The Gangland History Podcast: An Organized Crime & Mafia History Podcast

In this episode, featuring myself and Australian lawyer Tony Taouk, we discuss the life and times of George Remus who was famously dubbed, "The King of the Bootleggers" in the 1920's.

George Remus, born in 1878, was a German-born American lawyer who was probably most famously well-known as a bootlegger during the early days of Prohibition, and who later became even more infamous for the murder his wife Imogene, for which he was acquitted.

In popular culture, many believed that George Remus served as the inspiration for The Great Gatsby, and he was even famously portrayed on the HBO series, Boardwalk Empire.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Remus birth in Landsberg, Germany in the 1870's and his arrival in the United States in the 1880's

• The Remus family's beginnings in Chicago, Illinois

• Remus' early experience working at his uncle's pharmacy, as well as his attendance of the Chicago College of Pharmacy, where he became a certified pharmacist

• George Remus' collegiate attendance of the Illinois College of Law in which he gained admittance to the Illinois Bar, specializing as a defense attorney

• Remus' involvement in the 1914 murder trial of William Cheny Ellis, and the first successful use of the "transitory insanity" defense in the history of the United States

• Remus' beginnings as a bootlegger after he was able to exploit a loophole in the Volstead Act, allowing him to grow his bootlegging business on a technicality

• Remus' move from Chicago, Illinois to Cincinnati, Ohio and the growth of his bootlegging empire in the 1920's, run from his sprawling property on the west side of Cincinnati, dubbed "Death Valley"

• Remus' divorce from his first wife, and marriage to socialite Imogene Holmes (later Remus), as well as the extravagant mansion, "The Marble Palace"

• The eventual arrest of Remus for violations of the Volstead Act and his prison sentence

• The collapse of Remus' marriage to Imogene after a cheating scandal with a Bureau of Investigation agent, Franklin Dodge

• The murder of his wife Imogene in October of 1927, the subsequent trial in which Remus again pleaded "temporary insanity," and his acquittal after just 19 minutes of jury deliberations

• The remainder of Remus' life and his ultimate legacy in the annals of the underworld

• The truth of Remus' peculiar tendency to talk about himself in the third-person

• Remus' death in 1952 of natural causes in Covington, Kentucky

In this episode, we again discuss Joseph Barbara Sr., the mobster who famously hosted the ill-fated Apalachin Mob Meeting in Apalachin, New York. Part Three covers the events leading up to the disastrous Apalachin meeting in 1957 and the fallout. Part One: https://youtu.be/NGHgoGlYOgw Part Two: https://youtu.be/2h1ERPB0sCU In this final installment of a three-part series, we discuss: 00:00 Start 01:27 Opening Remarks 05:38 Events directly preceding the Apalachin meeting 13:12 Who ordered the Apalachin meeting 13:58 The Apalachin meeting gets raided by police 19:27 Law enforcement's previous suspicions of Barbara 26:32 The history behind Edgar Croswell's initial interest in Barbara 34:09 The "sick friend" excuse and real reasons for the meeting 38:18 Barbara's ill health and becoming a recluse 40:12 The law catches up with Barbara and his company 41:15 Barbara sells Canada Dry Bottling Company 41:55 Barbara sells famous estate 42:50 Barbara subpoenaed to testify in front of grand jury 43:40 Barbara indicted for tax evasion 44:34 Barbara's last public appearance 45:32 Barbara's death and funeral 51:10 Joseph Barbara's mob legacy 54:27 Closing remarks

In this episode, we again discuss Joseph Barbara Sr., the mobster who famously hosted the ill-fated Apalachin Mob Meeting in Apalachin, New York.

