West Virginia mobsters/gangsters

[Geekgang666]

William "Big Bill" Lias (1900-1970) was a racketeer from West Virginia. Lias was born in Greece; Lias controlled the illegal rackets in Wheeling, West Virginia with an iron fist and had an extensive web of mob ties. The rotund Racketeer was associated with the Purple Gang of Detroit and was also the subject of a Life magazine article. He had four convictions and served a couple of prison terms for illegal booze, though many acquaintances hint that he got away with much more than those charged. He was questioned in the death of his first wife, Gladys, the explosion at Nick Frank's Coffee Shop, the bombing of "Skinny" Thorton's home, the fire at Sam Grossfield's, and the car bombing of rival gangster Paul Hankish. He was suspected of being behind the shooting of his cousin Mike days before he was to testify against Lias. Bill owned or had interests in the Wheeling Downs Race Track, Zeller's Steak House, Club Diamond, White Front, The Bachelor's Club, and the Roosevelt Restaurant. In 1948, Lias was charged with tax evasion and, four years later, his beloved Wheeling Downs was seized. In 1953, the federal government failed in its attempt to deport Wheeling's most infamous citizen. Lias mimicked an Al Capone gimmick to garner public support, giving away turkeys to Wheeling's poor citizens during Thanksgiving.

[Geekgang666]

Paul "No Legs" Hankish (1931-1998) was a West Virginia mobster who had close ties to the Pittsburgh crime family. Hankish was born on July 8, 1931, in Wheeling, Ohio, West Virginia. Hankish was involved in crime since the 1950's. In 1964, William "Big Bill" Lias who was the the boss of the West Virginian faction of the Pittsburgh Crime Family, managed to have a car bomb detonated which blew off Hankish's legs and brought about the grizzly nickname "No Legs." Undeterred, Hankish moved in on Lias' territory and staked his claim on behalf of the Pittsburgh syndicate. In 1974 Hankish was slapped with a 10-year prison sentence for allegedly hijacking a beer truck. By the early 1980's Hankish was back out on the streets. Hankish was known to make his money from gambling and vending machines but it was narcotics trafficking that brought in cash, a portion of the money was kicked up to the Pittsburgh crime family. In 1988 Hankish was indicted on multiple racketeering counts. The acts included illegal gambling, extortion, murder conspiracy and narcotics trafficking. Hankish was sentenced to 33 years in prison and died on May 1998.

[Geekgang666]

John "Little John" Lecesse was a bootlegger from Clarksburg, West Virginia and was also a member in the Black Hand Mafia. According to Lecesse, he got involved with the black hand around 1921-1922. In 1923 Lecesse was arrested in a round-up in West Virginia. While being questioned by the police Lecesse decided to become an informant. Lecesse was one of the first gangsters to tell a detailed story of all of the killings that were going on in West Virginia. Lecesse statement ended up arresting Patsy Corbi who was the older brother of Frank Corbi, who was a Gambino crime family capo in Baltimore, MD.

[Geekgang666]

William "Big Bill" Lias (1900-1970) was a racketeer from West Virginia. Lias was born in Greece; Lias controlled the illegal rackets in Wheeling, West Virginia with an iron fist and had an extensive web of mob ties. The rotund Racketeer was associated with the Purple Gang of Detroit and was also the subject of a Life magazine article. He had four convictions and served a couple of prison terms for illegal booze, though many acquaintances hint that he got away with much more than those charged. He was questioned in the death of his first wife, Gladys, the explosion at Nick Frank's Coffee Shop, the bombing of "Skinny" Thorton's home, the fire at Sam Grossfield's, and the car bombing of rival gangster Paul Hankish. He was suspected of being behind the shooting of his cousin Mike days before he was to testify against Lias. Bill owned or had interests in the Wheeling Downs Race Track, Zeller's Steak House, Club Diamond, White Front, The Bachelor's Club, and the Roosevelt Restaurant. In 1948, Lias was charged with tax evasion and, four years later, his beloved Wheeling Downs was seized. In 1953, the federal government failed in its attempt to deport Wheeling's most infamous citizen. Lias mimicked an Al Capone gimmick to garner public support, giving away turkeys to Wheeling's poor citizens during Thanksgiving.

[Eline2015]

On maryferrell's documents Lias was alligned with the Detroit mob and Licavoli's

[Raven]

http://www.wvgenweb.org/raleigh/clippings/black.htm

blackhand article from Raleigh Co., WV

[FriendofHenry]

Why no mention of the Casinos along Rt. 30 in Chester, WVa? I'm sure you must be aware that they were run by Jo Jo Pecora and Chuck Teemer.

[willychichi]

William "Big Bill" Lias (1900-1970) was a racketeer from West Virginia. Lias was born in Greece; Lias controlled the illegal rackets in Wheeling, West Virginia with an iron fist and had an extensive web of mob ties. The rotund Racketeer was associated with the Purple Gang of Detroit and was also the subject of a Life magazine article. He had four convictions and served a couple of prison terms for illegal booze, though many acquaintances hint that he got away with much more than those charged. He was questioned in the death of his first wife, Gladys, the explosion at Nick Frank's Coffee Shop, the bombing of "Skinny" Thorton's home, the fire at Sam Grossfield's, and the car bombing of rival gangster Paul Hankish. He was suspected of being behind the shooting of his cousin Mike days before he was to testify against Lias. Bill owned or had interests in the Wheeling Downs Race Track, Zeller's Steak House, Club Diamond, White Front, The Bachelor's Club, and the Roosevelt Restaurant. In 1948, Lias was charged with tax evasion and, four years later, his beloved Wheeling Downs was seized. In 1953, the federal government failed in its attempt to deport Wheeling's most infamous citizen. Lias mimicked an Al Capone gimmick to garner public support, giving away turkeys to Wheeling's poor citizens during Thanksgiving.

Good read geekgang666 thanks for posting

[Stroccos]

Why no mention of the Casinos along Rt. 30 in Chester, WVa? I'm sure you must be aware that they were run by Jo Jo Pecora and Chuck Teemer.

jockey club?

[FriendofHenry]

Why no mention of the Casinos along Rt. 30 in Chester, WVa? I'm sure you must be aware that they were run by Jo Jo Pecora and Chuck Teemer.

jockey club?

First was Club 30 then The Jockey Club where they got busted for bring in their dealers over the State line and finally The Red Dog.
All these dinner clubs/casinos were located in the Panhandle area of WVa on the border of Pennsylvania on Rt. 30.

[Stroccos]

Why no mention of the Casinos along Rt. 30 in Chester, WVa? I'm sure you must be aware that they were run by Jo Jo Pecora and Chuck Teemer.

jockey club?

First was Club 30 then The Jockey Club where they got busted for bring in their dealers over the State line and finally The Red Dog.
All these dinner clubs/casinos were located in the Panhandle area of WVa on the border of Pennsylvania on Rt. 30.

Thanks for the info , I haven’t read anything about these clubs . I know frank brancato grandson wrote a book about some of the Cleveland area ones . I haven’t picked it up yet .

I also belive lias was connected to Cleveland as well ,

[FriendofHenry]

Club 30 was a big time Supper Club and Casino. That's where my Dad first met Jo Jo and Chuck. Henry started out as a bus-boy there.
They had Las Vegas style New Years Eve parties with free Vegas style buffets. They had Joey Bishop one New Years Eve.
Jo Jo and Chuck ended up buying the property after they moved across the street to The Jockey Club.
Chuck put in a a small par 3 golf course and Jo Jo built a nice ranch home on some of the property on RT. 30 so he didn't come in from Pittsburgh.
Chuck and Lil lived in a double Wide behind the back door entrance of The Jockey Club. Henry also built a house not far off Rt. 30 also in WVa.