Dominick (Mr. Miggs) Pollina – An Early Philly Mob Power

Dominick (Mr. Miggs) Pollina was one of the most important early members of the Philadelphia mafia .

Starting out as part of a Blackhand-type group called the Greaser Gang, Pollina eventually became head of the Philly mob . After Prohibition ended around 1933, Dominick gravitated to other rackets for sources of income. He was said to have favored loansharking and soon became one of the more dominant shylocks in the city.

But when he made a mistake with then-soldier and rival Angelo Bruno , The Commission stepped in and settled the matter.

Read on to find out more about Dominick Pollina in this snapshot profile.

Dominick Pollina - Beginnings

Dominick (Mr. Miggs) Pollina - aka “Mr. Big,” “Nick Pollino,” “Antonio Pollina,” and “Antonio Domenico Pollina” (TN) - was one of two sons born to Francesco and Giovanna (nee’ Cecala), back on September 20, 1892, in Caccamo, Sicily .

Upon immigrating to the United States, the Pollina family settled in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is where Pollina would be raised and operate for the remainder of his lifetime.

Dominick (Mr. Miggs) Pollina

Young Pollina met and later married a local girl by the name of Mary Rodia. They eventually bought a two-story, semi-attached private home at 2515 South 21 Street in Philadelphia. The Pollina’s resided here for decades.

Dominick Pollina stood 5-feet 7-inches tall and weighed a stocky 180 pounds.

He had jet black hair that turned salt-and-pepper by middle age, dark chestnut eyes, and a dark olive complexion.

FBI #1672301, Phila-PD #74786, IN&S #06326783

The Greaser Gang

Dominick Pollina's known criminal arrest record dates to at least 1927 and includes such charges as murder, carrying concealed weapons (a revolver), conspiracy, possession and sale of untaxed liquor , and assault and battery.

But despite his extensive prior criminal history Pollina was later granted naturalization and gained citizenship in the United States in Philadelphia on July 12, 1944.

He was said to have started out as a key member of the so-called “Greaser Gang” back in Philadelphia during the early-1920s Prohibition era.

This organization was a Black Hand-type Mafia group and an early incarnation of that city’s later Cosa Nostra . Pollina was known to be a top leader of this faction.

Dominick Pollina and the “Greaser Gang” initially operated extensive liquor-bootlegging operations including “alky-stills” for the manufacture and distribution of illicit alcohol around the area, organized shakedown extortions and “protection” rackets, cargo thefts , and the Italian lottery .

After Prohibition ended around 1933, Dominick gravitated to other rackets for sources of income. He was said to have favored loansharking and soon became one of the more dominant shylocks in the city.

In fact, by the early 1950s Pollina was said to have become a “shylock’s shylock” in that he had expanded to such a degree that he now supplied money wholesale at a reduced interest rate to smaller shylocks who in turn re-loaned the money to their own borrowers.

As a nod to his exulted underworld stature, he eventually gained the nickname “Mr. Big” within the Philadelphia Mafia.

Mr. Big

For many years he listed his occupation as a “salesman” for the Maggio Cheese Company , a mobbed-up firm owned by a fellow capo named Michael Maggio and the Maggio family brood.

Dominick Pollina numbered among his closer associates most of the top members in the city’s underworld.

These included such notorious mafiosi as family boss Guiseppe (Joe) Ida, Giuseppe (Joe) Rugnetta, Harry (The Hunchback) Riccobene, Pasquale Massi, Felix (Skinny Razor) DeTullio, boxing racketeer Frank (Blinky) Palermo, Peter Casella, the Maggio brothers, and future boss Angelo (Bruno) Annaloro.

In fact, after Joe Ida had removed himself from the hierarchy and retired back to Italy, Pollina rose to power and became the family leader.

But, later, in 1959, he fell from grace after he unjustly ordered the murder of soldier Angelo Bruno because of Pollina’s fear of Angelo’s popularity among the troops.

Bruno sought the intervention and protection of New York’s Commission against his rival. After hearing the grievances between them, the Commission deposed Pollina from power and Bruno was installed in his place.

The Commission gave Bruno the choice of killing Pollina, but Bruno spared his rival’s life instead which cast the new “Representante” of Philadelphia in an even better light among his underworld peers.

So, Pollina was allowed to move on with his life and live another day.

Although greatly embarrassed by this incident, Dominick Pollina continued to operate as a successful mafioso for many years afterward under Angelo Bruno’s rule.

In fact, he outlived Angelo by many years.

Angelo Bruno was later assassinated in Philadelphia by a dissident faction within his own family in 1980.

Dominick Pollina lived to the ripe old age of 100 years old. He also died in Philadelphia, but 13 years later, on February 27, 1993.

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

Dominick (Mr. Miggs) Pollina – An Early Philly Mob Power

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Dominick (Mr. Miggs) Pollina – An Early Philly Mob Power

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Racketeer Snapshot – Mob Assassin Vito Impastato

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