| John DiFronzo | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 13, 1928 |
| Alias(es) | Johnny Bananas, No Nose |
| Allegiance | Chicago Outfit |
| Occupation | Mob boss, Car dealer, Businessman |
John "No Nose, Bananas, Johnny Bananas" DiFronzo (born December 13, 1928) is a Chicago mobster and the reputed boss of the Chicago Outfit.[1]
A former enforcer and caporegime, DiFronzo was convicted along with then-current Chicago boss Samuel "Black Sam" Carlisi on federal racketeering charges in 1993, however, the conviction was reversed on appeal and DiFronzo was released from prison in 1994.[2] DiFronzo's criminal record began in 1949. He got the nickname "No Nose" because he sliced off part of his nose while jumping through a window during a 1949 clothing store burglary.
Becoming further involved in Chicago's underworld, DiFronzo was a suspect in the unsolved 1952 murder of Charles Gross, a Westside politician with suspected ties to organized crime. A member of the "Three Minute" Gang, DiFronzo was identified as a member of a loansharking operation along with former Chicago police officers Albert Sarno and Chris Cardi in 1964. He would later be chosen over acting syndicate boss Joseph Ferriola by imprisoned syndicate leader Joseph Aiuppa to head criminal operations in Chicago's western suburbs. Eventually, he became one of several defacto leaders running The Outfit in Chicago. He has a made man brother named Peter DiFronzo who was convicted of warehouse burglary.[3] After the death of Carlisi in the late 1990s, DiFronzo was believed to have maintained as acting boss of the Chicago Outfit.
In 2005, DiFronzo avoided indictment in the "Family Secrets" trial of top Chicago Mafia leaders in 18 unsolved murders.[4] Other defendants were prominent Chicago mobsters James "Little Jimmy" Marcello and Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo.[5] As of 2011, DiFronzo is allegedly running the Chicago Outfit.[3][5]
In 2009, John DiFronzo, Rudy Fratto and several others were alleged in a civil lawsuit by Joseph Fosco, the son of a late Teamsters treasurer, to have tried to extort $400,000 from Fosco.[6]
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