Joseph Profaci

January 2, 1897 (age 65)

Villabati, Sicily, Italy

In 1920 he was convicted of forgery and spent a year in prison at Palermo. He came to the United States in 1921 with Vincent Mangano, who later became a New York City crime boss; in 1927 he was naturalized. By 1928, Profaci was connected with Charles ("Lucky") Luciano. On December 6 of that year he was present at a meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, of twenty-one leaders of organized crime, including his brother-in-law, Joseph Magliocco, and Vito Genovese. By 1929, Profaci controlled crime in Staten Island and had become a subdon in Salvatore Maranzano's organization. When the "Castellammare war" broke out between Maranzano and Joe ("The Boss") Masseria in 1930, both Profaci and Joseph Bonanno, a friend from Villabati, sided with Maranzano. Later, as "boss of bosses, " he made them heads of two of New York City's five crime families, sharing power in Brooklyn. Profaci retained this position for the rest of his life. In 1931 he became a member of the national commission of organized crime, which was established by Luciano and included two other New Yorkers, Mangano and Bonnano, as well as Al Capone from Chicago and Frank Milano from Cleveland. In 1956 the federal government fined Profaci $4, 000 for adulterating his olive oil. During the 1950's his business interests also included the United Uniform Corporation, G. and P. Coal Company, and the Carmella Mia Packing Company; in addition he infiltrated the construction industry and union labor. In 1953, Profaci was indicted by a federal grand jury for defrauding the government of $88, 547 in unpaid taxes for the years 1946-1949. During the 1940's and 1950's Profaci continued to meet with other leaders of organized crime. In December 1946 he went to Havana to meet with "Lucky" Luciano, and in November 1957 he was one of the sixty-five men who met at the home of Joseph Barbara at Apalachin, New York; when the police appeared, he was among those apprehended. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, but the conviction was overturned upon appeal. In 1958 a Brooklyn federal court judge revoked Profaci's citizenship on the ground that he had not revealed his arrests in Sicily when applying, but an appeals court later reversed this decision. In 1959, Profaci had to deal with a revolt in his organization by the Gallo-Giorelli faction. The immediate issue was the failure of this group to obtain a share of the gambling interests of Frank ("Frankie Shots") Abbatemarco, whom they had killed on Profaci's orders. But there were other causes of the revolt. The younger group resented their boss's old-fashioned ways, such as collecting monthly dues and insisting that a large percentage of the profits from all rackets be given to him. Such practices had ceased in other organizations throughout the country. Nepotism was another issue. The Gallos made their move after the Apalachin conviction of Profaci. They kidnapped five of his top men, including his brother and brother-in-law. Profaci was supposed to be taken, but managed to escape. On August 20, 1961, an unsuccessful attempt was made on the life of "Larry" Gallo, and the Gallos were forced to barricade themselves in two houses in south Brooklyn. During the ensuing months both sides suffered casualties. The "war" was still going on when Profaci died in Bay Shore, New York.

Joseph Profaci

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criminal

Background

He was born on October 2, 1897 in Villabati, a village in the Castellammare section of Sicily, Italy.

Education

There is no information about his education.

Career

In 1920 he was convicted of forgery and spent a year in prison at Palermo. He came to the United States in 1921 with Vincent Mangano, who later became a New York City crime boss; in 1927 he was naturalized.

By 1928, Profaci was connected with Charles ("Lucky") Luciano. On December 6 of that year he was present at a meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, of twenty-one leaders of organized crime, including his brother-in-law, Joseph Magliocco, and Vito Genovese. By 1929, Profaci controlled crime in Staten Island and had become a subdon in Salvatore Maranzano's organization. When the "Castellammare war" broke out between Maranzano and Joe ("The Boss") Masseria in 1930, both Profaci and Joseph Bonanno, a friend from Villabati, sided with Maranzano. Later, as "boss of bosses, " he made them heads of two of New York City's five crime families, sharing power in Brooklyn. Profaci retained this position for the rest of his life.

In 1931 he became a member of the national commission of organized crime, which was established by Luciano and included two other New Yorkers, Mangano and Bonnano, as well as Al Capone from Chicago and Frank Milano from Cleveland. In 1956 the federal government fined Profaci $4, 000 for adulterating his olive oil.

During the 1950's his business interests also included the United Uniform Corporation, G. and P. Coal Company, and the Carmella Mia Packing Company; in addition he infiltrated the construction industry and union labor. In 1953, Profaci was indicted by a federal grand jury for defrauding the government of $88, 547 in unpaid taxes for the years 1946-1949.

During the 1940's and 1950's Profaci continued to meet with other leaders of organized crime. In December 1946 he went to Havana to meet with "Lucky" Luciano, and in November 1957 he was one of the sixty-five men who met at the home of Joseph Barbara at Apalachin, New York; when the police appeared, he was among those apprehended. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, but the conviction was overturned upon appeal.

In 1958 a Brooklyn federal court judge revoked Profaci's citizenship on the ground that he had not revealed his arrests in Sicily when applying, but an appeals court later reversed this decision.

In 1959, Profaci had to deal with a revolt in his organization by the Gallo-Giorelli faction. The immediate issue was the failure of this group to obtain a share of the gambling interests of Frank ("Frankie Shots") Abbatemarco, whom they had killed on Profaci's orders. But there were other causes of the revolt. The younger group resented their boss's old-fashioned ways, such as collecting monthly dues and insisting that a large percentage of the profits from all rackets be given to him. Such practices had ceased in other organizations throughout the country. Nepotism was another issue. The Gallos made their move after the Apalachin conviction of Profaci. They kidnapped five of his top men, including his brother and brother-in-law. Profaci was supposed to be taken, but managed to escape. On August 20, 1961, an unsuccessful attempt was made on the life of "Larry" Gallo, and the Gallos were forced to barricade themselves in two houses in south Brooklyn. During the ensuing months both sides suffered casualties.

The "war" was still going on when Profaci died in Bay Shore, New York.

Achievements

Profaci was ranked as the third most important leader of organized crime in the United States, behind Vito Genovese and Vincent Mangano. He used mob money acquired from the numbers, narcotics, and prostitution to set up approximately twenty legitimate businesses. He became the largest importer of olive oil and tomato paste in the United States and acquired the nickname "Olive Oil King. " He supposedly used this business as a front for numbers and drug smuggling.

Connections

Profaci was married to Ninfa Magliocco; of their six children, two daughters married into other crime families.

Spouse:: Ninfa Magliocco
opponent:: "Larry" Gallo
brother-in-law:: Joseph Magliocco
Son:: Salvatore Proface
coworker:: Vito Genovese
coworker:: Vincent Mangano

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