Samuel Amatuna

Samuel Amatuna
? to November 1925

Amatuna was briefly president of the Chicago Unione Siciliana. At the time - 1925 - Sicilians in Chicago (and likely in New York, as well) were trying to keep Alphonse Capone from gaining control of the Unione. Capone sought to dominate the Unione to prove his legitimacy in the Mafia, to gain prestige among Sicilians and to cash in on the Sicilians-only rackets run within the Unione. In the early 1920s, the most lucrative racket was the network of home distilleries producing abundant but low quality liquor.

Amatuna stepped into the presidency when Angelo Genna was killed on May 25, 1925. He attempted to act as a roadbloack to Capone but was actually little more than a speedbump.

Amatuna was shot and mortally wounded Nov. 10, 1925. He died a few days later. Capone immediately installed his own ally, Antonio Lombardo, into the Unione presidency. Lombardo began liberalizing the Chicago Unione and opening its membership to non-Sicilians.