The Los Angeles Family

Bosses
Joe Ardizonne (?-1931)		Joe Ardizzone was one of the richest Italian Americans in Los Angeles. He served as an executive officer in the Italian Protective League headed by Jack Dragna. Dragna and Ardizzone were sometime allies in gang wars against local racketeers like "Good time" Charlie Crawford. Known as the Iron Man, Joe had been acquitted of killing George Maisano on July 2, 1906. Ardizzone was wounded during the commission of the kidnapping turned murder ofhis rival Jimmy Basile. Joe had been trying to muscle in on Basile's bootleg operation and had been heard threatening Basile with the disclosure that he had killed 30 men and either Basile or his partner would be the 31st. Ardizzone's ambitious nature often put him at odds with Dragna. Joe was determined to be the dominate force in the L.A underworld and refused to share the profits with Dragna and his powerful allies from the East. Ardizzone and his ambitions vanished on October 15, 1931 while traveling to Joe Cucchia's Cucamonga ranch. Ard Joe Ardizonne was the first boss of the Los Angeles Family. He made a lot of money running booze. Ardizonne was said to have been part of the wave of gangland slayings known as the "Sicilian Vesper" that happened after the death of Salvatore Maranzano. Jack Dragna became the dominant force in Los Angeles after the death of Ardizonne.
Jack Dragna (Early 1930s-1956)		Jack made is presence known when he started making money during the bootlegging days. Nicknamed "The Al Capane of L.A." he never lived up to his name. He made some good connections with Joe Roselli of Chicago in the 30s but was left out Hollywood by Capone. The Dragna family was good a petty extortion but could not take control of Southern Cal and or even put a foothold in Las Vegas. When the New York mob wanted to move West for a new home for the Racing Wire, they sent Ben Siegel over to take control, Charlie Luciano ordered Dragna not to interfare. And when Dragna could do nothing after failing many times to assassinate Mickey Cohen,Siegels top lietenut. Dragna was left out of the Casino business by Siegel. Then Chicago sent their men to muscle in on Hollywood. Dragna was left with nothing big. He was far to weak to take care of the New York and Chicago Families. His family was so weak that is was nicknamed "The Mickey Mouse Mafia."When Ben Siegel was killed, it was thought that Dragna would get into Vegas. The closest his Family ever got was when Meyer Lansky offered to sell Dragna some of the Flamingo for a 125,000. But Dragna and is associates couldn't raise enough money to do it. In L.A. Cohen contolled most all the bookies and gambling operations until 1953, when he was convicted of tax evasion. Even then Dragna could'nt take over. Dragna was the only L.A. boss ever to be in the Commission. On February 23, 1956, Jack Dragna was found dead in a motel room reportedly of natural causes. He was succeeded by attorney Frank DeSimane.
Frank DeSimane (1956-1968)		Frank DeSimone came to power after Jack Dragna. On June 18, 1956, right after he took over, his Underboss, Girolomo "Momo" Adamo, committed suicide in San Diego after seriously wounding his wife over an affair she was having with DeSimane. He was just as weak of a ruler then Dragna. He didn't enforce things like he should of. He became a junior partner of the New York and Chicago Families. He was present at the Apalachin Conference. It was said that DeSimone lived in fear his whole life of being assassinated. He wasent always wrong about that. Joe Bonnano acually did plan to have him killed when he planned to overthrow the other five families in New York. Joe thought he was a threat too him. He died in 1968 and was succeeded by Nickolas Licata.
Nicholas Licata (1968-1974)		Took over after Louis Tom Dragna refused to be boss. Licata was acually first in the Detroit Family but offended Detroit boss Joe Zerilli some how. Zerilli then put a contract on his head. Licata then went to L.A. Jack Dragna then some how got Zerilla to take the contract off Licata's head. After Dragna died he became underboss to Frank DiSimone. Nicholas Licata hoped to expand the family when he took control but eventually the East-Coast and Chicago Families moved in on a number of his rackets. He died in 1974 and was succeeded by Dominick Brooklier.
Dominick Brooklier (1974-1979)		Succeeded after Nicholas Licata died, he got the declining family back on track. He made some good ties with the Chicago Outfit. When Brooklier was serving time in prison during his reign, a long time La Cosa Nostra member Aledena Fattiano started saying he was boss. When Brooklier got out he put a contract on Fattiano. Frattiano then turned goverment witness. Frattiano helped convict Brooklier in 1979 for racketeering,conspiracy,obstruction of justice, and murder. He was succeeded by Peter John Milano.
