The father of two notorious gangsters from West Springfield, Massachusetts, was a co-founder of the Monte Carlo Cafe, and a prolific Prohibition-era bootlegger.
The bootlegging Pugliano family of West Springfield, Massachusetts
Sugar House Blues
The DiGiovanni brothers of Kansas City, MO got their introduction to the black market in sugar before Prohibition began.
Upcoming Pasqualina book event at Forbes
Join me at Forbes Library (Northampton, MA) on January 15, 2026 6:30-7:30 PM for an author event celebrating Pasqualina.
The Passantino brothers of Kansas City
One of the best-known Italian families in the North Side of Kansas City were the Passantino brothers, who owned a large funeral home on Independence Blvd. The eldest of the brothers was Rosario “Rosie” Passantino. Rosie was a security bondsman with a near-monopoly on bail bonds in Kansas City. Dead or alive, you could count on the Passantino brothers to take care of you.
The Santaniellos of Massachusetts
Anthony "The Old Man" Santaniello of Boston and Albert "Leo" Santaniello of the North Shore are not brothers, but the truth about the Santaniello gangsters in Massachusetts who are close kin is a lot more interesting.
When heritage strikes: Italian-American Heritage Month 2025
I don’t think evildoers are punished after they die, but the trauma they inflict lives after them, and not only in their victims.
The Colacurcio brothers of Seattle
The Colacurcio enterprises operated independently of any other organized crime interest, and relied heavily on corruption for their entry into new territories.
The contract murder of Sam Degelia, Jr.
The father of the famous and talented Hollywood actor, Woody Harrelson, was a hit man charged in three Texas murders-for-hire.
Yeast baron Antonio Cecala
Yeast was of vital importance to organized crime during Prohibition, since it was an essential ingredient for the commercial production of alcohol.
When was Tommy Reina born?
New York City Mafia boss Gaetano "Tommy" Reina was born in Corleone in 1888, the son of an unwed mother. Originally, he wasn’t named Gaetano Reina....
Mafia Genealogy 