Vol. 3, No. 3, July 2010 Contents
Feature article
Before Dragna called the shots, the southern California Mafia
took its orders from a relocated New Orleans grocer.
Might the mysterious Vito DiGiorgio have been...
The first crime boss
of Los Angeles?
By Richard N. Warner
"In many people's minds, Los Angeles organized crime began with Jack Dragna, Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel and Mickey Cohen. Some secondary sources go so far as to list Dragna as the first Mafia boss in southern California. Through the help of informants, organized crime specialists with the Federal Bureau of Investigation were able to turn the clock back a bit before Dragna's reign, discovering bosses Joe Ardizzone and Rosario DeSimone. One underworld chronicler provides a glimpse into the more distant past and describes the man who was possibly the first Mafia chieftain of Los Angeles. In 1960s-era memoirs and interviews, Mafioso Nicola 'Zio Cola' Gentile described a previously unknown southern California boss by the name of Vito DiGiorgio."
Twelve pages
including two pages of notes.
Five images.
Click here to preview or purchase this issue.
1 comment:
Vito was placed in Los Angeles by New York to help maintain the peace between the North End Gang run by the Ardizzone family and the College Park Gang run by the Matranga family. Resistance was there when Vito was shot several times and lives and a year later his New York affiliate lost power which left Vito with no more power or influence in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles family members told me it's always been known to them that it was Joe Ardizzone and his cousin from Sicily who killed Vito and his bodyguard. Look what happened in Los Angeles the month after Vito was killed. Rosario DeSimone steps down to retire and operate his importing business in Downey CA and Joe Ardizzone regained his position. Joe and Rosario DeSimone got along well, Vito not so much and the Matrangas who were in Los Angeles first were never thrilled having Vito in town. New York had ordered both families to pay Vito a small street tax to supplement his grocery business income and all that ended when Joe killed Vito. I have the story of Joe Ardizzone written as a screen play spanning the year's 1904-1931 and am currently working with Joe Ardizzones niece while she is writing a book about her family, their bloodlines, the Matrangas, the fruit peddlers war, and of course her uncle Joe Ardizzone.
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