James Napoli
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy Nap" Napoli (November 4, 1911 – December 29, 1992) was a New York mobster who was a Caporegime
in the Genovese crime family
. From the 1950s to the 1980s, he controlled one of the largest illegal gambling operations in the United States.
Napoli enjoyed fine foods, good wines, and a life of luxury. Jimmy was known as a "Gentleman's Gentleman". Intelligent and well-respected, Napoli maintained ties to most of the major crime families. Napoli was married to Jeanne Napoli
, a former night club singer and theatrical producer. In 1984, Napoli invested $250,000 in an unsuccessful musical biography of actress Marilyn Monroe
that starred Jeanie.
In 1969, Napoli was indicted for fixing several boxing matches. In the 1970s, Napoli reportedly operated the largest numbers operation in the country. By 1976, the operation allegedly employed 2,000 people and grossed over $150 million a year. Napoli apparently ran this huge operation from a lounge in the Greenpoint
section of Brooklyn
. In 1978, Napoli was convicted for gambling and sentenced to five years in federal prison.
In July 1988, Napoli was indicted on murder conspiracy charges. He had been taped by Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) agents as he discussed the attempted murders of Gambino crime family
boss John Gotti
, Gene Gotti
and mob associate Irwin Schiff.
On December 29, 1992, Napoli died of natural causes in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan
. He was buried in St. John Cemetery, Queens, New York.
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
in the Genovese crime family
Genovese crime family
The Genovese 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 Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
. From the 1950s to the 1980s, he controlled one of the largest illegal gambling operations in the United States.
Napoli enjoyed fine foods, good wines, and a life of luxury. Jimmy was known as a "Gentleman's Gentleman". Intelligent and well-respected, Napoli maintained ties to most of the major crime families. Napoli was married to Jeanne Napoli
Jeanne Napoli
Jeanne Napoli was an American singer, songwriter, and performer. She was signed to the Vigor sub-label of New York’s De-Lite Records in 1976. She is best known for her "Let’s make love" disco track....
, a former night club singer and theatrical producer. In 1984, Napoli invested $250,000 in an unsuccessful musical biography of actress Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
that starred Jeanie.
In 1969, Napoli was indicted for fixing several boxing matches. In the 1970s, Napoli reportedly operated the largest numbers operation in the country. By 1976, the operation allegedly employed 2,000 people and grossed over $150 million a year. Napoli apparently ran this huge operation from a lounge in the Greenpoint
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bordered on the southwest by Williamsburg at the Bushwick inlet, on the southeast by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and East Williamsburg, on the north by Newtown Creek and Long Island City, Queens at the...
section of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. In 1978, Napoli was convicted for gambling and sentenced to five years in federal prison.
In July 1988, Napoli was indicted on murder conspiracy charges. He had been taped by Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) agents as he discussed the attempted murders of Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino 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 group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
boss John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
, Gene Gotti
Gene Gotti
Eugene Gotti is a New York mobster with the Gambino crime family who was a major drug trafficker.-Background:Born to John and Fannie Gotti, Gene has four brothers: deceased Gambino boss John Gotti, Peter Gotti, capo Richard V. Gotti, and soldier Vincent Gotti...
and mob associate Irwin Schiff.
On December 29, 1992, Napoli died of natural causes in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. He was buried in St. John Cemetery, Queens, New York.