In this second of a three-part series, we discuss:

• Barbara's move towards legitimate business and establishment of several bottling companies including the Endicott Beverage Company, the Mission Beverage Company, and the Canada Dry Bottling Company
• Barbara's ascension within the Northeaster Pennsylvania and Southern New York mob
• The changes in leadership of what would become the Bufalino Crime Family
• Barbara's relationship to top Pittston mob leaders Santo Volpe, Russell Bufalino, Anthony F. Guarnieri, Emanuel Zicari, as well Pat and Sam Monachino
• Barbara's issues with the State Liquor Authority (SLA) that nearly drove him out of business in the early 1950's
• The 1956 meeting between Barbara, Joe Bonanno, Frank Garofolo, John Bonventre, and Carmine Galante in Binghamton, New York

Part Three will cover the events leading up to the disastrous Apalachin meeting in 1957 and the fallout.

Part One: https://youtu.be/NGHgoGlYOgw

In this episode, we discuss Roy Marcus Cohn (1927-1986) with professional attorney, Tony Taouk of Magna Carta Lawyers in Sydney, Australia. Tony and I walk through Roy Cohn's history, and Tony brings an attorney's perspective to some of Cohn's vicious tactics, personal life, as well as areas where he displayed both pure brilliance and borderline diabolical evil. We cover:

• Cohn's upbringing and early life
• Cohn's involvement in the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial in the early 1950's
• Cohn's involvement in the McCarthy investigations of the 1950's during the Cold War and Communism scares
• Cohn's eventual fall from grace after his misconduct was discovered and re-emergence as a private practice attorney
• Cohn's legal representation of various mobsters including John Gotti, Tony Salerno, and Carmine Galante
• Cohn's representation of various celebrities including Donald Trump
• Some of Cohn's brilliant and vicious tactics
• We debate Cohn's legacy and a top mob lawyer

In this episode, we discuss Joseph Barbara Sr., the mobster who famously hosted the ill-fated Apalachin Mob Meeting in Apalachin, New York. In this first of a two-part series, we discuss the beginning of Barbara's mob career including:

• His birth in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Italy
• His immigration to the United States in 1921
• His first jobs in and around Endicott, New York as well as Old Forge, Pennsylvania
• His introduction to the Pittston mob of Northeastern Pennsylvania (more famously called the Bufalino Crime Family)
• How we gets started in the rackets during the 1920s
• His relationship to top Pittston mob leaders Santo Volpe, Charles Bufalino (the uncle of Russell Bufalino), Angelo Polizzi, and more
• His involvement in up to four murders in the Northeastern Pennsylvania area in the early 1930s

Join me as a make a significant announcement about the future of this show and discuss my plans for 2024 and beyond.

We cover instances of FBI wiretaps picking up mobster conversations related to both the FBI in the early 1960's and the Kennedy brothers pre-and-post JFK's assassination.

We share and help you interpret excerpts from the 1978-1979 Senate report entitled, "House Select Committee on Assassinations: Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy" which breaks down possible mob-involvement in the 1963 assassination of the 35th President John F. Kennedy, as well as other potential players and scenarios.

We briefly cover the mob's involvement in the election of the 35th president, and discuss his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, who was named Attorney General in the early 1960's, and who'd launched an all-out war on the American Mafia, spear-headed by advancements within the FBI focused on the outing Cosa Nostra in this country.

Robert F. Kennedy's efforts led to significant increases in legal action against the Mafia across the United States, and put immense pressure on many of the mob's key players.

We briefly touch on the findings of the 1964 Warren Commission, and then dive into the wiretaps, first sharing more well-known stories, but then sharing lesser-known conversations.

