Nick Licata
Feb. 20, 1897, to Oct, 19, 1974.
Nicolo Licata
Burbank cafe manager Nick Licata earned his stripes in the Los Angeles crime family through his involvement in the murders of Kansas City mafiosi Tony Brancato and Tony Trombino. The Kansas City family was attempting to assert itself in the West.
Licata became a front man for boss Jack Dragna during the later years of Dragna's reign. He served under Frank DeSimone for a decade after Dragna's death and then took control of a deeply divided family.
Law enforcement authorities had learned a great deal about the L.A. family by that time, and Licata was constantly hounded by police and federal agents. He was unable to consolidate his power. A branch of the criminal organization appears to have come under the control of Jack Dragna's son shortly after Licata ascended to the boss position.
Though he had earlier convinced Kansas City mafiosi to stay out of California, boss Licata also had to deal with incursions by the Cleveland mob family.
With his family and his territory in disarray, Licata retained the title of boss - though probably not the power - until his death in fall of 1974.
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