On this date, April 1... • in 1869, New Orleans Mafia boss Raffaele Agnello is shot to death during an underworld feud. • in 1914, John Russomano of East Harlem enters Sing Sing to begin a sentence for criminal weapons possession. • in 1915, Jacob Shapiro is arrested in Manhattan for burglary. • in 1918, Brooklyn Camorra leader Alessandro Vollero is sentenced to die in the Sing Sing Prison electric chair. • in 1924, while intimidating voters in Cicero IL municipal elections, Al Capone's brother Salvatore is fatally shot by police. • in 1926, Joe Adonis is arrested for stealing an automobile. • in 1930, a decapitated murder victim is discovered inside a barrel in Pittsburgh's railroad produce yards. In Brooklyn NY, Giuseppe Piraino is buried in a silver coffin in Greenwood Cemetery. • in 1931, a jury finds Tony Morreale of Pittston PA not guilty of the murder of Charles Calamera. • in 1936, Salvatore 'Charlie Luciano' Lucania is arrested at Hot Springs AR on a warrant from New York. • in 1953, Nicholas Civella becomes the leading figure in the Kansas City underworld after Anthony Gizzo dies during a visit to Texas. • in 1996, former county prosecutor Gary Van Brocklin is shot and wounded in his Youngstown OH law office. Image of Nicholas Civella.

#OTD (Apr 01)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#PittstonPA #NewOrleans #EastHarlem #Brooklyn #CiceroIL #Pittsburgh #HotSpringsAR #KansasCity #YoungstownOH #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, March 31... • in 1887, Manhattan gangster Thomas 'Kid' Hunt is sentenced to five years for manslaughter. • in 1926, a jury is unable to reach a verdict on charges that 'Dandy Phil' Kastel used mails to defraud. • in 1931, Gaetano Morello of Pittston PA, on trial for the murder of Charles Calamera, testifies in his defense. In Los Angeles, police receive a tip that missing gangster Frank D. Vito has been killed and buried in the desert. • in 1932, New York police arrest Vincent Alo for robbery and possession of a firearm. • in 1936, Special Prosecutor Thomas Dewey obtains an arrest warrant for Salvatore 'Charlie Luciano' Lucania. • in 1939, John Torrio and four codefendants go to trial on tax fraud charges. • in 1942, Samuel 'Red' Levine is sentenced to a year in prison for perjury. • in 1953, 'Sandy' Naples of Youngstown OH is convicted of conducting an illegal lottery. • in 1955, Stefano Badami is stabbed to death in a Newark NJ restaurant. • in 1961, Youngstown OH gambling racketeer Mike Farah is released after a prison term for committing assault and battery. • in 1981, Frank 'Funzi' Tieri, front man for the Genovese Crime Family in New York, dies. • in 2008, Bonanno Crime Family boss Vincent Basciano is sentenced to life in prison for the 2001 murder of underworld rival Frank Santoro. • in 2016, human remains are recovered at an alleged Mafia burial ground in Providence RI. Image of Frank Tieri.

#OTD (Mar 31)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#PittstonPA #LosAngeles #YoungstownOH #NewarkNJ #ProvidenceRI #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, March 5... • in 1904, convicted counterfeiter Anthony D'Andrea is released from Joliet Prison. He soon becomes leader of the Chicago Mafia. • in 1908, a grand jury indicts six Sewickley PA men for extortion conspiracy. • in 1930, Vincent Coll of the Bronx is held without bail as a suspect in a February 13 double-homicide. • in 1931, a grand jury indicts Gaetano Morello of Pittston PA for the fatal shooting of Charles Calamera. • in 1944, one day after their Sing Sing Prison electrocutions, Lepke Buchalter and Emanuel Weiss are buried in Queens NY. • in 1963, three New Jersey Teamsters officials are sentenced to prison terms for working to extort money from a New York company. • in 1968, Joseph Barboza testifies in a murder conspiracy trial against New England boss Raymond Patriarca. • in 1970, federal authorities break up a Yonkers gambling ring that includes one known Mafia leader and four New York State police officers. • in 1971, New York crime boss Joseph Colombo is arrested for his part in the 1968 theft of $750,000 in jewels. Image of Anthony D'Andrea.