Mobsters mentioned in this episode include:

• Carlos Marcello
• Santo Trafficante, Jr.
• Sam Giancana
• Charles "Chuckie" English
• Tony Accardo
• Jackie Cerone
• Dominic "Butch" Blasi
• Stefano Magaddino
• Peter Magaddino
• Antonio Magaddino
• Sam Rangatore
• Fred Randaccio
• Anthony DeStafano
• Carlo Gambino
• Carmine Lombardozzi
• Mike Scandifia
• Peter "Petey Pumps" Ferrara
• Michelino "Big Mike" Clemente
• Angelo Bruno
• Charles "Pinky" Costello
• Salvatore Maggio
• Peter Maggio
• Mario Maggio
• Willie Weisburg
• Morris Schlitten
• Joe Magliocco
• Sal Profaci
• Joe Biondo
• Joseph Riccobono
• Joseph Valachi
• Russell Bufalino

Others mentioned:

• Ed Becker
• Frank Ragano
• James Riddle Hoffa
• Jack Ruby
• Lee Harvey Oswald
• Frank Sinatra
• Michael Fiorito
• John D'Arco
• Anthony DeTolve
• Madeline Costello
• Selwyn Raab
• Ben Golub
• Harry Zimand

So it’s clear that they, the Mafia, had the means and the motive to commit the crime. But did they actually play a part in it? My personal opinion is that maybe they were the primary executioners, but we’d be naïve to believe that they played no part at all.

That being said, we may never actually know the truth until the government releases every single record, many of which are still classified to this day, about the plot.

Until then, I’ll let you decide.

In today’s episode, we’ve recorded an amazing interview with Jeff Canarsie, the host of Mob Talk Radio. I’m really excited and honestly very appreciative that this guest was able to take time out of their busy life to sit and talk with me for a few hours to talk about his life, his show, and much more.

In the interview, we discuss a range of topics including:

• Jeff's early life growing up in Providence, Rhode Island
• Jeff's mother and father, as well as his "extended" family
• What life was like growing up within a mob-connected family
• Stories about Jeff's grandfather including the infamous beach story, the story of his mom borrowing his grandfather's car, and much more
• When he realized his family was a part of the mob in Providence
• His cousin, Joseph "Joe" Badway, who was an alleged associate of the Patriarca family
• What is was like growing up Providence during the turbulent 1980's and early 1990's
• How the darker side of the mob lifestyle affected his family

We also cover:

• Jeff's initial entry into crime and how things escalated for him
• When Jeff was arrested, informed on by several of his counterparts, and nearly sent to a long prison stretch
• The background of Jeff's personal stance on government informants (aka "rats")
• Turning his life around and starting Mob Talk Radio, which is now a decade old
• Turning Mob Talk Radio into a success and a viable business -How Jeff developed relationships with alleged wiseguys in Philadelphia and New York
• How he became a member of several social clubs
• What's coming next for Jeff and the future of Mob Talk Radio

In this episode, we cover the Cerrito Crime Family of the American Cosa Nostra who operated in and around San Jose, California, and who were a significant entity controlling organized crime in the San Jose area for many decades beginning around the 1940’s and were in existence until at least the 1990’s or early 2000’s.

My research will show that this particular LCN family was likely the most risk-averse and least-aggressive family of all 20+ families across the country during the Mafia's hey-dey, but I'll let you decide.

We discuss:

• Their official founding in the 1940's
• The first alleged Boss, Onofrio Sciortino
• The ascension of the family's namesake, Joseph X. Cerrito
• Cerrito's history as a used car salesman
• Cerrito's presence in 1957 at Apalachin
• Cerrito's ascension to Boss in 1959
• Drama within the Cerrito family in the 1960's
• A failed plot to murder a Nevada casino operator
• The lack of respect nationally
• The LIFE Magazine lawsuit and national implications
• Joe Cerrito's waning years and death in 1978

Included prominently in this article are the family's long-time Underboss, Emanuel “Manny” Figlia, Angelo Marino, Alex Camarata, Pete Misuraca, as well as many other colorful characters and cameos from important Cosa Nostra figures throughout the country.

Read more: https://membersonlypodcast.com/cerrito-crime-family-part-one/

In this video, we cover Angelo Bruno, the man known as the "Docile Don" and/or "Gentle Don" who ruled over the Philadelphia underworld as the city's Cosa Nostra don from around 1959 until his murder in 1980. Bruno presided over one of the most, relatively speaking, peaceful eras of the Philly mafia.

