Visiting Pueblo, Colorado

[Antiliar]

Pueblo, CO

Boss: Vincenzo (James) Colletti AKA “Black Jim” (10/30/1897 [or 10/3/1897], Lucca Sicula, Agrigento-7/28/1975, Pueblo, CO)
Wife: Mary Castiglia
- Previous Wife: Giuseppina Piscopo
F: Vito Colletti
M: Pasquala Parlapiano
Address: 1415 Claremont Ave., Pueblo, CO; previously lived in Trinidad, CO
Former Addresses: 64 Jonier St., Rochester, NY (1918)
184 1st Ave., NYC (1923)
12 Main Street Block, Aguilar, CO (1950)
415 Claremont Ave., Pueblo, CO (1952)
Occupation: Fruit and Vegetable Dealer, Santa Fe Fruit Market, Pueblo County, CO; formerly part-owner of Colorado Cheese Company with Joseph Bonanno and Rosario Dionisio, until it went out of business in 1942 or 43 (another source says that Colorado Cheese was incorporated in the early 1950s with Colletti, Frank Garofalo, and Robert Victor Dionisio).
Immigrated to U.S.: 10/31/1913 on SS Principe Di Piemonte, destination Uncle Giuseppe Riggio, Peublo, CO
Served in U.S. Army in 1918
Naturalized 2/17/1920, NYC
Lived in NYC until 1941, where he worked as a clothes presser and salesman
Cousin of Joseph Colletti of Woodbridge, NJ
FBI# 761291C

Former Suspected Bosses:
Pietro (Pete) Carlino (c1922-1931)
Giuseppe (Joe) Roma (1931-1933)
Rosario Dionisio (d 1949, Trinidad, CO)

Pueblo Area Members:
Charles Vincent Blanda AKA Charles Jules Blanda (11/2/1899, Amesville, LA-2/20/1969, Pueblo, CO)
W: Cora Weaver, married 12/30/1922, Trinidad, CO
F: Giuseppe (Joseph) Blanda, Alia, Palermo
M: Giuseppa (Josephine) Biondolillo, Alia, Palermo (moved to 1787 E. 45th St., Los Angeles, CA, after husband died)
Address: 914 Eldorado Ave., Pueblo, CO (1920)
1208 Stone, Pueblo, CO (1930/1942)
1104 Carteret St., Pueblo, CO (1950)
Occupation: Tavern owner (1950)
Made around 1936 (per Frank Bompensiero)
FBI# 379778

Thomas (“Whiskers”) Incerto (6/15/1904, Pueblo, CO-12/20/1968, Pueblo, CO)
W: Jennie J. Sarlo
F: Giovanni (John) Incerto; Ancestry FT has Mirandola, Modena, Italy
M: Louisa Margaret, birthplace given as Italy, Switzerland or Nevada; Ancestry FT has Louisa Margaret Scossa Baggi of Malvaglia, Ticino, Switzerland
Address: 830 W. Pitkin, Pueblo, CO (1950)
Former Address: 423 East Ash, Pueblo, CO (1920/1942)
Occupation: Proprietor music machine business
Incarcerated, Colorado State Prison (released early in 1968 due to cancer)
FBI# 311433

Agostino (Gus) Salardino (3/27/1907, Monroe, LA-4/4/1985, Canon City, CO)
W: Doris Irene Nelson, married 5/12/1945, Seattle, WA
F: Giorgio (George) Salardino, born in Salaparuta per Ancestry FT
M: Vita Candela, born in Italy per Ancestry FT
Address: 1101 Main St., Canon City, CO (1950)
Former Address: May St., Rockvale, CO (1920)
Los Angeles, CA (1935)
811 S. 5th St., Canon City, CO (1940/1942)
Occupation: Staff Sergeant in US Army (1942-1945), Night club owner (1950)
Made around 1933 (per Frank Bompensiero)
Consigliere
Address: Canon City, CO

