San Francisco's "Jimmy the Hat" Lanza

James Lanza was the boss of the San Francisco Crime Family who, despite the best efforts of federal law enforcement to make inroads against him, beat the FBI at their own game.

Humble Beginnings

James Joseph Lanza - aka “Jimmy the Hat,” “Jimmy Lanza”, “Vincenzo Lanza,” and “Mariano Vincenzo Proetto” (TN) - was said to have been born in the little village of Castelbuono in Palermo Province, Sicily on October 25, 1902. He was one of four children, two sons, and two daughters, born to future Mafia boss Francesco (Frank) Proetto and Caterina (nee’ Albanese). Jimmy’s siblings were named Antonio (Tony), Grazia (Grace), and Rosina (Rose).

At the tender age of only two years old, in early 1905, the Proetto family immigrated to the United States, arriving at Ellis Island. Francesco and Caterina and their children resided for a number of years in New York City during which time Francesco allegedly joined up with a band of fellow Sicilian nationals to operate illicit rackets. This is also about the time that Francesco adopted a new name, Frank Lanza.

During his time as an up-and-coming mafioso in New York, Lanza was believed to have been very successful, becoming an extremely wealthy man, and an influential mafioso in the process.

Go West, Young Man!

Around 1919, Frank was said to have relocated with his wife and children to the West Coast, to the State of California. They settled in the City of San Francisco where Frank had numerous connections and quickly assimilated into both the local community and the local underworld. From this point forward, the “Lanza” family would begin to set down deep roots that would expand considerably, well into the next century.

His Ambition Knew No Bounds

Through his early years in California, Frank reportedly further invested his money by purchasing an ownership interest in a large vineyard. He also expanded a previously established business he owned in partnership with a brother-in-law named Mario Prisinzano by the name of the Prisinzano-Lanza Wholesale Food Company, a food import-export company they originally started back in New York.

Lanza later also opened up and operated what would become one of the more popular Italian restaurants along San Francisco’s famed Fisherman’s Wharf. His partner in this restaurant was said to be another top mafioso, Giuseppe (Joe) Alioto.

Additionally, Frank had another company that each year would buy up various grape and fruit orchards from growers that Lanza would then ship back to the east coast, to his business associates, for resale. It was reported to be a very profitable business arrangement that Frank operated for years.

Planting Flags

Along the way, he also broke new ground for the Mafia and gained territory for them by “officially” planting their flag and establishing the first and only Cosa Nostra “borgata” to ever operate and control the City of San Francisco.

The “Francesco Lanza Family” eventually grew to include a small membership of approximately 15-20 inducted soldiers and several dozen more associate members. They generally operated in a low-key fashion and successfully remained in the shadows for years. But as you read further, you will also see that on a few occasions, their shadowy underworld exploits were unveiled.

Following in Dad's Footsteps

Jimmy Lanza stood 5 feet 8 inches tall and had a stocky build at about 175 pounds. He had dark brown hair that started thinning by his mid-forties and brown eyes that required eyeglasses. He was also known to enjoy an occasional cigar. In later years, he claimed derivative U.S. citizenship (IN&S # 11-422-437).

FBI #832684C, CII #1-308-631, CDL #Y125667

As a young man, he met and later married the former Josephine Naso, who came from Brooklyn, New York. They had one son they named Frank, after his grandfather. The Lanzas resided for many years at 603 Virginia Avenue. Years later, they moved to a beautiful split-level-styled home at 19 Wildwood Drive. Both residences were located in San Mateo. This area has long been considered to be one of the wealthiest counties in California.

But throughout his lifetime, Jimmy Lanza was also well-traveled. He regularly frequented several east coast cities. On numerous occasions, federal authorities documented Lanza visiting New York City as well as the cities of Scranton and Reading, Pennsylvania. Both Jimmy and Josephine had numerous relatives still residing there.

A Very Astute Businessman

Jimmy Lanza was also generally considered to be a very wealthy man. Aside from the wealth he inherited upon the death of his father, federal authorities documented his ownership or partnership in the Lanza Olive Oil Corporation, located at 559 Washington Street in San Francisco. He owned and operated this business with his brother Anthony (also a suspected Cosa Nostra member.)

Through a nominal “frontman” named Henry Irving, the Lanza brothers also owned the sprawling Oro Olive Oil Company in nearby Oroville, the Lucca Olive Oil Company of Lindsay, and the Lanza Brothers Food and Wine Importing Corporation, which was a brokerage firm that imported Italian specialty products direct from Italy.

In addition, Jimmy also owned a large portfolio of valuable stocks and the bustling, Lanza Brothers Insurance Agency. He also owned extensive income-rental properties and other valuable real estate holdings throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Clean as a Hound's Tooth

Although he had no local or federal police record whatsoever, the Federal Bureau of Investigation later assigned Lanza an FBI identification number anyway as a means of tracking him. The California State Bureau and the Immigration & Naturalization Service also later queried him on numerous occasions with questions regarding his U.S. Citizenship, as they investigated him and considered deporting him back to his native Sicily as an undesirable.

