Vincent Alo
Encyclopedia
Vincent "Jimmy Blue Eyes" Alo (May 26, 1904 – March 9, 2001) was a New York mobster and member of the Genovese crime family
who set up casino operations with mob associate Meyer Lansky
in Florida
and Cuba.
, either in Harlem
or the Lower East Side
, Alo started working on Wall Street
at age 14. As a young man, Alo was convicted of armed robbery and sent to state prison (either at Sing Sing
or Dannemora
state prisons).
In 1926, Alo became a made man
, or full member, of Joseph "Joe the Boss" Masseria's powerful New York gang. Named a caporegime
of the old Joe Adonis
crew, Alo oversaw clubs, speakeasy
s, and illegal gambling in Brooklyn
.
Vincent Alo's Harlem-based crew consisted of Nicholas (Nicky Blanche) Belandi, not to be confused with Nicholas Blanda, Lawrence (Larry Black) Centore, Francesco (Frank Casino) Cucola, Aniello Ercole, Frank (Frank Gallucci)Galluccio, Angelo Iandosco, August (Jerry) Lasetta, Gaetano Martino, Aldo Duzzaratti, the father and sons team, Thomas Milo Sr., Louis Milo and Sabato "Bo" Milo, Rocco Perrotta, James Picarelli, Louis Phadu, Rudolph (Rudy) Prisco, Nicholas (Cockeyed Nick) Baterni, Batisto (Bart) Salvo, George Smurra, Gaetano Somma.
, one of Masseria's lieutenants introduced Alo to Meyer Lansky. An old friend of Luciano's, Lansky was a valuable money-maker for Masseria's organization and Luciano wanted Alo to guard him. However, Luciano may have wanted Alo to also monitor Lansky (a claim reinforced in Vincent Teresa
's My Life In the Mafia and The Last Mafioso by Ovid Demaris
). Both Lansky and Alo were introverted, bookish men who wanted to become legitimate businessmen. The two mobsters quickly became friends.
When Alo first met Lansky, Alo was involved in a setting up a casino in the town of Hallendale, Florida (now called Hallandale Beach). Immediately realizing that Alo would be perfect for this venture, Meyer invited him to become a partner. When Lansky and Alo arrived in Florida, they immediately started making contributions to local fraternal organizations and secret payments to politicians and law enforcement.
When they opened their first casino in Hallendale, Alo and Lansky faced no government or public opposition. Business was so good in the first casino that Alo and Lansky soon opened a second one in Hallendale. This cooperative relationship between the town and the mob would continue uninterrupted until 1947. As the town's economy became more diversified, public embarrassment about the illegal gambling increased. At that point, Alo and Lansky closed their two Hallandale casinos and started planning for casinos in Cuba
.
Alo was also very active in Las Vegas. He was a partner with Moe Dalitz
and Lansky in Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn
. In 1985, after Lansky's death, Wilbur Clark introduced Alo as his "uncle" ("Gumba") or protector, and said that they could arrange certain benefits for businesses that needed help in Las Vegas. He continued his reading habits until he death and often talked about the books that he and his friends were reading in their book club in Hollywood, FL.
In 1970, Alo was convicted of obstructing justice. Robert M. Morgenthau
, U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated that "Alo is one of the most significant organized crime figures in the United States. He is closely associated with Meyer Lansky of Miami, who is at the apex of organized crime." Alo was described as being charming and intelligent, well liked by his associates. He retired in the mid 1970s and his crew was taken over by Matthew Ianniello
.
On March 9, 2001, Alo died of natural causes in Florida
at age 96. His remains were interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
, portrayed by Dominic Chianese
, in the film The Godfather Part II
(1974) is based on Alo.
Genovese crime family
The Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
who set up casino operations with mob associate Meyer Lansky
Meyer Lansky
Meyer Lansky , known as the "Mob's Accountant", was a Polish-born American organized crime figure who, along with his associate Charles "Lucky" Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the "National Crime Syndicate" in the United States...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Cuba.
Early years
Born in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, either in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
or the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, Alo started working on Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
at age 14. As a young man, Alo was convicted of armed robbery and sent to state prison (either at Sing Sing
Sing Sing
Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in the town of Ossining, New York...
or Dannemora
Dannemora
Dannemora may refer to:* Dannemora , New York* Dannemora Prison, colloquial name for the Clinton Correctional Facility in the village of Dannemora* Dannemora , New York* Dannemora, Sweden, a village with 200 inhabitants...
state prisons).
In 1926, Alo became 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...
