The Chicago mobster who tried to clear his name with a classified newspaper ad

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Joseph Lombardo was a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit known as Joey the Clown. After serving a decade in prison, he took the bizarre step of publicly denying his criminal ties in a newspaper ad, only to later become a fugitive during a massive federal racketeering investigation.

Born in 1929 to Italian immigrants, Joseph Patrick Lombardo rose through the ranks of the Chicago Outfit, starting as a jewel thief and loan shark collector. By the 1970s, he was managing the organization's operations in Las Vegas. His criminal career was marked by numerous run-ins with the law; notably, he secured 11 acquittals in his first 11 arrests. However, his luck eventually ran out. In 1982, he was convicted of bribing a Nevada senator to block trucking deregulation, and in 1986, he was convicted for skimming over $2 million from casinos, including the Stardust Resort & Casino.

Following his release in 1992, Lombardo attempted to distance himself from his reputation by placing a classified ad in the Chicago Tribune, inviting the public to report him to the FBI if they ever heard his name linked to criminal activity. This public posturing did not last. In 2005, he was indicted as part of Operation Family Secrets, a sweeping federal investigation into 18 murders. Lombardo fled, becoming a fugitive for over eight months. During this time, he sent letters to the presiding judge, claiming innocence and even asking for advice on how to proceed, while his lawyer quipped that he likely lacked a home newspaper subscription.

Lombardo was captured in 2006 after visiting a dentist for an abscessed tooth. Despite his claims of being a non-violent man, prosecutors presented evidence linking him to the 1974 murder of Daniel Seifert, including fingerprint evidence on a car title and witness identification of him purchasing a police scanner used in the crime. Convicted in 2007 of racketeering, extortion, and murder, he was sentenced to life in prison. He died in 2019 at the age of 90 while serving his sentence at the ADX Florence supermax prison, having spent his final years in poor health, including heart issues and cancer.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a Chicago mob boss attempted to secure his freedom with millions in real estate
• How a Prohibition bootlegger became the Prime Minister of the American underworld
• The Chicago Outfit: How a Unified Crime Family Built an Empire Through Political Corruption
• For thirty years, the most powerful mob boss in America played the village idiot.
• The first time the Mafia admitted it actually existed in open court
• How a teenage prodigy became one of America's most valuable soccer exports
• The autonomous viceroy who ruled Norway with a scorched earth policy
• From Schiedam to Old Trafford: The tactical evolution of forward Joshua Zirkzee
• Was the greatest goalscorer in football history a man you have never heard of?
• How a state representative became a powerful voice in the U.S. Congress
• The defensive anchor who became a European citizen for his club
• How a Mexican drug empire built on cocaine dominance collapsed into a violent shadow

More in Cities · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics