Mafia

[donsaeid]

Aniello Prisco

Aniello Prisco, 37, nicknamed 'Zopo the Gimp' due to a disability, was much feared gangster in Harlem. He arrived from Italy in 1905 and lived at 2133 1st Avenue. He was tried for murder on various occasions, including the death of Pasquarella Spinelli, but was always aquitted due to lack of evidence.

On December 15th, 1912, Prisco was shot and killed. A meeting had been arranged between Giosue Gallucci and Prisco at a barber shop belonging to the Del Gaudio brothers on E104th St. However when the meeting drew close, Gallucci feigned illness and sent his man, Capalongo, with a message that Prisco would have to travel to see Gallucci at his bakery on E109th. Prisco agreed and made his way to the bakery at around midnight, once there he was killed by two bullets to the head from Gallucci's nephew John Russomano. Gallucci told the police that Prisco had been shot in self defence, and that Prisco had been trying to blackmail him at the time of the killing. John Russomano was later released when the police believed his story of self defence.

[donsaeid]

Antonino Passananti

Antonino Passananti and Carlo Costantino sailed to Sicily around the same time as Lieutenant Petrosino. Upon their arrival Costantino sent a telegram to Giuseppe Morello, 360 East 61st Street, New York :" I LoBaido work Fontana". After a few days with their families, Costantino and Passananti visited Cascioferro.

A witness to the Petrosino murder alerted the police to the fact that the day before he had seen Carlo Costantino and Antonino Passananti. The police were unaware that these two men had returned to Palermo, and began to investigate. Carlo Costantino and many other suspects were arrested. Only Vito Cascioferro and Passananti were not picked up.

In a written report of the Petrosino murder the police commissioner spoke of the questioning of Carlo Costantino and Antonino Passananti. The report referred to the cable message, sent upon their return to Sicily, to Morello in New York: 'I LoBaido work Fontana'. The report claimed that LoBaido was a fictitious name used by Passananti. Costantino had been found with photographs of a New York shop under the name 'PECORARO-LOBAIDO' (Costantino, used the fictitious name of Pecoraro during the Barrel Murder trail). The report concluded that Carlo Costantino and Antonino Passananti were the likely perpetrators of the crime, with Vito Cascioferro the mastermind.

Passananti managed to escape the sweeping arrests made in connection with the Petrosino murder. His criminal record in Sicily shows many further crimes and arrests until he killed himself on March 6, 1969.

[donsaeid]

Antonio Cecala

Cecala arrived in America in 1889. He ran a grocery store at 9 Spring Street, and bought most of his produce wholesale from Lupo's store on Mott Street.

In 1908, Cecala met with Antonio Comito and conspired to begin counterfeiting US and Canadian currency for the Morello gang. Cecala arranged the purchase of the printing equipment before travelling to see his god-son Salvatore Cina in Highland. Whilst the printing was taking place on the farm, Cecala worked as messenger between New York and Highland, sometimes bringing news and other times bringing essential supplies.

When the printing was complete Cecala and Cina travelled to Chicago, Buffalo and Pittsburgh to try and sell the counterfeit currency. They did not manage to sell much due to the poor print quality of the notes.

As the secret service cracked down on the gang Cecala was followed all over New York. Often seen at the home of Giuseppe Morello, Cecala was also spotted at Pietro Inzerillo's cafe which had been involved in the Barrel Murder case.

On November 15th, 1909, the Secret Service agents followed Cecala from his apartment at 54 Spring Street to the Bowery. They placed him under arrest and took him to Captain Flynn to be searched. Cecala was sentenced on the first charge to 12 years hard labour and a $500 fine. On the second charge, 3 years hard labour and a $500 fine. He was eventually paroled from Atlanta Penitentiary on 21st February 1915.

[donsaeid]

Antonio Notaro

Tony Notaro a killer for the Navy St gang, was involved with the killing of Nicholas Morello at Johnson and Navy Streets on September 7th 1916. Giuseppe Verrazano, 'The Big Man', a gambling kingpin and ally to the Morello's was also shot by Notaro.

