1966 in organized crime
Encyclopedia
See also:
1965 in organized crime
,
other events of 1966,
1967 in organized crime
and the
list of 'years in Organized Crime'
.
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1965 in organized crime
1965 in organized crime
See also:1964 in organized crime,other events of 1965,1966 in organized crime and thelist of 'years in Organized Crime'.-----Events:*Conversations made by mobster Simone "Sam The Plumber" DeCavalcante and his Capo Louis LaRasso are monitored and recorded by federal agents.*Carlo Gambino learned...
,
other events of 1966,
1967 in organized crime
1967 in organized crime
See also:1966 in organized crime,other events of 1967,1968 in organized crime and thelist of 'years in Organized Crime'.-----Events:*March - Federal authorities, helped by government informant Harold Konigsberg, discover a Mafia "graveyard" in New Jersey....
and the
list of 'years in Organized Crime'
Timeline of organized crime
This is a timeline of the history of organized crime.Note: Sources included are Carl Sifakis's The Mafia Encyclopedia, Herbert Asbury's The Gangs of New York and others. Online references also include Thomas P...
.
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Events
- Shortly after his release from federal prison, Chicago Outfit leader Sam GiancanaSam GiancanaSalvatore Giancana , better known as Sam Giancana, was a Sicilian-American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1957-1966...
is forced to leave the United States for Mexico as he is faced with additional federal charges. Coming out of semi-retirement, Tony AccardoTony AccardoAntonino Joseph Accardo , also known as "Joe Batters" or "Big Tuna", rose from small-time hoodlum to the position of day-to-day boss of the Chicago Outfit in 1947, to ultimately become the final Outfit authority in 1972, until his death...
decides to take a more hands-on leadership within the Outfit, but places Samuel "Sam Teets" Battaglia out front as Boss of the Outfit and Fiore "Fifi" BuccieriFiore BuccieriFiore "Fifi" Buccieri was a Chicago mobster and member of the Chicago Outfit who specialized in loansharking.-Early years:...
as Underboss, while Accardo himself heads the Chicago mafia from the shadows. - Charles LeCicero, a member of the Colombo crime familyColombo crime familyThe Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
, is murdered. - New Jersey loan shark Harold "Kayo" Konigsburg in sent to prison.
- March -
- In a prelude to the Coonan-Spillane Wars, a local gangster associated with Mickey SpillaneMickey Spillane (gangster)Michael Spillane, much better known as Mickey Spillane , was an Irish-American mobster from Hell's Kitchen, New York City...
is abducted from a Tenth Avenue bar in Hell's KitchenHell's Kitchen, ManhattanHell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City between 34th Street and 59th Street, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River....
and taken to QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
where he is murdered in a back alley by a small group led by Jimmy and Jackie Coonan. - Eddie Sullivan, a veteran gunman now allied with Coonan's faction, is taken by Spillane gunmen and beaten in the back of the White House bar.
- While visiting illegal gambling operations between 11thEleventh Avenue (Manhattan)Eleventh Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the far West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, not far from the Hudson River. It carries downtown traffic only, south of West 44th Street, and two-way traffic north of it....
and 12th Avenue, Mickey Spillane is ambushed by Jimmy Coonan who fires a machine gun from a nearby rooftop. Although Spillane and his seven or eight escorts are pinned down, Coonan flees the scene where he runs out of ammunition.
- In a prelude to the Coonan-Spillane Wars, a local gangster associated with Mickey Spillane
- March 24 - Virginia HillVirginia HillVirginia Hill was a Chicago Outfit courier who was famous for being the girlfriend of Genovese crime family mobster Bugsy Siegel, following the breakdown of his marriage.- The Kefauver hearings :...
commits suicide in Salzburg, Austria. - April 1 - Jackie Coonan shoots and kills a local bartender in QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, and imprisoned in Sing Sing Prison. - April 4 - During a drunken altercation with two men at an East Side bar, who gangster Eddie Sullivan became convinced were hitmen recently hired by Micky Spillane, were taken to a vacant lot near Cavalry Cemetery in Queen and shot. One of the men who survived the attack, and later testified against Coonan and the others. All four members were indicted including Sullivan was given a life sentence and Coonan, accepting a plea bargain, was sentenced to 5–10 years for felonious assault.
- May - Joseph Bonanno unexpectedly returns to New York where he assumes control from his son, who had since been at war with Gaspar DiGregorioGaspar DiGregorioGaspar or Gaspare DiGregorio was a New York mobster and a high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family who was a key figure in the so-called "Banana War"....
for the leadership of the crime family. The "Troutman St. Ambush" of Bill Bonanno by DiGregorio Faction shooters has brought Joe Bonanno back to N.Y. to rally his troops and supporters against DiGregorio and his Commission supporters. With the sudden return of Bonanno, DiGregorio loses both the support of his remaining gunmen and The Commission withdraws its support due to his inability to lead the Family. Paul SciaccaPaul SciaccaPaul Sciacca was a New York City mobster who became boss of the Bonanno crime family.-Bonanno family war:In 1964, a rivalry in the Bonanno crime family started when boss Joseph Bonanno promoted his son Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno to the position of consigliere over senior capo Gaspar DiGregorio...
and Frank Mari are selected by the Commission to replace DiGregorio as Boss and Underboss. The Banana War shootings now come more rapidly. - May 17 - Joseph BonannoJoseph BonannoJoseph Charles Bonanno, Sr. was a Sicilian-born American mafioso who became the boss of the Bonanno crime family. He was nicknamed "Joe Bananas," a name he despised.-Early life:...
