Sebastiano Giovanni LaRocca: The Boss of Pittsburgh

Sebastiano (Big John) LaRocca rose from humble beginnings in Sicily to reign as the powerful boss of the Pittsburgh Mafia . Behind the veneer of a successful businessman and family man, LaRocca commanded a network of illicit operations spanning bootlegging, gambling, and union corruption.

With deep political connections and a reputation as one of America's most influential mob bosses, LaRocca’s story is one of intrigue, power, and carefully guarded secrets.

Sebastiano Giovanni LaRocca - aka John LaRocca, Big John, and Lester Larock -- was born on December 19, 1901, in Villarosa (Caltanisetta), Sicily. He was one of six children three boys and three girls.)

He immigrated to the United States when he was 8 years old on September 2, 1910, in NYC. He initially resided at 321 Main Street in Jamestown, NY. By 1940, he lived at 6426 Apple Street in Pittsburgh. As he increased in wealth and power, he moved into a palatial home at 900 West Ingomar Road, Ingomar, PA.

In 1961, the FBI reported the estate sat on two acres of property, and the all-stone residence, described as palatial, could not be rebuilt for less than $175,000.

John LaRocca

He married Mary (nee Cmelik) in 1928. They had one adopted son, born in 1943, named John Jr., whom he sent to the best private schools and military academy. The son later entered a private college university.

LaRocca was also said to have maintained a very close relationship with his brothers (all barbers by trade) and sisters.

He also had a longtime “comare” or mistress, Zelda Lipkind, who served as his personal secretary for 19 years at Coin-Machine Distributors and was believed to have borne an illegitimate child by LaRocca or a fellow wiseguy.

By the late 1950s, she had removed herself from working for this firm and from her personal situation, and after marrying another man, LaRocca gave her a generous $5,000 wedding gift. When the FBI came calling to try and pry information from her about LaRocca and his mafia associates, she completely snubbed them, proving to be a “stand-up” gal herself.

LaRocca stood at 5-foot 10-inches and weighed a stocky 200 pounds with black-grey hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion.

He was said always to be impeccably dressed and typically always drove a gray, late-model Cadillac automobile that always had a spit-shine polish to it. He was also reported to be of a very generous nature to those around him whom he liked.

He and either his wife, mistress, or underworld associates regularly visited Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Miami, Florida, as getaways and winter retreats through the years.

Among his favorite hangouts were the Villa Rosa Restaurant and Genovese Cocktail Lounge, both in Pittsburgh.

FBI # 96725, PPD # 10714, IN&S # I-404A, Alien Reg # 5537570

Starting in 1922, his criminal record reflected a dozen arrests for:

1922 - assault with intent to maim and kill (3-5 years in state prison)

1926 - carrying concealed weapons ($50 fine)

1929 - carrying a gun

1931 - reckless driving, no license, possession of liquor

1931 - transporting and possessing 28 gallons of alcohol (dismissed)

1931 - transporting and possessing 35 gallons of alcohol ($50 fine)

1932 - unlicensed driver

1939 - operating a lottery (1 year probation and $300 fine)

1940 - larceny of automobile plates

1940 - immigration registration (during WWII - enemy alien reg.)

1953 - immigration violation

1956 - perjury for false statements

Rackets and Legit Business

Considered a millionaire many times over, LaRocca, in addition to his racket operations, was very interested in legitimate businesses throughout his lifetime, as evidenced by his ownership interests in numerous varied businesses and industries.

Side Note: It was a business model and mentality he also stressed among his rank-and-file membership.

He was a principal partner and president of the North Star Cement Company, 12 McCandless Avenue, Pittsburgh, operated by a nephew. Capo Antonio Ripepi was also a partner in this venture. This company employed over 25-30 people at its peak. The firm manufactured and distributed cement blocks for construction projects around Pennsylvania. It was considered a major player in the building materials supply industry.

LaRocca also had an ownership interest in Keystone Sales, Inc., a cigarette vending firm doing business as the Keystone Cigarette Vending Co. He was partnered with capo Joe Regino in this business, which operated in Johnstown. In 1961, this firm reported bank deposits of $25,000 a month.

