Alessandro Vollero
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Vollero was a New York mobster and a high ranking member of the Brooklyn
Camorra
crime organization. Vollero served as a lieutenant to gang boss Pellegrino Morano
during the Mafia-Camorra War
of 1916.
Born in Italy, Vollero emigrated with his family to the United States in 1909 and settled in Brooklyn. He soon became involved with the Camorra-aligned street gangs in that area. Vollero eventually bought a coffee shot on Navy Street in Brooklyn, which became the home of the Navy Street Gang. The Neopolitan gangs were the chief rivals to the Morello crime family
, a Sicilian Mafia
gang from Manhattan that was trying to expand its territory. The Neopolitian gangs eventually united against the Morello family.
On September 7, 1916, Vollero participated in the murders of mob boss Nicholas Morello
and Charles Ubriaco. Vollero wanted revenge against the Morellos for their murder of his friend Nicholas DelGardio. Vollero lured the Morello and Ubriaco to his coffee shop on the pretext of arranging a ceasefire with Morano. When the two mobsters reached the cafe, Morello and Ubriaco were gunned down. Although the murders were successful, the assassins, "Torpedo" Tony Notaro and Ralph Daniello
, were eventually apprehended. Daniello agreed to turn states' evidence in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Based on Daniello's testimony, Vollero and Morano were convicted of first degree murder. On June 20, 1918, Vollero was sentenced to death at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York
. http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Court/1918.PoliceCourt.html However, Vollero's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. In 1925, during his imprisonment, Vollero became acquainted with Jimmy "The Shiv" DeStefano and his boyhood friend, future mob turncoat Joe Valachi
, and served as their mentor. On April 28, 1933, after 14 years in prison, Vollero was released and disappeared from public view.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
Camorra
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
crime organization. Vollero served as a lieutenant to gang boss Pellegrino Morano
Pellegrino Morano
Pellegrino Morano was a leader of the Neapolitan Camorra gangs in Brooklyn, New York. He operated from his Coney Island gang and is considered the American "Grand Master" from roughly 1907-1917.-Background:...
during the Mafia-Camorra War
Mafia-Camorra War
The Mafia-Camorra War was a gang war in New York City during the World War I era. One side was the Sicilian Morello crime family of Manhattan, the other side was Camorra, an ancient Neapolitan gang with a subgroup in the vicinity of Navy Street in Brooklyn, and the Coney Island gang...
of 1916.
Born in Italy, Vollero emigrated with his family to the United States in 1909 and settled in Brooklyn. He soon became involved with the Camorra-aligned street gangs in that area. Vollero eventually bought a coffee shot on Navy Street in Brooklyn, which became the home of the Navy Street Gang. The Neopolitan gangs were the chief rivals to the Morello crime family
Morello crime family
The Morello crime family is the direct ancestor of the Genovese crime family, the oldest of New York City's Five Families.-From Corleone to America:...
, a Sicilian Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
gang from Manhattan that was trying to expand its territory. The Neopolitian gangs eventually united against the Morello family.
On September 7, 1916, Vollero participated in the murders of mob boss Nicholas Morello
Nicholas Morello
Nicolo Terranova , also known as Nicholas "Nick" Morello, was one of the first Italian-American organized crime figures in New York City...
and Charles Ubriaco. Vollero wanted revenge against the Morellos for their murder of his friend Nicholas DelGardio. Vollero lured the Morello and Ubriaco to his coffee shop on the pretext of arranging a ceasefire with Morano. When the two mobsters reached the cafe, Morello and Ubriaco were gunned down. Although the murders were successful, the assassins, "Torpedo" Tony Notaro and Ralph Daniello
Ralph Daniello
Ralph "The Barber" Daniello was a New York criminal who belonged to the Brooklyn Navy Street Gang and participated in a major gang slaying. Daniello eventually became an informant and helped destroy the Camorra crime organization in Brooklyn....
, were eventually apprehended. Daniello agreed to turn states' evidence in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Based on Daniello's testimony, Vollero and Morano were convicted of first degree murder. On June 20, 1918, Vollero was sentenced to death at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York
Ossining (town), New York
Ossining is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 37,674 at the 2010 census. It contains two villages, the Village of Ossining and part of Briarcliff Manor, the rest of which is located in the Town of Mount Pleasant....
. http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Court/1918.PoliceCourt.html However, Vollero's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. In 1925, during his imprisonment, Vollero became acquainted with Jimmy "The Shiv" DeStefano and his boyhood friend, future mob turncoat Joe Valachi
Joe Valachi
Joseph "Joe Cargo" Valachi , Italian American, also known as "Charles Chanbano" and "Anthony Sorge" was the first Mafia member to publicly acknowledge the existence of the Mafia. He is also the person who made Cosa Nostra a household name.-Career:Joseph Valachi was born in East Harlem, New York...
, and served as their mentor. On April 28, 1933, after 14 years in prison, Vollero was released and disappeared from public view.