Peter John Milano (1979-Present)		Took over after Dominick went to prison. His brother, Carmen, was made the underboss and still is. During his rule he controlled the Drug Trafficking, extortion and bookmaking in Southern California and had a very lucrative loan shark operation. Milano secretly met with Cleveland boss Jack Licavoli to get rid of Louis Tom Dragna, who turned government witness after he was convicted in 1980. But during Milano's reign there was two moles in his family, Lawrence and Craig Fiato. They collected enough evidence to put Peter away for six years and his brother away for six months. Also convicted was "street boss" Vincent Dominic Caci, Stephan Cino, and night club singer Bobby Milano, all which served prison term varying from probation to ten years. When Carmen got out in six months he became the acting-boss until Peter got out in 1994. It is said that Peter and Carmen are trying to move into Las Vegas now,with the help of some other families. The Los Angeles family was accused of killing Herbie Blitzstein, former mob enforcer for the Chicago Mob. It was said they killed him because they wanted his rackets in Las Vegas and to take over insurance fraud operation. In some recent news, Underboss, Carmen Milano, and 15 other accociates, including alledged Buffalo Mafiosa Robert Panaro, have been charged for extortion,money laudering, moving stolen property across state lines,money and wire fraud, and for the murder-for-hiring scheme against Blitzstein. Carmen Milano was not charged in the Blitzstein case. To make matters worst, Al DeLuca, who was alleged to have been involved in the Blitzstein murder has pleaded guilty and has turned goverment witness. There was also a undercover FBI agent who penetrated the hierarchy of the Los Angles mob. It is also said the L.A. Family has become independant from the Chicago Outfit and numbers around 15 "made" members.
Underbosses
Girolomo "Momo" Adamo (1931-1956)		Served as the underboss to Jack Dragna and Frank Desimone. Adamo was forced to watch as Desimone raped his wife after Frank"who had less experience and stature in the family than Adamo"took over the family after the death of Jack Dragna in 1957. Shortly after the attack a broken Adamo shot and seriously wounded his wife and took his own life. His wife recovered and later married Frank Bompensiro.
Simone Scozzari (1956-1962)		Replace Adamo as Desimone's # 2 . Scozzari was slated as the future leader of the Los Angeles mob but got caught in the raid at Appalachinwith Frank Desimone. As a result Scozzari was deported to Palermo Italy in 1962.
Samuel Sciortino (1974-1979)		The first cousin of Gaspare "Bill" Sciortino,underboss of San francisco family, and Phil Rizzuto of the New Orleans family. Sam served as the # 2 man to Dominick Brooklier. Sciortino became the acting boss of the family relaying the bosses orders as Brookliers health began to fail in the Late 70's. Sam had an on going feud with James Fratianno an influential member of the family which resulted in Sciortino convincing Brooklier to issue a contract on Fratianno. Sam's run in the upper levels of mobdom came to an end with a conviction for extortion. Sciortino received and served two years in jail and died a couple years after his release.
Carmen Milano (1979-present)		Became underboss when his brother Peter John took over. Helped his brother run the Family before and after Peter went to prison. He played a big part, with his brother, in making the Family stable but was convicted in 1988 along with his brother and three other associates because of the undercover work of Lawrence and Craig Fiato. He only had to stay six months in jail and when he got out, he became acting boss because his brother was in jail. He kept the family quit. When his brother came out he was again made underboss. Since then he and his brother have said to be making a move in Vegas. He, along with his brother, are the main suspects in the murder of Herbie Blitzstein. In 1997, Carmen was just indicted in a variety of racketerring acts. He has not yet come to trial.
Consiglieres
Tom Dragna (1930s-1956)		Born in Tom Rizzoti in 1908, Tom served as consigliere to his older brother Jack. Tom is also the father of Louis Tom Dragna who became known as the "reluctant prince" when he was appointed acting boss in the mid 70's. Tom had New York labor racketeer Johnny Dio come out to Los Angeles to tutor his son on labor methods which helped the Dragna's Roberta Manufacturing Company to become a $10 million a year operation. Tom retired from the rackets when his brother died in 1956.
Frank "The Bomp" Bompensiro (1975-1977)		Frank teamed with Jimmy Fratianno to form the most efficient duo of killers on the West coast. Bompensiro served at the will of mob ambassador Johnny Roselli. Frank was also a partner of boss Jack Dragna in several San Diego area bars. Dragna dispatched Bompensiro to San Diego to organize and head the rackets in that area. Despite his willingness to use his gun on Roselli's order, Frank often bad mouthed the respected Capo and Johnny repeatedly warned Fratianno to beware of Frank whom he referred to as a " wrong guy." Johnny's observations of the Bomp turned out to be right on when it became known that Frank was an FBI informant. The Los Angeles family tried for 2 years to kill the ultra cautious killer, even going so far as making him the consigliere of the family in 1975 in an effort to have him relax a little. After practically the entire Los Angeles family had been convicted of extortion on the strength of Frank's work with the FBI, hitman Tommy Ricciardi finally caught up with Frank in a San Diego phone booth in February of 1977, effectively ending the career of one of the most prolific killers in the Los Angeles family. During his long and bloody career the Bomp had planned or participated in numerous murders including George Bruneman, Hooky Rothman, Russian Louie Strauss and many others.
