| Chapter I"Big Ange" and the Death of the | | | | myself if I have to kill a whole regiment!"By |
| Cleveland MafiaIn 1983, Angelo Lonardo, 72, | | | | 1929, Little Italy crime boss Frank Milano had risen |
| one-time Cleveland Mafia | | | | to power as leader of his own gang, "The |
| boss, turned government informant. He shocked | | | | Mayfield Road Mob." |
| family, | | | | Milano's group was made up in part of remnants |
| friends, law enforcement officers and particularly, | | | | of the Lonardo |
| criminal | | | | gang and was also associated with the powerful |
| associates with his decision which was made | | | | "Cleveland |
| after being | | | | Syndicate," Morrie Kleinman, Moe Dalitz, Sam |
| sentenced to life plus 103 years for drug and | | | | Tucker and Louis |
| racketeering | | | | Rothkopf. The Cleveland Syndicate was |
| convictions. The sentence came after a | | | | responsible for most |
| monumental | | | | of the Canadian booze imported via Lake Erie. In |
| investigation by local, state and federal agencies | | | | later years |
| had all | | | | they got into the casino business. One of the |
| but wiped out the Cleveland Mafia."Big Ange" as | | | | their largest |
| he was called, was the highest ranking | | | | and most profitable enterprises was construction |
| mafioso to defect. He testified in 1985 at the Las | | | | of the |
| Vegas | | | | Desert Inn Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. Dalitz |
| casino "skimming" trials in Kansas City and in | | | | would become |
| 1986 at the | | | | known as the "Godfather of Las Vegas." He |
| New York Mafia "ruling commission" trials. Many | | | | would be |
| of the | | | | murdered in 1986 as part of a Mafia war for |
| nation's biggest mob leaders were convicted as a | | | | control of Las |
| result of | | | | Vegas.Joe Porrello admired Milano's political |
| these trials.During his testimony, Lonardo told | | | | organization, |
| how at age 18, he | | | | the East End Bi-Partisan Political Club and, seeing |
| avenged his father's murder by killing the man | | | | the value |
| believed to be | | | | in such influence, wanted to ally himself with the |
| responsible. He further testified that after that | | | | group. |
| murder, he | | | | Milano refused. Later, Porrello was reported to |
| was responsible for the killings of several of the | | | | have |
| Porrello | | | | affiliated himself with the newly formed 21st |
| brothers, business rivals of his father during | | | | District |
| Prohibition.Chapter IIBirth of the Cleveland | | | | Republican Club. He hoped to organize the |
| MafiaDuring the late eighteen hundreds, the four | | | | Woodland Avenue |
| Lonardo | | | | voters as Milano was doing on Mayfield |
| brothers and seven Porrello brothers were | | | | road.Chapter VIIIMore Corn Sugar and BloodBy |
| boyhood friends and | | | | 1930, Milano had grown quite powerful. He had |
| fellow sulphur mine workers in their hometown | | | | gone |
| of Licata, | | | | so far as to demand a piece of the lucrative |
| Sicily. They came to America in the early | | | | Porrello corn |
| nineteen hundreds | | | | sugar business. On July 5th, 1930, Porrello |
| and eventually settled in the Woodland district of | | | | received a |
| Cleveland. | | | | phonecall from Milano who had requested a |
| They remained close friends. Several of the | | | | conference at his |
| Porrello and | | | | Venetian Restaurant on Mayfield Road. Sam |
| Lonardo brothers worked together in small | | | | Tilocco and Joe |
| businesses.Lonardo clan leader "Big Joe" became a | | | | Porrello's brother Raymond urged him not to |
| successful | | | | go.At about 2:00 p.m., Joe Porrello and Sam |
| businessman and community leader in the lower | | | | Tilocco arrived |
| Woodland Avenue | | | | at Milano's restaurant and speakeasy. Porrello, |
| area. During Prohibition, he became successful as | | | | Tilocco, and |
| a dealer | | | | Frank Milano sat down in the restaurant and |
| in corn sugar which was used by bootleggers to | | | | discussed |
| make corn | | | | business. Several of Milano's henchmen sat |
| liquor. "Big Joe" provided stills and raw materials | | | | nearby. The |
| to the | | | | atmosphere was tense as Porrello refused to |
| poor Italian district residents. They would make | | | | accede to |
| the booze | | | | Milano's demands.Porrello reached into his pocket |
