Johnny Torrio aka John Torrio Giovanni Torrio He

Johnny Torrio (aka John Torrio, Giovanni Torrio) -He was born February 1882, Orsara, Italy—died April 16, 1957, New York, U. S. -Known as one of the founders of organized crime in America -As a teen, he joined the James Street Gang in Manhattan and then became the leader. The gang made money as thieves until Torrio opened a gambling den, and then was noticed by local Mafia Capo Paul Kelly mentored and groomed Torrio into a sophisticated, professional “businessowner”. -After leaving Kelly’s operation, Torrio pursued his own. A local kid, Al Capone, joined the crew with Torrio as his mentor.

The Chicago Outfit -Torrio moved to Chicago to help Jim Colosimo because he was being blackmailed by “The Black Hand”. As a favor, Torrio killed Colosimo’s extortionists. -He began running prostitution rackets in Chicago for Colosimo. -After Capone moved to Chicago, him and Torrio ran The Chicago Outfit together. Capone hired Frankie Yale to execute Colosimo after he proved to be a disgrace to the mafia and divorced Torrio’s aunt. -Torrio had set up an agreement to become business partners with Dean O’Banion and his outfit and run Chicago together, but upon discovering O’Banion had set up Torrio and Capone for murders in a local outfit’s club, Torrio was believed to have hired Yale again to kill O’Banion after him and Capone were released. -As retaliation, members of O’Banion’s outfit ambushed Torrio and shot him four times with poisoned bullets. He survived and was protected by his gang members while he was recovering. He was sentenced to nine months in jail with a bulletproof cell and guards by him at all times.

Retirement -After his release, Torrio announced his retirement and returned to Italy with his wife, with Capone inheriting The Chicago Outfit. -Returned to serve as a Consigliore to Capone’s Outfit. -Capone rose to become one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. -In 1957 Torrio died of a heart attack.

Works Cited Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Johnny Torrio. ” Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. , 28 Jan. 2019, www. britannica. com/biography/Johnny-Torrio. “Johnny Torrio. ” Crime Museum, www. crimemuseum. org/crime-library/organized-crime/johnny-torrio/.