Los Angeles odds & ends

[MichaelGiovanni]

My take is that Rosselli was made into the Los Angeles brugad and remained with L.A. until he transferred to Chicago after Dragna died. Based on a timeline of events he was in Chicago for a few months sometime between 1922 and early 1924. Capone wasn't the boss yet, Torrio was at that time. He apparently didn't meet Capone until 1927. He apparently met Joe Esposito and Paul Ricca before he met Capone. By 1925 he was with Tony Cornero doing bootlegging and then worked for Jimmy Costa (the same Jimmy Costa that Joe Bonanno visited when he vacationed in California). Maybe Costa sponsored him to be made (he could have been made under Ardizzone or Dragna), and then was direct to Dragna. In the Hollywood studios he was under Pat Casey, and Dragna often met with him in his office. The Hollywood extortion scheme was a cooperative venture between Chicago, Los Angeles, the Lucky Luciano Family, Kansas City, and the Jewish leaders Meyer Lansky, Lepke Buchalter, and Longy Zwillman. Frank Nitto ran the scheme and he was responsible for Willie Bioff. Rosselli was in the scheme for the Los Angeles Family, and in the scheme he operated under Nitto. However, there was at least one time that Willie Bioff tried to extort one of Rosselli's producer friends (I think it was Harry Cohn) and Rosselli threatened Bioff (which shows that when Chicago's interests conflicted with L.A.'s, he defended L.A.).

As for Anthony D'Acunto, I think he was an associate at best.

Who represented the Luciano family in the Hollywood extortion scheme?

In the book Lucky Luciano:The Real and the Fake Gangster author Tim Newark says that it was Luciano himself directly met with Frank Nitti and traveled to Hollywood many times to keep and eye on things.

[Antiliar]

My take is that Rosselli was made into the Los Angeles brugad and remained with L.A. until he transferred to Chicago after Dragna died. Based on a timeline of events he was in Chicago for a few months sometime between 1922 and early 1924. Capone wasn't the boss yet, Torrio was at that time. He apparently didn't meet Capone until 1927. He apparently met Joe Esposito and Paul Ricca before he met Capone. By 1925 he was with Tony Cornero doing bootlegging and then worked for Jimmy Costa (the same Jimmy Costa that Joe Bonanno visited when he vacationed in California). Maybe Costa sponsored him to be made (he could have been made under Ardizzone or Dragna), and then was direct to Dragna. In the Hollywood studios he was under Pat Casey, and Dragna often met with him in his office. The Hollywood extortion scheme was a cooperative venture between Chicago, Los Angeles, the Lucky Luciano Family, Kansas City, and the Jewish leaders Meyer Lansky, Lepke Buchalter, and Longy Zwillman. Frank Nitto ran the scheme and he was responsible for Willie Bioff. Rosselli was in the scheme for the Los Angeles Family, and in the scheme he operated under Nitto. However, there was at least one time that Willie Bioff tried to extort one of Rosselli's producer friends (I think it was Harry Cohn) and Rosselli threatened Bioff (which shows that when Chicago's interests conflicted with L.A.'s, he defended L.A.).

As for Anthony D'Acunto, I think he was an associate at best.

Who represented the Luciano family in the Hollywood extortion scheme?

Charlie Lucky himself and then Frank Costello. Many of the union headquarters were in New York City. Lepke Buchalter and Longy Zwillman also represented their interests.

[InCamelot]

My take is that Rosselli was made into the Los Angeles brugad and remained with L.A. until he transferred to Chicago after Dragna died. Based on a timeline of events he was in Chicago for a few months sometime between 1922 and early 1924. Capone wasn't the boss yet, Torrio was at that time. He apparently didn't meet Capone until 1927. He apparently met Joe Esposito and Paul Ricca before he met Capone. By 1925 he was with Tony Cornero doing bootlegging and then worked for Jimmy Costa (the same Jimmy Costa that Joe Bonanno visited when he vacationed in California). Maybe Costa sponsored him to be made (he could have been made under Ardizzone or Dragna), and then was direct to Dragna. In the Hollywood studios he was under Pat Casey, and Dragna often met with him in his office. The Hollywood extortion scheme was a cooperative venture between Chicago, Los Angeles, the Lucky Luciano Family, Kansas City, and the Jewish leaders Meyer Lansky, Lepke Buchalter, and Longy Zwillman. Frank Nitto ran the scheme and he was responsible for Willie Bioff. Rosselli was in the scheme for the Los Angeles Family, and in the scheme he operated under Nitto. However, there was at least one time that Willie Bioff tried to extort one of Rosselli's producer friends (I think it was Harry Cohn) and Rosselli threatened Bioff (which shows that when Chicago's interests conflicted with L.A.'s, he defended L.A.).

