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Frank Milano
Frank Milano 1954
Born	Ciccio Milano (1891-02-27)February 27, 1891 San Roberto, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Died	September 15, 1970(1970-09-15) (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	Italian
Citizenship	American
Occupation(s)	Real estate owner, developer, crime boss
Predecessor	Joseph Porrello
Successor	Alfred Polizzi
Spouse	Marie Milano
Relatives	Anthony Milano
Allegiance	Cleveland crime family

Frank Milano (born Ciccio Milano; Italian pronunciation: [ˈtʃittʃo miˈlaːno]; February 27, 1891 – September 15, 1970) was a Calabrian emigrant to the United States who was boss of the Cleveland crime family in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1930 to 1935. He fled to Mexico, and in the early 1960s returned to the United States where he took up residence in Los Angeles, California. He became a criminal associate of the Cohen crime family and the Luciano crime family.

Early life

Ciccio Milano was born on February 27, 1891, in the village of San Roberto in the Province of Reggio Calabria in Italy to Pietro and Grazia (née Mazza) Milano. He had an older brother, Antonio. He emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1907, and was arrested on counterfeiting charges in 1912. He was not convicted.

Cleveland crime family

Mayfield Road Mob and rise to power

Milano moved to Cleveland in 1913. He became involved in criminal activities immediately after arriving in the city, joining the newly formed Mayfield Road Mob. He and his brother Anthony quickly rose to positions of importance in the gang, and Frank became involved in counterfeiting, murder, and various liquor law violations.

By the early 1920s, the Cleveland mafia had taken over the Mayfield Road Mob and become the dominant criminal organization in Cleveland. It was led by boss Joseph "Big Joe" Lonardo. While visiting family in Italy, Lonardo lost control of the Cleveland mafia to Salvatore "Black Sam" Todaro and Joseph "Big Joe" Porrello. Lonardo demanded his business back when he returned to the United States, but was murdered by the Porrellos on June 23, 1927. Todaro was killed by the Lonardos on June 11, 1929. Joseph Porello took over the crime family, but he began to be pushed aside by Frank Milano, who was by now head of a resurgent Mayfield Road Mob.

Porrello began reasserting his power, and demanded that Milano turn over cash owed to him as well as make a large monetary payment as a sign of his loyalty. Milano agreed to do so. On July 5, 1930, Porello and his bodyguard, Sam Tilocco, went to Milano's restaurant, the Venetian, at 12601 Mayfield Road in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood. The two sat at a table with Milano and Milano associates John Angersola, Charles Colletti, and Chuck Polizzi. Within minutes, Porrello was dead. Tilocco crawled outside, and died on the sidewalk.

A series of revenge killings left Milano's Mayfield Road Mob in control of the Cleveland crime family.

Activities as head of the Cleveland crime family

He was a close associate of Cleveland crime family members George Angersola, John Angersola, Alfred Polizzi, and John Scalish, and co-owned Tornello Importing Co., an olive oil importation business, with Alfred Polizzi. Milano was also allegedly close to Mayfield Road Mob member N. Louis "Babe" Triscaro, who later became president of Local 436 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

With the start of Prohibition in 1920, Milano got involved in the distribution and sale of illegal alcoholic beverages. He and fellow mobster Louis Cohen ran a speakeasy at 7310 Lexington Avenue in Cleveland. After police closed it down in 1926, Milano and Cohen opened a restaurant on Hough Avenue.

In 1929, Milano met Moe Dalitz, who ran bootlegging, illegal gambling, and rackets in Detroit, Michigan. The two became close friends.

In April 1931, Salvatore Maranzano, head of the Castellammarese clan in New York City, declared himself capo di tutti capo (boss of all bosses). Lucky Luciano, who opposed Maranzano's claim to control the Luciano crime family, decided to have Maranzano murdered. On April 21, 1931, he met in Cleveland with Frank Milano, Moe Dalitz, Meyer Lansky, Santo Trafficante Sr., and an emissary sent by Al Capone. The five agreed with Luciano's plan to kill Maranzano and establish a new federation of crime families to handle disputes. After the September 10, 1931, assassination of Maranzano, the title of capo di tutti capo was retired and "The Commission" established by the American Mafia. Milano was named a member of The Commission, alongside Joseph Bonanno, Al Capone, Tommy Gagliano, Lucky Luciano, Vincent Mangano, and Joe Profaci.

Frank Milano and Moe Dalitz became partners in the Molaska Corporation, which manufactured dehydrated molasses for use in alcohol distillation. Other criminal investors in the Molaska Corporation included Lansky, Luciano, and Frank Costello (Luciano's lieutenant). Dehydrated molasses was sold to alcohol manufacturers nationwide, allowing Milano to accumulate a large fortune during Prohibition. As Prohibition came to a close, Dalitz advised Milano to expand into new criminal activities. Beginning in 1930, Dalitz and Milano joined with Cleveland mobster Thomas J. McGinty to open casinos (of which the Thomas Club and Harvard Club were two) and lease illegal slot machines to local businesses.

