The Baltimore Crew was an Italian American organized crime group that ultimately became a faction of the Gambino crime family operating in the port city of Baltimore, Maryland, from about 1900 until the 1990s. It was originally an independent organization led by the D'Urso family until the Corbi takeover in the 1920s. In 1955, Vincent Mangano of the New York–based Gambino family moved in and installed Louis Morici as the reigning caporegime over the area. The Corbi family acquiesced to the Gambino relationship, but maintained local leadership, simply answering to and accessing support from Morici and his New York Gambino connections. Throughout most of its existence, after 1920, "The Baltimore Cosca" was functionally headed by the Corbi family: Vito, and then his sons, Pasquale "Patsy" and Frank.
| Founding location | Little Italy, Baltimore, Maryland, US |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1920s - 1990 |
| Territory | Baltimore metropolitan area |
| Ethnicity | Italians and Italian-Americans as "made man", other ethnicities as associates |
| Membership (est.) | Around 10 made members, Around 50 associates |
| Criminal activities | Gambling, extortion, prostitution, loan sharking, fraud, drug trafficking, murder and corruption |
| Allies | Gambino crime family |
History
editRule of the Corbi brothers
editIn the spring of 1923, Patsy Corbi was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of local barber Frank Naples, a reputed Camorra member.[1][2] Antonio "Tony" Corbi went into hiding in 1923, and reportedly traveled to Mexico and Italy, attempting to evade charges for the murder of Belle Lemons.[3] He did not resurface publicly until the 1930s in Youngstown Ohio where he ran the Yo Hio Social Club.[4]
Under Gambino leadership
editIn 1966, Lou Morici stepped down from the role of capo due to ill health.[2] During this time, the crew was put under the management of the then-capo Joseph N. Gallo. Frank Corbi assumed the position of acting leader of the Baltimore operation, reporting directly to Gallo. Eventually, Corbi was promoted to official captain of the outfit.
By the 1980s most of the membership had died or retired, and with Corbi in his 80s and inactive, the regime became extinct.[2]
Historical Leadership
editLuigi Morici Frank Corbi
Historical Membership
edit- Vincent Coronna
- Frank Dabenne
- Thomas "Reds" Aversa
- Benjamin "Benny Trotta" Magliano
Historical Associates
edit- Joseph Nunzio Corbi (1911–2001)
- Joseph Tamburello (1906–1983)
- August "Nick Trotta" Magliano (1917–1998)
- Angelo Munafo (1927–2001)
- Mario Orazio Anello (1905–1972)
- Joseph Gigliotti (1903–2001)
- Frank Malvaso (1904?-1991?)
- Angelo Perrera (1912–1972)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Life Sentence is Given to Corbi". The Southeast Missourian. United Press. April 21, 1923. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Mafia Membership Charts: Baltimore faction - Gambino Family". mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.com. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ "Arrest of Slayer Likely, is Claim". The Daily Times. 22 February 1926. p. 1.
- ^ "The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931 (Routledge Advances in American History)". 14 October 2008.