In this video, we cover:

• Bruno's birth in Villalba, Sicily (and his original surname of Annaloro)
• The Bruno's immigration to the United States
• His early family life and eventual move to Philadelphia
• Bruno's early connections to the mob and how he eventually got into the life
• How a young Angelo began to rise as a racketeer and businessman
• The Bruno and Carlo Gambino connection
• Bruno's involvement in prohibition, illegal alcohol sales, numbers, and more
• Bruno's involvement in several relatively unknown homicides
• The early history of the Philadelphia Mafia family
• Bruno's making in the 1950's and ascension to capo of Marco Reginelli's crew in the mid-1950's
• Bruno's involvement in legitimate businesses
• Bruno's involvement in Cuban casinos
• Bruno's ultimate dispute with Antonio "Mr. Mig" Pollina, which led to his being crowned Boss of the family in 1959 or 1960

Read more: https://membersonlypodcast.com/angelo-bruno-the-docile-don-part-one/

In today's episode, I do my first-ever interview with author Sam Carlino, who is is in fact the Grandson of the infamous Colorado gangster Pete Carlino, dubbed in the late 1920's as the "The Al Capone of Southern Colorado" by the local media. The Carlino brothers (Pete and Sam) established a bootlegging empire beginning around 1916 until 1931 when they were murdered by rivals. We discuss the following:

• Introduction to who Sam is and his family background
• Background on Sam's grandfather Pete and great Uncle's Sam and Carlo
• How the Carlino's got started in bootlegging
• The war with the Danna family (and what the feud going back to Sicily was really about)
• The Carlino's relationship with Joe Roma relationship
• The 1931 Bootlegger's Convention in Denver, Colorado
• The death of his Great Uncle Sam Carlino
• The death of Pete Carlino
• The death of Joe Roma and who he believes killed Roma
• The connections of Pete Carlino's death with Salvatore Maranzano's murder in New York City (and the legend of the Night of the Sicilian Vespers)
• How the death of Sam's grandfather and great uncle affected his family
• How he found out he was related to the "mob"
• Sam's upbringing and what led him to write his book, 'Colorado's Carlino Brothers: A Bootlegging Empire'

Link to buy book: https://carlinobrothers.com/index.php/product/colorados-carlino-brothers-a-bootlegging-empire/

Read more: https://membersonlypodcast.com/interview-sam-carlino-grandson-of-pete-carlino/

We cover the era of the Smaldone brothers including Clyde Smaldone, Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone, and Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone. 

We dive into the history behind this family which ran most of the rackets in and around Denver, Colorado throughout the 1930’s through the 1980’s. 

We’re also going to touch on their connection to the Mafia in Pueblo, Colorado, and discuss some of the players in that family as well.

Topics that we dive into:

• The Smaldones involvement in the Joe Roma murder
• The family background of the Smaldone family
• How the Smaldones operated during Prohibition
• The Smaldones and bootlegging in Denver and Pueblo
• The background of Clyde and Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone
• The Smaldone's relationship with Al Capone
• The Smaldones, Clyde and Eugune first prison sentence in 1933
• The Smaldone's involvment in the attempted assassination of Leo Barnes
• The Smaldone's second prison sentence from the late 30's to early 1940's
• How the Smaldone brothers built their gambling empire
• The Smaldone involvement in several underworld murders
• The Smaldone's 1953 prison sentence of 60 years
• The rise of Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone and Paulie Villano
• The increased law enforcement scrutiny from the 1960's through the 1980s
• The Smaldone's final prison sentences
• The Pueblo, Colorado Mafia (Calogero "Charley" Blanda, Vincenzo "Black Jim" Coletti, Joseph "Scotty" Spinuzzi)

