Tony “Big Tuna” Accardo is now the head of the Outfit since the remaining top leaders were sitting in jail because of the Hollywood Extortion Scandal. In my last article I went to Accardo’s other nickname of “Joe Batters.” The article was Tony “Joe Batters” Accardo the Outfit’s Ultimate Boss Part I He received his second nickname of “Big Tuna,” through a photo of him with a trophy catch of a big tuna. He favored the nickname that Al Capone gave him and that was “Joe Batters,” but was often referred to as both.

Accardo had big plans for taking the Outfit to the next level. He would expand on the gambling empire. He was going to take over a wire service. The wire service is used by bookies across the country to get the results of races that gamblers would bet on. The wire service that Accardo had on his mind was the Continental Press that was based in Cleveland. It was owned by an Irishman named James Ragen.  In 1946 Accardo offered James Ragen a partnership in his own business. Ragen did not see the perk in partially owning a business that he currently owned a 100% interest in. People were threatening Ragen and he had enough. He took his complaint to the FBI. “Joe Batters” did not care for Ragen getting the FBI involved. In June of 1946 a panel truck came up on Ragen’s car and blasted Ragen with shotgun blasts. Fortunately for him, he made it to the hospital. However, someone was able to get into James Ragen’s hospital room and spiked his I.V. bag with mercury. James Ragen now lays dead, Accardo takes over the Continental Press, and no one was ever charged for Ragen’s murder.

The wire service was not the only gambling asset that Accardo had on his mind. Two men, named Teddy Roe and Ed Jones, were African Americans who were running the “Numbers” game on the South Side of Chicago. These games are like the Lottery of today. You would select numbers and if those are the numbers selected in the “Numbers” game, you won. Teddy Roe and Ed Jones were raking in an estimated $186,000 a week. Jones was captured and kidnapped. He was returned safely when his family paid a ransom of $100,000. Jones hopped on a train to Mexico and never looked back to the Chicago South Side ever again leaving everything to Roe. Roe was shot and killed in front of his house. Now the Outfit even had a cut from the African American community in Chicago.

In 1946 Tony and his wife Clarice added another son through adoption to their family. The Accardo’s now had two sons and two daughters in their family of six. Tony loved his family. He was never found to have a mistress or go out with showgirls. He was a family man that loved golf and like to vacation in the winter to California. He kept his personal life, personal and private. Heading in the 1950’s he was able to keep his personal life private, but not his professional life.

The La Costra Nostra, or the organized crime families across the country came under the attention of the US Government. At the time, Tony “Joe Batters” Accardo, was the most powerful mob boss in the country. The US Senate led by Cary Estes Kefauver, a senator from Tennessee, toured the country in what was called the “Kefauver Hearings.” The Kefauver Hearings were Special Committee formed by the senate that investigated organized crime in interstate commerce. The hearings were held all across the country from 1950 to 1951. The committee invited mob bosses from all over the country to attend and be investigated by this special panel. It was also shown on the TV across the country. Tony Accardo and other Outfit members left for Mexico when they knew that they were going to be asked to testify. Accardo was invited to this hearing after the committee waited him out while he was in Mexico. Like most of the other mobsters, he pleaded the fifth amendment of the US Constitution. While he was on TV, he acted like a gentleman. It worked. Many of the people that saw Tony Accardo on the TV, thought that he was too nice of a guy to be involved in the allegations made by the government. The hearings came to an end and did not bring charges against the La Costra Nostra for mob activity. It did shine the light on the La Costra Nostra for all Americans to see.

After the hearing came to an end, Accardo was at the pinnacle of his life. A thriving mob boss and family man, decided that he needed an upgrade the family home. He bought a house fitting of a man of his stature. He bought a house in 1956 in River Forrest for $150,000. The house that Accardo had nicknamed the “Palace,” had 22 rooms, an indoor swimming pool, a bowling alley, and a $10,000 black onyx bathtub. This house seems to be a contradiction of the man that advised his crews to lay low. This house was flashy and nothing to do with laying low. Accardo took heat from his contemporaries for moving into this house.