As for Anthony D'Acunto, I think he was an associate at best.

Who represented the Luciano family in the Hollywood extortion scheme?

Charlie Lucky himself and then Frank Costello. Many of the union headquarters were in New York City. Lepke Buchalter and Longy Zwillman also represented their interests.

Thanks, do you have any idea if the family had any direct representatives in LA once Vito Genovese was in power?

[Antiliar]

Thanks, do you have any idea if the family had any direct representatives in LA once Vito Genovese was in power?

The Genovese Family never had direct representatives in Los Angeles. Sometimes members had business arrangements with people out there. Frank Costello had some sort of arrangement with Mickey Cohen when he was around. Can't think of any from 1957 to 1969 when Genovese was boss (including while in prison). Colombo and Gambino members did come to LA though, starting in the early 1960s. There were also people from Chicago, Pueblo, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland and New Jersey who moved to southern Cali, but can't recall any Genovese people.

[Pogo The Clown]

Thanks, do you have any idea if the family had any direct representatives in LA once Vito Genovese was in power?

The Genovese Family never had direct representatives in Los Angeles. Sometimes members had business arrangements with people out there. Frank Costello had some sort of arrangement with Mickey Cohen when he was around. Can't think of any from 1957 to 1969 when Genovese was boss (including while in prison). Colombo and Gambino members did come to LA though, starting in the early 1960s. There were also people from Chicago, Pueblo, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland and New Jersey who moved to southern Cali, but can't recall any Genovese people.

One of the MF files from 1967 list a Louis Barbella as a Genovese member living in California.


Pogo

[InCamelot]

I wonder if the Genovese Sica's in NJ had any connection with Joe Sica in LA. Sica was never made, is it possible he informally 'belonged' to the Catena/Boiardo group

[InCamelot]

Thanks, do you have any idea if the family had any direct representatives in LA once Vito Genovese was in power?

The Genovese Family never had direct representatives in Los Angeles. Sometimes members had business arrangements with people out there. Frank Costello had some sort of arrangement with Mickey Cohen when he was around. Can't think of any from 1957 to 1969 when Genovese was boss (including while in prison). Colombo and Gambino members did come to LA though, starting in the early 1960s. There were also people from Chicago, Pueblo, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland and New Jersey who moved to southern Cali, but can't recall any Genovese people.

One of the MF files from 1967 list a Louis Barbella as a Genovese member living in California.


Pogo

Thanks Pogo just saw your LA 1967 thread.

[Antiliar]

Thanks, do you have any idea if the family had any direct representatives in LA once Vito Genovese was in power?

The Genovese Family never had direct representatives in Los Angeles. Sometimes members had business arrangements with people out there. Frank Costello had some sort of arrangement with Mickey Cohen when he was around. Can't think of any from 1957 to 1969 when Genovese was boss (including while in prison). Colombo and Gambino members did come to LA though, starting in the early 1960s. There were also people from Chicago, Pueblo, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland and New Jersey who moved to southern Cali, but can't recall any Genovese people.

One of the MF files from 1967 list a Louis Barbella as a Genovese member living in California.


Pogo

Glad you found one. Wonder if he was an active or a retired member.

[InCamelot]

Thanks, do you have any idea if the family had any direct representatives in LA once Vito Genovese was in power?

The Genovese Family never had direct representatives in Los Angeles. Sometimes members had business arrangements with people out there. Frank Costello had some sort of arrangement with Mickey Cohen when he was around. Can't think of any from 1957 to 1969 when Genovese was boss (including while in prison). Colombo and Gambino members did come to LA though, starting in the early 1960s. There were also people from Chicago, Pueblo, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland and New Jersey who moved to southern Cali, but can't recall any Genovese people.