#OTD (Mar 05)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#SewickleyPA #Bronx #PittstonPA #QueensNY #NewJersey #NewEngland #YonkersNY #Chicago #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, March 2... • in 1891, defendant Manuel Polizzi experiences an apparent emotional breakdown during the trial of New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy's Mafia assassins. • in 1927, Leopoldo Lauritano of Brooklyn enters Sing Sing Prison to begin a 5-year sentence for perjury. • in 1931, Pittston PA miners union leader Samuel Licata, a friend of recently murdered Charles Calamera, is shot to death. • in 1935, Dutch Schultz murders Jules Martin in the presence of attorney J. Richard 'Dixie' Davis. • in 1944, Sam 'Snakes' Gervase is found shot to death in his refrigerator repair shop in Chicago. In New York, Governor Thomas Dewey postpones for 48 hours the planned executions of Lepke Buchalter, Louis Capone and Emanuel Weiss. • in 1947, a Cuban communist party official files a habeas corpus petition in an effort to free recently arrested Salvatore 'Charlie Luciano' Lucania. • in 1967, New York State Governor Rockefeller asks the Legislature to create a Crime Control Council over several state law enforcement agencies. • in 1981, a federal judge orders John DiGilio to prison, nearly six years after he was convicted of bribing an FBI clerk to steal secret Bureau files. • in 1992, Mafia turncoat Salvatore Gravano testifies in New York that he and John Gotti were present as backup shooters during the 1985 assassination of Gambino boss Paul Castellano. Image of Dutch Schultz.

#OTD (Mar 02)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#NewOrleans #Brooklyn #PittstonPA #Chicago #Cuba #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, February 15... • in 1869, New Orleans mafioso Joseph Agnello and others attack Messinian gang leaders at a Chartres Street home. • in 1907, mafiosi Santo Volpe, Stefano LaTorre, Charles Bufalino and others are arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police for conspiracy, extortion, attempted murder and dynamiting. • in 1915, Antonio Cincotta, earlier convicted of attempting to extort money from singer Enrico Caruso, is shot to death in Brooklyn. • in 1918, turncoat camorrist Ralph Daniello testifies for prosecution in the Brooklyn murder trial of Navy Street boss Allessandro Vollero. • in 1926, Orazio Tropea, member of Chicago's Genna gang, is killed by a shotgun blast. • in 1933, Samuel Wichner meets at the Old Forge PA home of Joseph Barbara with mafiosi Santo Volpe and Angelo Polizzi. At Miami, Giuseppe Zangara fails in an attempt to assassinate President-elect Franklin Roosevelt but fatally wounds visiting Chicago mayor Anton Cermak. • in 1936, Jack McGurn is shot to death at a Chicago bowling alley. • in 1947, Frank Costello testifies before the New York State Liquor Authority. • in 1950, Joseph Profaci appears before the Kefauver Committee. • in 1963, Youngstown OH gangster Lenny Strollo and five others are indicted for counterfeiting. Image of Santo Volpe.

#OTD (Feb. 15)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#NewOrleans #PittstonPA #Brooklyn #Chicago #OldForgePA #Miami #YoungstownOH #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, February 11... • in 1906, an East Youngstown OH fire is blamed on a Black Hand organization. • in 1907, Filippo Randazzo, suspected Black Hand gang member, is fatally shot on Manhattan's Chrystie Street. • in 1911, police arrest brothers Angelo and Ferdinando Marino in connection with the recent shooting of Sam Lucchino in Pittston PA. • in 1914, 'Johnny Dee' DeBellis of East Harlem NY is convicted of criminally carrying a pistol. • in 1921, Alberto Alterio dies of gunshot wounds suffered at Manhattan's whiskey 'curb market' the previous day. • in 1927, Brooklyn Camorra leader Leopoldo Lauritano pleads guilty to perjury. • in 1931, after questioning related to the recent Detroit murder of Chester LaMare, both Joseph Zerilli and William Tocco are released. • in 1932, under the assumed name of Morris Lieberman, Meyer Lansky is charged with Prohibition violations. • in 1947, entertainer Frank Sinatra travels to Havana, Cuba, in the company of underworld figures Charles, Rocco and Joseph Fischetti. • in 1959, New England underworld boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca testifies before the Senate's McClellan Committee and suggests the death of his father led him to early criminal activity. • in 1960, Vito Genovese begins a 15-year sentence for narcotics conspiracy at Atlanta Federal Prison. • in 1963, gangster Lenine 'Lenny' Strollo of Campbell OH and others are arrested for counterfeiting. Image of Vito Genovese.

#OTD (Feb. 11)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#Cuba #NewEngland #Brooklyn #Harlem #Detroit #PittstonPA #RhodeIsland #YoungstownOH #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, February 7... • in 1908, six alleged Black Handers are arrested at Sewickley PA. • in 1909, future Buffalo crime boss Stefano Magaddino arrives in New York. • in 1911, early New York Mafia leader Nicola Taranto dies in Brooklyn. In Pittston PA, Sam Lucchino, who helped prosecute Mafia counterfeiters, is shot and seriously wounded. • in 1918, police arrest Anthony Sorrentini, suspect in the Philadelphia murder of Frank Clementi. • in 1931, Cesare 'Chester' LaMare, Detroit boss, is murdered at his home. In the Bronx NY, an elaborate funeral is held for murdered mobster Joe 'Baker' Catania. • in 1947, the New York State Athletic Commission revokes Rocky Graziano's boxing license because he failed to report underworld bribery attempts. • in 1962, the remains of Salvatore 'Charlie Luciano' Lucania are interred in a family vault in Queens NY. • in 1963, FBI learns that New England boss Raymond Patriarca is assessing a Mafia membership fee to collect a legal defense fund. • in 1966, Joseph Valachi empowers his agent to sell his autobiography to a publisher. • in 1973, former New York crime boss Frank Costello is hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. • in 2008, U.S. and Italian authorities make more than 80 arrests in a Mafia crackdown. U.S. efforts focus on the Gambino Crime Family. • in 2011, federal authorities locate former New England mafioso Enrico Ponzo living under an assumed name in Idaho. Image of Cesare LaMare.

#OTD (Feb. 07)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#SewickleyPA #Buffalo #Brooklyn #PittstonPA #Philadelphia #Detroit #Bronx #QueensNY #NewEngland #Idaho #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, January 22... • in 1914, Chicago Mafia leader Rosario Dispenza and his business partner Anthony Puzzio are shot and killed. • in 1919, Giuseppe Florino of Brooklyn is charged with felonious assault for accidentally shooting high school student John Dondero during a duel with another man. • in 1920, 'Lepke' Buchalter is arrested under the name 'Louis Cohen' and charged with burglary. • in 1959, a dozen miners lose their lives when mines of the Knox Coal Company collapse in Pittston, PA. Investigation shows corruption, negligence and Mafia infiltration in the coal mining industry. • in 1962, Sicilian newspaper L'Ora publishes the first of three articles on the confessions of mafioso Dr. Melchiorre Allegra. • in 1976, following the recommendation of the state Gaming Control Board, the Nevada Gaming Commission votes unanimously to deny a gambling license to Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal. • in 1991, Pittsburgh-area mosbters Charles Porter and Louis Raucci Sr. are sentenced to long prison terms following their convictions for narcotics trafficking. • in 1992, following guilty pleas and convictions against Providence-based bosses and other important members, 'Cadillac Frank' Salemme of Sharon MA is the top-ranking figure in the New England Crime Family. Image of Frank Salemme