Tony Ripepi

For many years, he held a principal partnership with Coin Machine Distributors of Pittsburgh, a major vending machine company (which will be discussed in more detail below). L & G Amusement Co. (the letters stand for LaRocca and Genovese) was another major coin-machine distributor in Pittsburgh.

Duquesne Vending Company of Duquesne, PA., operated a virtual monopoly in that city to place illegal slot machines. In 1948, detectives raided the firm and seized 38 one-armed bandits.

The Rock-O-La Corp. and Fayette Novelty Company were other front companies that operated to handle illegal gambling slots and jukeboxes.

In 1954, Standard Dryer Distributing Company was formed by LaRocca and several partners to sell and distribute mechanical hand dryers.

By 1951, he also held ownership of Beer Dispensing Company, a large wholesale distributor of beverages that later changed its name to Bulk Beverages Inc. His son, John Jr, operated this business.

LaRocca was said to own extensive real estate holdings in and around the greater Pittsburgh area, which produced a large monthly rental income. These properties were put under a realty holding corporation.

Over the years, he acquired and owned a “blue chip” portfolio, including AT&T and Western Electric, that paid regular dividends to him and his wife, Mary.

Long considered the “boss” or “capo” of the LaRocca crime Family of Pittsburgh, he oversaw all racket operations of his borgata. Among the various rackets this small group engaged in over the years included alcohol bootlegging, labor racketeering (union corruption), policy (numbers) gambling on a huge scale across the city, casino-type gambling (dice, cards, roulette, slot machines), bookmaking (horses, sports), slot machines/jukebox/coin-machine monopoly rackets, shylocking (or loansharking), and extortion and strongarm tactics.

On Law Enforcement's Radar

LaRocca was said to have attended the November 14, 1957, conference of hoodlums at Apalachin, NY. Although not physically nabbed there, the FBI stated that he was registered at the Arlington Hotel in Binghamton, NY. He was later grilled along with 61 other top mafiosi nationwide before various grand juries.

He allegedly attended with capos Frank Amato and the Mannarino brothers representing the Pittsburgh area.

He applied for citizenship in 1950 and was arrested as an undesirable alien in 1953 following the issuance of a deportation order. Said to have used his influence, LaRocca received a full pardon and dismissal of the deportation order from Pennsylvania Governor John S. Fine in 1954.

The local racket element estimated that Governor Fine had been paid off to the tune of $50,000 to $100,000 in bribe money.

LaRocca and his associates were said to have deep connections within the East Liberty police department and in local and state government that helped indemnify them from investigations, arrests, and convictions. It allowed them to operate their numbers gambling racket and other criminal operations, including illegal casinos and after-hours clubs, virtually unimpeded over the years.

During his attempted deportation hearings, Allegheny County Judge Premo J. Columbus, who was also friendly with LaRocca, testified on LaRocca’s behalf. Only when the federal government stepped in and started investigating the LaRocca Family were they exposed to real scrutiny and prosecution.

Throughout the years, it was reported that they had direct connections to District Attorney Samuel R. Di Francesco after contributing between $35,000 and $50,000 to help him get elected. Subsequently, this gave the LaRocca crew control over and immunity in Cambria County.

LaRocca was said to have also worked in agreement, over the years, with Art Rooney (owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers Football team) in vending machines and other business arrangements.

Starting out as a moonshiner and bootlegger in the 1930s at Jamestown, New York, LaRocca made regularly scheduled runs into Pittsburgh for his liquor operations. He would later remain in Pittsburgh because of the police “heat” he had in Jamestown, continuing his moonshining and adding a numbers operation later on.

In 1941, it was reported by informants that LaRocca was in control of all the numbers activity in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. He was also said to be a distributor of “one-armed bandits” or slot machines placed throughout the neighborhood in candy stores, bars, and other establishments. LaRocca reportedly received these machines from a connection made in Chicago.

