Tags: Mafia, Members Only, mob, ohio, ohio mafia, ohio mob, pittsburgh, pittsburgh mafia, Pittsburgh mob, scott burnstein, tiny, youngstown, youngstown mafia, youngstown mob. Featured Watch the Scribbler podcasts about Strollo and the a. This browser does not support getting your location. The banners, full of bold lettering and exclamation points, leave the false sense that community pep can trump economic reality. He went to the meeting and was never seen again. Tags: Members Only . Next Detroit Street . Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. "[Strollo's mob] knew they were being watched," says Wooley, pointing out that, even after the 1995 Super Bowl raid, the mobsters continued their gambling and bribery and went ahead with the shootings of Biondillo and Gains. Unscathed by the Traficant trial, Prato retired from his life of crime and died of a heart attack in 1988 at the age of 81. He was convicted by a Fairfield County jury in 2001 of 32 crimes involving public money misspent on meals, trips and entertainment and then lying about it. Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman (new location). Sitting in the U.S. attorney's law library on the fifteenth floor of the Bank One building, Morford, Wooley, and Kroner note wryly that the mob's arrogance was a factor, too. He panicked, ran out of the house, and hopped in the car where Riddle and Harris waited. Random Prato did the same for the Pittsburgh mob, with help from Joseph "Little Joey" Naples and Strollo. But by the 1990s, those days were gone. Former Youngstown crime boss, Lenny Strollo, dead at age 80 Education. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown. Then I passed out.". Regions He should know. When Gallo was convicted of drug-related racketeering, Judge John Manos required every man in his courtroom to wear a tie. There was a time when the industrial corridor stretching from Cleveland through Youngstown to Pittsburgh produced more steel than most European nations. YOUNGSTOWN - A former mob boss whose criminal enterprise helped earn Youngstown the name "Crimetown U.S.A" before turning federal witness has died at age 90. East Coast But in the mid-1970s, control of crime in Youngstown was still split between the Cleveland and Pittsburgh families. February 24, 2013 at 12:00a.m. Vacant lots are littered with shattered beer bottles and plastic wrappers. He was taken into custody Dec. 11, 1997, and has remained in protective custody since then, with his whereabouts kept secret. Because of limited space, many of the more colorful stories could not be included in this column. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Using the evidence garnered from those conversations, Morford and Kroner were able to get a court order allowing agents to hide microphones and tap the phones at Mr. A's eatery, a reputed mob hangout. But veteran courthouse observers are still scratching their heads over Riddle's and Turnage's decisions to go to trial, even with some demented notion of honor at stake. Strollo also provided information that led to the convictions of former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., ex-Mahoning County Judge Martin W. Emrich, ex-Youngstown Municipal Judge Andrew Polovischak Jr., three men involved in the Biondillo hit, ex-Mahoning County Sheriff Phil Chance, ex-Mahoning County Prosecutor James A. Philomena and others. Biondillo went to back up, but by then another car, driven by Warren Willis, had pulled behind him, boxing him in. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. May 20, 2021 YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) A former mob boss whose criminal enterprise helped earn Youngstown the name "Crimetown U.S.A" before turning federal witness has died at age 90. Another key figure working at the club was Ernie Biondillo, a close friend of Naples. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Riddle ran craps games with Altshuler at Sharkey's, a black nightclub in Campbell. The moment Biondillo was trapped, they pulled down their ski masks, brandished shotguns, and rushed his car. Since he was on parole for six years, he received a prison sentence of 19 to 95 years in the third trial. The One Way Street Crooked City: Youngstown, OH True Crime Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher Lenny Strollo runs the rackets in Youngstown, but not everyone wants to get in line. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. On August 9, 1982, Traficant was indicted for accepting bribes and filing a false income tax return. The murder was an uncharacteristically bold move by Strollo, who had always been a smart, cautious man, advising friends: "Anger is the wind that blows out the flame of the mind." This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. That raid led to Youngstown gambler Michael Sabella, who six months later agreed to wear an FBI wire and record his conversations with bookie Michael Serrecchio. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Agents also heard Strollo discuss bribing county officials with O'Nesti, Traficant's mob connection. 5 Ernest (Big Ernie) Biondillo - A strong-minded and business-savvy "button man" in the Pittsburgh mafia's Youngstown rackets, Biondillo, who came up under Little Joey Naples and Briar Hill Jimmy Prato, feuded with Lenny Strollo, Naples' replacement as the syndicate's Youngstown captain, and was shot to death while driving to work . "Probably three, four months," Strollo said. Gains puts down his cigar and whips out a black and silver handgun he keeps strapped at his side. He fared less well in tax court, though. Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services. Editors Dante Strollo, the brother of Youngstown, Ohio, mob boss Lenny Strollo - photo above, died on Tuesday. Mob Hits Three Cleveland Hotels Receive AAA's 4 Diamond Rating, Bridgeworks Project Will Reach Full Funding With $2 Million Loan From Cuyahoga County, Fox 8 Photojournalists Are Fighting for Better Pay After Years of Stagnant Wages, Hazardous Conditions, A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Ohio Enacted the Most Restrictive Voter Photo ID Law in America, At Householder Trial, Former State Rep. Nino Vitale Cites Hazy Memory, Distances Himself From HB6 Scandal, By Marty Schladen, The Ohio Capital Journal, What Norfolk Southerns History of Accidents Say About the Company and Industry, Study Shows Number of Ohio Uninsured Children Could Increase With Loss of Pandemic-Era Coverage, By Susan Tebben, The Ohio Capital Journal. During that trial, Traficant's friend Charles O'Nesti testified he delivered envelopes of cash to Traficant from Prato. Armstrong went into the governments witness protection program, got a new identity (he took the name Robert Carney), spent years in several cities, and ultimately put down roots in the South. The line was dead. They've basically been running Mahoning County as a criminal enterprise, because it suited a lot of people," says James Callen, president of the Citizens League of Greater Youngstown, which screens political candidates and speaks out about organized crime. Amazingly, Gains was sworn in as Mahoning County prosecutor ten days later, bits of the bullet still lodged near his spine. Video There was an error deleting this problem. put you in charge of the Youngstown rackets for the Pittsburgh family, correct?" If the mob comes back to finish the job Batcho allegedly started, Gains will be ready. In those conversations, the two discussed how Traficant laundered $10,000 of the mob's money through Flask & Policy, the powerful Youngstown law firm run by Ed Flask and Carmen Policy, who is now president of the Cleveland Browns. When he refused, Strollo knew his leadership was being threatened. "It's like riddles and puzzles to put together," Morford says. Sotto voce planning sessions. And, in a surprise twist, Strollo said under oath, Carabbia's killing was done with the blessing of either Licavoli or Lonardo. Lenine Strollo. "That's how confident, how cocky they were [that] they could get away with anything. "Bernie the Jew," as his mob associates called the 68-year-old Altshuler, looked bored as he entered the courtroom, resigned to the fact that his lifetime of crime would end in prison. "I thought, I'm gonna die," Gains recalls. She was born June 4, 1929 in Youngstown, the daughter of Dominic and Mary Antoinette (Cavallo) Strollo and was a lifelong area resident. I didn't know I had done anything that would anger anyone so much." Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. He was arrested at his Canfield home and remained in protective custody until he reached a plea agreement and became a government witness. "The mob thought they had lightning in a bottle with the drug dealers," says Milano. Armstrong, whose father was a Youngstown police officer, was 19 at the time. Lynch said the information provided by the snitch was invaluable. Of the 46 people indicted from a four-year FBI probe of organized crime and corruption in the Mahoning Valley, 42 people took plea bargains, including Lenine "Lenny" Strollo, a made man in the Pittsburgh Mafia who ran the Youngstown rackets. . "Lenny Strollo is the last of the main characters in the long, sordid history of crime in the Valley. Blair and Wilkins sprayed shotgun pellets and slugs through the rolled-up windows, essentially blowing Biondillo's face off in a bloody gangland execution. In lieu of flowers and to honor Dees life, the family requests material donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, Ohio 44512. The only question that remained was why the trio did not take the plea bargains offered by the government, as 42 others did. Altshuler went to Riddle, who recruited drug dealers Mo Man Harris and Mark Batcho. . cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. By the time Strollo took control of Youngstown, those gambling mill workers didn't exist anymore--at least not in the numbers that allowed the All-American Club to make millions. By Prosecutors believe Chance was one of several public officials connected to Lenine "Lenny" Strollo, the area's alleged mob boss who goes on trial Feb. 16 with four co-defendants on a host of. Cleveland's second mob war had begun. "When I think of all the lives these people have affected because of their greed, it disgusts me. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Biography [ edit] Early years [ edit] Anthony Strollo was born in New York City, the son of Calabrian immigrants Leone and Giovannina Nigro. January 28, 2004 at 12:00a.m. Gains, gunned down in his Boardman home Dec. 24, 1996 -- on Strollo's order -- spoke at the Canfield Township man's sentencing Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Failed to delete memorial. The judge said, however, that given the nature of the government's allegations, Rich's father had participated in organized crime activity, too. Words for Strollo Rich said Strollo can still enjoy his family, she can't, and "I used to hate you, now I pity you." Design Awards: 2011 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyle Award - Home Theater Level VII Bronze Technical Design Oops, we were unable to send the email. Some businesses display "Team Lordstown!" He went to the Draught House, a Youngstown bar where he caught up with some lawyer friends, then made his way to the Caffe Capri in Boardman. Gains was a true victim, the judge said. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Strollo ordered Biondillo to remove the machines. WebberSites Website Design and Development That changed in the early 1980s, when a war left the Cleveland mob decimated and Pittsburgh dominant. There was no such window dressing in this case. With Morford just a few feet away, Milano breezily predicted a happy end for the Youngstown don. She was always there to give a helping hand to anyone in need.She was born June 4, 1929, in Youngstown, the daughter of Dominic and Mary Antoinette (Cavallo) Strollo and was a lifelong area resident.Dee was a graduate of East High School and a member of St. Charles Borromeo Church. Why not thumb his nose at the feds one last time? Strollo preferred to exercise his power quietly, as in the virtual lock he held on the county prosecutor's office for at least twelve years. The data offered through Vericora may be managed to assist someone learn about other person currently in their lives or search people from earlier period. One longtime Strollo friend says Danny always cared much more about his winemaking hobby than he did about the mob rackets. Cleveland Taco Week returns on Monday, April 10th. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. On the final count of gambling--guilty. Final Nail In The Coffin: The Mafia In Mahoning Valley Officially Dead With Passing Of Lenny Strollo, Youngstown's Last Don 2 years ago Scott Burnstein . Strollo reached a plea agreement and became a government witness in February 1999. By Gangsters Inc. Weekly payouts! "There was a tremendous amount of hard work that went into this case, but also some luck," says Morford, a forty-year-old who looks younger. Armstrong, who over the years has been in touch with this writer, spent 25 months behind bars; Strollo and Serman got six years apiece, but they stayed out on appeal for a time. "These people would go to work, drink their beer, go gamble, and never be involved with the police.". You know what? With the justice system in his pocket and the drug dealers gambling, Strollo's criminal empire was thriving. Usergen Just before Altshuler, Riddle, and Turnage were marched out in their orange prison jumpsuits for sentencing, Milano sat on a court bench in an expensive gray suit, head cocked and leg resting on his knee, chatting with reporters. Some speculate that Altshuler, at age 68, figured accepting a plea bargain and serving ten to fifteen years was the equivalent of a life sentence anyway. Dogged investigators. Family and friends may pay their respects on Monday, January 30, 2017 from 10:00 am until 10:55 am at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 7345 Westview Dr., Boardman. "It didn't bother me at first, because I thought I had some inroads with him because I had two people talking to him.". Instead, he deferred to the government, represented by Craig S. Morford, an assistant U.S. attorney. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. At least that's how Milano sees it. Waiting in the shadow of a nearby house were Cleveland Blair and George Wilkins. My phone is bad, and I know it." The funeral home handling arrangements on Thursday confirmed Lenine "Lenny" Strollo's death. It was a place of conflict and collaboration as it was considered Pittsburg's turf. "I don't think about it too much," he says, slapping his hand on his desk with a sense of finality. Of course, that kind of cash attracts competition, and it wasn't long before Strollo was being squeezed by competitors. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Strollo became a government snitch in 1999 after being indicted in December 1997 on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations violations of aggravated murder, casino-style gambling and numbers lottery. Many Youngstown residents still note the lack of public outcry over the Gains shooting. GREAT NEWS! Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Although he was facing a prison sentence, he refused to give up Strollo. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. As Strollo prepared to go to prison in 1990, he met regularly with Naples. He pointed out the power of Charles "The Crab" Carabbia, who for 25 years helped run card and dice games for the Cleveland mob in working-class towns like Struthers and Campbell. "Jeff was very realistic from beginning to end.". "To work your way to the top, you have to plea bargain and get cooperation to get to the next level. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking and baking for her family and friends and made the best Biscotti for everyone. Susany took revenge on Batcho, and we hear Lenny Strollo's story - the head of Youngstown's rackets. STATE OF OHIO, MAHONING COUNTY IN THE COURT OF APPEALS SEVENTH DISTRICT STATE OF OHIO, ) ) CASE NO. One of the victims was Charles Carabbia, whose older brother Ronnie palled around with Edward DeBartolo Jr. until Ronnie was convicted in 1979 of flipping the switch that killed Greene. belch. Current address 87 Meadowbrook Ave, Youngstown, OH 44512 $740: B. Paul Gains, a former U.S. Steel mill worker, Youngstown police officer, and criminal defense attorney, won a close Democratic primary. O'Nesti and Rich pleaded guilty to conspiracy in March 1998. Further information withheld at the owner's request. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. ", In the end, the very group that had reenergized the Youngstown gambling rackets brought them down. Arthur Treacher's in Garfield Heights Reopened by New Owner Who Plans More Locations in Ohio, The Absolutely Nutty Cleveland/East Palestine/15-Minute City Conspiracy Theory, Explained. She was always there to give a helping hand to anyone in need. Hit and Miss The indictments included two Clevelanders. Nine days later police found the car, but no Moceri. February 28, 2023, 5:00 AM. 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