Joseph James (“Scotty”) Spinuzzi (3/12/1907, Napoleonville, LA-9/5/1975, Pueblo, CO)
W: Sylvia Amicantonio, married 1/25/1930, Pueblo, CO
F: Salvatore (Samuel) Spinuzzi, probably born in Alia, Palermo
M: Giuseppina (Josephine) DiGioia (DeJoy), born Alia, Palermo
Address: 2139 Wyoming St., Pueblo, CO (1950)
Former Address: Precinct 12, Pueblo, CO (1910)
105 Granite St., Pueblo, CO (1920)
1210 E. 10th St., Pueblo, CO (1942)
Occupation: None
Former Occupation: Pool Hall Operator (1940), Plumber’s Helper (1943)
Moved to Pueblo from Los Angeles to “cool off” from LCN racket activities (per Frank Bompensiero)
Made around 1936 (per Frank Bompensiero)
Succeeded James Colletti as boss
FBI# 294130

Denver Area Members and Associates:
Joseph Salardino (7/5/1905, Monroe, LA-1978, CO)
W: Elizabeth Brawley
F: Giorgio (George) Salardino, born in Salaparuta per Ancestry FT
M: Vita Candela, born in Italy per Ancestry FT
Address: 2430 W. 41st Ave., Denver, CO
Former Address: May St., Rockvale, CO (1920)
Los Angeles, CA (1935)
811 S. 5th St., Canon City, CO (1940)
113 ½ E. Abriendo, Pueblo, CO (1942)
531 Main St., Canon City, CO (1950)
Occupation: Part-owner of night club (1950)
Brother of Agostino (Gus) Salardino
Made around 1933 (per Frank Bompensiero)
Former underboss
FBI# 294130

Clyde George Smaldone AKA “Flip Flop” (8/27/1906, Denver, CO-1/7/1998, Denver, CO)
W: Mildred D. Wackenreuter, married 8/28/1928, Pueblo, CO
F: Raffaele (Ralph) Smaldone, Potenza, Basilicata
M: Mamie Figliolino, Missouri, parents from Italy
Address: 3042 W. 41st St., Denver, CO
Former Address: 3203 Mansford, Denver, CO (1910)
Colorado State Penitentiary, Canon City, CO (1942)
3042 W. 41st St., Denver, CO (1930/1950)
Occupation: Beverage tavern owner (1950), Gaetano’s Italian Restaurant
Brother of Eugene and Clarence
FBI# 672372

Eugene (“Checkers”) Smaldone (7/8/1910, Denver, CO-3/10/1992, Denver, CO)
W: Frances M. Cefalu
Address: 3314 W. 37th St., Denver, CO
Occupation: salesman
Brother of Clyde and Clarence
FBI# 589866

Clarence Michael (“Chauncey”) Smaldone (2/8/1924, Denver, CO-10/16/2006, Broomfield, CO)
W: Pauline Blasi
Address: 3756 W. 38th St., Denver, CO (1950)
Occupation: bartender
Brother of Clyde and Eugene
Promoted to caporegime before Scotty Spinuzzi went to prison, c1973
FBI# 531036C

Paul Clyde Villano (1/3/1928, Denver, CO-11/12/2003, Arapahoe County, CO)
Never married
F: Michelangelo Roxie (Michael) Villano, born in Denver, CO, to parents from Potenza, Basilicata.
M: Corrine Smaldone
Address: 3048 W. 41st St., Denver, CO
Former Address: 3068 W. 41st St., Denver, CO (1930)
3048 W. 41st St., Denver, CO (1940)
Occupation: Office manager, State TV & Appliance (1966)
Nephew of the Smaldone brothers
Last known boss of Colorado crime family.
FBI# 684843B