| and "Big Joe" would buy it back giving them a | | | | for his watch to check |
| commission. He | | | | the time. Two of Milano's men, possibly believing |
| was respected and feared as a "padrone" or | | | | that |
| godfather. "Big | | | | Porrello was reaching for his gun opened fire. |
| Joe" became the leader of a powerful and vicious | | | | With three |
| gang and | | | | bullets in his head, Porrello died instantly. |
| was known as the corn sugar "baron." Joe | | | | Simultaneously, a third member of Milano's gang |
| Porrello was one of | | | | fired at |
| his corporals.Chapter IIIThe First Bloody | | | | Tilocco who was struck three times but |
| CornerWith the advent of Prohibition, Cleveland, | | | | managed to stagger out |
| like other | | | | the door toward his new Cadillac. He fell to the |
| big cities, experienced a wave of bootleg-related | | | | ground as |
| murders. | | | | the gunmen pursued him, finishing him off with |
| The murders of Louis Rosen, Salvatore Vella, | | | | another six |
| August Rini and | | | | bullets.Frank Milano and several of his restaurant |
| several others produced the same suspects, but | | | | employees |
| no | | | | were arrested but only charged with being |
| indictments. These suspects were members of | | | | suspicious persons. |
| the Lonardo | | | | The gunmen were never actually identified. Only |
| gang. Several of the murders occurred at the | | | | one witness |
| corner of | | | | was present in the saloon when the shooting |
| E. 25th and Woodland Ave. This intersection | | | | started. He was |
| became known as | | | | Frank Joiner, a slot machine distributor whose |
| the "bloody corner."By this time, Joe Porrello had | | | | only testimony |
| left the employ of the | | | | was that he "thought" he saw Frank Milano in the |
| Lonardos to start his own sugar wholesaling | | | | restaurant |
| business. | | | | during the murders.Cleveland's aggressive and |
| Porrello and his six brothers pooled their money | | | | outspoken Safety Director |
| and | | | | Edwin Barry, frustrated by the continually rising |
| eventually became successful corn sugar dealers | | | | number of |
| headquartered | | | | bootleg murders, ordered all known sugar |
| in the upper Woodland Avenue area around E. | | | | warehouses to be |
| 110th Street.With small competitors, sugar dealers | | | | padlocked. He ordered a policeman to be detailed |
| and bootleggers, | | | | at each one |
| mysteriously dying violent deaths, the Lonardos' | | | | to make sure that no sugar was brought in or |
| business | | | | removed.Meanwhile, the six Porrello brothers |
| flourished as they gained a near monopoly on the | | | | donned black silk |
| corn sugar | | | | shirts and ties and buried their most successful |
| business. Their main competitors were their old | | | | brother. |
| friends the | | | | The showy double gangster funeral was one the |
| Porrellos.Raymond Porrello, youngest of his | | | | largest |
| brothers was arrested | | | | Cleveland had ever seen. Two bands and |
| by undercover federal agents for arranging a | | | | thirty-three cars |
| sale of 100 | | | | overloaded with flowers led the procession of |
| gallons of whiskey at the Porrello-owned | | | | the slain don |
| barbershop at E. | | | | and his bodyguard. Over two hundred fifty |
| 110th and Woodland. He was sentenced to the | | | | automobiles |
| Dayton, Oh. | | | | containing family and friends followed. Thousands |
| Workhouse.The Porrello brothers paid the | | | | of |
| influential "Big Joe" | | | | mourners and curious on-lookers lined the |
| Lonardo $5,000 to get Raymond out of prison. | | | | sidewalks.Cleveland's underworld was tense with |
| "Big Joe" | | | | rumors of imminent |
| failed in his attempt but never returned the | | | | warfare. Porrello brother Vincente-James spoke |
| $5,000.Meanwhile, Ernest Yorkell and Jack | | | | openly of |
| Brownstein, small- | | | | wiping out everyone responsible for his brother's |
| time self-proclaimed "tough guys" from | | | | murder.Three weeks after his brother's murder, |
| Philadelphia arrived | | | | Jim Porrello |
| in Cleveland. Yorkell and Brownstein were | | | | still wore a black shirt as he entered the I & A |
| shakedown artists, | | | | grocery and |
| and their intended victims were Cleveland | | | | meat market at E. 110th Street and Woodland. |
