Name: Vito Genovese
Nicknames: Don Vitone
Born: 1897
Died: 1969

Biography:Vito Genovese was born near Naples, Italy on November 21, 1897. Genovese landed in New York City, via the S.S. Taormina, in May 1913. He was thought to have quickly fell into local extortion gangs while settling into the lower east side of Manhattan. Before 1920 he was alligned with the likes of Ciro Terranova and Joe Masseria, prominent crime bosses of the day and this was through his relationship with Charles "Lucky" Luciano.

In 1917 Genovese served sixty days for an attempted robbery. In 1918 he was fined $250 for carrying a concealed weapon. In 1924 he married but his wife died in 1929. By the mid 1920s Genovese was heavily involved in extorting brothels, bootlegging and peddling narcotics. He also was keeping a very low profile and getting richer. On April 15, 1931 Luciano dined with crime boss Joe Masseria in Coney Island. The dinner ended with Luciano no where to be found and Masseria bleeding to death on his plate. The bullets, there were many, were thought to have come compliments of Genovese who was one of many actual shooters. Late in 1931 he conspired in wiping out Masseria's successor, Salvatore Maranzano, and was seen as Luciano's underboss.

In 1932 Genovese marrried Anna Vertico. It too carried a Genovese trademark murder. She was a widow, compliments of Genovese henchman, and the couple divorced in 1950. While his wife worried about his ways Genovese had bigger problems. In the 1930s Genovese along with Michele Miranda were engaged in rigging card games. A soldier of his,. one Ferdinand "The Shadow" Boccia, was thought to have assisted with several profitable ones. When Genovese refused to give him a cut of the proceeds, Genovese sent a crew of thugs to shoot Boccia on September 9, 1934 and he was found dead. Miranda crew member Willie Gallo had heard of this move and was thought to have been very critcial. Genovese had soldier Ernest "The Hawk" Rupolo attempt to murder him. The plan didnt go off well and Rupolo was sentenced to 20 years. Rupolo blamed Genovese and began talking. As a result Genovese gave up his underboss title and fled to Italy in 1937.

While in Italy Genovese became associated with the Naples based crime group The Camorra. He was soon engaged in brokering large amounts of heroin trafficking. While fascism and the leader Benito "El Duce" Mussolini were claiming war against the Sicilian Mafia, Naples based Camorra and basically the whole world, Genovese operated freely. He was thought to have made large donations to Mussolini's war chest. While contributing to this Genovese went about steering narcotics piplines, primarily heroin, to include Italy, the Middle East and the United States. The oddest facet of this tale was when the Allied Forces invaded Italy and freed the country from fascism. Genovese served as an interpreter and reported on every black market operator in Italy. As a result he was honored but then quickly stripped when it was realized he was a wanted felon and known crime boss. In early January 1945 he went back to New York. Justice was not swift in the Genovese case. There were two witnesses, Peter La Tempa and the previously mentioned Boccia. LaTempa succumbed to a massive poisoning while awaiting to give his testimony on January 15, 1945. With only one witness, Boccia, Genovese was acquitted and released in 1946. By now the streets had changed the old Luciano regime was essentially being commanded by Frank Costello. Genovese would not be regulated to the background.

The 1950s came fast and with a fury for Genovese. Having survived a serious indictment, Genovese flourished in gambling rackets and narcotics peddling. In 1951 Quarico "Willie Moore" Moretti was serving as Costello's underboss and making a name as a gambling boss in New Jersey with his partner Jewish racketeer Abner "Long" Zwillman. Moretti was also suffering from dementia and hallucinations which was spurred by an untreated case of syphillis. Moretti was babbling and discussing "family business" often loudly and in public. On October 4, 1951 Moretti received his gangland treatment and was murdered. Most certainly Costello, Moretti's cousin, gave the order but and it was thought to have been provoked by Genovese. Now Genovese was elevated back into his spot as underboss. In 1953 Genovese orchestrated the murder of Costello ally Steve Frase. On May 2, 1957 Genovese had glass jaw boxer and then goon Vincent Gigante attempt to murder Costello. It was obvious that Genovese had waited too long and Costello retired. Genovese then backed Carlo Gambino in his overthrow and murder of Albert Anastasia on October 25, 1957 To cap off 1957 Genovese was thought to have came up with the idea of a mob summit. This would leave a turning point in the American Mafia and remove almost all of their secrecy. The remainder would also be a result of another Genovese move. Both of them would result in major blunders.

