Genna crime family

Prohibition-era Chicago crime family

Criminal organization

Genna crime familyFounded by| Genna Brothers

|

Founding location| Chicago, Illinois, United States
Years active| 1919–1930
Territory| Based in Chicago's Little Italy
Ethnicity| Sicilian
Criminal activities| Racketeering, extortion, bootlegging, illegal gambling and other crimes
Allies| Chicago Outfit (until 1924), Unione Siciliana
Rivals| North Side Gang

The Genna crime family (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒɛnna]), was a crime family that operated in Prohibition-era Chicago. From 1921 to 1925, the family was headed by the six Genna brothers, known as the Terrible Gennas.[1] The brothers were Sicilians from the town of Marsala and operated from Chicago's Little Italy and maintained control over the Unione Siciliana.[1] They were allies with fellow Italian gang the Chicago Outfit. After a bloody war led to their demise in the 1920s, the gang was eventually absorbed by the Chicago Outfit.

## The Genna brothers

[edit]

The Genna brothers consisted of six Sicilian brothers. Vincenzo "James" Genna was the leader of the gang. Angelo "Bloody Angelo" Genna, the youngest of the six, was the family's primary enforcer, and participated heavily in the 19th ward political wars of the late 1920s. Mike "The Devil" was generally kept busy with low-level violent tasks. Antonio "The Gentleman" Genna remained aloof from the day-to-day gang activities, preferring to remain behind the scenes. Sam Genna oversaw the gangs political connections and Peter ran a saloon.[2] In 1919, the Gennas became involved in bootlegging; they obtained a federal license to legally manufacture industrial alcohol, which they sold illegally.[3] The Genna brothers operated from Chicago's Little Italy, bordered by the Chicago River in the east, Kinzie street in the north, Kedzie avenue in the west, and Roosevelt road in the south.[3]

At the onset of Prohibition, the Genna gang was a member of Torrio's beer cartel, agreeing to sell its alcohol only within its territory. By 1924, the Genna brothers had begun selling their extra alcohol at cut-rate prices outside their territory.[3] This produced a clash with the North Side Gang leader Dean O'Banion, who went to John "Johnny The Fox" Torrio and Unione Siciliana boss Mike Merlo to punish the Gennas for breaking the deal.[3] Torrio failed to act and O'Banion and his gang began hijacking shipments of booze that belonged to the Genna brothers.[3] In May 1924, O'Banion set Torrio up to be arrested at the Sieben Brewery, kicking off the "Beer Wars". Merlo, who had been key in keeping the peace, died in November 1924. The next day, Genna hitmen John Scalise and Albert Anselmi, joined by Frankie Yale, shot and killed O'Banion at his flower shop.[2]

## Gang war

[edit]

After O'Banion's murder, the new North Side Gang leader, Hymie Weiss, negotiated a temporary truce with the Gennas. The North Siders focused on attacking the Torrio-Capone gang, first shooting up Al Capone's car in January 1925, then nearly killing Torrio in an ambush outside his home later that month. After leaving the hospital, Torrio fled to Italy, leaving Al Capone as boss.

By spring 1925, North Side Gang was targeting the Genna brothers. First, Bloody Angelo Genna was killed on May 27, 1925, after a high-speed car chase, then shot him to death.[3] On June 13, 1925, Mike Genna was gunned down by police after a shootout with the North Siders.[3] Antonio Genna was shot to death on July 8, 1925, in an ambush. The remaining three brothers Jim, Sam, and Pete fled Chicago.[3]

## D'Andrea and the Unione Siciliana

[edit]

Anthony D'Andrea was a Sicilian Mafia boss in Chicago's Little Italy. His closest allies were the Genna brothers, who operated illegal gambling clubs and salons in his territory.[1] In 1919, D'Andrea became president of the Chicago chapter of the Unione Siciliana, an organization dedicated to helping poor Sicilian immigrants. D'Andrea wanted more political power, and ran to become alderman of Chicago's 19th Ward, which included Little Italy. This started the Aldermen's Wars between D'Andrea and John Powers, an Irish saloon-keeper who was the sitting alderman. On May 11, 1921, D'Andrea was shot and killed while entering his apartment.

