| abstract | - Balistrieri was college educated and attended law school for six months. His family immigrated to the United States in 1904 along with the Bompensiero family (Frank Bompensiero would eventually lead the San Diego crew of the Los Angeles crime family). As a young man, he started working for the Milwaukee crime family, which owed allegiance to the powerful Chicago Outfit criminal organization in Chicago. Balistrieri soon built a reputation for arrogance, cruelty and ruthlessness. Balistrieri allegedly received the "Mad Bomber" nickname because he frequently used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) attached to cars as weapons against his enemies. His father-in-law and Milwaukee boss, John Alioto, was soon grooming Balistrieri as his successor. In 1961, Alioto retired and Balistrieri took control of the Milwaukee family. By the time Balistrieri succeeded his father-in-law, John Alioto, as the new boss of the Milwaukee LCN family, he had a sizable loan shark book, vast control over illegal sports betting and a tight hold on the vending machine market. Balistrieri eventually referred to himself as, “....the most powerful man in Milwaukee.” After the "hit" on an acquaintance, August "Augie" Palmisano, Balistrieri was quoted as saying, "He called me a name - to my face - and now they can't find his skin!". Palmisano, was slain by a car bomb on June 30, 1978. Balistrieri conducted his business at a table at Snug's restaurant in Milwaukee's Shorecrest Hotel, giving orders over a red telephone. In March 1967, Balistrieri was convicted of income tax evasion and was sent to prison for two years. In June 1971, he was released. In the late 1970s, with his two sons John and Joseph Balistrieri, he worked with Bonanno crime family capo Michael Sabella and once met Bonanno crime family soldier Benjamin Ruggiero and undercover officer Joseph Pistone at his restaurant, Snug's, to discuss a vending machine operation that was brought to Pistone's attention by another undercover cop working with the Milwaukee Mafia, Clark B. Hall. Ruggiero later admitted to Pistone that he felt threatened while in the presence of Balistrieri. The Bonannos, Milwaukee gangsters and the FBI Agents did reach an agreement over the vending machine rackets. Balistieri, through his sons, made an agreement. His sons, John and Joseph, drew up an agreement which gave Balstrieri overly favorable arrangements and could ultimately give control over the proposed arrangements. Months later, with suspicion looming, Balistrieri cancelled the arrangements and ceased all contact with the Bonanno LCN Family. It was through his sons and their legal expertise that Balistrieri was able to hide controlling interest in many legal businesses.
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