When you think of the Mafia, Connecticut probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Nowadays, we have very low rates of both property crimes and violent crimes — we’re typically listed among the safest states in the country, in fact! But believe it or not, half a century ago, New Haven, Connecticut, was a haven for the New England branches of the Mafia.

When Prohibition was passed in 1920, many regions of the country saw the development of crime rings that illegally sold alcohol.
Unknown/Wikimedia Commons
This bootlegging industry would later grow into the American Mafia. The American Mafia is organized into families that each have their own territory. Much of Connecticut's criminal activity fell under the control of the New York-based Genovese family.
Salvatore “Midge Renault” Annunziato was one of the most infamous Connecticut gangsters. He found some success as an amateur boxer before turning to a life of crime.
FBI File Photo (Public Domain)
Annunziato resided in Connecticut because his presence drew relatively little attention there. He committed many crimes, including murder, and was regularly in and out of jail.
Annunziato began working for Ralph Mele, a local Mafia boss, after meeting him in prison. Mele was extremely flashy and showy and had a tendency to draw attention to himself.
FBI File Photo (Public Domain)
It was a surprise to no one when Mele was shot and killed in New Haven in 1951. Annunziato was a suspect in the murder, but nothing was ever proven. It was thought that he killed Mele to enter the Genovese family and gain Mele's territory.

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In many cities, New Haven included, crime family members had friends in high places. Local government officials friendly to the Mafia meant that crimes were lightly punished.
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Mobsters like Annunziato frequently owned construction companies. With connections in government, it was easy to make money by getting lucrative contracts. However, as new officials were elected, things began to change. Gradually, the Mafia fell out of power in New Haven. Annunziato went missing and other powerful mobsters were imprisoned or murdered.
Though things quieted down in New Haven after Annunziato's disappearance, there was still some Mafia involvement in the area.
FBI New York/Wikimedia Commons
Legendary crime boss John Gotti went on trial in New York in 1992. Jurors heard about how his racketeering and gambling activities stretched all the way to Connecticut.
Even today, gambling rings and illegal lotteries are sometimes uncovered in Connecticut. These often have Mafia roots.
Free-Photos/Pixabay

Were you aware of the Mafia history in Connecticut? What other aspects of Connecticut history would you like to see articles about? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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