Organized Crime Figure. Sam DeStefano, a.k.a. "Mad Sam," received notoriety as one of the most violent loansharks in Chicago's history. Born the son of Italian immigrants in Little Italy, he fell in with the infamous 42er Gang. He served three years in prison for rape and eleven in Wisconsin for bank robbery. He returned to prison for a year in 1947 for having counterfeit sugar ration stamps. He was known as a "six for five" juice man in Chicago, and enjoyed torturing his victims when they did not pay. In "six for five," the borrower is expected to pay back the loan within a week with 20% interest. He had a soundproof torture chamber built into the basement of his home. He usually wore pajamas wherever he went, carried an ice pick in his pocket and shouted through a bullhorn during his court appearances. Many unfortunate men met their end in his basement over the years. He was the main suspect in the murders of a couple of his own brothers and a brother-in-law. On the morning of April 14, 1973, DeStefano died from multi-gunshot wounds while in his garage. One of the main suspects in his murder was Tony Spilotro, a former DeStefano apprentice who was due to go to trial with him for murder. No one was arrested for his murder.
Organized Crime Figure. Sam DeStefano, a.k.a. "Mad Sam," received notoriety as one of the most violent loansharks in Chicago's history. Born the son of Italian immigrants in Little Italy, he fell in with the infamous 42er Gang. He served three years in prison for rape and eleven in Wisconsin for bank robbery. He returned to prison for a year in 1947 for having counterfeit sugar ration stamps. He was known as a "six for five" juice man in Chicago, and enjoyed torturing his victims when they did not pay. In "six for five," the borrower is expected to pay back the loan within a week with 20% interest. He had a soundproof torture chamber built into the basement of his home. He usually wore pajamas wherever he went, carried an ice pick in his pocket and shouted through a bullhorn during his court appearances. Many unfortunate men met their end in his basement over the years. He was the main suspect in the murders of a couple of his own brothers and a brother-in-law. On the morning of April 14, 1973, DeStefano died from multi-gunshot wounds while in his garage. One of the main suspects in his murder was Tony Spilotro, a former DeStefano apprentice who was due to go to trial with him for murder. No one was arrested for his murder.
Bio by: Dennis Rice
Family Members
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