Angelo Giordano, a saloon keeper from Tompkinsville S.I. was put on trial on April 27th, 1918. He was charged with plotting the killing of Giuseppe Verrazano in October, 1916. Antonio Notaro and Ralph Daniello, from the Navy St gang, testified against Giordano. Notaro was quoted as saying "Giordano told us that Verrazano had to be killed that night. When I said that I did not want to kill a man without orders from my boss, Giordano said he would do the job himself but that I would die the next day for refusing, then I changed my mind". Notaro claimed that Giordano led him to the restaurant on Broome St and pointed out Verrazano to be shot.

Antonio Notaro was sentenced in June 1918, from 6 to 10 years each in the case of Nicholas Morello and Charles Ubriaco.

[donsaeid]

Antonio Paretti

Anthony Paretti, of 23 Skillman Av, Brooklyn, was sentenced to Sing Sing death house for his part in the slaying of Nicholas Morello and Charles Ubriaco. Paretti originally fled to Italy to escape capture. He returned to New York in March, 1926, thinking that most of the witnesses against him would be gone. However, he was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree.

His brother Aniellio Paretti, who had been released from Sing Sing in July 1923, came to visit several times. On the six weeks leading up to his execution, Warden Lawes ordered the prison and river front guarded 24 hours a day, rather than the usual 16 hours. On February 9th, 1927 Paretti was examined, declared sane and fit for execution. He was reported to be exerting powerful pressure upon politicians to get his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. On the day of execution, the usual electrocardiogram was not given due to lack of arrangements. He was electrocuted under the jurisdiction of the state of New York on 17th February, 1927 at the age of 35. One of the last men to visit Paretti before his death was called Vito Genovese.

[donsaeid]

Camillo Ubriaco

Camillo Ubriaco, later Americanized to Charles, arrived in New York August 27th 1907. Ubriaco was a resident of Harlem for nine years before his death in 1916.

On June 24th 1916 a meeting took place at Coney Island between the Sicilian Morello gang, the Neapolitan Navy Street gang and the Neapolitan Coney Island gang. The idea of the meeting was to discuss the consolidation of the gangs to control illegal activities in New York, including gambling, drugs and extortion. The deal eventually broke down, which led to the Navy Street gang plotting Nick Morello's death.

On September 7th 1916, Nicholas Morello and Charles Ubriaco travelled downtown to meet with the Navy St gang. Ralph Daniello served the men drinks before Pagano arrived to take them to a coffee house where Lauritano and Morano were waiting. The men walked together towards Myrtle Avenue when they were ambushed at the junction of Johnson St and Hudson Avenue. Nicholas Morello was shot dead by Tom Pagano, and Ubriaco was slain by Thomas carillo and Lefty Esposito. After the police arrived they searched Morello, and found a bank book for NY Produce Exchange Bank, Harlem. It showed a balance of $1,865. Later that evening Ciro Terranova was called to identify his brothers body.

[donsaeid]

Fortunato Lomonte

Charles Lomonte ran a hay and grain office with his brother Thomas at 2103 1st Avenue, on the junction of E108th. Just a few doors away was the 'Murder' stable. Charles was generally known as a peace maker among the warring factions of Harlem, and was a known friend of the Morello's on E116th. The police were surprised to learn of his murder on May 23rd 1914. Charles, who had just left his business premises on the Saturday morning, was walking along the E108th when he was shot in the back with three bullets. The killer had appeared from the hallway of a tenement, then escaped by returning to the hallway and vaulting a fence at the rear of the building. Josephine Constanzo a passer by was also shot. Lomonte's friends drove him to Harlem Hospital where he was revived. Detective John Cassetti pushed Lomonte for the killers name, but Lomonte refused to name his killer before he fell unconscious and died.

Physicians at the hospital said that the visiting Thomas Lomonte swore revenge for his brother. The family house at 213 E107th was later besieged by friends and family, everyone who entered the house was questioned by the police about their business before being allowed entry.

