- Momo Adamo
-
Girolomo "Momo" Adamo was an Italian mobster in the American Mafia. He lived in Chicago and Kansas City before moving to Los Angeles[1] in the 1930s and soon became Underboss to Jack Dragna in the Los Angeles crime family. His brother Joseph Adamo was also a member of the crime family. Both he and his brother were well connected criminals in San Diego, working with such mobsters as Frank Bompensiero. In 1950, Momo was arrested along with several members of Jack Dragna's family including Tom Dragna (brother), Louis Dragna (nephew), and two men named Frank Paul Dragna (his son and nephew, respectively) after Jack fled the state after being named in the California Crime Commission report as a member of a crime syndicate in Los Angeles. The five of them were taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department, who believed they were responsible for bombing Mickey Cohen's home or knew who was.[2] They were all released without being charged when the police couldn't find evidence of their involvement (Tom built the bomb, but otherwise none of them were involved).
When Jack Dragna died in 1956, the Los Angeles crime family cast a vote to see who would become the next Boss. Momo was hoping that as a long time leader he would be elected. However, lawyer-turned-mobster Frank DeSimone was elected in what is believed to be a rigged election. He demoted Adamo and Adamo moved to San Diego shortly after. In the same year, Adamo attempted a murder–suicide by shooting his wife in the head before shooting himself. However, his wife ended up surviving. The reason for the killing isn't confirmed, but according to an unidentified police informant, Adamo's actions were out of shame from DeSimone raping Adamo's wife while being forced to watch.[3] Adamo's wife was having an affair during their marriage and an alternative reason given is that Adamo committed these actions after finding out about it. His wife Marie, recovered and later married Frank Bompensiero.
Notes
- ^ Lait, Jack; Mortimer, Lee (1952). U.S.A. Confidential. Crown Publishers. p. 155.
- ^ "Mobster Gone; Police Fear for His Safety". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press (Sarasota, Florida): p. 16. February 15, 1950. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=I-IcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q2QEAAAAIBAJ&dq=tom-dragna&pg=3778%2C4274974. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
- ^ Reid, Ed (1969). The Anatomy of Organized Crime in America: The Grim Reapers. Regnery. p. 177.
References
- Narcotics, Bureau of; Giancana, Sam (2009). Mafia: The Government's Secret File on Organized Crime. Skyhorse Publishing Inc.. ISBN 9781602396685
- Moore, Judith (2009). A Bad, Bad Boy. Reader Books. ISBN 9780615298795
- http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1999/mar/11/cover-fateful-check-us-grant/
- http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1999/mar/18/cover-when-everything-was-lost/
Business positions Preceded by
Jack DragnaLos Angeles crime family
Underboss
1931-1956Succeeded by
Simone ScozzariItalian American Mafia Families The Five Families of New York City: Bonanno · Colombo · Gambino · Genovese · Lucchese
Buffalo · DeCavalcante (New Jersey) · Patriarca (New England) · Philadelphia · Pittsburgh · Trafficante (Florida)DefunctBufalino (Pennsylvania) · Dallas · Denver · Genna (Chicago) · New Orleans · Porrello (Cleveland) · Rochester · San Francisco · San JoseStructure The Commission · Boss (Don) · Underboss · Consigliere (Advisor) · Caporegime (Captain or Capo) · Soldier · AssociateMembers (Made men)Events MeetingsAtlantic City Conference (1929) · Havana Conference (invitees) (1946) · Apalachin Meeting (1957) · Palermo Mafia summit (1957)HearingsWarsTrialsSee also: Sicilian Mafia Template · List of Mafia crime families Categories:- 1895 births
- 1956 deaths
- American mobsters of Sicilian descent
- Criminals who committed suicide
- Deaths from myocardial infarction
- Los Angeles crime family
- Prohibition-era gangsters
- Suicides by firearm in California
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.