While in New York, the FBN put pressure on him to roll-over and become an informant, telling him that Strollo had gone missing, and was believed murdered on the orders of his best friend and boss, Vito Genovese. The agents also inferred that Joe was next on Genovese’s list of house-cleaning. With these thoughts pressing down on him, Joe was returned to Atlanta.
Interesting article. Genovese must have suspected that Strollo (aka Tony Bender) was brought into the setup by Luciano. Genovese and Bender were best man at each other's weddings and probably his right hand man for many years.
