Michele Miranda

Was he Underrated?

There is a survailance photo of him and Vito Genovese taken in front of what looks like a store, they are talking. I wonder if it was a rare talk, or if they were in frequent contact, and close friends.

Mike Miranda is Dead at 82; Figure Linked to the Mafia

Sept. 21, 1973

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Mike Miranda, an elder states man of the Genovese Mafia family, died of natural causes in Miami on Sunday. He was 82 years old.

Miranda, who had an elabo rate home said to have cost $75,000 in Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, had been arrested a number of times, twice for murder, but served very little time in prison.

He did 30 days for picking pockets at Coney island in 1915 and spent two years in prison for refusing to talk about the Apalachin meeting of under world leaders in 1957, at which he had been a participant.

While his name was often linked to charges of gambling, loan?sharking, extortion and violence of many types, he was known in the underworld as “a man of respect,” one who sought peace among warring factions. He often settled disputes that might have led to bloodletting. Top leaders more often than not accepted his pronouncements.

In the 60s authorities listed several associates: Lucky Luciano, Giuseppe Doto, Calogero Iacono of Italy, Francesco Costiglia, Anthony Strollo, Carmine Galante, Joseph Stracci and Meyer Lansky.