Looking for info on Jimmie DeGeorge- Chicago

[cavita]

Can anyone give me some quality info on Jimmie DeGeorge (aha Vincenzo DiGiorgio) Chicago Outfit member- I'm looking for things like birthdate, place of birth, standing in the Outfit, arrests, timeline-type info. I don't want to rely on any websites and can't find anything good other than the basics.



Thanks,


cavita

[Dwalin2014]

I have the 1969 book "Captive city" by Ovid Demaris, it has short descriptions/biographies of the main mafiosi in the Outfit known at the time, at the end of the book; there is one for DeGeorge too, I copy it here. Unfortunately the book isn't available in electronic format, at least I never found it.

DeGeorge, James

AKA: (nee Vincenzo DeGiorgi), Don Vincenzo

DESCRIPTION: Born about 1898; RO: Sicilian; FH: both sons suffered violent deaths; daughter, Louise (Mrs. Anthony Pinelli, Jr.); brother-in-law, Frank Tallo (murder victim); brother, Charles.

FREQUENTS: Resides at 3716 N. Kedvale Ave. (mysteriously destroyed by fire on Jan. 7, 1966); Triple D Ranch, Route 2, Hancock, Wis.- a 6,000-acre black Angus cattle ranch, protected by watch-dogs, private guards and alarm system.

RECORD: First arrested in 1922 with his brother, Charles, for the gang-type murder of Frank Fondanetta, no indictment returned, also arrested as an accessory to murder in 1933.

BUSINESS: Extensive national interests in the Italian olive oil, grapes, cheese, bread and macaroni industries.

MODUS OPERANDI: Got his start in the early 1920s in the Italian bread industry. A power in the grape business in Chicago, which he buys in carload lots in California and sells to Italians for home wine making. Dominates Wisconsin rackets, and credited by local and federal authorities as the absentee ganglord of rackets in Lake County, Indiana. Ranks in the upper echelon of the Mafia. A member of the Syndicate's board of directors.

By the way, if his Italian name was Vincenzo, why did they call him James in English? Vincent would be more logical. The Italian name for James is Giacomo (for example, Big Jim Colosimo was originally Giacomo Colosimo I think).

[cavita]

I've seen a couple instances where guys use James/Jimmy for Vincenzo, why it is I don't know. It could be he didn't use it but others called him that and it stuck. By the way, thanks for the info- I've seen two places of birth for DiGiorgio- Reggio di Calabria and Ribera. I am almost 100% certain he was from Ribera though.

[Frank]

Just recently heard of him. Didn't know he was that high up. Thought he was capo in the 1930s or 40s. Was he in one of the mafia Families consolidated into the Outfit I wonder.

[Villain]

DeGeorge was connected to the old North Side mob which began transfering to LA regarding the grape business annd the many murders. I wrote regarding the situation in my food business article. So his crew was formed possibly by former members or associates of the old North Side mob and also members from different crews such as the Gloriana gang. It is possible that when the Capone mob became in charge over the Mafia, or during the 1930's, at first DeGeorge answered to Nitto and later became a boss in his own right. When Nitto killed himself and the top administration went to jail, it is possible that DeGeorge wanted to takeover the Outfit. So during the 1940's when many members of his crew were getting killed, there was allegedly a contract on his head also but later it was removed, so he stepped down and went to Wisconsin. After that, meaning 1947/48 Ross Prio took over his crew.

Im not sure regarding DeGeorges presence in northern Indiana, but one of his underlings was brought back from LA during the early 1950s and became the boss of that area, Tony Pinelli and ran the territory together with Morgano and Zizzo. And it is possible that the northern Indiana faction answered to the Chicago Heights mob at the time.

