| Sylvestro Carolla |
Website Links For Carolla |
Information AboutSylvestro Carolla |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SYLVESTRO CAROLLA | |
| 1896 births | |
| carolla, sam | |
| 1972 deaths | |
| italian-american mobsters | |
|
Born in Sicily , Carolla immigrated to the United States when his parents in 1904. By 1918, Carolla had become a high ranking member of Charles Matranga's Black Hand organization eventually succeeding him following Matranga's retirement in 1922. Assuming control of Matranga's minor bootlegging operations, Carolla waged war against rival bootlegging gangs gaining full control following the murder of William Bailey in December 1930. Gaining considerable political influence within New Orleans, used his connections when, in 1929, Al Capone traveled to the city demanding Carolla supply the Chicago Outfit with imported alcohol instead of Capone rival Joe Aiello . Meeting Capone as he arrived at a New Orleans train station, Carolla, accompanied by several police officers, reportedly disarmed Capone's bodyguards and breaking their fingers forcing Capone to return to Chicago. In 1930, Carolla was arrested for the shooting death of federal narcotics agent Cecil Moore and, despite his support by several New Orleans police officers who testified Carolla was in New York at the time of the murder, he was sentenced to two years. Released in 1934, Carolla negotiated a deal with New York mobsters Charles Luciano and Meyer Lansky (as well as Louisiana Senator Huey Long ) to bring slot machines into New Orleans following New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia 's attacks on organized crime. Carolla, with lieutenant Carlos Marcello , would run illegal gambling operations undisturbed for several years. Carolla's legal problems continued as he was scheduled to be deported in 1940 after serving two years in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary , following his arrest on a narcotics charge in 1938. Although delayed following the US's entry into World War II , Carolla would continue to control the New Orleans crime family for several years before a campaign, begun by reporter Drew Pearson , exposed an attempt by Congressman Jimmy Morrison to pass a bill awarding Carolla with American citizenship (thereby making deportation illegal). Finally forced to leave New Orleans, Carolla would finally be deported in April 1947. Soon arriving in Sicily, Carolla organized a partnership with fellow exile Charles Luciano establishing criminal enterprises in Mexico. Briefly returning to the United States in 1949, he was deported the following year as control of the New Orleans crime family reverted to Carlos Marcello. Living in Palermo, Sicily until 1970, Carolla once again returned to the US where he lived until his death two years later. REFERENCES
|
|
|