[donsaeid]

Francesco Monaco

Chick Monaco was a known gunman around Harlem, born in America to Italian parents, Monaco lived at 400 East 107th Street. He was found stabbed to death in the home of Nellie Lenere on Ocotber 29th 1911. Nellie Lenere, presented herself at E104th St. station claiming 'a man had met with accident in her home'. Monaco had been stabbed from behind twenty five times and had a steel safe on top of his chest. Nellie Lenere claimed she had killed Monaco as he tried to rob the house. The police did not beileve her story and a witness told of seeing four hats placed on the kitchen table before the murder, but the hats had gone when the police arrived. Lenere had married Gaetano Napolitano in a civil ceremony in 1909, but he disappeared before they could arrange the church ceremony. Lenere claimed that Monaco visited her saying he had located her husband Napolitano. She was lured to a cottage in Westchester, where she was robbed and held for two days.

Monaco's friends later revealed that he had used his position within the family to blackmail the mother, Pasquarella. Monaco had demanded money under threat of telling the police about the business dealings of the family stable, which included horse theft and extortion. Pasquarella's men would steal horses from other stables in Harlem, and when the owners were informed that their horse had been found and relocated with Pasquarella they were also told, in no uncertain terms, that they would be wise to continue using Pasquarella's services. This strong arm method saw that the stable was never short of business. Monaco had a secret accomplice in the stable who would pass him information on the business, he was Luigi Lazzazara, a part owner of the stable.

[donsaeid]

Frank Fevrola

On March 16th 1917, Joseph 'Chuck' Nazzaro was shot and killed in Yonkers NY. Nazzaro had been spotted talking to the Morello gang in Harlem, and was sentenced to death by the Neapolitan gangs in Brooklyn. Fevrola, Sgroia, and the Paretti brothers, all from the Navy St gang lured Nazzaro out to Yonkers under the pretence of killing Fevrola for giving the police information about a gang. The gang then shot Nazzaro and left his body on the trolley tracks.

Frank Fevrola, on April 18th 1921, was tried for the murder of Joe 'Chuck' Nazzaro in 1917. Judge Tompkins found Fevrola guilty and sentenced him to the death house at Sing Sing. His conviction was largely due to his wife's testimony against him. On April 14th, 1922, a notice was served on DA Weeks, that a motion would be made to grant a retrial on the case of Fevrola. Fevrola's wife had withdrawn all her previous statements made against her husband, saying she had been threatened and bribed by the police. DA Weeks tried to oppose the retrial by rubbishing Tessie Fevrola's new affidavit. On May 23rd, 1922, Justice Tompkins denied any motion for a retrial of Fevrola. On May 29th, 1923, lawyer Thomas O'Neil made a last minute attempt to save Fevrola from execution. His request for a retrial was again put before Supreme Court Justice Tompkins. On Thursday 28th June, 1923, with seven hours left until his execution and in a state of collapse, Fevrola received a reprieve, sparing his life until October 7th. The death sentence was eventually commuted.

[donsaeid]

Gaetano Del Gaudio

The Neapolitan Del Gaudio brothers were involved in gambling in East Harlem, but also had connections with the Brooklyn based Navy St gang. Nicolo Del Gaudio was killed in October 1914. Following the killing, Gaetano Del Gaudio, alerted by his brothers murder, acquired a bodyguard named George Esposito. Esposito had been a bodyguard to Giosue Gallucci, but he defected to work for Del Gaudio. Esposito was killed whilst he walked down E108th on 8th November, 1916. Later that month, at 3am November 30th Gaetano Del Gaudio was shot and killed. He had been serving coffee to two men in his restaurant at 2031 1st Av, when he was blasted by a shotgun that been placed against the his restaurant window. He was taken to the Flower Hospital where he claimed to know the identity of his killer, but refused to name him.

