Gangster. Castiglione was born in Monte San Giuliano, Sicily and immigrated to Detroit in September 1912. He bacame drawn into the Mafia after the murder of his older brother Francesco in December 1915. During the Giannola-Vitale gang war, he avenged his brother's murder and took his place in the East Side mob under Sam Catalanotte and Gaspare Milazzo. Castiglione functioned as a "brewery opener," forcing warehouse owners to harbor breweries under the penalty of death. However, upon the death of Sam Catalanotte in February 1930, Castiglione was forced to betray the new boss, Gaspar Milazzo, by West Side mob boss Chester LaMare. He lured Milazzo and Sasa Parrino to their deaths at Guastello's Fish Market on Vernor Avenue on May 31, 1930. In the ensuing gang war, Carmello Castiglione became a primary target of the West Side mob. Taking refuge at his cousin's house in northern Detroit, he was eating dinner with his relatives in the basement when three hit men burst in the side door. Castiglione grabbed his pistol and shot it out with his assassins, fatally wounding one of them before being killed by shotgun blasts. He left behind a wife and young child.
Gangster. Castiglione was born in Monte San Giuliano, Sicily and immigrated to Detroit in September 1912. He bacame drawn into the Mafia after the murder of his older brother Francesco in December 1915. During the Giannola-Vitale gang war, he avenged his brother's murder and took his place in the East Side mob under Sam Catalanotte and Gaspare Milazzo. Castiglione functioned as a "brewery opener," forcing warehouse owners to harbor breweries under the penalty of death. However, upon the death of Sam Catalanotte in February 1930, Castiglione was forced to betray the new boss, Gaspar Milazzo, by West Side mob boss Chester LaMare. He lured Milazzo and Sasa Parrino to their deaths at Guastello's Fish Market on Vernor Avenue on May 31, 1930. In the ensuing gang war, Carmello Castiglione became a primary target of the West Side mob. Taking refuge at his cousin's house in northern Detroit, he was eating dinner with his relatives in the basement when three hit men burst in the side door. Castiglione grabbed his pistol and shot it out with his assassins, fatally wounding one of them before being killed by shotgun blasts. He left behind a wife and young child.
Bio by: Dennis Rice
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