Frank T. Caruso

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Frank T. "Skids" Caruso (December 26, 1911–December 31, 1983) was a Chicago mobster involved in illegal gambling and racketeering activities for the Chicago Outfit criminal organization during the 1950s.

Originally from Chicago's Near Southwest Side (known as "The Patch"), his relatives include brother and legendary "ghost payroller" Joseph Caruso, also in the Outfit, and brother-in-law First Ward alderman Fred Roti. As a youth, Caruso ran with the infamous Forty-Two Gang, which included future gangsters such as Sam "Momo" Giancana Starting in 1935, Caruso amassed a criminal record of at least 13 arrests on charges including grand larceny, illegal gambling and conspiracy. In 1956, on the death of his father-in-law, Bruno Roti, Caruso became the owner of several South Side, Chicago casinos and became the head of the 26th Street/Chinatown "crew". Caruso now became involved in narcotics and illegal gambling in Chicago's First Ward. On the side, Caruso operated a legitimate business, Caruso Plumbing, in the Chicago suburb of Hillside, Illinois. In 1983, Caruso died of natural causes.

In March of 1997, Frank T. Caruso's grandson, Frank Caruso Jr, was arrested with two other accomplices in connection with the beating of Leonard Clark in Armour Square, Chicago. It gained worldwide attention, and even intervention by former President Bill Clinton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Subsequently, Frank Caruso Jr was sentenced to six years in prison. The presiding judge for the trial was under full protection as his life was threatened. One witness was murdered in an alleged robbery attempt. He was present at the time of the initial beating incident.

[edit] Further reading

Cooley, Robert and Hillel Levin. When Corruption Was King: How I Helped the Mob Rule Chicago, Then Brought the Outfit Down. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0-7867-1583-9
United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Crime. Administration's Efforts Against the Influence of Organized Crime in the Laborer's International Union of North America. 1997. [1]
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime in Chicago: Hearing Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 1983. [2]
A Report on Chicago Crime. Chicago: Chicago Crime Commission Reports, 1954-1968. [3]