Michael James Genovese
Encyclopedia
Michael James Genovese was an alleged boss of the Pittsburgh crime family
. References to Michael Genovese as the brother of Vito Genovese
are to a different Michael Genovese; Michael James Genovese was first cousin to New York mob boss Vito Genovese
.
. According to a report by the then Pennsylvania Crime Commission, Genovese once controlled the Numbers Game
in Western Pennsylvania
. His climb through the Pittsburgh crime family included stints as caporegime
and underboss
to John Sebastian LaRocca
, who became boss in 1956. In November 1957, Genovese accompanied LaRocca to the abortive Apalachin Conference of mob bosses in Apalachin, New York
with Gabriel "Kelly" Mannarino. In 1978, facing poor health, LaRocca formed a three-man commission of Genovese, Mannarino, and Joseph "Jo Jo" Pecora to take over day-to-day operations of the family.
, the West Virginia
Panhandle
, and Eastern Ohio
. The family was also involved in major drug trafficking, loan sharking, scams
, and theft in Pittsburgh
. However, the Mafia Commission
in New York would not allow Genovese to recruit new members into the family; he could only replace those who died or retired. Three years after Genovese took control, Pecora died at age 68. In 1985, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) described the Pittsburgh family as being one of the lower-ranked crime families. However, in a 1995 report, the FBI implied that due to large scale federal prosecutions of New York's Five Families
and the Chicago Outfit
, the Pittsburgh organization was one of the stronger families in the Eastern United States.
, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, gambling and racketeering. Police stake-outs at L.A. Motor in Verona, Pennsylvania
where Genovese worked, revealed him meeting almost daily with Porter, Martrano, and Raucci. However, surveillance equipment never recorded Genovese making any incriminating statements. Genovese was always careful to go outside when talking to his mob subordinates. Though Genovese was not indicted, he was named in this trial, as well as others in Ohio, as head of the Pittsburgh crime family. Porter, Raucci, and Martrano were all convicted.
and Cleveland, formerly held by the Cleveland crime family. On October 31, 2006,. Genovese died of natural causes at his home in West Deer Township, Pennsylvania
.
Pittsburgh crime family
The Pittsburgh crime family, also known as the LaRocca crime family, is an American Mafia crime family based in Pittsburgh, United States.-Prohibition era:...
. References to Michael Genovese as the brother of Vito Genovese
Vito Genovese
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. Genovese served as mentor to future mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante...
are to a different Michael Genovese; Michael James Genovese was first cousin to New York mob boss Vito Genovese
Vito Genovese
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. Genovese served as mentor to future mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante...
.
Early years
Genovese was born to Ursula Genovese in East Liberty, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He had two brothers. Felix and Fiore, and three sisters: Virginia, Frances and Angeline. In his early years, Genovese was arrested for robbery and carrying concealed weapons. Among his "legitimate" businesses was a car washCar wash
A car wash or auto wash is a facility used to clean the exterior and, in some cases, the interior of motor vehicles.- Categories :...
. According to a report by the then Pennsylvania Crime Commission, Genovese once controlled the Numbers Game
Numbers game
Numbers game, also known as a numbers racket, policy racket or Italian lottery, is an illegal lottery played mostly in poor neighborhoods in the United States, wherein a bettor attempts to pick three digits to match those that will be randomly drawn the following day...
in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
. His climb through the Pittsburgh crime family included stints as 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...
and 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...
to John Sebastian LaRocca
John Sebastian Larocca
John Sebastian LaRocca was boss of the Pittsburgh crime family from the 1950s until his death in 1984.Born in Sicily, LaRocca and his family emigrated to the United States in 1910, settling in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. As a young man, LaRocca went to work in the coal mines...
, who became boss in 1956. In November 1957, Genovese accompanied LaRocca to the abortive Apalachin Conference of mob bosses in Apalachin, New York
Apalachin, New York
Apalachin is a census-designated place within the Town of Owego in Tioga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,126 in the 2000 census. It is named after the Apalachin Creek. Apalachin means From where the messenger returned in the Lenape.Apalachin is in the southeast part of the...
with Gabriel "Kelly" Mannarino. In 1978, facing poor health, LaRocca formed a three-man commission of Genovese, Mannarino, and Joseph "Jo Jo" Pecora to take over day-to-day operations of the family.
Family boss
Within a year, with the death of Mannarino and the imprisonment of Pecora, Genovese headed the commission. Under Genovese's reign, the Pittsburgh family dominated illegal gambling in Western PennsylvaniaWestern Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
, the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
Panhandle
Panhandle
A panhandle is an informal geographic term for an elongated arm-like protrusion of a geo-political entity, such as a subnational entity or a sovereign state.-Term:...
, and Eastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The family was also involved in major drug trafficking, loan sharking, scams
Confidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
, and theft in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. However, the Mafia Commission
The Commission (mafia)
The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia. Formed in 1931, the Commission replaced the "Boss of all Bosses" title, with a ruling committee, consisting of the New York Five Families bosses and the boss of the Chicago Outfit...
in New York would not allow Genovese to recruit new members into the family; he could only replace those who died or retired. Three years after Genovese took control, Pecora died at age 68. In 1985, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
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...
(FBI) described the Pittsburgh family as being one of the lower-ranked crime families. However, in a 1995 report, the FBI implied that due to large scale federal prosecutions of New York's Five Families
Five Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
and the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
, the Pittsburgh organization was one of the stronger families in the Eastern United States.
Prosecutions
Age and federal prosecutors began catching up with organized crime in Pittsburgh by the early 1990s. In March 1990, underboss Anthony "Wimpy" Martrano (Genovese's right-hand man), capo Charles "Chucky" Porter, and capo Louis Raucci Sr., were indicted for distribution of narcotics, extortionExtortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, gambling and racketeering. Police stake-outs at L.A. Motor in Verona, Pennsylvania
Verona, Pennsylvania
Verona is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is northeast of downtown Pittsburgh, along the left bank of the Allegheny River. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 2,474.-Industry:...
where Genovese worked, revealed him meeting almost daily with Porter, Martrano, and Raucci. However, surveillance equipment never recorded Genovese making any incriminating statements. Genovese was always careful to go outside when talking to his mob subordinates. Though Genovese was not indicted, he was named in this trial, as well as others in Ohio, as head of the Pittsburgh crime family. Porter, Raucci, and Martrano were all convicted.
Death
In 1990, Genovese was suspected of ordering the takeover of territories of YoungstownYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and Cleveland, formerly held by the Cleveland crime family. On October 31, 2006,. Genovese died of natural causes at his home in West Deer Township, Pennsylvania
West Deer Township, Pennsylvania
West Deer Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The population was 11,771 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
Further reading
- Block, Alan A. East Side-West Side: Organizing Crime in New York, 1930-1950. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 1983. ISBN 0878559310
- Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
- Pennsylvania Crime Commission. St. Davids, Pennsylvania: DIANE Publishing, 1984. ISBN 0-8182-0000-6
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime and Use of Violence: hearings before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs. 1980. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC06679032&id=bRZ0MVEIHTwC&q=%22Michael+James+Genovese+%22&dq=%22Michael+James+Genovese+%22&pgis=1
- United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. Investigation of Improper Activities in the Labor Or Management Field: hearings before the Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. 1959. http://books.google.com/books?vid=0l7dFSlTiMGjlr2Dr1MJho5&id=4XYqm3FLdrUC&q=%22Michael+James+Genovese+%22&dq=%22Michael+James+Genovese+%22&pgis=1