Jimmy Caci
Encyclopedia
Vincent Dominic Caci, known by his peers as Jimmy, was a Los Angeles crime family
member and a Caporegime
(Captain) in the family.
Originally from the East Coast, was born August 1, 1925 in Westfield, New York
to Alfonzo and Josephine Caci. Caci grew up around the Buffalo
-Western New York
area. His siblings include Leto, Clara, Alfred, Antoinette, Santina, Jerry, Charles and Salvatore. Through his brother, he was also the brother-in-law
of Keely Smith
. In the 1970s, Caci spent eight years in Attica prison
for armed robbery where he met many mobsters including Stephen "the Whale" Cino, who would both eventually switch to the Los Angeles family. In the late 1970s he moved to Southern California
. He was promoted to caporegime shortly after by boss Peter Milano
. Until his death, Caci was active as a loan shark in Palm Springs
and Las Vegas
. Caci kept close ties to the Buffalo crime family and helped contribute to the growing ties between the two families. He owned his own construction company in Erie, Pennsylvania
and was the owner of a restaurant and night club in New York and California.
In 1984, Caci was arrested with 20 other Los Angeles mobsters for attempting to take over a $1 million a week illegal bookmaking operation. However, due to lack of evidence, Cacci was not charged. Caci controls his empire of crime from his base of operations in Palm Springs, California
. His younger brother, Charles Joseph Milano, was a night club singer known as "Bobby Milano". Until his death in 2006, Charles was also a soldier in his brother's crew. Other members of Caci's crew included Cino, Rocco Zangari, Steven Mauriello, Vince Lupo and associates Kenny Gallo
, Robert "Puggy" Zeichick, and Alfred Mauriello.
When Peter Milano
and his underboss
Carmen Milano
were sentenced to prison time in 1988, Caci became street boss of the Los Angeles family for a short time. In August 1996, Caci was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiracy
, wire fraud
, and interstate transportation of fraudulently obtained money for his role in a telemarketing
scheme that victimized over 100 people in the Midwest
. Caci was able to avoid serious jail time by the FBI
in connection with the Las Vegas RICO
cases "Operation Thin Crust" and "Operation Button Down", which were investigations into the Mafia
's influence in Southern Nevada
in 1997. In 1998 Caci was convicted and received a six-month sentence.
On August 16, 2011, Caci died at the age of 86 in the Eisenhower Medical Center
in Rancho Mirage, California
. He was buried on August 21, 2011 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in Cheektawaga, New York
. He is survived by his son Joseph Caci, grandson Vincent Kamuda, great grandson Nathanial Kamuda, and his sister Concetta Leto. His daughter Josephine Kamuda passed away in 2002.
Los Angeles crime family
The Los Angeles crime family is an Italian American criminal organization based in Los Angeles, as part of the American Mafia . Since its inception in the early 1900s, it has spread throughout Southern California. Like most Mafia families in the United States, the L.A. family gained power...
member and a Caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
(Captain) in the family.
Originally from the East Coast, was born August 1, 1925 in Westfield, New York
Westfield, New York
Westfield, New York may refer to:*Westfield , New York*Westfield , New York...
to Alfonzo and Josephine Caci. Caci grew up around the Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
-Western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
area. His siblings include Leto, Clara, Alfred, Antoinette, Santina, Jerry, Charles and Salvatore. Through his brother, he was also the brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
of Keely Smith
Keely Smith
Keely Smith is an American jazz and popular music singer who enjoyed popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. She collaborated with, among others, Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra.-Career:...
. In the 1970s, Caci spent eight years in Attica prison
Attica Correctional Facility
The Attica Correctional Facility is a maximum penitentiary in the town of Attica, New York, operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services. After it was constructed in the 1930s, it held many of the most dangerous criminals of the time. A tear gas system is installed in the mess...
for armed robbery where he met many mobsters including Stephen "the Whale" Cino, who would both eventually switch to the Los Angeles family. In the late 1970s he moved to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He was promoted to caporegime shortly after by boss Peter Milano
Peter Milano
Peter John Milano is a Los Angeles based, Italian-American mobster, and current Boss of the Los Angeles crime family. Milano has been active in organized crime since the 1950s...
