Genna crime family
| Founded by | Genna Brothers |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Unione Siciliana |
| Rivals | North Side Gang |
The Genna crime family (Italian pronunciation:
The Genna brothers
The Genna brothers consisted of six Sicilian brothers. Vincenzo "James" Genna was the leader of the gang. Angelo "Bloody Angelo" Genna, the youngest of the six, was the family's primary enforcer, and participated heavily the 19th ward political wars of the late 1920s. Mike "The Devil" was generally kept busy with low-level violent tasks. Antonio "The Gentleman" Genna remained aloof from the day-to-day gang activities, preferring to remain behind the scenes. Sam Genna oversaw the gangs political connections and Peter ran a saloon.[2] In 1919, the Gennas became involved in
At the onset of Prohibition, the Genna gang was a member of Torrio's beer cartel, agreeing to sell its alcohol only within its territory. By 1924, the Genna brothers had begun selling their extra alcohol at cut-rate prices outside their territory.
Gang war
After O'Banion's murder, the new North Side Gang leader, Hymie Weiss, negotiated a temporary truce with the Gennas. The North Siders focused on attacking the Torrio-Capone gang, first shooting up Al Capone's car in January 1925, then nearly killing Torrio in an ambush outside his home later that month. After leaving the hospital, Torrio fled to Italy, leaving Al Capone as boss.
By spring 1925, North Side Gang was targeting the Genna brothers. First, Bloody Angelo Genna was killed on May 27, 1925, after a high-speed car chase, then shot him to death.[3] On June 13, 1925, Mike Genna was gunned down by police after a shootout with the North Siders.[3] Antonio Genna was shot to death on July 8, 1925, in an ambush. The remaining three brothers Jim, Sam, and Pete fled Chicago.[3]
D'Andrea and the Unione Siciliana
Joe Aiello and the last fight
Giuseppe "Joe" Aiello and his brothers Salvatore "Sam" and Pietro "Peter" declared themselves bosses of the old Genna brothers territory of Little Italy.[4] The Aiello brothers had an alliance with the Castellammarese Clan boss Salvatore Maranzano and close connection to the North Side Gang.[4] The brothers attempted to murder Al Capone and become the most powerful organization in Chicago. Giuseppe Aiello was murdered in 1930 and Capone took over all Italian organized crime.[4]
Members of Chicago's Sicilian Mafia
Bosses
- 1914-1921 —
- 1921-1925 — Angelo Genna – murdered on May 27, 1925.[1][3]
- 1925 — Unione Siciliana. He was murdered on November 13, 1925.
- 1925-1930 — Joseph Aiello – murdered on October 23, 1930.
Other members
- Antonio Genna – murdered on July 8, 1925.[3]
- Mike Genna – murdered on June 13, 1925.[3]
- Vincenzo Genna[3] died November 8, 1931
- Peter Genna[3] died May 13, 1948
- Sam Genna[3] died Dec 20, 1951
- Mariano Zagone – Black Hand; murdered in May 1909.[6]
- Joseph "Diamond Joe" Esposito – murdered on March 21, 1928.[7]
- Unione Sicilianapresident; murdered on November 13, 1925.
Rival
- Rosario Dispenza – Black Hand member and was a Morello crime family Chicago contact.[8] Dispenza was murdered in 1914.[9]
- Salvatore Cardinella gang – also operated in Little Italy and Little Sicily.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Capeci, Jerry. The complete idiot's guide to the Mafia pg.82-84
- ^ ISBN 978-1633882850.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "La Cosa Nostra database: Genna Brothers" Brothers
- ^ a b c The true and complete story of 'machine gun' Jack McGurn by Amanda Jayne Parr pg.244
- ^ Reppetto, Thomas A. American Mafia: a history of its rise to power pg.69
- ^ Lombardo, Robert M. The Black Hand: Terror by Letter in Chicago pg.86
- ^ After Capone: the life and world of Chicago mob boss Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti By Mars Eghigian, Jr., Frank Nitti pg.142
- ^ Critchley, David The origin of organized crime in America: the New York City mafia, 1891-1931 pg.56
- ^ Lombardo, Robert M. The Black Hand: Terror by Letter in Chicago pg.94
- ^ Parr, Amanda Jayne The True and complete story of 'machine gun' Jack McGurn pg. 37
