(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A man who was once a powerful Chicago mob boss has died.
Joe Andriacchi also known as "The Builder" and "The Sledgehammer" died this month at the age of 91.
Longtime CBS Chicago crime reporter John "Bulldog" Drummond, who spent much of his career covering the mob, says for decades, Andriacchi was a key figure in the Chicago Outfit.
"Federal authorities and others who followed The Mob very closely considered Andriacchi one of the leaders. No question about, and when Accardo and some of these other people went off the scene, a lot of people thought Andriacchi would move to the top man," Drummond said.
But Drummond who is now 94, said, unlike many in The Outfit, Andriacchi managed to escape federal prosecution – even in the high profile Family Secrets trial.
"He always came out smelling like a rose. Never indicted, never charged – in recent years," Drummond said.
"The mob is not like it was. Andriacchi was like one of the last vestiges of those type of guys."
Andriacchi lived out his days quietly in west suburban River Forest.
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