Gangland Wire

19/08/2024

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. In this episode, I start with FBI agent

14/08/2024

In the shadowy underworld of crime, a figure emerged with a twisted hand resembling a claw, Giuseppe "the Clutch Hand" Morello, a name that struck fear into the hearts of many. Born on May 2, 1867, in the rugged streets of Corleone, Sicily, this enigmatic crime boss's life was marked by brutality and intrigue.
As a young man, Morello led the 107th Street Mob, a gang that would eventually morph into the notorious Morello crime family, now known as the Genovese crime family, the oldest of the Five Families in the sprawling empire of New York City. His early years were intertwined with the Corleone Mafia, Thanks to his mother's remarriage to Bernardo Terranova, a member of the local Mafia group.
Giuseppe's journey to the United States is shrouded in mystery, leaving behind a trail of suspicion and counterfeiting accusations. Nonetheless, he crossed the Atlantic, and in 1893, his family followed, establishing roots in the bustling streets of New York City.
The Clutch Hand dabbled in various ventures, from failed saloons to a date factory, but his most notorious acquisition was a Manhattan saloon on Prince Street, a place where the dark dealings of his criminal empire took shape. His sister married the notorious Ignazio “the Wolf” Lupo, the feared Mafia boss of Little Italy.
The Morello crime family was built on a foundation of bloodshed, and the barrel murder system became their grim signature, with bodies dismembered and dumped in wooden barrels. Their illicit businesses included extortion, loan sharking, robbery, and counterfeiting, which allowed them to launder their ill-gotten gains through legitimate enterprises.
Two of Morello's protégés, Giuseppe Masseria and Salvatore D'Aquila, rose through the ranks, becoming prominent figures in the New York underworld. By 1905, Morello had cemented his position as the capo di tutti capi, the boss of bosses, as recognized by Mafia leaders across the United States.
However, the wheels of fate turned against him when he was convicted of counterfeiting in 1910 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. His youngest half-brother, Nicolo Terranova, briefly assumed control until his demise in the Mafia–Camorra War.
Morello's return to power in 1920 marked a turbulent period, as he clashed with his former captain turned Mafia boss, Salvatore D'Aquila. These power struggles forced Morello and his allies to flee to Sicily, sparking a war that would redefine the balance of power within the Mafia.
When the Castellammarese War erupted in 1930, Morello was embroiled in a battle against a rival faction led by Salvatore Maranzano and Joseph Bonanno. Morello's expertise in orchestrating death made him Masseria's strategic adviser and "war chief." Yet, his fate took a dark turn when he was gunned down alongside his associate Joseph Perriano, on August 15, 1930, while collecting cash receipts in his East Harlem office.
This gruesome end to Morello's reign of terror was orchestrated by a Castellammarese gunman known as "Buster from Chicago." Some claim that Lucky Luciano orchestrated his murder. Joe Valachi will testify that the man who killed Morello was this “Buster” from Chicago. The ruthless saga of Giuseppe "the Clutch Hand" Morello had reached its chilling conclusion, leaving behind a legacy of crime, violence, and treacherous alliances that would continue to haunt the dark annals of organized crime.

12/08/2024

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. Larry McShane joins the podcast to discu

08/08/2024

Watch for information on the upcoming Mafia Film Festival in December 2024.

07/08/2024

Kansas city Mafia Film Fest Dec. 5-8 Glenwood Arts Theater.

05/08/2024

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. The Kansas City Mafia enforces their rul

02/08/2024

Check out the trailer for the KC Mafia Film Festival coming December 5-8, 2024, at the Glenwood Arts Theater.

31/07/2024

KC Mafia Festival is returning this Fall.

31/07/2024

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. In this episode of Gangland Wire, I sp

22/07/2024

I just released an interview with the author and screenplay writer of Mafia Spies. I started watching it and it’s pretty good. This guy really did his research.

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. Imm...

17/07/2024

Big shout out to my greatest fan!💎

Casey Robert McBride

13/07/2024

The first Boss to testify. He was avoiding a possible death penalty. Joe Massino came up through the ranks of the Bonanno Family.

