colorado crime family

Hed really be kind of in and out from this point without really doing too much major time during the 60s and the 70s. Colletti was born in Lucca Sicula, Sicily, Italy in 1897. The trio were sent to prison in the mid-1930's. #13: Ballplayer to Mafia Hitman, The True Story of Maurice Pro Lerner, How Prohibition contributed to the rise of the mobs, The story of the Carlino Brothers, Pete, Sam and Charlie Carlino, The Bootleggers Convention in Denver in 1931, Anthony Tony Smaldone: Brother and family leader. Michael Roxie Villano: Smaldone Family member. Informant described Falbo as a tough Denver hoodlum and gambler who on frequent occasions became drunk and publicly boasted that he was going out and clean out the Smaldones place. On the night of the murder, January 6, 1948, Falbo was at the Priola farm and lost $1,800 in the barbuit game in session there, whereupon he picked an argument with Eugene Smaldone who was participating in this game and berated Smaldone as a chiseler; and at the height of the argument reached out and jerked Smaldones hat brim down over his face. He didnt have as much control anymore.. The Possible Penalties for a Conviction of the Colorado Crime of Stalking 18-3-602 are Serious. 3 Others Get Shorter Terms So in Colorado, they were target #1 to take down. The government would attempt to seek conviction on charges of being habitual criminals. Ralph Carr. The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradans. The bullet traveled in an upward direction from its entrance in the deceaseds hand to its final resting place in his brain.. A young Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone, who was first arrested at the tender age of 15. Crime Insight It was no different in Colorado, and in fact Colorado even got a head start. Spinuzzi was considered a handsome man, approximately five-foot-eight-inches tall with dark, curly hair, dark brown eyes. Denver organized crime ring "The Family" stole vehicles and The arresting officer related the following about the murder: It had been widely rumored in gambling circles that the Smaldones believed that Robbins had furnished information to police authorities concerning the bookmaking activities of Eugene Lois Smaldone which had ultimately led to his conviction on Federal Gambling Charges, and that Checkers Smaldone was reported to have been furious at Robbins because of this., On August 13, 1963, Captain Hindes reported that Sam Shanks had been charged with the murder of Robert Robbins and was being held without bail in the Jefferson County Jail pending trial in District Court, Golden, Colorado. He stated that Robert Shanks had established an alibi placing him in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, at the time the murder was committed, but that he had been charged as an accessory after the fact., On August 16, 1963, Eugene Checkers Smaldone, Clyde George Smaldone, Michael Anthony Tomeo and Joseph Salardino were picked up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for questioning in the Robbins murder case., Captain John Hindes of the Denver Police Department stated that all of these suspects refused to answer any questions concerning the murder.. Clyde would be quoted as saying the following: Anybody that we heard that needed something, they could come and theyd get money, wed get em food. A month later, on November 23, 1953, Judge Willis W. Ritter, who was known for making some pretty eccentric and bizarre rulings over the years, went with the hammer! Clyde Smaldone hides his face from a photographer in 1952. Ralph Pizzalato. In 1956, at age 32, Chauncey would be arrested for the first time on a gambling charge when he and seven others were busted at a house on 3357 Navajo Street for running an illegal barbooth game. Sam Shanks, an associate of both the Smaldone family as well as the St. Louis Cosa Nostra family, and suspect in the murder of Robin "Walkie Talkie" Roberts. When Coletti retired, the title of Boss went to Spinuzzi. WebGaetanos was the crime familys headquarters, and the people hanging around the wood-paneled restaurant were a whos who of the Colorado underworld. His hands and feet were secured with wire and a rope holding sixty pounds of railroad iron to his body and a large rock lashed to his midsection. This was of course was not good at all. My hope is to cover most of the history behind this family which ran most of the rackets in and around Denver, Colorado throughout the 1930s through the 1980s. As a result, he made friends in high places, which would allow him to have significant influence with important businessmen, law enforcement, local civic leaders, and many high-end politicians (up to and including meeting and famously providing booze for none other than President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his 1931 whistle stop tour and meeting Harry Truman before he became President when he was just getting started in Kansas City). Everybody we had to know, we knew.. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Retired Denver police captain Jerry Kennedy would later recall running into Roberts, who knew he had a major problem, just days after the devastating revelation: I ran into Walkie a day or two later in that Theater Bar on Sixteenth and Glenarm, doing a routine check, and I said, How you doing, Walkie?, He says, Hey, Kennedy, theyre going to kill me., I said, Walkie, theyre not going to kill you., He says, Hey, Im telling you, Borden named me on the stand. Checkers was clearly the most pugnacious and probably the biggest gangster of the three brothers, but by this time he was no longer the dominating figure hed once been before going away to prison. Over the years, hed work with the Smaldones and members of his family to maintain a tight grip over underworld rackets including gambling, narcotics distribution, illegal alcohol sales, as well as rackets related to juke-box and coin-machines. Like most other mobsters of their era, they did what they had to do early on to survive and prosper, and grew their empire in the American way, just not on the right side of the law. And on October 16, 2006, the final member of the Smaldone organization passed away when Clarence Chauncey Smaldone died in hospice at the age of 82. Second, and this would serve him well during his time in organized crime, he was very adept at building relationships with important people due to his gentlemanly, affable, and outgoing personality. Photo taken at Gaetanos restaurant sometime in the 1950s. Despite their denials, Smiling Charlie Stephens, Clyde and Checkers Smaldone as well as another man, would be arrested and charged with conspiracy. So ultimately, Eugenes simple issue with back-taxes of $5,000, would turn itself into first the ridiculous sentence of 60 years, but finally the 12 years and a $10,000 sentence. The family of a Colorado man who was seen on security video being struck by a squad car before he was fatally shot by police is demanding answers about the The other book Id recommend (which I cited several times this episode) would be Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family by Dick Kreck with foreward from Chuck and Gene Smaldone. Love Colorado? An 81-year-old man in Colorado was arrested over the weekend for allegedly killing and dismembering his wife and daughter with an ax, telling police he did not regret the gruesome slaying because he knew his family was in a better place. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone (left) poses with Clyde Smaldone (center). According to reports, he pulled into his driveway, exited his vehicle, and began walking up the driveway to his house. His brother lighted a cigar as officers led him handcuffed from the court room and sent up clouds of smoke. A mafia history podcast that digs deep into the true-crime biographies of real-life mobsters with focus on the plots, sub-plots, and real facts behind Cosa Nostra, as well as movies and televison. JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Stuff A man connected with Mama Hooch bar in Christchurch is on trial this week. Spinuzzi was on top of him as he was falling. John "Porky" Routta (left): Smaldone family member and enforcer. The family lived in a small house at 3427 Osage Street in Denver, Colorado. John "Porky" Routta: Smaldone family member and enforcer. Five victims Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25,her eight-year-old son Daniel Enrique Laso, Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, and Josu The explosion was so violent it drove a large piece of the windshield fifteen feet up the trunk of a nearby tree and scattered car parts in a hundred foot radius. The date was February 18, 1933 and the preeminent gang boss in the entire state of Colorado, Giuseppe Joe Roma, had just been assassinated. All three would be sentenced to 10 year prison terms which at their advancing age was akin to a life sentence. If this kind of information came out in the past, writers would be getting Pulitzer prizes when Pulitzer prizes meant something. I spent my money and I asked him to pay me the money I spent. Its at this point that Clarence Chauncey Smaldone takes over leadership of what was left of the Smaldone family, but by that point it was a shell of its former power. Clyde and Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone in court in 1953. Alferd Packer: Murderer and Cannibal. He sentenced both Clyde and Checkers Smaldone to an astonishing 60 years in prison, which at their age at the time was essentially a life sentence! According to Clyde, and despite his fathers involvement in a barroom business, his parents were ignorant of Prohibition laws, and the feds true targets were himself, his brothers, and their associates. On July 17, 1995, then 19-year old