Back In The Day, This Quiet West Virginia Town Was A Mafia Mecca
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 who are wise to local history, know that their city — and nearby Fairmont — were once mafia towns.
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.
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 Italian and Italian-Americans in the U.S.
But the The Black Hand practiced more than extortion. They were also involved in gambling, drug trafficking, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, and racketeering.
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 about the mafia in Clarksburg and Fairmont? What other WV cities do you know that have mob ties? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.
To learn more about West Virginia, check out the 10 most dangerous towns in the Mountain State according to a 2015 statistical analysis by the FBI.
