The Northeast Philly Mob also known as The K&A Gang is a multi-generational organized crime group made up of predominately Irish and Irish-American gangsters.
Philadelphia Archives - The Irish Mob Tony Jack was one of the men that former teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa was on the way to meet when he disappeared forever on July 30, 1975. If you login and register your print subscription number with your account, youll have unlimited access to the website. This is a retired contemporary of Sheeran's, a fellow Irishman from Philadelphia named John Carlyle Berkery, who allegedly headed the city's Irish mob for 20 years and had many close mafia . Most of the crimes associated with the gangs were burglaries and large-scale thefts.
15 Secrets The Irish Mob Don't Want Us To Know - Amorq We can't do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers. Before this time, violent crimes were actually quite rare in Dublin, and in other areas of Ireland. (He also allegedly sold a run-down bar in Atlantic City to Donald J. Trump so that a casino could be built on the property.) James "Jimmy" Laverty - Member of the burglary ring. When the Dunne family were killed off and incarcerated, a second drug kingpin, by the name of John Gilligan, took center stage. Hugh "Hughie" Breslin - Member of the burglary crew - deceased. Although the Westies tried to keep on good terms with the Italian mob, they soon ran into trouble with the Genovese family, which would lead to the Great Irish/Italian war in the 1970s. Like Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes. This group of gangsters was led by Bernie McLaughlin and didnt survive the Irish Gang Wars of the 1960s. Among them include The Departed, The Boondock Saints, A History of Violence, and of course, Gangs of New York. The White Hand Gang emerged in Brooklyn in the early 1900s was response to a growing Italian mafia presence. ", "Long John Lead - Was Ray Martorano's shooting a message? [12] Prosecutors stated that Berkery, Frank "The Beard" Zappacosta, and Raymond Martorano had planned to take over all meth trafficking in Philadelphia. Why am I being asked to create an account? The younger Testa was himself later killed in a gangland hit because of fears from Mr. Scarfo that he would take over Philadelphias criminal rackets, a crime for which Mr. Scarfo was convicted as part of a wide-ranging indictment in 1989. They control gambling and loan sharking. Mr. Sullivan finally gave the jury an Allen charge, exhorting them to try to reach a consensus, and then relented and declared a mistrial. 13 Places Mobsters Got Whacked. 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. Heres what to watch for. [15] The meth rings were sanctioned by the Scarfo crime family, who received a cut of the profits. Official websites use .gov According to David R. Johnson in The Peoples of Philadelphia, The Public Ledger reported on the doings of no less than 51 gangs. Rothstein put together the largest gambling empire in the U.S. during the 1920s, realizing business opportunities during Prohibition. The name K&A is derived from Kensington and Allegheny, the road intersection where the gang originally formed.[2]. The war allegedly began when a member of the Charlestown Mob tried to hit on the girlfriend of a White Hill member. The owner and chef is Steve Martorano, nephew of alleged mobster and Philadelphia native Raymond "Long John" Martorano. A locked padlock Being a member in the K&A Gang requires the following stats: The following stats are suggested, but not required. This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 04:25.
See the real Philadelphia locations from Netflix's 'The Irishman' Cleveland's Irish American mobster Danny Greene - aka "The Irishman"- was a formidable force to be reckoned with. Louis "Junior" Kripplebauer - K&A crew leader, (circa 19801982) - Frank "The Beard" Zappacosta and John Berkery -. If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyMcSwain on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. Originating in Irish American street gangs of the 19th centurydepicted in Herbert Asbury's 1928 book The Gangs of New Yorkthe Irish Mob has appeared in most major American cities, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago and New Orleans. He died in 1970 at the age of 65.
The Real-Life Mob Families of 'The Irishman - Rolling Stone George Anastasia, a former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who has covered Philadelphias organized crime beat for decades, has frequently made another point in print: Many of the traditional criminal enterprises with which Mr. Merlino and his South Philly associates have been charged over the years now have their counterparts in the legitimate world. Courier-Post Not all prosecutions ended so well, however. Raymond Brown - Member of the Stocker drug ring.
