Joe Adonis
Joseph Adonis | |
---|---|
Mobster | |
Spouse |
Jean Montemorano (m. 1932) |
Children | 4 |
Allegiance | Illegal gambling (1951) |
Criminal penalty | 2 to 3 years' imprisonment |
Joseph Anthony Doto
Early life
Adonis was born Giuseppe Antonio Doto on November 22, 1902, in the small town of Montemarano, Province of Avellino, Italy, to Michele Doto and Maria De Vito. He had three brothers, Antonio, Ettore and Genesio Doto.[3][4]
In 1909, Adonis and his family immigrated to the United States, in New York City.
At the beginning of Prohibition, Luciano, Adonis, Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel started a bootlegging operation in Brooklyn. This operation soon began supplying large amounts of alcohol to the show business community along Broadway in Manhattan. Doto soon assumed the role of a gentleman bootlegger, socializing with the theater elite.
In the early 1920s, Doto started calling himself "Joe Adonis" (
Extremely vain, Adonis spent a great deal of time in personal grooming. On one occasion,
Adonis married Jean Montemorano,[7] and he had four children; Joseph Michael Doto, Jr., Maria Dolores Olmo, Ann Marie Arietta, and Elizabeth Doto.[8][9] His son Joseph Doto, Jr., became a made member of the Genovese family and operated criminal rackets in Bergen county, New Jersey.[10][11]
Castellammarese War
In the 1920s, Adonis became an enforcer for Frankie Yale, the boss of some rackets in Brooklyn. While working for Yale, Adonis briefly met future Chicago Outfit boss Al Capone, who was also working for Yale. Meanwhile, Luciano became an enforcer for Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria.
Masseria soon became embroiled in the vicious Castellammarese War with his archrival, Salvatore Maranzano. Maranzano represented the Sicilian clans, most of which came from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. As the war progressed, both bosses started recruiting more soldiers. By 1930, Adonis had joined the Masseria faction. As the war turned against Masseria, Luciano secretly contacted Maranzano about switching sides. When Masseria heard about Luciano's betrayal, he approached Adonis about killing Luciano. However, Adonis instead warned Luciano about the murder plot.[12]
On April 15, 1931, Adonis allegedly participated in Masseria's murder. Luciano had lured Masseria to a meeting at a
With the death of Masseria, the war ended, and Maranzano was the victor. To avoid any future wars, Maranzano reorganized all the Italian American gangs into the
Criminal empire
Adonis and Luciano soon controlled bootlegging in Broadway and Midtown Manhattan. At its height, the operation grossed $12 million in one year and employed 100 workers.[15] Adonis also bought car dealerships in New Jersey. When customers bought cars from his dealerships, the salesmen would intimidate them into buying "protection insurance" for the vehicle. Adonis soon moved into cigarette distribution, buying up vending machines by the hundreds and stocking them with stolen cigarettes. Adonis ran his criminal empire from Joe's Italian Kitchen, a restaurant that he owned in Brooklyn. By 1932, Adonis was also a major criminal power in Brooklyn. Despite his wealth, Adonis still participated in jewelry robberies, a throwback to his early criminal career on the streets.
In 1932, Adonis allegedly participated in the kidnapping and brutal beating in Brooklyn of Isidore Juffe and Issac Wapinsky. In 1931, Adonis had lent the two men money for investment and kidnapped them in 1932 after deciding that he should be receiving a higher profit. Two days after the kidnappings, Adonis released Juffe and Wapinsky after receiving a $5,000 ransom payment. A month later, Wapinsky died of internal injuries from being assaulted.[16][17]
Adonis placed many politicians and high-ranking police officers on his payroll. Adonis used his political influence to assist members of the
As a syndicate board member, Adonis, along with Buchalter, may have been responsible for assigning some murder contracts to Murder Inc.
Government scrutiny
In 1936, prosecutors convicted Luciano on pandering charges and sent him to state prison for 30 years. Underboss Vito Genovese remained in charge of the family until he fled to Italy in 1937 to avoid a murder prosecution. Luciano now left Frank Costello, an Adonis ally, in charge of the Luciano family and Adonis in charge of the Syndicate.
On April 27, 1940, Adonis was indicted in Brooklyn on charges of kidnapping, extortion, and assault in the 1932 Juffe/Wapinsky case.[16] However, on February 24, 1941, the prosecutor requested a dismissal for lack of evidence.[17]
In the 1940s, Adonis moved his gambling rackets to New Jersey. New York City Mayor
On February 10, 1946, after being escorted from prison to a ship in Brooklyn harbor, Luciano was deported to Italy.[20] In December 1946, Adonis and Luciano met at the famous Havana Conference of US organized crime bosses in Cuba. It was Luciano's goal at the conference to regain his mob influence, using Cuba as a base. Being a loyal supporter, Adonis willingly agreed to turn over his power in the syndicate to Luciano. However, the US government soon discovered Luciano's presence in Havana and pressured the Cuban government to expel him. On February 24, 1947, Luciano was placed on a ship by Cuban authorities for deportation back to Italy.[21]
On December 12, 1950, Adonis was summoned before the
In late May 1951, Adonis and several associates pleaded
Deportation and death
On August 6, 1953, at a hearing in Adonis's prison, the
On January 3, 1956, Adonis voluntarily left New York City on an ocean liner for
Once in Italy, Adonis moved into a luxurious apartment in the center of Milan. Adonis may have met with Luciano in Naples, but there is no proof of it. Over time, the financially struggling Luciano grew angry at the wealthy Adonis for not helping him.[26] On January 26, 1962, Luciano died of a heart attack in Naples at age 64.[27] Adonis attended the funeral service in Naples, bringing a huge floral wreath with the words, "So Long, Pal".[28]
In June 1971, the Italian government forced Adonis to leave his Milan residence and move to
Burial
The U.S. government allowed Adonis's family to bring his body back to the United States for burial. Adonis' funeral Mass was held at the Church of the Epiphany in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, attended only by his immediate family.[8] He is buried in Madonna Cemetery in Fort Lee, New Jersey under his family name of Joseph Antonio Doto.[30]
In popular culture
- Adonis is mentioned in The Valachi Papers (1972), starring Charles Bronson.
