Colacurcio crime family
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The Colacurcio crime family is mafia criminal organization based in King County in the state of Washington, United States that has influences in racketeering loansharking, gambling, prostitution, political corruption, police corruption and the strip club industry in the state of Washington. The Seattle crime family has been called the biggest organized crime organization on the west coast that is independent of bigger mafia organizations on the east coast. The state organized crime task force suspects that the Seattle crime family has an estimated 70-100 members based in both of Washington's King and Pierce counties and also operating in the states of Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Las Vegas, and in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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[edit] History
The organization was started by longtime friends Giovanni Rosellini and William Colacurcio both went into business for themselves opening a farm and saloon.
[edit] Civil war
When the boss of the family died of natural causes, he did not name a successor, two candidates for the top job decided to fight. Those two men were Capo's Frank Colacurcio Sr. and John Carbone, known to newspapers as "Handsome Johnny". Colacurcio and Carbone were firebombing each others taverns and nightclubs and eventually Carbone had one of his top soldiers, Richard Caliguri, go to the home of one of Colacurcio's lieutenants and scare the wife and children. Some suspect there were no real violence such as murder because the two crews were disappearing men in the crews.
[edit] Crackdown in the 1970s and 80s
Starting in 1968, the Washington state patrol started investigating the family looking for charges of racketeering and organized crime. The investigation of the crime family ended up with the results of Carbone and four men in his crew being charged with racketeering, bribery and arson with Carbone being sentenced to 20 years on racketeering. The state organized crime task force caught up with Colacurcio after discovering that he was the mastermind behind a secret payoff-system in the Seattle Police Department. charging Colacurcio with racketeering and being sentenced to 16 years in federal prison in the state of Texas. High ranking member Gilbert Paoule who ran Alaska operations became an informant after being indicted for murder in Alaska, testified against his mentor Frank Sr., Frank Jr and Nick Furfaro and went into the witness protection program.
[edit] Recent years
The state organized crime task force during Colacurcio and Carbone's time in prison suspected former state governor Albert Rosellini of being the head of the criminal enterprise of Seattle since his retirement from government but have been unable to get evidence of his criminal dealings. Rosellini has said that he is not connected to any organized crime element and seems to have brought the family into legitimate businesses such as oil and keeps many political contacts in the state. In 2003 a multi-agency including the FBI, Seattle Police Department and King County Sheriff's Department started an investigation called "Strippergate" in which Frank Colacurcio, his son Frank Jr, Gil Conte, Nicholas Furfaro and Albert Rosellini Sr. were investigated for Bribery of three Seattle City Council members. Rosellini was not charged or fined in the case. Charges were brought in the year 2006 but were dismissed. In February 2007 the state supreme court said the investigation may continue and the King County prosecutor may bring political money-laundering charges against anyone involved in the case.
[edit] Influential members
Frank Colacurcio Sr. a.k.a "Big Frank"- high ranking member of criminal organization, was released from prison and remains a consultant to his business, Talents West. Charged with assault in 2005 for fondling a 23-year-old woman and was also charged with political money laundering in 2006, but charges were dismissed and reinstated by the state supreme court.
John Carbone a.k.a "Handsome Johnny" - Former capo, was released from prison in 1997 and died of a heart attack at his home in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Joseph Carbone a.k.a Joey - Known member, son of Handsome Johnny, convicted on racketeering in 1980s, may have taken over father's position as capo.
Albert D. Rosellini Sr. - Still works each day at his downtown office, remaining close to political figures in the state of Washington and still denies any ties to organized crime.
Albert Rosellini Jr. - Seattle businessman, suspected member.
Stanley Naccarato a.k.a "Mr.Tacoma", "Stan" - Tacoma fundraiser and restaurant operator, suspected member since his retirement from baseball.
Michael Tucci a.k.a "Big Mike" - Tacoma construction magnate and suspected member.
Frank Colacurcio Jr. a.k.a "Frankie" - Son of Frank Sr. Hiring agency president, general manager and bookkeeper, high ranking member.
Robert Payton a.k.a "Bobby" - Right-hand man of Frank Sr. Hiring agency director and high ranking member of family.
Nicholas Furfaro a.k.a "Nick" - Nightclub manager, known member since 1963 and high ranking member.
John Conte Sr. a.k.a "Gil" - Former lounge singer, charged with Colacurcio in 2006. Known high ranking member since 1972.
John Conte Jr. - Mechanic, son of Gil, suspected member.
Francis Lucarelli a.k.a "Frank" - Executive chef, suspected member.
Gilbert Paoule a.k.a "Junior" - Became a member after short prison stint with Colacurcio Sr. and after becoming his protege, was put in charge of Alaska operations in the 1980s and was arrested then later testified against Colacurcio in a tax evasion case in Seattle. Also informed about Arizona operations ran by Colacurcio's younger brothers.