[Confederate]

Villain, Do you think that the Top Boss of the Outfit from say 1940 onward had his own Crew?
In other words, is it possible that the Outfit was made up of say 6 or 7 Bosses each of his own Crew, but the Boss of the strongest Crew was the Top Boss of the Outfit?
Maybe all the Bosses were partnered with the Top Boss on certain things but then maybe each crew operated autonomously on many others things within their own respective territories? Is it possible that the Boss (for example) of the Chicago Heights Crew could order a murder if it pertained to only something in his area? Chicago still seems somewhat different than New York but maybe I'm wrong?

[Villain]

Villain, Do you think that the Top Boss of the Outfit from say 1940 onward had his own Crew?
In other words, is it possible that the Outfit was made up of say 6 or 7 Bosses each of his own Crew, but the Boss of the strongest Crew was the Top Boss of the Outfit?
Maybe all the Bosses were partnered with the Top Boss on certain things but then maybe each crew operated autonomously on many others things within their own respective territories? Is it possible that the Boss (for example) of the Chicago Heights Crew could order a murder if it pertained to only something in his area? Chicago still seems somewhat different than New York but maybe I'm wrong?

Ill try to explain it like this...When Capone went to jail, his main strongholds which were Cicero and the South Side were no.more, meaning the West Side faction took over the organization, which was headed by the so-called Taylor St crew. Ricca was at the top, Campagna was his second in command, guys like Rio (Melrose Park) Maritote (Grand Av) and D'Andrea (First Ward) were in their alliance and the rest of the guys were somehow forced to follow their lead, since they placed their own members or allies as overseers of bigger and possibly "unstable" territories such as the North and South Sides. Proof for "unstable" is DeGeorges alleged move and also Roti once tried to make a financial move on the younger Taylor St generation.

It was all politics and business, meaning tbere was no old traditions or respect. When Ricca, Campagna, Nitto and D'Andrea took over, by the end of the 1930s or 1940, they began sharing other territories. For example, when Ralph Capone went to Wisconsin, his territory was divided on north and south Cicero. The south part belonged to Maddox and Heeney together with the up and comming faces such as Auippa and Ansani. As for the north part, which was considered some kind of an open territory, it was taken over by Campagna since previously some Taylor St members transfered in that area. They kept the Cicero area divided for a long time period.

Also the Lawndale area was divided between the Jewish syndicate and Maritote, the boss of the Grand Avenue crew. After the imprisonment of Maritote and the deaths of many Jewish criminals, by the late 1940s the Taylor St crew infiltrated its own representatives such as Battaglia, Caifano together with the traitors of the Jewish syndicate Patrick and Yaras. When Giancana became boss, Caifano represented a part of the Rush St area, Battaglia became boss of the Melrose Park crew, and Patrick/Yaras took over Lawndale and later also a part of Rogers Park.

When Nitto and Carozzo, the bosses of the Near North Side died, and after DeGeorges fall, since it used to be the most lucrative part from the whole North at the time, later their territory was divided between the Northsiders and the Taylor St crew (Caifano Rush St). Taylor St allies, the Fischettis (their old territory from the Capone era was the Southwest) also had their own territory on the North Side until Charlies death i think.

So I believe more in an inevitable alliance which completes the power of a certain crew at the top rather than in a complete leadrship of one single group. Anyone who tried to make a move was often betrayed by his own people and was usually eliminated. Every boss took care of his own areas except for high profile jobs(takin over some huge union) or problems (murder of a member (Chicagos status of member at the time was different) or high profile target like politician or big businessman) and operations in different areas (northern Indiana is out of Chicago and so it answers to the nearest Chi crew)or open territories (Nevada Arizona Florida). After previous talk with Ricca (top boss) or Campagna (previous underboss and semiretired boss), then Accardo (chief executive and later took Campagnas position) and Giancana (chief executive) were the guys who usually gave the ok for the murder contracts through LaPorte (close to the bosses and chief executives) Alex (close to underboss and bosses) or Ferraro (underboss) and then to Battaglia (capo who later became underboss) or Buccieri ( capo) or whoever was available like Cerone for example. Also dont forget that during one short period Giancana gave orders on his own since his real boss Campagna was dead, Ricca was in jail and Accardo almost joined him, meaning he had too many legal problems at the time.

