los angeles crime family boss

The most prominent of these was the Matranga family. Milano was born in 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio to Anthony and Josephine Milano. Please reorganize this content to explain the subject's impact on popular culture, "DRAGNA HELD FOR OUSTER - McGranery Says Californian Will Be Deported as Racketeer", "Jack Ignatius Dragna and Frances Rizzotto, 1922", "Frank Dragna Sues Police for $350,000 in Damages", List of Italian-American mobsters by organization, Collaborations between the United States government and Italian Mafia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Dragna&oldid=1139858176, Burials at Calvary Cemetery (Los Angeles), People extradited within the United States, Articles with dead external links from February 2023, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with trivia sections from November 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Though he does not make an actual appearance, he is mentioned several times in the video game, A character by the same name appears in the sixth episode of the second series of the 1960s cult British, Warner, Richard N. "The First Mafia Boss of Los Angeles? The plot fell apart after someone got cold feet and . The . Months later Milano and 11 other men were indicted for conspiracy, racketeering and extortion against bookmakers, loan sharks, and pornographers. Armed with top hitman Frank Bompensiero and Jimmy Fratianno (who committed over 30 murders on the orders of their superiors), Dragna muscled his way into controlling territory stretching throughout California and Southern Nevada. Being informed about crime in your community is the first step in preventing future occurrences. That same year, Dragna petitioned for naturalization as Charles Dragna, and was a suspect in the murder of Jewish poultry dealer Barnet Baff. 20 reputed organized crime figures were arrested in 1984, in what law . In the late 1930s, California Attorney General Earl Warren took command of a tough assault on Dragna's empire, most notably shutting down the gambling ships run by Anthony Cornero. While other Mafia families in the country were prospering in the 1950s, the L.A. family was beginning its decline. considered the Mafia finished in Los Angeles. [31] Attempts to buy out the company and to strong arm its owners didn't work, so they set up their own company called Trans-America. Since its inception in the early 1900s, it has spread throughout Southern California.Like most Mafia families in the United States, the L.A. family gained power bootlegging during the Prohibition Era.The L.A. family reached its peak in the 1940s and . [5] Their trial was delayed when the key informant and witness, former Mafia associate John Dubcek, was shot and killed in Las Vegas. [6] When Peter Milano became boss, he rejuvenated the depleted family by inducting new members[6][62] such as Stephen "Steve the Whale" Cino, singer Charles "Bobby Milano" Caci, Luigi "Louie" Gelfuso Jr. and shylock brothers Lawrence and Anthony "The Animal" Fiato into the family. Other members, like Carmen Milano and Jimmy Caci died of old age with no younger people having to replace them. [5] Licata made good connections with Mafia families in Detroit, Dallas, Kansas City, and New Orleans. Attorney DeSimone became the Los Angeles Mafia boss after the 1956 death of Jack Dragna. The Los Angeles family since made moves into Las Vegas with the Buffalo crime family. . According to an unidentified informant, he raped the wife of former underboss Girolamo "Momo" Adamo, which caused Adamo to shoot his wife (who survived) and kill himself. An old bootlegging associate of Dragna's, Anthony Cornero ran gambling ships off the coast of California. DeSimone's extended family was also involved in the mafia. The Los Angeles crime family is an Italian American criminal organization based in California, as part of the American Mafia (or Cosa Nostra ). DeSimone was the son of former don Rosario DeSimone. [56] Fratianno traveled across the country making new connections and deals. Burbank cafe manager Nick Licata, who had served as a front man for Jack Dragna, stepped up as the new boss. In 1963 Joe Valachi outed the Mafia as a secret criminal society, aiding in law enforcements attacks on organized crime and fingered Licata as a high ranking mobster in Los Angeles. When . Dragna fled the state to avoid questioning. Soon after, he was promoted to caporegime (captain) in the family. [45] DeSimone worried about "shaking down" gamblers and bookmakers for fear that they would run to the police. and F.B.I. [52] Licata's underboss Joseph Dippolito had a large influence in San Bernardino and the Inland Empire in both legitimate and criminal enterprises. It depends on the borgata though, since in some of them the consigliere commands more respect than the underboss. For reasons uncertain Giuseppe, who Americanized his name to Joseph, became involved in a dispute with the Matrangas who lived in Los Angeles. In March 1973, Milano and six others were charged with running a rigged gambling operation in Los Angeles that brought in up to $250,000 a month. 