Joseph Rao
Joseph Rao | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 12, 1901 New York City, New York, USA |
| Died | May 10, 1962 (aged 61) |
| Other names | Tough Joey Joey Rao Joseph Cangro |
| Spouse | Lena Stracci |
| Children | 3 |
| Allegiance | Genovese crime family (after 1935) Dutch Schultz |
| Criminal penalty |
|
| Imprisoned at | Welfare Island Prison, Sing Sing State Prison |
Joseph "Tough Joey" Rao (pronounced "Ray-oh"), also known as Joey Rao and Joseph Cangro (March 12, 1901 – May 10, 1962) was a New York
Biography
Joseph Rao was born in New York City on March 12, 1901, to Charles and Francis Rao. Joseph Rao had two brothers, Vincent and Louis Rao. Joseph Rao was married to Lena Stracci; they had a daughter, Francesca, and two sons, Robert and Charles.[1]
When asked his profession, Joseph Rao told people that he was a house painter. Rao stood 5'10"and weighed 190 pounds with brown eyes and black curly hair that he slicked back on his head. His home was in East Harlem.[citation needed]
Dutch Schultz gang
One of the early members of Schultz's organization, Rao's criminal record dated back to 1920. In 1922, Rao was convicted on burglary charges, but received a suspended sentence.[2]
On July 28, 1931, Rao narrowly survived an assassination attempt. It was a hot day and Rao was sitting outside the Helmar Social Club, which is located on a busy street in
In February 1932, Rao was convicted of extorting payments from the owner of a
On December 26, 1934, Rao went to trial for assaulting a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer during a fight outside a dance hall in Harlem.[8] In 1936, Rao was convicted and sentenced to two years in Sing Sing state prison.
On October 23, 1935, Dutch Schultz died in a New York hospital after being shot in a Newark, New Jersey bar.[9]
Genovese family
With the end of Schultz's gang, the
In 1946, Rao and
On May 10, 1962, Joseph Rao died of a stroke at age 61.
Further reading
- Fairchild, Henry Pratt. Survey of Contemporary Sociology. T. Nelson and Sons, 1934.
- MacArthur, John R. The Selling of "Free Trade": NAFTA, Washington, and the Subversion of American Democracy. New York: Hill and Wang, 2000. ISBN 0-8090-8531-3
- Turkus, Burton B. and Sid Feder. Murder, Inc: The Story of "the Syndicate". New York: Da Capo Press, 2003. ISBN 0-306-81288-6
- Valentine, Douglas. The Strength of the Wolf: The Secret History of America's War on Drugs. New York: Verso, 2004. ISBN 1-85984-568-1
References
- ISBN 978-0-06-136385-6.
- ^ "Rao Tells Court of Power in Jail" (PDF). New York Times. February 2, 1934. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Child Slain, 4 Shot, as Gangsters Fire on Beer War Rival" (PDF). New York Times. July 29, 1031. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ May, Allan. "Mob Bosses: Dutch Schultz: Beer Baron of the Bronx". TruTV Crime Library. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Rao, Gangster Chief, Jailed for Extortion" (PDF). New York Times. February 20, 1932. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Film Fest and Blackwell's Island Penitentiary (4/17/04)". Archived from the original on 2006-05-10. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ^ "Welfare Island Raid Reveals Gangster Rule Over Prison" (PDF). New York Times. January 25, 1934. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Rao Goes on Trial on Assault Charge" (PDF). New York Times. December 27, 1934. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Schultz is Shot, One Aide Killed and Three Wounded" (PDF). New York Times. October 24, 1935. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ISBN 0-06-050742-X.
Joseph Rao.
