Cerrito family
The Cerrito family (San Jose Crime Family) was an Italian-American mafia family of the American Cosa Nostra with headquarters in San José ( California ). The family has been inactive since 1995.
history
The first known mafia boss of organized crime in San Jose was the mobster Onofrio Sciortino , who emigrated from Sicily . Gambling, counterfeiting, credit usury, prostitution and extortion were included in his fields of operation. Sciortino ruled over the San Jose family from their formation in 1942 until his death in 1959.
Sciortino's underboss and successor Joseph Cerrito , emigrated from Sicily to New York in the 1920s, became an associate of the Profaci family and moved to California in the 1940s, where he rose up in the ranks of the San Jose family. Cerrito associated with Mafia members across the nation and also in Sicily. Under Cerrito's leadership, the San Jose family consisted of approximately 24 " made men " and they all followed his leadership and upholding a law-abiding appearance. In 1968, LIFE magazine publicly referred to him as the criminal chief of San Jose. He sued for libel, but the case was eventually thrown out. He died of natural causes on September 8, 1978 as one of the most successful bosses of a smaller Mafia organization and the loyal capo , Angelo Marino , became the new head of the Cerrito family.
Marino was on good terms with Joseph Alioto, the mayor of San Francisco , as well as the local organized crime boss, James Lanza, and the consigliere , Frank Bompensiero of the Dragna family in Los Angeles . Angelo and his son Salvatore "Sal" were charged with the murder in October 1977 and found guilty on October 12, 1980. They appealed and were released shortly after they were arrested.
Marino's brother-in-law and underboss named Emmanuel "Manny" Figlia took over the management of the family after Merlino passed away in February 1983. Figlia retired in 1995 and died of natural causes on September 25, 2009. With his resignation, the San Jose family is believed to have officially become extinct.
Salvatore "Sal" Marino was released from prison in 1998 after a four-year prison sentence for illegal gun possession and is rumored to have been the new boss of the family, which now only has a handful of members. However, this was never confirmed by the authorities. It is unknown if Marino is still involved in organized crime.
Chiefs
| Period | Surname | Nickname | Lifetime | Cause of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942-1959 | Onofrio Sciortino | 1891-1959 | natural death | |
| 1959-1978 | Giuseppe Xavier Cerrito | Joseph | 1911-1978 | natural death |
| 1978-1983 | Angelo Anthony Marino | Don Marino | 1924-1983 | Heart failure |
| 1983-1995 | Emmanuel Joseph Figlia | Manny | 1918-2009 | natural death |