@Cavita sorry for going off topic

[Villain]

I've seen a couple instances where guys use James/Jimmy for Vincenzo, why it is I don't know. It could be he didn't use it but others called him that and it stuck. By the way, thanks for the info- I've seen two places of birth for DiGiorgio- Reggio di Calabria and Ribera. I am almost 100% certain he was from Ribera though.

In addition, maybe im wrong but I believe that the Don Vincenzo nickname mightve belonged also to Vincent Benevento, who in turn was one of his high level underlings with operations on the North Side but mainly on Grand Avenue and it is possible that he was the one who made the conspiracy (obviously backed by some from different cities) against the Outfits top leadership, especially Accardo who was about to take the chief executive position and also it might explain DeGeorges pass. It is also possible that the gov investigators or the newspaper men mixed up something regarding the nickname thing since both DeGeorge and Benevento are named the "Don" in different articles and reports, possibly because of their same names

[Frank]

What other cities we're involved in conspiracy. I thought it was a power struggle against Accardo by certain Outfit Capos since Nitti killed himself and most of the rest went to prison. Didn't Benevento and Mangano get whacked and maybe others. Accardo's position was pretty secure since he was chosen by Ricca, and Campagna and maybe Charles Fischetti to run things as acting boss with help from Guzek and Humphreys. So I don't see where another city would be involved.

[Villain]

What other cities we're involved in conspiracy. I thought it was a power struggle against Accardo by certain Outfit Capos since Nitti killed himself and most of the rest went to prison. Didn't Benevento and Mangano get whacked and maybe others. Accardo's position was pretty secure since he was chosen by Ricca, and Campagna and maybe Charles Fischetti to run things as acting boss with help from Guzek and Humphreys. So I don't see where another city would be involved.

I dont remember really where i read about this but i think that it was possibly some people from KC and also from St. Louis, two fams which were closely connected at the time. In Cosa Nostra, if somebody want to make a move on a boss, he was first obliged to get the backup from other bosses or the situation might end up quite the opposite. So in this example there were no five families in one city but instead there were other midwest families who possibly had other interests and expectations. And in the end someone obviously betrayed the rebels. I know almost nothing regarding the St Louis mob but in 1943 one Thomas Buffa fled town and was later killed in 1947. So maybe its a coincidence, and if somebody knows anything regarding the subject, pls share it with us

[Dwalin2014]

In addition, maybe im wrong but I believe that the Don Vincenzo nickname mightve belonged also to Vincent Benevento, who in turn was one of his high level underlings with operations on the North Side but mainly on Grand Avenue and it is possible that he was the one who made the conspiracy (obviously backed by some from different cities) against the Outfits top leadership, especially Accardo who was about to take the chief executive position and also it might explain DeGeorges pass. It is also possible that the gov investigators or the newspaper men mixed up something regarding the nickname thing since both DeGeorge and Benevento are named the "Don" in different articles and reports, possibly because of their same names

Thanks for the information, so "The Don" was Vincent Benvenuto after all? Because, in the description of this conspiracy/rebellion in the book about Ricca and Accardo by Tony Dark, it's said the FBI was initially confused because "The Don" was Paul Ricca's nickname too, so when they received information that "The Don" at the head of the conspiracy was whacked, they checked that Ricca was still alive, and got it that there was some misunderstanding.

Sorry I didn't write the entire quote, it's rather long, has to be typed entirely, unfortunately this book isn't available in electronic format either, on paper only. But, if you want, I can copy it later. An interesting book by the way, very detailed, not just about Ricca and Accardo, many their "colleagues" too, Ricca's short activity in Italy etc. Interesting that his father, Antonio De Lucia, was a camorra boss and went to jail after the war with the Perillo clan, where Ricca committed 2 murders at least (convicted for the 1st one he did when still underage).

