Joseph Civello
Joseph Francis Civello (February 3, 1902 – January 17, 1970) was an American
Early life
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Civello had moved to Dallas as early as July 1928 when he was arrested for the murder of Joe DeCarlo at the St. Paul Drug Store in Dallas. Reportedly, DeCarlo's dying words were that the close-range shotgun blast to his abdomen was accidental. Based on this information, a grand jury did not issue an indictment against Civello.[1][full citation needed] Civello was an expert marksman and regularly participated in skeet shooting competitions as a longtime member of the Dallas Gun and Skeet Club.[2][full citation needed]
By the early 1930s, Civello had organized a crew (dubbed The Civello Gang by the
The Civello gang's main rival during this time was a
In January 1937, after a two-year undercover investigation, federal agents seized more than $150,000 of drugs and arrested members of both the Civello and Ginsberg gangs. It was called the biggest narcotics bust in Bureau of Narcotics history. Ginsberg was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison which, at the time, was the longest sentence ever given for a drug crime in the United States.[5][full citation needed] Civello was sentenced to 15 years in Leavenworth, and five others of the Civello gang were given lesser sentences.
Rise to power
After his release, Civello resumed his
Appalachian meeting
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2023) |
One year after Civello ascended to power, he made a fateful trip that would shed a glaring light on him and
Despite his attendance at the Apalachin meeting, a report filed in February 1962 by the FBI's Dallas field office stated: "There is no evidence of illegal activity by Joseph Civello."[7]
Criminal associates
In its 1963 hearings regarding the links between organized crime and narcotics trafficking, the United States Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations noted that Civello had criminal associates that included Rocco and Peter Pellegrino of New York City; Frank Torticelli, Biagio Angelica, Joe Ianni, and Joe Glaviano of Texas; and Nicholas Impastato, Joesph Filadro and Joseph DeLuca of Kansas City. [8]
Connection to Carlos Marcello
During hearings before the House Select Committee on Crime, Representative Sam Steiger asked Carlos Marcello if he recalled meeting Civello. Marcello replied only, "I've heard of him."[9]
In its investigation of the
Final days
Civello's racketeering continued, as did his expansion into legitimate businesses. Judge Irving R. Kaufman called Civello a "high ranking criminal who cloaked himself with the facade of legitimate business."[11][full citation needed]
Civello died on January 17, 1970, in Dallas of natural causes. His obituary indicated no children, but listed a wife, a brother and five sisters as survivors.[12][full citation needed] He was buried at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Dallas.
References
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Jul 28, 1928
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Feb 8, 1932
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Apr 3, 1937
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Mar 23, 1937
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Mar 7, 1937
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Oct 28, 1956
- ^ "C. Summary". Appendix to Hearings before the Select Committee on Assassinations of the U.S. House of Representatives. Vol. IX, Staff and Consultant's Reports on Organized Crime. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. March 1979. p. 60.
- ^ "Appendix". Organized Crime and Illicit Traffic in Narcotics: Hearings before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations United States Senate. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1963. p. 1098.
- ^ "Statement of Carlos Marcello, New Orleans, LA., Organized Crime Figure; Accompanied by Jack Wasserman, Counsel". Organized Crime in Sports (Racing): Hearings before the Select Committee on Crime. Vol. 2 of 4. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1973. p. 987.
- ^ a b c "I.C. The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it, that President John F. Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy. The committee was unable to identify the other gunmen or the extent of the conspiracy". Report of the Select Committee on Assassinations of the U.S. House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1979. pp. 149, 171, 180.
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Jan 11, 1976
- ^ Dallas Morning News, Jan 19, 1970