[donsaeid]

Generosi Nazzaro

Joe 'Chuck' Nazzaro, of 339 E108th, was arrested in late July, 1913 in connection with gambling and Policy. Giosue Gallucci was also arrested along with his nephew John Russomano, all were charged with carrying concealed weapons. Nazzaro was jailed for ten months, and released in May 1915. To help him raise some money a 'racket' was held on his return. Nazzaro sold his cafe in E108th to Carmine Mollica, shortly after the sale Mollica was ambushed and killed. Nazzaro was arrested but later released.

Joe Nazzaro was a colleague of Joe DeMarco who had been chased out of Harlem by the Morello gang. After DeMarco's murder, Nazzaro had been spotted talking to the Morello gang in Harlem, and was sentenced to death by the Neapolitan gangs in Brooklyn.

On March 16th 1917, Joe Nazzaro was shot and killed in Yonkers NY. Fevrola, Sgroia, and the Paretti brothers, all from the Navy St gang lured Nazzaro out to Yonkers under the pretence of killing Fevrola for giving the police information about a gang. The gang then shot Nazzaro and left his body on the trolley tracks.

Frank Fevrola, on April 18th 1921, was tried for the murder of Joe Nazzaro in 1917. Judge Tompkins found Fevrola guilty and sentenced him to the death house at Sing Sing.

Aniellio Paretti of 23 Sherman Av, Brooklyn, was tried for the murder of Joe Nazzaro in 1917. He was released from Sing Sing in July 1923.

[donsaeid]

Gennaro Gallucci

Gennaro was born in Italy in 1857 to Luca Gallucci and Antonia Cavallo. Brother to the famous gangster Giosue Gallucci, Gennaro arrived in New York in December 1908. He had escaped prison in Italy after serving 23 years of his life sentence for murdering two men. On September 14th, 1909, Gennaro was arrested for carrying concealed weapons, the police tried to have him deported but the courts unaware of his full background released him with a suspended sentence. He lived with his brother Giosue and sister-in-law Assunta at 318 E109th Street, a three story brick house with an attached stable and a bakery shop at the front.

On November 14, 1909, Gennaro was shot dead at the family home. He had been dining in the back room of the bakery when he was called to the front shop and murdered. Dr Toart of Harlem Hospital pronounced Gennaro dead at the scene. The police arrested his brother Francisco Gallucci, of 146 Hester St, and his sister-in-law Assunta Gallucci, whom Gennaro had been dining with. They both told the police that Gennaro had been killed by a lone gunman who had entered the building looking for him, however Captain Carey dismissed their story as no witnesses or evidence could support it. The police believed the killing may have been connected to Gennaro's black mailing threats, the Gallucci bakery had been shot up only a few months previous when bullets smashed through the bakery window. In letters that were later sent to the police, some informants claimed that Giosue Gallucci had been responsible for the murder of his own brother.

[donsaeid]

Giovanni Lupo

Brother of Ignazio Lupo, John arrived in New York with his family in 1900. He worked as a presser for six years. He eventually left the trade and went to work for his brother, Lupo, at his supplies store in Mott Street. John worked there for around 20 months, living with Lupo in a rented house at Fort George, 184th Street and Nicholas Avenue. He left the Mott Street store in October 1908 to attend his own business, "Lupo & Lapresti" a wholesale grocery store in Hoboken. 'Lapresti' was a known alias of Ignazio.

[donsaeid]

Giuseppe Calicchio

Born in Poulia in southern part of the Neapolitan provinces in 1858. Calicchio had been working in Naples as a waiter but prior to that he had worked for ten years in Rome as a printer. He arrived in New York in 1906 and managed to find printing work in September during the printers strike. He later purchased his own print shop at 64 Prince Street.

In 1909, Calicchio began work for the Morello gang in Highland. He worked as a printer and engraver counterfeiting Canadian and US currency.

The gang was eventually rounded up in 1910 and sent to trial. Calicchio was sentenced on the first charge to 15 years hard labour and a $500 fine. On the second charge, 2 years hard labour and a $100 fine.

Calicchio was paroled from Atlanta Penitentiary on 21st October 1915.

