I was unaware that Riela allegedly spent time in Rockford in 1937- where did this info come from? The murder I imagine they thought he was involved in was the December 1937 murder of bookie Charles Kalb.B. wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:33 pm More info with the "Tony" reference in mind:
- An informant said he had seen Tony Riela with Vincenzo and Philip Mangano in the 1940s. However he thought the Manganos were murdered around 1946 so his timeline is off. Same informant said Settimo Accardi and Phil Mangano were compari.
- Riela told the FBI he had lived with Vincenzo Troia in Newark between 1931 and 1935.
- Riela and former Newark boss Stefano Badami also lived together for many years later on, even moving to different apartments together. They were also partners in the lumber business.
- I can't confirm any visits Riela made to Italy in the late 1930s but he did visit his wife and son there in 1946. They followed him to NJ in 1948.
- Riela did however spend time back in Rockford in 1937. He was suspected of being involved in a murder there at the end of the year. Seems likely Riela laid low in Rockford after the Newark Family conflict came to a head.
- Later became a business partner of Joe and Bill Bonanno. Also attended Apalachin as a member of the Bonanno Family.
He does come across as someone who could have been boss for a time, whatever the duration. We can't assume the Philly members got the story exactly right either, i.e. maybe he didn't flee to Italy in the immediate aftermath of the Newark break-up but went to Rockford and then visited Italy later which is what the records show.
It was determined through hotel records that Riela was staying at the Nelson Hotel in Rockford from June 7, 1944 and checked out on June 16, 1944. I know they tried to say that Riela was involved in the June 22, 1944 murder of Henry Lacks, but Riela was out of town by that time. It would be absurd to think Riela was "imported" back to Rockford to kill Kalb in 1937- that, I think was the local authorities inability to solve the crime and pin it on him. I have to wonder why Riela was in Rockford in 1944 and will have to cross reference what was going on at the time to see.