Simone Scozzari
Encyclopedia
Simone "Sam" Scozzari was a Sicilian mobster was a member of the American Mafia
in Los Angeles
. He served as a soldier in the Los Angeles crime family
during the 1940s and 1950s. When Frank DeSimone
became boss of the L.A. crime family in 1956, he promoted Scozzari Underboss
.
Scozzari was born on January 7, 1900 in the city of Palermo
in Sicily
to Salvatore and Rosa Scozzari. He had one brother Frank, and two sisters, Anna and Josephine. He entered the United States
illegally in 1923 and eventually made his way west to Los Angeles. His residence while in California was 3056 Sullivan avenue in Rosemead, California
. During his time in Los Angeles, he was arrested several times for illegal bookmaking and once for obstruction of justice. He was also involved in one of the unsuccessful attempts on Mickey Cohen
's life. In 1958 he married Theresa Macri (who was 32 years his younger), but the couple had no children. He was also distantly related to Frank DeSimone
. He owned the Venetian Club in Los Angeles, but was forced to close it down in 1958. He also had large real estate holdings.
On November 14, 1957, Scozzari and DeSimone travelled across the country to attended the Apalachin Meeting
. When the meeting was raided by police, Scozzari was put on trial and ordered in 1958 to be deported for entering the country illegally. When investiagted, Scozzari said he had been unemployed for 20 years and that he was a retired businessman, despite being arrested with $602 in cash and $8,445.30 in cashier's check
s. Scozzari filed an appeal to stay in the country, but was denied. On June 13, 1962, he left the U.S. and landed in Rome
before moving back to Palermo.
American Mafia
The American Mafia , is an Italian-American criminal society. Much like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia has no formal name and is a secret criminal society. Its members usually refer to it as Cosa Nostra or by its English translation "our thing"...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He served as a soldier in the Los Angeles crime family
Los Angeles crime family
The Los Angeles crime family is an Italian American criminal organization based in Los Angeles, as part of the American Mafia . Since its inception in the early 1900s, it has spread throughout Southern California. Like most Mafia families in the United States, the L.A. family gained power...
during the 1940s and 1950s. When Frank DeSimone
Frank DeSimone
Frank A. DeSimone was the Boss of the Los Angeles crime family from 1956 to 1967. DeSimone was the son of former don Rosario DeSimone. He was sometime referred to as "One Eye" because one of his eyes drooped, in the same way as Charles "Lucky" Luciano...
became boss of the L.A. crime family in 1956, he promoted Scozzari Underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
.
Scozzari was born on January 7, 1900 in the city of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
to Salvatore and Rosa Scozzari. He had one brother Frank, and two sisters, Anna and Josephine. He entered the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
illegally in 1923 and eventually made his way west to Los Angeles. His residence while in California was 3056 Sullivan avenue in Rosemead, California
Rosemead, California
Rosemead is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 53,764. Rosemead is part of a cluster of cities, along with Arcadia, Temple City, Monterey Park, San Marino, and San Gabriel, in the west San Gabriel Valley with a growing Asian...
. During his time in Los Angeles, he was arrested several times for illegal bookmaking and once for obstruction of justice. He was also involved in one of the unsuccessful attempts on Mickey Cohen
Mickey Cohen
Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen was a gangster based in Los Angeles and part of the Jewish Mafia, and also had strong ties to the American Mafia from the 1930s through 1960s.-Early life:...
's life. In 1958 he married Theresa Macri (who was 32 years his younger), but the couple had no children. He was also distantly related to Frank DeSimone
Frank DeSimone
Frank A. DeSimone was the Boss of the Los Angeles crime family from 1956 to 1967. DeSimone was the son of former don Rosario DeSimone. He was sometime referred to as "One Eye" because one of his eyes drooped, in the same way as Charles "Lucky" Luciano...
. He owned the Venetian Club in Los Angeles, but was forced to close it down in 1958. He also had large real estate holdings.
On November 14, 1957, Scozzari and DeSimone travelled across the country to attended the Apalachin Meeting
Apalachin Meeting
The Apalachin Meeting was a historic summit of the American Mafia held on November 14, 1957, at the home of mobster Joseph "Joe the Barber" Barbara in Apalachin, New York. The meeting was attended by roughly 100 Mafiosi from the United States, Canada, and Italy...
. When the meeting was raided by police, Scozzari was put on trial and ordered in 1958 to be deported for entering the country illegally. When investiagted, Scozzari said he had been unemployed for 20 years and that he was a retired businessman, despite being arrested with $602 in cash and $8,445.30 in cashier's check
Cashier's check
A cashier's check is a check guaranteed by a bank. They are treated as guaranteed funds and are usually cleared the next day. It is the customer's right to request "next-day availability" when depositing a cashier's check in person...
s. Scozzari filed an appeal to stay in the country, but was denied. On June 13, 1962, he left the U.S. and landed in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
before moving back to Palermo.