Pietro Inzarillo
Encyclopedia
Pietro Inzarillo or Inzerillo (1858–1905) was a New York underworld figure and a member of the Morello crime family
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area of Palermo, Sicily with his wife and five children and settled in New York City. In the early 1900s, he became involved in counterfeiting and Black Hand operations with the Morello gang. His Elizabeth Street
pastry shop, the Cafe Pasticceria, became a hangout for the Morellos. In January 1903, Giuseppe Guilambardo was arrested at the shop during the 'Morristown Fives' counterfeiting investigation.
On the morning of April 16, 1903, police arrested Inzarillo along with Giuseppe Morello
, Ignazio Lupo
, Tommaso Petto, and seven other suspects. On May 1, Inzarillo testified before the coroner's court investigation into the Barrel murder. Although initially excused by the court, Inzarillo was later rearrested on a bench warrant from the US District Court. Indicted along with Ignazio Lupo on counterfeiting charges, Inzarillo was released after posting bail on June 25, 1903. Although Inzarillo would later forfeit the bail, the counterfeiting charge was eventually dropped.
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Morello crime family
The Morello crime family is the direct ancestor of the Genovese crime family, the oldest of New York City's Five Families.-From Corleone to America:...
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Early years
Inzarillo immigrated to the United States from the MarineoMarineo
-Marineo, Sicily:Marineo is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 20 km south of Palermo...
area of Palermo, Sicily with his wife and five children and settled in New York City. In the early 1900s, he became involved in counterfeiting and Black Hand operations with the Morello gang. His Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth Street can refer to:* Elizabeth Street, Brisbane, Australia* Elizabeth Street, Hobart, Australia* Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Australia* Elizabeth Street, Sydney, Australia* Elizabeth Street School, Worcester, Massachusetts...
pastry shop, the Cafe Pasticceria, became a hangout for the Morellos. In January 1903, Giuseppe Guilambardo was arrested at the shop during the 'Morristown Fives' counterfeiting investigation.
Barrel Murders
During the infamous "barrel murders" investigation, U.S. Secret Service agents searched Inzarillo's cafe and found a barrel identical to the one used in the murder of Benedetto Madonia. Further investigation revealed that the barrel was ordered from the Wallace & Thompson bakery. Their records showed that Inzarillo received this barrel in February 1903 after placing an order for sugar.On the morning of April 16, 1903, police arrested Inzarillo along with Giuseppe Morello
Giuseppe Morello
Giuseppe "the Clutch Hand" Morello , also known as "The Old Fox", was the first boss of the Morello crime family and later top adviser to Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria. He was known as Piddu and his rivals the Castellammarese knew him as Peter Morello...
, Ignazio Lupo
Ignazio Saietta
Ignazio Lupo , also known as Ignazio Saietta and Lupo the Wolf, was a Sicilian-American Black Hand leader in New York City during the early 1900s. His business was centered in Little Italy, Manhattan, where he ran large extortion operations and committed other crimes including robberies,...
, Tommaso Petto, and seven other suspects. On May 1, Inzarillo testified before the coroner's court investigation into the Barrel murder. Although initially excused by the court, Inzarillo was later rearrested on a bench warrant from the US District Court. Indicted along with Ignazio Lupo on counterfeiting charges, Inzarillo was released after posting bail on June 25, 1903. Although Inzarillo would later forfeit the bail, the counterfeiting charge was eventually dropped.
Death
It was reported that Pietro Inzarillo was shot to death in October 1905. He was allegedly killed by several unidentified gunmen with Giuseppe de Priemo, a Black Hand member and counterfeiter recently released from Sing Sing Prison. However, in 1910, Inzarillo was reportedly seen with Morello and Lupo when the Secret Service were tracking the Morello counterfeiting operation in Upstate New YorkUpstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
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Further reading
- Carey, Arthur A. and McLellan, Howard. Memoirs of a Murder Man. New York: Doubleday, Doran and Company, 1930. ISBN 1-418-18804-2
- Sterling, Claire. Octopus: The Long Reach of the International Sicilian Mafia. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991. ISBN 0-671-73402-4
- Wilson, Colin. The Mammoth Book of True Crime. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1998. ISBN 0-7867-0536-1