Matthew Trupiano
Encyclopedia
Matthew M. "Mike" Trupiano, Jr. (November 8, 1938 – October 22, 1997) was the boss
of the St. Louis crime family
from 1982 to 1997.
to a Sicilian-American
family.
His father immigrated from Messina and met his future wife in Detroit. Trupiano eventually ran into gambling problems with the Detroit Partnership
, the local Cosa Nostra organization, and was forced to leave the city.
boss Anthony Giordano
, Trupiano moved to St. Louis
. He soon became president of the crime family-controlled Local 110 of the Laborers' International Union of North America
(LIUNA). After Giordano died in 1980 and John "Johnny V." Vitale.
became boss, Trupiano was allowed to become a made man
in the family. When Vitale died in 1982, Trupiano succeeded him as boss, and Joseph Cammarata became his underboss.
In 1991, Trupiano was arrested for operating an illegal gin rummy
game in the back of a St. Louis car dealership. Since Trupiano was a union officer gambling on union work time, prosecutors could charge him with embezzlement of union funds. In June 1992, due to the criminal charges, Local 110 voted Trupiano out of office. In October 1992, Trupiano was convicted of one illegal gambling charge and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. The judge advised Trupiano to stay away from gambling. In poor health, Trupiano was released from prison after serving 16 months.
Matthew Trupiano suffered a heart attack at his home on October 22, 1997 and was pronounced dead at St. Anthony's Medical Center
in South St. Louis County, Missouri
.
Crime boss
A crime boss or boss is a person in charge of a criminal organization. A boss typically has absolute or near-absolute control over his subordinates, is greatly feared by his subordinates for his ruthlessness and willingness to take lives in order to exert his influence, and profits come from the...
of the St. Louis crime 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:...
from 1982 to 1997.
Early life
Matthew Trupiano was born on November 8, 1938 in DetroitDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to a Sicilian-American
Sicilian-American
Sicilian Americans are American people from Sicily or of Sicilian heritage. They are considered Italian Americans but are sometimes treated as a separate group due to cultural and historical differences between Sicily and the mainland....
family.
His father immigrated from Messina and met his future wife in Detroit. Trupiano eventually ran into gambling problems with the Detroit Partnership
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...
, the local Cosa Nostra organization, and was forced to leave the city.
St. Louis crime family
With the help of his uncle, St. Louis crime familySt. 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:...
boss Anthony Giordano
Anthony 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...
, Trupiano moved to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He soon became president of the crime family-controlled Local 110 of the Laborers' International Union of North America
Laborers' International Union of North America
The Laborers' International Union of North America is an American and Canadian labor union formed in 1903. As of March 31, 2010, they have about 632,000 members, members, about 80,000 of which are in Canada.The current general president is Terence M...
(LIUNA). After Giordano died in 1980 and John "Johnny V." Vitale.
John Vitale (mobster)
John Joseph Vitale was a Sicilian-American boss and underboss of the St. Louis crime family. During his lifetime, Vitale allegedly was the boss of the St. Louis crime family on two separate occasions.-Early life:...
became boss, Trupiano was allowed to become a made man
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
in the family. When Vitale died in 1982, Trupiano succeeded him as boss, and Joseph Cammarata became his underboss.
In 1991, Trupiano was arrested for operating an illegal gin rummy
Gin rummy
Gin rummy, or simply gin, is a two-player card game created in 1909 by Elwood T. Baker and his son C. Graham Baker. According to John Scarne, Gin evolved from 18th-century Whiskey Poker and was created with the intention of being faster than standard rummy, but less spontaneous than knock...
game in the back of a St. Louis car dealership. Since Trupiano was a union officer gambling on union work time, prosecutors could charge him with embezzlement of union funds. In June 1992, due to the criminal charges, Local 110 voted Trupiano out of office. In October 1992, Trupiano was convicted of one illegal gambling charge and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. The judge advised Trupiano to stay away from gambling. In poor health, Trupiano was released from prison after serving 16 months.
Matthew Trupiano suffered a heart attack at his home on October 22, 1997 and was pronounced dead at St. Anthony's Medical Center
St. Anthony's Medical Center
St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri, is the third-largest medical center in the St. Louis metropolitan area. It also serves families in Jefferson County, Mo., and St. Clair and Monroe counties in Illinois. In addition, St. Anthony’s operates four urgent carefacilities located in...
in South St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
.
External links
- St. Louis Family. AmericanMafia.com.
- "Giordano", The St. Louis Crime Family. Crime Library.