#OTD (Jan. 22)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#Brooklyn #PittstonPA #Nevada #Pittsburgh #ProvidenceRI #SharonMA #Chicago #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, January 04... • in 1880, future Chicago underworld leader Michele Merlo is born in Sambuca Zabut, Sicily. • in 1910, Secret Service agents arrest Antonio Comito, suspected of printing counterfeit currency for the Morello-Lupo organization in New York. • in 1924, three convicted 'Black Hand' murderers are executed by hanging in West Virginia. • in 1928, Chicago gangsters Phil D'Andrea and Lawrence Mangano are believed responsible for shooting up Dominic Aiello's bakery. • in 1931, in Pittston PA, Calogero Calamera, shot six times and mortally wounded, names local mafioso Tony Morreale as one of his attackers. • in 1932, Vincent Coll, recently acquitted of the killing of an East Harlem youngster, obtains a license to marry Lottie Kreisberger. • in 1933, Charles 'King' Solomon, Boston-area bootlegger, is one of four men indicted in Brooklyn NY for liquor conspiracy. • in 1934, police arrest Ciro Terranova for vagrancy as he crosses from Bronx to Manhattan. • in 1945, Chicago racketeer Dominic Brancato is held for questioning in connection with the shooting of Vincent Benevento. • in 1951, New York crime boss Frank Costello receives a subpoena to testify before the Senate's Kefauver Committee. • in 1955, Dominic Anzalone of western Pennsylvania appeals a U.S. deportation order. • in 1967, an informant tells the FBI that the Mafia Commission has reinstalled Joseph Bonanno as boss of New York's Bonanno Crime Family. San Francisco Mafia underboss Charles Carbone dies. • in 1978, Ronald Carabbia is arraigned on charges related to the 1977 car-bomb murder of Daniel Greene. Image of Ciro Terranova

#OTD (Jan. 04)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#Chicago #NewYork #WestVirginia #PittstonPA #Boston #Brooklyn #AlbanyNY #SanFrancisco #Cleveland #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Santo Volpe

#OTD (Dec 02) in 1958, #PittstonPA #Mafia leader Santo #Volpe dies of natural causes at his West Pittston home.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Sam Lucchino

#OTD (Nov 27) in 1909, Sam #Lucchino (shown) of #PittstonPA agrees to testify in court against #NewYork #Mafia leader Giuseppe #Morello and his #counterfeiting gang.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Russell Bufalino

#OTD (Nov 01) in 1951, #PittstonPA Mafia leader Russell #Bufalino visits #Havana Cuba, according to the report of an #FBI informant.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Tommaso Petto

#OTD (Oct 26) in 1905, authorities at #PittstonPA use Bertillon data provided by #NewYork City to verify the identity of a recent local murder victim as former #Manhattan gangster Tommaso #Petto.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

#OTD (Oct 25) in 1909, Sam 'Lockin' Lucchino of #PittstonPA goes under cover for the U.S. #SecretService and makes a purchase of #counterfeit bills from New York-based mafioso Giuseppe #Boscarino.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians #NYC

Santo Volpe

#OTD (Oct 20) in 1879, future #PittstonPA #Mafia boss Santo #Volpe is born in Montedoro, Sicily.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Image of Jim Colosino. Text reads: On this date, July 21... in 1914, for refusing to cooperate with an investigation into the slaying of a detective, Chicago's 'Big Jim' Colosimo and his business manager John Torrio become targets of law enforcement and media attention. in 1920, Pittston PA Detective Sam Lucchino is shot and killed near his home. in 1922, Jacob 'Gurrah' Shapiro is arrested for robbery with a gun. in 1927, Peter Heslin is electrocuted at Sing Sing for the 1926 murder of NYPD Officer Charles Reilly. in 1934, a federal tax lien of more than $62,000 is filed against the estate of John Lazia of Kansas City. in 1938, Solly Hart of Cleveland is convicted of the murder of gangster Roy 'Happy' Marino of Youngstown OH. in 1950, NYPD Officer Alfred Loreto is shot and killed by two robbery suspects linked to Giacomo Reina. in 1952, John Robilotto is extradited from New York to New Jersey to be charged with the murder of Willie Moretti. in 2008, Carl Angelo DeLuna, former Kansas City underboss, dies at the age of 81.