## Joe Aiello and the last fight

[edit]

Giuseppe "Joe" Aiello and his brothers Salvatore "Sam" and Pietro "Peter" declared themselves bosses of the old Genna brothers territory of Little Italy.[4] The Aiello brothers had an alliance with the Castellammarese Clan boss Salvatore Maranzano and close connection to the North Side Gang.[4] The brothers attempted to murder Al Capone and become the most powerful organization in Chicago. Giuseppe Aiello was murdered in 1930 and Capone took over all Italian organized crime.[4]

## Members of Chicago's Sicilian Mafia

[edit]

### Bosses

[edit]

* 1914-1921 — Anthony D'Andrea – led the Unione Siciliana backed by the Gennas. He was murdered on May 11, 1921.[1][5]
* 1921-1925 — Angelo Genna – murdered on May 27, 1925.[1][3]
* 1925 — Samuzzo Amatuna – led the Unione Siciliana. He was murdered on November 13, 1925.
* 1925-1930 — Joseph Aiello – murdered on October 23, 1930.

### Other members

[edit]

* Antonio Genna – murdered on July 8, 1925.[3]
* Mike Genna – murdered on June 13, 1925.[3]
* Vincenzo Genna[3] died November 8, 1931
* Peter Genna[3] died May 13, 1948
* Sam Genna[3] died Dec 20, 1951
* Mariano Zagone – Black Hand; murdered in May 1909.[6]
* Joseph "Diamond Joe" Esposito – murdered on March 21, 1928.[7]
* Samuzzo Amatuna \- Angelo's bodyguard; became boss after Angelo's death; Unione Siciliana president; murdered on November 13, 1925.

### Rival

[edit]

* Rosario Dispenza – Black Hand member and was a Morello crime family Chicago contact.[8] Dispenza was murdered in 1914.[9]
* Salvatore Cardinella gang – also operated in Little Italy and Little Sicily.[10]

## See also

[edit]

* Italians in Chicago

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Capeci, Jerry. The complete idiot's guide to the Mafia pg.82-84
2. ^ a b Binder, John J. (2017). Al Capone's Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago during Prohibition. Prometheus. ISBN 978-1633882850.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "La Cosa Nostra database: Genna Brothers" Brothers
4. ^ a b c The true and complete story of 'machine gun' Jack McGurn by Amanda Jayne Parr pg.244
5. ^ Reppetto, Thomas A. American Mafia: a history of its rise to power pg.69
6. ^ Lombardo, Robert M. The Black Hand: Terror by Letter in Chicago pg.86
7. ^ After Capone: the life and world of Chicago mob boss Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti By Mars Eghigian, Jr., Frank Nitti pg.142
8. ^ Critchley, David The origin of organized crime in America: the New York City mafia, 1891-1931 pg.56
9. ^ Lombardo, Robert M. The Black Hand: Terror by Letter in Chicago pg.94
10. ^ Parr, Amanda Jayne The True and complete story of 'machine gun' Jack McGurn pg. 37

* v
* t
* e

Genna crime family

Administration|

| Bosses|

* Anthony D'Andrea
* Angelo Genna
* Samuzzo Amatuna
* Joe Aiello

|

Other members|

| Members|

* Samuzzo Amatuna
* Joe Esposito
* Antonio Genna
* Mike Genna
* Peter Genna
* Sam Genna
* Vincenzo Genna
* John Scalise
* Albert Anselmi
* Mariano Zagone

|

Associate(s)|

* Mike Merlo
* Al Capone
* Johnny Torrio
* Salvatore Maranzano

Relation to other groups|

| Allies|

* South Side Gang
* Black Hand Gang
* Maranzano crime family
* Unione Siciliana

|

Rivals|

* North Side Gang
* Morello crime family
* Rosario Dispenza
* Salvatore Cardinella Gang

