William Dauber
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" E. Dauber (June 30, 1935-July 2, 1980) was a Chicago
mobster, hitman
and associate in the Chicago Outfit
's South Side chop shop
ring.
Born in Chicago and moved to Blue Island, Dauber was brought into the Chicago crime syndicate by mobster James "Jimmy the Bomber" Catuara, who operated illegal gambling and vice in Chicago's Southside. One of only a few southerners within the syndicate, Dauber quickly proved to be a valuable member of "The Outfit." As Catuara's protégé, Dauber was suspected in over 20 unsolved homicide
s, between 1969 and 1980, in the decade-long struggle for Steven Ostrowski's lucrative South Side chop shop operation.
In 1973, Dauber was convicted of mail fraud and the interstate transportation of a stolen car used in an unsolved murder. After his release in 1976, Dauber joined rival mobster Albert Caesar Tocco as a top enforcer who had slowly gained control of the Southside. Shortly after Dauber's defection, Catuara was found shot to death in his red Cadillac
on July 28, 1978.
During the next several years, relations between Dauber and his former associates would become increasingly strained as, voiced by his wife Charlotte. He reportedly was becoming disgruntled over his treatment as well as his facing several federal indictments for which others may have come to suspect Dauber had agreed to become an informant. It was also well-known that Dauber was a "hot-head" and believed he should have had more power in the rackets he was involved in. He was suspected of running several "competing" rackets that were not sanctioned by The Outfit and for which he did not "kick up" for.
On July 2, 1980, the Daubers received a continuation from Judge Angelo Pistilli on charges accusing the couple of concealing cocaine
and weapons in their suburban residence. While leaving the Will County courthouse, Dauber answered to reporters regarding his criminal activities, "I just live quietly in this country, that's all."
While driving home from the courthouse, unidentified gunmen (In the Family Secrets case it was said that the hitmen were Frank Calabrese Sr., Ronnie Jarrett, Butch Petrocelli and Gerry Scarpelli)driving a Ford van drove up alongside them and began firing at the car. Dauber, attempting to avoid the gunfire, crashed the car into an apple tree where, after being set on fire, it was later found by two farmers (the van was later found abandoned only a mile up the road).
The incident was confessed to by Geri Scarpelli—a long time associate of The Outfit.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
mobster, hitman
Hitman
A hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
and associate in the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
's South Side chop shop
Chop shop
In motor vehicle theft, a chop shop is a location or business which disassembles stolen automobiles for the purpose of selling them as parts. It may also be used to refer to a location or business that is involved with the selling of stolen or fraudulent goods in general, an example of the latter...
ring.
Born in Chicago and moved to Blue Island, Dauber was brought into the Chicago crime syndicate by mobster James "Jimmy the Bomber" Catuara, who operated illegal gambling and vice in Chicago's Southside. One of only a few southerners within the syndicate, Dauber quickly proved to be a valuable member of "The Outfit." As Catuara's protégé, Dauber was suspected in over 20 unsolved homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
s, between 1969 and 1980, in the decade-long struggle for Steven Ostrowski's lucrative South Side chop shop operation.
In 1973, Dauber was convicted of mail fraud and the interstate transportation of a stolen car used in an unsolved murder. After his release in 1976, Dauber joined rival mobster Albert Caesar Tocco as a top enforcer who had slowly gained control of the Southside. Shortly after Dauber's defection, Catuara was found shot to death in his red Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
on July 28, 1978.
During the next several years, relations between Dauber and his former associates would become increasingly strained as, voiced by his wife Charlotte. He reportedly was becoming disgruntled over his treatment as well as his facing several federal indictments for which others may have come to suspect Dauber had agreed to become an informant. It was also well-known that Dauber was a "hot-head" and believed he should have had more power in the rackets he was involved in. He was suspected of running several "competing" rackets that were not sanctioned by The Outfit and for which he did not "kick up" for.
On July 2, 1980, the Daubers received a continuation from Judge Angelo Pistilli on charges accusing the couple of concealing cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and weapons in their suburban residence. While leaving the Will County courthouse, Dauber answered to reporters regarding his criminal activities, "I just live quietly in this country, that's all."
While driving home from the courthouse, unidentified gunmen (In the Family Secrets case it was said that the hitmen were Frank Calabrese Sr., Ronnie Jarrett, Butch Petrocelli and Gerry Scarpelli)driving a Ford van drove up alongside them and began firing at the car. Dauber, attempting to avoid the gunfire, crashed the car into an apple tree where, after being set on fire, it was later found by two farmers (the van was later found abandoned only a mile up the road).
The incident was confessed to by Geri Scarpelli—a long time associate of The Outfit.
Further reading
- Chiocca, Olindo Romeo. Mobsters and Thugs: Quotes from the Underworld. Toronto: Guernica Editions, 2000. ISBN 1-55071-104-0
External links
- Chicago Tribune: Grand jury lifting veil on unsolved mob hits by Rick Jervis and Liam Ford
- The Not-so-Glamorous Career of Chicago Hitman Gerald Scarpelli Revealed: "It Was Just Business..." by Richard Lindberg
- Chicago Sun-Times - Tapes reveal mob's secrets: Prosecutors move to keep alleged hitman by Steve Warmbir