Vincent (Jimmy) Todaro

Vincent Todaro chose an unlikely place to conduct his mafia business when he settled in Virginia, but that's exactly what he did. And although it was an odd place for a mafioso, Todaro associated with many Mafia families, including the Gambino and Bonanno families in New York and the Zerilli Family of Detroit .

Vincent (Jimmy) Todaro - aka Charles Todaro, Frank Todaro, and Vincenzo Todaro (TN) - was born to Andrea and Filippina (nee Ruoppolo) Todaro on November 11, 1913, in Palermo, Sicily. He immigrated to the United States as a baby, first residing with some relatives in New Jersey.

After settling in and living some years in New York and New Jersey, Todaro eventually made his way down to Virginia with his wife Helen Faye (nee Avella), and their three children. They took up residence in Herndon, Virginia.

Jimmy Todaro stood every bit of 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed almost 200 pounds. He was a very tall man for a Sicilian, especially back in those days. He had jet black hair combed straight back and dark brown eyes.

FBI #534748

He listed his legitimate occupation as a landscaper and real estate investor, but his extensive criminal record belied his legitimate employment description.

Since at least 1932, he had been arrested numerous times for such offenses as armed robbery, robbery, carrying concealed weapons, vagrancy, criminally receiving stolen goods, narcotics possession and international drug trafficking, and the counterfeiting of gasoline ration stamps.

Close Associations in the U.S. and Beyond

Todaro had close associations and friendships with many top mafiosi and known racketeers both in the United States and in Europe.

Most notably were his connections to important narcotics traffickers among at least three of New York’s five crime families such as George (Georgie Hooks) Nobile, who was a member of the Genovese crew; father and son Bonanno heroin merchants Ignazio and Lorenzo Orlando; and Bonanno soldier Pietro (Pete) Licata.

But it seems his most significant underworld connections were among many important members of New York’s Gambino Family.

These included soldiers such as James (Jimmy Ward) Massi, Giuseppe (Joe) LoPiccolo, and Frank (Frankie the Boss) Moccardi. All three of whom were well known as devout heroin traffickers.

Vincent Todaro under arrest in 1958.

He also maintained contact with Francesco (There Finger Frank) Coppola, a key member of Detroit’s Zerilli family who was later deported back to Sicily, as well as a top Corsican racketeer and heroin kingpin named Antoine Cordoliani of France.

Todaro was long considered an important international heroin smuggler himself who the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) agents closely watched for years. He was also thought to have close connections and a working relationship with key heroin traffickers back in his hometown of Palermo.

After keeping him under close surveillance for a period of time, the government’s due diligence paid off. Todaro was arrested and later indicted and convicted of violating Virginia’s narcotics Laws. On May 20, 1958, a Fairfax County judge sentenced Todaro to serve a 10-year term in state prison.

Vincent (Jimmy) Todaro is believed to have died in February 1969.

Until next time..."The Other Guy!"

Vincent (Jimmy) Todaro

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