Former Members:
Carlo (Charles) Carlino (k. 9/10/1923)
Pietro (Pete) Carlino (1890-k. 9/10/1931)
Salvatore (Sam) Carlino (1884-k. 5/6/1931)
Marco Chiappetta
Vincenzo Chiappetta
Antonino (Tony) D’Anna (k. 5/14/1926)
Giovanni (John) D’Anna
Pietro (Pete) D’Anna (k. 5/14/1926)
Salvatore (Sam) D’Anna
Rosario Desimone
Rosario Dinisio (d. 1949, Trinidad, CO)
Giovanni Mule AKA John Mulay (k. 2/27/1923)
Pellegrino Scaglia (k. 5/6/1922, Pueblo, CO)
Vincenzo Urso (k. 6/19/1923)

1950 FBN Mafia Suspects List:
Robert Victor Dionisio, Trinidad
Charles Blanda, Pueblo
Joe Bonanno, Trinidad
Carl Cassio [Cascio], Pueblo
Joe Dionisio, Trinidad
Frank Mazza, Denver
Talico Micheliza, Trinidad
Anthony Mistretta, Denver
Frank Mortellaro, Denver
Mike Pedrotti, Denver
John Pricco, Trinidad
Joe Salardino, Canon City
Ben Sardegna, Trinidad
Eugene Smaldone, Denver
Gaetano Smaldone AKA Clyde Smaldone, Denver
James Spinelli, Denver
Paul Surace, Trinidad

[PolackTony]

This is great stuff, thanks for posting.

You may have seen that Colorado Cheese had a Chicago Agrigentino connection, as one of its employees was Settimo Vitello, possible Chicago member and brother of Unione Siciliana President Constantino Vitello, from Grotte.

viewtopic.php?p=239803#p239803

[PolackTony]

Eugene Smaldone’s wife being a Frances Cefalu jumped out at me from currently looking at Milwaukee. I note that she was born in 1911 in Denver to Giuseppe Cefalu of Porticello, Santa Flavia, and Giuseppa LaBruzza if Roccapalumba. Vito Seidita of the Milwaukee outfit was married to a Francesca Cefalu from Santa Flavia, possibility that these Cefalus were related.

[Antiliar]

I saw a marriage record for a Vincenza Musso and a Charles Colletti and wondered about another Rockford connection, but no, these Mussos came from Lucca Sicula.

[cavita]

I saw a marriage record for a Vincenza Musso and a Charles Colletti and wondered about another Rockford connection, but no, these Mussos came from Lucca Sicula.

Rockford did have some connected Rockford people that moved to Denver...two that come to mind are the Triolo family and Salvatore LaFranka, who basically left Rockford because of getting in too deep with the Rockford LCN.

[Angelo Santino]

Thank you for starting this.

[Patrickgold]

Any idea when the Smaldone brothers were made? Also, Colorado seemed to be like New England. With power transferring from Pueblo to Denver whenever there was a change in boss from those cities

[Antiliar]

Any idea when the Smaldone brothers were made? Also, Colorado seemed to be like New England. With power transferring from Pueblo to Denver whenever there was a change in boss from those cities

No idea. If you were to request their files there *might* be a source that says, but I think it's pretty unlikely. It's interesting that the FBI suspected that Clyde and Checkers were made members in the 1960s, but in 1973/1974 it was their younger brother who was promoted to capo. As for its power base, it may have transferred from Pueblo to Denver twice. Many sources claim Joe Roma became boss in 1931 after Pete Carlino was killed, but it hasn't been verified and plenty of people have their doubts. There is no doubt, however, that the power base switched from Pueblo to Denver after Scotty Spinuzzi died (actually earlier when he went to prison).

[Patrickgold]

Any idea when the Smaldone brothers were made? Also, Colorado seemed to be like New England. With power transferring from Pueblo to Denver whenever there was a change in boss from those cities

No idea. If you were to request their files there *might* be a source that says, but I think it's pretty unlikely. It's interesting that the FBI suspected that Clyde and Checkers were made members in the 1960s, but in 1973/1974 it was their younger brother who was promoted to capo. As for its power base, it may have transferred from Pueblo to Denver twice. Many sources claim Joe Roma became boss in 1931 after Pete Carlino was killed, but it hasn't been verified and plenty of people have their doubts. There is no doubt, however, that the power base switched from Pueblo to Denver after Scotty Spinuzzi died (actually earlier when he went to prison).

