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{{Short description|Crime family based in Seattle, Washington}}
{{Infobox Criminal organization
{{Infobox Criminal organization
| name = Colacurcio Organization
| name = Seattle crime family
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| founded = 1950s
| founded = 1950s
| founding location = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[United States]]
| founding location = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[United States]]
| founder = [[Frank Colacurcio]]
| founder = [[Frank Colacurcio]]
| years active = 1950s–2000s (decade)
| years active = 1950s–2010s
| territory = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| territory = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| ethnic makeup =
| ethnic makeup =
| membership est =
| membership est =
| criminal activities = [[Racketeering]], [[prostitution]], [[extortion]], [[money laundering]], [[corruption]] and [[fraud]]
| criminal activities = [[Racketeering]], [[prostitution]], [[extortion]], [[money laundering]], [[corruption]] and [[fraud]]
| allies =
| allies =
| rivals =
| rivals =
}}
}}
The '''Seattle crime family''', also known as the '''Colacurcio crime family''',<ref>Eaves, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GwpeUmf0KE0C&pg=PA234&dq=Frank+Colacurcio+boss&hl=en&ei=ShiiTZ2oDbKN0QHbnKCdBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Frank%20Colacurcio%20boss&f=false pg. 234]</ref><ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013699294_money17m.html ''2 charged with smuggling $650,000 across border''] by Mike Carter (December 16, 2010) The Seattle Times</ref><ref name="Rollins 2008">[http://blog.oregonlive.com/nwheadlines/2008/06/feds_bust_colacurcio_crime_fam.html ''Feds bust Colacurcio crime family's four Puget Sound strip clubs''] by Michael Rollins (June 3, 2008) The Oregonian</ref> was a crime family based in [[Seattle, Washington]].
The '''Colacurcio Organization''', also known as the '''Colacurcio crime family''',<ref>Eaves, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GwpeUmf0KE0C&dq=Frank+Colacurcio+boss&pg=PA234 pg. 234]</ref><ref name="Rollins 2008">[http://blog.oregonlive.com/nwheadlines/2008/06/feds_bust_colacurcio_crime_fam.html ''Feds bust Colacurcio crime family's four Puget Sound strip clubs''] by Michael Rollins (June 3, 2008) The Oregonian</ref> was a criminal organization based in [[Seattle, Washington]].


==History==
==History==
In the 1950s, [[Frank Colacurcio]] began operating cigarette and jukebox vending machines in the [[Seattle metropolitan area|Seattle area]].<ref name="Miletich 2007">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003695542_colacurcio06m.html ''The cops vs. Colacurcio - the last round''] by Steve Miletich and Jim Brunner (May 6, 2007) ''The Seattle Times''</ref> The vending machine businesses became important to organized crime figures who easily [[Skimming (fraud)|skimmed money]].<ref name="Miletich 2007"/> In 1957, Colacurcio began working with Portland crime figure James "Big Jim" Elkins to open prostitution houses in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]].<ref name="Miletich 2007"/> In the 1960s, Colacurcio opened topless clubs in Seattle and skimmed money.<ref name="Miletich 2007"/> In the 1970s, Colacurcio met with [[Bonanno crime family]] member [[Salvatore Bonanno|Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno]] in Yakima, WA to discuss a business relationship. When questioned about the meeting, Frank Colacurcio replied with “I went to Yakima to pick hot peppers, but I didn’t pick no bananas.” <ref name="Miletich 2007"/> In the following years Colacurcio continued to expand his strip-club business.
In the 1950s, [[Frank Colacurcio]] began operating cigarette and jukebox vending machines in the [[Seattle metropolitan area|Seattle area]].<ref name="Miletich 2007">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003695542_colacurcio06m.html ''The cops vs. Colacurcio - the last round''] by Steve Miletich and Jim Brunner (May 6, 2007) ''The Seattle Times''</ref> The vending machine businesses became important to organized crime figures who easily [[Skimming (fraud)|skimmed money]].<ref name="Miletich 2007"/> In 1957, Colacurcio began working with Portland crime figure James "Big Jim" Elkins to open prostitution houses in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]].<ref name="Miletich 2007"/> In the 1960s, Colacurcio opened topless clubs in Seattle and skimmed money.<ref name="Miletich 2007"/> In the 1970s, Colacurcio met with [[Bonanno crime family]] member [[Salvatore Bonanno|Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno]] in [[Yakima, WA]] to discuss a business relationship. When questioned about the meeting, Frank Colacurcio replied with "I went to Yakima to pick hot peppers, but I didn’t pick no bananas."<ref name="Miletich 2007"/> The mention of bananas was a reference to the Bonnano family, which was involved in an internal war referred to by the media as the [[Bonanno crime family#"Banana War"|"Banana Wars"]]. In the following years Colacurcio continued to expand his strip-club business.