On November 14, 1957 crime bosses and their most closest associates convened in the tiny town of Apalachin, NY. Bosses as far as Los Angeles discussed "policies" with crime bosses from the east coast. These policies were as follows: no open display of narcotics trafficking by "made" members which was hypocritical in itself, the membership books would be closed indefinetly and recognition of Gambino as new boss over Anastasia's rackets. The meeting was held at the estate of Joseph Barbara, a bottling plant executive, known gangster and boss of the Northeastern Pennsylvania LCN Family. When the police raided the summit gangsters were seen fleeing and former Genovese soldier turned federal witness Joe Valachi said that it embarassed everyone who was not attending. The thought of mob bosses running half scared through the woods and making a fool of their criminal organization. In February 1959 Genovese may have ordered the murder of Zwillman and commanded it to appear as a suicide. Now the Genovese LCN Family would control a massive amount of illegal gambling which included established casinos and armies of enforcers. In that same year the federal government had built a narcotics case against Genovese. This may have been partially fueld with by the likes of Carlo Gambino. Genovese was sent to the Atlanta Federal Prison to serve 15 years. "Don Vitone", this time, would not be coming home alive. Genovese capped off 1959 by ordering the murder of elder capo and Costello ally Anthony "Little Augie Pisano" Carfano and his date.

While in prison he established a committee to oversee his criminal operations. This consisted of underboss Jerry Catena, consigliere Michele Miranda, little known soldier Phillip Lombardo and capo Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo. The relationship with Miranda and Catena had long been established. Strollo and Genovese had been involved in charging hyper inflated prices for drinks at predominently gay bars located in Manhattan. This scam often involved blackmailing gay men, ultimately exposing their private side and potentially ruining them. Lombardo, thought to have been "groomed" under Catena, would remain a mystery until his retirement in the late 1970s. While in prison he had his cousin Mike Genovese, now considered the boss of the Pittsburgh LCN Family, act as a messenger. He would often give orders to Strollo. This worked well until Strollo went missing from his Ft. Lee, NJ home on April 8, 1962 and hasnt been seen since. Strollo had disobeyed Genovese's orders one too many times. He was replaced by Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli.

Credited with calling for the ultimate blunder in the form of the Apalachin Summit, Genovese then made a colossal mistake and would be seen as the ultimate fool afterwards. While at the Atlanta Federal Prison in 1962 Genovese was bunking with his loyal soldier Joseph "Joe Cago" Valachi. The two were known to have dined and played bacci ball together. Valachi was also serving time on a narcotics conviction. Genovese must've began thinking that his "button man" was informing on him or that he may have conspired in his 1959 "set up". According to Valachi, Genovese had given him the "kiss of death" and his ultimate demise. While out on the recreation floor Valachi suspected that Lucchese soldier and convicted narcotics trafficker Joseph "Joey Beck" DiPalmero was about to kill him on the orders of Genovese. Valachi struck back and mistakenly killed inmate John Saupp. Valachi had made an identity mistake and quickly turned himself over to prison officials. He would then agree to testify at Senate Committee hearings. He gave the name-La Cosa Nostra, described the rackets, corrected assumptions, named the bosses, identified key players and described the structure. In essence Genovese had given the world La Cosa Nostra, all the secrecy and oaths, all the rackets and structure.

Genovese made one more play to show his power. Since he could not get Valachi, who was safely tucked away in a minimun security prison, he caught another "rat". In 1964 Ernest "The Hawk" Rupolo was found dead and floating in Jamaica Bay, Queens, NY. Joe Valachi would die while in prison in 1971, reportedly having the ultimate revenge by outliving Genovese and this despite a $100,000 bounty placed on him. Vito "Don Vitone" Genovese died at his Atlanta Federal Prison cell on February 14, 1969.

Genovese had literally murdered his way to the top. During his prime he assisted in establishing global narcotics routes, dodged serious indictments and was seen as a king in the underworld. He was ultimately seen as a fool, having lost the respect of his fellow chieftans, giving the world both Apalachin and Joseph Valachi's groundbreaking testimony. His crime family, which still bears his name, prospered more so after his death. Despite agressive law enforcement attacks and new laws to combat organized crime, the Genovese LCN Family are dubbed by law enforcement as "the blue blood of the underworld". They still boast only two made members to ever testify against their syndicate. The tradition of shuffling powers, which began with Genovese being sent to prison, is still practiced today and leaves law enforcement wondering who commands the criminal vessel.