Angelo Meli

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Angelo Meli
Born(1897-02-10)February 10, 1897
San Cataldo, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy
DiedDecember 1, 1969(1969-12-01) (aged 72)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Resting placeHoly Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityItalian
CitizenshipAmerican
OccupationMobster
Children4
RelativesBill Bufalino (nephew-in-law)
Vincent Meli (nephew)
Jack Tocco (son-in-law)
William Tocco (co-father-in-law)
AllegianceDetroit Partnership

Angelo Meli (Italian: [ˈandʒelo ˈmɛːli]; February 10, 1897 – December 1, 1969) was an Italian-American mobster who became a consigliere and then leading Chairman of the Detroit Partnership criminal organization of La Cosa Nostra.

Early life[edit]

Angelo Meli was born on February 10,[1] 1897, in San Cataldo, Sicily, the youngest son of 13 children[2] born to Vincenzo Meli and Maria Antonia Gugaglio.[3] Meli immigrated to the United States at the age of 17,[4] settling in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to work as a coal miner.[2] He worked in a Pittsburgh foundry and moved to Detroit in 1918.[2] In Detroit, Meli worked as a baker and restaurateur. Throughout his time there, he owned a bakery, two restaurants, and the Whip Cafe, which he owned with "Black" Leo Cellura, another member of the Detroit Partnership.

His brother Frank and nephew Vincent "Little Vince" Meli were members of the Detroit Partnership.[5]

In 1924, Meli married Jennie Dimercurio,[2] and had two sons, Vincent H. and Salvatore, and two daughters, Maria Antoinette and Angela.[6] In May 1929, Meli became a naturalized citizen at the age of 32 through the US District Court in Brooklyn, New York.[2][7][8] Before his death, he had 16 grandchildren.

In 1945, Meli's niece, Marie Antoinette Meli, married attorney Bill Bufalino,[9] a cousin of Northeastern Pennsylvania mob boss Russell Bufalino. In 1950, Meli's son, Vincent, married Pauline Perrone, daughter of Santo Perrone, a Detroit bootlegger.[2] In 1952, his daughter Maria, married Detroit Mafia boss Jack Tocco, son of mob boss William Tocco.[2][10]

Criminal career[edit]

Angelo Meli moved to the city of Detroit in 1915 and soon became affiliated with the Gianola Mob. In 1919, in the wake of the Gianola-Vitale War, ‘Singing’ Sam Catalanotte, Meli, Chester LaMare, and Leo Cellura started the West Side Mob of Hamtramck, Michigan.

In the early 1920s, backed by former Gianola gang member Sam Catalanotte’s liquor and vice rackets, Meli, Cellura, and LaMare opened up the Venice Cafe in Detroit.[11] The West Side Mob excelled in extorting brothels, gambling houses and bootlegging operations. With Meli's assistance, LaMare soon dominated crime in Detroit. It required an effort by state investigators on recommendations from Michigan Governor, Alex Groesbeck, to smash the organization.[11] Thirty-one criminals were convicted of liquor law violations, however, Meli escaped without convictions.[11] In the midst of the investigation, Leo Cellura and Angelo Meli left the Westside Mob in Hamtramck. In doing so, Meli entered into an agreement with Salvatore Catalanotte, boss of Detroit's Unione Siciliana. With Catalanotte's support, Meli formed the Eastside Mob with top aides Leo Cellura, William Tocco, and Joseph Zerilli.[12] Catalanotte was instrumental in establishing the partnership between the Eastside Mob and the River Gang and other Jewish groups. LaMare, on the other hand, was arrested and sentenced to one year in prison amidst the Hamtramck investigations, but was eventually let off with a fine in 1926 for violating Prohibition laws.[12] By 1927 he was able to resume his position as the leader of the Westside Mob.

After Catalanotte's death on February 14, 1930, LaMare and the West Side Mob began raiding Meli-controlled speakeasies, and liquor storage houses. Meli responded by ordering LaMare's murder,[11] which happened on February 6, 1931. After LaMare's murder, Meli oversaw the merger of Detroit's various mob factions into what later became the Detroit Partnership.[11] Despite Meli’s reputation as a mafioso in Detroit, and 16 attempts for his arrest for crimes including murder and armed robbery between 1915 and 1963, Meli was only ever convicted of a concealed carry charge in 1920. His bail was forfeited in 1921 due to his not showing up to court.[13]

The Crosstown Mafia War (1930-1931)[edit]

Angelo Meli was believed to be the leader of the dominant wing of warring Detroit gangs in 1930. It is theorized that Chester LaMare sought to eliminate Meli and Zerrilli as rivals by setting up a phony peace meeting at the Vernor Highway Fish Market on May 31. Meli, wary, sent Gaspare Scibilia and Sam Parina in his place and they were shot and killed by LaMare gangsters. Following these murders, LaMare went into hiding.[14][15]

