John Joseph Carbone
Crime ring kingpin
b. 1919
d. Aug. 18, 1998
Involved in prostitution, gambling, arson. Ran lucrative bail-bond business
- also used car dealership - operated unchecked in the 1960s & 1970s.
At the Tacoma Yacht Club, he told Williams, "if you don't have Journey killed, then you will be killed."
Verdict:
- Guilty of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Guilty of racketeering.
- Guilty of interference with interstate commerce, four counts.
- Guilty of obstructing an investigation, two counts.
- Guilty of conducting illegal gambling business, two counts.
- Guilty of obstructing state law enforcement.
- Guilty of mail fraud, three counts.
Recieved 25 year sentence, sent to Atlanta federal prison.
Ronald (Ron)John Williams
Carbone's Chief Lieutenant
Heir to Carbone's bonding business, also ran restaurants/nightclubs: Johnny's
Ranch
Let sheriff deputies drink free, many got also free dinners.
Paid off officers with "turkeys, hams, booze, money, women... at
Christmas time or just any time."
What he did when the state started investigating one of his nightclubs:
"Burned it down."
Verdict:
- Guilty of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Guilty of racketeering.
- Guilty of interference with interstate commerce, four counts.
- Guilty of obstructing an investigation, two counts.
- Guilty of conducting illegal gambling business, two counts.
- Guilty of obstructing state law enforcement.
- Guilty of mail fraud, two counts.
Recieved 25 year sentence, imprisoned at Terre Haute, Ind. federal prison.
Also recieved state charges accused of commissioning the attempted murder
of state liquor agent, Mel Journey and of Seattle nightlife figure Frank
Colacuricio and of hiring arsonists to burn Pierce County nightclubs.
George V. Janovich
Pierce County Sheriff
b. 1930
Received, but never reported, $22,000 as a campaign contribution from
John Carbone & Ron Williams. At William's suggestion, steered suspicion
in the shooting of a liquor agent away from the Carbone-Williams organization
and toward the Puyallup Indians.
Janovich had told Williams that illegal activities in the couty were split
between Carbone-Williams and Bob Satiacum, a Puyallup Indian convicted
of racketeering in an unrelated case. Sherriff's office and state liquor-board
emplyees came to Williams on a regular basis for payoffs. Janovich arranged
for Williams to be notified in advance when police were planning a raid
at one of his businesses. Imprisoned in Eastern US.
Verdict:
- Guilty of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Guilty of obstructing state law enforcement.
Joseph (Joe, Joey) M. Carbone
son of John Joseph Carbone
b. 1949
The Journey shooting investigation was starting to be directed at Joseph when Williams told Janovich "the Indians were invloved"
Verdict:
- Guilty of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Guilty of interference with interstate commerce.
- Guilty of mail fraud, three counts.
Recieved 18 year sentence, sent to Lewisburg, PA federal prison.
LaMont Anthony Zemek
b. 1934
Crime ring middleman
Verdict:
- Guilty of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Guilty of interference with interstate commerce.
- Guilty of obstructing an investigation.
Served 12 year sentence at Petersburg, PA federal prison.
Frank Julius Mazzuca
b. 1940
Verdict:
- Guilty of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Guilty of conducting illegal gambling business, two counts.
- Guilty of obstructing state law enforcement.
David Willard Levage
Verdict:
- Innocent of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Innocent of obstructing an investigation.
Acquitted to federal charges.
Convicted in state court on arson charges from attempts to firebomb the
home of Tacoma accountant Jerome Weinstein - 10 years - to run concurrently
with a 20 year ssentence for burning down the Top of the Ocean. Served
at the Shelton state reformatory.
Richard Francis Caliguri
Crime ring strongarm man
b. 1948
Verdict:
- Guilty of conspiring to violate federal anti-racketeering laws.
- Guilty of interference with interstate commerce.
- Guilty of mail fraud, three counts.
Sentenced to 18 years at McNeil Island, WA federal prison.
Mel Journey,
State Liquor-Control Inspector.
Victim of attempted murder in a shooting ambush. Puyllup Indians implied by Sherriff as culprits. Caused problems for Williams by citing his topless bars (which were also fronts for prostitution).
"On Nov. 15, 1977, two men shot Journey several times as he was getting into his car outside his Tacoma home. Journey survived...
Six (of 15) rackets defendants recieved reduced sentences (12 years each)
in exchange for testimony. They also all requested assistance from the
federal witness protection program:
Jackie M. Bentley
Michael D. Johnson
(Robert) Michael Valentine
Harry Edwin Wilcox
William Lee Petit
Tony Miadnich
Jackie Bentley & Michael Johnson were arrested by Federal agents in the Journey shooting. They had been hired by Williams through Michael Valentine. Bently, Johnson, and Valentine pleaded guilty to the shooting.
Williams said the criminal organization had paid bribes to Pierce County law officers since the 1960s in order to operate freely.
News Articles:
Two restaurants planned to replace 'Top'
(TNT, Oct. 12, 1977)
"Construction will begin early next year" -Mark Mitchell of Seattle, a co-owner of the property.
"We didn't get enough from the settlement to rebuild" -Mitchell
Local architect, Donald Burr to draft plans for two new structures.
Key rackets figure starts talking - describes Pierce County ring
(Sea. Times, Feb. 6, 1983)
After four years of silence, Ron Williams, chief lieutenant (kingpin)
of the criminal organization, in protective federal custody in California,
cut a deal with US Attorney's office located in Seattle.
His life sentence in state prison for attempted murder of a state liquor
inspector was converted to an immediate parole.
His (and his ex-wife's) assets, tied up in legal knots, were released.
Tape: Carbone urged protection payoff
Janovich out as sheriff, due pension
Pierce County crime leader detailed payoffs to sheriff's office
Levage convicted of torching Top of the Ocean
State Liquor Agent Denies Racketeer's Bribe Accusation (Seattle Times, Feb. 10, 1983)
How Pierce Racketeer Won His Freedom
(con't)
Williams still in protective custody
con't from st020683a1
Prosecutor aided crime says convict
Pierce County rackets trial: a year later - Janovich and Mazucca free on bond; other behind bars
On all trial counts:
Guilty! Janovich, two Carbones, four others; Levage gets acquittal
Zoo Chief Sought Carbone's Protection
(TNT, May 1, 1979)
Arson blamed in $175,000 house fire in Gig Harbor