## Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme: The Life and Crimes of a New England Mob Boss
Francis Patrick Salemme, widely known as "Cadillac Frank," was a notorious Boston mobster who rose to become the boss of the Patriarca crime family in New England. His criminal career spanned decades, marked by violence, betrayal, and ultimately, cooperation with authorities. Salemme died in prison in December 2022 at the age of 89 while serving a life sentence for murder[2][5][6].
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### Early Life and Entry into Organized Crime
Born on August 18, 1933, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Salemme was the second of six children in a family of Irish and Italian descent. Raised in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before becoming a licensed electrician. His entry into organized crime began in the late 1950s after meeting members of the Patriarca crime family while in prison. Salemme quickly became known for his role as a hitman and enforcer, earning the nickname "Cadillac Frank" for his work in auto repair shops specializing in Cadillacs.
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### Rise in the Patriarca Crime Family
Salemme's reputation for violence grew during Boston's gang wars of the 1960s, where he admitted to participating in numerous killings. He became closely associated with Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, and together they enforced the will of the Patriarca family[3]. Despite his reputation, Salemme's partial Irish ancestry prevented him from becoming a fully "made" member of the Mafia.
In 1968, Salemme orchestrated a car bombing targeting lawyer John Fitzgerald, who survived but lost a leg. Salemme went into hiding but was eventually captured and sentenced to 16 years in prison[5][6].
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### Boss of the New England Mafia
Upon his release, Salemme survived an assassination attempt and soon ascended to lead the Patriarca crime family in the early 1990s[2][6]. His tenure was marked by violence and internal strife. In 1995, Salemme was indicted alongside infamous gangster James "Whitey" Bulger and others in a sweeping racketeering case. After being tipped off by Bulger’s FBI handler, Salemme fled but was arrested months later in Florida[5][6].
The case revealed that both Bulger and Flemmi had been FBI informants, and feeling betrayed, Salemme agreed to cooperate with authorities. He testified against corrupt FBI agent John Connolly, which led to Connolly's conviction, and Salemme subsequently entered the federal witness protection program[2][6].
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### Murder Conviction and Final Years
Salemme’s criminal past caught up with him when the remains of nightclub owner Steven DiSarro were discovered in 2016. DiSarro had been killed in 1993, allegedly because Salemme believed he was cooperating with authorities about the mob’s involvement in the nightclub "The Channel." In 2018, Salemme and associate Paul Weadick were convicted of DiSarro’s murder and sentenced to life in prison[4][8]. Prosecutors noted that Salemme had admitted to at least eight murders during the 1960s and was suspected in several more[4].
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### Death and Legacy
Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme died on December 13, 2022, at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri[2][5]. His death marked the end of an era for the New England Mafia, closing a chapter on one of the last old-school mob bosses. Salemme’s life story is a stark illustration of the violence, intrigue, and shifting loyalties that defined organized crime in 20th-century America[3][6].
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**Key Facts:**
- Born: August 18, 1933, Weymouth, Massachusetts
- Died: December 13, 2022, Springfield, Missouri
- Patriarca crime family boss (early 1990s)
- Convictions: Racketeering, perjury, murder
- Life sentence for the 1993 murder of Steven DiSarro
- Turned government witness, testified against corrupt FBI agent
Salemme’s legacy is one of brutality, betrayal, and the ultimate downfall of a once-powerful mobster.
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