Joseph Magliocco

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For the wine and spirits industry executive, see Joseph J. Magliocco.
Joseph Magliocco
Profaci crime family

Joseph Magliocco (born Giuseppe Magliocco; Italian pronunciation:

Mafia Commission
. The attempt failed, and, while his life was spared, he was forced into retirement. Soon after, he died of a heart attack on December 28, 1963.

Background

Magliocco was born in Portella di Mare, a frazione in the comune of Misilmeri, in the province of Palermo, in Sicily. Magliocco's nickname, "Joe Malayak," came from the word Maluk, which meant "ruler". Despite weighing over 300 pounds, Magliocco was described as being very energetic and decisive in his work and physical gestures, someone who exuded danger and confidence.

Magliocco lived on a six-acre waterfront estate in East Islip, New York. He was the silent partner in a liquor company, Alpine Wine and Liquor, and a linen company, Arrow Linen Supply. In 1963, it was suspected that Magliocco was using his clout to force bars and restaurants to buy from both companies.[1][2] According to Joseph Bonanno, Magliocco was an excellent Italian chef and loved to eat.

Magliocco's son, Ambrose Magliocco, was a

in-law of consigliere and underboss Salvatore Mussachio, related by marriage to Buffalo crime family boss Stefano Magaddino, and uncle to the wife of Bonanno crime family
founder Joseph Bonanno.

Early years

As a young man, Magliocco became involved in

illegal gambling and union racketeering
.

On December 5, 1928, Magliocco and Profaci attended a meeting of New York mobsters at the

Cleveland, Ohio. The main topic was dividing the Brooklyn territory of the recently murdered boss Salvatore D'Aquila
without causing a gang war. By the end of the meeting, Profaci had received a share of the open territory, and named Magliocco as his second-in-command—a post he would hold for the next 34 years. When the Cleveland Police raided the meeting, Magliocco was briefly detained on an illegal weapons charge.

In 1931, the

Mafia Commission
. Profaci and Magliocco were confirmed as boss and underboss, respectively, of what was now known as the Profaci crime family.

Colombo War

In 1957, Magliocco was arrested with 60 other mobsters who were attending the

Court of Appeals overturned the verdicts.[4]

On February 27, 1961 the Gallos led by

East Flatbush by Carmine Persico and Salvatore "Sally" D'Ambrosio after a police officer intervened.[5][8] The Gallo brothers had been previously aligned with Persico against Profaci and his loyalists;[5][8] The Gallos then began calling Persico "The Snake" after he had betrayed them.[8] The war continued on resulting in nine murders and three disappearances.[8] With the start of the gang war, the Gallo crew retreated to the Dormitory.[9]

Family boss

On June 6, 1962, Profaci died of liver cancer and Magliocco became the family boss.[10] However, the Mafia Commission did not endorse him as the new family leader.[11]

Afraid that the other New York families viewed him as weak, Magliocco increased the tempo of violence against the Gallo faction.[12] In turn, car bombs, drive-by shootings, and other murder attempts were made against Magliocco men such as Carmine Persico and his enforcer, Hugh McIntosh. In 1963, with the jailing of Gallo and several associates, the hostilities temporarily ended.[13]

Commission plot

In 1963,

Mafia Commission—bosses Tommy Lucchese, Carlo Gambino, and Stefano Magaddino, as well as Frank DeSimone.[14] Bonanno sought Magliocco's support, and Magliocco readily agreed. Not only was he bitter from being denied a seat on the Commission, but Bonanno and Profaci had been close allies for over 30 years prior to Profaci's death. Bonanno's audacious goal was to take over the Commission and make Magliocco his right hand man.[13]

Magliocco was assigned the task of killing Lucchese and Gambino, and gave the contract to one of his top hit men, Joseph Colombo. However, the opportunistic Colombo revealed the plot to its targets. The other bosses quickly realized that Magliocco could not have planned this himself. Remembering how close Bonanno was with Magliocco (and before him, Profaci), as well as their close ties through marriages, the other bosses concluded Bonanno was the real mastermind.[13]

The Commission summoned Bonanno and Magliocco to explain themselves. Fearing for his life, Bonanno went into hiding in Montreal, leaving Magliocco to deal with the Commission. Badly shaken and in failing health, Magliocco confessed his role in the plot. The Commission spared Magliocco's life, but forced him to retire as Profaci family boss and pay a $50,000 fine. As a reward for turning on his boss, Colombo was awarded the Profaci family.[13]

Death

On December 28, 1963, Joseph Magliocco died of a

Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.[2][16]

In 1969, the authorities

exhumed Magliocco's body to determine if he had been poisoned. This action was taken based on FBI phone tapings in which DeCavalcante crime family boss Sam DeCavalcante suggested that Joseph Bonanno poisoned Magliocco. However, no traces of poison were found in the body and it was re-interred at Saint Charles.[15]

In popular culture

Magliocco was portrayed by Michael Rispoli in the second season of the 2019 TV series Godfather of Harlem.[17]

References

  1. ^ Grutzner, Charles (October 2, 1963). "Racketeers Said to Drain Millions in Liquor Profits" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Magliocco, Cosa Nostra Chief, Buried Quietly on Long Island". New York Times. January 1, 1964.
  3. ISBN 978-1-55849-747-4
    .
  4. ^ Ranzal, Edward (November 29, 1960). "Civil Rights Cited: Judges Find Evidence Not Sufficient to Prove Crime" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e Cage, Nicholas (July 17, 1972) "Part II The Mafia at War" New York pp.27-36
  6. ISBN 0-8160-5694-3
    .
  7. ^ Capeci (2001), p.303
  8. ^ a b c d Raab (2006), pp.321-324
  9. ^ Cook, Fred J. (October 23, 1966). "Robin Hoods or Real Tough Boys:Larry Gallo, Crazy Joe, and Kid Blast" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  10. ^ "Profaci Dies of Cancer; Led Feuding Brooklyn Mob" (PDF). New York Times. June 8, 1962. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  11. ISBN 0-8065-2735-8
    .
  12. ISBN 0-307-43143-6
    .
  13. ^ a b c d Bruno, Anthony. "Colombo Crime Family: Trouble and More Trouble". TruTV Crime Library. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  14. ^ Staff (September 1, 1967) "The Mob: How Joe Bonanno Schemed to kill – and lost" Life p.15-21
  15. ^ a b "L.I. Autopsy Finds No Poison in Body of a Mafia Leader" (PDF). New York Times. August 28, 1969. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  16. ^ "Joseph Magliocco". Find A Grave. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  17. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (March 17, 2021). "'Godfather Of Harlem': Justin Bartha, Annabella Sciorra & Ronald Guttman To Recur In Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2021.

Further reading

American Mafia
Preceded by
Joseph Profaci
 Colombo crime family
Boss
1962-1963 		Succeeded by
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