#OTD in #OrganizedCrime #History: #Colosimo & #Torrio are investigated in #Chicago, Lucchino is killed in #PittstonPA, tax lien is placed on #KansasCity estate, #Cleveland gangster is guilty of murder, Robilotto goes to #NewJersey to face murder charge.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Image of Santo Volpe. Text reads: On this date, June 30... in 1906, future Pittston PA crime boss Santo Volpe arrives in New York aboard the S.S. Republic. in 1914, 'Chicago Joe' Buonomo, convicted of murder, is hanged to death at Connecticut State Prison in Wethersfield. in 1919, though WWI ended in armistice seven months earlier, the U.S. Wartime Prohibition Act against alcoholic beverages takes effect. in 1920, Ignazio Lupo is paroled from Atlanta Federal Prison after serving a third of his 30-year counterfeiting sentence. in 1926, at the murder trial of Anthony Paretti, convicted Camorra killers Leopoldo Lauritano, Allessandro Volero and Pellegrino Morano refuse to testify against the defendant. in 1928, Lorenzo Lupo, Cleveland bootlegger and slot machine racketeer, is shot to death. in 1933, Joseph 'Socks' Lanza is arrested in Manhattan for extortion, coercion and conspiracy. in 1935, New York Governor Lehman recommends the appointment of Thomas Dewey as special prosecutor for vice and crime in New York City. Dewey is Lehman's fifth choice for the position, four others having turned it down. in 1958, the McClellan Committee begins hearings on the 1957 Apalachin underworld convention. in 1971, the Florida Supreme Court rules unconstitutional a 1969 law targeting corporations with known racketeers as officers or directors. in 2006, a federal judge discards racketeering-murder convictions against 'Mafia Cops' Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa because the statute of limitations has expired.

#OTD (June 30) in #OrganizedCrime #History: future #PittstonPA boss arrives in U.S., 'ChicagoJoe' is executed in #Connecticut, Wartime #Prohibition takes effect, Lupo is paroled, #NY Governor recommends #Dewey, court rules against #Florida anti-mob measure.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Smiling businessman wearing a suit and tie next to Congratulations script.

#PittstonPA #NEPA #CityOfPittston

Smiling businesswoman wearing a suit next to Congratulations script.

#PittstonPA #NEPA #CityOfPittston

Collection of crime history items from March 2.

#OTD in #OrganizedCrime #History: #NewOrleans #Mafia defendant creates trial disturbance, #PittstonPA union leader is killed, attorney witnesses murder by #Schultz, #Buchalter execution is postponed, #Gravano says he and #Gotti saw 1985 killing of boss #Castellano.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

Collection of crime history items from February 15.

#OTD in #OrganizedCrime #History: #mafiosi feud in #NewOrleans, #PittstonPA bosses face charges, extortionist dies in #Brooklyn, Camorrist cooperates in murder case, #Chicago gunmen end Tropea and McGurn, #Kefauver hears #Profaci.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

First week of the studio being open and I had to break it in by doing my dogs yearly photos. I chose red as it’s just in time for Valentine’s Day!
#photography #petphotographer #dog #puppy #photographer #portraitphotographer #pittstonpa #pennsylvaniaphotographer

Collection of crime history items from February 11.

#OTD in #OrganizedCrime #History: #BlackHand is blamed for #YoungstownOH fire, brothers are charged in #PittstonPA shooting, #Brooklyn boss pleads to perjury, #Lansky faces #bootlegging charge, #Sinatra goes to #Cuba with mobsters, #Genovese starts drug sentence.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians