Tony Salerno

Tony Salerno
FBI · Public domain · source
Name	Tony Salerno
Birth date	1911
Birth place	Palermo, Sicily
Death date	1992
Death place	Springfield, Missouri
Occupation	Mobster, Genovese crime family member

Tony Salerno was a notorious American mobster and member of the Genovese crime family, one of the Five Families of New York City. He was known for his involvement in various organized crime activities, including racketeering, extortion, and gambling, often in collaboration with other infamous mobsters like Vincent Gigante and Paul Castellano. Salerno's life and career were closely tied to the Italian-American Mafia, with connections to powerful figures like Charles Luciano and Vito Genovese. His rise to prominence was also influenced by events like the Castellammarese War and the Apalachin Meeting.

● Early Life

Tony Salerno was born in 1911 in Palermo, Sicily, to a family of Italian immigrants who later moved to New York City. He grew up in the Little Italy neighborhood of Manhattan, where he was exposed to the Italian-American Mafia and its influence on the local community, with organizations like the Unione Siciliana and the Italian-American Civic Association. Salerno's early life was shaped by the Prohibition era, which saw the rise of bootlegging and smuggling operations, often led by figures like Al Capone and Dutch Schultz. He was also influenced by the National Crime Syndicate, a network of organized crime groups that included the Chicago Outfit and the Detroit Partnership.

● Career

Salerno's career in organized crime began in the 1930s, when he became involved with the Genovese crime family, then led by Charles Luciano and later by Vito Genovese. He quickly rose through the ranks, earning the respect of his peers and the fear of his enemies, including rival families like the Gambino crime family and the Bonanno crime family. Salerno's activities included racketeering, extortion, and gambling, often in collaboration with other infamous mobsters like John Gotti and Carlo Gambino. He was also involved in the construction industry, using his connections to secure contracts and manipulate the New York City building codes, often with the help of corrupt officials like Mario Biaggi and Meade Esposito. Salerno's career was marked by significant events like the Kefauver Committee hearings and the Valachi hearings, which exposed the inner workings of the American Mafia.

● Indictment and Conviction

In the 1980s, Salerno was indicted on racketeering charges, along with other high-ranking members of the Genovese crime family, including Vincent Gigante and Anthony Salerno. The indictment was the result of a long-term investigation by the FBI and the US Department of Justice, which used wiretapping and informant testimony to build a case against the defendants, including Salvatore Gravano and John Alite. Salerno was convicted in 1986 and sentenced to 100 years in prison, a term that was later reduced to 27 years on appeal, with the help of his lawyer, Roy Cohn. The conviction was a significant blow to the Genovese crime family, which had already been weakened by internal power struggles and external pressures, including the RICO Act and the Witness Protection Program.

● Personal Life

Despite his notorious reputation, Salerno was known to be a private person who kept his personal life separate from his organized crime activities, often using front companies and shell corporations to conceal his assets and money laundering operations. He was married to a woman named Anna, and the couple had several children together, including Tony Salerno Jr., who later became involved in the construction industry. Salerno was also known to be a generous donor to local charities and community organizations, including the Catholic Church and the Italian-American Civic Association, often using his connections to secure funding and support.

● Death and Legacy

Tony Salerno died in 1992 at the Federal Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri, while serving his prison sentence, a victim of complications from diabetes and heart disease. His death marked the end of an era in the American Mafia, as the Genovese crime family and other organized crime groups began to decline in power and influence, due in part to the RICO Act and the Witness Protection Program. Salerno's legacy is still felt today, with his name often mentioned alongside other infamous mobsters like Al Capone and John Gotti, and his story has been immortalized in films like Goodfellas and The Godfather, as well as books like Honor Thy Father and Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family. Category:American mobsters