According to Angelo Lonardo, he sought permission from Milano to kill Giuseppe "Dr. Joe" Romano whom Lonardo believed to be involved in the murder of his father, Joseph "Big Joe" Lonardo. Milano approved the assassination, which occurred on June 10, 1936. Lonardo claims that Milano later denied authorizing the killing.

While a member of the Cleveland crime family, he lived in Akron, Ohio, and made extensive real estate purchases there.

Flight to Mexico

On January 30, 1935, Milano fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution for income tax evasion. He took up residence in Vera Cruz. As he could not run the Cleveland crime family from across the border, he stepped down as boss and was succeeded by Alfred Polizzi. The Mexican government granted Milano a permanent visa on April 13, 1942.

While living in Mexico, Milano engaged in a wide range of criminal activities. According to Alvin G. Sutton, Cleveland's top law enforcement officer, Milano smuggled individuals who had been deported from the U.S. back over the American border.

When Wilbur Clark built the Desert Inn casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1947, he sought and received capital from a group of gamblers and mobsters that included Moe Dalitz, Maurice Kleinmann, Thomas J. McGinty, Louis Rothkopf, and Sammy Tucker. A few years later, this group sold a piece of their investment to John Angersola, Frank Milano, and Alfred Polizzi. In return, the Cleveland crime family agreed to prevent other organized crime figures from interfering with the casino. According to the Chicago Sun-Times in 1966, cash skimmed from the casino (representing Milano's percentage interest in the operation) was delivered to him in Mexico City without going through others (such as Meyer Lansky).

Milano also purchased a good deal of real estate in Mexico. He owned a coffee plantation and extensive timberlands.

Los Angeles criminal activities

Milano relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he associated with Mickey Cohen and Lucky Luciano. According to nightclub owner and former police officer Barney Ruditsky, Milano helped protect Cohen from being murdered by other crime families. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, he owned a wire service that reported the results of horse racing. Using his wealth, Milano financed a wide range of illegal activities, although poor health kept him from any active participation in organized crime. He continued to purchase real estate in and around Los Angeles, as well as in Miami, Florida (where Alfred Polizzi had retired in 1948). He was considered one of the "top echelon" figures in organized crime nationwide.

Death

Milano died in Los Angeles on September 15, 1970, of natural causes. He was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Relatives

Frank Milano's wife, Marie, was at one time a close friend of Mickey Cohen's.

Frank Milano's brother, Antonio (also known as Anthony Milano, Anthony Milana, and Tony Milano), was born in 1888. From 1930 to 1976, he was underboss of the Cleveland crime family. Anthony Milano's sons, Frank Angelo Milano (also known as John J. Gallo), John J. Milano, and Peter John Milano, were also suspected members of organized crime families in Los Angeles.

References

Notes

1. Angelo Lonardo refers to him as "John King" in his testimony before a United States Senate subcommittee in 1987. "John King" was an alias of John Angersola.
2. Milano was only a "silent partner" in the casino, and had no hand in overseeing it.

Citations

1. Cockayne 2016, p. 123.
2. Messick 1972, p. 76.
3. ^ Bureau of Narcotics 2007, p. 48.
4. Bureau of Narcotics 2007, pp. 47, 48.
5. ^ Newton 2007, p. 38.
6. Capeci 2004, p. 100.
7. ^ Griffin & DeNevi 2002, p. 166.
8. ^ Roth 2017, p. 134.
9. "Grill Widow in Rum Killing". The Plain Dealer. June 12, 1929. pp. 1, 4.
10. ^ Schwarz 2010, p. 16.
11. ^ Schwarz 2010, p. 17.
12. Newton 2007, p. 52.
13. Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce 1951a, p. 749.
14. Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce 1950, pp. 294, 307.
15. Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field 1959, p. 25.
16. Messick 1967, p. 86.
17. ^ Burbank 2006, p. 70.
18. Newton 2007, pp. 11–20, 38.
19. Newton 2007, pp. 52–53.
20. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1988, p. 300.
21. Burbank 2006, p. 24.
22. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1988, pp. 87, 98.
23. "Probe Mystery in Doctor's Murder". The Plain Dealer. June 11, 1936. p. 19.
24. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1988, pp. 98–99.
25. ^ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1988, p. 302.
26. ^ Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce 1950, p. 41.
27. ^ Messick 1967, p. 158.
28. "Jail 10 in Drive on Racketeers". The Plain Dealer. August 23, 1930. p. 5.
29. Newton 2007, pp. 135.
30. ^ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1988, p. 87.
31. Committee on the Judiciary 1967, pp. 993, 996.
32. ^ Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce 1951b, p. 193.
33. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1961, p. 588.
34. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1988, p. 324.
35. Bureau of Narcotics 2007, pp. 49–51.

