Organized Crime Figure. Born Domenico Brucceleri, he was an Italian-American mobster and head of the Los Angeles crime family of the Mafia during the mid-1970s who mainly worked in pornography, extortion and gambling. In the 1940s, he joined Mickey Cohen's syndicate gambling operations in Southern California during the Sunset Wars and later defected to rival Los Angeles mobster Jack Dragna's crime family. In 1947, Brooklier he became a made man in the family. While working for Dragna, he unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Cohen as he left a restaurant. From 1947 to 1953, Brooklier worked closely with family member Jimmy Fratianno in loan sharking, and at some time in the late 1960s, Brooklier was promoted to caporegime in charge of a crew in Orange County, where he also lived. On October 19, 1974, family boss Nick Licata died and Brooklier was elected the new boss. That same year, he and new underboss Samuel Sciortino were charged with racketeering. In 1975, Brooklier ordered the killing of Los Angeles mobster Frank "The Bomp" Bompensiero. Brooklier had lost trust in Bompensiero's ability to keep secrets. On February 10, 1977, Los Angeles mobster Thomas Ricciardi fulfilled the murder contract by shooting Bompensiero in a phone booth near his apartment. On April 17, 1975, Brooklier pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering. He died of a heart attack while serving his sentence in federal prison.
Organized Crime Figure. Born Domenico Brucceleri, he was an Italian-American mobster and head of the Los Angeles crime family of the Mafia during the mid-1970s who mainly worked in pornography, extortion and gambling. In the 1940s, he joined Mickey Cohen's syndicate gambling operations in Southern California during the Sunset Wars and later defected to rival Los Angeles mobster Jack Dragna's crime family. In 1947, Brooklier he became a made man in the family. While working for Dragna, he unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Cohen as he left a restaurant. From 1947 to 1953, Brooklier worked closely with family member Jimmy Fratianno in loan sharking, and at some time in the late 1960s, Brooklier was promoted to caporegime in charge of a crew in Orange County, where he also lived. On October 19, 1974, family boss Nick Licata died and Brooklier was elected the new boss. That same year, he and new underboss Samuel Sciortino were charged with racketeering. In 1975, Brooklier ordered the killing of Los Angeles mobster Frank "The Bomp" Bompensiero. Brooklier had lost trust in Bompensiero's ability to keep secrets. On February 10, 1977, Los Angeles mobster Thomas Ricciardi fulfilled the murder contract by shooting Bompensiero in a phone booth near his apartment. On April 17, 1975, Brooklier pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering. He died of a heart attack while serving his sentence in federal prison.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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