11/07/2024

In this episode, Gary Jenkins, a retired Kansas City police detective, discusses the life of Jimmy "Ice Pick" Inendino, a prominent figure in the Chicago Outfit

05/07/2024

Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Kingpin of Florida and Cuba
He was born into a dynasty of crime, the son of a Sicilian mob boss who ruled over Florida and Cuba. He inherited his father's empire in 1954 and expanded it with ruthless efficiency. He was Santo Trafficante Jr., one of the most powerful Mafia bosses in the Southern United States.
He had connections to the Bonanno family in New York, but his closest ally was Sam Giancana in Chicago2. He dominated the underworld of Florida for most of the 20th century, but he never had complete control over the East Coast, where other New York families had their interests. He worked with Meyer Lansky in Cuba and was close to New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello.
Trafficante maintained a close relationship with well-known mob lawyer Frank Ragano. He introduced Ragan to Jimmy Hoffa, who hired him immediately.
He was involved in a secret war against Fidel Castro, who had seized his lucrative casinos and kicked him out of Cuba. He worked with the CIA to try to kill the communist leader, but he also faced accusations that he knew about a plot to kill President John F. Kennedy. He denied everything, but he was never free from suspicion. His lawyer, Frank Ragano, claimed in his book Mob Lawyer that he admitted he was part of a plot to assassinate JFK.

He was arrested many times, but he always escaped conviction. He was a master of evasion and deception. He died in 1987 after undergoing heart surgery. He left behind a legacy of crime and mystery. He was Santo Trafficante Jr., the kingpin of Florida and Cuba.

03/07/2024

"Philip “Rusty” Rastelli was born on January 31, 1918, and lived to be 71 years old. He was a ruthless mobster and would rise to be the elusive boss of the Bonanno crime family; he spent most of his reign behind bars but still managed to pull the strings of his empire.
Rusty Rastelli was born and raised in Maspeth, Queens, a tough neighborhood where he learned to survive and thrive. He had three brothers (Carmine, Marinello, and Augustus) and two sisters (Justina Devita and Antonette Brigandi), who all followed him into the underworld.
Rastelli had a legitimate front as a lunch wagon owner. After moving to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, he befriended and became loyal to some of the most powerful figures in the Bonanno family, such as Dominick “Sonny Black” Napolitano, Carmine Galante, Joseph Bonanno, and Joseph Massino.
On December 3, 1953, Rastelli and an associate allegedly shot Michael Russo in Queens but failed to finish him. Rastelli went on the run, fearing that Russo would identify him to the authorities. Rastelli's wife, Connie, tried to silence Russo by offering his wife, Rose, $5,000. Rose refused, and in December 1954, gunmen shot and killed Russo on the streets of Brooklyn. Michael Russo’s murder will remain unsolved. In an unusual twist, Mr. Rastelli's wife, Connie, disappeared in 1962, and authorities believe she was murdered. They believed that because she had learned of her husband’s extramarital activities, she became a Federal informer in revenge. Nobody ever found her body.
In 1969, after several years of internecine wars and the disappearance of Joe Bonanno, the Commission appointed a three-man panel to run the Bonanno family, which had been plagued by internal strife and violence. The Commission later appointed Phil Rastelli as the new boss in 1974.
Rastelli was indicted on racketeering charges involving extortion in 1975. This resulted from his control of a trade association of lunch wagon operators. In 1976, Rastelli was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Carmine Galante challenged Rastelli’s authority and ability to remain boss while imprisoned. Galante was a ruthless capo with close ties to the Sicilian Mafia. Galante was most known for importing fresh faces from Sicily that became known as Zips.
Rastelli was in Lewisburg Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, and he maintained contact with his loyalists in the Bonanno family through mobsters Dominick “Sonny Black” Napolitano and Joseph Massino. While Rastelli was in prison, Galante took over the Bonannos as de facto boss. He flaunted his power and wealth by surrounding himself with bodyguards from Sicily and openly dealing drugs. Galante's greed and arrogance alarmed the other New York crime families. Genovese crime family boss Frank Tieri began plotting to eliminate Galante with the approval of other Cosa Nostra leaders, including the retired Joseph Bonanno. In 1979, Rastelli and Massino saw the opportunity and asked for permission from the Commission to kill Galante. These two monsters orchestrated the most dangerous hit of a boss in recent times. The photo of a dead Carmine Galante with his cigar clenched in his teeth has become iconic.
Rastelli was now the undisputed boss, ruling his empire behind bars through his loyal acting bosses, such as the veteran Bonanno mobster Salvatore “Sally Fruits” Ferrugia. But Rastelli’s reign was not secure, as he faced a power struggle between his two most trusted capos, Joseph Massino and Dominick “Sonny Black” Napolitano. Both men were also threatened by a rival faction that wanted to overthrow Rastelli and take over the family, led by capos Alphonse “Sonny Red” Indelicato, Dominick “Big Trin” Trincera, and Philip Giaccone. The Commission tried to stay neutral, but in 1981, Massino learned from his spies that the three capos were arming themselves and plotting to kill the Rastelli loyalists. On May 5, 1981, Rastelli approved a plan to lure these three capos to a meeting. They went unarmed, thinking this was a typical Mob sit-down. Messino recruited his brother-in-law Sal Vitale, Vito Rizzuto or Montreal, and others to spring this ambush and murder the three Capos.
Rastelli was arrested again on August 16, 1984, for violating his parole by associating with criminals. In 1985, Rastelli was indicted along with other Mafia leaders in the infamous Mafia Commission Trial. However, he was spared from the trial because he had been kicked off the Commission due to the infiltration of FBI agent Donnie Brasco into his family. The government had other cases on Rastelli, and a judge gave him long prison sentences for other racketeering activities.
The Department of Corrections granted Rastelli a compassionate release from the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Springfield, Missouri, and shortly after, on June 24, 1991, Rastelli died at New York–Presbyterian Queens in Flushing, Queens from liver cancer at age 73. Joe Massino took over to become the boss of the Bonanno Crime Family.