[donsaeid]

آل کاپون معروف ترین گانگستر آمریکا و بزرگترین نماد قانون شکنی در دهه 1920 آمریکاست. آلفونسه گابریل کاپون (Alphonse Gabriel Capone) که با نام Alfonso "Scarface" Capone نیز می شناسند، در 17 ژانویه سال 1899 متولد شد و در 25 ژانویه 1947 زندگی را بدرود گفت.

هرچند در کارت شناسایی اش به عنوان فروشنده اثاثیه دست دوم معرفی شده بود، اما در واقع یک گانگستر آمریکایی بد نام طی سال های 1920 تا 1930 بود. اصلیت کاپون ناپلی بود، یک ناپلی متولد شده در نیویورک که تبهکاری را از بروکلین آغاز کرد و سپس به شیکاگو نقل مکان کرد و تبدیل به بدنام ترین مجرم این شهر شد.

در اواخر دهه 1920 در لیست سیاه اداره تحقیقات فدرال آمریکا قرار داشت، نهایتا در سال 1931 توسط حکومت فدرال به جرم فرار از پرداخت مالیات متهم شناخته شده و سقوط کرد.

نوجوانی کاپون
پدر آل کاپون، گابریل کاپون یک آرایشگر اهل روستایی (Castellammare di Stabia) در 25 کیلومتری جنوب ناپل بود و مادرش، ترسینا رایولا، خیاط اهل شهر کوچکی در جنوب غربی ایتالیا بود. این زوج که هفت فرزند پسر و دو فرزند دختر داشتند، در سال 1894 به آمریکا مهاجرت کردند و در ویلیامزبورگ (Williamsburg) در نزدیکی بروکلین ساکن شدند.

آل کاپون از سنین نوجوانی با ارتکاب جرم های کوچک، بزهکاری را آغاز کرد، در 14 سالگی به دلیل درگیر شدن با یکی از معلمان مجبور به ترک دبیرستان شد. در این زمان او به گروه جنایتکاری به نام "Five Points Gang" به رهبری فرانکی یل (Frankie Yale) پیوست و از آن پس به عنوان متصدی بار در یک مهمانخانه به نام Harvard Inn که به یل تعلق داشت مشغول به کار شد.

در یکی از زد و خوردهایش، قاتلی به نام فرانک گالوچیو (Frank Gallucio)، گونه چپ کاپون را با چاقوی ضامن دار شکاف داد و باعث شد لقب "صورت زخمی" تا آخر عمر با آل کاپون همراه شود.

او در سال 1918 با یک دختر ایرلندی (به نام Mae Coughlin) ازدواج کرد و در همان سال صاحب پسری شد که او را "آلبرت سانی فرانسیس کاپون" (Albert "Sonny" Francis Capone) نام نهاد. در این ایام کاپون کماکان در خدمت فرانکی یل بود و به اتفاق همسرش یک سال در بروکلین زندگی کرد.

در پی ارتکاب به دو فقره قتل، یل به ناچار او را به شیکاگو فرستاد تا آب ها از آسیاب بیفتد، این نقل مکان آغازی بود برای یکی از بد نام ترین تبهکاران در تاریخ معاصر کشور آمریکا.

کاپون در شیکاگو
کاپون در خانه کوچکی واقع درCicero در حومه شیکاگو، منزل گزید و در تشکیلات یک تبهکار حرفه ای به نام جانی توریو (Johnny Torrio) که رئیس اسبق یل بود، مشغول به کار شد.

توریو بلافاصله به استعداد کاپون پی برد و کلیه کارهای خلافی را که در زمینه قمار، مشروبات الکلی و ... انجام می داد، به کاپون واگذار کرد. یکی از اقدامات او تقلب در رای گیری انتخاب شهردار Cicero بود، کاپون در پای صندوق های رای مردم را با تهدید وادار به رای دادن به توریو کرد و نهایتا توریو با اکثریت آرایی که با زور بدست آورده بود، موفق به کسب مقام شهرداری شد.