Following was a slew of other mob-related murders, collectively known as the Crosstown Mafia War. It is believed that both West and East Side Gangs of Detroit, including that of Angelo Meli, were involved in these killings. According to deputy chief of detectives Robert A. MacPherson, Zerilli claimed that Meli gangsters were not engaging in this warfare, but merely seeking to kill LaMare.[15] However, police actively pursued Meli for his suspected involvement. Thomas Licavoli and Frank Cammarata—two of the three suspected trigger-men in the notorious killing of Gerald “Jerry” Buckley on May 31, 1930—were believed to be Meli gangsters. Eight associates of Meli, in total, were arrested in connection with the Buckley murder.[16][17] Nick Dellabonte—who, alongside Frank Salimone, was charged with the murder of patrolman Clause Lanstra on June 1, 1930—was the brother-in-law of Angelo Meli. Dellabonte admitted to hiding from police in Meli’s home for the month following the murders.[18] On October 27, 1930, police raided Meli’s Capitol Coal Co. seeking Meli for questioning and discovered machine gun shipments. It was also discovered that Meli had been armoring his automobiles in Detroit. Seven of Meli’s men were subpoenaed by police, but he was still in hiding at the time.[16][17]

LaMare was to testify against rival gangs of Leo Cellura, William Tocco, Meli, and Zerilli, but he was slain six hours before he was scheduled to appear as a witness in court, on February 7, 1931. It is believed he was either executed in retaliation for Scibilia’s death, or to prevent his testimony. Police determined that Elmer Macklin and Joe Antico, both members of LaMare’s own gang, were responsible for his murder. They speculated that Meli’s gang orchestrated this assassination and that the perpetrators were threatened with death if they failed.[14][19]

After the establishment of the Partnership[edit]

Once the Detroit Partnership was established, Meli became the first and longest serving consigliere. He was considered to be one of the five members of the Ruling Council of the Partnership, along with Joseph Zerilli, Peter Licavoli, Black Bill Tocco, and John Priziola.[20] He was a major figure in illegal weapons smuggling and in settling labor disputes. Smuggling liquor across the border from Canada was also a very lucrative practice for Meli and the Partnership. Meli’s involvement in labor racketeering helped establish Jimmy Hoffa's rise in the Teamsters Union.[21] He suffered only one conviction; on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. Meli had extensive legitimate business holdings in the Michigan area, including a motel, a farm, a trucking company, a gas station, and two different music stores. He also had holdings in a warehouse and a cold storage facility.[20]

Meli's family was very interconnected with the rest of the Detroit mafia community. His son, Vincent H. Meli (not to be confused with his nephew, Vincent A. Meli), married Pauline Perrone, daughter of Detroit mobster Santo Perrone, while his daughter Maria would go on to marry Jack Tocco, the eventual head of the Detroit Partnership.[20] In 1957, the US government unsuccessfully attempted to deport Meli, on the grounds that he had lied about his criminal record on his application for citizenship.[22] Over time, as Meli’s health declined, he began to spend less time working with the Partnership, and spent more time at his residence in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[23]

Death[edit]