- Adonis is portrayed by James Purcell in the film Gangster Wars (1981) and in 1981 TV Series The Gangster Chronicles.[31]
- In Bugsy (1991), Adonis is portrayed by Lewis Van Bergen.
- Adonis is portrayed in the television movie Lansky (1999) by Sal Landi, and Casey McFadden as Young Adonis.[32]
- Adonis is featured in the television documentary series A&E, and The Making of the Mob: New York (2015), which aired on AMC.
References
- Newspaper.com.
Joseph Anthony Doto, called Joe Adonis.
- ISBN 9781596919273. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "Joe Adonis, Underworld Gambling King, Dies". The New York Times. November 27, 1971. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
ANCONA, Italy, Nov. 26—Giuseppe Antonio Doto, also known as Joe Adonis, once a leader of the United States underworld, died here this afternoon. He was 69 years old. [...] He was born at Montemarano near Avellino, east of Naples, on Nov. 22, 1902, and his parents soon afterwards took him to the United States.
(subscription required) - ^ a b c Wright, George Cable (June 3, 1953). "ADONIS BIRTH DATA PRODUCED BY U. S.; Documents Purporting to Show Racketeer Was Born in Italy Entered at Deportation Trial". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ISBN 0-87980-244-8.
- ISBN 1-55071-104-0.
Joe Adonis.
- ^ Joe Adonis' marriage certificate
- ^ a b Markham, James M. (December 7, 1971). "Other Members of Mafia Miss Funeral Services for Adonis". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
FORT LEE, N. J., Dec. 6— Giuseppe Antonio Doto, known in life as Jpe Adonis, was bUried here today, accompanied to the wind‐chilled Madonna Roman Catholic Cemetery by members of his immediate family. [...] Newsmen principally trailed Adonis's wife, Joan, and the four Adonis children, Joseph, 38, Mrs. Dolores Maria Olmo, 32, Mrs. Anna Arietta, 21, and Elizabeth Doto,
(subscription required) - ^ "La Cosa Nostra". Lacndb.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
- ^ United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary (1983). Organized Crime in America Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-eighth Congress, First Session, on Organized Crime in America. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 231. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (1984). Waterfront Corruption Report. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 99. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ISBN 0-8050-7210-1. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ISBN 0-06-109184-7. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
Albert Anastasia.
- ISBN 978-0-312-60182-9. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
adonis luciano.
- ISBN 0-8160-5694-3.
- ^ a b "Adonis is Indicted on Kidnap Charge; Aide Under Arrest". The New York Times. May 6, 1940. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ^ a b "AMEN GETS DISMISSAL OF ADONIS INDICTMENT; Freeing of Gasberg on Same Evidence Cause of Action". The New York Times. February 25, 1941. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ISBN 978-0-8135-4177-8.
- ISBN 0-553-38618-2. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "PARDONED LUCIANO ON HIS WAY TO ITALY". The New York Times. February 11, 1946. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ^ "CUBA WILL DEPORT LUCIANO TO ITALY". The New York Times. February 25, 1947. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ^ Hinton, Harold B. (December 13, 1950). "JOE ADONIS DEFIES SENATE CRIME UNIT; TESTIFIES AT HEARING". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ^ "Adonis, 3 Aides Get Terms of 2 to 3 Years; ADONIS, 3 AIDES GET 2-T0-3-YEAR TERMS". The New York Times. May 29, 1951. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ^ "U. S. ORDERS ADONIS DEPORTED TO ITALY; Quick Ouster of Racketeer Is Foreseen, Though He Must First Face Other Charges U. S. ORDERS ADONIS DEPORTED TO ITALY". The New York Times. August 6, 1953. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ^ "JOE ADONIS QUITS U.S. VOLUNTARILY; Racketeer Sails for Italy to Avoid Jail Term and Eventual Deportation. Calls Departure 'a Must'". The New York Times. January 4, 1956. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ISBN 978-0-312-60182-9.(subscription required)
- ^ "Luciano Dies at 65; Was Facing Arrest; Lucky Luciano Is Dead at 65; Was Facing Arrest in Naples". The New York Times. January 27, 1962. Retrieved March 19, 2020.(subscription required)
- ISBN 0-8160-5694-3. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "Joe Adonis Is Near Death After Pulmonary Collapse". The New York Times. November 24, 1971. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
ANCONA, Italy, Nov. 23 (Reuters)—Joe Adonis, said to have been a king of the American underworld, suffered pulmonary collapse tonight and is close to death, according to hospital sources.
(subscription required) - ^ Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More than 14000 Famous Persons, Scott Wilson
- IMDb
- IMDb
External links
- "Joe Adonis". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- "Joe Adonis". Rotten.com. June 3, 2004. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- Dunder, Jonathan. "The Free Information Society: Joe Adonis". Archived from the original on July 27, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- "Joe Adonis". Organized Crime Figure. Find a Grave. January 7, 2000. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- Bruzzi, Giovanni (1965). "Joe Adonis portrait". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- World Encyclopedia: Joe Adonis