In 2003, a criminal investigation began in Seattle known as "[[Strippergate (Seattle)|Strippergate]]" focusing on strip clubs owned by Frank Colacurcio, Sr. and his son, Frank Colacurcio Jr.<ref name="Miletich 2010">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012264324_colacurcioobit03m.html Frank Colacurcio Sr., Seattle's legendary organized-crime figure, dies at 93] Miletich, Steve (July 2, 2010) The Seattle Times</ref> In 2008, local police and federal agents raided Colacurcio's home and business.<ref name="Rollins 2008"/><ref name="Carter 2008">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004453793_search03m.html ''Feds say prostitution rampant at strip clubs''] by Mike Carter and Jim Brunner (June 3, 2008) The Seattle Times</ref><ref name="Hefley 2008">[http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080603/NEWS01/219056046&news01ad=1#Everett.strip.club.a.front.for.brothel.feds.say Everett strip club a front for brothel, feds say] by Diana Hefley and Jackson Holtz (June 3, 2008) ''The Herald'', Everett, Washington</ref><ref name="Robinson 2008">[http://www.thenewstribune.com/2008/06/03/379091/strip-club-sting-foreshadows-possible.html Strip club sting foreshadows possible federal charges]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} by Sean Robinson (June 3, 2008) ''The News Tribute''</ref> The strip clubs owned by Colacurcio were being used as fronts for brothels.<ref name="Carter 2008"/><ref name="Hefley 2008"/><ref name="Robinson 2008"/> In 2009, Colacurcio Sr., his son Frank Colacurcio Jr. and four others were indicted and charged with conspiracy and racketeering.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009402719_webcolacurcio01m.html Colacurcio Sr., five others indicted on a charge of conspiracy and racketeering] by Ian Ith (June 30, 2009) ''The Seattle Times''</ref> On July 2, 2010, boss Frank Colacurcio, Sr. died at the age of 93.<ref name="Miletich 2010"/>
In 2003, a criminal investigation began in Seattle known as "[[Strippergate (Seattle)|Strippergate]]" focusing on strip clubs owned by Frank Colacurcio, Sr. and his son, Frank Colacurcio Jr.<ref name="Miletich 2010">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012264324_colacurcioobit03m.html Frank Colacurcio Sr., Seattle's legendary organized-crime figure, dies at 93] Miletich, Steve (July 2, 2010) The Seattle Times</ref> In 2008, local police and federal agents raided Colacurcio's home and business.<ref name="Rollins 2008"/><ref name="Carter 2008">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004453793_search03m.html ''Feds say prostitution rampant at strip clubs''] by Mike Carter and Jim Brunner (June 3, 2008) The Seattle Times</ref><ref name="Hefley 2008">[http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080603/NEWS01/219056046&news01ad=1#Everett.strip.club.a.front.for.brothel.feds.say Everett strip club a front for brothel, feds say] by Diana Hefley and Jackson Holtz (June 3, 2008) ''The Herald'', Everett, Washington</ref><ref name="Robinson 2008">[http://www.thenewstribune.com/2008/06/03/379091/strip-club-sting-foreshadows-possible.html Strip club sting foreshadows possible federal charges]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} by Sean Robinson (June 3, 2008) ''The News Tribute''</ref> The strip clubs owned by Colacurcio were being used as fronts for brothels.<ref name="Carter 2008"/><ref name="Hefley 2008"/><ref name="Robinson 2008"/>

In 2009, Colacurcio Sr., his son Frank Colacurcio Jr., and four others were indicted and charged with conspiracy and racketeering.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009402719_webcolacurcio01m.html Colacurcio Sr., five others indicted on a charge of conspiracy and racketeering] by Ian Ith (June 30, 2009) ''The Seattle Times''</ref> In April 2010, Colacurcio Sr.'s nephew Leroy Richard Christiansen along with club manager Steven Michael Fueston, Colacurcio Sr.'s close associate David Carl Ebert, and Colacurcio Sr.'s driver John Gilbert Conte all pleaded guilty to prostitution and racketeering.<ref name="Colacurcio Jr. sentenced">{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Mike |title=Frank Colacurcio Jr. gets prison term, $1.3M fine |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/frank-colacurcio-jr-gets-prison-term-13m-fine/ |access-date=27 March 2022 |agency=News Paper |publisher=Seattle Times |date=24 September 2010}}</ref> In June 2010, Colacurcio Jr. pleaded guilty to a racketeering and conspiracy.<ref name="Colacurcio Jr. sentenced"/> On July 2, 2010, boss Frank Colacurcio, Sr. died at the age of 93.<ref name="Miletich 2010"/>

On September 24, 2010, Frank Colacurcio Jr. was sentenced to one year in prison, fined $1.3 million and ordered to forfeit all interest in the strip clubs and related property worth more than $6 million.<ref name="Colacurcio Jr. sentenced"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Western District of Washington |title=Frank Colacurcio Jr. Sentenced to Prison in Strip Club Case Colacurcio Jr. Forfeits Millions in Cash and Property |url=https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/seattle/press-releases/2010/se092410a.htm |access-date=27 March 2022 |agency=FBI |publisher=U.S. Attorney’s Office |date=24 September 2010}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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*Donnelly, Robert C. ''Dark Rose: Organized Crime and Corruption in Portland.'' University of Washington Press, 2011. {{ISBN|0295991119}}
*Donnelly, Robert C. ''Dark Rose: Organized Crime and Corruption in Portland.'' University of Washington Press, 2011. {{ISBN|0295991119}}