, after being in hiding for 19 months, officially surrenders to federal authorities at the Foley Square Courthouse. Later that day after appearing before a judge and receiving bail, Joe Bonanno along with his son Salvatore "Bill" BonannoSalvatore BonannoSalvatore Vincent "Bill" Bonanno was the son of Cosa Nostra boss Joseph Bonanno. Although his father never intended for him to be the underboss of the Bonanno crime family, his appointment to high positions in the syndicate precipitated a "mob war" which led to the Bonanno family's exile to Arizona...
and several close associates such as his brother-in-law Frank LaBruzzo and Bonanno crime familyBonanno crime familyThe Bonanno crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
caporegime, Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro decide to dine at La Scala restaurant in Manhattan. Soon after the various Bonanno associates begin to dine and toasts are made congratulating Joe Bonanno on his return to New York, Joe Notaro appears to be in distress and in need of aide, he has a heart attack and dies right there at the table. - May 23 - Chicago labor racketeer Benjamin Stein is arrested and imprisoned for 18 months.
- August - Frank LaBruzzo, brother-in-law of New York mafia Boss, Joseph "Joe Bananas" BonannoJoseph BonannoJoseph Charles Bonanno, Sr. was a Sicilian-born American mafioso who became the boss of the Bonanno crime family. He was nicknamed "Joe Bananas," a name he despised.-Early life:...
and a trusted aide to the boss dies of lung cancer only months after the death of Joe Notaro, another longtime Bonanno associate and aide. - September 22 - A police raid by the NYPD at the LaStella Restaurant in QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
reveals a meeting between New York, Florida and New Orleans mafia members including Carlo GambinoCarlo Gambino"Don" Carlo Gambino, was a Sicilian mafioso who became Boss of the Gambino crime family, that still bears his name today. After the 1957 Apalachin Convention he unexpectedly seized control of the Commission of the American Mafia. Gambino was known for being low-key and secretive...
, Tommy Eboli, Joe ColomboJoseph ColomboJoseph "Joe" Colombo, Sr. was the boss of the Colombo crime family, one of the "Five Families" of the Cosa Nostra in New York.-Background:...
, Joey N. Gallo, Mike MirandaMichele MirandaMichele "Big Mike" Miranda was a longtime member and eventual consigliere of the Genovese crime family and one of the most powerful New York gangsters in the 1950s and 1960s.-Early years:...
, Aniello DellacroceAniello DellacroceAniello John "Mr. Neil" Dellacroce , also known as "Father O'Neil" and "The Tall Guy", was an Italian-American gangster and underboss of the Gambino crime family. A capo of his own crew for many years he rose to the position of underboss when Carlo Gambino moved Joseph Biondo aside.-Early...
, Dominic Alongi and Anthony Cirillo from N.Y., Carlos MarcelloCarlos MarcelloCarlos "The Little Man" Marcello was a Sicilian-American mafioso who became the boss of the New Orleans crime family during the 1940s and held this position for the next 30 years.-Early life:...
, Joe Marcello, Anthony Carolla and Frank Gagliano from New Orleans, along with Santo Trafficante Jr. from Tampa. The meeting, later known as "Little Apalachin Meeting", appeared to be concerning the leadership succession within the Lucchese crime familyLucchese crime familyThe Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
as longtime Boss Thomas Lucchese who had been hospitalized for over a year was terminally ill and basically in retirement. Also on the meeting agenda was allegedly the division of underworld territory and operations in New Orleans. Anthony Carolla, the son of former Boss Sylvestro "Silver Dollar Sam" CarollaSylvestro CarollaSylvestro or Silvestro Carolla or Carollo was a leader of the New Orleans crime family who was nicknamed "Sam 'Silver Dollar'"...
and a high level member of the New Orleans crime familyNew Orleans crime familyThe New Orleans crime family is one of the oldest American criminal organizations in activity. It is based in New Orleans and parts of southern Louisiana in the United States. Its status today is unknown, as it remained in the shadows since 1993...
felt entitled to more of the crime family spoils and a guarantee of ascension to the position of crime family Boss once recently named boss, Carlos MarcelloCarlos MarcelloCarlos "The Little Man" Marcello was a Sicilian-American mafioso who became the boss of the New Orleans crime family during the 1940s and held this position for the next 30 years.-Early life:...
eventually retires. Carolla felt that he had been disrespected and ignored by the Marcello regime in New Orleans and deserved to be recognized as a top crime family member being the son of former New Orleans mafia power Sam Carolla. The Commission members present voted in favor of Marcello and decided Carolla should be given control over additional crime family interests, but nothing of importance that would diminish the influence and profits of Marcello. Carolla was not guaranteed the succession, but almost 30 years later became boss in New Orleans.
Deaths
- Virginia HillVirginia HillVirginia Hill was a Chicago Outfit courier who was famous for being the girlfriend of Genovese crime family mobster Bugsy Siegel, following the breakdown of his marriage.- The Kefauver hearings :...
, Chicago OutfitChicago OutfitThe Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
former bagwoman for the Outfit - Charles LeCicero, Colombo crime familyColombo crime familyThe Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
member - Joseph Notaro, Bonanno crime familyBonanno crime familyThe Bonanno crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
lieutenant - March 9 - George CornellGeorge CornellGeorge Cornell was an English criminal and member of the Richardson Gang, who were scrap metal dealers and criminals.He was shot and killed by Ronnie Kray at the Blind Beggar public house in Whitechapel...
, shot dead by Ronnie Kray