Licavoli Crime Family
Encyclopedia
The Licavoli Mob was an Italian American mob that was based in Detroit and St. Louis. The mob was formed by the brothers Thomas "Yonnie" Licavoli
and Peter "Pete" Licavoli
.
's involvement in the Purple Gang
in the 1930s. After the collapse of the Purple Gang, Peter Licavoli and his brothers gained control of much of the remnants of that gang and continued to conduct business in the Detroit and Toledo, Ohio
areas.
The family was officially recognized in 1939 with Peter Licavoli as Don
. The Licavolis had strong ties to the Zerilli family
and to the Giordano family
in St. Louis. The family prospered and they used Italian restaurants as their base until it closed in the 1980s. The family formally collapsed in 1983 after a vicious shoot-out; however, the name lives on as part of the Tocco-Licavoli-Zerilli crime family
, and several former members still operate in Las Vegas.
At its height, the Licavoli mob's turf stretched from Detroit to most of Michigan, and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They also had interests in New York
, Ohio (especially Toledo), Los Angeles
, St Louis, Sicily
and Naples
.
, died from cancer in 1980, Mikey Trupiano
came to the Licavoli mob to help him secure the position of boss in St Louis. Then-boss James Licavoli agreed on certain conditions – that the Licavoli's could put their own man, Capo Micheal DeAngelo, as the boss of the local union and that St. Louis had to be willing to do business with the Detroit and Licavoli families. But the Leisures were backed by the Licavolis' archrivals, the Riccmis. The Licavolis struck first – they bombed the Riccmis' club and killed a member. When the Riccmis returned the attack, Jack Licavoli was killed. The fighting went on for six months until the Leisures formally surrendered the position to Trupiano.
filled the power vacuum left by the Licavolis.
Thomas Licavoli
Thomas "Yonnie" Licavoli was a gangster and bootlegger during Prohibition. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Yonnie, along with brother Peter Joseph Licavoli and cousin James Licavoli, worked with Jewish gangsters to take over illegal gambling in St. Louis. He was a member of the Licavoli Crime Family...
and Peter "Pete" Licavoli
Peter Licavoli
Peter Joseph Licavoli , was an organized crime figure in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Detroit, Michigan...
.
Background
The family formed after Peter LicavoliPeter Licavoli
Peter Joseph Licavoli , was an organized crime figure in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Detroit, Michigan...
's involvement in the Purple Gang
Purple Gang
Purple Gang can refer to:*The Purple Gang, Jewish American bootleggers and hijackers in the 1920s*The Purple Gang , British rock band active intermittently since the 1960s*East Harlem Purple Gang, Italian American gang of drug dealers and hitmen...
in the 1930s. After the collapse of the Purple Gang, Peter Licavoli and his brothers gained control of much of the remnants of that gang and continued to conduct business in the Detroit and Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
areas.
The family was officially recognized in 1939 with Peter Licavoli as Don
Don
- People :* Don , a short form of the masculine given name Donald in English, also a masculine given name in Irish* Don , a Spanish, Portuguese and Italian title, given as a mark of respect* Don, a crime boss...
. The Licavolis had strong ties to the Zerilli family
Anthony Joseph Zerilli
Anthony Joseph Zerilli is an Italian-American mobster from Sterling Heights, Michigan who is the reputed underboss of the Detroit Partnership criminal organization, which is part of Cosa Nostra.-Early years:...
and to the Giordano family
St. Louis crime family
The St. Louis crime family, also known as the Giordano crime family, is an American Mafia crime family based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.-Prohibition era:...
in St. Louis. The family prospered and they used Italian restaurants as their base until it closed in the 1980s. The family formally collapsed in 1983 after a vicious shoot-out; however, the name lives on as part of the Tocco-Licavoli-Zerilli crime family
Detroit Partnership
The Detroit Partnership, also known as the Detroit crime family, Detroit Combination, Detroit Mafia, Detroit Outfit or Zerilli crime family is an American Mafia crime family based in Detroit, Michigan...
, and several former members still operate in Las Vegas.
At its height, the Licavoli mob's turf stretched from Detroit to most of Michigan, and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They also had interests in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Ohio (especially Toledo), Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, St Louis, Sicily
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,...
and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
The Licavoli–Riccmi mob wars
When Licavoli's ally, St. Louis boss Anthony GiordanoAnthony Giordano
Antonio Rico Giuseppe Giordano was the boss of the St. Louis crime family.-Early life:Anthony Giordano, nicknamed "Tony G", was born June 24, 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri. He married Catherine P. Burns, and together they adopted a son named William Giordano.-St...
, died from cancer in 1980, Mikey Trupiano
Matthew Trupiano
Matthew M. "Mike" Trupiano, Jr. was the boss of the St. Louis crime family from 1982 to 1997.-Early life:Matthew Trupiano was born on November 8, 1938 in Detroit to a Sicilian-American family....
came to the Licavoli mob to help him secure the position of boss in St Louis. Then-boss James Licavoli agreed on certain conditions – that the Licavoli's could put their own man, Capo Micheal DeAngelo, as the boss of the local union and that St. Louis had to be willing to do business with the Detroit and Licavoli families. But the Leisures were backed by the Licavolis' archrivals, the Riccmis. The Licavolis struck first – they bombed the Riccmis' club and killed a member. When the Riccmis returned the attack, Jack Licavoli was killed. The fighting went on for six months until the Leisures formally surrendered the position to Trupiano.
Modern era
By the 1980s, the Licavolis had been crippled by the war between the African American and Italian gang in Detroit. James Licavoli was old and crippled, and their criminal empire crumbled when the last made man of the Licavolis was killed by an Italian street gang boss. The Detroit PartnershipDetroit Partnership
The Detroit Partnership, also known as the Detroit crime family, Detroit Combination, Detroit Mafia, Detroit Outfit or Zerilli crime family is an American Mafia crime family based in Detroit, Michigan...
filled the power vacuum left by the Licavolis.
Notable Members
- Peter Licavoli, Boss (1930–1944)
- Thomas Licavoli, Boss (1944–1955)
- James T. Licavoli, Cleveland boss (1955–1983)
- Rinaldo Ricco, Soldier (1956–1976)
- Dominic Licavoli, Capo (1940–1983)
- Leo Moceri, Cleveland Consiglere (1960–1980)
- Anthony Licavoli, Capo (1948–1980)
- Micheal DeAngelo, Capo (1950–1970)
- Mario Dinucci, Capo (1950–1979)
- Marco "Little Norm" Dinucci, Soldier (1951?–1979)
- Salvatori Dinucci, Soldier (1951?–1979)
- Giovanni Mirabella, Soldier (1930–1955)
- Jacob "Firetop" Sulkin, Associate (1931–1972)
- Joseph Monti, Associate (1931–1960)[list membership disputed]
- Franco Cupini, Soldier (1930–1979)