| Frank Mazzei | |
| State Senate: | Pennsylvania |
| District: | 43rd |
| Term Start: | November 29, 1967 |
| Term End: | June 2, 1975 |
| Constituency: | Parts of Allegheny County |
| Predecessor: | John Devlin |
| Successor: | James Romanelli |
| Birth Date: | November 22, 1912 |
| Birth Place: | Greensburg, Pennsylvania |
| Death Place: | Magee-Womens Hospital |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Grace |
| Children: | Dominic |
| Restingplace: | Queen of Heaven Cemetery Peters Township |
| Residence: | Library, Pennsylvania |
Frank Mazzei (November 22, 1912 – September 27, 1977) is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.[1] One of his big accomplishments during his political career was creation of the Pennsylvania Lottery. In 1975 he was arrested for taking kickbacks and was jailed until 1977.[2]
He began his career as a ward captain in the 17th ward in the South Side in Pittsburgh and later worked as a clerk and paymaster for the "Allegheny County Workhouse." He served as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1956 and 1964.[3] He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He was elected to represent the 43rd senatorial district in the Pennsylvania State Senate in a special election in 1967.[4] He was known as a "dapper dresser" and for his monogrammed shirts. He was powerful politician who rarely needed to campaign.[5] His legislative career is best known for being the main force behind the creation of the Pennsylvania Lottery.
He was convicted on federal extortion charges for taking $20,000 in kickbacks on state office in the South Side space leased to BMI Corporation. He was acquitted of perjury charges in that same trial, but was sentenced to 1 to 5 years in prison on others. He was unanimously expelled from the Pennsylvania State Senate on June 2, 1975, making him the first person expelled from that chamber.[6] [7] He entered federal prison in December 1975.
He was paroled from a federal prison facility in Missouri in Spring 1977 because he was severely stricken with cancer. At the time of his death on September 27, 1977, he was awaiting a separate federal trial, with 69 co-defendants, in connection to a bail bond scheme.