1937 in organized crime

[edit] Events

Former leader of the Morello crime family, Ciro Terranova is arrested for vagrancy.
January 8 - Following the Cuban governments approval to place certain gambling operations under control future President Col. Fulgencio Batista, New York mobster Meyer Lansky and associates begin operating the first syndicate casinos in Havana.
February 22 - Newark mobster Gaspare D'Amico is severely wounded in a failed attempt on his life (reportedly ordered by Profaci crime family leader Joseph Profaci). D'Amico eventually flees the country,his organization is taken over by Stefano Bedami (DeCavalcante),now answering to the 5 New York Families (Commission)
May 11 - Gambler Ferdinand "The Shadow" Boccia is murdered by Willie Gallo and Ernest "The Hawk" Rupolo on the orders of Vito Genovese.
June 14 - Francesco Lanza, leader of the San Francisco crime syndicate and father of the future leader John Lanza, dies of natural causes and succeeded by Anthony Lima.
October 5 - Nicola Gentile, a high-ranking member of crime families in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and New York, is arrested in New Orleans for drug trafficking and eventually flees the United States in 1939, following his release on bail and escapes to Sicily.

Vincent DiNapoli "Vinnie", Genovese crime family lieutenant involved in construction and labor union racketeering
John Matarazzo, Genovese crime family member
John Paul Spica, associate of Anthony Giodano

May 11 - Ferdinand Boccia "The Shadow", New York mobster and gambler
June 14 - Francesco Lanza, leader of the San Francisco crime syndicate and father of the future leader John Lanza