UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE When you register, youll get unlimited access to our website and a free subscription to our email newsletter for daily updates with a smart, Catholic take on faith and culture from. Her investigation led her to the streets, where she often went undercover to get an insiders view into the criminal underground. people, women and others in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Cupich: Critics of Pope Francis Latin Mass restrictions should listen to JPII. Jesuit Father Hans Zollner will be a consultant for the Diocese of Romes office dedicated to safeguarding minors and vulnerable people. Whether or not this incident truly happened as The Irishman recounts an attempted burning of a laundry, followed by a murder well probably never know. With the violence and armaments necessary to defend a drug market, the K&A Gang became more appropriately known as the Northeast Philly Irish Mafia. While most of their work was around the Philadelphia area, they ventured out from their turf since the group's inception. According to David R. Johnson in The Peoples of Philadelphia, The Public Ledger reported on the doings of no less than 51 gangs. David Criniti who was involved in the operation soon testified against the defendants, dealing a blow to the K&A Gang. They also began official ties with the Irish Republican Army, funneling cash and arms in both directions. He claimed to have killed Teamster frontman Jimmy Hoffa, but that has never been proven. Updated on Nov 27, 2019, 3:13 p.m. Hugh "Hughie" Breslin - Member of the burglary crew - deceased. Their founder and leader, John Morrissey, was politically active; he was a Democratic State Senator and member of the U.S House of Representatives who advocated on behalf of Irish-Catholic Americans. Originating in Irish American street gangs of the 19th centurydepicted in Herbert Asbury's 1928 book The Gangs of New Yorkthe Irish Mob has appeared in most major American cities, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago and New Orleans. Rich. The owner and chef is Steve Martorano, nephew of alleged mobster and Philadelphia native Raymond "Long John" Martorano. According to a 1950 U.S. Congress investigation into. The diminutive "wet work" specialist was bumped off . Although they had quite a large membership (close to 50 people) many of these would end up dead or imprisoned after going head to head with the Winter Hill Gang. They were caught in a February 1981 government sting called Operation Gangplank by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia. Northeast remains heavily working class. [13], Along with Carl Jackson and Frank "The Beard" Zappacosta, 22 affiliates of the K&A meth ring were indicted under federal drug manufacturing charges related to an operation that authorities believe produced roughly ten million dollars worth of speed in hidden labs across the Pennsylvania area. James "Jimmy" Laverty - Member of the burglary ring. The Irish Mob is one of the oldest organized crime groups in the United States, in existence since the early 19th century. Lillian "Tiger Lil" Reis and Her good friend Vickie were well-known nightclub entrepreneurs and former showgirls who had ties to the gangsters. Springsteen: "Well they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night/ They blew up his house too.". If youre already a subscriber or donor, thank you! 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Once upon a time, Mr. Merlino was known as the John Gotti of Passyunk Avenue, for his debonair appearance and public braggadocio. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article and/or references showing the person is Irish American and a mobster . Their relationships with various other groups and mobsters gave them insider information that allowed them to hijack deliveries and rise to the top of the bootlegging business. William Stearn - Former Roofers' Union Local 30 president & member of the Stocker meth ring. We can't do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers. In the 1960s, a new generation of Irish-American mobsters emerged on the scene in the Hells Kitchen borough of New York City. Here are the gangs, the Philadelphia 65, listed in alphabetical order: Over 20 people were killed, and close to 100 arrested during the subsequent war. Rate. Heres what to watch for. They also partook in illegal street fighting and bank robberies. With the emergence of a new type of gang violence, stemming from members of the IRA and Saor Eire working together, the rise of crime was significant. The economy was in the tank, and people were once again desperate. ", "Long