Organized Crime Figure. He was a caporegime (a high ranking "man of honor" or "Mafioso") in the Los Angeles crime family. As a "capo", he headed a crew of "Soldato" or soldiers. He first worked for the Colombo crime family in New York City in the early 1950s. After moving to California in 1956, he was convicted of armed robbery in 1962 and spent 9 years in prison. Released in 1971, he was again convicted of fraud in 1976. Three other criminal trials ended with acquittals. His last conviction was in 1988 for attempted murder. While he was sentenced in 1989 to 33 years for attempting to kill his old friend William Carroll, he died of complications from cancer at the age of 78. He was still in custody at the time of his death. Known as the "Boss of the West Coast", he was depicted in such books as 'The Last Mafioso', 'Vengeance is Mine', 'The Animal in Hollywood', and 'Breakshot', all written by mobsters-turned-informants.
Organized Crime Figure. He was a caporegime (a high ranking "man of honor" or "Mafioso") in the Los Angeles crime family. As a "capo", he headed a crew of "Soldato" or soldiers. He first worked for the Colombo crime family in New York City in the early 1950s. After moving to California in 1956, he was convicted of armed robbery in 1962 and spent 9 years in prison. Released in 1971, he was again convicted of fraud in 1976. Three other criminal trials ended with acquittals. His last conviction was in 1988 for attempted murder. While he was sentenced in 1989 to 33 years for attempting to kill his old friend William Carroll, he died of complications from cancer at the age of 78. He was still in custody at the time of his death. Known as the "Boss of the West Coast", he was depicted in such books as 'The Last Mafioso', 'Vengeance is Mine', 'The Animal in Hollywood', and 'Breakshot', all written by mobsters-turned-informants.
Bio by: S. Rich
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