How the Irish Mob nearly wiped out the Italian Mafia in NYC The Best Mobster and Mafia Bars That You Can Drink At - Matador Network Like most Americans, I love mobster movies. 10 Mobsters Unique Nicknames. Mr. Brunos alleged successor and Mr. Scarfos predecessor in the Philadelphia mob, Philip Chicken Man Testa, was killed by rivals in a brazen South Philly porch-bomb attack later in 1981, designed to look like the work of Irish-American mobsters from Philadelphias Northeast neighborhoods. They would love a new gravy train, however, and are on the lookout for the Next Big Thing. The group was mainly a burglary ring for much of its early history, but shifted into loansharking . In short order, the K&A Gang arose. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. Released late last month on Netflix, The Irishman stars Robert De Niro as Darby-raised Philly mob associate Frank Sheeran a former president of Wilmington's International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 326 and purported mafia hit man who claimed to have murdered ex-Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa in author Charles Brandt's 2004 book I Heard You Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE But it is still a problem and is still allegedly committing serious federal crimes, which is why we at the Department of Justice are focused on stamping it out. [17], The K&A burglary crew was a coalition of "crew chiefs" and the organization was a horizontal one in terms of structure.[4]. The Irish-Americans did not see themselves as immigrants, and were notoriously anti-Italian. Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The gang had committed "at least 28 unsolved murders," he said. Roofers Union affiliate. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250
10 Ruthless Gangs Who Dared to Stand Up to the Mafia In 1998, at a tiny bar on Two Street (as we all called it), my roommate collided with Skinny Joey in its narrow confines, and Skinny Joey spilled his drink. Copyright 2015 - 2023. There were 26 families during the mob's heyday in the 1950s, stretching from Boston, Providence, Buffalo, and Philadelphia through Al Capone's Chicago outfit to Hollywood and "Bugsy" Siegel's. Various Irish groups, namely the North Side Gang and the ODonnell Brothers, were in strict competition with Al Capone and his men to take total control over the trade. The Irish Mafia Brewery Company. 25 titles. Philadelphia Teamsters Local 107 was considered one of the most corrupt and violent locals in the country. It was then that the K&A Gang turned to narcotics, particularly to amphetemines. Mr. Merlinos prominent public profile in Philadelphia before his long prison sentence and his alleged return to crime since his release have reportedly once again made him the prime target of F.B.I. Mr. Rubeo, who spent numerous months with Mr. Merlino in Florida while wearing an F.B.I. Powerful ties to the Montreal Italian mafia, as well as motorcycle gang the Hells Angels, and other street gangs have kept them well-protected from legal consequences. And the K&A Gang has learned to make new alliances. Talking to police officers or other members of the judicial system is highly discouraged. Weisberg was the " chief lieutenant " for a prominent mob boss named Harry Stromberg, known as Nig Rosen, based out of Philadelphia. Boston mobster and son of mobster Arthur Doe, Sr. Hell's Kitchen, New York mobster and high-ranked member of the, New York mobster and enforcer for labor racketeer Joe Ryan, New York mobster involved in bootlegging during Prohibition, Chicago labor racketeer associated with the North Side Gang, New York mobster and member of the Westies.
The Irishman True Story: How the Real Mobsters Died Mob Hits: 21 Photos Of The Most Infamous And Brutal Slayings had given him $25,000 to lure Mr. Merlino to a meeting at an Arthur Avenue restaurant in the Bronx where Mr. Merlino could be secretly taped, providing the basis for a criminal conspiracy charge that could be prosecuted in New York. Like any criminal gang, the Irish mafia operate under a set of unwritten rules. Jimmy Coonan was a Manhattan based mobster who was leader of the Westies gang, the last major Irish gang in the area, in the 1960s and 1970s. They murdered em, 17-5.) It could be easy to forget that people were being extorted, cheated, shot and more.
22 Irish Mobsters ideas | mobster, real gangster, irish mob - Pinterest Their name was specifically chosen to provoke the Sicilian Black Hand gang, and definitely had some racist implications. George Holmes alleges that a showgirl named Lillian Reis and Vickie Mason(AKA, Viola Lorenzo) gave the gang the tip they needed to pilfer $478,000 in cash and jewelry from the home of John B. There are long hours where you wait for the jury, wait for the judge or watch lawyers whispering in a sidebar, and you end up chatting with each othereven if one of you is an editor at a Catholic periodical and the other has been charged with murder. The nicknames of Mr. Merlinos alleged associatesare straight out of central casting: Beeps, Horsehead, Snitch, Scoops, Chickie, Mousie, Penknife, Windows, Handsome Stevie,Baby Dom, Uncle Joe and many more. In the 1960s, a new generation of Irish-American mobsters emerged on the scene in the Hells Kitchen borough of New York City. James "Jimmy" Dolan - Recruit of Eddie Burke and member of the K&A burglary ring. Michael was prominent from the 1920s until his death in 1959. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Irish Mob vs. Italian Mafia | Mafia Hitters List of American mobsters of Irish descent. Two of the notorious five New York crime families Lucchese and. Gang activity was extremely high in Philadelphia in the 19th century. Berkery admitted to engaging in a large scale meth deal with Chelsais Bouras, leader of the Philadelphia Greek Mob. The kinahan cartel is an Irish organization out of Ireland that moves cocaine into Europe. The street fights would often end in major rioting, two of which were huge battles during the American Civil War. Operated by Mark Mansfield, a 47-year-old of Irish heritage, this Bloomfield company also offers a full-range menu of snacks and meals to go with their craft beers. Jackson and Zappacosta went on to lead the group until their convictions in late 1987, just a week after their former boss faced trial and was also found guilty. William Stearn - Former Roofers' Union Local 30 president & member of the Stocker meth ring. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. I used to work in South Philly. Thanks to the dedicated and courageous efforts of federal law enforcement over the past several decades, the Philadelphia mob isnt what it used to be, and thank God for that, said U.S. Attorney McSwain. And is Mr. Merlino truly still a gangster or just a gambler who happens to enunciate the vowel at the end of his name? The recent release of Martin Scorseses movie The Irishman has brought new attention to thecabal that has been organized crimes most famous manifestation in the United States: The Italian-American mafia, La Cosa Nostra, a.k.a. Jackie The Kid inherited a fairly healthy crime family. Domestically, the network is known to have ties to various criminal organizations in its surrounding area. The Irish Mob is the oldest organized crime group in the United States, in existence since the early 19th century.Originating in Irish American street gangs of the 19th centurydepicted in Herbert Asbury's 1928 book The Gangs of New Yorkthe Irish Mob has appeared in most major U.S. cities, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Jewish-American organized crime reached its heights during the 1920s and 30s and largely declined after World War II.