Las Vegas was thriving for both New York and Chicago La Costra Nostra. This was an open town, meaning that not one crime family can make claim to running Vegas. In 1955 Accardo invested some Outfit money into a casino and a hotel being built. The name of the hotel and casino was the Stardust. The Outfit was able to obtain money for the casino is through the infiltration of the unions. They were using the Teamster’s pension funds by loaning the money out to build casinos and hotels. The Stardust was different than the other hotels and casinos. They had rooms that were cheap and catered more to the average American than a Las Vegas high roller. This opened up a new channel of revenue in Las Vegas to fill the Outfit’s vault with cash.

In 1957, the US Senate established a permanent panel called the “Rackets Committee.” They had spent years study the La Costra Nostra and once again invited “Joe Batter,” to testify at this committee. He once again provided no help when called to Washington in 1958. He declined to answer and took the 5^th 172 times. Once again he flew below the radar, but he was still under the watchful eye of government. Knowing this, Accardo had to make a change.

Again in 1957, Accardo was going to step down as the boss of the Chicago Outfit. He was not going to be able to step down and retire, but he would be able to step down from the day to day activities and have someone else in charge. He would still serve as the Chicago Outfit’s consigliere. He would act as an advisor or a chairman, allowing the CEO or Outfit Boss to run everything from the day to day operations, but provide direction and consultation of larger decisions and strategy. The man selected to take over for Tony Accardo, was Sam “Momo” or “Mooney” Giancana.

Sam Giancana got the nickname of “Momo” or “Mooney” for being “crazy.” Like Accardo, he was from a street gang that acted as a farm team for the Chicago Outfit, it was the 42 Street Gang. He was also the man in charge of taking over the “Numbers” game from Teddy Roe and Edward Jones. Now Tony can spend more time golfing, fishing, and vacationing, while the Outfit thrived through the leadership of Sam Giancana.

Tony was thinking that he was now in the clear, until July 29^th, 1959. On that day Tony Accardo was indicted by the IRS after being investigated for a year and for filing a false tax return. Accardo had always filed his taxes under the occupation of a beer salesman. Accardo even took his car as a tax deduction on his taxes. The government stacked the courtroom with many witnesses to prove Accardo was not a beer salesman. Accardo’s charm ran out as he was found guilty of three charges including tax evasion. If Accardo had an unblemished record of never spending a night in jail, that was about to be tarnished with this six year conviction.  Tony Accardo’s attorney would appeal his case on the grounds that the negative press that Accardo received around the time of the case put his opportunity of a fair and impartial trial in jeopardy. He won a new trial for his case. Now there will be no surprises, having already seen the government’s evidence in the first trial. Accardo’s trial would end in a verdict of not guilty for the country’s biggest crime boss.

After going through the trials, Accardo thought that he needed to lay lower to stay out of the limelight of law enforcement and government. He has a much smaller home built in 1963. This house was more fitting of the approval of all that were involved in wanting to keep a lower profile. This was unlike his mob boss Sam Giancana.

Giancana was more like Al Capone than “Joe Batters.” He was more flamboyant and was always in the press for who he hung out with or who he was dating. In 1965 Giancana was indicted before a Grand Jury. He would not testify and was cited for contempt of court. Being cited for contempt would cost Giancana one year in jail. When Sam got out of jail, he was not greeted by the Outfit leadership with joy. He garnished way too much attention and under the regime of Accardo, that was a big no, no. Giancana was exiled to Mexico. The rift between him and the Outfit grew further when Sam started some casinos in Mexico but did not kick up to the Outfit. In 1974 Mexico deported Sam Giancana back to the United States. Sam wanted to get back into the graces of Accardo and his Outfit. That was not going to happen. On June 18^th, 1975 Sam Giancana was cooking sausage and peppers in the kitchen basement when someone came up from behind and shot him in the head. Once lying dead on the floor, he was shot six more times in the face. A hit like this

would only come up if it had the approval of “Joe Batters.” Nobody has ever been prosecuted for the murder of Sam Giancana.

Heading into the 1970’s, Accardo looked like a grandfather like figure. If you would allow that to fool you, you would miss that he was still truly a ruthless man. In 1978 at the age of 72, Accardo was on vacation at his home in Palm Springs, California. While on vacation his house in River Forrest was robbed. Informants had told the police and the FBI that he was enraged. “Joe Batters” called a hit on anyone that was involved with this robbery. The word got out on the street to all burglars and home invaders that the boss was looking for some of their own. Folklore suggests that crime in Chicago ceased overnight. It is said that during Accardo’s inquisition Chicago’s crime was never lower in it’s history. Seven bodies of known home invaders showed up dead around the city. All understood to be under the orders of Tony Accardo.

The government still had their sights on Tony Accardo. He would yet again be called into testify before another senate committee. This committee was on the labor rackets of the union in 1984. He answered more questions than he has at previous hearings. He was asked if it was true that his nickname was “Joe Batters.” Accardo replied to the question with a yes. He was then asked how he got his nickname, which Accardo claimed that he could not remember. He was still not helpful and was cited for contempt of Congress but no charges were filed.

In the year of 1992, most of Accardo’s friends and associates have either been sentenced to prison or have died.  Accardo himself was suffering from heart disease. He started to become very ill, and was placed in the hospital for the last time. This was a death watch for the city of Chicago. All the media press was there sitting at the hospital to break the news that one of Chicago’s very own man of influence had passed. On May 27^th, 1992 the 86 year old Accardo was taking off of life support. He died shortly thereafter, and the word out in Chicago streets was the boss was now dead. Accardo died a natural death, unlike his contemporaries and men who he has sentenced to die. Rumored to never have spent a night in jail in his lustrous career as a gangster. Unlike many bosses, he was never challenged by anyone. He towed the line of everyone from 1943 to 1992. Tony “Joe Batters” “Big Tuna” Accardo was the Outfit’s Ultimate Boss.

 

 

 

 

 

KNOWLEDGE CENTER

I have put together some of the articles that I have written that are prevalent for the upcoming election in MARCH!. This is the Republican Nominee election but probably more important than the general election. It is most likely the winner in March will win in November and become sheriff. If you review the articles in the Knowledge Center, you will read all kinds of unbelievable things as it relates to this election.

 

Freedom of Information Act Appeal to get the remainder of my father’s file. In my efforts to get to the bottom of my father’s murder and what the McHenry County Sheriff’s office has done to me and my family 33 years ago. I filed a FOIA Request (Freedom of Information Act Request) to get my father’s case file. Many documents were withheld from my request. It is my believe the documents are withheld to protect guilty individuals that are known to Sheriff Keith Nygren and Undersheriff Andrew Zinke that covered up who actually killed my father during the original investigation. Start on page 11 to read what sounds like a murder mystery thriller, but this is my true life. It is backed by FBI reports, witness statements, and newspaper articles.

Andrew Zinke for McHenry County Sheriff, Really??? This article is based on my own father’s murder investigation and Undersheriff Andrew Zinke. I talked about how he made his own milestones and failed to meet every single one. How it took me calling NBC News Chicago to get Andrew Zinke to return my phone call about my father’s murder investigation, as he was the lead investigator. I am fighting to get the remainder of my father’s case file. It is my believe that Undersheriff Andrew Zinke and the Sheriff Keith Nygren are hiding and protecting individuals that covered up the true killer of my father during the original investigation.

Andrew Zinke plus Rita Corporation equals ON THE TAKE Brian Goode and his RITA Corporation was a person of interest and focal point for the investigation of the distribution of 30 plus tons of marijuana. Undersheriff Andrew Zinke told Brian Goode of the investigation. Two days later, according to Koziol, (Sgt. Koziol was working on the investigation and filed a complaint against Zinke) Goode gave Zinke’s election campaign a $5,000 donation. The RITA Corporation address is the same address as Andrew Zinke’s campaign headquarters.

