Career
Born Vincenzo Cosmano in Molochio, Reggio Calabria, Italy, July 17, 1885. He arrived in the United States at Ellis Island on May 14, 1904 aboard the San Gottardo. After a stay in Canada, he crossed over into the United States at Saint Albans, Vermont, on December 22, 1904.
Cosmano joined the Black Hand as a young manitoba
Cosmano and other Black Handers, including James "The Mad Bomber" Belcastro, preyed on the residents of Chicago"s Little Italy and other city neighborhoods at the turn of the 20th century. In 1910, Cosmano tried to extort money out of James "Big Jim" Colosimo, a powerful brothel owner in the Levee section of Chicago.
Cosmano threatened to beat up Colosimo"s prostitutes and their customers if he did not receive $50,000 a week. However, Cosmano continued to threaten Colosimo.
In early 1912, Cosmano sent Colosimo a letter threatening to torch his cafe, the Colosimo, unless Colosimo paid him $10,000.
Colosimo reportedly asked Torrio to take care of the problem. On January 18, Cosmano was ambushed and severely wounded. Cosmano survived the attack and was taken to the hospital.
Later, several of his associates smuggled Cosmano out of the hospital to protect him.
Cosmano then left Chicago to continue his activities elsewhere. However, Cosmano, Murphy, and Carozza were eventually released due to lack of evidence.
One of the postal inspectors in on the plot confessed and part of the loot was found in Murphy"s attic. Cosmano was sentenced on November 14, 1921, and was incarcerated in Leavenworth beginning in February, 1923.
Upon release in 1926, and after failed attempts to fight deportation, he returned to Italy in 1927.
