PROFESSIONAL KILLERS (True Crime) by Gordon Kerr Read Free Book Online Page A

Colombo, that Joe had found a place in the Profaci Family. He had never had much to do with Magliocco or Bonnano. Consequently, he reckoned that his loyalties lay with the Gambinos and not with Bonnano. Joe went to Carlo Gambini and told him about Bonnano’s plan. Gambino was, needless to say, furious and convened a meeting of the other families to which Bonnano and Magliocco were summoned to explain themselves. Bonnano failed to show but Magliocco attended, admitted the plan, was fined $50,000 and sent into retirement. He was already a sick man and he died a month later. Joe Bananas was removed from his position and his family broke into two groups. The press termed it ‘The Banana Split’.
    Gambino was now top dog and knew he owed it to Joe Colombo. He also thought that if Colombo became boss of the Profaci Family, he would be a mere puppet and Colombo would really be pulling the strings. So, he petitioned the Commission to put Colombo in charge of the Profaci Family. The decision was unanimous and Colombo, aged 40, became the youngest mob boss ever.
    It was a decision not to everyone’s liking. New Jersey Mafia boss Simone Rizz ‘Sam the Plumber’ DeCavalcante said at the time: ‘What experience has he got? He was a bustout guy all his life . . . What does he know?’ And within his own family, there were warring factions. However, the Gallos still did not have the strength to be in a position to challenge Colombo. But there was also the Persico crew who provided enforcement for the Profaci Family. Nonetheless, Joe’s control was absolute and the press began to refer to the Profaci Family as the Colombo Family.
    Joe Colombo’s life was not just all about the Mob. He was a devout Catholic. One story alleges that when a valuable crown was stolen from a Brooklyn church, he was outraged. He put the word out that it should be returned immediately. The thief did so, but made the fatal mistake of keeping three of the diamonds from the crown. Not long afterwards his body was found with a rosary wrapped around his neck.
    When Colombo’s son was arrested in 1970 for melting down $500,000 of US coins for their silver content, Joe formed the Italian–American Civil Rights League, appointing himself leader. Its stated aim was to protest against the harassment of Italian Americans but his real objective, apart from skimming money from the organisation of course, was to portray anti-Mafia activities by the police and FBI as harassment of Italian Americans. Its benefit events – featuring stars such as Frank Sinatra – raised large sums of money which went straight into Mafia coffers, and by the end of the year the League had 150,000 members and 50 chapters across the country. But other Mafia bosses began to worry about what appeared to be Joe’s obsession with the League. They also worried about the publicity he was attracting. He was giving interviews on television and making speeches. Throughout its history, the Mob has shunned publicity and has always dealt harshly with those of its members who courted it. Joe did not help by allegedly spitting in Carlo Gambino’s face when Gambino complained about the publicity surrounding Joe.
    The situation was complicated by the release from prison of Joey Gallo. Gallo had already gone to war once, with Joe Profaci, over the leadership of the family, and he hated Colombo for his activities during that war. He had made good use of his prison time, building alliances with other ethnic criminals. He courted, in particular, the Afro-American criminal elements in Harlem and the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. He was using these contacts to disrupt Colombo’s activities in Brooklyn.
    Joe had organised the League’s second big rally for 28 June 1971. The day dawned bright and sunny and when he was picked up by his driver that morning, he felt good. The League was the perfect scam – it had the air of a legitimate organisation, it made him look good and, above all, it made him lots