This story touches on the lives of two little-known but very interesting figures in the larger mosaic that later formed Cosa Nostra in this country.
Mafiosi Pietro (Pietrino) Caiozzo and Giorgio (George) Colletti are two men largely lost to underworld history who nonetheless played a part in the early formation of what was to come.
We must first digress a bit to explore the background history of the Caiozzo surname and several key historical events that form the canvas for our story.
One of the most seemingly obscure yet most important events that affected the mafia’s future development and power structure in the United States was largely lost to history until a few years ago when the man at the center of it all became a buzzword among mob historians.
The story of Camillo Caiozzo has since been well documented, so the chronology below is but an abbreviated version of all the intricate events that took place. I do this to allow the reader a better understanding of the underworld landscape at that point in time.
His name and subsequent murder became notorious events during the 1920s and were reported on in newspapers all across America.
Yet, his name was hardly even mentioned thereafter for the next seventy years despite the fact that his early life and murder would alter the course of organized crime in this country.
Note: Please see A Sicilian “Blood Vendetta” Amongst Mafiosi: Chapter 2 and A Sicilian “Blood Vendetta” Amongst Mafiosi: Chapter 3 for a continuation of this story.
