Tony Tursi
Encyclopedia
Anthony Tursi (February 16, 1901 - April 22, 1989) was an Italian-American organized crime figure who ran nightclubs in San Juan
, Puerto Rico
during the 1950s and 1970s.
Tursi was best known for owning "La Riviera", the most famous adult entertainment center in San Juan. A popular attraction for locals, expatriates and tourists, La Riveria was constantly being raided by the police. In the 1970s, societal changes marked the decline of his club. Tursi would say "I’m going broke because people are now getting for free what we used to charge for!" Tursi repeatedly rejected suggestions to turn La Riviera into a gay disco
as he found the idea personally offensive. Tursi finally agreed to sell his nightclub to the government, which promptly demolished it.
Tursi also took interest in civic affairs. In 1968, Tursi unsuccessfully ran for mayor of San Juan. He also provided poor children with parties on Thanksgiving
, Christmas
and Three Kings Day.
In 1976, Tursi and his son Philip Tursi pleaded guilty to possessing 2,400 stolen blank tickets for Eastern Airlines. Part of the plea bargain deal involved granting youthful offender status and probation to Philip. On February 20, 1976, the court fined Anthony Tursi $5,000 and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, to be served consecutively to a sentence in Puerto Rico. The court also sentenced fined Philip Tursi $5,000 and sentenced him to imprisonment of one year and one day. Anthony Tursi later appealed the verdict based on Philip's sentence, but the appeal was denied.
He was released on November 30, 1979. Tursi then retired to Nevada
, where he died on April 22, 1989.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
during the 1950s and 1970s.
Tursi was best known for owning "La Riviera", the most famous adult entertainment center in San Juan. A popular attraction for locals, expatriates and tourists, La Riveria was constantly being raided by the police. In the 1970s, societal changes marked the decline of his club. Tursi would say "I’m going broke because people are now getting for free what we used to charge for!" Tursi repeatedly rejected suggestions to turn La Riviera into a gay disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
as he found the idea personally offensive. Tursi finally agreed to sell his nightclub to the government, which promptly demolished it.
Tursi also took interest in civic affairs. In 1968, Tursi unsuccessfully ran for mayor of San Juan. He also provided poor children with parties on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
, Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
and Three Kings Day.
In 1976, Tursi and his son Philip Tursi pleaded guilty to possessing 2,400 stolen blank tickets for Eastern Airlines. Part of the plea bargain deal involved granting youthful offender status and probation to Philip. On February 20, 1976, the court fined Anthony Tursi $5,000 and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, to be served consecutively to a sentence in Puerto Rico. The court also sentenced fined Philip Tursi $5,000 and sentenced him to imprisonment of one year and one day. Anthony Tursi later appealed the verdict based on Philip's sentence, but the appeal was denied.
He was released on November 30, 1979. Tursi then retired to Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, where he died on April 22, 1989.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of crime bosses