Bibliography

• Burbank, Jeff (2006). Las Vegas Babylon: True Tales of Glitter, Glamour, and Greed. London: Robson Books. ISBN 9781861059666.
• Bureau of Narcotics (2007). Mafia: The Government's Secret File on Organized Crime. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061363856.
• Capeci, Jerry (2004). The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books. ISBN 9781592573059.
• Cockayne, James (2016). Hidden Power: The Strategic Logic of Organized Crime. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190627331.
• Committee on the Judiciary (1967). Controlling Crime Through More Effective Law Enforcement. United States Senate. 90th Cong., 1st sess. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/mdp.35112104261161.
• Griffin, Joe; DeNevi, Don (2002). Mob Nemesis: How the FBI Crippled Organized Crime. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. ISBN 9781573929196.
• Messick, Hank (1967). The Silent Syndicate. New York: Macmillan.
• Messick, Hank (1972). John Edgar Hoover: An Inquiry Into the Life and Times of John Edgar Hoover, and His Relationship to the Continuing Partnership of Crime, Business, and Politics. New York: McKay.
• Newton, Michael (2007). Mr. Mob: The Life and Crimes of Moe Dalitz. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. ISBN 9780786435166.
• Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (1961). Gambling and Organized Crime. Part 1. Committee on Government Operations. United States Senate. 87th Cong., 1st sess. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/uc1.b5138122.
• Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (1988). Organized Crime 25 Years After Valachi: Hearings Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate. S. Hrg. 100-906. 100th Cong., 2d sess. S. HRG. ;100-906. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/mdp.39015028778994.
• Roth, Mitchel P. (2017). Global Organized Crime: A 21st Century Approach. New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781138639478.
• Schwarz, Ted (2010). Shocking Stories of the Cleveland Mob. Charleston, S.C.: History Press. ISBN 9781596299184.
• Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field (1959). Second Interim Report of the Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. Sen. Rept. No. 621. United States Senate. 86th Cong., 1st sess. United States. 86th Cong., 1st sess. Senate. Reportno. 621, pt. 1-2. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/coo.31924002355729.
• Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce (1950). Investigation of Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce. Part 6. United States Senate. 81st Cong., 1st sess. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/uc1.$b643196.
• Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce (1951). Investigation of Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce. Part 7. United States Senate. 81st Cong., 1st sess. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/uiug.30112004468697.
• Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce (1951). Investigation of Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce. Part 10. United States Senate. 81st Cong., 1st sess. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/uiug.30112004468705.

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Families	Five Families of New York City Bonanno Calabrian group Motion Lounge crew New Springville Boys Sicilian group Colombo Colombo Gambino Baltimore Crew Ozone Park Boys Genovese 116th Street Crew Broadway Mob Greenwich Village Crew New Jersey faction Springfield faction Lucchese Brooklyn faction New Jersey faction Tanglewood Boys East Coast Buffalo DeCavalcante (Northern New Jersey) Patriarca (New England) (Angiulo's Boston crew) Philadelphia (10th & Oregon Crew) Midwestern/Western Chicago Detroit Kansas City Los Angeles Mostly defunct Bufalino (Northeastern Pennsylvania) Cleveland Colorado Dallas Genna (Chicago) Lanzetta (Philadelphia) Morello (Italian Harlem) D'Aquila (Little Italy, Manhattan) New Orleans Milwaukee Pittsburgh Rochester Rockford San Francisco San Jose St. Louis Trafficante (Tampa)
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 Made man Bagman Black Hand Black Hand in Chicago Vendetta Capo dei capi (boss of bosses) Mustache Pete Omertà One-way ride Sixth Family Zips
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 Camorra Colacurcio Organization Commisso 'ndrina Cotroni crime family Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan Inzerillo Mafia clan Jewish Mafia Luppino crime family Musitano crime family 'Ndrangheta Papalia crime family Philadelphia Greek Mob Rizzuto crime family Sacra Corona Unita Sicilian Mafia Siderno Group Stidda Velentzas Organization Defunct Broadway Mob Bugs and Meyer Mob Bumpy Johnson gang New York Camorra The Corporation The Council 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

• 1891 births
• 1970 deaths
• People from the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria
• American gangsters of Italian descent
• People of Calabrian descent
• Cleveland crime family
• American gangsters of the interwar period
• People from Akron, Ohio
• Gangsters from Cleveland
• Gangsters from Los Angeles
• Italian emigrants to the United States