One of the MF files from 1967 list a Louis Barbella as a Genovese member living in California.


Pogo

Glad you found one. Wonder if he was an active or a retired member.

Not sure if this is accurate, but at a glance he appeared to work for the Jimmy Angellino/Angellina crew - which was supposed to be Bronx/Westchester(?) based and ended up being considered Florida reps for the Westside via Matty Brown, Chinky, and I'm not sure if Ardito took this crew over eventually.

Also I think I read that Skyball Scibelli was taking bets in Palm Springs in the late 60s. Wonder if he had any contact with Barbella or anyone from the Angellina/Fortunato group.

Who did Scibelli answer to once he was transferred to the Genovese?

[InCamelot]

If Angellino took over at least some of Augie Carfano's interests, it would make sense that Louis Barbella is a continuation of that crew's link to California. Carfano had a solider George Scalise involved in the 40s extortion racket, didn't he?

[Antiliar]

It's speculation that George Scalise was under Carfano, but he could have been direct to the administration at the time he was a union leader. He could have even transferred to Chicago. At any rate, he was in New York and Chicago, not L.A. As for Scibelli, I thought he was under "Big Nose" Sam Cufari until he succeeded him as the capo of Springfield. But did Scibelli ever live in Cali?

This article details the life of George Scalise (full article is accessible thru academic libraries): https://academic-oup-com.eres.qnl.qa/js ... 917/920119

[InCamelot]

It's speculation that George Scalise was under Carfano, but he could have been direct to the administration at the time he was a union leader. He could have even transferred to Chicago. At any rate, he was in New York and Chicago, not L.A. As for Scibelli, I thought he was under "Big Nose" Sam Cufari until he succeeded him as the capo of Springfield. But did Scibelli ever live in Cali?

This article details the life of George Scalise (full article is accessible thru academic libraries): https://academic-oup-com.eres.qnl.qa/js ... 917/920119

Thanks, I see.

I figured Scibelli would have to clear it with someone before going out to take bets in California in the 60s. I think he only went out there annually or something though.

Was the speculation about Scalise and Carfano was rooted in some sort of evidence though?

[Antiliar]

Scalise was associated with Carfano, but we have to remember that guilt by association isn't always correct. Like you, I would probably put him in Carfano's crew, but I would also caution that it's only an educated guess.

[InCamelot]

Scalise was associated with Carfano, but we have to remember that guilt by association isn't always correct. Like you, I would probably put him in Carfano's crew, but I would also caution that it's only an educated guess.

For sure, thats important to remember.

Antiliar, in your research did you ever come across any info regarding Joe Sica of LA and whether he had connections to the NY families? I know he allegedly was never made by Dragna because of his loyalty to Mickey Cohen, but wondering if he was still "spoken for" by another group.

[Antiliar]

Scalise was associated with Carfano, but we have to remember that guilt by association isn't always correct. Like you, I would probably put him in Carfano's crew, but I would also caution that it's only an educated guess.

For sure, thats important to remember.

Antiliar, in your research did you ever come across any info regarding Joe Sica of LA and whether he had connections to the NY families? I know he allegedly was never made by Dragna because of his loyalty to Mickey Cohen, but wondering if he was still "spoken for" by another group.

A lot of the available material is outdated, at least the more useful material. Alfred Sica's FBI file, for example, only goes up to 1958. Recalling the Kefauver Committee, I think one of them testified to knowing Joe Adonis, but that isn't much to go on. Later the Sica brothers were caught up in the boxing scandal that including Louis Dragna, John Paul Carbo and Blinky Palermo. Carbo was a member of the Lucchese Family and previously was connected with so-called Murder Inc. and Bugsy Siegel. My impression is that they were really loyal to Mickey Cohen, and when Cohen wasn't around they shifted their loyalties to the Los Angeles Family. So I don't see any evidence of them being "spoken for" by any of the New York Families. Even Mickey Cohen, who by rights could have been "spoken for" by the Genovese Family, wasn't. He chose to be independent and maintained his connections to Frank Costello and the Milanos out of respect and friendship.