Mentioned in this episode: Clyde "Flip Flop" Smaldone, Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone, Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone, Paul "Fat Paulie" Villano, Raffaele "Ralph" Smaldone, Eugene "Young Gene" Smaldone, Giuseppe "Joe" Roma, Paul Enrichi, Frank "Blackie" Mazza, John "Porky" Routta, Joe "The Ram" Salardino, Calogero "Charles" Blanda, Vincenzo "Black Jim" Coletti, Joseph "Scotty" Spinuzzi, Leo Barnes, Mike "Fats" Falbo, Harold "Murph" Cohen, Robin "Walkie Talkie" Roberts, Sam Shanks, Pauline Smaldone, John "Skip" LaGuardia, Ralph Pizzalato

If you haven't watcehed to Part one, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72WhjfPxUq8

Also, here are the links to buy the books I cited within the episode...  

• 'Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family' by Dick Kreck: https://www.amazon.com/Smaldone-Untold-Story-American-Family/dp/1555917062 
• 'Colorado's Carlino Brothers: A Bootlegging Empire' by Sam Carlino: https://www.amazon.com/Colorados-Carlino-Brothers-Bootlegging-Empire/dp/1467143278/

Blog Post: https://membersonlypodcast.com/colorado-mob-history-part-two/

The first episode of a two-part series on the organization that would later become known as the Smaldone Crime Family, which ran organized crime in Denver and much of Colorado during the 20th century.  

We tell the story of the early days of organized crime in Colorado, how the area’s Mafia got its start, the bloody strife during the 1920’s and early 30’s, and how that strife ultimately led to what became known as the Smaldone organization.  

If the violence in New York and on the East Coast at the time can be considered the epitome of viciousness, I can assure you that Colorado’s infighting was every bit as violent—it just doesn’t get the credit it deserves since it’s not quite as high profile.  

This episode is focused primarily on how the mob evolved within the state, and specifically in the main hubs of Denver and Pueblo, Colorado which were two separate but very much interrelated groups. To those from the area, I’d love it if you chime in and share your stories in the comments section for this video.  

The big events we cover in this video include: 

• Early Italian immigration to Colorado 
• How Prohibition contributed to the rise of the mobs 
• The story of the Carlino Brothers, Pete, Sam and Charlie Carlino 
• The Carlino's war with the Danna family 
• The "Bootlegger's Convention" in Denver in 1931 
• The murder of Pete and Sam Carlino 
• The rise and fall of Giuseppe "Joe" Roma 
• Enter the Smaldone Brothers and the Pueblo Mafia  

In the next episode, we will discuss the rise and careers of Clyde "Flip Flop" Smaldone, Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone, Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone, as well as several Pueblo Cosa Nostra members.

Also, here are the links to buy the books I cited within the episode...

• 'Colorado's Carlino Brothers: A Bootlegging Empire' by Sam Carlino: https://www.amazon.com/Colorados-Carlino-Brothers-Bootlegging-Empire/dp/1467143278/
• 'Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family' by Dick Kreck: https://www.amazon.com/Smaldone-Untold-Story-American-Family/dp/1555917062

In this episode, we tell the story of a man who once had a blossoming career as a professional ballplayer, and how he became a vicious and respected hitman for the Patriarca Crime Family.  

Maurice "Pro" Lerner grew up in Massachusetts and at just 18 years old, he signed his first professional baseball contract with the Washington Senators. He would go on to spend 10 years in the minor leagues, compiling a career batting average of .308 while playing for 21 different minor league ball clubs.  

Unfortunately, when his baseball career fizzled out, his penchant for getting into trouble and a violent streak led him to become involved in the criminal underworld in New England. He would ultimately become an enforcer and hitman for the Patriarca Crime Family and would be involved in a number of gangland slayings, including his role as the primary shooter in the infamous double homicide of Rudolph "Rudy" Marfeo and Anthony Melei in 1968.  

