He owned the Catania Bakery for years at 2316 Arthur Ave. in the Bronx and is also reported to have been affiliated with the “Building Employees Union” and with the local newspaper where he was listed as “advertising manager.”
James (Jimmy Baker) Catania was born in 1900 in Palermo, Sicily. After coming to this country, he always resided at 2326 Cambreling Ave. in the Bronx.
His brother “Joe Baker” was killed during the Castellammarese War and was himself active during the conflict.
FBI #1122987, NYCPD # B-62912.
His activities included bootlegging, Italian lottery, labor rackets, extortion, and murder. Catania was a longtime “power” in the Bronx.
He may have been (if not then a very high-ranked soldier) “capo di decina” of the old D’Aquila-Mangano Family (Anastasia then Gambino.)
Side Note: I “personally” heard he was a miserable prick! Never smiled! And a tough guy to be “under.” This came from an “old-timer” who was under him! He was a real “Moustache Pete!”
Catania’s associates included all the originals such as Luciano and Mangano and from the Bronx including the Scalice brothers (Joe especially,) the Gambino brothers, Giacomo Scarpulla, and others from “Little Italy’s” Arthur Avenue section. Catania almost exclusively hung around and operated in this area all his life!
He had a limited arrest record starting from 1924 that included robbery, assault, and vagrancy.
He owned the Catania Bakery for years at 2316 Arthur Ave. in the Bronx and is also reported to have been affiliated with the “Building Employees Union” and with the local newspaper where he was listed as “advertising manager.”
No dod available.