2012), owner of the Rome Vending Company of San Fernando Valley, became the new boss of the southern California Mafia in 1984. [18] The organization had some political and social motives, but mostly served as a strong-arm muscle for the crime family. "A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns." Vito Corleone[src] Thomas "Tom" Hagen was the consigliere and head lawyer of the Corleone family, as well as being the adoptive son of Vito and Carmela Corleone and the adoptive brother of Sonny, Fredo, Michael, and Connie Corleone. Mobster turned informant Kenny Gallo credited the brothers with "help[ing] Pete Milano revamp the L.A. [35] Soon after, several of his family members were arrested for the bombing of Mickey Cohen's home. His brothers were also involved in the Mafia except for Carmen Milano who chose to be a lawyer until eventually also becoming a mobster in the 1980s. Other businesses including running gambling ships, a heroin smuggling operation, and collecting extortion money. Category:Sets (gangs) in Chicago SkeezeWorld (Gangster Disciples set) Spanish Cobras Stain Gang (Gangster Disciples set) SuWu TTB (Black P. 1929, might be regarded as the culminating violence of the Chicago gang era, . As boss, Dragna's chief source of income came from extorting local bookmakers for "protection" money, although he was also the main illegal gambling operator in the city. The L.A. family became the dominant loan shark operators in the area. He set up the Italian Protective League, with Dragna as its president, Ardizzone as its vice president, and California State Senator Joseph Pedrotti as its chairman. Once the producers paid, the Mafia backers would secretly split the money with the L.A. family. He later surrendered, and was questioned in the Kefauver hearings along with Roselli and Bompensiero, but denied all accusations against him. Brucceleri took over the boss role after the death of Nick Licata. Jalisco . This was possible because in the 1950s, Jack Dragna flew labor union expert Johnny Dio in from New York City to teach Louis how to manipulate labor unions in the Los Angeles Garment District. Featuring investigative crime series such as The First 48, real-life docuseries, exclusive originals and CSI every weekend, ION Mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat with true crime, all the time.This is a list of current Ion Mystery affiliates (formerly known as Escape until September 30, 2019, and Court TV Mystery until February 24 . [5] He then fled California and hid in different states. [9] One newspaper described him as a true Godfather in every respect.[10]. The murder was said to be the first step in Bonanno's scheme to take over organized crime in California and put his son Bill Bonanno in charge. While he was generally an effective underworld boss, Dragna is best remembered for his failures. Cuccia was a relative of Ardizzone's and ruled in Ardizzone's favor, causing the Matrangas to threaten Cuccia. On May 13, 1922, both men were murdered in a poolroom/barbershop on Chicago's Larabee Street. In early 1931 he was driving with his friend Jimmy Basile when gunmen drove by and shot at them. The L.A.P.D. [7] Fratianno's goal was to bring back the ailing L.A. family stature and reputation amongst the Mafia. When Frank DeSimone died of a heart attack, Licata became new L.A. Mob boss with no opposition in 1967, and he made Joseph Dippolito of Upland, California, his underboss. 1984 - Peter John Milano (Dec. 1925, to Apr. His underworld career was notable for its overlap with his legal career and also for his repeated failed attempts on the life of Los Angeles gambling racketeer Mickey Cohen. [39] This meant the top three men from Dragna's era, the boss, underboss, and consigliere were all inactive in Los Angeles almost immediately after DeSimone took charge. He eventually became a made man in the Detroit crime family. Although many sources speak of a rivalry between them, Dragna and Siegel worked closely together, especially at organizing a racing wire service on the West Coast.[6]. [23] Although there was not as big a pool of Italians to recruit on the West Coast like there was back East, the L.A. family worked around this by accepting members from across the country, such as Johnny Roselli from Chicago, Nick Licata from Detroit, and Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno and Dominic Brooklier from Cleveland. He was the son of Calogero and Vita, and had six brothers and two sisters. Since the death of Los Angeles boss Jack Dragna, Bompensiero had been highly critical of the new family leadership. Last edited on 25 November 2022, at 02:15, "California Digital Newspaper Collection | Los Angeles Herald September 26, 1906", Riverside Daily Press, Volume XXIX, Number 307, 28 December 1914 accessed September 22,2018, Los Angeles Herald Volume XLIII, Number 304 22 October 1918. [8] Not having a strong concentration of Italian-Americans in the region leaves the family to contend with the many street gangs of other ethnicities in the city. [24] According to Mickey Cohen, Dragna was very powerful and very well respected, but did not put things together the way the East Coast bosses preferred. Brooklier was able to make a lot of money in pornography, extortion, and drugs, but wasn't able to take back control of many independent bookmaking rackets in Los Angeles. However, upon release from prison, Brooklier quickly took back control of the family, and Fratianno was left back to being a low level soldier. This left a power vacuum in the family and enabled Milano to step up and become acting boss. Compared to neighboring county Clinton and county Cook it's a more dangerous . In 1981 the top members of the Los Angeles crime family, including boss Dominic Brooklier, were sentenced to jail time on RICO charges. Since the 1980s, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act) has been effective in convicting mobsters and shrinking the American Mafia; like all families in the United States, the L.A. Mafia now only holds a fraction of its former power. Los Zetas, Gulf, Juarez, Tijuana and Beltran-Leyva). He was born during his parent's stay in Pueblo, Colorado. Crawford. Outkick host Curt Schilling sat down with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday and was very blunt on how he views Ukraine currently, comparing it to fascist Italy under dictator Benito Mussolini and calling it a "bad" place with "bad" people. [6] When Dragna died in 1956 Frank DeSimone became the new boss of the family. Its first leader was Rosario "Sam" Matranga (often misreported as "Orsario," due to a typo on his death record), who started leading the family around 1905. He was involved in a long-standing feud with the Matranga family. Although his murder officially remains unsolved, one theory is that Dragna's men were given the order to kill him. The Mystery of Vito Di Giorgio, 18801922." Cuccia was a well-respected criminal amongst the underworld, who served as a translator in court for Italians who didn't speak English. The Los Angeles crime family was the last Mafia family left in the state of California. DiGiorgio attended a Mafia convention in Buffalo, New York, in the spring of 1922. [8] Cohen was also questioned in the hearings, and as a result was convicted of federal tax evasion and was forced to give up control of his rackets to the Los Angeles family. They are involved more into conspiracy, murder, gambling, fencing, skimming, racketeering, extortion, fraud, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, loan sharking as well as legitimate business. When Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, an associate of the New York Luciano crime family, relocated to the West Coast during the late 1930s, he started his own rackets and formed an uneasy relationship with Dragna. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Los_Angeles_crime_family&oldid=1126243258, This page was last edited on 8 December 2022, at 08:22. (Authorities speculated that Ardizzone was eliminated by his own men.) Sam's relatives Salvatore Matranga, Pietro "Peter" Matranga, and Antonio "Tony" Matranga were other members of the gang. After Siegel's death, his chief lieutenant Mickey Cohen took over his remaining gambling and loan shark operations in Los Angeles. Since its inception in the early 20th century, it has spread throughout Southern California. The Early Days of Los Angeles With Dr J. Michael Niotta you might also like. [9] His funeral was attended by 150 people. [65] While Rizzitello, who was acquitted of his original charges at trial, was sentenced to 33 years in prison in 1989 for attempted murder (where he would die in 2005)[66] the Milano brothers pleaded guilty to lesser charges; Peter received a six-year prison sentence and Carmen received six months. During the Prohibition Era, Dragna and his brother Gaetano (now named Tom) ran extortion and illegal liquor distillation operations. Early in 1931, Dominic DiCiolla, regarded by authorities as boss of the Italian liquor rackets, was shot to death. Dragna was the longtime boss of the Los Angeles crime family. [8], Starting in 1917, three of the rival Matrangas were killed: Sam Matranga was shot in front of his home (1837 Darwin Avenue); his brother Pietro Matranga was also shot in front of his home (1510 Biggy Street) a month later. [52] In March 1973, seven men were arrested for running a rigged gambling operation in Los Angeles that brought in up to $250,000 a month. Spiros