Johnny Lazia
c. 1896 to July 10, 1934.
John Lazzio
Lazia likely started his underworld career as a thug for the Pendergast political machine in Prohibition Era Kansas City. By 1928, he graduated to leader of the North Side Democratic Club and controlled much of the organized criminal activity in the region.
His underworld specialty was gambling, and he operated a dog racing track. Other business ventures included a night club and soft drink concessions.
Lazia seems to have served as mentor for Charles "Mad Dog" Gargotta and Anthony Gizzo. Gargotta later allied with Lazia successor Charles Binaggio. (Gargotta and Binaggio were both killed in the Jackson County Democratic Club headquarters on April 5, 1950.) Gizzo briefly served as top boss of the Kansas City Mob in the early 1950s.
The influence of the Pendergast machine kept local law enforcement off Lazia's back. However, federal tax agents managed to nab the North Side gangster in 1930. He was tried and convicted of tax evasion. Though he was sentenced to a year in prison, he remained free during appeals.
While the appeal process dragged on, Lazia was believed to be involved in the Union Station Massacre and a gang shootout on Armour Boulevard.
Underworld rivals caught up with Lazia before the law did. On July 10, 1934, two men - one carrying a machine gun and the other carrying a shotgun - attacked and killed the Kansas City gang boss.
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