Joseph Ardizzone

Joseph Ardizzone (November 19, 1884-1931) was an early Los Angeles Mafia boss, or what later became known as the Los Angeles crime family. He was involved in a long-standing feud with the Matranga family, and became the first Los Angeles boss to be murdered by his own men.

Early Life

Born Giuseppe Ernesto Ardizzone in Piana dei Greci (changed to Piana degli Albanesi in 1941) in the province of Palermo, Sicily to Antonino Ardizzone on November 19, 1884, he was descended from Albanians who fought Muslims during the 16th century invasions in eastern Europe. The Albanians were given land grants in what later became Italy, and with Piana di Greci being one of the larger Albanian communities. The Ardizzones were related to several other families and they would maintain contact in America. Those families included the Cuccias and the Matrangas. [World War I Draft Registration Card for Joseph Ardizzone.]

Early Years in America

The Ardizzone family came to America at different times. Antonino came in the later 19th century, landing in Louisiana then taking the train to southern California. He became a wealthy farmer and wine maker. His other children, including Stefano and Francesco also moved to the Los Angeles area. Giuseppe was one of the last to arrive.

For reasons uncertain Giuseppe, who Americanized his name to Joseph, became involved in a dispute with the Matrangas who lived in Los Angeles. They were distant cousins from Piana dei Greci. In what he later called an act of self-defense, Joseph shot and killed a Matranga ally named George Maisano in 1906. He then fled California and hid in different states.

He eventually returned and was arrested, but the charges against him were dropped. He then married a young girl named Elsa who was the daughter of a German neighbor in the city of Sunland, where they lived at that time. Shorty after that their home was burned down by arsonists. [Richard N. Warner, "The First Mafia Boss of Los Angeles? The Mystery of Vito Di Giorgio, 1880-1922" "On The Spot Journal" (Summer 2008), 46-54.]

Later Life

While it is uncertain when Ardizzone became a member of the Mafia, or even if his immediate family were members, he was in a leadership position in the early 1920s. Upon the resignation of Rosario DeSimone for unknown reasons, he became the next chief of the Los Angeles crime family.

During his time as boss Prohibition was active and many, if not most, Mafiosi were involved in bootlegging. The Los Angeles Family was certain active during this time period.

In 1931, when the Castellammarese War between Joseph Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano was taking place, the Los Angeles crime family may have supported Maranzano. Nick Gentile notes in his memoirs that during a conference Maranzano was backed by two men from California. Joseph Bonanno and his son Salvatore Bonanno wrote of several close associates in the Los Angeles area, such as Jimmy Costa (from Castellammare del Golfo, Nick Guastella, Frank Bompensiero and Tony Mirabile.

It was also during this time that a faction developed that opposed Ardizzone. In early 1931 he was driving with his friend Jimmy Basile when gunmen drove by and shot at them. Basile was killed and Ardizzone wounded. Ardizzone managed to be taken to the house of Leon Desimone, the physician son of former boss Rosario Desimone. He was treated and sent to a hospital. A second attempt was made on his life in the hospital, so his family came to act as bodyguards. Underworld sources indicated that he agreed to retire after these incidents.

The opposing faction apparently did not believe Ardizzone, and in October, 1931, while on his way to a cousin's house in Etiwanda, he disappeared. An intense search followed, but he was never found. After seven years his wife had him declared dead. [State of California, "Final report of the Special Crime Study Commission on Organized Crime" (Sacramento, 1953).]

ources

[1] World War I Draft Registration Card for Joseph Ardizzone.

[2] Richard N. Warner, "The First Mafia Boss of Los Angeles? The Mystery of Vito Di Giorgio, 1880-1922" "On The Spot Journal" (Summer 2008), 46-54.

[3] State of California, "Final report of the Special Crime Study Commission on Organized Crime" (Sacramento, 1953).

References

California Assembly, Interim Committee on Judiciary. "Organized Crime in California—Report of the Subcommittee on Rackets." Sacramento, 1959.

Gentile, Nick, with Felice Chilanti. "Vita di Capomafia." Rome: Editori Riuniti, 1963.

State of California. "Final report of the Special Crime Study Commission on Organized Crime." Sacramento, 1953.

Tiernan, Mary Lee. "He Never Came Home. The History of Sunland, California, Vol. 5." Snoops Desktop Publishing, 1999.

Warner, Richard N. "The First Mafia Boss of Los Angeles? The Mystery of Vito Di Giorgio, 1880-1922." "On The Spot Journal" (Summer 2008), 46-54.