John Lead - Was Ray Martorano's shooting a message? Of the 46, only Mr. Merlino and one other defendant refused deals. While the Irish mob has seen a decrease in power over the years, they are still very much involved in the countrys illegal drug trafficking activities, particularly in the New England area. Whispers instructs him to burn down the Cadillac Linen Service in Delaware, a competitor to the laundry company that Whispers owns in Atlantic City. Goodfellas (1990) R | 145 min | Biography, Crime, Drama. Samuel Cappy Hoffman, meanwhile, was called the vice king of Atlantic City. The White Hand Gang emerged in Brooklyn in the early 1900s was response to a growing Italian mafia presence. The name K&A is derived from Kensington and Allegheny, the road intersection where the gang originally formed.[2]. There are some who feel they ought to make an example out of some group. Check out some of the. After it became clear that the government evidence was tainted by F.B.I. Ronald Raiton, a notable criminal figure in the methamphetamine trade, testified that Berkery had bought 200 gallons of P2P from Raiton over the course of a year in 19801981. Brown, aka Dom14, age 41; Joseph Servidio, aka Joey Electric, age 60; Salvatore Mazzone, aka Sonny, age 55; Joseph Malone, age 70; Louis Barretta, aka Louie Sheep, age 56; Victor DeLuca, aka Big Vic, age 56; Kenneth Arabia, aka Kenny, age 67; Daniel Castelli, aka Danny, aka Cozzy, aka Butch, aka Harry, age 67; Carl Chianese, age 81; Anthony Gifoli, aka Tony Meatballs, age 73; John Romeo, age 58; Daniel Malatesta, age 75; Daniel Bucceroni, age 66; and John Michael Payne, age 34. Joey Merlino, the former Philadelphia mobster, denied any and all involvement in a conspiracy floated about his supposed involvement in ballot fraud in Pennsylvania. In 1983, Philadelphia garnered a reputation as the "meth capital of the world", according to a statement published by the Associated Press, from a local police officer. With very poorly organized leadership, the White Hand Gang was no match for the Italians, and slowly, the gang disbanded. By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org. In real life, the Philadelphia Mafia kingpin was known as "the Gentle Don," and took on the surname Bruno as a tribute to Philly gangster Giuseppe "Joe Bruno" Dovi. PHILADELPHIA United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that a Superseding Indictment was unsealed today against 15 defendants, including alleged members and associates of the South Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey-based criminal organization La Cosa Nostra (LCN), known as the mafia or the mob. The Superseding Indictment charges various crimes including racketeering conspiracy, illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and drug trafficking. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Robbery, murder, and arson were common offences. The Superseding Indictment goes on to describe the various acts allegedly committed by the defendants and others as members of the group, including the distribution of heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and oxycodone pills; the disbursement and collection of tens of thousands of dollars of unlawful bookmaking and other debts owed to the group at interest rates as high as 400%; and even an alleged conspiracy to kidnap or murder a drug dealer in order to protect the reputation of the Philadelphia LCN after the dealer sold members of the group fake drugs. Getting involved with a fellow members girlfriend, wife or daughter is also one of the biggest offenses within the gang. In many American cities, but primarily in Chicago, the Irish were producing and distributing booze illegally. Not according to friends and relatives in South Philadelphia, who see him and his associates as something else: the adult versions of the corner boys who grew up with them in the tight-knit Italian-American Catholic neighborhoods of South Philly, locals who made their first holy Communion at St. Pauls or St. Monicas or Epiphany of Our Lord, where the boys went to St. John Neumann and the girls to St. Maria Goretti, two Catholic high schools that combined into a single school in 2004. The old standbys are once more coming into fashion, as sports gambling, racketeering, loansharking, and burglary once more form the meat of the mob's income. As the unwritten rules point out, this is a huge no-no within your own gang, and almost a guaranteed death sentence if the woman in question is part of a rival gang. From Bulger to Spillane, check out this list of infamous Irish mob members ordered from earliest to most recent, and learn how these mob kings rose to infamy. Like any criminal gang, the Irish mafia operate under a set of unwritten rules. By 1925, there was nothing left of the gang, and the Italian mafia took full control of the NYC limits. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ortiz of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Alexander Gottfried of the Department of Justice Criminal Division, Organized Crime and Gang Section. Philadelphia Teamsters Local 107 was considered one of the most corrupt and violent locals in the country. read more Mickey Duffy Philadelphia's Prohibition Era Boss Michael "Mickey" Duffy also known as John Murphy and George McEwen, was a Polish-American mobster and rival of Maxie. Their main activities were rigging horse races and shipping illegal weapons overseas to the IRA. [16], In the early 2000s, the Traitz brothers, who were connected to the K&A Gang through the Roofers' Union - Local 30 were indicted for the murder of Robert Hammond. But Weisman may actually have been named Max Willie Weisberg. It's changed the complexion of the neighborhoods, and to some extent their character, but not their essence. (Netflix). In fact, many Irish-American gangsters chose to ally themselves with the Italians, and acted as racketeers, bootleggers and hitmen for the Italian mob. Michael was prominent from the 1920s until his death in 1959. A mobster since the Prohibition era, Riccobene was finally brought to justice when he was convicted of a murder during the internal Philadelphia mafia conflict of the early 1980s. Roofers Union affiliate. Then, have a look at these grisly photos of the mafia in the 1980s. Marginals, also called the "Paddy Irish" gang, was a New York street gang during the early 1900s. They are also said to have ties to the Irish Republican Army and the larger Irish republican movement. Civil Society/Crime/Theme/Northeast Philly Irish Mob, http://www.fromdusktilljawn.com/w/index.php?title=Civil_Society/Crime/Theme/Northeast_Philly_Irish_Mob&oldid=2610, Skills: Brawl, Firearms, Weaponry, Subterfuge, Intimidation, Merits: Barfly, Fixer, Contacts (Philly Greek Mob), Allies (Philly Greek Mob). Later served as a mentor for Jimmy Coonan and other members of the Westies. A favored target was the wealthy residential Jewish suburbs, which would be the livelihood of the group for many years. The USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey learned the state remains a hunting ground for mobsters tied to Philadelphia and New York City. [9] It is widely held that this was made possible due to the K&A Gang, and the Junior Black Mafia, among others.[10]. This page was last edited on 18 March 2020, at 20:08. There were 26 families during the mob's heyday in the 1950s, stretching from Boston, Providence, Buffalo, and Philadelphia through Al Capone's Chicago outfit to Hollywood and "Bugsy" Siegel's. Updated. What we do know: Jewish mobsters certainly existed. Between 1981 and 1986, he allegedly produced and distributed methamphetamine, commonly known as speed, and also allegedly took part in extortion, loan-sharking and burglary. Paul A. Tenkotte and James C. Claypool (2009) The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky. Well-known Dublin criminal John Traynor was one of her subjects, and she intended to publish a book about his involvement in the Irish mob. An official website of the United States government. 13 Places Mobsters Got Whacked. In 1981, the New York Times reported that Philip C. Testa, the new head of organized crime in Philadelphia, was killed at age 56. The K&A Gang, currently known as the Northeast Philly Irish Mob, is a predominantly Irish American criminal network based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The K&A Gang was started following World War II and controlled the city's Irish-American criminal underworld for much of the late 20th century. Or the Warlocks. Mob history tells of two famous occurrences in now-famous locales. The truth is, viewers love a good mafia film and the Italian mobsters are not the only ones with a voice! Whitey Bulger is now 88 years old and serving out two life sentences, but the gang continues to operate in the Boston area under different leadership. For many of the Irish in Northeast Philadelphia, the appeal of organized crime far exceeded the monotony of wage slavery and eight hours on some shop floor. Adapt or die. Philadelphias violence and corruption are more likely to come these days from Russian, Chinese and African-American organized crime groupsas well as from the drug world. The Irish mob is the oldest organized criminal gang in the history of the United States. When the Dunne family were killed off and incarcerated, a second drug kingpin, by the name of John Gilligan, took center stage. One such case was Frank The Irishman Sheeran, a WWII veteran who returned to Philadelphia and took on some extracurricular work. Street Soldier; My Life as an Enforcer for "Whitey" Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob by Edward MacKenzie and Phyllis Karas, Steerforth, 256 pp.. Schatzberg, Rufus, Robert J.Kelly and Ko-lin Chin, ed. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Fifteen Members and Associates of the Philadelphia Mafia Indicted on Federal Racketeering and Related Charges, Eastern District of Pennsylvanias U.S. Attorneys Office Hosts Presentation on Autism-Based Discrimination in Schools, Camps, and Childcare Facilities, One Leader of a Violent Sex Trafficking Gang Sentenced to Life and a Consecutive Ten Years Imprisonment, and a Gang Associate Sentenced to 37 years Imprisonment, Chester County Doctor Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Operating Pill Mill Out of Main Line Pain Clinic, Fifteen Members and Associates of The Philadelphia Mafia Indicted On Federal Racketeering and Related Charges. Yet it boasts a vibrant nightlife scene, and has strong present-day connections to the last remaining elements of the mafia. They are a tight group and thats why the only info you have on the group is the top guys name. With their roots dating back to the 19th Century, chapters are in operation all over the continental United States, with huge presences in New York City, Boston, and Chicago. (As a character in The Sopranos says, At this point in our cultural history, mob movies are classic American cinema, like Westerns.) And so it was sort of fun to rub shoulders with guys who fulfilled all the stereotypes: the wet look hair, the distinctive South Philly accent (which not a single character in "The Irishman" even attempted to imitate; the only one who sounded slightly like he was from Philly was America's own James Martin, S.J., who played a parish priest and actually grew up in the area), the three-quarter-length car coats, the braggadocio, the whiff of violence. During a roughly 50 year period starting in 1836, almost 70 gangs were in operations along the waterfront. When a television reporter asked Mr. Merlino about rumors that the incarcerated Mr. Scarfo had put a $500,000 bounty on his head, he smiled and quipped, Give me the half-million dollars, and Ill shoot myself. Mr. Merlino was later wounded in a drive-by shooting by apparent rivals on a South Philadelphia street corner in 1993, an incident in which his close friend Michael Mikey Chang Ciancaglini was killed. The Irish Mob is still active in Philly. No news on what the actual Irish mobsters think of this! George Holmes alleges that a showgirl named Lillian Reis and Vickie Mason(AKA, Viola Lorenzo) gave the gang the tip they needed to pilfer $478,000 in cash and jewelry from the home of John B. The only members who survived the war were the ones who had been imprisoned at the time, and these were generally able to side with the Winter Hill Gang once released. 9 Places Where Mobsters Were Whacked P. 200. 1. In the 1931 film "The Public Enemy," Jimmy Cagney's character was based on O'Banion. That was almost two years ago, when I spent a week researching and writing a story on Mr. Merlinos trial on racketeering and gambling charges. They branched into typical organized crime activities; loansharking, racketeering, illegal gambling, and so on. Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago were some of the major cities they operated in. The defendants charged in the seven-count Superseding Indictment are Steven Mazzone, aka Stevie, age 56; Domenic Grande, aka Dom, aka Mr. Nowadays, Limerick is controlled by Keane-Collopy and McCarthy-Dundon on different sides of town, though their involvement in crime has significantly lowered. Mr. Merlino himself until recently had two daughters enrolled at a private Catholic university, and he counts among his close friends several Philadelphia-area priests. [citation needed], Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 04:25, History of the Irish Americans in Philadelphia, "Pole-Vaulting - Another group of Eastern-European gunsels makes its mark", "Tale of the notorious Phila. This Thing of Ours. It is a phrase I am convinced is only used by mobsters and Jesuits. Mr. Merlinos prominent public profile in Philadelphia before his long prison sentence and his alleged return to crime since his release have reportedly once again made him the prime target of F.B.I. Powerful ties to the Montreal Italian mafia, as well as motorcycle gang the Hells Angels, and other street gangs have kept them