اما در کمال ناباوری یک هفته بعد او ادعا کرد که کاپون را از شهر اخراج خواهد کرد. کاپون در یک ملاقات خصوصی با شهردار قلابی او را به شدت مضروب کرد.

سرانجام زمانی که توریو هدف شلیک گلوله یکی از افراد گروه رقیب قرار گرفته و تصمیم به ترک شیکاگو گرفت، کاپون جای او را گرفت و به "رئیس بزرگ" تبدیل شد.

سقوط کاپون
کاپون به عنوان یک تبه کار زیرک هیچ مدرکی از کارهای خلاف خود بر جا نمی گذاشت. او یک شبکه جاسوسی بسیار گسترده در شیکاگو داشت و در شناسایی دشمنان تبحر خاصی داشت و قبل از اینکه هر دشمنی بیش از اندازه قدرتمند شود، نقشه قتلش را کشیده بود.

یکی از معروفترین و وحشیانه ترین کشتاری که توسط کاپون و گروهش انجام شد، قتل عام روز ولنتاین - 14 فوریه - سال 1929 بود، چهار نفر از اعضای گروه کاپون وارد یک گاراژ در خیابان Clark شدند، ساختمان گاراژ در واقع مقر فعالیت قاچاق مشروبات الکلی گروه رقیب کاپون بود.

دو نفر از افراد کاپون لباس پلیس به تن داشتند و همین امر باعث شد افراد گروه رقیب که 7 نفر بودند با تصور حمله پلیس، اسلحه های خود را به زمین نهاده و پشت به دیوار بایستند، افراد کاپون با دو تفنگ و دو مسلسل، بیش از 150 گلوله به آنان شلیک کردند، شش نفر آنان به قتل رسیدند و نفر هفتم که یکی از اعضای گروه خود آل کاپون بود، به طرز معجزه آسایی از مهلکه گریخت.

اما سرانجام در سال 1927 تصویب قوانین جدید این اجازه را به دولت داد که او را به جرم فرار از پرداخت مالیات محکوم کند، در این زمان کاپون تصمیم به ترک شیکاگو گرفت و در جستجو هایی که به منظور یافتن مکانی مناسب برای اقامت، دریافت که در آمریکا وجه بسیار پلیدی دارد و توده مردم از او و گروهش تنفر دارند.

از آن پس بود که تصمیم گرفت چهره اجتماعی محبوبی از خود بسازد، او به فقرا کمک می کرد، در محلات فقیر نشین رستوران های رایگان بر پا میکرد، در امور خیریه شرکت می کرد و حتی کلوپ شبانه خود را در اختیار هنرمندانی چون چارلی پارکر (Charlie Parker) و بینگ کرازبی (Bing Crosby) قرار می داد.

او بعد از شیکاگو در سال 1928 فلوریدا را برای ادامه زندگی اش برگزید. فرانک ویلسون، تنها ماموری که در پی تعقیب کاپون و کار بر روی پرونده او بود، توانست مدارکی مبنی بر درآمد غیر قانونی کاپون از راه قمار یافته و او را به جرم پرداخت نکردن مالیات بر درآمد دستگیر کند.

در سال 1931 علی رغم تلاش های بسیار کاپون و اطرافیانش، دادگاه او را به 11 سال زندان و پرداخت جریمه نقدی محکوم کرد. در سال 1932 او به زندان آتلانتا فرستاده شد، دو سال بعد او را تحت مراقبت شدید به زندان آلکاتراز فرستادند، با گذشت زمان او دچار بیماری روانی شد، تا حدی که مدت های مدید سلولش در زندان را ترک نمی کرد. او ماه های آخر محکومیتش را در بیمارستان روانی سپری کرد.

در سال 1947 او بر اثر ایست قلبی درگذشت و در قبرستان Mount Olivet در شیکاگو در کنار پدر و برادرش به خاک سپرده شد اما در ماه مارس سال 1950 بقایای هر سه عضو این خانواده را به قبرستان Mount Carmel منتقل کردند.