Feature Articles

March 2000

Chicago Sees First Mob Hit Since 94'

By Wayne A. Johnson

Wayne Johnson is the chief investigator for the Chicago Crime Commission

The Chicago Crime Commission, over the last several months, has been fighting a trend of misinformation proclaimed by different sources over the last year, claiming the demise of Traditional Organized Crime (TOC) throughout the United States. From nationally syndicated news columns to Academic treatises, the commission sees a great injustice in such rhetoric. For over eighty years this organization has worked with Law Enforcement and warned the citizenry regarding the evils of the MOB. In reality they have become more subtle and refined in their activities, which makes them a far greater threat. In 1994 MOB guns went silent which marked a clear change in policy by local capos. But since then, several top ranking Organized Crime figures have died, signaling a change in leadership and maybe in policy regarding internal disputes.

Ronald Jarrett
Ronald Jarrett
As of January 25, 2000 however, things have changed. On this date, long time Chicago MOB associate Ronald Jarrett 55, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds he received on December 23, 1999, while leaving his Chicago residence and heading for the funeral of another MOB associate and a Jarrett relative. Jarrett described as a master thief, robber, fence, juice collector and rapist was paroled in 1993 after serving a twelve year term for the robbery of a suburban Chicago jewelry store. His most prominent duties for the Chicago MOB included acting as driver and bodyguard for the late MOB advisor Angelo �The Hook� LaPietra. Prior to that duty Jarrett was responsible for coordinating the efforts of dozens of MOB robbers and thieves.

During a long storied career in Organized Crime, Jarrett was first arrested in 1962, he went on to be arrested close to sixty times and suffered over a dozen convictions for various crimes including, robbery, assaulting a federal officer, auto theft, weapons violations and burglary. His first prison term came in 1965 and he subsequently served penitentiary time in the 70s and 80s.

At the time of his death Jarrett was believed to be under the auspices of South Side MOB overseer John �Johnny Apes� Monteleone. The speculations of a motive behind his death range from Jarrett�s involvement in MOB gambling activities to the possibility he had short changed high ranking MOB figures in gambling proceeds, but it is also speculated that he may have tried to move up the ladder of succession too quickly and his death will help keep other associates in line throughout the coming years as organized crime prospers in Chicago.

For more information on Chicago Organized Crime, visit the Chicago Crime Commission at www.ChicagoCrimeCommission.org

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