Salazar was drinking at his mother's house with some of his partners or fellow gang members. The partnership between Stephens and Barnes was extremely volatile, and in the end theyd have a falling out and dissolve the partnership shortly after Barnes tried to take more control over the Blakelands operations. But then came the legal blow that would stop the brothers in their tracks, and would lay the foundation for the long-term decline of the familys power. Carlino, Sam. Judge Willis W. Ritter, who was known for making some pretty eccentric and bizarre rulings over the years, went with the hammer! None of his friends dared call him that. In pronouncing sentences Judge Ritter charged that the U.S. attorney general and Federal Bureau of Investigation had refused to assist in the jury tampering investigation which smashed the Smaldone gang. Most of them couldnt hardly talk English.. Clyde, by this time nearing 60 years of age, quickly recognized the fact that the law enforcement landscape had changed, and the FBI in cooperation with local police were cracking down on interstate gambling and devoting more resources to fighting organized crime. They ventured to the secluded estate on the day an Arkansas judge ordered Hunter appear in court in person to participate in a bitter paternity case filed by a former stripper, with whom he had a brief affair four years ago, resulting in a daughter. As a result, the Smaldones would eventually pull their operations out of Central City. He was rumored to be a confidential informant. It was just a fact of life at the time. So by the time the brothers are released from prison, Prohibition is over, and like many bootleggers across the country theyd be forced to look for a new way to make money. Besides his intellect, Clyde was known for his talent for making friends, whether it was with his neighbors, Mafia kings like Al Capone and Carlos Marcello, or Colorado Gov. Clyde and his younger brother Eugene, who went by Checkers, often would visit with the patrons at Gaetanos, inquiring about the food that was in the early days prepared by their mother in the restaurants kitchen. Spinuzzi was very close with Eugine Checkers Smaldone, and the two would reportedly attend various gambling events together (along with Charley Blanda) to make shylock loans to participants whod been on the losing end. Thirteen months after they went away, Judge Ritters decision would be thrown out after the sentences would be ruled as excessive by the US Supreme Court. An elderly Clyde and Mildred Smaldone pose with their sons Gene (bottom left) and Chuck (bottom right). But I wanted every one of my listeners to see that with many in the life, everything isnt black and white, good guys and bad guys, cowboys and indians. He wanted to take on a higher degree of control and kind of muscle in on the operations. Vincenzo "Black Jim" or "James" Coletti, Boss of the Pueblo LCN family from around 1953 until around 1972. As of 2008, adjusted gross proceeds (total bets minus payouts) from gambling in Central City, and two other approved cities topped $715 million annually. In reality, they were neither. A bondsman signs bail bond for Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone in 1960. A By this point in time, the brothers had their falling out, and the 40 year partnership was more or less over. So lets talk about some of the key players. An 2021 article by author Matt Masich in Colorado Life Magazine provided an nice, authentic summation of the brothers and the famous eatery and command post: THE LITTLE ITALIAN RESTAURANT on northwest Denvers Tejon Street has a big reputation, and not just for authentic food. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by email. Now, I wont get too far into it, but the younger Eugene was in severe disfavor with the entire rest of the family for his drug use, and also for tossing around the family name to get his way so to speak in underworld dealings. Whether thats the case or not, Pizzalatas time was numbered as well. This is the point where the cash really begins to accumulate for the Smaldone brothers and theyd become rich. Reddit places it high on their list of the worst cities in the state of Colorado because of this startling statistic that was reported by local authorities. Chaunceys ex-wife Pauline, in an almost hard to fathom event, was shot twice in her driveway by an unknown assailant who escaped with a getaway driver. In addition to my other sources, I leveraged these books heavily and they are both pretty good reads about a family that is largely unknown to many around the country. He had the closest ties to the feared Mafia bosses to the south in Pueblo. Retired Police Capt. Theres almost no way to have existed in this organization without getting your hands dirty, and as we stated in Part One, its pretty clear that Roma engineered the assassination of the Carlinos before he