Also, interesting that DeGeorge wasn't Campanian, unlike most of the first Outfit leaders. I though initially that it looked more like a camorra group than Cosa Nostra (although Capone's outfit was "recognized" as Cosa Nostra by other bosses in 1931 only anyway, if I remember well?).

[Villain]

In addition, maybe im wrong but I believe that the Don Vincenzo nickname mightve belonged also to Vincent Benevento, who in turn was one of his high level underlings with operations on the North Side but mainly on Grand Avenue and it is possible that he was the one who made the conspiracy (obviously backed by some from different cities) against the Outfits top leadership, especially Accardo who was about to take the chief executive position and also it might explain DeGeorges pass. It is also possible that the gov investigators or the newspaper men mixed up something regarding the nickname thing since both DeGeorge and Benevento are named the "Don" in different articles and reports, possibly because of their same names

Thanks for the information, so "The Don" was Vincent Benvenuto after all? Because, in the description of this conspiracy/rebellion in the book about Ricca and Accardo by Tony Dark, it's said the FBI was initially confused because "The Don" was Paul Ricca's nickname too, so when they received information that "The Don" at the head of the conspiracy was whacked, they checked that Ricca was still alive, and got it that there was some misunderstanding.

Sorry I didn't write the entire quote, it's rather long, has to be typed entirely, unfortunately this book isn't available in electronic format either, on paper only. But, if you want, I can copy it later. An interesting book by the way, very detailed, not just about Ricca and Accardo, many their "colleagues" too, Ricca's short activity in Italy etc. Interesting that his father, Antonio De Lucia, was a camorra boss and went to jail after the war with the Perillo clan, where Ricca committed 2 murders at least (convicted for the 1st one he did when still underage).

Also, interesting that DeGeorge wasn't Campanian, unlike most of the first Outfit leaders. I though initially that it looked more like a camorra group than Cosa Nostra (although Capone's outfit was "recognized" as Cosa Nostra by other bosses in 1931 only anyway, if I remember well?).

Heres one document regarding Benevento...

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 0de%20john

Also i really dont know when exactly DeGeorge joined the Outfit and so i can only speculate that if he was considered big time during the 1930s, than its quite possible that he joined the time after Capone was brought into Cosa Nostra and began creating his own family or crew at the time.

And something additional regarding Riccas family, during the 1890s the city of Naples was sick with cholera epidemic, and so Riccas dad took his family to Ottaviano, a municipality located on the other side of the Vesuvian area. This was a huge problem for the Camorra and the city of Naples in general since their port was briefly closed down and the port in Genoa completely took over the business. Also years later when Ricca was an old man, he ordered Accardo to go to Naples and bring one of Ricca’s sisters who.in turn was deported back to her homeland by US officials since she was convicted of a murder in Italy, few years back. What a family lol

[cavita]

This all good info...the kind of things I'm looking for! What exactly did DeGeorge do that caused him to fall out of favor and get "banished" to Wisconsin? As I recall, he was a major bookie on Chicago's northside as well. Did that have anything to do with it?

[Frank]

I'm not saying your wrong I can see where trying to take advantage of the top leadership being imprisoned by different factions and other Families. This part of Outfit history is not well known. I'm not sure if Lawrence Mangano was killed as a enemy of the Administration or because he backed the administration. Read where this Benevento was killed for trying to make a power grab against Accardo. With the whacking of Mayor Cermak and the way the leadership basically bought there way out of prison in the 1940's something Luciano couldn't do, I always think of these guys as to powerful for anyone to mess with.

[Villain]

This all good info...the kind of things I'm looking for! What exactly did DeGeorge do that caused him to fall out of favor and get "banished" to Wisconsin? As I recall, he was a major bookie on Chicago's northside as well. Did that have anything to do with it?

I believe that he was ousted because of his incompetence to lead and control his own crew.


@Frank I believe that Mangano allegedly hijacked one of Accardos cigarette shipments