James Napoli
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James "Jimmy Nap" Napoli (November 4, 1911 – December 29, 1992) was a Caporegime in the Genovese crime family. From the 1950s to the 1980s, he controlled one of the largest illegal gambling operations in the United States.
In 1969, Napoli was indicted for fixing several boxing matches. In the 1970s, Napoli reportedly operated the largest numbers operation in the country. By 1976, the operation allegedly employed 2,000 people and grossed over $150 million a year. Napoli apparently ran this huge operation from a lounge in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. In 1978, Napoli was convicted for gambling and sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Napoli enjoyed fine foods, good wines, and a life of luxury. Intelligent and well-respected, Napoli maintained ties to most of the major crime families. Napoli was married to Jeanie Napoli, a former night club singer and theatrical producer. In 1984, Napoli invested $250,000 in an unsuccessful musical biography of actress Marilyn Monroe that starred Jeanie.
Napoli was once taped by the FBI as he plotted with mob associate Irwin Schiff to murder Gambino crime family boss John Gotti. However, the plan was foiled and Napoli was never charged with any crime.
On December 29, 1992, Napoli died of natural causes in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan and was buried in Queens, New York.