* v
* t
* e

Italian-American Mafia

* List of Mafia crime families
* Mafia bibliography

Families|

| Five Families of
New York City|

| Bonanno|

* Calabrian group
* Motion Lounge crew
* New Springville Boys
* Sicilian group

|

Colombo|

Colombo

Gambino|

* Baltimore Crew
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Genovese|

* 116th Street Crew
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* New Jersey faction
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Lucchese|

* Brooklyn faction
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East Coast|

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Midwestern/Western|

* Chicago
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Mostly defunct|

* Bufalino (Northeastern Pennsylvania)
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Structure|

| Chain of command|

* The Commission
* Boss
* Underboss
* Consigliere
* Caporegime
* Soldato
* Associate

|

Members (made men)|

* List of Italian-American mobsters
* List of Italian-American mobsters by organization

Terms|

* Initiation ritual
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* Mustache Pete
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Events|

| Meetings|

* Atlantic City Conference (1929)
* Havana Conference (1946)
* Apalachin meeting (1957)
* Palermo Mafia summit (1957)

|

Hearings|

* Kefauver Committee (1950–1951)
* Valachi hearings (1963)

Wars|

* Mafia–Camorra War (1914–1917)
* Castellammarese War (1929–1931)

Trials|

* Pizza Connection Trial (1985–1987)
* Mafia Commission Trial (1985–1986)

Closely related
and affiliated
organizations|

| Active|

* Luppino crime family
* Musitano crime family
* Papalia crime family
* Jewish Mafia
* Philadelphia Greek Mob
* Rizzuto crime family
* Sicilian Mafia
* Inzerillo Mafia clan
* Stidda
* Velentzas Organization

|

Defunct|

* Broadway Mob
* Bugs and Meyer Mob
* Bumpy Johnson gang
* New York Camorra
* Colacurcio Organization
* The Corporation
* Cotroni crime family
* The Council
* Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan
* Dutch Schultz Mob
* East Harlem Purple Gang
* Five Points Gang
* Forty-Two Gang
* Italian-American National Union
* Maceo Organization
* Marat Balagula gang
* Murder, Inc.
* National Crime Syndicate
* New Springville Boys
* Rudaj Organization
* South Brooklyn Boys
* Tanglewood Boys
* Unione Corse
* Westies
* Winter Hill Gang

Other topics|

| Government
operations|

* Collaborations between the United States government and Italian Mafia
* Operation Family Secrets
* Operation Old Bridge
* Operation Solare
* Operation Underworld
* Operation Wasteland

|

Crimes|

* French Connection
* Hired Truck Program
* Lufthansa heist
* Saint Valentine's Day Massacre
* Rochester bombings

Related articles|

* Barrel murder
* Buster from Chicago
* Cement shoes
* Shotgun Man

Category

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* e

Organized crime groups in the United States

African-American|

* 31 Gang
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* Young Boys Inc.

East and
Southeast Asian|

* Asian Boyz (Southeast Asian)
* Bahala Na Gang (Filipino)
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Chinese and
Chinese-American|

* Bamboo Union
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* 14K
* Sun Yee On
* Wo Hop To
* Wah Ching
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Hispanic and
Latin American|

* 10th Street Gang (primarily Hispanic, also African-Americans)
* 7th Street Gang
* Almighty Saints (primarily Hispanic, also Whites)
* Barrio Azteca (Mexican)
* The Corporation (Cuban)
* Dominicans Don't Play
* Fresno Bulldogs (Mexican)
* Ghetto Brothers
* Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (primarily Mexican)
* Jheri Curls (Dominican)
* La Raza Nation (Mexican)
* Latin Counts (Mexican)
* Latin Eagles
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* 18th Street gang
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* Avenues
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* OVS
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* Vineland Boys
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* Texas Syndicate (primarily Mexican)
* Tren de Aragua (Venezuelan)
* Trinitarios (Dominican)
* Vatos Locos
* Young Lords

White American|

* Chicago Gaylords
* Dead Man Incorporated
* Dixie Mafia
* State Line Mob
* Popes
* Simon City Royals (primarily White, also Hispanics)