Jack Locicero (1983-1986)		Jack was a long time soldier in the L.A. family. Locicero dated back to the Dragna era. Locicero was a old time gangster who fought and clawed his way up through the ranks of the family. Jack drove the getaway car in the Bompensiro murder. Locicero got caught in the Pornex case and received a two year sentence. Once released from prison, Jack found that death and defections had provided and opurtunity for him to hold a position of power. Jack served as Pete Milano's adviser from the time of his release untill his death in 1986.
Caporegime
Michael "Mike Rizzi" Rizzitello (1974-present)		Mike's climb in the rackets started with his service as a soldier in the Gallo gang during the Profaci insurrection of the early 60's. By 1976 Mike had served a 9 year kiddnapping bid and had moved to L.A. where acting boss Jimmy Fratiano officially made him on June 6. It was said that Rizzi was made in the back seat of a car because of the intense F.B.I. survaliance. In recognition of Rizzi's talents and respect from the current leaders of the Colombo family, Jimmy promoted him to a Capo position immediately. Rizzitello was fearless in his business dealings and proved it by shaking down syndicate members and associates with solid gold connections(Moe Dalitz and Sidney Korshak amoung them). Rizzi was friends with Mexican Mafia boss Joe Morgan. A seasoned hitman, Fratianno became a goverment witness when he began to suspect that Rizzi was trying to set him up. Rizzi was arrested before carrying out the hit (January of 1978) and received 10 more years in prison. At the time of his release Rizzi returned to a Los Angeles mafia family that was in complete disarray. He found that a man he absolutely hated had taken the reigns as boss of the family(Pete Milano). Mike found himself in a position much like that of Fratianno years before, in that he was apart of a family that he viewed as totally weak and useless. In an effort to gain support for his plan to establish a second independent family in Los Angeles, Rizzi sought out the approval of Angelo Marino in San Jose for the go ahead, But once again Mike would be convicted and sent to prison. This time the charge was murder and the sentence would be 33 years in prison. Today Rizzi has held to the values of the mafia that he grew up with and is serving his sentence silently. At the age of 72 it is unlikely that the old warrior will get another chance to carry out his dream of being the boss in Los Angeles or any where else for that matter.
Vincent "Jimmy" Caci (1970s-Present)		Very respected Capo in the Milano crime family. Jimmy has very close ties to the Buffalo family headed by Joe Today (Caci was raised in Buffalo). Caci controls his empire of crime by remote control from his base in Palm Springs California. He is the brother of Los Angeles soldier and Las Vegas nightclub singer Charles Caci who is known as Bobby Milano. The 73 year old Caci is currently under indictment in a federal racketeering probe which has accused him of heading a crime ring which has participated in extortion and loansharking. This could end the career of one of the Los Angeles mobs most revered and feared members, if convicted he faces a sentence of up to 20 years.
Louis Tom Dragna (1950s-1981)		The son of former consigliere Tom Dragna and nephew of Jack Dragna. Louis became known as the reluctant prince when he passed up a chance to lead the family after the death of Frank Desimone in 1968. Louie preferred to concentrate on his legitimate business interests which included the $10 million a year Roberta Dress Manufacturing Co... Louie also maintained a hand in the Los Angeles garment district. Louis was made at the same time as Jimmy Fratianno and several other long time Los Angeles soldiers and Capos. Not known as a worker Louis did participate in the planning of the hit on the two Tony's and was present when Russian Louie Strauss was strangled by Fratianno and a cohort. Fratianno and Dragna shared the duty of running the Los Angeles family while boss Dominick Brooklier served a short prison stretch in the mid 70's. The begging of the end of Dragna's mob careerstarted when he received a very light sentence in the Pornex case. This made the already apprehensive Dragna even more reluctant to participate in mob activity. The final straw came in late 1981 when once again Dragna wasnamed in yet another federal indictment this time for extortion. Fearing along jail term, Dragna pled guilty and turned on his mob associates and became a government witness.
