The Carlton Crew
Encyclopedia
The Carlton Crew is an Italian-Australian criminal organisation based in Melbourne
, Victoria
. It is so called because the members commonly met in Lygon St, Carlton, commonly called "Little Italy".
It was formed in the late 1970s by gangster
Alphonse Gangitano
and named after the Melbourne suburb in which it is based. The organisation had a strong rivalry with the Honoured Society
and the Calabrese Family, both of which were Calabrian
'Ndrangheta groups also based in Melbourne. The Carlton Crew had a strong role in the infamous Melbourne gangland killings
.
, Mick Gatto and Jason Moran
. Gangitano had logged several minor arrests in the late 1970s and early 1980s while building a reputation as "The black prince of Lygon Street". Gangitano recruited a score of thugs (mainly of Italian origin) who installed jukeboxes and vending machines in local bar
s and nightclub
s under the threat of violence, then reinvested their profits in drug trafficking.
In 1995, Melbourne police suspected Gangitano in two murders: those of small-time crook
Greg Workman (killed at Wando Grove while celebrating a friend's release from prison) and prostitute Deborah Boundy (whose clients included Carlton Crew hitman Christopher Flannery).
On 19 December 1995, Gangitano engaged in a wild melee with Jason Moran
and Mark McNamara at a Melbourne nightclub. Prosecutor
s were still debating various charges against him, when Gangitano's wife found him dead in the laundry room of their Templestowe home on 16 January 1998. Gangitano had been shot several times in the head.
Mick Gatto succeeded Gangitano as head of the group. In June 1999, he was charged with deception for placing 39 bets with a bookie under the pseudonym ('Mick Delgado'). In February 2002, a Royal Commission
investigated Gatto on suspicion of accepting $250,000 to 'mediate' labour disputes with the Australian Workers Union.
On 13 December 2003, Kinniburgh was murdered outside his home in Kew.
Carlton Crew member Mario Condello
boasted a record of convictions for arson
, fraud
and drug trafficking. Police also suspected him for multiple murders. In 2005 he was charged with plotting to murder crime boss Carl Williams, who also faced charges of scheming to ambush Condello. A trial for that case was pending when unknown gunmen murdered Condello outside his Brighton
home on 6 February 2006. Six hundred mourners attended his funeral, with Mick Gatto serving as a pallbearer.
The Carlton Crew still operates today in Melbourne, and there has been speculation that Mick Gatto still leads it to this day.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. It is so called because the members commonly met in Lygon St, Carlton, commonly called "Little Italy".
It was formed in the late 1970s by gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
Alphonse Gangitano
Alphonse Gangitano
Alphonse John Gangitano was an Italian Australian criminal from Templestowe, a suburb of Melbourne. Nicknamed the "Black Prince of Lygon Street", Gangitano was the face of an organisation known as the Carlton Crew, and a close associate of convicted criminals Graham Kinniburgh, Mick Gatto and...
and named after the Melbourne suburb in which it is based. The organisation had a strong rivalry with the Honoured Society
Honoured Society
The Honoured Society was a Calabrian 'Ndrangheta criminal group that operated in Melbourne, Australia. In 1963, it was reportedly involved in the Victoria Market Murders. It was led by gangster Frank Benvenuto until his slaying in 2000...
and the Calabrese Family, both of which were Calabrian
Calabrian
Calabrian may refer to:* Calabrian languages, the languages and dialects spoken in Calabria* Calabrians, the people of Calabria, southern Italy...
'Ndrangheta groups also based in Melbourne. The Carlton Crew had a strong role in the infamous Melbourne gangland killings
Melbourne gangland killings
The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...
.
History
The group was formed by Alphonse Gangitano and included convicted criminals Graham KinniburghGraham Kinniburgh
Graham 'The Munster' Allen Kinniburgh was an Australian organised crime figure from Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia...
, Mick Gatto and Jason Moran
Jason Moran
Jason Matthew Patrick Moran was an Australian criminal from Melbourne, Victoria, and one of the leaders of the Moran crime family, notable for its involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings. He sported a 12 cm scar on the side of his face.-Early life:Moran was the son of Lewis Moran and...
. Gangitano had logged several minor arrests in the late 1970s and early 1980s while building a reputation as "The black prince of Lygon Street". Gangitano recruited a score of thugs (mainly of Italian origin) who installed jukeboxes and vending machines in local bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
s and nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s under the threat of violence, then reinvested their profits in drug trafficking.
In 1995, Melbourne police suspected Gangitano in two murders: those of small-time crook
Crook
- Places :* Crook, County Durham, England, United Kingdom* Crook, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom* Crook, Devon, England, United Kingdom* Crook Inn, Scotland, United Kingdom* Crook, Colorado, United States* Crook County, Oregon, United States...
Greg Workman (killed at Wando Grove while celebrating a friend's release from prison) and prostitute Deborah Boundy (whose clients included Carlton Crew hitman Christopher Flannery).
On 19 December 1995, Gangitano engaged in a wild melee with Jason Moran
Jason Moran
Jason Matthew Patrick Moran was an Australian criminal from Melbourne, Victoria, and one of the leaders of the Moran crime family, notable for its involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings. He sported a 12 cm scar on the side of his face.-Early life:Moran was the son of Lewis Moran and...
and Mark McNamara at a Melbourne nightclub. Prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
s were still debating various charges against him, when Gangitano's wife found him dead in the laundry room of their Templestowe home on 16 January 1998. Gangitano had been shot several times in the head.
Mick Gatto succeeded Gangitano as head of the group. In June 1999, he was charged with deception for placing 39 bets with a bookie under the pseudonym ('Mick Delgado'). In February 2002, a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
investigated Gatto on suspicion of accepting $250,000 to 'mediate' labour disputes with the Australian Workers Union.
On 13 December 2003, Kinniburgh was murdered outside his home in Kew.
Carlton Crew member Mario Condello
Mario Condello
Mario Condello was an Italian-Australian organized crime figure. Condello, once a lawyer, was a member of the Carlton Crew, who is believed to have been a money launderer for Melbourne's Calabrian mafia...
boasted a record of convictions for arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
and drug trafficking. Police also suspected him for multiple murders. In 2005 he was charged with plotting to murder crime boss Carl Williams, who also faced charges of scheming to ambush Condello. A trial for that case was pending when unknown gunmen murdered Condello outside his Brighton
Brighton, Victoria
Brighton is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Brighton had a population of 20,651...
home on 6 February 2006. Six hundred mourners attended his funeral, with Mick Gatto serving as a pallbearer.
The Carlton Crew still operates today in Melbourne, and there has been speculation that Mick Gatto still leads it to this day.
See also
- Crime in MelbourneCrime in MelbourneCrime in Melbourne refers to criminal activity in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. One of the main functions of Victoria Police is to detect criminal activity, and prosecutions take place in the Victorian court system....
- Australian Mafia
- The Honoured SocietyHonoured SocietyThe Honoured Society was a Calabrian 'Ndrangheta criminal group that operated in Melbourne, Australia. In 1963, it was reportedly involved in the Victoria Market Murders. It was led by gangster Frank Benvenuto until his slaying in 2000...
- Melbourne gangland killingsMelbourne gangland killingsThe Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...
- Underbelly (TV series)Underbelly (TV series)Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...