Los Angeles/Detroit connections

[motorfab]

As everyone knows, the Los Angeles Crime Family has a number of former members or associates from other Families in its ranks and it seems that there is a majority or at least a certain number coming from Detroit.

-He was made in L.A. 1946 along with Fratianno, Piscopo and L.T Dragna, but Jimmy Regace aka Dominic Brooklier started his career in Detroit before moving to Los Angeles, it seems in the early 1940s.

-The capo of San Diego between 1956 to 1958, successor of Bompensiero, Anthony "Papa Tony" Mirabile arrived from Alcamo at the beginning of the 20th century and a number of his relatives were involved in the feud against the Giannolas. He would have left Detroit for Tijuana in Mexico in 1927 before settling in San Diego. I guess he was made then.

-Rosolino “Sam Bruno” Bartolotta is a former Detroit member. He is described by Fratianno as "whom always looked ready for action". Besides, when Fratianno says that he also quotes Biaggio Bonventre, also from Detroit. Among other things, he participated in the murder of Frank "Burns" Niccoli in 1949 and an attempted murder against Cohen along with Tom Dragna. One of his sons, Domiano aka "Dan Bruno", also settled in California in the 1950s, but not transferred to the L.A's borgata.

-Nick Licata was involved in bootlegging in the 1920s and allegedly offended Joseph Zerilli who launched a contract on him. He allegedly asked Dragna to intervene and incorporated him into his family in return. He returned to the good graces of Detroit by having his son Carlo married to Bill Tocco's daughter, Grace. Carlo was transferred to the Detroit Partnership at this time.

-The Matranga brothers Frank Isador, Gaspare & Joseph. They weren't into the L.A. borgata but likely had Dragna's okay to operate in San Diego. Frank was married to Priziola's daughter and Joseph was the brother-in-law of Detroit member involved in narcotics Salvatore "Toto" Vitale, also active in San Diego. After being deported in 1949, Vitale "mysteriously" disappeared in 1956. Noted that Joseph was designated as Capo by the feds in 1988.

-Another Detroit member active in California, Pietro Lombardo. On the other hand, I don't know him very well, I just know that he made trips between Italy, Detroit & California and that he was killed in the 60s.

There are probably other examples, but here are the most obvious

[Adam]

Yeah the Detroit-LA/San Diego connection is always very interesting. Detroit having a crew in San Diego in the 80s-90s under Matranga is so out of place until you look at the history of it going back decades.

The Pete Lombardo murder in 1965 has always been assumed as part of the Santo Perrone tiff with the Detroit mob and after he lost his leg in the 1964 bombing he either had Lombardo killed or the Detroit mob sacrificed Lombardo as appeasement. FBI records seem to pretty clearly indicate Lombardo was part of the Perrone bombing even though he had been close with Perrone.

I still to this day wish someone could give some background on the supposed hit on Nick Licata that Zerilli suggested and Dragna passed on. I've never found anything that mentions it other than Fratianno's book.

And yeah, Bartolottas pop up in Detroit mob research. I don't think Dan Bruno Bartolotta settled in LA. He's in the FBN book but I think he was just there for a time. It's pre Valachi hearings. He's listed in 1963 as a member in Detroit along with his brother Michael as members/section leaders(which most of us interpret as made members).

But on this subject. To this day I am fascinated by Fratianno's story of Bompensiero killing a guy and burying him for Tony Zerilli and Michael Polizzi in the probably early 60s and he was supposed to get part of the Frontier Casino for it. A dispute where two guys came to Joe Zerilli with a beef and they used Bomp to kill the guy who lost. I have scoured the world for anything to back this up but I've got nothing. Could be complete bullshit, but it's odd it was thrown in by Fratianno. Bomp saying he knew him and he tricked him into digging his own grave. Best possibility is Paul Cimino, but I don't really think so. Can't find a connection between Bomp and Cimino.

[Villain]

Thanks Fab. The Midwest and West Coast used to be quite interesting back in the days.

[motorfab]

And yeah, Bartolottas pop up in Detroit mob research. I don't think Dan Bruno Bartolotta settled in LA. He's in the FBN book but I think he was just there for a time. It's pre Valachi hearings. He's listed in 1963 as a member in Detroit along with his brother Michael as members/section leaders(which most of us interpret as made members).

Yes you are probably right about Dan Bruno, I actually based on the FBN book, but I also think he was in California only passing through

Thanks Fab. The Midwest and West Coast used to be quite interesting back in the days.

My pleasure bro. Yes in addition to the rest, I have always found interesting all the connections between the 3 families of California and the rest of the other Borgatas.

I have recently become interested in Detroit (hence my shortcomings on the subject), but what I read from it is also very interesting. And in addition they were connected to Canada, the Bonannos, Italy and the French ... All the conditions are met so that I am interested more closely ^^

Which reminds me that I forgot to mention in my text Calogero Morceri who was on the run in Los Angeles during the 1940s and who was most likely a member of the Detroit family.