| bootleggers, who | | | | As he picked |
| got a chuckle out of how the two felt it | | | | out lamb chops at the meat counter, a Ford |
| necessary to explain | | | | touring car, its' |
| that they were tough. Real tough guys didn't | | | | curtains tightly drawn, cruised slowly past the |
| need to tell | | | | store. A |
| people that they were tough. After providing | | | | couple of shotguns poked out and two |
| Cleveland | | | | thunderous blasts of |
| gangsters with a laugh, Yorkell and Brownstein | | | | buckshot were fired, one through the front |
| were taken on | | | | window of the |
| a "one-way ride."Chapter IVCorn Sugar and | | | | store and one through the front screen door.The |
| Blood"Big Joe" Lonardo in 1926, now at the height | | | | amateur gunmen got lucky. Two pellets found the |
| of his | | | | back of Porrello's head and entered his brain. He |
| wealth and power left for Sicily to visit his | | | | was rushed |
| mother and | | | | to the hospital.Chapter IX"I think maybe they'll kill |
| relatives. He left his closest brother and business | | | | all us Porrellos""I think maybe they'll kill all us |
| partner | | | | Porrellos. I think |
| John in charge.During "Big Joe's" six-month | | | | maybe they will kill all of us except Rosario. They |
| absence, he lost much of | | | | can't |
| his $5,000 a week profits to the Porrellos who | | | | kill him - he's in jail." Thus Ottavio Porrello grimly |
| took advantage | | | | but |
| of John Lonardo's lack of business skills and the | | | | calmly predicted the probable fate of he and his |
| assistance | | | | brothers as |
| of a disgruntled Lonardo employee. "Big Joe" | | | | he waited outside Jim's hospital room.Next to |
| returned and | | | | Ottavio was a tough looking young man who |
| business talks between the Porrellos and | | | | smoked |
| Lonardos began. | | | | cigarettes and blew the smoke at the hospital's |
| They "urged" the Porrellos to return their lost | | | | No Smoking |
| clientele.On Oct. 13th, 1927 "Big Joe" and John | | | | signs. It was said he was a bodyguard, |
| Lonardo went to | | | | something the |
| the Porrello barbershop to play cards and talk | | | | Porrellos never employed enough of. Jim Porrello |
| business with | | | | died at |
| Angelo Porrello as they had been doing for the | | | | 5:55 p.m.Two local petty gangsters were |
| past week. As | | | | arrested and charged with |
| the Lonardos entered the rear room of the | | | | murder. One was discharged by directed verdict |
| shop, two gunmen | | | | and the other |
| opened fire. Angelo Porrello ducked under a | | | | was acquitted. Like almost all of Cleveland's |
| table.Cleveland's underworld lost its' first boss as | | | | bootleg |
| "Big Joe" | | | | related murders, the killers never saw |
| went down with three bullets in his head. John | | | | justice.About this time, it was rumored that the |
| Lonardo was | | | | Porrello |
| shot in the chest and groin but drew his gun and | | | | brothers were marked for extermination. The |
| managed to | | | | surviving |
| pursue the attackers through the barbershop. He | | | | brothers went into hiding. Raymond, known for |
| dropped his | | | | his cocky |
| gun in the shop but continued chasing the | | | | attitude and hot temper spoke like his brother |
| gunmen into the | | | | James did of |
| street where one of them turned, and out of | | | | seeking revenge. Raymond was smarter though, |
| bullets, struck | | | | he took active |
| Lonardo in the head several times with the butt | | | | measures to protect himself.On August 15th, |
| of his gun. | | | | 1930, three weeks after James Porrello's |
| John fell unconscious and bled to death.The | | | | murder, Raymond Porrello's house was leveled in |
| Porrello brothers were arrested. Angelo was | | | | a violent |
| charged | | | | explosion. He was not home at the time since he |
| with the Lonardo brothers' murders. The charges | | | | had taken |
| were later | | | | his family and abandoned his home in anticipation |
| dropped for lack of evidence. Joe Porrello | | | | of the |
| succeeded the | | | | attack.Four days later Frank Alessi, a witness to |
| Lonardos as corn sugar "baron" and later | | | | the murder of |
| appointed himself | | | | "Big Joe" Lonardo's brother Frank, was gunned |
| "capo" of the Cleveland Mafia.Chapter VThe | | | | down. From his |