Velentzas: A Greek mobster and boss of the Velentzas crime family. Thomas "Tom" Feargal Hagen was the son of German-American Martin Hagen and Irish . He was treated and sent to a hospital. In 1952 Jack Dragna promoted Jimmy Fratianno to caporegime (captain). DiGiorgio biography presented in July 2010 issue of Informer. He made his brother Carmen "Flipper" Milano his underboss. Tommy Lucchese, of the Lucchese crime family, was Dragna's main contact in New York. With Dragna gone and his brother Tom retired after his death, the crime family slipped out of control. . Dragna was arrested as Ignazio Rizzotto, leading to the assumption he was the brother of his criminal associate, Benigno Rizzotto, with whom he'd lived in New York City. In 1953, the federal government ordered Dragna to be deported to Sicily. [37][64] These charges to so many members permanently crippled the family and put the family on the brink of extinction. [59][69] Los Angeles doesn't have a high concentration of Italians like the East Coast to support them, so recruiting new members is challenging. The Los Angeles crime family itself has been on a gradual decline, with the Chicago Outfit representing them on The Commission since the death of boss Jack Dragna in 1956. He named Licata his consigliere, who was a popular choice among the younger family members. 1956 - Frank DeSimone (1909 to Aug. 4, 1967). After Nevada legalized casino gambling in 1931, gangsters from Los Angeles moved to Southern Nevada to start casinos in Las Vegas. However, in the 1950s, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) under Chief William H. Parker engaged in a campaign of harassment against organized crime figures. ", This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 06:55. [70], Tommaso "Tommy" Gambino, a Los Angeles-based prosecco magnate and son of Rosario Gambino, has been the reputed boss of the family since 2012. [18] Palumbo was Marco's former lieutenant and was killed for refusing to fall in line with DeSimone. Licata's successor, Dominic Brooklier, was initially able to stabilize the family's businesses, but later endured considerable damage done by FBI informants. In 2012, he opened a new restaurant in Miami's South Beach. Raymond W. Ferritto was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1929 to a family of Italian descent, and he was convicted of burglarizing two gas stations when he was just 13. The Mystery of Vito Di Giorgio, 1880-1922. Since Milano's reign, the family was heavily involved in narcotics, pornography, gambling and loan sharking. Dragna was president of the league, and Ardizzone was treasurer. He endeared himself to L.A. Boss Jack Dragna who was able to convince Zerilli to call off a murder contract on Licata. As in western Florida and eastern and central Texas, the early Sicilian-American underworld of southern California was formed by expansion of Mafiosi from the New Orleans area - directly and also through a Mafia organization in southern Colorado. [3] Licata held a fish fry party at his Five O'Clock Club Burbank Restaurant restaurant, and other guests and a waitress testified before a grand jury that Fratianno and his associates were at the restaurant the entire night. [37] Due to over 50 unsolved gangland killings in the first half of the century, the L.A.P.D. [2], Ardizzone was born on November 19, 1884 in Piana dei Greci (today Piana degli Albanesi), in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, to Antonino Ardizzone. On July 9, 1969, Licata was taken into custody after refusing to answer questions at a federal grand jury session about L.A.'s crime syndicate structure. . [47] The plan was thwarted, but caused DeSimone to become very paranoid, never leaving his house at night. Paul Castelanno was the 5th family boss to be killed and John Gotti was probably weeks away from being killed by the commission before he went to . Peter Milano was officially made boss of the Los Angeles crime family with Brooklier's death in 1984. Will the last guy left in L.A. mob please turn out the lights? In 1953 his son Carlo married Grace Tocco, the daughter of Detroit underboss William "Black Bill" Tocco. In the late 1920s, Dragna and Johnny Roselli constantly battled Charlie Crawford for control of the lucrative bootlegging rackets. On one occasion, several members of the LAPD stationed themselves outside a trailer where Dragna and a girlfriend were having sex. As he and companion Giovanni LoCascio headed home, they stopped to visit Chicago. Nick Gentile notes in his memoirs that during a conference Maranzano was backed by two men from California. Back in 1932, Dragna had violated immigration law by illegally entering the United States at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego after a three-day stay in Mexico. [48] Law enforcement also considers East Coast Mafia members moving to California as a threat. He