Construction on Bally's Chicago Resumes Following Setback Due to Mafia Influence
May 16, 2025, 02:41h.
Last updated on: May 16, 2025, 02:42h.
By Phil Conneller @casinoorgphilc - Casinos, Gaming Industry, Rogue Elements, Organized Crime
Chicago's Bally's casino construction gets the green light to resume, two weeks after a halt over concerns regarding the shady past of one of the contractors. The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) was spooked when they spotted dumpsters emblazoned with the D&P Construction logo, a waste-hauling company with a murky history connected to the Chicago Mob.
The now-halted work was due to an "investigation into the use of undisclosed and unapproved vendors at the construction site." Bally's cooperated with the investigation, addressed the disclosure failures, and promised ongoing disclosure of all future vendors. After assuring the IGB that no newer vendors were working on the project without approval, construction was back on.
D&P's Checkered History
Long before Bally's Chicago, D&P Construction was tangled up in the controversial development of the Emerald Casino in Rosemont. Work on the project began in 1999, but in 2001, it was all over. The Illinois Gaming Board revoked Emerald's license due to multiple violations, including misrepresentations of the company's ownership structure, hidden associations with organized crime figures, and D&P's involvement[3].
The late Donald E. Stephens, the then-mayor of Rosemont, faced accusations of connections to the Chicago Outfit for much of his political career. It's unclear whether D&P still has ties to the DiFronzo family, who once controlled the company.
Shady Ownership Practices
For years, Josephine DiFronzo, Peter's widow, was listed as the owner of D&P. However, a 2003 FBI memo stated that the company was actually controlled by Peter and John DiFronzo[1][3]. It's a common practice among organized crime families to list female relatives as nominal owners to bypass scrutiny. Josephine DiFronzo is no longer listed as the owner of D&P, according to the Illinois Secretary of State's website[4].
D&P shares a longtime and current officer, Kathleen Clementi, with Windy City Recycling Inc, a company where Josephine DiFronzo is currently the president[4]. D&P is registered under a legal agent, a common practice among privately held firms that keep their ownership hidden.
Organized Crime and the Gambling Industry
The Illinois Gaming Board's primary goal is to keep mobsters out of the gambling industry, a challenge given the state's long and intricate relationship with organized crime[1][3]. Recent events with D&P Construction reflect the IGB's ongoing effort to scrutinize companies to ensure they're free of ties to the Mob. In the past, D&P was caught in the FBI's crosshairs for obtaining contracts through likely illegal payoffs or intimidation[3].
[1] - SourceName: Chicago Sun-Times Description: The Chicago Sun-Times is an award-winning daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, known for covering local, regional, and national news since its founding in 1893.[2] - SourceName: Associated Press Description: The Associated Press is an independent, global news organization that covers stories from every corner of the world, distributed to thousands of newspapers, radio, television, and digital outlets since its founding in 1846.[3] - SourceName: FBI Records Description: The FBI's Records Management Division maintains and manages a vast array of criminal, administrative, and historical records, providing a detailed look into the FBI's investigations and its long history.[4] - SourceName: Illinois Secretary of State's Office Description: The Illinois Secretary of State's Office serves various functions, including managing business services, elections, and registry of entities to promote transparency and provide information to the public.
- Despite Bally's Chicago assuring that no unapproved vendors are working on the project, the Illinois Gaming Board remains vigilant, aware of D&P Construction's checkered history in the gambling industry, particularly in relation to the Chicago Outfit.
- The resumption of Bally's casino construction in Chicago has sparked renewed interest in the controversial past of D&P Construction, with ties to the Chicago Mob and the Chicago Outfit in previous projects like the Emerald Casino in Rosemont.
- In an effort to keep mobsters out of the gambling industry, the Illinois Gaming Board continues to scrutinize companies like D&P Construction, which has a history of questionable ownership practices and past connections to organized crime figures.
- The Illinois Gaming Board's ongoing mission to prevent organized crime's infiltration into the gambling industry has been challenged by the state's long history with organized crime, as reflected in recent events with D&P Construction.
