Organized Crime Figure. He was a member of the "Genna Crime Family" during the probation era of Chicago, Illinois from 1921 to 1925. The passing of the Volstead Act in 1920 was a federal act to stop the consumption of alcohol. The only alcohol for consumption was sold illegally. The Genna brothers consisted of six Sicilian brothers. He arrived in the United States in 1906 and eventually, was a saloonkeeper on the westside. The Gennas were the kings of corn sugar alcohol and employed a host of employees to make and distribute the end product. Since the making of the product was dangerous, the employees were well-paid and loyal. Although the brothers had obtained a federal license to legally manufacture industrial alcohol, they sold the alcohol illegally and for cut-rate prices, which were lower than their competitors. With the murder of a couple of competitors, two of his brothers were arrested for murder but not convicted due to the lack of evidence. This led to a gang war with the notorious Al Capone. Between May and July of 1925, three of the six Genna brothers were killed in this war: Angelo Genna was shot to death in a high-speed car chase; after two policemen were killed in the line of duty, Mike Genna was shot during gunfire with the police; and Antonio Genna was shot to death in an ambush. At this point, he, along with his remaining two brothers, fled Chicago to Sicily. Capone took over all Italian organized crime in Chicago. Upon returning to the United States, he ran an olive oil business, living his remaining life quietly. The remaining brothers suffered from heart disease. He was second to the last of the Chicago Gennas to die. After being ill for a month, he died at age of 67. He left a widow and three sons.
Organized Crime Figure. He was a member of the "Genna Crime Family" during the probation era of Chicago, Illinois from 1921 to 1925. The passing of the Volstead Act in 1920 was a federal act to stop the consumption of alcohol. The only alcohol for consumption was sold illegally. The Genna brothers consisted of six Sicilian brothers. He arrived in the United States in 1906 and eventually, was a saloonkeeper on the westside. The Gennas were the kings of corn sugar alcohol and employed a host of employees to make and distribute the end product. Since the making of the product was dangerous, the employees were well-paid and loyal. Although the brothers had obtained a federal license to legally manufacture industrial alcohol, they sold the alcohol illegally and for cut-rate prices, which were lower than their competitors. With the murder of a couple of competitors, two of his brothers were arrested for murder but not convicted due to the lack of evidence. This led to a gang war with the notorious Al Capone. Between May and July of 1925, three of the six Genna brothers were killed in this war: Angelo Genna was shot to death in a high-speed car chase; after two policemen were killed in the line of duty, Mike Genna was shot during gunfire with the police; and Antonio Genna was shot to death in an ambush. At this point, he, along with his remaining two brothers, fled Chicago to Sicily. Capone took over all Italian organized crime in Chicago. Upon returning to the United States, he ran an olive oil business, living his remaining life quietly. The remaining brothers suffered from heart disease. He was second to the last of the Chicago Gennas to die. After being ill for a month, he died at age of 67. He left a widow and three sons.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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