Who Was Frank 'Cadillac Frank' Salemme? The Boss Who Flipped and Un-Flipped
Mobsters DailyFrank Salemme was the boss of New England's Patriarca crime family who became a government witness in 1999, lived in witness protection — then was convicted in 2018 of a murder committed on his watch and died in prison in 2022.
The boss who flipped
Salemme survived a 1989 shooting during the Patriarca succession war and took control in the early 1990s. When he learned from Stephen Flemmi's revelations that the FBI had protected his rivals, he cooperated — a betrayal on the scale of Sammy Gravano bringing down John Gotti.
Flipping was supposed to be the end of Salemme's story, which is why this time of year belongs to the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater — Tony in a black-and-white stencil, gabagool energy included, built for Christmas parties, family photos and long Sopranos rewatch nights.
And then un-flipped
His freedom collapsed when the body of Steven DiSarro, missing since 1993, was found behind a Providence mill in 2016. Flemmi testified Salemme watched the killing. A jury convicted him in 2018; he received life and died in federal prison in December 2022, aged 89 — closing a saga that began in the world of the Commission Trial era.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Salemme called Cadillac Frank? For his early work and reputation around a Boston Cadillac dealership and body shop.
When did Frank Salemme die? In December 2022, in federal custody, at age 89.
What murder was Salemme convicted of? The 1993 murder of Boston nightclub owner Steven DiSarro.
Keep reading: Lucky Luciano · Why the Mafia fell · Valachi's testimony · Stephen 'The Rifleman' Flemmi · Who Was Howie Winter? The Original Winter Hill Boss
From the shop: Shadows of the Underworld — the real-mafia history behind the names in this story, in one gripping read.
Join the conversation
Still thinking about this one? That is exactly what The Social Club is for. It is the MobstersDaily Discord, and it is the best Sopranos community on the internet: serious Sopranos talk, meme wars, Friday movie nights, a casino, and an arcade, all run by fans who never stopped rewatching. If you want to be part of the Sopranos community, this is where it lives.