| Cleveland MeetingThe trail of bootleg blood | | | | death bed, he identified Frank Brancato as his |
| continued to flow with | | | | assailant. |
| numerous murders stemming from the | | | | Brancato was known mainly as a Lonardo |
| Porrello-Lonardo conflict.Lawrence Lupo, a former | | | | supporter and suspect |
| Lonardo bodyguard was killed | | | | in several murders. Brancato was acquitted of |
| after he let it be known that he wanted to take | | | | Alessi's |
| over the | | | | murder.Chapter XIn March of 1931, Rosario |
| Lonardos' corn sugar business.Anthony Caruso, a | | | | Porrello was paroled from |
| butcher who saw the Lonardos' killers | | | | Ohio's London Prison Farm where he had served |
| escape was shot and killed. It was believed that | | | | one year for |
| he knew the | | | | carrying a gun in his car.In mid-1931, National |
| identities of the gunmen and was going to reveal | | | | Mafia "capo di tutti capi" (boss |
| them to | | | | of all bosses) Salvatore Maranzano was killed. His |
| police.On Dec. 5th, 1928, Joe Porrello and his | | | | murder |
| lieutenant and | | | | set in motion the formation of the first Mafia |
| bodyguard Sam Tilocco hosted the first known | | | | National |
| major meeting of | | | | Ruling Commission created to stop the numerous |
| the Mafia at Cleveland's Hotel Statler. Many | | | | murders |
| major Mafia | | | | resulting from conflicts between and within Mafia |
| leaders from Chicago to New York to Florida | | | | families |
| were invited. | | | | and to promote application of modern business |
| The meeting was raided before it actually | | | | practices to |
| began.Joe Profaci, leader of a Brooklyn, N.Y. Mafia | | | | crime.Charles "Lucky" Luciano was the main |
| family was | | | | developer of the |
| the most well-known of the gangsters arrested. | | | | commission and was named chairman. Also |
| Within a few | | | | named to the |
| hours, to the astonishment of police and court | | | | commission were Al Capone of Chicago, Joe |
| officials, Joe | | | | Profaci of |
| Porrello gathered thirty family members and | | | | Brooklyn and Frank Milano of Cleveland.In Dec. of |
| friends who put | | | | 1931, Angelo Lonardo and his cousin Dominic |
| up their houses as collateral for the gangsters' | | | | Suspirato were released from prison after being |
| bonds. | | | | acquitted of |
| Profaci was bailed out personally by Porrello. A | | | | "Black Sam" Todaro's murder during a second |
| great | | | | trial. Because |
| controversy over the validity of the bonds | | | | he had avenged his father's death and (for the |
| followed.Several theories have been given as to | | | | most part) |
| why the meeting | | | | gotten away with it, he became a respected |
| was called. First, it was thought that the | | | | member of Frank |
| gangsters, local | | | | Milano's Mayfield Road Mob.The thirst for revenge |
| presidents of the Unione Siciliane, an immigrant | | | | had not been satisfied for |
| aid society | | | | members of the Lonardo family. It was generally |
| infiltrated by the Mafia, were there to elect a | | | | believed |
| new national | | | | that "Black Sam" Todaro instigated and perhaps |
| president. Their previous president, Frankie Yale | | | | took part in |
| had been | | | | the murders of "Big Joe" and John Lonardo. |
| recently killed by order of Chicago's notorious Al | | | | However it was |
| Capone. | | | | believed by members of the Lonardo family that |
| Second, it was believed that the meeting may | | | | the remaining |
| have been called | | | | Porrello brothers, particularly the volatile John and |
| to organize the highly lucrative corn sugar | | | | Raymond |
| industry. It was | | | | and eldest brother Rosario still posed a threat |
| also said that the men were there to "confirm" | | | | because of |
| Joe Porrello | | | | the murders of Joe and James Porrello.On Feb. |
| as "capo" of Cleveland.Capone, a non-Sicilian was | | | | 25th, 1932 Raymond Porrello, his brother Rosario |
| reported to be in Cleveland | | | | and their bodyguard Dominic Gulino (known also |
| for the meeting. He left soon after his arrival at | | | | by several |
| the | | | | aliases) were playing cards near E. 110th and |
| advice of associates who said that the Sicilians | | | | Woodland |
| did not want | | | | Avenue. The front door burst open and in a hail |
| him there.Chapter VIThe Second Bloody | | | | of bullets |
