John Avena

Joseph Ida, John Avena & Luigi Quaranta (May 30, 1927)

John "Nazzone" Avena (* 1893 in Messina , Sicily ; † August 17, 1936 in Philadelphia ), also known as John DiNatale , was a Sicilian-American mobster of the American Cosa Nostra and during the 1930s boss of the Philadelphia Crime Family , which later became known as the Bruno family . He got his nickname because of his long nose.

Criminal career and murder

Avena took over the running of the Philadelphia family after the first chief, Salvatore Sabella , retired in 1931. Under Avena's leadership, the family formed an alliance with the Jewish criminal syndicate called 69th Street Mob . In addition to illegal gambling, Avena is also said to have been active in drug trafficking and blackmail.

During the 1930s there was an ongoing conflict with Giuseppe "Joe Bruno" Dovi , who was trying to gain control. In the summer of 1936, Avena was murdered by his own men in a drive-by shoot and Giuseppe Dovi became the new boss. The infamous Lanzetta brothers are said to have been responsible for the shooting of the 43-year-old boss on the corner of Washington and Passyunk Avenue . An armed man shot from the rear window of a passing car at Avena and his business partner Martin Feldstein. Both died in the attack. During investigations, the police found that three further murder attempts had taken place on Avena in the previous 10 years, but had failed.

An estimated 500 people gathered outside Avena's house on 15th Street on the day of his funeral . He left behind his widow Grace and their son.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Lombard Writing - The Crew
2. ^ Penn Live - From Sabella to Merlino: Five Philadelphia mob bosses who impacted Pennsylvania and New Jersey
3. ↑ The American Mafia - Avena, John "Big Nose" (1893-1936)
4. ^ ^{A b} Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery - John “Big Nose” Avena - Mob Boss
5. ↑ La Cosa Nostra Database - Family - Scarfo
6. ^ Mafia History - The American Mafia - Crime Bosses of Philadelphia
7. ↑ American Mafia - This Week in Mob History