Soldiers
Alfred Mauriello (1947-Present)		A long time mob associate of Jimmy Caci, Mauriello has compiled an arrest record of 18 felony and misdemeanor convictions. These charges have ranged from conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin to assault. Alfred Mauriello was arrested along with his son Stephen and charged with hiring hitmen Tony Davi and Richard Friedman to kill Las Vegas racketeer Herbie Blitzstein. Mauriello pled guilty to the charges in exchange for asentence of 15 years in prison. If he survives he will emerge from jail at the age of 87. Mauriello also maintained close relations with members of the Buffalo family.
Stephan "The Whale" Cino (1967-Present)		Long a member of Pete and Carmin Milano's crew, Stephen has a criminal record dating back more than 30 years. Cino has held a legitimate job just once in the past 20 years. The whale played a role in the slaying of Herbie Blitzstein and received a 15 years bid for his role. Cino has a history of heart problems and is morbidly obese. This in addition to his age "62 at the time of his sentencing" make it unlikely that he will survive his fullterm. Has also worked closely with members of the Buffalo family.
Stephan Mauriello (1997-Present)		The son of long time mobster Alfred Mauriello. Steve was arrested with his father in connection with the killing of Herbie Blitstein. The 44 year old Mauriello pled guilty to charges of extortion and is now co-operating with authorities. Before his arrest Stehen was a resident of Las Vegas Nevada.
Tommy Ricciardi (1977-1978)		Tommy Ricciardi came to Los Angeles from New York where he had fought and took a bullet in the Profaci/Gallo wars of the early 60's. Ironically the man who shot him ,Capo Mike Rizzitello, became his superior in the Los Angles family. Tommy was the man who put four shots into Frank Bompensiro. As a reward for a job well done he was inducted into the Los Angeles family by then boss Dominick Brooklier. Known as the hitman with a pacemaker, Ricciardi died while under going open heart surgery in prison in 1978.
Anthony Fiato (1977-1978)		Tony grew up watching wiseguys. For as long as he could remember hehad associated with some of the toughest guys in the Boston and Los Angelesfamilies. Tony's father ran mob affiliated bars in Boston and laterLos Angeles. Fiato who stood 6"3 and weighed 220 lbs at the age of 16,began running errands for the leaders of the Boston family. As he inchedcloser to manhood Fiato and family made the move to L.A where he hooked up withMichael Rizzitello, a vicious mob killer who had perfected his skills workingunder Joe Gallo and later Jimmy Fratianno. Rizzi had been a good friend ofJohnny Fiato and had watched Tony grow into a leg breaking tough much likehimself. Anthony worshipped men like Rizzi and the power and respect that they commanded. Before long Tony had worked his way into the slot ofRizzi's top aide in the L.A family. Extortion, assault, loan sharking andcollecting delinquent debts were the jobs that Tony practiced and perfected while earning the moniker the animal. By the close of the 70's Mike andTony had been sanctioned and supported by Gambino boss Neil Dellacroce tooperate seperately but within the Los Angeles family which had been descimatedby deaths, defections and convictions. Anthony joined Rizzi as he travelled from one coast to the other, from the desert to the sea in an effort tobuild relationships with other powerful and ambitious capos around thecountry. Unfortunately for Rizzi he would be sent to prison on an extortioncharge and see his dream of starting a second family in the city of Angels die. Yet Tony was a hot property, he possesed all of the qualities that had beenabsent in so many L.A gangsters. He was ambitious, tough and fearless. Many members of Rizzi's crew began to cut him in on their scams and scores. Tony was soon seen as the heir to Rizzi's position in the family. Thesuccess of Tony as surrogate to Mike Rizzitello ultimately proved to be his downfall. In 1984 Tony was hit with a federal indictment with enough charges toput him and much of his crew in jail for up to 400 years. Faced with amountain of evidence Fiato and his brother Larry decided to flip and become agovernment witness. Fiato's testimony helped to put virtually the entire LosAngeles family in prison as well as many of the Boston crime figures he hadgrown up with. Anthony Fiato is the author of Animal in Hollywood and has been relocated somewhere in america.
Other Members
Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratiano (1950s-1970s)		Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratiano was actually from Cleveland. He ran rackets with the Licavolli brothers and other well-known gangsters. As a kid he received the knickname "the weasel" because he was quick on his feet and ran fast. Fratiano and former Cleveland boss Jack Licavoli made their bones together for then LA boss Jack Dragna. Together they performed a contract murder. Licavolli returned to Cleveland and Fratiano stayed on in Los Angeles. Jimmy would become a "made" man in the the Dragna Family in 1947. He was friends with John Roselli, Jimmy Lanza, Angelo Marino, and had some friends in the Mexican Mafia. Friction began to rise within the LA family over leadership. Fratiano began to boast that he was the boss of LA and that the Milanos and Licata held no power.It wasnt long and Fratiano began to fear for his life. Fratiano would become a goverment witness and testify along with former Clevland boss Angelo Lonardo in the famous NYC Commission Trial of 1986. Fratiano's testimony was also used in many other mob-related trials. He was suspected in elevan killings, he only admitted nine. He would later have his life remembered in the biography "The Last Mafioso". He died in 1993.
