KC member Joseph Gurera

[Ed]

Does anyone know the story behind the death of Joseph Gurera's father Carl Gurera? He was shot to death in 1933 over a dispute with his wife, allegedly by his father-in-law Carl Mangiaracina and his two brothers-in-law. The last newspaper account I can track down says the police were looking to question the Mangiaracinas. I can't tell if they were ever charged in the killing. It appears that the brothers served in WWII which suggests they weren't jailed over the killing. And the father-in-law died in his own bed years later so it's possible he was jailed but probably not. And Carl's wife doesn't appear to have been charged either.

The wife remained friendly with her own family after the killing which suggests it was "justified" or "warranted" from her perspective. There is the outside chance that she killed her husband and her father covered it up. Any help would be appreciated. thanks

[lennert]

Kansas City Star, October 10, 1935

[lennert]

Kansas City Star, October 11, 1935

[lennert]

Kansas City Star, October 12, 1935

[lennert]

Kansas City Star, March 16, 1936

[Ed]

Thanks Lennert. Kind of you to do this for me.
Different members of the Mangiaracina family lived on Olive street for decades.
I searched using ancestry.com and the affiliated newspaper site but these articles didn't come up.
I'm going to DM you shortly if you don't mind.
best regards, Ed

[Ed]

Going through some old KC files and found some more Intel provided by Joe Gurera. Unfortunately, most of it is redacted.

He indicates the "New York" terms like underboss, caporegime and consigliere are unfamiliar to him and aren't used in KC. He provides a breakdown of the KC administration in 1967 using standard FBI terminology. Nick Civella was the boss, Carl De Luna and Thomas Simone were the underbosses, and Gaetano Loccoco was the consigliere. The capos were Carl Civella, Joseph Carolla and Thomas Cacioppo.

Gurera told agents that Gaetano Loccoco was tipped to become boss after the murder of Charles Binaggia but he ran into legal trouble so Nick Civella got the spot.

He talks about KC's interest in casinos in Las Vegas including the Landmark, Stardust and Sands.

He talks about his induction ceremony and who was present, but unfortunately, it's completely redacted.

https://archive.org/stream/busterbalest ... 3/mode/2up

[PolackTony]

Going through some old KC files and found some more Intel provided by Joe Gurera. Unfortunately, most of it is redacted.

He indicates the "New York" terms like underboss, caporegime and consigliere are unfamiliar to him and aren't used in KC. He provides a breakdown of the KC administration in 1967 using standard FBI terminology. Nick Civella was the boss, Carl De Luna and Thomas Simone were the underbosses, and Gaetano Loccoco was the consigliere. The capos were Carl Civella, Joseph Carolla and Thomas Cacioppo.

Gurera told agents that Gaetano Loccoco was tipped to become boss after the murder of Charles Binaggia but he ran into legal trouble so Nick Civella got the spot.

He talks about KC's interest in casinos in Las Vegas including the Landmark, Stardust and Sands.

He talks about his induction ceremony and who was present, but unfortunately, it's completely redacted.

https://archive.org/stream/busterbalest ... 3/mode/2up

Did Gurera give any info on the actual terms for the ranks used in KC?

[Ed]

Going through some old KC files and found some more Intel provided by Joe Gurera. Unfortunately, most of it is redacted.

He indicates the "New York" terms like underboss, caporegime and consigliere are unfamiliar to him and aren't used in KC. He provides a breakdown of the KC administration in 1967 using standard FBI terminology. Nick Civella was the boss, Carl De Luna and Thomas Simone were the underbosses, and Gaetano Loccoco was the consigliere. The capos were Carl Civella, Joseph Carolla and Thomas Cacioppo.

Gurera told agents that Gaetano Loccoco was tipped to become boss after the murder of Charles Binaggia but he ran into legal trouble so Nick Civella got the spot.

He talks about KC's interest in casinos in Las Vegas including the Landmark, Stardust and Sands.

He talks about his induction ceremony and who was present, but unfortunately, it's completely redacted.

https://archive.org/stream/busterbalest ... 3/mode/2up

Did Gurera give any info on the actual terms for the ranks used in KC?

I never came across anything. All the good stuff remains redacted, or hasn't been released yet.

[nash143]

Going through some old KC files and found some more Intel provided by Joe Gurera. Unfortunately, most of it is redacted.

He indicates the "New York" terms like underboss, caporegime and consigliere are unfamiliar to him and aren't used in KC. He provides a breakdown of the KC administration in 1967 using standard FBI terminology. Nick Civella was the boss, Carl De Luna and Thomas Simone were the underbosses, and Gaetano Loccoco was the consigliere. The capos were Carl Civella, Joseph Carolla and Thomas Cacioppo.

Gurera told agents that Gaetano Loccoco was tipped to become boss after the murder of Charles Binaggia but he ran into legal trouble so Nick Civella got the spot.

