Kyle Tequila

Mickey was also the son of a notorious street boss they called the Old Man.

Mickey was also the son of a notorious street boss they called the Old Man.

Kenny spent his first year working for Mickey until he learned the ropes.

Kenny spent his first year working for Mickey until he learned the ropes.

It didn't take long for Kenny to prove his worth. So Mickey gave him a new job.

It didn't take long for Kenny to prove his worth. So Mickey gave him a new job.

No selling dope. This is one of the many strange rules the outfit had for itself that I find fascinating. Their entire enterprise is built on crime. But drugs are where they draw the line.

No selling dope. This is one of the many strange rules the outfit had for itself that I find fascinating. Their entire enterprise is built on crime. But drugs are where they draw the line.

That actually makes good sense. And of course, everyone knew the risks. But many guys did it anyway. The money was just too good. And Kenny, he was happy to take a small slice of it.

That actually makes good sense. And of course, everyone knew the risks. But many guys did it anyway. The money was just too good. And Kenny, he was happy to take a small slice of it.

As I got deeper into the details of my dad's life story, I began to wonder just how much of this stuff is actually true. The no selling drugs thing, for example. How do I even attempt to verify something like this or any other inner workings of an organization notorious for their secrecy, especially in the 70s and 80s when the mafia moved through the streets with near impunity?

As I got deeper into the details of my dad's life story, I began to wonder just how much of this stuff is actually true. The no selling drugs thing, for example. How do I even attempt to verify something like this or any other inner workings of an organization notorious for their secrecy, especially in the 70s and 80s when the mafia moved through the streets with near impunity?

I thought it would be a good idea to find an outside perspective on the inner workings of the outfit, a mafia expert that could weigh in when necessary throughout this series. So I reached out to veteran crime reporter Jeff Cohen of the Chicago Tribune.

I thought it would be a good idea to find an outside perspective on the inner workings of the outfit, a mafia expert that could weigh in when necessary throughout this series. So I reached out to veteran crime reporter Jeff Cohen of the Chicago Tribune.

Jeff is an expert on organized crime in Chicago and covered one of the largest mafia trials in history, the infamous FBI Operation Family Secrets, that almost single-handedly took out the entire Chicago outfit in 2007. I sent Jeff a few rough versions of these episodes to get him up to speed.

Jeff is an expert on organized crime in Chicago and covered one of the largest mafia trials in history, the infamous FBI Operation Family Secrets, that almost single-handedly took out the entire Chicago outfit in 2007. I sent Jeff a few rough versions of these episodes to get him up to speed.

Unfortunately, yes, it is. Yeah. Thankfully, he agreed to add his voice to this story. So I asked him about the no drugs rule.

Unfortunately, yes, it is. Yeah. Thankfully, he agreed to add his voice to this story. So I asked him about the no drugs rule.

Eventually, Mickey saw a new opportunity for Kenny within the outfit, something a little more permanent, and introduced him to a man named Jack Erickson, a crew boss who would end up playing a much larger role in entrenching Kenny within the ranks.

Eventually, Mickey saw a new opportunity for Kenny within the outfit, something a little more permanent, and introduced him to a man named Jack Erickson, a crew boss who would end up playing a much larger role in entrenching Kenny within the ranks.