01/07/2024

A new podcast called Everything Gotti.

This series contains all my interviews and shows about the Gambino mobster that rose from associate to boss with the help of a gun, John Gotti

21/06/2024

My friend, Dan Flanigan's new book. He uses the Satanic Panic situation is part of the plot.

12/06/2024

https://www.youtube.com/
Check out my you tube channel.

This channel serves to hold videos created from my True Crime Podcast, Gangland Wire, and from my documentary films. My website is www.ganglandwire.com. My f...

09/06/2024

Fat Tony Salerno, not really the boss. Served as a front for Gigante.

08/06/2024

Uncovering the Intriguing Tale of Nick Civella's Mole in the Tropicana.

🔍Meet Joe Agosto, a mysterious figure entangled in the web of organized crime. While Immigration claims he hailed from Sicily, Agosto spun tales of a childhood spent in a Cleveland brothel before being sent back to Sicily. Despite numerous deportation attempts, Agosto secured citizenship in 1978, cementing his place in American history. In the 1940s, Agosto briefly resided in Kansas City, where speculation swirls about his acquaintance with Nick Civella.
Fast forward to 1973, and Civella recruited Agosto for a mob scheme involving the Teamsters Union. Despite an upfront payment of $75,000, the plan floundered, but Agosto remained loyal to Civella. Venturing to Las Vegas under Civella's wing, Agosto embarked on a grand scheme to build a hotel and casino with Teamsters' funds. With the backing of Civella and oversight from KC Underboss Carl "Tuffy" DeLuna, Agosto secured a new Teamsters deal and even acquired the rights to the renowned Folies Bergere show. But Agosto's ambitions didn't stop there. With Civella's guidance, he orchestrated a scheme to skim cash from casino earnings, discreetly employing trusted cohorts to siphon funds. Yet, even in the underworld, trust proved fleeting as Civella ordered a moratorium on skimming, testing the loyalty of his associates. As the scheme unfolded, Civella orchestrated the Tropicana skim operation, ensuring Kansas City retained its spoils while sharing the Stardust earnings with partners in Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee.
Despite his prowess, Civella couldn't shake a sense of obligation to Chicago's Underboss, Joseph "Joey Doves" Aiuppa, directing a portion of the Tropicana skim to appease his counterparts. Delve deeper into this captivating tale of crime and betrayal in the film Gangland Wire, where Agosto offers intricate insights into the underworld machinations that captivated Las Vegas and beyond. Join us on this journey through the shadows of history, where truth proves stranger than fiction.

