Fred Roti

Fred B. Roti (December 18, 1920 – September 20, 1999) was a powerful and long serving Alderman of Chicago's First Ward. A federal jury convicted Roti on 11 counts of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, bribery and extortion.

Background

Roti, one of 11 children, was born in an apartment over a store in Chinatown, the Near South Side neighborhood where he spent his entire life. Fred Roti was the son of Bruno Roti, Sr., the first capo of what became the 26th Street/Chinatown crew of the Chicago Outfit. Roti, Sr., owned a grocery store on the 2100 block of S. Wentworth Avenue, less than six blocks away from Alphonse "Al" "Scarface" Capone's headquarters, at 2135 S. Michigan Avenue. Fred's father, Bruno Roti, Sr., was known as "Bruno the Bomber" for his work as a gangster alongside Al Capone, and was arrested twice in murder investigations.

The diminutive Fred Roti was nicknamed "Peanuts" because of his size and called "Freddie" by his friends.

Fred Roti was also the brother-in-law of Frank "Skids" Caruso, the capo who took over from Roti, Sr.

Fred Roti's start with the City was inauspicious. He shoveled asphalt before entering World War II with the US Navy, as a machine-gunner on a boat in Europe. On his return to Chicago, Roti became active...
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