Top 10 Incredible Facts about Vito Genovese

A photo of Vito Genovese by Phil Stanziola, World Telegram staff photographer – Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Incredible Facts about Vito Genovese

Vito Genovese, born on November 21, 1897, was an Italian-American organized crime figure who rose to prominence in the United States during the Prohibition era as a ruthless enforcer in the American Mafia. As a close associate and lifelong friend of Lucky Luciano, Genovese was instrumental in the Castellammarese War and played a significant role in the development and establishment of the Mafia and organized crime in the country.

He eventually succeeded Luciano as the head of the crime family, which was renamed in his honour as the Genovese crime family. In the article are the top ten incredible facts about Vito Genovese

1. Vied for the boss of bosses title

Genovese sought to attain the coveted designation of “boss of bosses” by orchestrating the assassination of Albert Anastasia, a notorious Italian-American organized crime figure who had risen to the position of boss in the Gambino crime family.

Concurrently, he attempted to eliminate rival gangster Frank Costello, head of the Luciano crime family. To secure his dominance, Genovese convened a summit of the Mafia, however, the gathering was disrupted by law enforcement intervention.

2. He murdered Gaetano Reina

In 1930, Genovese was the subject of an indictment for the charge of counterfeiting when law enforcement discovered a workshop in Bath Beach, Brooklyn where $1 million of counterfeit US currency was stored. Subsequently, in the same year, Genovese was accused of perpetrating the murder of Gaetano Reina, the leader of a criminal organization based in the Bronx.

Reina, who was previously allied with Masseria, was suspected by Masseria of providing covert support to Salvatore Maranzano, a rival gang leader in Brooklyn. On the 26th of February, 1930, it is claimed that Genovese, with cunning premeditation, lay in wait for Reina as he departed from his mistress’s abode in the Bronx and discharged a shotgun, striking Reina in the nape of his neck. Following the death of Reina, Masseria assumed direct control over the gang previously led by him.

3. He worked for Masseria

By the 1920s, Genovese had entered the employ of Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria, a prominent figure in the Italian American Mafia and the boss of the Genovese crime family, one of the five preeminent Mafia families in New York City. In 1930, he was embroiled in the Castellammarese War, a conflict aimed at consolidating control over the criminal underworld of New York City.

Meanwhile, Charlie Luciano and his confidants had initiated a partnership with Arnold “The Brain” Rothstein, a prominent gambler. Rothstein swiftly perceived the lucrative opportunities presented by Prohibition and imparted his knowledge on the operation of bootlegging alcohol as a business to Luciano. With financial support from Rothstein, Luciano, Frank Costello, and Genovese embarked on a bootlegging venture.

4. He organized to kill Salvatore Maranzano

In September 1931, Luciano and Genovese devised a plan to assassinate Salvatore Maranzano. Luciano had received intelligence that Maranzano intended to eliminate both him and Genovese and, in response, he mobilized a hit team to preempt Maranzano’s attempt on their lives.

On the 10th of September, 1931, when Maranzano summoned Luciano, Genovese, and Frank Costello to a meeting in his office, they were aware that Maranzano intended to carry out their assassinations. In an attempt to outmanoeuvre Maranzano, Luciano dispatched four Jewish gangsters, whose visages were unfamiliar to Maranzano’s associates, to his office.

These individuals were procured with the assistance of Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, both prominent figures in American organized crime. Following Maranzano’s murder, Luciano established The Commission, a governing body that would preside over organized crime in the United States.

5. He married to Donata Ragone and later Anna Petilo

In the year 1931, Genovese’s first spouse, Donata Ragone, passed away due to tuberculosis, and he promptly declared his intention to wed Anna Petillo, who was at the time married to Gerard Vernotico.

On the 16th of March, 1932, Vernotico was discovered strangled to death on a rooftop in Manhattan, and on the 28th of March, 1932, Genovese married his widow, Anna, who was a cousin of Genovese through her mother, Concetta Cassini Genovese. Genovese’s father was Frances Felice Genovese and his mother was Nunziata Aluotto.

He had a sibling, Giovanna Jennie, and two brothers, Michael and Carmine, all of whom were affiliated with the Genovese crime family. One of Genovese’s cousins held the position of boss in the Pittsburgh crime family.

6. He once worked with the U.S Army 

With the advent of the Allies’ invasion of Italy in September 1943, Genovese promptly switched allegiances and proffered his services to the United States Army. Formerly, the Governor of New York, Charles Poletti, who was then affiliated with the U.S. Army, received a 1938 Packard Sedan as a generous present from Genovese.

Genovese was appointed as an interpreter/liaison officer at the U.S. Army headquarters in Naples and rapidly established himself as one of the most trustworthy employees of the Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories (AMGOT). Unfortunately, Poletti and the AMGOT department remained utterly ignorant of Genovese’s criminal past.

7. He ordered the murder of Ferdinand Bossia

Genovese has been depicted in a variety of media, including films and television series. Some of these depictions include “The Valachi Papers” (1972) where he was portrayed by Lino Ventura, “Crazy Joe” (1974) with Eli Wallach as his character, “Bugsy” (1991) with Don Carrara in the role, “Lansky” (1999) with Robert Miano, and “The Making of the Mob: New York” (2015) where Craig Thomas Rivela portrayed him.

In addition, Genovese is also depicted in the sixth episode of the UK television series “Mafia’s Greatest Hits” and in the 2019 film “Mob Town” with Robert Davi in the role. He is also slated to be depicted in the upcoming film “Wiseguys” with Robert De Niro playing the character.

9. Established one of the largest black market operations in Southern Italy

Genovese and Vizzini forged a formidable partnership, establishing a vast black market network in Southern Italy, where they transported truckloads of essential provisions to the famished citizens of Naples, overseen by Genovese’s organization.

Their fleet of vehicles was granted permits and documentation by the American Military Government for Occupied Territories (AMGOT) administration, with some American army officers even partaking in the illicit enterprise by providing gasoline and trucks as contributions. Vizzini was renowned as one of the most influential and legendary figures in the Sicilian Mafia post-World War II, until his demise in 1954.

10. Ordered the murder of Carlo Tresca

In the year 1943, it was alleged that Genovese ordered the assassination of Carlo Tresca, who was a renowned Italian-American journalist, orator, and labour organizer. Tresca was a prominent figure in the Industrial Workers of the World and was widely recognized as a fervent adversary of fascism, Stalinism, and Mafia infiltration of trade unions.

Genovese was said to have facilitated the murder as a favour to the Italian government. On the 11th of January, 1943, Tresca was shot and killed outside his newspaper office in Manhattan by a gunman, who was later claimed to be Carmine Galante, a member of the Bonanno crime family. Despite extensive investigation, no individual was ever charged or held accountable for Tresca’s murder.