[[Category:Italian-American crime families]]
{{American Mafia}}
[[Category:Organized crime groups in the United States]]
{{Organized crime groups in the United States}}

[[Category:1950s establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Gangs in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Gangs in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Italian-American culture in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Italian-American organized crime groups]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Seattle]]
[[Category:Organizations established in the 1950s]]

Latest revision as of 21:04, 14 August 2024

Colacurcio Organization
Founded1950s
FounderFrank Colacurcio
Founding locationSeattle, Washington, United States
Years active1950s–2010s
TerritoryWashington
Criminal activitiesRacketeering, prostitution, extortion, money laundering, corruption and fraud

The Colacurcio Organization, also known as the Colacurcio crime family,[1][2] was a criminal organization based in Seattle, Washington.

History

[edit]

In the 1950s, Frank Colacurcio began operating cigarette and jukebox vending machines in the Seattle area.[3] The vending machine businesses became important to organized crime figures who easily skimmed money.[3] In 1957, Colacurcio began working with Portland crime figure James "Big Jim" Elkins to open prostitution houses in Portland.[3] In the 1960s, Colacurcio opened topless clubs in Seattle and skimmed money.[3] In the 1970s, Colacurcio met with Bonanno crime family member Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno in Yakima, WA to discuss a business relationship. When questioned about the meeting, Frank Colacurcio replied with "I went to Yakima to pick hot peppers, but I didn’t pick no bananas."[3] The mention of bananas was a reference to the Bonnano family, which was involved in an internal war referred to by the media as the "Banana Wars". In the following years Colacurcio continued to expand his strip-club business.

In 2003, a criminal investigation began in Seattle known as "Strippergate" focusing on strip clubs owned by Frank Colacurcio, Sr. and his son, Frank Colacurcio Jr.[4] In 2008, local police and federal agents raided Colacurcio's home and business.[2][5][6][7] The strip clubs owned by Colacurcio were being used as fronts for brothels.[5][6][7]

In 2009, Colacurcio Sr., his son Frank Colacurcio Jr., and four others were indicted and charged with conspiracy and racketeering.[8] In April 2010, Colacurcio Sr.'s nephew Leroy Richard Christiansen along with club manager Steven Michael Fueston, Colacurcio Sr.'s close associate David Carl Ebert, and Colacurcio Sr.'s driver John Gilbert Conte all pleaded guilty to prostitution and racketeering.[9] In June 2010, Colacurcio Jr. pleaded guilty to a racketeering and conspiracy.[9] On July 2, 2010, boss Frank Colacurcio, Sr. died at the age of 93.[4]

On September 24, 2010, Frank Colacurcio Jr. was sentenced to one year in prison, fined $1.3 million and ordered to forfeit all interest in the strip clubs and related property worth more than $6 million.[9][10]

References

[edit]

Notes

  1. ^ Eaves, pg. 234
  2. ^ a b Feds bust Colacurcio crime family's four Puget Sound strip clubs by Michael Rollins (June 3, 2008) The Oregonian
  3. ^ a b c d e The cops vs. Colacurcio - the last round by Steve Miletich and Jim Brunner (May 6, 2007) The Seattle Times
  4. ^ a b Frank Colacurcio Sr., Seattle's legendary organized-crime figure, dies at 93 Miletich, Steve (July 2, 2010) The Seattle Times
  5. ^ a b Feds say prostitution rampant at strip clubs by Mike Carter and Jim Brunner (June 3, 2008) The Seattle Times
  6. ^ a b Everett strip club a front for brothel, feds say by Diana Hefley and Jackson Holtz (June 3, 2008) The Herald, Everett, Washington
  7. ^ a b Strip club sting foreshadows possible federal charges[permanent dead link] by Sean Robinson (June 3, 2008) The News Tribute
  8. ^ Colacurcio Sr., five others indicted on a charge of conspiracy and racketeering by Ian Ith (June 30, 2009) The Seattle Times
  9. ^ a b c Carter, Mike (24 September 2010). "Frank Colacurcio Jr. gets prison term, $1.3M fine". Seattle Times. News Paper. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  10. ^ Western District of Washington (24 September 2010). "Frank Colacurcio Jr. Sentenced to Prison in Strip Club Case Colacurcio Jr. Forfeits Millions in Cash and Property". U.S. Attorney’s Office. FBI. Retrieved 27 March 2022.

Sources

  • Eaves, Elisabeth. Bare: the naked truth about stripping Avalon, 2004.
  • Anderson, Rick. Seattle Vice: Strippers, Prostitution, Dirty Money, and Crooked Cops in the Emerald City
  • Donnelly, Robert C. Dark Rose: Organized Crime and Corruption in Portland. University of Washington Press, 2011. ISBN 0295991119
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