He later formed the Coin Machine Distributing Co., located at 5746 Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh, which became one of the largest vending machine companies in the city, with the machines placed in the Homewood, East Liberty, and Garfield sections of Pittsburgh.

In this venture, he was reportedly partnered with capo Frank Amato , Barney McGinley, and Sam Mannarino . The company did well until authorities raided various establishments where the machines had been placed, forcing the firm out of business.

Important Associations

Below is a thumbnail sketch for many of his more important members and associates. Most subordinates listed were top mobsters of this Southwestern mafia network:

Michael Genovese -- LaRocca’s closest associate, underboss, and protege. Ostensibly a legitimate businessman and partner with Archie Nelson (also a racketeer) in Archie’s Car Wash and L.A. Motors, he later became boss after LaRocca’s death.

Samuel (Sam) Mannarino -- With his younger brother Kelly, they were the gambling boss “capos” in New Kensington. Sam was later sidelined and semi-retired by the Family.

Gabriel (Kelly) Mannarino -- Younger brother of Sam who later took over various gambling operations as capo in New Kensington. A very important mafioso, he also held interests in Cuban gambling casinos in partnership with other bosses nationwide. Owns Catoris Candies Inc., Ken-Iron & Steel Corp., My-Ken Novelty Co., and S.&S. Distributing Co., both slot machine and vending businesses, both of New Kensington. They also owned the San Souci Hotel & Casino in Havana, Cuba, at one time.

Subordinates included the Lanzino brothers, Willie Sams, Al Zeid, and John Fontana. In later years, his young protege, Thomas (Sonny) Ciancutti, would later rise to a position of authority as well.

Frank Amato Sr. -- Of Braddock, old-line Mafia boss with heavy political influence who LaRocca later succeeded, with Amato stepping down to serve in the underboss position thereafter. Interests included jukeboxes and vending machines, and the Adrilee Motel, Restaurant & Bar on Rt. 30. His son, Frank (Sonny) Amato Jr., was a more current member of the Family.

John Bazzano Jr. -- The son of former boss John Bazzano Sr., he also became a top soldier within the borgata, working under his father-in-law capo, Tony Ripepi. By the 1980s, he had become underboss after the death of JoJo Pecora.

Joseph (JoJo) Pecora - A soldier who later became an underboss to Mike Genovese after his accession to Family head. He controlled the West Virginia Panhandle area and several labor union locals for the borgata. Pecora served a federal “bid” for political influence peddling.

Frank Valenti -- Son-in-law of Amato who later relocated to Rochester, New York to form his own Family.

Joseph Sica -- Born 1908, another old-line mafioso who served as a respected soldier of the Family in control of Penn Hills. He had a record for burglary, larceny, gambling, defrauding, and receiving kickbacks from the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund with members of New York’s Genovese Family. After his conviction for kickbacks and extortion, Sica served part of a five-year sentence in 1978. He held partnership interests in Valley Beer Distributor, Tri-Boro Vending Machine Company, J. & L. Cigarette Service, and the Rainbow Amusement Park Company with the Volpe brothers. By the late-1980s, Sica was said to be serving as the Family consigliere. Side Note: His daughter Josephine married Frank Rosa, the son of capo Joe Rosa. Sica was also an older cousin of former Lucchese acting boss turned informer, Alphonse (Little Al) D’Arco of New York.

Giuseppe (Joe) Rosa -- Another soldier who was later elevated as a capo and oversaw an outer district.

Antonio (Tony) Ripepi -- Old-line mafioso born in Calabria who served as a senior capo. Father-in-law of soldier John Bazzano Jr. and Rochester mob figure Costenze (Stanley) Valenti.

Dominick Anzalone -- A key soldier who later had a falling out with LaRocca after being edged out of racket operations in PA. He later relocated out to California by 1960.

James (Two-Gun Jimmy) Prato -- A tough old-time Calabrian soldier who oversaw the Youngstown, Ohio rackets for the Pittsburgh crew. He was the nephew and protege of former Calabrian faction mobster Dominick Mallamo.

