Eco James Coli

Eco James Coli (February 15, 1922-December 1982) was a Chicago mobster who was a hitman, enforcer, and labor racketeer for the Chicago Outfit criminal organization.

Starting in 1945, Coli's arrest record included attempted hijacking, assault and battery, and sexual assault charges. He also was a suspect in a string of high profile gangland slayings, including the murder of a Republican ward committeeman. Law enforcement identified Coli as working exclusively with the Outfit on murder contracts. During the 1950s, Coli received one year on probation for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In 1952, Coli was sentenced to eight to ten years imprisonment for stealing slot machines from a suburban country club, but the Illinois Supreme Court ordered his release in 1955.

Coli was also involved in the Teamsters Union. He served as a secretary-treasurer and business agent for Chicago Teamsters Local 727 made up of funeral drivers, directors, embalmers and others. Coli would run this local for 20 years up until his death. During the 1969 Chicago Columbus Day Parade, Coli made headlines by walking the parade route next to Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and Illinois Governor Richard Ogilvie. Both Daley and Ogilvie claimed ignorance of Coli's criminal background.

James Coli died in 1982.

References

*Sifakis, Carl. "The Mafia Encyclopedia". New York: Da Capo Press, 2005. ISBN 0-8160-5694-3

External links

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040704/ai_n12551171 July 4 2004 Chicago Sun Times, Sons of the mob step up in family business -- unions] by Robert Herguth