Gambler Sidney Brodson

Milwaukee Mafia

Sidney Brodson was very smart, and was able to use his intelligence to profit, legally, as a gambler. On March 24, 1951, Sidney Brodson testified before the Kefauver Committee to provide his advice on how Congress could address illegal gambling. Brodson opted to overshare by revealing the names, addresses and telephone numbers of individuals across the country with whom he placed bets. The hearing was televised, and police officers viewing the televised proceedings learned for the first time of the gambling activities in their towns.

No good deed goes unpunished, right?

Although Brodson could not be arrested for gambling because his methods were not illegal, the government found another way to punish him. In October 1951, the federal government requested Brodson pay $343,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest for the years 1945-1950, as he had not been reporting his gambling wins as income. The state of Wisconsin announced that they, too, were looking into Brodson’s tax delinquencies, and indeed shortly thereafter they sent him a $40,000 bill to be paid by November 18 (roughly two weeks) or face liens on his property.

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