. Until his death, Caci was active as a loan shark in Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Caci kept close ties to the Buffalo crime family and helped contribute to the growing ties between the two families. He owned his own construction company in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and was the owner of a restaurant and night club in New York and California.
In 1984, Caci was arrested with 20 other Los Angeles mobsters for attempting to take over a $1 million a week illegal bookmaking operation. However, due to lack of evidence, Cacci was not charged. Caci controls his empire of crime from his base of operations in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
. His younger brother, Charles Joseph Milano, was a night club singer known as "Bobby Milano". Until his death in 2006, Charles was also a soldier in his brother's crew. Other members of Caci's crew included Cino, Rocco Zangari, Steven Mauriello, Vince Lupo and associates Kenny Gallo
Kenny Gallo
Kenny "Kenji" Gallo is a Japanese-Italian American gangster-turned-informant and a former director and producer of pornographic films...
, Robert "Puggy" Zeichick, and Alfred Mauriello.
When Peter Milano
Peter Milano
Peter John Milano is a Los Angeles based, Italian-American mobster, and current Boss of the Los Angeles crime family. Milano has been active in organized crime since the 1950s...
and his underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
Carmen Milano
Carmen Milano
Carmen Joseph Milano was a disbarred lawyer who eventually became a member of the American Mafia, serving as Underboss of the Los Angeles crime family. The criminal organization he served is headed by his older brother Peter Milano...
were sentenced to prison time in 1988, Caci became street boss of the Los Angeles family for a short time. In August 1996, Caci was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
, wire fraud
Wire fraud
Mail and wire fraud is a federal crime in the United States. Together, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, and 1346 reach any fraudulent scheme or artifice to intentionally deprive another of property or honest services with a nexus to mail or wire communication....
, and interstate transportation of fraudulently obtained money for his role in a telemarketing
Telemarketing
Telemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches...
scheme that victimized over 100 people in the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
. Caci was able to avoid serious jail time by the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
in connection with the Las Vegas RICO
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
cases "Operation Thin Crust" and "Operation Button Down", which were investigations into the 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...
's influence in Southern Nevada
Southern Nevada
Southern Nevada is the region of Nevada which includes the Las Vegas Valley. Southern Nevada also includes the areas in and around Goldfield, Hawthorne, Pahrump, and Pioche. Geographically, Southern Nevada is partly, and in some cases, fully within the Mojave Desert. The population of the...
in 1997. In 1998 Caci was convicted and received a six-month sentence.
On August 16, 2011, Caci died at the age of 86 in the Eisenhower Medical Center
Eisenhower Medical Center
The Eisenhower Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital located in Rancho Mirage, California. It was named one of the top one hundred hospitals in the United States in 2005 and is adjacent to the world-famous Betty Ford Center....
in Rancho Mirage, California
Rancho Mirage, California
Rancho Mirage is a resort city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 17,218 at the 2010 census, up from 13,249 at the 2000 census, but the seasonal population can exceed 20,000. In between Cathedral City and Palm Desert, it is one of the eight cities of the Coachella...
. He was buried on August 21, 2011 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is the name of several different cemeteries in the United States. The name is inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which is believed by many Christians to be built on the site of Jesus's tomb...
in Cheektawaga, New York
Cheektowaga (town), New York
Cheektowaga is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 94,019. The name comes from the Iroquoian word Ji-ik-do-wa-gah, meaning the place of the crab apple tree...
. He is survived by his son Joseph Caci, grandson Vincent Kamuda, great grandson Nathanial Kamuda, and his sister Concetta Leto. His daughter Josephine Kamuda passed away in 2002.