06/06/2024

Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Kingpin of Florida and Cuba
He was born into a dynasty of crime, the son of a Sicilian mob boss who ruled over Florida and Cuba. He inherited his father’s empire in 1954 and expanded it ruthlessly. He was Santo Trafficante Jr., one of the most powerful Mafia bosses in the Southern United States.
He had connections to the Bonanno family in New York, but his closest ally was Sam Giancana in Chicago. He dominated the underworld of Florida for most of the 20th century, but he never had complete control over the East Coast, where other New York families had their interests. He worked with Meyer Lansky in Cuba and was close to New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello.
Trafficante maintained a close relationship with well-known mob lawyer Frank Ragano. He introduced Ragan to Jimmy Hoffa, who hired him immediately.
He was involved in a secret war against Fidel Castro, who had seized his lucrative casinos and kicked him out of Cuba. He worked with the CIA to try to kill the communist leader, but he also faced accusations that he knew about a plot to kill President John F. Kennedy. He denied everything, but he was never free from suspicion. Frank Ragano claimed in his book Mob Lawyer that Trafficante admitted he was part of a plot to assassinate JFK.
He was arrested many times, but he always escaped conviction. He was a master of evasion and deception. He died in 1987 after undergoing heart surgery. He left behind a legacy of crime and mystery. He was Santo Trafficante Jr., the kingpin of Florida and Cuba.

27/05/2024

Vito Rizzuto Canadian Teflon Don
Born into a bloodline of Sicilian Mafiosi, Vito Rizzuto (1946-2013) rose to become the undisputed kingpin of the Canadian underworld, known as “Montreal’s Teflon Don.” He was feared and respected by friends and foes alike.
Rizzuto’s saga began in Cattolica Eraclea, a small town in Sicily, where he was born on February 21, 1946. He was the firstborn son of Nicolo Rizzuto, a young man who had married into the local Mafia clan of Antonio Manno, his father-in-law. When Vito was eight, his family left their homeland and sailed to Canada, landing at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They settled in Montreal, Quebec, where they joined the ranks of the Cotroni crime family, the dominant force in the city’s underworld.

Vito learned the ropes of the Mafia business early and soon proved himself a loyal and capable soldier. He married Giovanna Cammalleri, the daughter of another Sicilian mobster, on November 26, 1966, and had three children with her: Nicolo Jr., Leonardo, and Libertina.
In 1981, Vito took part in one of the most notorious hits in Mafia history: the murder of three capos of the Bonanno crime family in New York City. The hit was ordered by Joe Massino, the boss of the Bonannos, who wanted to eliminate his rivals and consolidate his power. Vito was one of the six gunmen who shot dead Alphonse Indelicato, Philip Giaccone, and Dominick Trinchera. The hit was a success for Massino but also marked Vito as a wanted man by the US authorities.
For over two decades, Vito managed to evade justice and continue his criminal activities in Canada. He became the leader of the Rizzuto crime family after his father orchestrated a bloody coup against the Cotronis in the late 1970s. He expanded his influence and wealth by forging alliances with other crime groups, such as the Hells Angels, the Irish West End Gang, and the Colombian cartels. He also maintained good relations with his counterparts in Italy and New York.
Vito’s luck ran out when a Brooklyn federal grand jury indicted him for his role in the 1981 triple murder in 2004. He was extradited to the United States in 2006 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering charges in 2007. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison but was released in late 2012. While he was incarcerated in the United States, the long run of success ran out for Vito Rizzuto. While Vito was behind bars, his empire crumbled under a violent onslaught from his enemies.
Vito’s son, Nicolo Rizzuto, was shot and killed in 2009. His sister, Maria, was married to Rizzuto’s Consigliere Paolo Renda, and she went missing in May 2010. Later, in November of 2010, a sniper murdered Vito’s father, Nicolo Rizzuto.
Vito returned to Montreal in October 2012, hoping to reclaim his throne and avenge his losses. But he was too late and too weak to restore order and peace. He died on December 23, 2013, at the age of 67, from complications of pneumonia that may have been caused by lung cancer.
Vito Rizzuto was a legend among Mafiosi: a cunning strategist, a ruthless killer, and a charismatic leader. He lived by the code of omertà (silence) and died by the sword. He left behind a legacy of blood and power that will be remembered for generations." The war against the remaining Rizzuto clan goes on today.

