Colacurcio Organization
The Seattle crime family, also known as the Colacurcio crime family,[1][2][3], is a crime family based in Seattle, Washington.
History
In the 1950s, Frank Colacurcio began operating cigarette and jukebox vending machines in the Seattle area.[4] The vending machine businesses became important to organized crime figures who easily skimmed money.[4] In 1957, Colacurcio began working with Portland crime figure James "Big Jim" Elkins to opened prostitution houses in Portland.[4] In the 1960s, Colacurcio opened topless clubs in Seattle and skimmed money.[4] In the 1970s, Colacurcio met with Bonanno crime family member Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno to discuss a business relationship.[4] The following years Colacurcio continued to expand his strip-club business and by the 1980s he and Albert C. Washington he had clubs in ten Western States.[4]
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.[5] In 2008, local police and federal agents raided Colacurcio home and business.[3][6][7][8] The strip clubs owned by Colacurcio were being used as fronts for brothels.[6][7][8] In 2009, Colacurcio Sr., his son Frank Colacurcio Jr. and associates Leroy R. Christiansen, David C. Ebert, Steven M. Fueston and John Gilbert Conte were indicted and charged with conspiracy and racketeering.[9] On July 2, 2010 boss Frank Colacurcio, Sr. died at the age of 93.[5]
References
Notes
- ^ Eaves, pg. 234
- ^ 2 charged with smuggling $650,000 across border by Mike Carter (December 16, 2010) The Seattle Times
- ^ a b Feds bust Colacurcio crime family's four Puget Sound strip clubs by Michael Rollins (June 3, 2008) The Oregonian
- ^ a b c d e f The cops vs. Colacurcio - the last round by Steve Miletich and Jim Brunner (May 6, 2007) The Seattle Times
- ^ a b Frank Colacurcio Sr., Seattle's legendary organized-crime figure, dies at 93 Miletich, Steve (July 2, 2010) The Seattle Times
- ^ a b Feds say prostitution rampant at strip clubs by Mike Carter and Jim Brunner (June 3, 2008) The Seattle Times
- ^ a b Everett strip club a front for brothel, feds say by Diana Hefley and Jackson Holtz (June 3, 2008) The Herald Everett, Washington
- ^ a b Strip club sting foreshadows possible federal charges by Sean Robinson (June 3, 2008) The News Tribute
- ^ Colacurcio Sr., five others indicted on a charge of conspiracy and racketeering by Ian Ith (June 30, 2009) The Seattle Times
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