He talks about KC's interest in casinos in Las Vegas including the Landmark, Stardust and Sands.

He talks about his induction ceremony and who was present, but unfortunately, it's completely redacted.

https://archive.org/stream/busterbalest ... 3/mode/2up

Looked at this a while back and meant to post these comment from it:


- Vito Balestrere described as an ‘enforcer’ in the 40s and 50s and presumably received a ‘salary’; informant confirms Vito’s brother Buster Balestere does receive a ‘salary.’
- Angelo Balestrere, a cousin of Vito and Buster, also received a ‘salary’ for ‘services rendered to the KC Family.’ According to informant, Angelo received $200-$300 per week- from profits made from the Olympic stadium which was REDEACTED by the KC Family (Joseph Olivo linked to Stadium in FBN book).
- At a wake, Corky Civella introduced William Cammisano to Peter Balestrieri (of Milwaukee) as ‘a friend of ours.’
- Jim Balestrere (associate), brother of Bustiano and Vito, lived in Las Vegas and can ‘do a lot of things in Las Vegas if someone needs help.’
- Informant stated that while the KC Family is not as large as Chicago, man to man they are as tough, citing Carl De Luna as one of the toughest men he has known. He went on to say that ‘there are many men in the KC Outfit that are physically superior to De Luna, they are not the cold blooded killer that he is, and while they might have the physical means to manhandle De Luna, they either have the choice of leaving him alone or killing him, and they do not have the nerve of killing him.
- Informant pointed out thar ordinarily in the Outfit, a man has to be a man in his own right and cannot reply the strength or reputation of a relative. For example, he pointed out that John Capone (brother of Al) is ‘nothing.’ Both him and Ralph- who runs a tavern in Wisconsin both have no authority or respect in the Outfit.
- Anthony Giardano (Giordano), Boss of St. Louis is answerable to Nick Civella relative to any operations in Missouri which involves either one or both of the families.

[Ed]

These files are gems.

I thought the Las Vegas source for the bit about the Balestrere brothers and how much they made in the 1940/50s was probably their brother James Balestrere who lived there. Who in 1972 would know about every current made guy in Las Vegas plus know what a bunch of obscure KC mobsters earned decades earlier?

[nash143]

These files are gems.

I thought the Las Vegas source for the bit about the Balestrere brothers and how much they made in the 1940/50s was probably their brother James Balestrere who lived there. Who in 1972 would know about every current made guy in Las Vegas plus know what a bunch of obscure KC mobsters earned decades earlier?

Possibly Lawrence “Larry” Musso?

[bobbybatts1]

Going through some old KC files and found some more Intel provided by Joe Gurera. Unfortunately, most of it is redacted.

He indicates the "New York" terms like underboss, caporegime and consigliere are unfamiliar to him and aren't used in KC. He provides a breakdown of the KC administration in 1967 using standard FBI terminology. Nick Civella was the boss, Carl De Luna and Thomas Simone were the underbosses, and Gaetano Loccoco was the consigliere. The capos were Carl Civella, Joseph Carolla and Thomas Cacioppo.

Gurera told agents that Gaetano Loccoco was tipped to become boss after the murder of Charles Binaggia but he ran into legal trouble so Nick Civella got the spot.

He talks about KC's interest in casinos in Las Vegas including the Landmark, Stardust and Sands.

He talks about his induction ceremony and who was present, but unfortunately, it's completely redacted.

https://archive.org/stream/busterbalest ... 3/mode/2up

the only problem I see is that Tommy "tommy morgan" Cacioppo was under William Cammisano Sr, and was never a Captain. Tuffy and Highway were never co underbosses, Simone was the underboss until he died and Tuff took over, Tuff didnt really work in a crew, he was the guy that Nick used to handle shit. However, Captains and crew members deffered to him he carried a lot of juice.

[bobbybatts1]

Does anyone know the story behind the death of Joseph Gurera's father Carl Gurera? He was shot to death in 1933 over a dispute with his wife, allegedly by his father-in-law Carl Mangiaracina and his two brothers-in-law. The last newspaper account I can track down says the police were looking to question the Mangiaracinas. I can't tell if they were ever charged in the killing. It appears that the brothers served in WWII which suggests they weren't jailed over the killing. And the father-in-law died in his own bed years later so it's possible he was jailed but probably not. And Carl's wife doesn't appear to have been charged either.

The wife remained friendly with her own family after the killing which suggests it was "justified" or "warranted" from her perspective. There is the outside chance that she killed her husband and her father covered it up. Any help would be appreciated. thanks

The Mangiaracina's were powerful within the family all the way into the 60's with Johnny "Johnny Mag" Mangaracina, the who family was mobbed up, Guerra married Carl Mangaracina's daughter., He roughed her up one night and one of her brothers killed Carl Guerra. The Guerra's stayed active in the family as one of the relatives were the money carrier from Vegas, his name I believe was Carl also.

[B.]

Great info, guys.