VITO “DON VITO” GENOVESE

Coming soon…

BILLY BAKERENGLISH II 4TH

4/17/13

Who was the Don Vito? A KILLER!!! Vito was born in Naples, Italy in 1897. Moved to the US in 1912 to live in

Queens, but later moved in with relatives in Manhattan.

Was a former mob boss. Preferred to be called “Don Vito”

What was he known for? Associated with Lucky Luciano, and

formed the Genovese Crime Family. One of 5 New York mafia crime families.

In 1931 he was one of the 4 that assassinated Joe Masseria; the boss of the Genovese Crime Family.

In 1930’s he took over the Italian Lottery allowing him to invest in night clubs.

Also known for… Trying to impress others: Vito was

said to attract the attention of people he wanted to be involved with. He ordered the hit on editor, Carlo Tresca, who was a long-time enemy of Mussolini's; a famous mafia gangster.

He also attracted attention in a negative way, he attracted the law. He went to prison in 1959, which where he also died in 1969 or heart failure. He still called out many hits in prison.

The Genovese Family Vito is unique to the average

mobster, because he never settled for less. He planned to Luciano Family and become the “Boss of Bosses,” in the mafia. He arranged to have Costello assassinated, but failed.

Even after his death, the Genovese family still lives. Currently the Genovese Family is considered the richest and most powerful family in New York with a membership of over 250 soldiers.

Background Genovese originally reins from

Naples, Italy. This effects his life dramatically because this is generally where mostly all mobsters are from. The Italian background has “mafia” written all over it. Without his heritage, he probably would have been an average Joe.

Sources… http://

www.bpdthenandnow.com/albert_agueci.html

http://crime.about.com/od/gangsters/a/genovese.htm