Joseph (Crazy Joey), Albert (Kid Blast), and Larry Gallo were deeply involved in Brooklyn’s jukebox rackets. They even started a jukebox and vending machine owners’ association to try and better corral extortionate control over the industry.
They held sway for a time over Teamsters Local # 266 through mob associates Joe DeGrandis and Ernest Zundel and labor union racketeer Vincent (Jimmy Unions) Amalfitano.
Joey and Larry Gallo were even once subpoenaed before a 1957 U.S. Senate Rackets Committee by Senator Bobby Kennedy to testify about their knowledge and attempts to extort fees from jukebox vending operators in Brooklyn. Both repeatedly pled the Fifth Amendment, of course.
In 1960, DeGrandis, Zundel, and Joey Gallo were convicted in Mineola and Brooklyn of extortions related to the shakedown of a jukebox machine executive. They were each sentenced to 7-1/2 to 8 years in prison. Gallo received 7-15 years in state prison on another related extortion case.
Read more about the jukebox rackets via our article, The Jukebox & Vending Machine Rackets.
