LaRocca family
The LaRocca family ( Pittsburgh crime family ) is an Italian-American mafia family of the US-American Cosa Nostra with headquarters in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania .
history
The beginnings
In Pittsburgh, the Italian underworld was divided into two ethnic groups. On the one hand the Sicilian mafia, which ruled the North Side and South Side of the city and on the other hand the Neapolitan Camorra , which controlled the east end of the city.
In the early 1920s, both factions participated in the city's black market; the illegal manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol. Throughout the Prohibition Period, the factions in the city fought for control of the Italian neighborhoods of Larimer , Homewood , Hill District and Downtown . In the outer suburbs of southwestern Pennsylvania, the factions fought over the neighborhoods of New Kensington , Arnold , Wilkinsburg , McKees Rocks , Wilmerding, and Braddock . There were over 200 murders in Allegheny County during the late prohibition period from 1926 to 1933 .
During the reign of Stefano Monastero in the late 1920s, other gangs from Pittsburgh, as well as a gang from Chicago, were fought. He and his brother Salvatore Monastero were finally murdered on August 4, 1929.
Giuseppe Siragusa took over as the new boss. However, his term of office was short-lived, as he was murdered by the Bonanno family from New York City in the so-called War of Castellammare just a few days after the death of Salvatore Maranzano on September 13, 1931 due to his loyalty to the Castellammarese clan .
Bazzano versus the Volpes
After the murder of Siragusa, the family came under the control of the Sicilian John Bazzano , who sold sugar and yeast to breweries which allowed them to illegally produce alcohol.
Bazzano formed an alliance with the 8 Volpe brothers, whom he allowed to operate from their own café in Pittsburgh's Middle Hill . The Volpe brothers already had control of the "Neapolitan faction" and the illegal business in Turtle Creek Valley and Wilmerding . The alliance ended when the Volpes began expanding into East Liberty and North Side . Bazzano dispatched some of his men who murdered three of the brothers on July 29, 1932. The surviving Volpe brothers turned to the so-called American Mafia Commission , whereupon it was decided to hold Bazzano accountable for the unauthorized murders. Bazzanos body was in the August 8, 1932 Red Hook ( Brooklyn found). He was stabbed and strangled.
LaRocca era
Vincenzo Capizzi became the new boss of the organization after the murder of Bazzano until he resigned in 1937 and Francesco Amato took his place. He ruled for almost two decades until he fell seriously ill and resigned as boss in 1956 and remained number two in the family as underboss. The position as the new head of the family was taken by John Sebastian Larocca , under whose name the family was later known and named.
In 1957 he attended the famous Apalachin meeting with Capo (Captain) Gabriel "Kelly" Mannarino and Consigliere (consultant) Michael James Genovese , which was a disaster due to the local police. LaRocca escaped federal authorities, but Mannarino and Genovese were arrested.
LaRocca and Mannarino became partners in the "Sans Souci Hotel-Casino" in Havana (Cuba) of Santo Trafficante, Jr. , the boss of the Trafficante family . In 1959, the Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro took control of Cuba and forced the mafiosi to withdraw.
Through bribery, LaRocca became a very powerful boss and had politicians, police officers and other Pittsburgh officials in his pocket. His family also controlled the Laborers Local Union # 1058. LaRocca's influence also grew strongly through close ties with Gambino boss Carlo Gambino , Bufalino boss Russell Bufalino , Bruno boss Angelo Bruno and Civella boss Nick Civella . In the 1960s, LaRocca began a conflict with the Cleveland crime family when they expanded to Youngstown, Ohio . In 1964, LaRocca helped Frank J. Valenti take over the management of the Rochester family and remove Jake Russo as head.
LaRocca died on December 3, 1984 and Michael James Genovese became the new boss of the LaRocca family.