, or full member, of Joseph "Joe the Boss" Masseria's powerful New York gang. Named 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...
of the old Joe Adonis
Joe Adonis
Joe Adonis , also known as "Joey A", "Joe Adone", "Joe Arosa", "James Arosa", and "Joe DiMeo", was a New York mobster who was an important participant in the formation of the modern Cosa Nostra crime families.-Early years:Adonis was born Giuseppe Antonio Doto in the small town of Montemarano,...
crew, Alo oversaw clubs, speakeasy
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
s, and illegal gambling in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Vincent Alo's Harlem-based crew consisted of Nicholas (Nicky Blanche) Belandi, not to be confused with Nicholas Blanda, Lawrence (Larry Black) Centore, Francesco (Frank Casino) Cucola, Aniello Ercole, Frank (Frank Gallucci)Galluccio, Angelo Iandosco, August (Jerry) Lasetta, Gaetano Martino, Aldo Duzzaratti, the father and sons team, Thomas Milo Sr., Louis Milo and Sabato "Bo" Milo, Rocco Perrotta, James Picarelli, Louis Phadu, Rudolph (Rudy) Prisco, Nicholas (Cockeyed Nick) Baterni, Batisto (Bart) Salvo, George Smurra, Gaetano Somma.
Partnership with Lansky
In 1929, Lucky LucianoLucky Luciano
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission...
, one of Masseria's lieutenants introduced Alo to Meyer Lansky. An old friend of Luciano's, Lansky was a valuable money-maker for Masseria's organization and Luciano wanted Alo to guard him. However, Luciano may have wanted Alo to also monitor Lansky (a claim reinforced in Vincent Teresa
Vincent Teresa
Vincent "Fat Vinnie" Teresa was an American mobster in the Boston branch of the Patriarca crime family who was a lieutenant of boss Raymond Patriarca....
's My Life In the Mafia and The Last Mafioso by Ovid Demaris
Ovid Demaris
Ovid Demaris was a native of Biddeford, Maine and an author of books and detective stories...
). Both Lansky and Alo were introverted, bookish men who wanted to become legitimate businessmen. The two mobsters quickly became friends.
When Alo first met Lansky, Alo was involved in a setting up a casino in the town of Hallendale, Florida (now called Hallandale Beach). Immediately realizing that Alo would be perfect for this venture, Meyer invited him to become a partner. When Lansky and Alo arrived in Florida, they immediately started making contributions to local fraternal organizations and secret payments to politicians and law enforcement.
When they opened their first casino in Hallendale, Alo and Lansky faced no government or public opposition. Business was so good in the first casino that Alo and Lansky soon opened a second one in Hallendale. This cooperative relationship between the town and the mob would continue uninterrupted until 1947. As the town's economy became more diversified, public embarrassment about the illegal gambling increased. At that point, Alo and Lansky closed their two Hallandale casinos and started planning for casinos in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Alo was also very active in Las Vegas. He was a partner with Moe Dalitz
Moe Dalitz
Morris Barney "Moe" Dalitz was a Jewish American bootlegger, racketeer, casino owner and philanthropist who was one of the major figures who helped shape Las Vegas, Nevada in the 20th century. He was often referred to as Mr...
and Lansky in Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn
Desert Inn
The Desert Inn was a Paradise, Nevada, hotel/casino that operated from April 24, 1950, to August 28, 2000. Designed by noted New York architect Jac Lessman, it was the fifth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The property included an 18-hole golf course. Locals nicknamed the resort "The D.I."...
. In 1985, after Lansky's death, Wilbur Clark introduced Alo as his "uncle" ("Gumba") or protector, and said that they could arrange certain benefits for businesses that needed help in Las Vegas. He continued his reading habits until he death and often talked about the books that he and his friends were reading in their book club in Hollywood, FL.
Later years
Robert M. Morgenthau
Robert Morris Morgenthau is an American lawyer. From 1975 until his retirement in 2009, he was the District Attorney for New York County, the borough of Manhattan.-Early life:...
, U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated that "Alo is one of the most significant organized crime figures in the United States. He is closely associated with Meyer Lansky of Miami, who is at the apex of organized crime." Alo was described as being charming and intelligent, well liked by his associates. He retired in the mid 1970s and his crew was taken over by Matthew Ianniello
Matthew Ianniello
Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello is a New York mobster with the Genovese crime family mobster who specialized in vice operations. He was acting boss of the family from 1998–2005 and is the owner of numerous nightclubs in the New York City area.-Little Italy:Ianniello got the nickname "Matty the...
.
On March 9, 2001, Alo died of natural causes in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
at age 96. His remains were interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
In popular culture
The character Johnny OlaJohnny Ola
Johnny Ola is a fictional character appearing in Francis Ford Coppola's film The Godfather Part II. Ola was portrayed by actor Dominic Chianese....
, portrayed by Dominic Chianese
Dominic Chianese
Dominic Chianese is an American film, television and theatre actor, perhaps best known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
, in the film The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a script co-written with Mario Puzo. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the...
(1974) is based on Alo.
External links
- Vincent "Jimmy Blue Eyes" Alo at Find-A-Grave
- In Memory of Jimmy Blue Eyes website
- American Mafia.com Reprieve In Broward By John William Tuohy