Joe Profaci

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Joe Profaci
Born October 2, 1882
Sicily, Italy
Died June 7, 1962
New York City, New York, USA

Giuseppe "Joe" Profaci (October 2, 1897–June 7, 1962) was a New York Mafia boss who was the founder and head of the Profaci crime family (known today as the Colombo crime family) for over three decades.

Joseph Profaci was born in Villabate in the province of Palermo, Sicily. He immigrated to the United States and was naturalized as a citizen on September 27, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York. Joseph Profaci was known for his racketeering in and around Brooklyn. In 1953, a suit was filed to collect back income taxes of over two million dollars. In 1954, it was reported that the Justice Department was taking steps to revoke the citizenship of Profaci, described as a racketeer. The Department of Justice also claimed Profaci had given false testimony on entering the United States. On June 6, 1962, Profaci died in New York City of cancer.

He was reportedly despised by many of his underlings because he implemented a "slush" fund, whereby members of the Colombo family had to give him US$25 per month that would supposedly go towards supporting mobsters' families should the mobster go to prison. Those who didn't pay were usually murdered, as was anyone who disagreed with Profaci on any other matters. However, Profaci simply added it to the other huge amounts of money obtained through his criminal enterprise. He lived a life of luxury; at the height of his power, Profaci had a home set in a 328-acre (133-hectare) estate with its own private airport.

Like many mobsters, Profaci had many legitimate businesses, such as importing olive oil, which lead to him being referred to as the "Olive Oil King." However, most of his wealth was through traditional Mafia enterprises of protection rackets and extortion. Most of the Colombo family's activities were based in Brooklyn.

Profaci was a devout Catholic who donated a great deal to Catholic charities. However, he once had two thieves tortured to death for stealing from a local church.

The Colombo family underwent a civil war in 1960 when a trio of siblings from among its members— "Crazy Joe" Gallo and his two brothers—attempted to take it over with the help of other mobsters disenchanted with Profaci's rule. However, Profaci was still in power when he died of cancer two years later. Joe Colombo succeeded him as head of the family.

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Preceded by
N/A(First Boss)		 Colombo Crime Family Boss
1928-1962		 Succeeded by
Joseph Magliocco
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