Historical tour
Head of the family
The head of a family cannot always be identified so clearly; especially if another family member comes to the fore due to a prison sentence. The external view does not always make it easy to recognize a new head as such or to determine his exact term of office. In addition, a presidential system seems to be establishing itself to a certain extent; ie the head shifts his power more to a so-called “acting boss” and / or “street boss”, who in turn continue to recognize the head as such, even if he is, for example, in custody.
| Period | Surname | Nickname | Lifetime | Cause of death | annotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s – 1920 | Gregorio Conti | 1874-1919 | resigned | ||
| 1920-1925 | Salvatore Calderone | resigned | |||
| 1925-1929 | Stefano Monastero | 1889-1929 | murdered on August 4, 1929 | ||
| 1929-1931 | Giuseppe Siragusa | Yeast baron | 1882-1931 | murdered on September 13, 1931 | |
| 1931-1932 | John Bazzano | 1889-1932 | murdered on August 6, 1932 | ||
| 1932-1937 | Vincenzo Capizzi | 1884 - ???? | resigned | ||
| 1937-1956 | Francesco Amato | Frank | 1893-1973 | resigned / became underboss | |
| 1956-1984 | John Sebastian Larocca | 1901-1984 | natural death | ||
| 1985-2006 | Michael James Genovese | 1919-2006 | natural death | Vito Genovese's cousin | |
| 2006-2008 | John Bazzano Jr. | 1927-2008 | Son of John Bazzano | ||
| 2008-present | Thomas Ciancutti | Sonny | 1930-today |
Acting boss
- 1978–1980: (COMMITTEE)
- Michael James Genovese, Gabriel "Kelly" Mannarino (died 1980), Joseph "Jo Jo" Pecora (imprisoned in 1979)
- 1980-1984: Michael James Genovese; became boss in 1985
Underboss of the family
The underboss is number two in the criminal family, he is the deputy director of the syndicate. He gathers information for the boss, gives orders and instructions to the subordinates. In the absence of the boss, he leads the organization.
| Period | Surname | Nickname | Lifetime | Cause of death | annotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925-1929 | Salvatore Monastero | Sam | 1889-1929 | murdered on August 4, 1929 | Brother of Stefano Monastero |
| 1936-1956 | John Sebastian Larocca | 1901-1984 | natural death | became boss in 1956 | |
| 1956-1973 | Francesco Amato | Frank | 1893-1973 | ||
| 1973-1987 | Joseph Pecora | Jo Jo | ???? - 1987 | natural death | Imprisoned 1979–1983 |
| 1987-2006 | John Bazzano Jr. | 1927-2008 | became boss in 2006 | ||
| 2006-2008 | Thomas Ciancutti | Sonny | 1930-today | became boss in 2008 | |
| 2008-present | Robert Iannelli | Bobby I |
Acting underboss
- 1980-1984: Charles Porter; Nickname: "Chucky"; Sentenced to 28 years in 1990 / became an informant in 1999
Consigliere of the family
At the same level as the underboss is the consigliere , the advisor to the criminal family. It is usually an older member of the family who has great respect within the family and can therefore exert considerable influence.
| Period | Surname | Nickname | Lifetime | Cause of death | annotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-1985 | Michael James Genovese | 1919-2006 | natural death | became boss in 1985 | |
| 1985-1989 | Pasquale Ferruccio | Patient | Imprisoned in 1991 | ||
| 1989-2002 | Charles Imburgia | Murgy | |||
| 2002-2006 | Thomas Ciancutti | Sonny | 1930-today | became underboss in 2006 | |
| 2006-2008 | Robert Iannelli | Bobby I | became underboss in 2008 |
Web links
- LaRocca Family on American Gangland
literature
- Jerry Capeci: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia ; 2002
- Rick Porello: To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia ; 2004
- Peter J. Devico: The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra ; 2007
Individual evidence
- ^ Organized Crime in Pennsylvania: Traditional and Non-Traditional . Pennsylvania Crime Concession. April 15, 1988. ( The Nevada Observer . August 16, 2006) ( Memento of the original from November 27, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Capeci, Chapter 5 "Mafia Families Poison the Northeast"
- ↑ Jason Cato. Reputed mob boss linked to "old-time Mafia" ( memento of the original from February 22, 2011 on WebCite ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (November 2, 2006) Pittsburgh Tribune Review
- ↑ a b c d e Devico, (pg. 185-187)
- ↑ a b c d e f g The American Mafia.com "Pittsburgh crime family" ( Memento of the original from March 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Ove, Torsten. Mafia has long history here, growing from bootlegging days . November 06, 2000. Post-Gazette.com (Part II)
- ↑ a b La Cosa Nostra: John Sebastian La Rocca. (2007-2011) lacndb.com Sebastian La Rocca
- ↑ a b Porrello pg. 184
- ↑ a b La Cosa Nostra: Gariel Mannarino. (2007-2010) lacndb.com Mannarino
- ↑ Devico pg. 190
