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Gus Alex (April 1, 1916 - July 24, 1998) was a Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
, Greek
Greeks

The Greeks , also known as Hellenes, are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions, who can also be found in Greek diaspora communities around the world....
 mobster and high ranking member of the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit

The Chicago Outfit, shortened to "The Outfit" is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Dating back to the 1910s, it is part of the United States phenomenon known as the Mafia; however, the Chicago Outfit is distinct from the "Five Families" of New York City, though all Italian-American crime families are ruled by The Commis...
, who succeeded Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik
Jake Guzik

Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik was the financial and legal advisor, and later political ?greaser?, for the Chicago Outfit....
 as the Syndicate
Syndicate

Syndicate comes from the French language word syndicat which means trade union , from the Latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek language word s??d???? which means caretaker of an issue, compare to ombudsman or Representation ....
's main political "fixer
Bribery

Bribery, a form of pecuniary corruption, is an act implying money or gift given that alters the behaviour of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the Offer and acceptance, Gift, Offer and acceptance, or Solicitation of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other pers...
", known as a, "connection guy."

into a Greek-American family, in Chicago, Illinois, on April 1, 1916, Alex joined the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit

The Chicago Outfit, shortened to "The Outfit" is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Dating back to the 1910s, it is part of the United States phenomenon known as the Mafia; however, the Chicago Outfit is distinct from the "Five Families" of New York City, though all Italian-American crime families are ruled by The Commis...
 in the late 1920s, after dropping out of high school in his second year. Working primarily for Alphonse "Al," "Scarface" Capone
Al Capone

Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone , commonly nicknamed "Scarface", was an Italian-American gangster who led a crime syndicate dedicated to smuggling and Rum-running of alcoholic beverage and other illegal activities during the Prohibition in the United States Era of the 1920s and 1930s....
's lieutenant, Jake Guzik, Alex would later become his protégé as he rose through the ranks of the Chicago crime syndicate.






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Gus Alex (April 1, 1916 - July 24, 1998) was a Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
, Greek
Greeks

The Greeks , also known as Hellenes, are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions, who can also be found in Greek diaspora communities around the world....
 mobster and high ranking member of the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit

The Chicago Outfit, shortened to "The Outfit" is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Dating back to the 1910s, it is part of the United States phenomenon known as the Mafia; however, the Chicago Outfit is distinct from the "Five Families" of New York City, though all Italian-American crime families are ruled by The Commis...
, who succeeded Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik
Jake Guzik

Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik was the financial and legal advisor, and later political ?greaser?, for the Chicago Outfit....
 as the Syndicate
Syndicate

Syndicate comes from the French language word syndicat which means trade union , from the Latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek language word s??d???? which means caretaker of an issue, compare to ombudsman or Representation ....
's main political "fixer
Bribery

Bribery, a form of pecuniary corruption, is an act implying money or gift given that alters the behaviour of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the Offer and acceptance, Gift, Offer and acceptance, or Solicitation of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other pers...
", known as a, "connection guy."

Early life

Born into a Greek-American family, in Chicago, Illinois, on April 1, 1916, Alex joined the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit

The Chicago Outfit, shortened to "The Outfit" is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Dating back to the 1910s, it is part of the United States phenomenon known as the Mafia; however, the Chicago Outfit is distinct from the "Five Families" of New York City, though all Italian-American crime families are ruled by The Commis...
 in the late 1920s, after dropping out of high school in his second year. Working primarily for Alphonse "Al," "Scarface" Capone
Al Capone

Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone , commonly nicknamed "Scarface", was an Italian-American gangster who led a crime syndicate dedicated to smuggling and Rum-running of alcoholic beverage and other illegal activities during the Prohibition in the United States Era of the 1920s and 1930s....
's lieutenant, Jake Guzik, Alex would later become his protégé as he rose through the ranks of the Chicago crime syndicate. By 1930, he was suspect
Suspect

In the parlance of criminal justice, a suspect is a known person suspected of committing a crime.Police and reporters often incorrectly use the word the suspect when referring to the actor, or perpetrator of the offense ....
ed in the death
Death

Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that define a life organism. It refers to both a particular event and to the condition that results thereby....
s of at least five unsolved murder
Murder

Murder as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent , and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide....
 cases. Two of the alleged victims, later dying of their injuries in hospital, identified Alex as their assailant
Assailant

Assailant is a sweden Heavy metal music band formed in 2004 and currently on the label Dockyard 1. Their debut album Nemesis Within was released in May 2006....
 as well as three others who were killed after reporting to police
Police

Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive , empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force....
 extortion
Extortion

Extortion, outwresting, or exaction is a crime, which occurs, when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion....
 and death threat
Threat

Threat of force in public international law is a situation between states described by Great Britain lawyer Ian Brownlie as:The 1969...
s sent by Alex.