European-American|

* Albanian mafia
* Albanian Boys
* Rudaj Organization
* Greek mafia
* Philadelphia Greek Mob
* Velentzas crime family
* Polish Mob
* Russian mafia
* Serbian mafia

Irish-American|

* Irish mob
* Charlestown Gang
* Egan's Rats
* Gustin Gang
* Hogan Gang
* K&A Gang
* Mullen Gang
* North Side Gang
* Westies
* White Hand Gang
* Winter Hill Gang

Italian and
Italian-American|

* American Mafia
* Bufalino crime family
* Buffalo crime family
* Chicago Outfit
* Cleveland crime family
* Colorado crime family
* D'Aquila crime family
* Dallas crime family
* DeCavalcante crime family
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* Genna crime family
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* Pittsburgh crime family
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* 10th & Oregon Crew
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* New York City
* East Harlem Purple Gang
* Jousters
* Murder, Inc.
* 'Ndrangheta
* New Springville Boys
* Sicilian Mafia
* South Brooklyn Boys
* Tanglewood Boys

Jewish-American|

* Jewish Mob
* Bugs and Meyer Mob
* Eastman Gang
* Lenox Avenue Gang
* Murder, Inc.
* Odesa mafia
* The Purple Gang
* Yiddish Black Hand
* Zwi Migdal
* Israeli mafia
* Abergil crime family
* New York divorce coercion gang

Polynesian and
Native American|

* The Company
* Native Mob
* Red Skin Kingz
* Sons of Samoa
* Tongan Crip Gang

West and South Asian|

* Armenian Power
* Chaldean mafia
* Independent Soldiers
* Israeli mafia
* Punjabi mafia
* Turkish mafia
* VVT (Tamil)

West African|

* Cape Verdean organized crime
* Nigerian mafia

Outlaw motorcycle gangs|

* Bandidos
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* Wheels of Soul

White supremacist|

* 211 Crew
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* European Kindred
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* Nazi Lowriders
* The Order
* Public Enemy No. 1
* Soldiers of Aryan Culture
* Spook Hunters
* Universal Aryan Brotherhood
* Volksfront

See also
Gangs in the United States
List of gangs
Organized crime groups in the Americas

* v
* t
* e

Organized crime groups in Chicago

African-American|

| Active|

* Black Disciples
* Black P. Stones
* Four Corner Hustlers
* Gangster Disciples
* OutLaw Gangster Disciples
* Mickey Cobras
* Vice Lords

|

Chinese and Chinese-American|

| Active|

* 14K
* Hip Sing Tong
* On Leong Tong

|

Hispanic and Latin American|

| Active|

* Almighty Saints
* La Raza Nation
* Latin Counts
* Latin Eagles
* Latin Kings
* Maniac Latin Disciples
* Sinaloa Cartel
* Spanish Cobras
* Spanish Gangster Disciples
* Tren de Aragua

|

Inactive|

* Young Lords

Irish-American|

| Inactive|

* North Side Gang
* Ragen's Colts
* Sheldon Gang
* Valley Gang

|

Italian-American|

| Active|

* Chicago Outfit

|

Inactive|

* Forty-Two Gang
* Genna crime family
* Italian-American National Union

Jewish-American|

| Inactive|

* Mike Heitler
* Samuel Morton

|

Middle Eastern|

| Inactive|

* TAP Boyz

|

Outlaw motorcycle gangs|

| Active|

* Hells Angels
* Hell's Lovers
* Outlaws
* Wheels of Soul

|

Polish-American|

| Inactive|

* Hymie Weiss

|

White American|

| Active|

* Gaylords
* Popes
* Simon City Royals

|

Inactive|

* Jousters

Events|

* The Battle of Barrington
* Black Hand
* Chicago circulation wars
* Gangster Disciples–Black Disciples conflict
* Operation Family Secrets
* Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

See also
Chicago Crime Commission
Folk Nation
Gangs in Chicago
History of gangs in Humboldt Park
List of Chicago criminal organizations and crime bosses
Timeline of organized crime in Chicago
People Nation
Organized crime groups in the United States
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