They were unsuccessful.

As mentioned above, his father Frank is generally credited with having been the “founding father” of the Mafia Family that later developed in San Francisco. And through his father’s influence, Jimmy was formally inducted into that Mafia borgata while he was still a very young man.

After serving as a soldier for some years, Jimmy eventually rose to a “capo di decina” position and served in that capacity for almost a decade. He was later elevated to Family underboss by then-boss, Michele (Mr. Mike) Abati.

With Abati’s later arrest and conviction for income-tax evasion and his eventual deportation back to his native Italy in 1961, the rank-and-file membership then selected Jimmy Lanza as their new leader.

The "Capo Famiglia"

Between his father’s prestige in the Mafia, and as a newly minted Cosa Nostra boss, Lanza quickly became an intimate of California’s other Mafia leaders, including Los Angeles bosses Frank DeSimone and Jack Dragna, underboss Nick Licata, and San Diego capo Giuseppe (Joe) Adamo.

Another very close associate was San Jose Family boss Joseph Cerrito.

Through the years, Lanza was also said to be intimate with Carlos Marcello of New Orleans, LA; Santo Trafficante of Tampa, Fl; Rosario Bufalino of Pittston, PA; and Pittsburgh’s Sebastian (John) La Rocca .

He also reportedly maintained regular contact with Nicholas Stirone, one of Pittsburgh’s top labor racketeers and the longtime President of Pittsburgh’s Joint Council of Hod Carriers & Laborers Union (AFL-CIO),

Escaping Capture at Apalachin

Though never captured, Lanza was strongly suspected of having attended the infamous “Apalachin Meeting” of Mafia leaders on November 14, 1957, along with his buddy, Joseph Cerrito . The FBI later gathered evidence that showed that Cerrito and Lanza had boarded an airplane together and flew to New York City in order to attend this historic underworld meeting.

Authorities said that Cerrito was there to represent the “Brotherhood” based in San Jose, while Lanza was the “representative” for San Francisco.

Further investigation revealed that early in the morning of November 14, 1957, Lanza and Cerrito checked into the Hotel New Yorker in midtown Manhattan, the same day as the Apalachin meeting. A check of the hotel’s registry confirmed that the two mafiosi shared Room #1641. They checked out the very next day, on November 15th, after the ill-fated Mafia pow-wow.

That same FBI report stated that Los Angeles boss Frank DeSimone, and his underboss, Simone Scozzari, also stayed at the Hotel New Yorker. They were assigned Room #2411. All four hotel arrangements were reportedly made by their good friend, Rosario (Russ) Bufalino.

The Golden Gate "Brotherhood"

Regarding the San Francisco borgata that Lanza headed, aside from his father, this network was formerly headed by Giuseppe (Joe) Alioto, Anthony Lima, and Michele (Mr. Mike) Abati.

Upon being elected as the new boss, Lanza initially named Gaspare (Bill) Sciortino as his underboss and Filippo (Phil) Maita as his consigliere.

Among the hoodlums suspected of being members or top associates of the “Lanza Family” were Francesco (Frank) Maita, Rosario (Robert) Garioto, Vito Bruno, Frank Scappatura, Alphonse J. La Rocca, Vincenzo (Papa) La Rocca, Steven Trifiro, Mario Balistreri, Frank J. (Joe) Genovese, Anthony Perconti, Lanza’s nephew Mariano Prisinzano, Salvatore (Sam) Ricotta, Daniel F. Marini, Joseph Marconi, and Salvatore (Sam) Maugeri.

Through their early years, the Family that Lanza headed was best known for engaging in liquor bootlegging during Prohibition and then transitioning into gambling, shylocking, extortion, and extensive narcotics trafficking in later decades.

In fact, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs considered a number of Lanza Family soldiers to be among California’s most prolific heroin wholesalers in both local and interstate traffic. Several Lanza Family soldiers and associates were later snagged in a cross-country narcotics ring operating from New York to California after FBN Agents arrested dozens of suspects across the country.

Former New York-based Profaci Family soldier Sebastiano Nani, who had since moved to the west coast and transferred to Lanza’s Family, was said to have been the linchpin for this particular drug network.

Under Constant Surveillance

Digressing a bit to an FBI report made by several FBI special agents, who kept track of Lanza and Cerrito’s movements through the use of surveillance techniques and several informants, later wrote that the two men would meet one another semi-regularly at various out of the way locations to discuss Cosa Nostra business.

