One of the most notorious and dangerous labor racketeers to ever operate in this country was New Jersey-based Genovese member Anthony (Tony Pro) Provenzano. A top mafioso for decades, Tony Pro was, and remains, a prime suspect in the permanent disappearance and presumed murder of Teamsters President James Riddle Hoffa. And now....Tony Pro;
Very good article, NYM, Sylvia Pagano, with whom Hoffa had an affair in the early Forties, introduced him to the creme de la creme of Detroit Mafia, which began his long-term association with the Mob. Pagano and Hoffa's wife Josephine, were best friends. Pagano's son, Chuckie O'Brien, lived with the Hoffas and was treated as a son. Hoffa never made any apologies for his involvement with the Mob:: "Mob guys had muscle, and where in hell do you think employers got the tough guys when they wanted to break a strike?“ He was in bed with them, but he was tough, independent, brave, and was never totally under their thumb. Given his sudden turnaround as denouncer of Frank Fitzsimmons' Mob ties after his prison sentence was commuted, it's a wonder that Hoffa lived as long as he did. Harold (Kayo) Koenigsberg was a genuinely evil man.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
Re: The notorious Teamster Union racketeer "Tony Pro"
[Re: Turnbull]
#1025510 12/12/2105:55 PM12/12/2105:55 PM
Very good article, NYM, Sylvia Pagano, with whom Hoffa had an affair in the early Forties, introduced him to the creme de la creme of Detroit Mafia, which began his long-term association with the Mob. Pagano and Hoffa's wife Josephine, were best friends. Pagano's son, Chuckie O'Brien, lived with the Hoffas and was treated as a son. Hoffa never made any apologies for his involvement with the Mob:: "Mob guys had muscle, and where in hell do you think employers got the tough guys when they wanted to break a strike?“ He was in bed with them, but he was tough, independent, brave, and was never totally under their thumb. Given his sudden turnaround as denouncer of Frank Fitzsimmons' Mob ties after his prison sentence was commuted, it's a wonder that Hoffa lived as long as he did. Harold (Kayo) Koenigsberg was a genuinely evil man.
Glads you enjoyed it Turnbull. And yes, Jimmy Hoffa was a no slouch in his own right. He was tough, just not tough enough to buck the mob
Very good article, NYM, Sylvia Pagano, with whom Hoffa had an affair in the early Forties, introduced him to the creme de la creme of Detroit Mafia, which began his long-term association with the Mob. Pagano and Hoffa's wife Josephine, were best friends. Pagano's son, Chuckie O'Brien, lived with the Hoffas and was treated as a son. Hoffa never made any apologies for his involvement with the Mob:: "Mob guys had muscle, and where in hell do you think employers got the tough guys when they wanted to break a strike?“ He was in bed with them, but he was tough, independent, brave, and was never totally under their thumb. Given his sudden turnaround as denouncer of Frank Fitzsimmons' Mob ties after his prison sentence was commuted, it's a wonder that Hoffa lived as long as he did. Harold (Kayo) Koenigsberg was a genuinely evil man.
That Kayo Konigsberg was a straight out whacko. And I agree with you that he was an inherently evil MOFO. A heartless killer, a screwball to boot. Who eventually showed the world that he was also so devoid of any character whatsoever that he was a ranked undercover stool pigeon to boot against everybody and anybody he thought the feds wanted in a vain attempt to help "himself" out of a jam. It was all about him.
I read a book about Koenigsberg a while back, written by his nephew, who got interested in his uncle, started visiting him in prison,, and wanted him to "tell his side of the story." Didn't take long for Koenigsberg to start threatening his nephew with death--no special reason, just came naturally to him.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
I read a book about Koenigsberg a while back, written by his nephew, who got interested in his uncle, started visiting him in prison,, and wanted him to "tell his side of the story." Didn't take long for Koenigsberg to start threatening his nephew with death--no special reason, just came naturally to him.
I read the same book. His nephew set him up. He did not let him know he was doing a book, he made as if he was interested in his long lost uncle and was there for sentimentel reasons. He did not tell him he was doing a book until after he had interviewed him many times during what were supposed to be private conversations. When he told his uncle it was all for a book is when the uncle became angry.
Chuckie O’Brien in his book “in Hoffas shadows” said his mom Sylvia Pagano was never romantically involved with Hoffa, She was good friends with Josephine Hoffa and was banging Tony Jack.Billy Jack banged Hoffas wife once in a hotel, so Tony Jack could rob Hoffas safe at his house, which he did....it’s on the wiretaps which are included in the book “In Hoffas Shadow”
They could never pin the Hoffa murder on him, but they tortured Provenzano for the remainder of his life. He ended up getting repeatedly convicted, jailed, and died behind bars. So in the minds of LE although he slipped through their net with Hoffa, he ended up paying a heavy "toll" anyway. So he beat one red light but they nailed him for others. (the ends justified the means in their opinion).
It was a very interesting story and bit of American history to say the least. The entire thing. Hoffa, the unions, Provenzano, Giacalone, etc., etc. The stuff of legend.
