Francesco "Frank" Lanza

The San Francisco Crime Family was formed after the end of a gang war that started in 1928. Many street gangs were in a bloody battle to control bootlegging in the city. Francesco "Frank" Lanza was the leader of the toughest gang and became the first mob boss after the war ended in 1932. His family controlled loansharking, gambling, prostitution, narcotics and bootlegging. Lanza operated the San Francisco Fisherman's wharf with his business partner. His partner Giuseppe Alioto also found the International Fish Company. On July 14, 1937 Lanza died of natural causes at the age of 54. His son, James, would later take over as boss of the family.

Anthony Lima

Anthony Lima became the next boss following the death of Lanza. Lima was a Sicilian businessman who owned a car dealership. On April 27, 1953 Lima was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for grand theft. His power faded and his role as boss was replaced.

Michael Abati

Michael Abati became the boss in 1953. He was one of many Pennsylvania crime figures who migrated west. Abati was a suspect in the 1947 murder of Nick DeJohn. DeJohn's body was found strangled to death in a car parked on a San Francisco street. Eventually all charges were dropped. While boss he attended the raided mob summit known as Apalachin in November 1957 along with his underboss James "Jimmy the Hat" Lanza. Abati was one of many who were picked up by the authorities for suspicion. As a result to this he was deported back to Italy on July 8, 1961.

James "Jimmy the Hat" Lanza

James "Jimmy the Hat" Lanza would rise to become the most successful crime bosses over a very small family. He was well represented in Las Vegas by William "Bones" Remmer. He was their link to the casino skims. His long time underboss Gaspare "Bill" Sciortino, was the first cousin to the underboss of the Los Angeles family Samuel Sciortino. In 1976 Lanza was suspected of giving the permission for the murder of former Patriarca Crime Family associate, turned government witness, Joseph "The Animal" Barboza. Lanza paved the way for the L.A. family capo Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno to open operations based out of San Francisco. But Lanza ended his partnership with him in the late 1970s. This was a smart move on the part of Lanza because Fratianno would later testify against the mafia in multiple trials. On July 19, 1989 Lanza died of natural causes.

After Lanza

After the death of Lanza, It was unknown who actually took over the family. Many think San Francisco family associate Salvatore Amarena became the boss. Amarena was a well connected bars and restaurant owner. Born in Tampa, he first moved to Alabama in the early 1950s and opened up a restaurant. He was later placed in jail for operating gambling devices. He then moved to Havana, Cuba and operated a night club that was frequented by Trafficante family boss Santo Trafficante, Jr. and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro himself. Amarena died of a heart attack in October 1990. Other sources say Frank "Skinny" Velotta took over the family after his release from prison in 1996. Velotta was a proffesional burglar and a close friend of Jimmy Fratianno. But according to mafia experts he was never a made member. By the start of the 1990s there were only 2 made members left in San Francisco, one was Sergio Maranghi who was involved in a drug bust in the early 1990s, and G------ "Tom" B-------- who ran an illegal gambling operation out of his Portofino Cafe. The mafia in San Francisco has always been a minor leauge operation compared to even the medium-size LCN organizations. Today, the San Francisco family is defunct. The only made member left is Sergio Maranghi.