Mob Scene | Scorsese's Real Life Mobsters | JerseyMan Magazine Izzy: A Life Inside the Old Philadelphia Jew Mob, The Jewish Telegraphic Agency in its obituary, Feds arrest Michigan man who plotted to kill Jewish elected officials in the state, American citizen killed in latest West Bank shooting amid escalating violence. But is Mr. Merlino a gangster in the mold of notorious mob bosses like John Gotti or Russell Bufalino (played by Joe Pesci in "The Irishman") orVincent The Chin Gigante? New York mobster and enforcer for mobster Mickey Spillane during the 1950s and 60s.
Organized Crime, Mafia and Gangsters: NYC Gangsters Owen "O" Dunn K&A associate, mostly known as C.K. The real-life Philadelphia gangsters who inspired 'The Irishman' James T. Keane November 15, 2019 Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, right, leaves federal court in Lower Manhattan with his wife. Pope Francis takes on Mafia on anniversary of St. John Pauls stand. Although it would seem logical that the Irish Mafia would exist in Ireland, they only became active in the mother country in the 1960s, more than a century after they originally emerged in America.
Top 70 Famous Irish American Gangsters | Public Enemies read more Mickey Duffy Philadelphia's Prohibition Era Boss Michael "Mickey" Duffy also known as John Murphy and George McEwen, was a Polish-American mobster and rival of Maxie. [5], By the late 1970s, with the advent of modern home-security technologies, the burglary racket was no longer viable as a main source of income. From Bulger to Spillane, check out this list of infamous Irish mob members ordered from earliest to most recent, and learn how these mob kings rose to infamy. Members also have relationships with other gangs, such as the Italian mafia and the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 Leo Gillis - Member of the K&A burglary ring. The K&A have long held traditions, and a rich history. Getting involved with a fellow members girlfriend, wife or daughter is also one of the biggest offenses within the gang. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article and/or references showing the person is Irish American and a mobster. misconduct and dubious behavior by cooperating witnesses (including erasing evidence from wiretaps, domestic violence charges and alleged robberies committed while working for the F.B.I. The Westies consisted of roughly 15 - 20 Irish gangsters who came from the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan. Northeast remains heavily working class. The K&A Gang-- short for the Kensington & Allegheny, the intersection where the gang originated --began as a network of loosely affiliated burglary rings. This page was last edited on 18 March 2020, at 20:08. Many of the traditional criminal enterprises with which Mr. Merlino and his South Philly associates have been charged over the years now have their counterparts in the legitimate world. He was well-known for his anti-authority stance; he killed police officers point blank, and escaped from prison on more than one occasion.
The 25 Best Mafia Movies of All Time - IMDb Small groups of Irish gangsters would dress in suits and burglarize wealthy homes, particularly in Philadelphia's Jewish neighborhoods. Around 1980, the group switched to methamphetamine and with it came the need for a more hierarchical organization: John "John L" McManus - Former K&A Burglar of repute. Not following the rules can get members into some pretty serious trouble, sometimes fatal trouble. Charles "Chick" Goodroe - Influential member in the K&A burglary ring. Even the prosecution conceded in its closing argument that jurors might consider Mr. Rubeo someone whose personal failings are immense. Mr. Rubeo also testified that the F.B.I. The Violent Irish Gangsters Who Killed For The Mafia Jimmy Coonan & Mickey Featherstone THE WESTIES The brutality of Hell's Kitchen's Irish gang, the Westies, horrified even New York City's District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. They also partook in illegal street fighting and bank robberies. One person who knew the real-life mob families that show up in The Irishman is President Donald Trump. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. No news on what the actual Irish mobsters think of this! Or the Warlocks. We have all the dirt on their past, their present and their most powerful players. After being indicted for 14 counts of trafficking in methamphetamine and the chemical P2P in January 1982, Berkery fled to Ireland to avoid prosecution, where he supposedly had contacts in the Irish Republican Army. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions. Whitey Bulger is now 88 years old and serving out two life sentences, but the gang continues to operate in the Boston area under different leadership. But those are often neighborhood nicknames, say locals, not necessarily the monikers of Sopranos-style criminals. [8] It was through these influential connections that the K&A Gang would expand into other rackets establishing its foothold in the Northeast. The crew was adamant about not carrying weapons with them while they burglarized. Due to their representation in popular TV shows and movies, the Irish mob is seen as the coolest and toughest of the bad guys. To atone, Sheeran is ordered to kill Whispers.