Born Fernando Mario, in St. Louis, on April 13th 1957, to Salvatore “Sam the Tailor” Bartolotta and Mary Evola. Father from Cinisi comune of Palermo.
Cinisi borders Terrasini-Favarotta, where a majority of St. Louis and Detroit LCN figures trace their origins to. Examples include the Giordanos, Giammancos, Zerillis, Toccos and Trupianos.
Sam Bartolotta (1929-1999) petitioned for naturalisation on March 20th 1969. Witnesses were Frank Gaglio and Salvatore Puleo, both born in Cinisi. He was naturalised May 5th 1969.
Former SLMPD Detective Timothy Richards identified Sam Bartolotta as a long-time associate of the local family. Nondo Bartolotta was apparently originally training to be a tailor [like his father] but following an introduction to Anthony Giordano, began associating with organised crime.
Richards further notes that Bartolotta was “under the tutelage” of Matthew Trupiano Jnr and was inducted by Anthony Giordano.
Trupiano, suspected of membership by 1979, may have inducted into the family during the 1970s along with Dominic Biondo (1936-2002) and Pasquale LoPiccolo (1917-1990).
An FBI 302 from CI/CW Richard Beck, a former St. Louis associate, clashes with that as well as Richards’ information.
On May 2nd 2000, interviews began between Special Agent Frank Brostrom and Beck. At the time he was incarcerated in Franklin County Jail awaiting legal proceedings.
Beck was connected to Bartolotta prior to any affiliation with LCN and continued to be active with him until around 1985, when he turned CW.
He identifies Bartolotta as being an associate of the family by October 1979 at the latest.
During that month, Bartolotta and Trupiano, along with associates Jesse Stoneking (later CI, CW) and Raymond Flynn planned to bring Beck into Teamster Local 53.
Beck further relayed that Bartolotta and Trupiano were inducted in early-to-mid 1982 at a pizzeria in St. Charles. He knew both to be sponsored by then-boss John Vitale. Prior to his induction, Beck calls Bartolotta a “fat sissy” as far as street repute.
He makes no mention of suspected member Frank Palazzolo (1932-?), a St. Charles grocer once charged with receiving stolen goods.
Bartolotta would often make reference to the fact that he and Trupiano were inducted at the same time, according to Beck. He also explained to Beck that he could never be an LCN member because he was not Italian.
He described an incident with local associate Gary Wiser (ph) where Bartolotta told Beck that Wiser had been badmouthing him. Wiser had apparently spoken about him at a meeting with Bartolotta at the Soulard Market and Beck was told he should “take of it.”
Before he could retaliate, Bartolotta admitted to lying about the Wiser insults. Beck was unsure but respected Bartolotta for “admitting” to lying.
In actuality, Bartolotta may have been ordered by Mike Trupiano to call off any violence against Wiser as they lived on the same street as well as in a school district.
Despite his new information and previous SLMPD cooperation, Beck (b. 1942/01/02) had his parole violation upheld and was only released on September 11th 2018.
In letters while incarcerated, Beck described CW Jesse Stoneking as a “slimeball” whose death in 2003 was deserved.
Aside from “Mad Bomber” Beck (SLMPD informant), Bartolotta’s associates included his brother Leonardo, Patrick Woodling, Thomas Consiglio and Dennis Sonnenschein.
By late 1982, acted as an agent in a football gambling ring operated by boss Trupiano and associates Eugene Pisani, Thomas “Roscoe” Williams, Fred Garozzo, Frank C. Parrino (brother of family consigliere Anthony) and others.
Around this time, became embroiled in an extortion scheme with Trupiano and several associates. They were targeting massage parlours and strip clubs, fronted as legitimate businesses.
In December 1983, a robbery plot was recorded by Jesse Stoneking.
Involving himself, Bartolotta and Michael Bauer, meetings to discuss the scheme took place on December 8th, 13th and 19th in St. Charles.
The meeting on the 13th also involved issues related to Dennis Sonnenschein and corrupt police officials, who had raided affiliated massage parlours and topless nightclubs despite payoffs.
Sonnenschein was paying tribute to both the local family as well as Chicago associate Arthur Berne and his group. He was also connected to Raymond Flynn, an underworld figure associated with the STL family, Chicago and the Syrians.
Bartolotta represented Trupiano in the extortion plot and was also the official owner of the Golden Girls nightclub.
Later that month, recorded again by Stoneking discussing an extortion plot that targeted bankers via kidnapping their spouses. Bartolotta apparently learned of the scheme from Richard Beck, who had been convicted of a similar racket in 1973.
Two attempts were made, both failing. The first target suffered a heart attack and the second was indifferent about his wife’s safety.
By the start of 1984, Bartolotta told Stoneking that he was “under extreme” pressure to produce money from Sonnenschein, by then a suspected cooperator. At an earlier point, ordered by Trupiano to assault and strangle Sonnenschein over his failure to make payments.
On June 29th that year, associate Leonardo “Leo” Bartolotta provided testimony for the defence at an appeal hearing for Beck.
Convicted earlier that year for receiving stolen property from murdered Chicago associate William Dauber, Beck was granted a new trial despite questions related to Leo Bartolotta’s brother and his incarceration.
Earlier that month, organised a meeting with drug trafficker Rey H. Orta where Bartolotta, associate Pat Woodling and Mike Trupiano attempted to extort Orta for 60% of his profits.
Bartolotta was involved in further shakedowns of Orta, including the forced hirings of local associates as “bodyguards”, robbery setups and other violence. Orta eventually tried to solicit Beck to kill Bartolotta, Woodling and likely also Trupiano for 10,000 dollars each.
Indicted on July 19th on gambling charges along with Trupiano and others connected to the football betting ring.
Indicted on December 19th 1984 for the robbery plot with Michael Bauer, charged with conspiring to steal 300,000 dollars from the Venture Store where Bauer worked as an assistant manager.
Convicted on April 11th 1985 of the Venture plot and received 5 years.
Pled guilty to credit card fraud and the gambling case on September 6th and then did the same on October 4th for his role in extorting Sonnenschein, received 6 years.
By June 1986, incarcerated in an unidentified FMC (Rochester?) with 11 years total.
Released by late 1991.
Bartolotta and several others, including associate Thomas Consiglio, were involved in a crime wave throughout early 1992.
On January 12th, Bartolotta and others burglarised a house in Illinois and took several valuables from a safe. Robbed the First Bank in Creve Coeur, Missouri on the 21st, with Consiglio and Timothy Hinton. They had conspired with a bank teller and made use of a fraudulent bomb threat.
On March 22nd, attempted to a rob an armoured car during a money collection. Seemingly arrested at the scene. By June 1993, incarcerated at St. Louis County Jail (Gumbo CCC).
It is unclear if these heists were connected to the family. Given almost total inactivity for the group as a whole, it appears more likely that this was Bartolotta’s own operation.
Leo Bartolotta again provided testimony for the defence at trial as well as a false alibi for January 12th 1992. He was severely discredited on cross examination.
Convicted on March 21st 1997 of bank robbery, transporting stolen property across state lines and interfering with commerce by threats of violence. Sentenced to 220 months.
Released March 3rd 2006.
On December 2nd 2009, Nondo Bartolotta was added to Missouri Gaming Commission’s exclusion list due to his criminal history.
On October 7th 2021, he failed to appear in person at a hearing before the MGC, over his petition on March 16th that year for removal. On December 1st, gaming officials upheld his ban on the basis that Bartolotta had failed to provide evidence for his removal.
Today, Fernando Bartolotta is the last known member of the St. Louis family.
Those interested in the Missouri families should check out Midwest Connection, whose photo collection was used throughout this post.
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