| CornerAs Joe Porrello's power and wealth grew, | | | | the Porrello brothers, their bodyguard and a |
| heirs and close | | | | bystander went |
| associates to the Lonardo brothers grew hot for | | | | down. The Porrellos died at the scene. Gulino died |
| revenge.Angelo Lonardo, "Big Joe's" 18-year-old | | | | a couple |
| son along with | | | | of hours later. The bystander eventually |
| his mother and his cousin, drove to the corner of | | | | recovered from his |
| E. 110th | | | | wounds. This shooting was Cleveland's worst Mob |
| and Woodland, the Porrello stronghold. There | | | | hit ever.Several hours after the murders, Frank |
| Angelo sent | | | | Brancato, with abullet in his stomach, dragged |
| word that his mother wanted to speak to | | | | himself into St. John's |
| Salvatore "Black Sam" | | | | Hospital on Cleveland's west side. He claimed he |
| Todaro. Todaro, now a Porrello lieutenant, had | | | | was shot in |
| worked for | | | | a street fight on the west side. A few days |
| Angelo's father and was believed to be | | | | later, tests on |
| responsible for his | | | | the bullet taken from Brancato revealed that it |
| murder. In later years it was believed that he | | | | came from a |
| was actually | | | | gun found at the Porrello brothers murder scene. |
| one of the gunmen.As Todaro approached to | | | | Although |
| speak with Mrs. Lonardo whom he | | | | never convicted of either of the murders, |
| respected, Angelo pulled out a gun and emptied it | | | | Brancato was |
| into "Black | | | | convicted of perjury for lying to a Grand Jury |
| Sam's stocky frame. Todaro crumpled to the | | | | about his |
| sidewalk and | | | | whereabouts during the murder. He served four |
| died.Angelo and his cousin disappeared for several | | | | years after a |
| months | | | | one to ten year sentence was commuted by |
| reportedly being hid in Chicago courtesy of | | | | Governor Martin L. |
| Lonardo friend Al | | | | Davey.In 1933, Prohibition was repealed. The |
| Capone. Later it was believed that Angelo spent | | | | bootleg murders |
| time in | | | | mostly stopped as organized crime moved into |
| California with his uncle Dominick, fourth Lonardo | | | | other |
| brother | | | | enterprises. Angelo Lonardo continued his crime |
| who fled west when indicted for a payroll | | | | career as a |
| robbery murder in | | | | respected member of the Cleveland family |
| 1921.Eventually Angelo and his cousin were | | | | eventually rising |
| arrested and | | | | through the ranks to run the northeast Ohio |
| charged with "Black Sam's" murder. For the first | | | | rackets in 1980.In early 1933, in a sequel to the |
| time in | | | | tragedy of the large |
| Cleveland's bootleg murder history justice was | | | | Porrello family, Rosario's son Angelo, 21, was |
| served as both | | | | killed in a |
| young men were convicted and sentenced to life. | | | | fight over a pool game in Buffalo. It was said |
| Justice | | | | that he and |
| although served would be shortlived as they | | | | his Uncle John were there trying to muscle in on |
| would be released | | | | the corn |
| only a year and a half later after winning a new | | | | liquor business.******For more - read The Rise |
| trial.Chapter VIIRise of the Mayfield Road MobOn | | | | and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia |
| October 20th, 1929, Frank Lonardo, brother to | | | | Rick Porrello - Barricade BooksA cop in suburban |
| "Big | | | | Cleveland, Rick Porrello, serendipitously began his |
| Joe" and John was shot to death while playing | | | | writing career when curiosity about the |
| cards. Two | | | | mysterious murder of his grandfather along with |
| theories were given for his death; that it was in | | | | the deaths of several uncles led to penning his |
| revenge for | | | | first true crime saga, The Rise and Fall of the |
| the murder of "Black Sam" Todaro and, that he | | | | Cleveland Mafia. Porrello went on to write a |
| was killed for | | | | second book, To Kill the Irishman: The War That |
| not paying gambling debts. Mrs. Frank Lonardo, | | | | Crippled the Mafia which recounts the story of |
| when told of | | | | Irish-American racketeer Danny Greene who took |
| her husband's murder screamed, "I'll get them. I'll | | | | on the Cleveland Mafia and was murdered in 1977. |
| get them | | | | |