A Sicilian Mafioso witnessed many pivotal moments during the formation of America's Mafia.

View this email in your browser

Nick Gentile Mob Statesman,
Largely Forgotten

Gentile wrote of his experiences in the formative years of America's Cosa Nostra -- and was sentenced to death for breaking the Mafia's code of silence.

Nick Gentile consorted with the likes of Lucky Luciano, Al Capone and many midwestern mob bosses; he wrote a credible record of the times.

Gentile's memoir is used by Mafia historians as an antidote to other self-serving memoirs.

NOTE: See Michael Franzese announcement at the end.

Nicola "Nick" Gentile was a Sicilian Mafioso who traveled around the United States to witness many pivotal moments in the formation of America's Mafia. He also knew firsthand many of the participants who played a role in establishing the foundation of Sicilian-based organized crime here.

Born in the southern Sicilian community of Siculiana in 1884, he arrived in the U.S. at age 19. Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Missouri were his chief home bases here.

As the website The American Mafia noted: He was a trusted confidant of New York Mafiosi from the early 1900s through the Castellammarese War, and was also called upon to mediate a dispute between the Morello-Lupo clan and boss of bosses Salvatore D'Aquila in the 1920s. He also mediated disputes in Chicago and Los Angeles and underworld rivals in New York City.

Gentile briefly served in leadership roles the Kansas City, Cleveland and Pittsburgh Mafia families. Pittsburgh bosses Gregorio Conti and John Bazzano, and Cleveland bosses Joe Lonardo and Frank "Ciccio" Milano were trusted associates.

Hit attempts were made against him several times. The most dramatic occurred when he was called to the Chicago underworld coronation of Salvatore Maranzano at the conclusion of the Castellammarese War.

Then Pittsburgh boss Giuseppe Siragusa made secret accusations against Gentile, and Gentile was summoned for a sort of trial that easily could have ended with his execution. In a meeting with host Al Capone, Gentile denied the charges and threatened to behead any person who said otherwise. Capone was impressed by Gentile's courage and Nick carried the day.

In 1937, facing narcotics charges, he fled to Sicily.

After World War II, when Luciano was deported to Italy, the U.S. narcotics enforcement agents believed Gentile joined him to arrange a drug smuggling operation that extended from Sicily to the U.S.

Gentile eventually decided to write about his Mafia experiences. American agents in Italy read a draft, which was translated into English and later turned over to the FBI.

In 1963 Vita di Capomafia hit store shelves in Italy (the same year Joe Valachi appeared before the American public to expose the Cosa Nostra after his boss, Vito Genovese, unjustly deemed him a rat and ordered his murder.)

Co-wrote with a journalist,material in the earlier manuscript was included and expanded upon.

Italian newspapers ran articles about the book.

Gentile's early manuscript, the published book and articles were used by U.S. law enforcement officials as corroboration for Mafia informant Joe Valachi's testimony, it is alleged. Most likely, bits of Gentile's work were provided to Valachi to fill gaps in his knowledge of the Mafia or to help jog his memory.

Gentile was given a death sentence for violating Omerta. However, his assigned killers, for whatever reason, allowed him to die of old age.

Gentile's death went unnoticed by the American press but he lives on as a reference for such mob scholars as John Dickie and, most recently, Alex Hortis.

An English-language version of the book is unavailable, though I am working with a small publisher to acquire the rights and redress that obvious slight of history.

Meet Former Colombo Capo Michael Franzese

Meet Michael Franzese -- for free.
Register now...

Wanna Meet a Gangster?

An official inducted member of Cosa Nostra?

A real, live gangster, in the flesh? I am pretty sure he'll be wearing clothes, but you know what I mean...

I just received an invitation to extend to all my readers, who are free to extend the invitation to anyone they want.

Readers of Cosa Nostra News (and anyone they care to extend this offer to) are personally invited to meet Michael Franzeseand his wife Cammy in New Jersey to discuss the new movie about Michael's life and times in the Mafia, "God the Father," over breakfast.

To register click on this link: Attend Breakfast with Michael Franzese.

Watch the trailer on the continuation; I don't know about you, but it looks pretty cool to me...

Now is your chance to sit down and break bread with a man privy to secrets of Cosa Nostra.

Again: this event is free and will take place on:

Saturday, September 20, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM (EDT)
In Totowa, N.J.
930 Riverview Drive
Totowa, NJ 07512

Everyone and anyone (children 13 and up, only) is invited.

It's FREE, but you still have to register.

To register click on this link: Attend Breakfast with Michael Franzese.

Copyright © 2014 Cosa Nostra News, All rights reserved.

unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences