The St. Louis crime family,Devico, pp. 197-202Dietche, pp.150 also known as the Giordano crime family or the St. Louis Mafia, was an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in St. Louis, Missouri.
History Early Italian gangs The earliest records are of the Italian Mafia gangs in the mid-1890s.Waugh, pp. 1-2 By the early 1910s, Dominick Giambrone was recognized as the local Mafia boss until 1924, when he stepped down and fled the city.Waugh, pp. 30 With the passage of Prohibition in 1920, control of St. Louis's illegal bootlegging operations became a major power struggle between the seven different ethnic gangs: the Green Ones, the Pillow Gang, the Russo Gang, the Egan's Rats, the Hogan Gang, the Shelton Gang and the Cuckoos all fighting to control illegal rackets in the St. Louis area.
The Green Ones was a Sicilian gang, formed in 1915, by Vito Giannola, his brother John Giannola and Alphonse Palizzola before immigrating to America. After the three men arrived in America they went their separate ways: Vito Giannola to St. Louis, John Giannola to Chicago and Alphonse Palizzola to Springfield, Illinois. During the early 1920s, Vito Giannola reunited with his brother John Giannola and Alphonse Palizzola in St. Louis. The three men imposed a tax on all goods sold in the city's Italian community. In 1924, Vito Giannola became the most powerful Mafia boss in St. Louis forcing Dominick Giambrone to flee the city. Giannola attempted to take control of the bootlegging rackets in the area and fought with members of the Egan's Rats gang and Cuckoos Gang. On September 9, 1927, Alphonse Palizzola was shot and killed by a rival gang. Months later boss Vito Giannola was shot 37 times to death on December 28, 1927. The remaining members of the Green Ones gang including John Giannola went into hiding.
The Pillow gang was the earliest Italian gang in the city being active since 1910. The gang was led by Pasquale Santino until 1927, when he was murdered. Carmelo Fresina became the new leader, nicknaming it the Pillow gang because Fresina carried a pillow with him to sit on after he had been shot in the buttocks. Fresina formed an alliance with splinter group of the Green Ones called the Russo gang led by Tony Russo. The two gangs battled with the Green Ones until 1928, when the Russo gang lost too many members and blamed the Pillow gang for betraying them.Waugh, pp. 231-233 In 1931, Fresina was murdered and members of the Pillow gang continued fighting with the Russo gang and the Green Ones.
The Pillow gang was taken over Thomas Buffa, who became boss of the St. Louis Mafia family. The rival gangs continued fighting until the end of Prohibition, when the various Mafia factions began functioning as one family.Waugh, pp. 228-229 In 1943, Buffa fled the city and was murdered in 1947 in Lodi, California. After Buffa's murder leadership of the family went to Tony Lopiparo, Frank Coppola, and Ralph Caleca.
Giordano and the Detroit family After Tony Lopiparo's death, Anthony Giordano became boss and declared independence from the Kansas City crime family. In the 1970s, Giordano, along with Detroit mobsters Anthony Joseph Zerilli and Michael Polizzi, attempted to gain control of the Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. They failed and all three men were convicted of conspiracy. In 1975, Giordano was sent to prison, his nephew Vincenzo Giammanco became the acting boss until Giordano was released in December 1977. On August 29, 1980, Giordano died from cancer in his St. Louis home.
Current status The St. Louis crime family has avoided local and federal authorities, who have been focused on organized crime that inflicts public violence. Anthony "Nino" Parrino served as boss from 1997 to his death on November 3, 2014. The last known underboss was Joseph Cammarata.Auble, pp. 105
Historical leadership Boss (official and acting) 1912-1923 — Dominick Giambrone — fled; later murdered in 1934Waugh, pp. 30-62, 229-230. 1923-1927 — Vito GiannolaWaugh, pp. 64-139 1927-1937 — Frank AgrusaWaugh, pp. 139-240 — born in Cinisi, Sicily, Italy 1937-1943 — Thomas BuffaWaugh, pp. 231 1943-1950 — Pasquale Miceli 1950-1960 — Anthony "Tony Lap" Lopiparo — the son of a St. Louis mobster; died in 1960 1960-1980 — Anthony "Tony G." Giordano — as boss he declared independence from the Kansas City family. Imprisoned 1975–1977; died of cancer on August 29, 1980"Part I of the Leisure War: A Reason to Die" by Ronald J. Lawrence (CrimeMagazine.com) Acting 1975-1977 — Vincenzo "Jimmy" Giammanco — Giordano's nephew 1980-1982 — John "Johnny V." Vitale. — died on June 5, 1982 1982-1997 — Matthew "Mike" Trupiano Jr. — Giordano's nephew from Detroit; died in 1997 1997–2014 — Anthony "Nino" Parrino — died on November 3, 2014
Underboss 1912-1923 — Vito Giannola — became boss 1923-1927 — Alfonse Palazzolo — murdered 1927-1937 — Thomas Buffa — became boss 1937-1943 — Pasquale Miceli — became boss 1943-1950 — Vincent Chiapetta – demoted 1950-1980 — John "Johnny V." Vitale — semi-retired from 1960; later became boss 1980-2013 — Joseph "Uncle Joe" Cammarata — became semi-retired in the 2000s; died in 2013
Former members Fernando M. "Nondo" Bartolotta — born in 1957. In 1984, Bartolotta and Michael Bauer were arrested for conspiring to steal $300,000 from a Venture store, where Bauer worked as an assistant manager. In 1997, Bartolotta was convicted of multiple charges including bank robbery and using threats of violence. He committed a variety of crimes, including burglarizing a home in Illinois and robbing a bank in Creve Coeur, Missouri. He was released from prison on March 3, 2006.
