Nick Licata (mobster)
Nick Licata | |
|---|---|
 Nick Licata's mug shot taken in the 1960s. | |
| Born | Nicolò Licata February 20, 1897 Camporeale, Sicily, Italy |
| Died | October 19, 1974 (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Citizenship | American |
| Known for | Crime boss |
| Spouse | Josephine Licata |
| Children | 3 |
| Allegiance | |
Nick "Old Man" Licata (born Nicolò Licata; Italian pronunciation:
Early life
Licata was born on February 20, 1897, in the small Italian town of
Soldier to boss
In 1951, Nick Licata provided a tight alibi for Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno the night Fratianno gunned down two L.A. rogue stick up robbers from Kansas City, Anthony Brancato and Anthony Trombino, known as "The Two Tonys".[3] Licata held a fish fry party at his Five O'Clock Club Burbank Restaurant restaurant, and other guests and a waitress testified before a grand jury that Fratianno and his associates were at the restaurant the entire night.[4] Fratianno, Licata, Charles "Charley Bats" Battaglia, Angelo Polizzi, and Leo "Lips" Moceri were all arrested, but none were charged for the crime. It wasn't until Fratianno became an FBI government witness over 25 years later that the belief of the LAPD was confirmed.
In 1952, Jack Dragna promoted Jimmy Fratianno to caporegime (captain). To pacify Licata, who was the more logical candidate, Licata was allowed to work directly under Dragna.[5] Licata made good connections with Mafia families in Detroit, Dallas, Kansas City, and New Orleans.[6] When Dragna died in 1956, Frank DeSimone became the new boss of the family. He named Licata his consigliere, who was a popular choice among the younger family members.[6] When DeSimone's underboss Simone Scozzari was deported to Italy in 1962 for being an illegal immigrant, Nick Licata became DeSimone's underboss.
When Frank DeSimone died of a heart attack, Licata became new L.A. Mob boss with no opposition in 1967, and he made Joseph Dippolito of Upland, his underboss. By this time the Los Angeles mob family was a lot different from the one Licata first started with. The L.A.P.D. and F.B.I. was engaged in a tough assault against organized crime in Los Angeles, and Mafia families from other cities were stretching their power to the West Coast. Although seen as an improvement over the incompetent DeSimone, Licata wasn't able to do much to help his family.
On July 9, 1969, Licata was taken into custody after refusing to answer questions at a federal grand jury session about L.A.'s crime syndicate structure. Although Licata was under immunity from prosecution, he refused to give Judge
Personal life and death
Licata eventually regained his good standing in Detroit. In 1953, his son Carlo married Josephine Tocco, the daughter of Detroit underboss
Licata spent his last days at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. After battling illness for some time, he died on October 19, 1974, nine months after his underboss died of a heart attack. He was buried in Culver City at the Holy Cross Cemetery.[8] His funeral was attended by 150 people.[8] One newspaper described him as a true Godfather in every respect.[9]
Notes
- ^ ISBN 9781602396685.
- ^ "The Gangster Squad sets a trap for Mickey Cohen". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ Thomas P. Hunt, New Milford, CT, [email protected]. "The American Mafia - Nick Licata". Onewal.com. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Two Tonys". Crimemagazine.com. 1951-08-06. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ISBN 0-8129-0955-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-60247-254-9. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
- ^ a b Lieberman, Paul (2008-10-28). "The Gangster Squad sets a trap for Mickey Cohen". Courant.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ a b "Rites for Licata, Mafia Figure, Attended by 150 in Los Angeles". The New York Times. October 25, 1974. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
References
- Ellisisland.org
- "Alleged L.A. Mafia Chief Goes to Jail". The Spokesman-Review. July 10, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- "Nick Licata Dies; Headed LA Area Mafia for 6 Years". Los Angeles Times. October 21, 1974. pp. A3.
- Nash, Jay Robert World Encyclopedia of Organized Crime (reprint, illustrated ed.) Da Capo Press. (1993) ISBN 0-306-80535-9Retrieved on May 22, 2009.