[Villain]

And yeah, Bartolottas pop up in Detroit mob research. I don't think Dan Bruno Bartolotta settled in LA. He's in the FBN book but I think he was just there for a time. It's pre Valachi hearings. He's listed in 1963 as a member in Detroit along with his brother Michael as members/section leaders(which most of us interpret as made members).

Yes you are probably right about Dan Bruno, I actually based on the FBN book, but I also think he was in California only passing through

Thanks Fab. The Midwest and West Coast used to be quite interesting back in the days.

My pleasure bro. Yes in addition to the rest, I have always found interesting all the connections between the 3 families of California and the rest of the other Borgatas.

I have recently become interested in Detroit (hence my shortcomings on the subject), but what I read from it is also very interesting. And in addition they were connected to Canada, the Bonannos, Italy and the French ... All the conditions are met so that I am interested more closely ^^

Chicago also had some "strange" connections on the west coast and even around the midwest which began forming since the mid/late 1920s conflicts. My point is, there are still many unexplained connections between LA and Chicago or between DET and LA or between DET and Chicago.

For example, I always wondered what was the connection between the Capones and the Zerillis....or regarding the connections between Roselli and Fratianno with Chicago (i know Ricca brought Roselli but I believe theres much more to it)...or between the Canzioneris/Canzoneris and Chicago etc. Or regarding Luccheses jurisdiction over LA while on the other hand we also have Giancana once presiding over a sit down between LA and another gang..

[motorfab]

Other guys transferring from the Chicago Outfit to Los Angeles /San Diego were Tony Pinelli & Gaspare J. Matranga/Joseph Vitale (no relation to the Detroit Matrangas). Pinelli in the 50s I think and Matranga in 1945

[Adam]

Which reminds me that I forgot to mention in my text Calogero Morceri who was on the run in Los Angeles during the 1940s and who was most likely a member of the Detroit family.

I think you're thinking of Leo Lips Moceri. Not a Detroit guy. Technically a Cleveland guy. But in the 30s-40s there were a bunch of Detroit/Cleveland crossovers especially with the Licavoli group.

[motorfab]

Which reminds me that I forgot to mention in my text Calogero Morceri who was on the run in Los Angeles during the 1940s and who was most likely a member of the Detroit family.

I think you're thinking of Leo Lips Moceri. Not a Detroit guy. Technically a Cleveland guy. But in the 30s-40s there were a bunch of Detroit/Cleveland crossovers especially with the Licavoli group.

Well, I've seen him listed on a report before as a former Detroit guy transfer to Cleveland. Or maybe after his time in L.A. he passed through Detroit before being integrated into Cleveland. Like I said, I'm not an expert on Detroit (and lesser for Cleveland) but I believe he was working with Licavoli in Toledo, Ohio back in the days

Anyway, given the amount of stuff he was involved with Weasel and others I'm pretty sure he was made by the time in L.A. ... But I'm not claiming to be absolutely right, you're maybe/probably right

[Villain]

Other guys transferring from the Chicago Outfit to Los Angeles /San Diego were Tony Pinelli & Gaspare J. Matranga/Joseph Vitale (no relation to the Detroit Matrangas). Pinelli in the 50s I think and Matranga in 1945

Thats right although Pinelli transferred his membership around 1964/65 (according to his files), besides previously being in LA. He escaped his elimination in 1945 during the conflict by going to LA but in 1952/53 he was brought back by Accardo, Giancana and Ferraro as the Outfits new rep in northwest Indiana. By the late 50s he was already under the FBIs radar and they were prepared to deport him but he beat the case and again went to LA and remained there until his death.

[Villain]

[motorfab]

Thanks Vill', I didn't remember the date, I only remembered he was in California during the 50's

As for Leo Lips, I relied on that

[Adam]

Moceri was the Cleveland underboss till he was murdered in 1976. He was deeply involved with the Licacoli gang, but he was a Cleveland member. They probably at some point lists Jack Licacoli as a Detroit member, but he was the Cleveland boss. Just a semantics thing. Moceri never answered to Detroit the way other actual Detroit members did. He wasn't part of the Detroit family.

[motorfab]

Moceri was the Cleveland underboss till he was murdered in 1976. He was deeply involved with the Licacoli gang, but he was a Cleveland member. They probably at some point lists Jack Licacoli as a Detroit member, but he was the Cleveland boss. Just a semantics thing. Moceri never answered to Detroit the way other actual Detroit members did. He wasn't part of the Detroit family.

I confirm, Licavoli too. Thanks for the clarification Adam

[Villain]

I have one question...was John Canzoneri/Canzioneri old time member of the LA fam or was he one of those Midwest-West Coast transfers?

[Villain]