Kreck - Smaldone the untold story of an American crime family

Smaldone

The Untold Story of an American Crime Family

Dick Kreck

Contents

Foreword xi

Acknowledgments xvii

Chapter One Little Caesar 1

Chapter Two Arrivals 15

Chapter Three Bootleg 29

Chapter Four Noble Experiment 39

Chapter Five Murder, Inc. 55

Chapter Six Clyde 71

Chapter Seven Checkers 97

Chapter Eight Pueblo 113

Chapter Nine Central City 127

Chapter Ten Rich and Famous 139

Chapter Eleven The Heights 153

Chapter Twelve 1953 167

Chapter Thirteen Double-crossed 183

Chapter Fourteen Chauncey, Paulie, and Eugene 197

Chapter Fifteen The Smaldone Women 211

Chapter Sixteen Recessional 229

Epilogue

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Text 2009 by Dick Kreck

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kreck, Dick.

Smaldone : the untold story of an American crime family / by Dick

Kreck.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-55591-718-0 (hardcover)

1. Mafia--United States--Case studies. 2. Gangsters--United

States--Biography. 3. Criminals--United States--Biography. 4.

Organized crime--United States--Case studies. I. Title.

HV6446.K74 2009

364.10922788--dc22

2008055423

Printed in Canada by Friesens Corp.

0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Design by Jack Lenzo

Cover photo: Clyde Smaldone returned from federal prison in 1962 happy to be home. In his first newspaper interview, he said, Ive got
no animosity against anyone. Its all over now. The Denver Post

Back cover photo: Clyde and Checkers Smaldone, 1953. The Denver Post

Background texture, photos: Sahua | Dreamstime.com

Background texture, sidebars: Nejron | Dreamstime.com

Fulcrum Publishing

4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100

Golden, Colorado 80403

800-992-2908 303-277-1623

www.fulcrumbooks.com

Unless otherwise credited, quotes from Clyde Smaldone are taken from tapes made with his son Gene Smaldone in 1992.

Characters

Leo Barnes Partner with Smiling Charlie Stephens in the Blakeland Inn restaurant/casino. An attempt to blow him up in his car in 1936 sent Clyde and Checkers Smaldone and Stephens to the state penitentiary in Caon City for four years.

Ronnie Bay Childhood friend of Clyde Smaldones son Gene.

Benny Binion Texas gambler who later owned Binions Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas.

Charley Blanda Head of the Pueblo mob and an intimate of Clyde and Checkers Smaldone. He was godfather to Clydes son Chuck.

Mother Cabrini Educator and future Catholic saint who taught Clyde Smaldone as a child.

Al Capone Famed Chicago mobster who helped Clyde Smaldone get established in bootlegging in the 1920s.

Albert Bert Capra Clyde Smaldones brother-in-law and partner in gambling enterprises.

Sam Carlino Early-day racketeer in Pueblo who, with his brother, Pete, known as the Al Capone of southern Colorado, ran the mob there until he was shot to death in May 1931. Pete was murdered four months later.

Vincenzo James Black Jim Colletti Leader of the southern Colorado mob after the death of Charley Blanda. A member of the Mafia.

Frank Curley Head of federal rationing for western states during World War II and a source for Clyde Smaldones black market operations.

John Danna One of four brothersTony, Pete, and Sam were the
otherswho fought the Carlino brothers for control of the Pueblo mob. All four were murdered between 1925 and 1930.

Paul The Harp Enrichi Reputed enforcer for the Smaldone mob.

Barry Fey Onetime music promoter in Denver, a close friend of Fat Paulie Villano, and, for a time, a major gambler.

Judy Good Girlfriend and wife of Young Eugene Smaldone. A racing-dog owner and drug user.

John C. Jenkins Jr. Mayor of Central City who struck a deal with the Smaldones to run gambling in the mountain town during the opera season in the late 1940s.

Judge W. Lee Knous Federal judge who sentenced Clyde and Checkers Smaldone to twelve-year terms in federal prison for jury tampering.

John Skip LaGuardia Owner of the Alpine Inn in North Denver who challenged the Smaldones gambling empire.

Carlos Marcello Powerful New Orleans mob boss and a close friend of Clyde Smaldone.

Frank Blackie Mazza A member of the Smaldone mob and a close family friend.

Jerry Middleton Self-styled Barber to the Stars and a bookmaker.

Gerald Nevins Companion and bootlegging partner of Clyde Smaldone during Prohibition.

Judge Willis W. Ritter Federal judge whose bizarre behavior and extreme sentences got him removed from the Smaldones jury-tampering case.

Robin Walkie-Talkie Roberts Young gambler whose loose lips led to his death.

Joe Roma Known as Little Caesar, he headed the Denver rackets until he was shot to death in his North Denver living room in 1933.

Joe The Ram Salardino Associate of the Smaldones who, with his brother, Gus, ran gambling in Caon City, Colorado.

Anthony Smaldone Smaldone brother who operated Gaetanos, the familys North Denver restaurant.

Charles Chuck Smaldone Clyde Smaldones younger son.

Clarence Chauncey Smaldone Youngest Smaldone brother, who, with his nephew Paul Villano, succeeded Clyde Smaldone in running the familys gambling and loan-sharking operations.

Clyde Smaldone Titular head of the Smaldone crime family from the 1930s until he retired in the 1960s.

Eugene Checkers Smaldone Gambler, bookmaker, and loan shark. Regarded as the toughest of the Smaldone brothers.

Eugene Gene Smaldone Clyde Smaldones older son.

Jeannie Reeb Smaldone Chauncey Smaldones second wife. Blamed by the family for causing dissension among the brothers.

Louis Smaldone Son of Smaldone cousin Fiore. Briefly involved in the familys slot machine operations.

Pauline Blasi Smaldone Chauncey Smaldones first wife. She became involved in bookmaking.

Raffaele Ralph Smaldone A North Denver grocer, small-time bootlegger, and father of the six Smaldone boys.

Shirley Carroll Smaldone Married to Anthony Smaldone. She held the liquor license for Gaetanos.

Young Eugene Smaldone Checkers Smaldones son. Shunned by the family for his drug use and dealing. Also known as Flipper for his malformed left hand.

James Jim Spinelli Early soldier for Joe Roma. He later aligned with the Smaldones.

Joseph Scotty Spinuzzi Pueblos last known Mafia boss.

Ova Elijah Smiling Charlie Stephens Gambler and owner of the Blakeland Inn near Denver.

Joseph Joe Valley Valentich Friend, driver, and drinking companion of Checkers and Clyde Smaldone.

Paul Fat Paulie Villano Smaldone nephew who specialized in bookmaking and loan-sharking with Chauncey Smaldone.

Clyde Smaldones two sons, Chuck, left , and Gene. Kevin Kreck