himself was killed. An email obtained by DailyMail.com from Hunter Biden's laptop shows a Masimo staffer offering her the role of 'Marketing Specialist' with an $85,000 salary plus 10% bonus and 450 stock options for the NASDAQ-listed company on July 24, 2018. Heres what Clydes son Check was able to recalled years later as told in the book Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family: He had different pockets, different accounts. As mentioned, the Smaldones would be in and out of court, cited for contempt, but would skate free of any charges related to the Walkie Talkie homicide. Thats not the attention that you want. And that brings us back to where we began this story, in 1933, just after the assassination of Denver gang lord, Joe Roma. Canadian bonded whiskey would end up being such a success that the brothers would find themselves on the road for weeks at a time. Andrea Blanco and Rachel Sharp report So anyone who controlled Denverwhich was the Smaldoneswas in the drivers seat in the Colorado underworld. As a result, and to keep their parents out of jail, Clyde and Checkers struck a deal with the authorities, pleading guilty to violation of federal liquor laws in exchange for their parents release from further prosecution. By the time it was all said and done, his criminal record would stretch over seven decades, and though hed be a suspect in several murders, he was never actually convicted of killing anyone. You see, as the trial was going on, there were also rumors based on testimony coming out of a federal grand jury that members of the organization had attempted to bribe jurors in Checkers first tax-evasion trial to which the accused would plead innocent. Just as Clyde had predicted, when the state of Colorado approved state-supervised gambling, the revenue poured in. Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone is frisked by a deputy sheriff during a raid on a Smaldone-operated pool hall in 1953. Informant related that undoubtedly these men intended to kill West but the latter jumped out of the automobile as it was proceeding through downtown Denver streets, started screaming, and raised such a commotion that his assailants fled the scene. In July of 1965, Clarence Smaldone and several associates would be handed 4-month sentences for contempt for refusing to answer the questions of a Jefferson County grand jury. Some of the highlights from this years Colorado Crime Stats report include: Colorado reported 30,942 incidents of Motor Vehicle Theft in 2020, reflecting a 38.6% increase compared to 2019 numbers. And a lot of the description I just provided makes Checkers seem like kind of a bad dude, but dont forget that he also had a big part in taking care of the local community, and there was even an infamous story of him saving a little girl (the wardens niece from when he did time in prison) and another child from being kidnapped as part of a planned a prison break by other inmates. Talk about being about as harsh as you could be in sentencing them well above or right at the top of the maximum guidelines. The operation included the Smaldones, their enforcer Paul Enrici, and also included members of the Pueblo LCN including Blackie Mazza. Hed share the following about how that relationship got off the ground in an interview that was later recorded in the book that Ill be citing many times in this episode, Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family: I went up to Chicago and got talking about getting the stuff up in Canada. It was nepotism at its finest. Okay, were not going to spend a significant amount of time on the Pueblo faction of the Colorado mob, but what I will say is that according to my research the true Mafia in Colorado was the group in Pueblomeaning that this family was recognized as LCN by the Commission in New York and as such used the same rules, structures, etc. WebUnder Colorado CRS 18-4-202, a person commits first-degree burglary by knowingly entering someone elses property with the intent to commit a crime, and committing an assault on someone or having explosives or a deadly weapon. We covered several major events including: Today were going to dig into the era of the Smaldone brothers. Mom Accused of Hosting Alcohol-Fueled Sex Parties for Teens 'Tore My Life Apart,' Alleged Victim Says. As CrimeOnline reported, prosecutors say Stauch stabbed, shot, and beat Gannon inside the familys El Paso County home in Colorado, on January 27, 2020. A witness in the case testified he was told the Smaldones would literally blow up the pool hall if he snitched about the fixed games. The dominant players were the Carlino brothers, but they had many rivals and went to war with their own kin in the Danna family for almost the entire decade. Glendale Glendale held onto its title of most dangerous place in Colorado for another year. Upon leaving prison, Clyde, ever the shrewdest brother of