When people think of Italian mafia families, they imagine places like Chicago or New York. One state that definitely does not come to mind is West Virginia. But the residents of Clarksburg, WV who are wise to local history, know that their city — and nearby Fairmont — were once mafia towns. In fact, one prominent American Prohibition-era organization grew to such heights in the early 1900s that many of the most famous Italian mobsters of the age were afraid of them.
Today, Clarksburg is a fairly unassuming town. Established in 1785, this city has seen its share of violence, mostly during the Civil War. However, the early part of the 20th century saw a different kind of violence in the area.
During the Prohibition era, Famiglia Vagabonda ("the wandering family" in English) was an organized crime syndicate operating in Clarksburg and nearby Fairmont.
Led by "Big Joe" Cenetti, Its members were comprised of Mafiosi, Camorristi, and Black Handers. The Fairmont division of the crime ring was under the leadership of James Urso. Originally formed to protect Italian who were new to country, the group evolved into a protection racket that extorted the Italian and other communities for profit.
Although they were known by local detectives as Famiglia Vagabonda, the media called them the Black Hand, which refers to a network of extortion rackets practiced by a number of other Italian and Italian-Americans in the U.S.
Technically, the Black Hand was a method of extortion, not a criminal organization. Most often, individuals would send threatening letters to victims, warning of bodily harm, or even murder. A specified amount of money needed to be delivered at a "certain time and place" to ensure the victim's safety. Letters were then decorated and signed with a variety of symbols, including daggers, pistols, and - of course - a black hand insignia.
However, these Black Hand letters eventually became a mafia calling card of sorts, and came to symbolize all mob-related crime in Little Italy. For many, the receipt of a letter was synonymous with death.
But the Black Hand practiced far more than extortion. They were also involved in gambling, drug trafficking, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, and racketeering.This crime family in West Virginia gained national attention, which ultimately led to the ring's downfall.
In 1923 and 1924, after 15 years of crime and mayhem, several members of the family were arrested or executed for the murder of Frank Naples.
During January and February of 1924, Phillip Connizzaro, Nicholas Salamante, Richard Ferri, and Samual Muratore were all executed for the crime. That year is regarded as the last time the syndicate was considered active, although remnants of the organization still remain to this day.
It just goes to show that organized crime can occur anywhere if there are enough people in an area who are willing to earn a living outside the confines of the law.
Did you know that the mafia had ties in West Virginia? What else can you add about WV's mob-related history? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.
To learn more about West Virginia and see history truly come alive, visit the town in West Virginia that was turned into a state park.
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