Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

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Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by FriendofHenry » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:49 am

FriendofFamily wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:32 am Here are a pair of dice from the Beverly Hills Hotel in Kentucky. These are FriendofHenry's dice which he showed them to me recently. I will let him elaborate on the dice origin.Image

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Obviously FoF helped his brain dead buddy, me, post this scan of a pair of dice my Dad brought home with him when Mom and Dad went to The Beverly Hills Club with Chuck Teemer and lil Bahm. Chuck worked for John LaRocca as the host at The Club 30 and Jockey Club in West Virginia. While they were there the Club got robbed. They surrendered all their cash and jewelry. Both of which were substantial especially their jewelry. Mom and Dad had really nice "stuff" like my Dad's 3ct. diamond ring and his custom made watch and matching cuff links. Mom just wore diamonds. Chuck being the classy laid back one only wore a platinum Patek Philippe bracelet watch and Lil, known as Diamond Lil, lost "bunches" of carrots.

A few weeks later Chuck was called for a meeting with John LaRocca in Pittsburgh. John returned all of everyone's the jewelry and asked about how much cash was taken them. Chuck gave him a number and John counted out whatever number Chuck said was taken. When Chuck returned my Parents jewelry and cash my Dad only said thank you and never asked where John got their "stuff" from. That makes me wonder where the Pittsburgh/Cleveland connection that John was able to collect their losses. Maybe JCB or Stroccos can fill in the blanks for me.

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by FriendofFamily » Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:32 am

Here are a pair of dice from the Beverly Hills Hotel in Kentucky. These are FriendofHenry's dice which he showed them to me recently. I will let him elaborate on the dice origin.Image

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Mason_dixon » Wed Dec 04, 2019 4:32 pm

Makes me wonder about my state I know my father was involved in a little carpenters union “racketeering” if you will we were a non union shop buying union cards for years and years. I know they still prob have some presence up in northwest Indiana. I know they are involved in concrete in Indiana. Anything else? We have a casino close by about to be one over in south west Indiana now wonder if the buyers are just front guys... any info on Indy would be great!

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by JCB1977 » Wed Dec 04, 2019 7:55 am

eboli wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:38 pm
Villain wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:15 pm Got it. By 1951 they had a lot of problems in Kentucky mostly because of the senate hearings which uncovered their most profitable ops at the time and maybe thats why the Levinsons transferred to Vegas.

Btw whats your opinion on the Genovese-Chicago-Cleveland relationship during the 40s and 50s? Was Cleveland still independent by then or were they represented by one of the two previously mentioned groups?
I think Cleveland was mostly a buffer between Chicago and New York, but closer to New York during the 1940s and 1950s. Somewhat independent too. When The Outfit's influence started to dwindle they fell completely under Genovese control. I don't think the family was that strong to begin with. It drew it's influence from it's powerful non-italian associates. There's this story when Al Polizzi became boss he was instructed by The Commission to listen to Moe Dalitz. Polizzi effectively found himself as the junior partner in this new partnership. I don't know if there's any truth to that.
In the early days, Cleveland was one of the strongest families in the country. The Milano Brothers and Angelo Lonardo were tied to the most powerful gangsters in America and in Calabria and Sicily. Especially their Jewish contingent in the early days led by Moe Dalitz and Company

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by moneyman » Tue Dec 03, 2019 10:55 am

I was rereading the DiLeonardo Q & A and he mentions the Gambinos were super close with the Cleveland family.

"Huge move killing Daquila, our family was super close to the Cleveland guys"

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by FriendofHenry » Tue Dec 03, 2019 8:49 am

eboli wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:13 pm Cleveland had interests in Kentucky in illegal gambling casinos established by Moe Dalitz. The Genovese Family managed to do something similar. They operated through Lansky's underling Ed Levinson. Levinson and his brothers moved to Newport in the 30s and were the overseers of this operation until the early 50s. Mike Coppola had some business interests over there too. He was observed attending the Kentucky Derby in Louisville and having meetings with some of his associates as late as the 1960s.
Maybe the most famous, between the action in the casino and horrible fire, was The Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, KY.

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Pogo The Clown » Tue Dec 03, 2019 7:15 am

I believe Cleveland was always with the Genovese going back to the 1920s. Early Boss Joe Lonardo was tied with Joe Masseria and if I'm not mistaken Joe Masseria's brother was an early Cleveland member.


Pogo

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Villain » Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:06 am

eboli wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:38 pm
Villain wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:15 pm Got it. By 1951 they had a lot of problems in Kentucky mostly because of the senate hearings which uncovered their most profitable ops at the time and maybe thats why the Levinsons transferred to Vegas.

Btw whats your opinion on the Genovese-Chicago-Cleveland relationship during the 40s and 50s? Was Cleveland still independent by then or were they represented by one of the two previously mentioned groups?
I think Cleveland was mostly a buffer between Chicago and New York, but closer to New York during the 1940s and 1950s. Somewhat independent too. When The Outfit's influence started to dwindle they fell completely under Genovese control. I don't think the family was that strong to begin with. It drew it's influence from it's powerful non-italian associates. There's this story when Al Polizzi became boss he was instructed by The Commission to listen to Moe Dalitz. Polizzi effectively found himself as the junior partner in this new partnership. I don't know if there's any truth to that.
Thanks again.

I also agree that Cleveland had many influential non-Italian "members", same as the boys in Chicago. It is also possible that the story about Dalitz might be true since there was a similar situation in Chicago, meaning Johnny Roselli allegedly tried to extort or push Dalitz out from some Vegas operation i think it was, but word came down from the Outfits top admin through Chicago Heights major capo Frank LaPorte i belive it was, who delivered a message for Roselli to back off and leave Dalitz alone.