Associates
George "Les" Bruneman (1920s-1937)		Once an ally of Jack Dragna and Johnny Roselli, Bruneman ran a foul of the syndicate for repeated encroachments on their gambling and race wire concessions. Bruneman was shot in retaliation for his defiance of a request by Benjamin Siegal that all independent operations would be required tomake a 10% contribution to the syndicate in New York. The final straw for Dragna occurred when he threatened the life of Johnny Roselli. This drew an immediate response from Dragna who put a contract out on Bruneman. The contract was fulfilled on October 24, 1937 by Leo "Lips" Moceri and Frank Bompensiro.
Richard Friedman (1971-Present)		Extensive criminal record dates back to 1971 when he was nailed fordealing heroin and cocaine. Since that time he has been investigatedfor political corruption and for murder. The murder charges stem from his involvement as the trigger man in the murder of mob associate Herbie Blitzstein. Friedman admitted to killing Blitzstein in a plot bymembers of the Buffalo and Los Angeles families to take over his Vegas business interests. For his role in the plot 56 year old Friedman was sentencedto 25 years on August 27 1999.
Tony Davi (1920s-1937)		Once a boxer in the 140lb. class who used the name the Sicilian bomber, Tony Davi had no prior arrests untill June 4,1997. Davi admitted to taking the $4,000 dollar contract to kill Herbie Blitstein from long timemobster Alfred Mauriello. Davi a 31 year old resident of Henderson Nevada,pled guilty to one count of murder in the aide of racketeering. For theplea and an agreement to aide the prosecution in the case against other membersof the Los Angeles family,Davi faces no more than 20 years in prison. .
Anthony Brooklier (1970s-Present)		The son of former Los Angeles boss Dominick Brooklier(aka.Jimmy Regace),Anthony has served as lead defense attorney to some of the most infamous names in Los Angeles court history including his fathers 1981 racketeering trial as well as that of Hollywood Madame Heidi Fleiss. Brooklier has a repeated history of failing to pay his taxes. Earlier this year Anthony pled guilty to failure to file a tax return. This led to a sentence which included a suspended sentence and a fine. Watchers of the Los Angeles family suspect that Anthony plays a little larger role in the family than just legal counsel, although no evidence has been presented to suggest that he is a made member either.
John Dimattia (1970s-Present)		Dimattia was born and raised in New Jersey. His first experience in the rackets came as a runner for Lucchese powerbroker Anthony "Tumac" Accturro. Dimattia kept his connections with the Lucchese group after he made the move out to L.A. John hooked up with Mike Rizzetello and Anthony Fiato of the Los Angels family. Never very well liked, respected or trusted by his counterparts in the Los Angeles family. Dimattia was the target of a contract put out by Pete Milano who believed he was a snitch. Dimattia was saved by an 18 count indictment against Milano and 18 other members of the L.A family handed down on May 22,1987.
Robert Ralph "Dino" D'Agostino (1980s)		A member of the Fiato led Rizzitello crew. Dino made his taxable income as a restaurant owner and chef, but made his real living as a drug dealer and loan shark in the Los Angeles area. In 1987 D'Agostino avoided a racketeering conviction by pleading guilty to selling 83 grams of cocaine to an undercover cop. Dino got 6 years in the California penal system.
Steve Munichiello (1980s)		Strong arm associate specializing in imtimidation and extortiontactics. Steve served as the bodyguard to Craig Anthony Fiato. Fat Steve was atFiatos house when the FBI retrieved their electronic servailanceequipment hidden in his living room. Steve received a stiff sentence forextortion in 1987.
Robert "Puggy" Zeichick (1980s-Present)		Owner of several apartment complexes in the Los Angeles area, Puggy was the top earner in the crew headed by Mike Rizzitello and later Anthony Fiato. Zeichick ran a successful loan sharking operation which loaned money to patrons of L.A. area gambling establishments at a 10% a week interestrate. The collection of the debts was a duty intrusted to the vicious Tony "the Animal" Fiato, together the two made a ton of money and gathered respect from veteran mobsters in the area. Puggy was acquitted of a $1 million dollar bond scam in 1987.