Gaetano Lococo
Encyclopedia
Gaetano Lococo, also known as "Thomas" or "Tano was a mobster identified as one of the "Five Iron Men" of Kansas City
, Missouri
by Americanmiafia.com. Lococo was known within the Kansas City crime family
as an enforcer in his early years. Later on, he controlled an interest in several illegal gambling establishments.
testimony, Lococo helped gunmen escape from the scene of the bloody June 1933 Union Station massacre
in Kansas City. Lococo, Tony Gizzo, Charles Gargotta
and Dominick Binaggio (brother of Charles Binaggio
) allegedly provided the gunmen with a stolen car and escorted them out of the city a few days later.
Meanwhile, Lococo took off on foot (his headquarters was a few blocks away). The deputy, now out of the car, exchanged shots with Lococo. Throwing down his gun, Lococo disappeared down an alley. As Lococo made his escape, Gargotta charged Sheriff Bash with guns blazing. However, Gargotta soon ran out of ammunition and surrendered to Bash.
Despite the dubious efforts of the local police force (which was very corrupt at the time), Lococo was never charged for Anthon's murder or the ensuing shootout. But in 1939, during a citywide cleanup campaign, Lococo was charged with income tax evasion
and sent to prison for a short term. This would be Lococo's only major conviction.
and was making health-related trips to the U.S. Southwest and Mexico
. In 1948, he moved to Nogales, Arizona
, and purchased a small hotel. Lococo then attempted to open a gambling operation in the hotel, but the Santa Cruz County
Sheriff thwarted his project. Lococo finally sold the hotel and returned to Kansas City.
In March 1950, Lococo was identified at a conference of U.S. and Sicilian
Mafia members at a hotel in Tijuana
, Mexico. When local Mexican police found out about the conference, they ended it prematurely. Less than a month after the Tijuana conference, both Kansas City boss Charles Binaggio
and underboss Gargotta were assassinated. A few years later, during the U.S. Senate hearings on organized crime (the Kefauver hearings
) it was speculated that the decision to whack Binaggio had been made at this conference. However, there was no way to ever prove it.
In the 1960s, Lococo retired in Kansas City. In his later years, a Kansas City pizza restaurant ("Gaetano's") was reportedly named for him. In the late 1990s, Gaetano Lococo died of natural causes.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
by Americanmiafia.com. Lococo was known within the Kansas City crime family
Kansas City crime family
The Kansas City crime family, also known as the Civella crime family, is a Mafia family based in Kansas City, Missouri.-Early history:...
as an enforcer in his early years. Later on, he controlled an interest in several illegal gambling establishments.
Arrival in Kansas City
In the 1930s, Lococo was frequently mentioned in local newspaper articles about major mob-related events. According to grand juryGrand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
testimony, Lococo helped gunmen escape from the scene of the bloody June 1933 Union Station massacre
Kansas City Massacre
The Kansas City massacre was the shootout and murder of four law enforcement officers and a criminal fugitive at the Union Station railroad depot in Kansas City, Missouri, on the morning of June 17, 1933. It occurred as part of the attempt by a gang led by Vernon Miller to free Frank "Jelly" Nash,...
in Kansas City. Lococo, Tony Gizzo, Charles Gargotta
Charles Gargotta
Charles Gargotta, also known as "Mad Dog", was a Kansas City, Missouri gangster who became a top enforcer for the Kansas City crime family.Born in Kansas City, Gargotta joined the criminal organization of boss John Lazia as a young man...
and Dominick Binaggio (brother of Charles Binaggio
Charles Binaggio
Charles Binaggio was a Missouri gangster who became the boss of the Kansas City crime family and concocted a bold plan to control the police forces in Kansas City, Missouri and St...
) allegedly provided the gunmen with a stolen car and escorted them out of the city a few days later.
Shootout with the Sheriff
By pure chance, County Sheriff Bash, one of his deputies, the sheriff's wife, and a teenaged girl were a block away from the murder scene when they heard gunfire; they all were returning from a party. The sheriff directed his deputy to drive toward the sound of the gunfire. As the sheriff's car stopped at Armour and Forest, Gargotta and Lococo were still standing in the street. Scola and Fasone were in the front seat of the getaway car with the engine running. Scola saw Sheriff Bash exit his car with a 12 gauge shotgun; he gunned the engine and plowed his getaway car directly into the Sheriff's car. Still in their wrecked car, both Scola and Fasone opened fire on Bash, but he quickly cut them down with his riot gun (Scola and Fasone died at the scene).Meanwhile, Lococo took off on foot (his headquarters was a few blocks away). The deputy, now out of the car, exchanged shots with Lococo. Throwing down his gun, Lococo disappeared down an alley. As Lococo made his escape, Gargotta charged Sheriff Bash with guns blazing. However, Gargotta soon ran out of ammunition and surrendered to Bash.
Despite the dubious efforts of the local police force (which was very corrupt at the time), Lococo was never charged for Anthon's murder or the ensuing shootout. But in 1939, during a citywide cleanup campaign, Lococo was charged with income tax evasion
Tax avoidance and tax evasion
Tax noncompliance describes a range of activities that are unfavorable to a state's tax system. These include tax avoidance, which refers to reducing taxes by legal means, and tax evasion which refers to the criminal non-payment of tax liabilities....
and sent to prison for a short term. This would be Lococo's only major conviction.
Later years
By the late 1940s, Lococo was stricken with arthritisArthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
and was making health-related trips to the U.S. Southwest and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In 1948, he moved to Nogales, Arizona
Nogales, Arizona
Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 21,017 at the 2010 census. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,833. The city is the county seat of Santa Cruz County....
, and purchased a small hotel. Lococo then attempted to open a gambling operation in the hotel, but the Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.5% White*0.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*22.9% Other races*82.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
Sheriff thwarted his project. Lococo finally sold the hotel and returned to Kansas City.
In March 1950, Lococo was identified at a conference of U.S. and Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
Mafia members at a hotel in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Mexico. When local Mexican police found out about the conference, they ended it prematurely. Less than a month after the Tijuana conference, both Kansas City boss Charles Binaggio
Charles Binaggio
Charles Binaggio was a Missouri gangster who became the boss of the Kansas City crime family and concocted a bold plan to control the police forces in Kansas City, Missouri and St...
and underboss Gargotta were assassinated. A few years later, during the U.S. Senate hearings on organized crime (the Kefauver hearings
Kefauver hearings
The United States Senate Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce was a special committee of the United States Senate which existed from 1950 to 1951 and which investigated organized crime which crossed state borders in the United States...
) it was speculated that the decision to whack Binaggio had been made at this conference. However, there was no way to ever prove it.
In the 1960s, Lococo retired in Kansas City. In his later years, a Kansas City pizza restaurant ("Gaetano's") was reportedly named for him. In the late 1990s, Gaetano Lococo died of natural causes.