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Grouchy Sinatra » Mon Dec 02, 2019 7:28 pm

Bklyn21 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 4:21 pm
Grouchy Sinatra wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2019 11:43 am Law enforcement in the region made it difficult for rackets to get started there, for the same reason it was difficult in LA. Protestant, white cops in those days viewed Catholics and Jews as no less minorities than blacks and Latinos. No cops on the take, no rackets.I have read of people from various families in Louisville however.
Your right ! Along with the Hillbilly red neck moonshine mafia , Those bastards hated "EYE TALIANS" LOL....Makes me think of My Cousin Vinny and all his "YUTES" ! Did you say YUTES sir , Yea YUTES !! What's a YUTE ?
In most of the south this was the case but I'd honestly forgotten about Newport and Covington when I posted this. I remember reading about those cities when I did a little research on Pete Rose. That's where some of his bookies dwelled. Cincinnati is right across the river from Kentucky.

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Frank » Mon Dec 02, 2019 5:55 pm

Nicholas wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:16 pm Imagine if there was a crew in Nashville
The Deliverance crew bend over and squeel like a pig. Gee you gotta pretty mouth.

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Bklyn21 » Mon Dec 02, 2019 4:21 pm

Grouchy Sinatra wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2019 11:43 am Law enforcement in the region made it difficult for rackets to get started there, for the same reason it was difficult in LA. Protestant, white cops in those days viewed Catholics and Jews as no less minorities than blacks and Latinos. No cops on the take, no rackets.I have read of people from various families in Louisville however.
Your right ! Along with the Hillbilly red neck moonshine mafia , Those bastards hated "EYE TALIANS" LOL....Makes me think of My Cousin Vinny and all his "YUTES" ! Did you say YUTES sir , Yea YUTES !! What's a YUTE ?

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by eboli » Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:38 pm

Villain wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:15 pm Got it. By 1951 they had a lot of problems in Kentucky mostly because of the senate hearings which uncovered their most profitable ops at the time and maybe thats why the Levinsons transferred to Vegas.

Btw whats your opinion on the Genovese-Chicago-Cleveland relationship during the 40s and 50s? Was Cleveland still independent by then or were they represented by one of the two previously mentioned groups?
I think Cleveland was mostly a buffer between Chicago and New York, but closer to New York during the 1940s and 1950s. Somewhat independent too. When The Outfit's influence started to dwindle they fell completely under Genovese control. I don't think the family was that strong to begin with. It drew it's influence from it's powerful non-italian associates. There's this story when Al Polizzi became boss he was instructed by The Commission to listen to Moe Dalitz. Polizzi effectively found himself as the junior partner in this new partnership. I don't know if there's any truth to that.

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Nicholas » Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:16 pm

Imagine if there was a crew in Nashville

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by Villain » Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:15 pm

eboli wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 7:05 am
Villain wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:12 am
eboli wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:13 pm Cleveland had interests in Kentucky in illegal gambling casinos established by Moe Dalitz. The Genovese Family managed to do something similar. They operated through Lansky's underling Ed Levinson. Levinson and his brothers moved to Newport in the 30s and were the overseers of this operation until the early 50s. Mike Coppola had some business interests over there too. He was observed attending the Kentucky Derby in Louisville and having meetings with some of his associates as late as the 1960s.
Never knew that the Levinsons were under Lansky, thanks. It seems that during the old days the Chi mob and the Genovese/Cleveland crowd shared the state of Kentucky, or should i say the Outfit took care of the wire service while the Genovese/Cleveland Mob took care of the local bookies and casinos
"Underling" isn't quite the right word for it. Levinson and Lansky had a "long-standing business and social relationship" as the Organized Crime Control Commission put it. Levinson and his brothers were overseeing the operations in Kentucky until 1952 before leaving and relocating to Vegas. These operations might not have been 100% under Genovese control, but the family had a stake in them through Lansky.
Got it. By 1951 they had a lot of problems in Kentucky mostly because of the senate hearings which uncovered their most profitable ops at the time and maybe thats why the Levinsons transferred to Vegas.

Btw whats your opinion on the Genovese-Chicago-Cleveland relationship during the 40s and 50s? Was Cleveland still independent by then or were they represented by one of the two previously mentioned groups?

Re: Was there ever any mafia ties in Kentucky?

by eboli » Mon Dec 02, 2019 7:05 am

Villain wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:12 am
eboli wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:13 pm Cleveland had interests in Kentucky in illegal gambling casinos established by Moe Dalitz. The Genovese Family managed to do something similar. They operated through Lansky's underling Ed Levinson. Levinson and his brothers moved to Newport in the 30s and were the overseers of this operation until the early 50s. Mike Coppola had some business interests over there too. He was observed attending the Kentucky Derby in Louisville and having meetings with some of his associates as late as the 1960s.
Never knew that the Levinsons were under Lansky, thanks. It seems that during the old days the Chi mob and the Genovese/Cleveland crowd shared the state of Kentucky, or should i say the Outfit took care of the wire service while the Genovese/Cleveland Mob took care of the local bookies and casinos
"Underling" isn't quite the right word for it. Levinson and Lansky had a "long-standing business and social relationship" as the Organized Crime Control Commission put it. Levinson and his brothers were overseeing the operations in Kentucky until 1952 before leaving and relocating to Vegas. These operations might not have been 100% under Genovese control, but the family had a stake in them through Lansky.

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