The Everything Mafia Book (46 page)

Joseph and John Lonardo—October 13, 1927
Cleveland mob boss Joseph and his brother John were gunned down in a barbershop. Lonardo was succeeded by Joe Porello. Joe was taken down in 1930

Arnold Rothstein—November 4, 1928
Legendary Jewish gambling boss Rothstein was stepping on some toes in New York. After allegedly welshing on a huge gambling loss, he was shot while leaving the Park Central Hotel in Manhattan and died two days later.

Sam Carlino—May 9, 1932
The Denver underworld was just starting to take shape when a vicious gangland war broke out. Bootlegging kingpin Sam Carlino was in his house with Jim Coletti, who later ascended to the throne of Pueblo boss. Both men were shot by unknown gunmen. Carlino was killed.

Vincent “Mad Dog” Coll—February 8, 1932
Notorious Irish hood Mad Dog Coll angered Lucky Luciano and everyone else in New York when he killed a child during a kidnapping attempt. After his acquittal on the murder charge, Coll was talking in a telephone booth when a car drove by and filled him with bullets.

John, Arthur, and James Volpe—July 29 , 1932
The Volpe brothers were underworld figures in Pittsburgh. They were gunned down in a coffee shop on orders from John Bazzano, the family boss. Bazzano’s body was found in a burlap sack on a Brooklyn street the following week.

Joe Roma—February 18, 1933
Joe Roma took over the rackets in Denver after the death of Sam Carlino. But his reign was short-lived. Less than two years after Carlino was ambushed in his own home, Roma was in his house, talking with some unidentified acquaintances. As they rose to leave, they took Joe out.

John “Big Nose” Av ena—August 17, 1936
Big Nose became the leader of the Mafia in Philadelphia after Salvatore Sabella stepped down. A rival faction killed him in South Philadelphia.

Joe Tocco—May 2, 1938
Detroit gangland bigwig Joe Tocco took five pistol shots and twelve rounds from a shotgun to his back yet still held on for a couple days before passing away. His death brought about a consolidation of power in the local family.

Ignazio Antinori—October 22, 1940
When Tampa mob bigwig Ignazio Antinori went out for drink with a few friends, he became a victim of the first Tampa mob war, between the Mafia and the crime group led by Charlie Wall. He was shot through a window while drinking at a juke joint.

James Ragen—June 24 , 1946
Ragen was the owner of the Continental Wire Service, providing services to dozens of gambling operations. He ran afoul of mob bosses and was gunned down in the middle of a Chicago street.

Charles Binaggio—April 6, 1950
Charles Binaggio was the boss of the Kansas City mafia. But on April 6, 1950, he was found with his bodyguard Charles Gargotta, dead in the Jackson County Democratic Headquarters. Both were shot at close range.

James “Head of the Elks” Lumia—June 5, 1950
Tampa mob power James Lumia was popped in broad daylight while talking to two employees of his oil company in Tampa. His death was part of an intrafamily war between the Red Italiano faction and the Trafficantes.