Tony "The Ant" Spilotro

Anthony Spilotro
1974 FBI mugshot of Spilotro
Born	(1938-05-19)May 19, 1938 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 14, 1986(1986-06-14) (aged 48) Bensenville, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	"Tony the Ant"
Known for	Mobster of the Chicago Outfit

Anthony John Spilotro (May 19, 1938 – June 14, 1986), nicknamed "The Ant", was an American mobster and for the Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the 1970s and 1980s. His job was to protect and oversee the Outfit's illegal casino profits (the "skim"), when some of the casinos were run by Frank Rosenthal. Spilotro replaced Outfit member Marshall Caifano in Las Vegas.

Born Anthony John Spilotro, he was nicknamed "Tony the Ant" by the media after FBI Special Agent William Roemer referred to Spilotro as "that little pissant." Since the media couldn't use "pissant," they shortened it to the "Ant," which could also be a shorthand for Anthony. He was also called "Tough Tony."

The fourth of six children, Spilotro was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Burbank Elementary School, and entered Steinmetz High School in 1953. His father Pasquale "Patsy" Spilotro Sr. had emigrated from Triggiano, Province of Bari, Italy, and had arrived at Ellis Island in 1914. When Pasquale arrived in the US, however, he had no money, education, or particular skill. Unlike most Italian immigrants who settled in "The Patch", the Spilotros lived at 2152 North Melvina Avenue. He and his wife Antoinette Spilotro ran Patsy's Restaurant, located at 470 N. Ogden, which was frequented by mobsters such as Salvatore "Sam" Giancana, Jackie "The Lackey" Cerone, Gus Alex, and Francesco "Frank the Enforcer" Nitti. In 1954, Pasquale suffered a fatal aneurysm and died at the age of 55, leaving six sons.