Nicholas Stirone -- Became a labor union official under the supervision of LaRocca. Stirone was President of the District Labor Council for the International Hod Carriers, Painters and Common Laborers Union (AFL-CIO) and representative of the Construction General Laborers and Material Handlers Union - Local # 1058 (AFL-CIO). In 1957, he was sentenced to 3 years on anti-racketeering charges.

Hyman (Little Hymie) Martin -- Close associates of LaRocca who resided in Miami. With arrests for armed robbery, murder, liquor law violation, gambling. He operated Cuban gambling casinos.

Felix (Phil) Genovese -- Older brother of Mike, he was overseer/controller of the numbers operation in East Liberty and Homewood. Owned and operated out of the Red Eagle Club and Genovese Cocktail Lounge. Numbers racketeers “Boots” Bellini and his brother operate under Phil.

Fiore (Fio) Genovese - Brother to Mike and Phil, he was said to be an “associate” active in the numbers racket in tandem with his brothers.

Capo Louis and Joseph Volpe -- Notorious brothers whose three older brothers were shot to death years earlier in the Hill district during Prohibition. The Volpe’s ran all racketeering operations in the Wilmerding, PA., area. The Volpe brothers' killings were a pivotal event in Cosa Nostra. Boss John Bazzano was later lured to NYC and massacred as a result of his orchestrating their murders. Joe Sica was thought to have served in the Volpe regime.

John Scardina -- At one time, he was considered the top numbers operator in Farrell, PA. A close personal friend of LaRocca.-Joseph (Little Joe Ragno) Regino - a convicted counterfeiter, he was born in Calabria, Italy, in 1907 and controlled all rackets operations in the Johnstown section of Pittsburgh. He had a record of 14 arrests and served a term at Lewisburg Penitentiary. Regino and LaRocca were partners in a major vending machine firm controlling vending rackets in that city. He also held interests in a cigar store and bowling alley. Regino later relocated to Pompano, Florida.

John C. Fontana -- Another reputed soldier, said to be active in policy and bookmaking. Controls Westmoreland County for the Family. Suspected of involvement in narcotics trafficking. Served under the Mannarino brothers in the New Kensington area handling gambling operations.

Other mafiosi that LaRocca associated with included Thomas Pecora, Jack Cancellieri, Al Ladish, Phil Scassera, Charles Margiotti, Charles (Charlie Murgie) Imburgia, Robert (Bobby I) Ianelli, Fritz Kohl, Tony Grosso, Paul (No-Legs) Hankish, Michael Trafficante, Primo Mollica, Anthony (Wango) Capizzi, Samuel (Sammy Fashion) Facionatta, Sandy Naples and his brothers, Lenine (Lenny) Strollo and his brother, among many others.

The End of the Line

By 1950, LaRocca was already considered overall boss of Allegheny County and its outer environs for decades. Federal law enforcement identified him as the “power” in the city of Pittsburgh, where he was “representante” of their local resident mafia Family. This group also held sway over parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Western PA.

On June 11, 1959, LaRocca appeared with Gabriel Mannarino before the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field of the United States. Senator Bobby Kennedy was head of the proceedings. Both were grilled about their knowledge of labor racketeering and mafia corruption.

Sebastiano (Big John) LaRocca

In the aftermath of the Apalachin Meeting debacle and the intense law enforcement scrutiny they followed, LaRocca started spending more and more time down in Florida and away from daily mob operations. He allowed his trusted underboss to act as “acting boss.” This allowed LaRocca to remain in the shadows.

Of course, he was consulted on any major moves his men contemplated making before doing so. And he surely received his boss's share of the spoils. But LaRocca was content to essentially semi-retired from the day-to-day mob grind.

Sebastiano Giovanni LaRocca died on December 3, 1984, in McCandless, Pennsylvania, at 83.

Aside from serving a few years in state prison in his youth, LaRocca lived a very charmed life as the “Representante” of one of the most successful and trouble-free Cosa Nostra Families to ever operate in the United States.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Sebastiano Giovanni LaRocca: The Boss of Pittsburgh

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