well-protected from legal consequences. Rob "Juvie" Stewart - Member of the notorious DZP/Local 666 gang. Or of 1983? After this ceremony, these men (who must be of 100% Italian ancestry) are then referred to as made members of the LCN. From Chicago to Boston to Philadelphia, Irish mobsters have controlled everything from bootlegging (during Prohibition years) to horse racing, and everything in between. All rights reserved amorq.com@gmail.com, This is a web-site of incredible adventures and colorful views from all over the World. He was well-known for his anti-authority stance; he killed police officers point blank, and escaped from prison on more than one occasion. He was sentenced to death the only mob boss to receive the death penalty and executed in 1944. The author appears in the center background of the photo(AP Photo/Kathy Willens). This is a list of Irish-American mobsters which includes organized crime figures of predominantly Irish-American criminal organizations or individual mobsters from the early 1900s to the present. (JTA) The Irishman, Martin Scorseses latest organized crime epic, became streamable on Netflix this week. This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 04:25. This is a retired contemporary of Sheeran's, a fellow Irishman from Philadelphia named John Carlyle Berkery, who allegedly headed the city's Irish mob for 20 years and had many close mafia . On orders from the man the news media miscast as the "Docile Don," Natale shot Irish mobsters George Feeney and Joey McGreal to death in 1970 and 1973, respectively. It worked. wire to detail his criminal activities, stated under oath his reason for testifying against Mr. Merlino was a desire to avoid prison time. James Hope was born in Philadelphia to Irish parents in 1836, the family were poor and Jimmy took a job as a machinist. Irish immigration is a thing of the past, and the community will only dilute further with time, and the time to build the foundation for a new future for the organization is now. From Chicago to Boston to Philadelphia, Irish mobsters have controlled everything from bootlegging (during Prohibition years) to horse racing, and everything in between. Testa was assassinated on March 15, 1981. Many of the traditional criminal enterprises with which Mr. Merlino and his South Philly associates have been charged over the years now have their counterparts in the legitimate world. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. * Meyer Lansky (born Meier Suchowlaski in Poland) ran a wide gambling network and helped develop the National Crime Syndicate. . You can act like a boy scout. 20 Mobsters With The Weirdest Nicknames. Dean Heiser - Member of the burglary ring. The biggest concentration is within America, and is predominantly made up of Irish descendants whose ancestors migrated to the United States pre and post-Prohibition era. K&A member and crew chief. More than a dozen members of alleged members and associates of the south Philadelphia and southern New Jersey organized crime family are looking at federal racketeering and other related charges . He lived in Philadelphia from 1996 to 1999. Daniel 45 books From Bulger to Spillane, check out this list of infamous Irish mob members ordered from earliest to most recent, and learn how these mob kings rose to infamy. Louis "Junior" Kripplebauer - K&A crew leader, (circa 19801982) - Frank "The Beard" Zappacosta and John Berkery -. The West End Gang is one of the most influential, albeit small, criminal gangs in Canada. Mr. Jacobs has argued in previous court cases that 1980s-style racketeering in South Philly is largely defunct and that Mr. Merlino and his associates are hardly the violent criminals they are made out to be in government prosecutions. The nicknames of Mr. Merlinos alleged associatesare straight out of central casting: Beeps, Horsehead, Snitch, Scoops, Chickie, Mousie, Penknife, Windows, Handsome Stevie,Baby Dom, Uncle Joe and many more. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 The third and fourth most famous Irish mobsters have a direct connection with Al Capone. According to a 1950 U.S. Congress investigation into organized crime in interstate commerce, Hoffman and Weisberg were Strombergs first and second in command. Team Israel is playing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Boston mobster and son of mobster Arthur Doe, Sr. Hell's Kitchen, New York mobster and high-ranked member of the, New York mobster and enforcer for labor racketeer Joe Ryan, New York mobster involved in bootlegging during Prohibition, Chicago labor racketeer associated with the North Side Gang, New York mobster and member of the Westies.