Steven Joseph La Torre[1] (born Stefano La Torre; Italian: [ˈsteːfano la ˈtorre]; March 12, 1886 – July 5, 1984) was an Italian-American crime boss of the Bufalino crime family. He founded what would become the Bufalino crime family, which he ran from 1903 to 1908.
Steven La Torre | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stefano La Torre March 12, 1886 Montedoro, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | July 5, 1984 (aged 98) Pittston, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation | Crime boss |
| Spouse | Rose Lucchino |
| Children | 4 |
| Allegiance | Bufalino crime family |
Early life
editLa Torre was born on March 12, 1886, in Montedoro, Sicily, to Giuseppe La Torre and Maria Marranca.[2] He entered the United States in May 1903,[3] settling in Pittston, Pennsylvania.[1] He set up a criminal empire in Pittston-Scranton-Wilkes-barre areas of Pennsylvania. La Torre paid for the passage of Mafia boss Santo Volpe to Pennsylvania in 1906. They formed "the men from Montedoro".[4] In April 1907, La Torre was arrested with Santo Volpe, Charles Bufalino, uncle of future crime boss Russell Bufalino,[1] and twenty other men for a protection racket against mine workers in the region.[5]
La Torre married Rose Lucchino, and had two sons, Joseph and Samuel and two daughters, Mary and Lena.[6]
Criminal career
editIn 1908, La Torre stepped down as boss of Pittston, but remained connected to the Mafia. Volpe became the new crime boss.[7] In 1955, La Torre was called to a meeting with Joe Barbara where he refused to have a possible rat in the Pittston crime organization killed. Barbara became angry with La Torre and reduced his influence in the Mafia. La Torre remained a consultant to Russell Bufalino until his death in 1984.
Death
editLa Torre died of natural causes on July 5, 1984, at the age of 98. He is buried in Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton, Pennsylvania.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c Federal Bureau of Investigation (May 12, 1967). "No Title". Mary Ferrell Foundation. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
STEVEN JOSEPH LA TORRE was born on 3/11/86 in Montedoro, Sicily, immigrated to the United States in 1903 and had always resided in Pittsaton, Pa., area. [...] It is to be noted the CHARLES C. BUFALINO, is the uncle of RUSSELL A. BUFALINO [...] Since 4/20/67, SA WAYNE D. SMITH of the Wilkes-Bare RA has been contacting SAMUEL STEVEN LA TORRE (PH 872-PC), subject of Philadelphia File 137-4887.
- ^ "Immagine 22". Antenati (in Italian). Retrieved July 1, 2020.
L'anno milleottocentottantasei, addì quattordici di Marzo [...] è comparso La Torre Giuseppe di Stefano, [...] il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore [...] del dì dodici del corrente mese [...] da Marranca Maria, sua moglie, [...] è nato un bambino di sesso maschile che egli mi presenta, e a cui dà il nome di Stefano.
- ^ Passenger Manifest for the S.S. Sicilian Prince, May 16, 1903, available at Ellis Island: The Statue of Liberty.
- ^ Fox, Stephen R. (1989). Blood and Power: Organized Crime in Twentieth-Century America. Morrow. ISBN 978-0-688-04350-6.
- ^ Birkbeck, Matt (2013). The Quiet Don: The Untold Story of Mafia Kingpin Russell Bufalino. Berkley Books. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-425-26685-4.
That changed on April 22, 1907, when Volpe, LaTorre and Charles Bufalino were arrested, along with twenty other men for terrorizing the mining communities.
- ^ a b "Stephen LaTorre". Times Leader. July 6, 1984. p. 15. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
His wife, Rose, died in 1973. Surviving are his sons, Joseph, Jenkins Township; Samuel, Exeter; daughters, Mrs. Mary Parrino, Pittston; Mrs. Lena Lipparini, Jenkins Township; [...] Interment will be in a family plot in Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton.
- ^ Newton, Michael (April 6, 2012). The Mafia at Apalachin, 1957. McFarland. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7864-8986-2.