the bunch, saw which way the wind was blowing and made his move to retire from active family participation. Kreck, Dick. As a young child Chaucey roamed the neighborhoods in North Denver with another young Italian youth named Paulie Villano, who was in fact his cousin despite only a four year age difference. Most predicted that the men, especially Checkers, would likely die behind bars. People tell him that no one in the neighborhood ever went hungry, no matter how bad the times were the Smaldones would always help out. No matter how you spin it, they made their money by breaking the law first bootlegging, then running gambling rackets and loansharking. And you will see if you look up for example Colorado mob and you get to Wikipedia, youre going to see lists of Boss, Underboss in certain years, and youre going to see the Smaldones and the Pueblo organization merged together when in fact they werent one organization. Of course that made it pretty easy for customers to trust him. With Clyde and Checkers away, the family needed someone to step up in order for them to maintain their grip over Denvers underworld. Remember, I mentioned that there was certainly a rift, and that rift proved to be the lucky thing that helped the brothers get a second trial. He was riddled with seven bullets total, with six shots to the head. As a result of this information making its way out, the authorities were able to conduct successful raids on the club leading the the arrest of Clarence Smaldone, Villano, and Salardino. On January 14, 1953, Clyde and Checkers Smaldone along with Blackie Mazza and Paul Enrichi would be indicted on charges of selling gambling apparatus without notifying the government, a charge which carries a two-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine. Though seventeen suspects were arrested including Smaldone organization members John Porky Routta and Frank Blackie Mazza, nobody was ever convicted of the slaying. In both cases, the Smaldones (as they would throughout their lives) would deny any involvement, and as youll see during the rest of this video, I think there is a fine line between things that they actually did versus overzealous prosecution and sentences handed out by a government that had it in for them. In October of 1967, Clyde and several of his associates, including Eugenes son, were arrested on gambling charges for running a $100,000-a-week bookmaking operation (that is a whopping $1.1MM in todays which means the operation was taking $52-53MM in revenue annually). Pauline Smaldone, wife of Chauncey Smaldone in 1948. Please see a document housing a number of the charts referenced above. Photo Credit: Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family. They took an office in Denver at 34th and Pecos and began selling whiskey, both making their own as well as importing and selling other brands. #14: Did Joey Gallo Really Punch Neil Dellacroce (During the Gallo Wars)? Then in 1951, the Smaldones would draw the attention of two crusading law-and-order attorneys whod just been elevated to key positions in the Colorado law enforcement space. First, a woman who knew Checkers told police she saw men tampering with the car just before the explosion, and then there was a patrolman whod told investigators that hed observed Clyde making a call from a neighborhood phone booth just minutes before the bomb went off. On direction from Governor Polis, the Department of Public Safety will soon announce a Statewide Task Force to work with the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority to better understand the underlying causes of increases in Motor Vehicle Theft and to develop a statewide strategy to reduce motor vehicle thefts. According to an interview Clyde would give in later years, he and his friends would undercut other bootleggers by finding out where they hid their booze, stealing it, and selling it for a lower price. That statement would prove to be prophetic in later years when most states began to legalize many forms of gambling. Photo Credit: Sam Carlino. Okay, lets quickly touch on the Pueblo LCN before we close the episode. Before you go, please dont forget to Subscribe so that you can continue to enjoy my content as its released and if you have any thoughts please leave them in the comments on YouTube or write us a review on Apple. He is buried in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Jefferson County, Colorado. The Smaldones would also begin to run nightly dice games, most specifically a game called Barbooth (or Barbuit) across metro Denver or Pueblo. The restaurant and bar unfortunately was not doing well (they were making only $20 per day), but with Clydes instincts and connections, as well the knowledge that with WWII in full swing by that point there was big money to be made on the black market, the Tejon Bar and Cafe was the perfect place to revitalize his career (and of course make more money just outside the law). A spokesperson for Comer told DailyMail.com that the panel is not yet providing the names of additional family members who may have benefitted from the deals. Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone talks with a group of people in 1953. I am your host Jacob Stoops, and Im a mob enthusiast and historian. If youre familiar with the Sopranos, think of Jackie Aprile Jr. playing the gangster. Eugene Smaldone would plead guilty and would do a year in prison as a result. WebThis article describes crime in the U.S. state of Colorado. It would start off, in my opinion from a legal perspective, pretty innocuously and would go in a direction that they did not expect. How, this to me sounds like a major reach when you have to go that far back. Clyde Smaldone (left) and Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone sitting in courtroom during trial in 1953. Clyde Smaldone and his brothers gave thousands of dollars to the local Catholic churches over the years, and paid a handsome sum for the priviledge of carrying the statue of St. Rocco through the streets of Denver each year. Similar to what youll hear in other mob-run communities during this time, its clear that the Smaldones took care of their neighborhood, and a large part of the local community saw them as Robin Hood type figures, though a large part of law enforcement hated them. They were known to have ransacked many garages around North Denver in search of booze to sell. Though they were questioned and had an alibi, they were ultimately not charged in the assassination of Roma, and Romas murderers were never actually brought to justice. Only through the efforts of the Treasury Department and the use of their agents was the investigation carried on to a successful conclusion. Statistics. Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone (left) poses with an elderly Clyde Smaldone (center). So those things were all connected together, and so was the hit on Pauline for that matter. This underworld murder was just the latest in a series of tit-for-tat slayings that had been plaguing the Colorado area for at least a decade dating back to the days of the Carlino-Danna family wars. Again, not a good look. Limon, Colorado Limon has a crime rate of 53.7 violent crimes per 100,000 persons. On January 29, 1974, just six months after LaGaurdia was hit, Pizzalato was found murdered as well. Though again Id point out that the Smaldones were never convicted of any murders, but this wouldnt be the last time their names would be in the discussion after a gangland murder took place. Photo Credit: Sam Carlino, A young Raffaele "Ralph" Smaldone, father of the Smaldone brothers and patriarch of the Smaldone clan. This happens roughly 10 months after the Roma assassination. Hed Sunday punch you, but he could stand up and fist fight you too. However, the biggest prize was gas stamps, and the Smaldones were able to get and sell plenty of those. This dice game, which was similar to craps except that there was no house and players played against each other, was a staple in the Italian community that was brought over from the old country. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Wiretaps were becoming far more common, and crimes that had previously resulted in 90-day jail sentences and light sentences were more often than not leading to several years in federal prison. This is where things get very bad for the brothers. Still, the place is saturated with their memory. This is a remarkably disturbing number which suggests that its not a safe place to move with your family. Not a good look. And I think its fair to say that their legacy contains with both good as well as bad. He related that during 1947, Denver gamblers Anthony Colosacco and John West opened a big barbuit game in a barn on a farm in Henderson, Colorado, owned by Joe Priola; that this undertaking was operated for only a few days when Colosacco and West received word from Clyde and Eugene Smaldone that they were to appear at a conference at the headquarters of the Smaldones at Gaetanos Restaurant in North Denver; that Colosacco and West declined the invitation and refused to confer with the Smaldones and a few nights later, as West entered his automobile parked in downtown Denver, Smaldone enforcers Frank Mazza, Porky Routta, and Paul Enrichi, who long had been known as bodyguards and strong-arm men for the Smaldones, accosted West, forced him into the automobile and ordered him to drive out onto the Pecos Road outside of Denver. While costs are disproportionately felt by victims, this implies an average cost per Coloradan of $4,762 per year. Taken in 1956. Here Are 7 Mobsters From Colorado That Committed Unspeakable Acts.

Footloose Youth Edition Script, How Many Customers Does Tesco Have Per Week, Medstar Epaystub Login, Leo Marquez Award Requirements, Articles C