Vincent Filipello — born in 1910. Filippello was identified as a soldier in the St. Louis family in 1978 whilst Anthony Giordano served as the boss of the family. In March 1967, Filippello was arrested in connection of a $83,000 bank robbery in Peoria, Illinois. He died in 1996 at the age of 86.
Ralph Caleca — born in 1900. Caleca was identified as a soldier for the St. Louis family in 1978. According to the testimony of a government official in April 1959, Caleca, along with Anthony Giordano and Anthony Lopiparo, were accused of smuggling heroin into the United States from Canada since at least the early 1950s, Caleca pleaded guilty to conspiring to evade federal income taxes and he was given a 3-year prison sentence along with a $2500 fine. According to law enforcement and government officials, Caleca was heavily involved in the vending machine business along with Jack Joseph and John Vitale. He died in 1988 at the age of 88.
Frank Pisciotta — born in 1892. Pisciotta was identified as a soldier for the St. Louis family in 1978. He died in 1990 at the age of 98.
Vito Cusumano — born in 1922. Cusumano was identified as a soldier for the St. Louis family in 1978. Cusumano was credited to the August 1951 murder of Joseph "Joe" Bommarito, which he denied. He died in 1982 at the age of 59.
Dominic Biondo — unknown date of birth or time of deceased. During the 1960s, Biondo was a known bookmaker and associate of the St. Louis family, and by 1978, he was identified as a soldier for the crime family. During the 1970s, Biondo was sentenced to 5 years in prison for extortion.
List of murders committed by the St. Louis crime family
Name Date Reason Salvatore Leoni January 19, 1912 It is believed Leoni was beheaded by Dominick Giambrone as Leoni was set to testify against Antonio Sansone for murder. Vincent Butera February 14, 1917 Butera was hacked to death inside of his saloon located at 901 Biddle Street in St. Louis as he was warned by Dominick Giambrone to close his business. Ohmer Hockett and John Balke February 4,1926 Hockett was a police officer from Edwardsville, Illinois. They were found February 5, 1926 in a shallow grave near Horseshoe Lake, east of Madison County Illinois-apparently slain by bootleggers after visiting a still at Horseshoe lake. Both had been shot once below the left eye. Crime boss John Ginnola was questioned in regard to the murders; he died January 5,1938 of natural causes. Anthony F Russo & Vincent Spicuzza August 9, 1927 Russo and Spicuzza were shot and killed by Alphonse Palazzolo and Frank Agrusa. Palazzolo had attempted to frame Jack McGurn for the Russo and Spicuzza murders. Benny Giamanco & Aloys Beelman August 24, 1927 Beelman was a lawyer and an innocent bystander. Giamanco was a friend of Anthony Russo and Vincent Spicuzza, who were both killed on August 9, 1927. Alphonse Palazzolo September 9, 1927 Palazzolo was shot and killed at the age of 34. Palazzolo was killed as part of a bootleg war in St. Louis. Charles Palmisano November 10, 1927 Palmisano was murdered at the age of 49 for refusing to pay protection to the St. Louis family following the death of Alphonse Palazzolo. Mike Palazzolo May 1934 Palazzolo was shot in the head and neck as it was believed he had feuded with Walter Mushenick, an associate of the family. Dominick Giambrone July 9, 1934 Giambrone had served as the boss of the St. Louis family from between 1912 and 1923. Giambrone had fled St. Louis and returned in April 1934, and was killed at the age of 58 in July 1934. Gaetano "Thomas" Buffa March 27, 1946 During the 1940s, Buffa was appointed by the administration of the St. Louis family to oversee the rackets in St. Louis along with Tony Lopiparo. Buffa was killed at the age of 59, for testifying against the girlfriend of a member of the St. Louis family. Joseph "Joe" Bommarito August 26, 1951 Bommarito was shot and killed by Vito Cusumano as Bommarito had attempted to set up a rival produce hauling firm. George "Stormy" Harvill January 21, 1966 Harvill was shot and killed in St. Clair County, Illinois as he had attempted to seize control of Laborers' Local 42, St. Louis. Primo Frank "Larry" Caudera October 2, 1971 Caudera operated several clubs from St. Louis to Las Vegas. Caudera was shot 6 times and killed, he was found in the trunk of his Cadillac vehicle in South St. Louis. On the 13th of October 1971, law enforcement arrested Anthony Giardano, John Vitale and James Giammanco, and charged them with the murder of Caudera. John Paul Spica November 9, 1979 Spica was an associate of Anthony Giordano, the boss of the St. Louis family at the time. Spica was also considered as a suspect in the April 1968 murder of Martin Luther King Jr. Spica was killed in a car bomb in his Cadillac vehicle. Frank Parrino July 31, 1994 Parrino was shot and killed at the age of 61, by Joseph Monti.
See also Crime in Missouri List of Italian Mafia crime families The Hill, St. Louis
References
Bibliography
DeVico, Peter J. The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra. Tate Publishing, 2007. Dietche, Scott M. The Everything Mafia Book: True Life Accounts of Legendary Figures, Infamous Crime Families, and Chilling Events, Everything Books, 2009. Waugh, Daniel. Gangs of St. Louis: Men of Respect. Charleston: The History Press, 2010. Auble, John. A History of St. Louis Gangsters: A Chronology of Mob Activity on Both Sides of the River Ranging from the Egan Rats to the Last Mob Leader on Record. The National Criminal Research Society. 2002. Bureau of Narcotics. The United States Treasury Department. Giancana, Sam. Mafia: The Government's Secret File on Organized Crime. Skyhorse Publishing, 2007.
External links American Gangland: Giordano Crime Family