One such meeting took place on the night of March 10, 1958, when Cerrito was surveilled leaving his premises at 421 San Jose Avenue in Los Gatos, and driving to Stickney’s Restaurant in Palo Alto, where he arrived at 9:00 PM.

FBI Agents later reported in their internal memo: “He was met there by Jimmy Lanza. The two mafiosi then reportedly sat at a booth in the restaurant until approximately 9:40 PM at which time they both got up and left the restaurant together. At that time, Cerrito was observed placing a phone call from a public telephone booth in the parking lot near the restaurant. He talked on the phone for about five minutes in duration. After completing the call, Cerrito and Lanza continued their animated conversation outside in the parking lot for approximately 15 minutes longer.”

The agents' report continued: “Following this meeting, each man got into their respective automobiles and drove away. It is noted that subject (Lanza) was driving the Chevrolet which is owned by his son, Frank C. Lanza. It is further noted that this meeting, which occurred at night, was held about halfway between the homes of Cerrito and the subject. It is further noted that Cerrito owns the Lincoln-Mercury Auto Agency in Los Gatos, California.”

Frustrated Feds

Despite the best efforts of federal law enforcement to make inroads against Jimmy Lanza and his men, the FBI was not able to get close enough to make any criminal charges stick.

This eventually led to frustrated FBI agents making an application to the Justice Department in Washington D.C., and getting approval, to surreptitiously install a listening device, or ‘bug,” to be hidden in Lanza’s business office and perceived underworld headquarters at 559 Washington Street. On April 2, 1959, several agents of the FBI pulled a “black bag” job, burglarizing Lanza’s personal office and connecting the hidden bug.

Over the next five years or so, authorities listened in as San Francisco’s reputed Mafia boss conducted his daily business affairs, held private meetings with subordinates, and attended to personal matters. But despite this increased scrutiny, they never laid a single glove on the wily old mafioso!

It seems that “Jimmy the Hat” beat the FBI at their own game.

La Musica E' Finita!

James Joseph Lanza passed away in the comfort of his own bed, surrounded by his loving family, on February 14, 2006. He had also reached a very rare milestone. Aside from having become extremely wealthy and successful during his lifetime, Lanza also lived to the unbelievable age of 103 years old!

Postscript - Jimmy Leaves a Proud Legacy

Jimmy Lanza, and his father before him, may have been mafiosi, and top-shelf ones at that. But he and Josephine wanted a different life for their son Frank C. Lanza, who was born in San Francisco on November 6, 1931.

They made sure to provide Frank with a good life and a top-notch education. After graduating from San Mateo High School, they furthered his education opportunities by sending him to the best higher-learning institutions possible. He first graduated from Healds Engineering College in San Francisco and later did graduate work at the University of California and at Stanford University. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War.

After returning home to San Francisco, Frank started his meteoric career as a top electronics engineer with the Philco Western Development Laboratory and went on to manage the development and production of electronic warfare programs at Textron, Inc., before joining New York-based Loral Corporation in 1972. He served as Loral’s president and chief operating officer from 1981 to 1996.

But in between all that, Frank also made sure to get hitched and start a family of his own. He married Patricia, and they had three sons named James, Anthony, and Louis. After so many years living in California, Frank led the next generation of Lanzas back to New York where he bought a home for his family in the suburbs.

But Frank was yet to enjoy his full meteoric rise as one of the most respected in his field.

One year later, in 1997, Frank became the founder and creator, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of L-3 Communications Corporation, a provider of high-technology defense and homeland security systems and products and one of the world’s fastest-growing defense companies. A 30-year defense industry leader, L-3 was to become Frank’s brightest shining star!

The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1998, and under Frank Lanza’s leadership, L-3’s market value soared to more than $9 billion dollars through a mix of rising sales and frequent acquisitions that set the company apart in the defense industry as a technology innovator.

But many on Wall Street speculated that companies like Lockheed, BAE Systems, or General Dynamics might try to acquire parts of L-3.

Aside from his career, per se, Frank was also an active philanthropist. He served on the board of the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. He was also a member of the Board of Governors for the Aerospace Industries Association and a member of the Board of Directors for the Coast Guard Foundation. He was selected as the 1978 Gold Knight of Management by the National Management Association and received the 2003 Distinguished Corporate Leadership award for the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, and Airmen’s Club.

In a 2001 interview in The New York Times about his early life and business experiences, Frank related that he learned his early business lessons while working as an olive picker alongside Mexican employees at his family’s olive ranch in the San Joaquin Valley. He said, “When you learn ’street smarts,’ as I did alongside the pickers, you take that into business and become a different kind of manager. You’re more hands-on and gain awareness of what happens below them. You learn about such things when you’re young, and you don’t learn them in a university.”

Frank C. Lanza passed away at the age of 74, on June 6, 2006, in suburban New York.

Until next time…”The Other Guy”

San Francisco’s “Jimmy the Hat” Lanza

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