McHenry County Deputy Zane Seipler under siege, Again!! Zane Seipler is a whistleblowing deputy that was fired by Keith Nygren after he exposed the sheriff’s office for racial profiling. Nygren was forced to hire Seipler back after he lost an arbitration ruling, a court hearing, an appellate court hearing, and a failed attempt to be heard by the Illinois State Supreme Court. After Seipler was hired back, Nygren fired him again. Zane Seipler is currently fighting to get his job back.

Another McHenry County Deputy under siege, Scott Milliman Scott Milliman was a deputy and former right hand man to Sheriff Keith Nygren. He was fired by the sheriff for whistleblowing that the sheriff allegedly transacted in ticket fixing, bribery, general corruption, fraud in a SBA Loan, and in tapping Milliman himself to kill a McHenry County Judge and a Coroner’s Candidate. Scott Milliman is currently fighting to get his job back.

How Gary Gauger got to DEATH ROW This is the real life, tragic story of Gary Gauger. He was falsely arrested and sent to Death Row by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department for the double murder of his parents. Investigators from the sheriff’s department rigged a false confession so that they could convict him.

 

McHenry County Ethics Commission, Ethical or NOT!?!? The McHenry County Ethics Commission conducted a hearing of a complaint filed by Cal Skinner that Undersheriff Andrew Zinke used a government computer for a very politically charged email. The hearing was ran over by Zinke’s attorneys Mark Gummerson and Rebecca Lee. The sign up sheet to speak at the hearing went missing but found in the possession of Rebecca Lee. The commission went into secret session, made its decision, and did so without explanation.

First Electric Newspaper v.s. Sheriff Nygren and EEO Officer Donald Leist Pete Gonigam won a Public Access Bureau (Illinois States Attorney) appeal for the release of a 100 page report conducted by the McHenry County Sheriff’s office. The report exonerated Undersheriff Andrew Zinke after he told Brian Goode that he and his RITA Corporation was a the focal point of a drug investigation by the DEA.

Zinke’s middle finger may cost Cal Skinner $5,000 After filing a valid ethics complaint against Undersheriff Andrew Zinke for using a government computer for his campaign, Cal Skinner was to face Zinke’s attorney Mark Gummerson. Gummerson was lobbying for a $5,000 fine against Skinner filing a valid complaint. An act of bulling and intimidation of a McHenry County citizen.

Will McHenry County be Ripped Off by Special Interest in Sheriff Election? I question the interest and the contribution to Undersheriff Andrew Zinke’s campaign from the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 election. I send a letter to the President-Business Manager of the union James M. Sweeney.

IUOE Local 150 and Andrew Zinke. Is this Gangster Money for a Gangster Cop? The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 contributes money to Undersheriff’s Andrew Zinke’s campaign. They have known ties to the Colombo and Gambino Crime Families.

 

Undersheriff Andrew Zinke Shuts Down Cal Skinner’s Blog Site Undersheriff Andrew Zinke’s campaign was able to get Cal Skinner’s website, mchenrycountyblog.com shut down by falsely accusing him of stalking and linking to obscene material. Read here on how Zinke’s campaign resorts to breaking the law to silence a citizen’s voice.

 

Andrew Zinke Fearful to Debate Bill Prim Lies to Get Out of It. Undersheriff Andrew Zinke is so fearful to debate Bill Prim for McHenry County Sheriff that he lies to get out of it. Zinke knows that he would be out matched, outwitted, and the truth of his corrupt character would be revealed to the citizens of McHenry County. Instead of enduring such damage to his campaign he lies to coward out of it.

Is Sheriff Nygren and Undersheriff Zinke Intimidating and Tampering with Federal Witnesses? Is Sheriff Nygren and Undersheriff Zinke intimidating federal witnesses? Or are the deputies fighting back? Donald Leist, the sheriff’s in house lawyer sent a letter to 30 deputies and correctional officers to be interrogated prior to their depositions in a federal case. Would that work anywhere else in the US or just McHerny County?