24/05/2024

For sale 1974 Honda CB350 clear title, daily driver 26k on odometer unknown actual in Kansas City

24/05/2024

With KC Street – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

23/05/2024

Fat Tony Salerno was a genuine American gangster. He was born in East Harlem, New York, in 1911, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already running his own rackets. Salerno was a ruthless and ambitious man who quickly rose through the ranks of the Genovese crime family.
Salerno was a member of Trigger Mike Copploa’s 116th Street Crew. Salerno was a natural in the numbers racket, and he built and controlled a million-dollar-a-year numbers racket operation in Harlem with a companion loansharking business. Coppola fled New York for Florida to escape murder charges, and Salerno took over the crew.
By the 1960s, Salerno was one of the most powerful mobsters in New York. He controlled the largest numbers racket operation in the city and had his fingers in various other criminal enterprises, including gambling, extortion, and loan sharking. Salerno was also known for his close ties to the Teamsters Union, which he used to influence elections and infiltrate legitimate businesses.
Salerno was a man who loved to flaunt his wealth and power. He drove expensive cars, wore designer clothes, and lived in a lavish mansion. He owned an estate in upstate New York. He hired the well-known and flamboyant mob lawyer Roy Cohn. On the other hand, Salerno was generous to his friends and family, and he was known for his lavish parties and gifts.
However, Salerno's lavish lifestyle and criminal activities eventually caught up with him. In 1972, he was convicted of extortion and sentenced to three years in prison. However, Salerno continued to run his criminal empire from behind bars.
After his release from prison in 1975, Salerno became the underboss of the Genovese family. In 1981, he took on the role of boss of the family after the death of Philip Lombardo. Salerno was a controversial figure, and his rise to power led to turmoil within the family. However, Salerno maintained his control of the family for several years. However, an informant will eventually reveal that Fat Tony was not the Genovese boss. He was merely a front for Vincent "The Chin" Gigante.
In 1986, Salerno was arrested and charged with racketeering. The charges were based on evidence from the FBI, which had bugged Salerno's headquarters at the Palma Boys Social Club in East Harlem. Salerno was convicted and sentenced to 100 years in prison.
Salerno's conviction was a significant victory for law enforcement, and it helped to cripple the Genovese crime family. Salerno was released from prison in 1992 due to health problems. He died a few months later at the age of 80.
Salerno was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a ruthless and violent criminal and a generous and intelligent man. He was a product of his time and place and lived a glamorous and dangerous life.
Fat Tony Salerno was a genuine American gangster. He was a man who rose to the top of the criminal underworld through sheer force of will and brutality. He was a man who was both feared and respected, and his legacy will continue to fascinate people for years to come.

07/05/2024

JUNE 1

JOIN US!

DOM DEMARCO'S, LAS VEGAS:

• Meet Frank Calabrese Jr., below at left, ("Operation Family Secrets")

• Meet Sal Polisi, below at right, ("The Sinatra Club," "Get Gotti")

• Pizza and Pasta Buffet -- All You Can Eat

• Auction: Tropicana memorabilia, gaming chips from four Argent Corp. casinos, signed books, surprise auction items and much, much more!

The Mob Summit is back!

Everyone is welcome!

Everyone gets a welcome/gift bag!

When: June 1, 2024

Where: Don DeMarco's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 9785 W. Charleston Blvd., near the Red Rock Resort

TIckets:

Get ready for the ultimate gathering of mob enthusiasts at Mob Summit 2024 in Las Vegas. This offer You Can't Refuse!

03/05/2024

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