Because family is at the heart of the Mafia
A Morello-era gangster from Corleone gets tangled up in New Orleans and Chicago Mafia plots before making his escape. "What comes across clearly is that Morello is aggravated that Constantino is still in Bogalusa, but whether he wanted him dead or alive is unclear. He seems equally incensed about Constantino’s coordinates as his 'severely good health.'”
Yeast was of vital importance to organized crime during Prohibition, since it was an essential ingredient for the commercial production of alcohol.
The October 1921 murder of Vincent Terranova’s ally, Giuseppe “Diamond Joe” Viserte, is said to be the opening salvo in the Second Mafia War, but three other murders earlier that year were likely calculated attacks on Morello.
What Fratianno disregarded as damaging bias---nepotism---is a feature of the Mafia, not a bug.
“Black Hand” became the term of art for “Italian crime” in New York City newspapers after a 1903 Brooklyn case of extortion.
Giovanni Pecoraro seemed to know everyone Morello knew, and was a suspect in the most notorious Mafia conspiracy of his age. So why haven’t we heard of him?
For years, I assumed Lucia Terranova’s first marriage ended with her husband's murder in 1903. Then I saw this census record.
Francesco Genova appeared to be an Italian gentleman, the sort the American press found charming and Sicilians rightly regarded as dangerous to cross.
In 1902 in New Orleans, Tony Luciano and his family fought a battle to the death against Francesco Genova and his allies. Following months of deadly conflict---called the Macaroni Wars---and two murder trials, Sam Sparo penetrated Luciano’s defenses and killed him in broad daylight. After his execution for murder, it was revealed that Sparo was an alias. Who was Sam Sparo?
New Orleans Mafia boss Francesco Genova attempted to take over a macaroni factory in Donaldsonville, in northeastern Louisiana. The legitimate owners, Antonio and Salvadore Luciano, fought back, but were unlucky enough to miss....
Mafia Genealogy 