1960s Timeline

Jan. 5, 1962 - Three Brooklyn hoodlums learned today that they were their own worst enemies. They were arrested for consorting with known criminals — themselves. The three, all said to be underworld associates of racketeer Joseph Profaci, were: John (Johnny Bath Beach) Oddo, 56 (pictured), who described himself as a dress manufacturer; Joseph (Minxie) Livoti, 52, who said he was a fabric cutter; and Salvatore (Little Sammie) Peritore, 48, a self-styled shoulder pads salesman.

Dec. 21, 1961 - Joseph Gallo, a 32-year-old gangland figure, was sentenced today to serve 7 to 14 years in prison on his conviction for conspiracy and attempted extortion. Judge Joseph A. Sarafite imposed the maximum sentence. Gallo, who has a record of 23 arrests and 4 convictions, was convicted last month of having tried to take half the profits and stock of a check-cashing service and 3 taverns owned by Theodor Moss, 28, of Brooklyn. Assistant D.A. Paul D. Kelly said: “In

Nov. 16, 1961 - Joseph Gallo, 32-year-old gangland figure and jukebox racketeer, was found guilty of attempted extortion and conspiracy today by a jury in New York General Sessions Court. Gallo nodded as the foreman announced the verdict, which could put him behind bars for as long as fourteen and a half years. Then he looked toward his wife Jeffie and mouthed the words, “Don’t worry.” Gallo was convicted of trying to take half the profits and stock of a check-cashing service

Nov. 14, 1961 - Joseph Gallo, the 32-year-old gangland figure on trial for conspiracy and attempted extortion, was remanded to jail today by Judge Joseph A. Sarafite. Judge Sarafite made no comment as to why he was ordering the defendant to prison. Gallo had been free on bail. When one of the defendant’s lawyers, Robert Weiswasser, rose to question the judge’s order, Gallo directed him not to, with the comment: “Don’t even bother. He’s too prejudiced.” Gallo is accused of hav

Oct. 11, 1961 - Joseph Gallo (pictured), one of the 13 gangsters rounded up by Brooklyn detectives on Tuesday, denied today that the gang had declared war on a rival faction in the Brooklyn underworld. The 32-year-old ex-convict, known as “Crazy Joey,” accused the police of “harassing us” in their investigation of the attempted strangling of his 33-year-old brother Lawrence and the unsolved murder of Joseph Magnasco, a member of the Gallo gang. Gallo was taken into custody af

Oct. 10, 1961 - The Brooklyn police rounded up 13 members of the Gallo gang today in an attempt to end the warfare between underworld factions fighting for control of rackets in the borough. Most of the gang members, including their leader, Lawrence Gallo, were found asleep in a second-floor apartment over the Direct Vending Machine Company at 51 President Street, Brooklyn. Next door, at 49 President Street, several others were seized. Joseph Gallo (pictured), also known as “

Oct. 5, 1961 - Two men linked to Brooklyn's underworld were indicted today on charges of attempting to kill Lawrence Gallo, a 33-year-old Brooklyn racketeer, in a Flatbush tavern on Aug. 20. The two defendants are Carmine J. Persico (pictured center), 28, and John Scimone, 49. District Attorney Edward S. Silver said today that the attempted strangling of Gallo and the killing of Gallo lieutenant Joseph Magnasco on Wednesday were linked to a rivalry between the Gallo and Persi

Oct. 4, 1961 - A gangland figure was shot dead today on a busy Brooklyn streetcorner. He was Joseph Magnasco, 36-year-old lieutenant of the notorious Gallo brothers, Joseph (pictured) — also known as “Crazy Joe” and “Joe the Blonde” — and Lawrence, jukebox and vending machine racketeers. Lawrence Gallo was the victim of an attempted strangling in a Flatbush restaurant in August. Magnasco was slain by a gunman who fired three bullets into him as he walked out of the College Re

Sept. 11, 1961 - Congress sent to President Kennedy today a bill making it a Federal crime to travel interstate on underworld business. The measure is one of a series requested by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to facilitate action against big criminal organizations. He said that states were hampered by their limited jurisdictions in dealing with such matters. The bill would provide up to a $10,000 fine and 5 years imprisonment for interstate travel with the intention of

Sept. 2, 1961 - An underworld feud led to the attempted murder last month of Lawrence Gallo, Brooklyn hoodlum, the police disclosed today. The feud was between leaders of the crime family led by Joe Profaci and the three Gallo brothers, Joseph (left), Lawrence (right), and Albert. For several years, the Gallos have sought, with some success, to share in the proceeds of Profaci rackets in Brooklyn, particularly gambling and vending machines. In March, 1961, the Gallos were mar

Aug. 24, 1961 - Anthony (Tony Shots) Abbatemarco, 39, and Giovanni Seimone, 48, were indicted today for felonious assault with intent to kill in the shooting of patrolman Melvin Blei, 35, outside a Brooklyn restaurant Sunday night. Patrolman Blei was shot as assailants fled the restaurant after attempting to strangle Lawrence Gallo, 33, a local racketeer. Kings County Judge Leibowitz reported today that he had been confronted by Gallo's brother, Joseph (Crazy Joey) Gallo, in

Aug. 21, 1961 - In Brooklyn today, six men were arraigned as material witnesses in the critical shooting of a policeman and the attempted garroting of a racketeer. Four of the men were held in a total of $257,000 bail, including Lawrence Gallo (right), the intended victim of a gangland assassination in a Flatbush restaurant Sunday afternoon. Judge Samuel S. Leibowitz set $100,000 bail on Gallo and a similar amount on Charles Clemenza, owner of the Sahara Restaurant, where Gal

Aug. 20, 1961 - In Brooklyn last night, Patrolman Melvin Blei, 35 years old, was seriously wounded in the face when he was shot outside of the Sahara Restaurant on Utica Avenue. A hoodlum had been beaten in the bar a few minutes earlier in what appeared to the police to have been an attempted underworld execution. The hoodlum was not seriously injured, but the police said that a rope (pictured in detective's hand) had been placed around his neck. He was identified as Lawrence