Two Genoveses made significant contributions to the history of the American Mafia. Vito Genovese, a long-time associate of Charlie Luciano, took control of the old Luciano crime family in the 1950s. Michael Genovese was boss of the Pittsburgh Mafia for at least two decades.
Vito Genovese
Nov. 21, 1897, to 1969.
"Don Vitone"
Genovese was born near Naples, Italy. He arrived in New York City at the age of 15 on May 23, 1913.
As a teenager, he became involved in the Lower East Side multi-ethnic gangs that also produced Charlie "Lucky" Luciano and Meyer Lansky. In 1917, during the height of Mafia-Camorra friction in the city, Genovese - a Camorra sympathizer - was arrested for possession of a handgun.
In the 1920s, Genovese became a key figure under Luciano as Charlie Lucky took over the Manhattan operations of Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria. It is believed that Genovese was among the gunmen who assassinated Masseria in 1931, ending the Castellammarese War. He might also have had a hand in setting up the murder of Salvatore Maranzano, allowing Luciano to become the most powerful character in the U.S. Mafia.
Luciano named Genovese his underboss in 1931. Genovese would have taken over the Family after 1936, when Luciano was convicted on compulsory prostitution charges, but Genovese had to flee the country to dodge a murder charge.
In Italy, Genovese appears to have had a good relationship with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, generally the enemy of Mafiosi.
At the conclusion of World War II in 1945, U.S. occupying forces in Italy discovered Genovese and returned him to New York. Genovese beat the old murder rap and began taking control of Luciano's old family from then-boss Frank Costello.
Old friends, the relationship between Costello and Genovese degenerated into a long feud. An assassination attempt on Costello in 1957 was traced to Genovese gunman Vincent Gigante. Costello anounced his retirement after that, allowing Genovese to control the organization.
Genovese and Carlo Gambino might have worked together to eliminate strong Costello-ally Albert Anastasia later that year.
A new boss eager to establish himself as a big shot on the national scene, Genovese allegedly called the ill-fated Mafia convention in Apalachin, N.Y., on Nov. 14, 1957. Police discovered that convention, detaining everyone in sight, and establishing for certain the existence of the nationwide criminal network.
Genovese was convicted on narcotics trafficking charges in 1959 and earned a 15-year sentence. He continued to run Family matters from behind bars (through acting bosses like Tommy Eboli) until his 1969 heart attack death in prison.
He probably never attained the same boss of bosses prestige that had been held by Luciano.
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Michael James Genovese
April 9, 1918, to Oct. 31, 2006.
Michael Genovese was a key member of the Pittsburgh crime family under John Sebastian LaRocca in the 1950s. He attended the 1957 underworld convention at Apalachin NY along with LaRocca and Gabriel "Kelly" Mannarino.
When an ailing LaRocca retired from management of the criminal organization, he left a panel including Genovese, Mannarino and Joseph "Jo Jo" Pecora in charge. Pecora had to drop out of the leadership group when he was sent to prison on a gambling conviction. In 1980, Mannarino died of cancer, and Genovese quietly took over as acting underworld boss in Pittsburgh.
Genovese's position became permanent upon LaRocca's death of natural cases in 1984.
Though law enforcement agencies were certain of Genovese's control of the local Mafia, the wily underworld veteran managed to remain in power and to avoid racketeering convictions until his death in 2006 at the age of 87.
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© 2007 T.Hunt
The American "Mafia"