I believe Clyde completely retired from the business when he was released from his last gambling arrest in the late 60s. Both Eugene and Clarence were last busted in the 80s. That was basically the last case involving home grown Colorado LCN. I do believe Eugene Jr is still alive and have heard rumors that he was made but have no idea if that is true

[B.]

Louis Boschetto could be included as a possible member. Identified as a Wyoming-based made member by Salvatore Costanza in San Jose but it wasn't confirmed which Family he was with, only that he was an amico nos tasked with keeping tabs on a visiting SJ member. The FBI forwarded his info to the Denver FBI office and it's most likely he was with Colorado.

Lodovico "Louis" Boschetto
1898 - 1977
Residence: Rock Springs, Wyoming
POB: Salorno, South Tyrol (Part of Austria when he was born)
Profession: Motel Owner / Former US Senator

[Angelo Santino]

1950 FBN Mafia Suspects List:
Robert Victor Dionisio, Trinidad
Charles Blanda, Pueblo
Joe Bonanno, Trinidad
Carl Cassio [Cascio], Pueblo
Joe Dionisio, Trinidad
Frank Mazza, Denver
Talico Micheliza, Trinidad
Anthony Mistretta, Denver
Frank Mortellaro, Denver
Mike Pedrotti, Denver
John Pricco, Trinidad
Joe Salardino, Canon City
Ben Sardegna, Trinidad
Eugene Smaldone, Denver
Gaetano Smaldone AKA Clyde Smaldone, Denver
James Spinelli, Denver
Paul Surace, Trinidad

Just so I'm clear, you listed the FBI suspected members in the 50's which is semi-separate from the list above, meaning some names could be on there twice? You have Joseph Salardino and Charles Blanda as confirmed 1963 and also as Suspected 1950. I just want to make sure there weren't guys with the same name.

Also, could Joe Bonanno be Joe Bonino?

[Angelo Santino]

Ben Sardegna was born in NYC and died in NY in 1972. A 1935 Trinidad, CO directory does list him but he doesn't appear to have been in Colorado long. His father Santo and mother Cosima LNU were from Lercara Friddi.

[Angelo Santino]

Done. Last two names I can't find much info on is

Joseph Bonanno Suspected Soldier Pueblo

Giuseppe Roma "Joe" 7/26/1895 Catanzaro, Calabria Nettie Greco Fmr Boss - 1931-1933 Denver Murdered 2/18/1933
I can't find him in the census, his arrival, nothing.

[Antiliar]

1950 FBN Mafia Suspects List:
Robert Victor Dionisio, Trinidad
Charles Blanda, Pueblo
Joe Bonanno, Trinidad
Carl Cassio [Cascio], Pueblo
Joe Dionisio, Trinidad
Frank Mazza, Denver
Talico Micheliza, Trinidad
Anthony Mistretta, Denver
Frank Mortellaro, Denver
Mike Pedrotti, Denver
John Pricco, Trinidad
Joe Salardino, Canon City
Ben Sardegna, Trinidad
Eugene Smaldone, Denver
Gaetano Smaldone AKA Clyde Smaldone, Denver
James Spinelli, Denver
Paul Surace, Trinidad

Just so I'm clear, you listed the FBI suspected members in the 50's which is semi-separate from the list above, meaning some names could be on there twice? You have Joseph Salardino and Charles Blanda as confirmed 1963 and also as Suspected 1950. I just want to make sure there weren't guys with the same name.

Also, could Joe Bonanno be Joe Bonino?

Yes, I typed the FBN list which could duplicate names from the FBI. As far as I know Joe Bonanno is the New York boss.