Meli died at his Fort Lauderdale residence on December 1, 1969.[6] On December 6, 1969, he was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Angelo Meli, U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration, MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd, https://records.myheritagelibraryedition.com/research/collection-10002/us-social-security-death-index-ssdi
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Angelo Meli Tells His Story". Detroit Free Press. October 13, 1963. p. 2. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Cataldo, Sicily, 1897. He was the youngest son of 13 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Meli. He was 17 when he entered the United States through New York and went into the hard coal region near Scranton, Pennsylvania, where a brother lived at Dunmore. [...] "I worked in a Pittsburgh foundry as a helper, then as, a molder before coming moved to Detroit in 1918." said Meli. [...] Meli wife, born Jennie Dimercurio, whom he married in 1924, [...] Then, in 1952, the U.S. Government moved to revoke Meli's citizenship on the grounds that he concealed his police record when he applied for citizenship in Brooklyn 1929. [...] Meli's son, Vincent H., [...] was married 13 years ago to Pauline Perrone, daughter of Santo (Sam) Perrone, an ex convict and one-time bootlegger. [...] A daughter, Marie Antoinette (Tony) has been married 11 years to Jack Tocco, son of William (Black Bill) Tocco, another prohibition-era figure with a number of arrests in his background. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Immagine 98". Antenati (in Italian). Retrieved August 22, 2020. L'anno milleottocentonovantasette, addì diciassette di Febbraio [...], nella casa Comunale [...] è comparso Meli Vincenzo, [...], il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore [...] del dì sedici del corrente mese, [...] da Gugaglio Maria Antonia sua moglie [...] è nato un bambino di sesso maschile che egli mi presenta, e a cui dà il nome di Angelo.
  4. ^ "Angelo Meli: Ellis Island and Other New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957". MyHeritage.com [online database]. https://records.myheritagelibraryedition.com/record-10512-61064831/angelo-meli-in-ellis-island-other-new-york-passenger-list.
  5. ^ Ashenfelter, David (January 10, 2008). "Reputed mobster of Detroit Meli dies at 87". Detroit Free Press. p. 23. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Vincent Angelo Meli, a reputed member of the Detroit Mafia, [...] The FBI described Vincent Meli's father, also named Frank, and uncle Angelo Meli as Detroit-area Mafia leaders.
  6. ^ a b c "District Deaths". The Times Herald. Port Huron, Michigan. December 6, 1969. p. 2. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. MARINE CITY – Angelo Meli, 72, who formerly owned a horse farm south of Marine City, was buried today in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Ten-Mile Road, following funeral services in Holy Family Catholic Church, Detroit. Meli identified some years ago as a member of the Detroit Mafia family, died Monday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. [...] Survivors are his widow, Jeannie; a son, Vincent H., Flint; two daughters, Mrs. Jack Antoinette Tocco and Mrs. Sam Angela Ludico; a brother, Frank, and 16 grandchildren. The family requests that contributions be made to Lt. Salvatore A. Meli American veterans Post No. 2 Building Fund. Lieutenant Meli was a son of Mr. Meli. Open access icon
  7. ^ “Index to the Naturalization Petitions of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1865-1957”, Angelo Meli U.S. Naturalization Records, NARA #M1164, MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd. https://records.myheritagelibraryedition.com/research/collection-10024/us-naturalization-records
  8. ^ “DEPORTATION IS BALKED: Court Backs Man Once Called Detroit Public Enemy No. 1.” 1957. New York Times (1923-), Dec 25, 25. ProQuest 114280811
  9. ^ "MARIE A. TONI BUFALINO". The Detroit News. Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. December 9, 2002. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Legacy.com. Beloved wife of the late William. [...] Sister of Vince Meli.
  10. ^ "Maria "Toni" Tocco". Bagnasco & Calcaterra Funeral Home. Sterling Heights, Michigan. November 25, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2020. Tocco, Maria "Toni" age 84, November 25, 2018. Beloved wife of the late Jack. [...] Dear sister of the late Vincent Meli, Sam Meli and Angela Lucido.
  11. ^ a b c d e Kavieff, Paul R. (June 10, 1999). "The crosstown mob wars of 1930-31". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020. In the early '20s, LaMare established a base of operations in Hamtramck. He opened a popular nightclub known as the Venice Cafe. With his business partners, Angelo Meli and Black Leo Cellura, LaMare grew rich and powerful, shaking down brothels and gambling houses for protection and muscling into the bootlegging rackets. Hamtramck became so corrupt and wide open that in the fall of 1923, numerous complaints prompted Michigan Gov. Alex Groesbeck to take drastic action. Groesbeck ordered detachments of the Michigan State Police into Hamtramck to take control of the city government. This operation resulted in the arrest and eventual conviction of 31 men, including Hamtramck Mayor Peter C. Jezewski, for Prohibition law violations. [...] Meli sent word to Joe Amico and the other fish market assassins that unless they put their boss Chester LaMare "on the spot," they would die. Amico, who was the closest to LaMare, orchestrated the final betrayal of the boss. [...] LaMare's death effectively ended the crosstown mob wars. Amico and Macklin were later tried for LaMare's murder and acquitted. Leaders of the Eastside Mob became the founders of what was to become Detroit's modern day Mafia organization.
  12. ^ a b Kavieff, Paul (2013). The Violent Years: Prohibition and Detroit Mobs. Detroit: Barricade Books. pp. 51–69. ISBN 978-1-56980-147-5.
  13. ^ Edwards, George (October 11, 1963). [file:///Users/alexandertrevino/Downloads/October_11,_1963_(Page_19_of_4.pdf "Here's What Edwards Told Senators..."] (PDF). Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 17, 2021. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ a b NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current (October 3, 1931). "Detroit News, October 3, 1931". Detroit News. p. 2.
  15. ^ a b NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current (September 17, 1930). "Detroit News, September 17, 1930". Detroit News. pp. 1, 37.
  16. ^ a b NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current (December 13, 1930). "Detroit News, December 13, 1930". Detroit News. pp. 1–2.
  17. ^ a b NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. "Detroit News, October 27, 1930". Detroit News. pp. 1–2.
  18. ^ NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. "Detroit News, December 21, 1931". Detroit News.
  19. ^ NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current (February 12, 1931). "Detroit News, February 12, 1931". Detroit News.
  20. ^ a b c United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Government Operations. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime And Illicit Traffic In Narcotics. Washington: U. S. Govt. Print. Off., 1963.
  21. ^ Moldea, Dan E. (1978). The Hoffa wars : Teamsters, rebels, politicians, and the mob. New York: Charter Books. ISBN 0-441-34010-5. OCLC 5742589.
  22. ^ United States v. Meli, 158 F. Supp. 217 (E.D. Mich. 1957)
  23. ^ "Detroit crime family bosses | American Mafia History". mafiahistory.us. Retrieved 2021-11-19.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

American Mafia
Preceded by
Unknown
 Detroit Partnership
Consigliere
1931–1969 		Succeeded by
John Priziola
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