization during the 1960s, was eventually charged in 1973, along with Tony Spilotro and his brother Sam, for the 1963 murder of rival loan shark Leo Foreman.

Sam DeStefano was later killed before he could appear in court. It is suspected Mario may have been one of the members of the DeStefano organization who met Sam along with Spilotro when he was killed. After Sam's death, Mario was convicted and sentenced from twenty to forty years in prison. Mario's sentence was overturned on July 9, 1975 by the Illinois Appallate Court however he died of a heart attack on August 12 shortly before his second trial.

[edit] Further reading

  • Chicago Crime Commission. A Report on Chicago Crime. Chicago: Chicago Crime Commission Reports, 1954-1968.

[edit] References

  • Devito, Carlo. Encyclopedia of International Organized Crime. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. ISBN 0-8160-4848-7

[edit] External links

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