From The Archives - June 2016

Antonio “Tony the Scourge” Lombardo (1891 – September 7, 1928) in 1925 became president of the Chicago chapter of the Unione Siciliana, which was a community and political organization of immigrants. In addition, Lombardo became Al Capone’s advisor when John Torrio retired in 1995.

Antonio Lombardo was born in Sicily in 1891 and immigrated to Chicago when he was in his teens. As a young man he was well known for his wholesale grocery business which made him known in his and surrounding neighborhoods. At this time, the Genna family controlled and operated the home distilleries. Lombardo’s grocery business was the primary supplier of bulk sugar, one of the main components of the home distilleries. Lombardo had two partners in his grocery business; Joseph Ferraro and Joseph Aiello.  When Lombardo became a key player in the underground liquor trade, he appointed Aiello president of their operation.

When Lombardo was president of the Unione it was one of the most profitable and dangerous jobs in the world.  The Unione was originally in place to assist Sicilian immigrants settle in the United States, but it was soon taken over and corrupted by Sicilian gang members. All but one president was been assassinated.  During Lombardo’s presidency there were approximately 15,000 members with substantial political influence. The president of the Unione Siciliana was known as the “fixer” because they acquired connections to city hall.

Due to the Unione’s poor reputation, Lombardo renamed the Chicago Chapter to “Italo-American National Union”. This allowed non-Sicilian Italians to join. Furthermore, the union improved its image by donating to charities such as; hurricane relief in Florida in 1926.

Aiello soon had a falling out with Lombardo and he allied himself with the Northsiders. Aiello tried more than once to kill Lombardo and Capone by trying to poison their food and offering $50,000 for each of their heads. Aiello became jealous of Lombardo’s success. Aiello wanted control of the Unione Siciliana. On September 7, 1928 he finally succeeded; Lombardo, his business partner Ferrara, and their bodyguard, Joseph Lolordo, stepped out of their office building near Madison and Dearborn St. when two gunmen across the street open fired, injuring Ferrara and killing Lombardo. Lombardo’s death became known as one of the most spectacular mob hits of all time. It was speculated that Aiello ordered the attack. In retaliation, Capone ordered the attacks of the Valentine’s Day massacre. 


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