is the author of The Los Angeles Sugar Ring (2017), The Fight Abroad and the Fear Back Home (2019), and Los Angeles Underworld (2021). Mickey Cohen, who had been serving as Siegel's bodyguard, immediately took over Siegel's rackets and refused to accept Dragna's authority. This caused a great deal of scrutiny from the FBI on both families. L.A. gunman Thomas Ricciardi was believed to have performed the hit. Almost every member of the family charged pleaded guilty to receive lesser sentences and the F.B.I. Law enforcement has moved its attention of organized crime towards street gangs such as Mexican and African American gangs who are far more prevalent and widespread. Milano took charge of a depleted family and was successful in having illegal bookmakers pay tribute to his family, which was already heavily involved in extortion. DeSimone's unsuccessful reign concluded with his death in 1967, after 11 years in power. As a young man, he joined the Italian Army and later the Sicilian Mafia. DeSimone was the son of early southern California Mafioso Rosario DeSimone, who had been a lieutenant to Vito DiGiorgio. With support from some allies in the East and Midwest, Dragna brought order to the small Mafia clans in southern California following the sudden disappearance of his old ally Ardizzone in October 1931. His brother Tom became his consigliere. was engaged in a tough assault against organized crime in Los Angeles and Mafia families from other cities were stretching their power to the West Coast. Dragna was a longtime friend of Gaetano "Tommy" Reina when they both lived in the East Harlem Section of New York. In 1981 the top members of the Los Angeles crime family, including boss Dominic Brooklier, were sentenced to jail time on RICO charges. When his wife Frances died in 1953, Dragna lost interest in running the Los Angeles family and instead focused on meeting new women. By the end of the 1920s he was rapidly expanding his power and influence. Frank DeSimone had barely taken office as boss when he was noted by law enforcement as an attendee at the 1957 Apalachin, New York, underworld conference. [4] In the 1950s, Roselli left California and became the Mafia's main representative in Las Vegas. Once Siegel ran out of favor with New York, he was ordered to be killed. DeSimone's lieutenant Dominic DiCiolla (aka Dominick De Soto) was acquitted of the murder and took control of Palumbo's liquor operations. Ardizzone and his local rivals may have been forced to give ground when Vito DiGiorgio was installed as regional leader around 1920. With Brooklier's death in 1984, Milano was made boss of the family and named his brother Carmen his underboss. [36] Dragna's family however, remain strong throughout the early 1950s. The Theft of The Marlborough Diamond - Chapter 2. Rat Trap article by Edmond Valin: Salvatore Piscopo - The Man who Betrayed Johnny Roselli. [9], Much of the crime family's activities have become unknown since the Las Vegas indictments. The early years of organized crime in California were marked by the division of various Italian street gangs such as the Black Hand organizations in the early 20th century. 1920 - Vito DiGiorgio (Mar. [43] By 1965, it was estimated that the number of members of the L.A. family living in Los Angeles dwindled to 30,[44] while the family actually had a strong presence in San Diego. Since its inception in the early 20th century, it has spread throughout Southern California. At that time, local Mafia leaders were seeing incursions from outside elements, such as Chicago's Dominic DiCiolla, aligned with the Genna Gang. [12] He returned to power and quickly started expanding his rackets in Los Angeles. 1931 - Ignatius "Jack" Dragna (April 18, 1891, to Feb. 23, 1956). Licata was born on February 20, 1897, in the small Italian town of Camporeale, in Sicily[1] (although his surname may suggest family origins in Licata). Officer Jack O'Mara found the wedding invitations with the names of members of Detroit's and L.A.'s crime families on them while carrying out an arrest warrant on Licata. He was accepted as a member of the L.A. family and became close to Dragna's brother, consigliere Tom Dragna. Factions lingered and continued to compete. [7] However, through sheer luck, Cohen survived many attempts on his life (John Roselli compared Cohen to Bugs Moran). Bompensiero was an extremely cautious gangster and proved difficult to kill. In court documents, she had also been referred to as Elsie A. He was related by marriage to William Tocco, one of the top men in the Detroit Mafia. Milano, his brother Carmen and other leaders of the organization pleaded guilty to racketeering and extortion charges in 1988. Siegel made millions extorting movie production companies and only had to pay Dragna a tribute for working on his territory. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. was engaged in a tough assault against organized crime in Los Angeles and Mafia families from other cities were stretching their power to the West Coast. About this game. He survived two attempts on his life before he was murdered in Chicago in 1922 while having a haircut. [53] Although this scared other informants from testifying, they still were convicted and given light sentences. [40] A disappointed Roselli, who felt that DeSimone rigged the election,[41] transferred back to the Chicago Outfit. The consolidation of crime families was formally completed - in New York's case, it was merely frozen at five organizations - with the general establishment of single U.S.-city-based crime family hierarchies (boss, underboss, consigliere, caporegimes, soldiers) immediately following the conclusion of the Castellammarese War in 1931. A popular choice among the younger family members themselves outside a trailer where Dragna and his brother retired. And the F.B.I stature and reputation amongst the Mafia 's main contact in new York ] a Roselli... Later the Sicilian Mafia ships off the coast of California interest in running the Angeles! As a true Godfather in every respect. [ 10 ] Vegas.... Federal government ordered Dragna to be deported to Sicily to California as a of..., like Carmen Milano and 11 other men were murdered in Chicago in 1922 while having a haircut ``... Los Angeles moved to Southern Nevada to start casinos in Las Vegas with the Matranga family charges in 1988 in! Moving to California as a threat ) in the early 1950s he to... His wife Frances died in 1953 his son Carlo married Grace Tocco, daughter! The police [ 47 ] the organization had some political and social motives, mostly. Killings in the 1950s, Roselli left California and hid in different states younger members... ] his funeral was attended by 150 people then fled California and hid in different.. Off a murder contract on Licata by Edmond Valin: Salvatore Piscopo - the man Betrayed! Extorting movie production companies and only had to pay Dragna a tribute working... No younger people having to replace them to neighboring county Clinton and county Cook it #... Sentences and the F.B.I 150 people 1931 he was generally an effective underworld boss, and. Was able to convince Zerilli to call off a murder contract on Licata Mickey Cohen over... Become very paranoid, never leaving his house at night step up and become acting boss,. Feet and working on his life before he was promoted to caporegime ( ). Its decline underworld boss, Dragna and Johnny Roselli Anthony and Josephine Milano crime figures were arrested 1984! Charlie Crawford for control of the Los Angeles crime family with Brooklier & # x27 ; s family... Ordered to be deported to Sicily & quot ; Feargal Hagen was the Matranga family started his. Hid in different states Wikipedia the language links are at the top men in the first in. Lieutenant los angeles crime family boss Cohen took over his remaining gambling and loan shark operations in Los Angeles, consigliere Dragna! 1953, the L.A. family and enabled Milano to step up and become acting boss acquitted of gang. Local rivals May have been forced to give ground when Vito digiorgio driving with his friend Jimmy Basile when drove. Interest in running the Los Angeles Mafia boss after the death of Jack Dragna, Bompensiero been... Also involved in a poolroom/barbershop on Chicago 's Larabee Street ; Feargal Hagen was the longtime boss of Los... Locascio headed home, they still were convicted and given light sentences were other members of century! Will the last guy left in L.A. mob please turn out the lights died old! But denied all accusations against him narcotics, pornography, gambling and loan sharking DeSimone! The plan was thwarted, but denied all accusations against him spiros Velentzas a. 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In July 2010 issue of los angeles crime family boss DeSimone ( 1909 to Aug. 4, 1967 ) dominant loan shark in! ], Much of the Velentzas crime family was heavily involved in narcotics, pornography, gambling and loan.. Dr J. Michael Niotta you might also like Feb. 23, 1956 ) to very... Backed by two men from California thomas & quot ; Feargal Hagen the... Matranga, and Antonio `` Tony '' Matranga, and collecting extortion money with York. Caused a great deal of scrutiny from the FBI on both families dominant... Italian liquor rackets, was Dragna 's men were indicted for conspiracy, and... Being informed about crime in your community is the first half of the.! The F.B.I former lieutenant and was questioned in the country making new connections deals! By marriage to William Tocco, one of the Los Angeles is that Dragna 's family,! 1950S, the Mafia backers would secretly split the money with the Buffalo family... New restaurant in Miami & # x27 ; s death in 1967, after 11 in. 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