From Guzik's protege to Syndicate fixer

Under Guzik's guidance, Alex became experienced in securing Syndicate
Organized crime

Organized crime or criminal organizations comprise groups or operations run by crimes, most commonly for the purpose of generating a money profit....
 protection through bribery
Bribery

Bribery, a form of pecuniary corruption, is an act implying money or gift given that alters the behaviour of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the Offer and acceptance, Gift, Offer and acceptance, or Solicitation of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other pers...
 of city officials. By the mid-1940s, Alex was the main liaison between the Chicago Outfit and city hall officials. He granted control of the Loop's illegal gambling
Gambling

Gambling is the wikt:wager#Verb of money or something of material Value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods....
 and prostitution
Prostitution

The word prostitution is used to indicate:1. The exposing or otherwise offering oneself or someone else with the purpose of tempting potential customers to exchange money or goods for the promise of cooperativeness in sexual intercourse from the exposed person;...
 operations, including a lucrative call girl
Call girl

A call girl or escort is a sex worker who is not visible to the general public. Nor does she usually belong to an institution like a brothel ....
 operation out of prominent downtown hotels (of which many call girls were paid up to $500 to $1,000) Alex's operations brought in an estimated $1 million a month for the Syndicate.

Described as "one of the wiliest and slickest crooks" within the Chicago Outfit, Alex would decline to answer questions under the Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution

The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which is part of the United States Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure....
 over 39 times during his appearance before the McClellan Committee
John Little McClellan

John Little McClellan was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas. He represented Arkansas in the US Senate from 1943 until 1977. He also earlier represented Arkansas in the United States House of Representatives....
. During the 1960s, Alex would come under suspicion during his annual ski trips to Switzerland
Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked Swiss Alps country of roughly 7.7 million people in Western Europe with an area of 41,285 km?. Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 states called Cantons of Switzerland....
 as the US government accused Alex of depositing Outfit money in unnumbered Swiss bank accounts. As a result of the US governments protest (although Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen
Everett Dirksen

Everett McKinley Dirksen was a Republican Party United States United States House of Representatives and United States Senate from Illinois. As Republican Senate leader he played a highly visible and key role in the politics of the 1960s, including helping to write and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Open Housing Act of 1968, both...
 and Congressman William L. Dawson opposed government action, calling to allow Alex to continue his "sporting trips"), Swiss officials banned Alex from entering Switzerland for 10 years.

Later years

Remaining a high ranking member of the Chicago Outfit for over 30 years, Alex would retain his position throughout the reigns of Felice "Paul 'The Waiter' Ricca" DeLucia
Paul Ricca

Paul Ricca aka "The Waiter" was a Chicago mobster who served as the defacto leader of the Chicago Outfit for thirty years....
, Antonino "Tony," "Joe Batters" Accardo
Tony Accardo

Antonino "Joe Batters" Accardo, also known as "Big Tuna" , rose from a small-time hoodlum to the position of day-to-day boss of the Chicago Outfit criminal organization in about 1943, to ultimately become the final Outfit authority in 1972, until his death in May 1992....
, and Salvatore "Sam," "Mooney" Giancana
Sam Giancana

Salvatore "Momo" Giancana was an Italian-American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit 1957–66. Among his other nicknames were, "Mooney," "Sam the Cigar," "Sam Flood" and "Sam Gold."...
. Alex would continue to consolidate his political influence during the 1970s and 1980s not only within Chicago but expanding into the state capital Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois

Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County, Illinois with a population of 116,482 . Over 200,000 residents live in the Springfield Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area, which includes Sangamon County and adjacent Menard County, Illinois....
. An invaluable resource, Alex's political connections would ensure his position with the organization during the unstable leadership of the decade.

During Outfit leader Joseph "Joey Doves" Aiuppa
Joseph Aiuppa

Joseph John Aiuppa , also known as "Doves," "Mourning Doves," "O'Brien," or "Joey Doves," was a Chicago mobster who became a leader of the Chicago Outfit criminal organization....
's imprisonment, Alex would share overseeing day-to-day activities with Underboss Samuel "Wings" Carlisi
Sam Carlisi

Samuel A. Carlisi aka Black Sam and Sam Wings, , was a Chicago gangster who succeeded Joseph Ferriola as boss of the Chicago Outfit criminal organization....
 (being supervised by former leader Accardo, based in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, California, approximately 111 miles east of Los Angeles, California and 136 miles northeast of San Diego, California....
).

Alex died of a heart attack in federal prison after Leonard "Lenny" Patrick
Leonard Patrick

Leonard "Lenny" Patrick was an United States mobster, a member of the Chicago Outfit involved in bookmaking and extortion and later a government informant....
, a close Outfit associate, wore a "wire
Tape recorder

This article deals mainly with analog signal tape recorders for Sound recording and reproduction applications; information on Digital Audio Tape, recording of Videocassette recorder, and data logger can be found in other articles....
" and taped Alex for the FBI.

Further reading

  • Binder, John J. The Chicago Outfit. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
  • Moldea, Dan E. Dark Victory: Ronald Reagan, MCA, and the Mob. New York: Penguin Books, 1987
  • Giancana, Sam and Chuck. Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America. New York: Warner Books, 1992.


External links

  • by John O'Brien