Ultimately, Lerner would stand trial with several confederates including the Don of the underworld in New England, Raymond Patriarca himself. Lerner and the others would be convicted and sentenced to prison, with Lerner receiving two life sentences.  

Maurice "Pro" Lerner would serve 18 years of his life sentence, but would be released in 1988 after his conviction was overturned due to a revelation of significant perjury on the part of the main witness in his case along with corruption from the primary FBI agent on the case.  

After release, Lerner would live out the rest of his life in Las Vegas, Nevada, passing away in 2013 at the age of 78.  Primary source for this story: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/sports/baseball/maurice-lerner-prospect-turned-mob-hitman.html

In today’s episode, the second of a two-part series, we’re finally branching outside of New York to cover Raymond L.S. Patriarca, one of the most feared and respected bosses in the history of the American Cosa Nostra.  

Raimondo "Raymond" Loredo Salvatore Patriarca was boss over the New England area for over 30 years (1952-1984). Basing his family's operations in Providence, Rhode Island, Patriarca was one of the most feared and respected bosses in the history of the American Cosa Nostra. He ruled over the New England area including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, etc. with an iron fist for more than three decades as the namesake of what is still known even today as the Patriarca crime family.   

By most accounts, Ray Patriarca was one of the most ruthless and effective bosses, be it inside or outside of New York, in the entire country. In fact, legend has it that he allegedly even once ordered a solider to murder his own son. So when I say ruthless, I mean about as heartless as they come. Even still, his men respected him, he was viewed as a good and fair leader, and due to that he was able to exert control not just Rhode Island but on the entirety of New England.  

• In this episode, we'll specifically discuss:  
• -When he takes over as boss in 1952 
• -His reputed presence at Apalachin 
• -Senate Hearings of late 1950's 
• -Mediation of the Gallo/Profaci Family War 
• -Discussions around the Bonnano Family War 
• -The Valachi Hearings 
• -Joseph "The Animal" Barboza 
• -His 1960s murder conspiracy conviction 
• -His other murder cases in the early 1980's 
• -His involved in the Bonded Vault Heist 
• -His death in 1984  

Link to Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qyHLNBUc7w

In today’s episode, the first of a two-part series, we’re finally branching outside of New York to cover Raymond L.S. Patriarca, one of the most feared and respected bosses in the history of the American Cosa Nostra.

Raimondo "Raymond" Loredo Salvatore Patriarca was boss over the New England area for over 30 years (1952-1984). Basing his family's operations in Providence, Rhode Island, Patriarca was one of the most feared and respected bosses in the history of the American Cosa Nostra. He ruled over the New England area including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, etc. with an iron fist for more than three decades as the namesake of what is still known even today as the Patriarca crime family. 

By most accounts, Ray Patriarca was one of the most ruthless and effective bosses, be it inside or outside of New York, in the entire country. In fact, legend has it that he allegedly even once ordered a solider to murder his own son. 

So when I say ruthless, I mean about as heartless as they come. Even still, his men respected him, he was viewed as a good and fair leader, and due to that he was able to exert control not just Rhode Island but on the entirety of New England. 

Link to Part Two: https://youtu.be/Zae26BJCafo

In this episode, we cover a mobster who is probably most well-known for enjoying a good shoe shine. That’s right, we’re talking about none other than William “Billy Batts” Bentvena.  

“Billy Batts” was a soldier within the Gambino Crime Family from the 1950’s through the early 1970’s, and was one who rubbed elbows with some very famous Cosa Nostra members including of course his good friend, one John Joseph Gotti.  

Bentvena’s lasting legacy is in my opinion not as a significant individual contributor to the mob, though he was tied up in a pretty significant event as we’ll discuss. 

His name is really only remembered as a result of the repercussions of his brutal murder, which was famously portrayed in the classic mob film, Goodfellas. "Now go home and get your fucking shine box!" is one of the most memorable lines in movie history.