In 1905 Joseph Barbara was in born on the island
of Sicily. Joining his brother at the age of sixteen and working in a shoe
factory, eventually becoming a naturalized citizen in 1927. By the late
1920s he was already a fixture among the Scranton-Wilkes Barre underworld,
which consisted of bootlegging, gambling and prostitution. He forged powerful
alliances with Angelo Polizzi, Santo Volpe and John Sciandra. Barbara earned
his stripes as an organizer for distributing illegal whiskey and beer during
Prohibition. This same talent would be used again when he was awarded distribution
and manufacturing rights by the Canada Dry beverage company.
Barbara was believed to have conspired against Johnny Sciandra in 1940,
thereby taking the throne through murder and creating a powerful syndicate.
Sometime during the late 1940s or early 1950s, possibly due to law enforcement
pressure, Barbara moved to a 42-acre estate located in the small upstate
New York town of Apalachin. In November of 1957 Manhattan crime boss Vito
Genovese was believed to have called for a coast The common excuse used by most who attended was the premise of Barbara's known heart disease. In fact all who would testify about the whereabouts that day, most would use this as an excuse and very little came from it in regards to prosecution. The same heart disease that was used under oath by so many would eventually catch up to Barbara. He died of a heart attack in June 1959. His underboss Russel Bufalino would now assume control. |
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coast meeting of La Cosa Nostra bosses. The meeting would attract such
far away notables as Frank DeSimone, the recognized leader of the Los Angeles
underworld, James Colletti the known crime boss of the Colorado Rockies,
Joseph Civello, Carlo Marcello and Santo Trafficante, Jr. all representing
the southeast. In addition to representatives of the five crime families
of New York, Buffalo and the Chicago Outfit were present. With the exception
of Detroit, the remaining twenty five other La Cosa Nostra had traveled
for the event and were believed to have discussed several subjects. By
the second day the meeting would be raided by local police and the secret
criminal brotherhood was exposed.