The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia: Corn Sugar and Blood

By Rick Porrello

Book Overview

First published in September 2004, one of Barricade's best-selling true crime titles is coming back in print in paperback to coincide with the film release of "To Kill The Irishman". With a new Introduction by the author, The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia is the fascinating chronicle of a once mighty crime family's birth, rise to power, and eventual collapse. The Cleveland crime family was third in power after New York City and Chicago, had influence with mega-mobsters like Meyer Lansky, and had a hand in the development of Las Vegas. Cleveland was also the site of the first known national meeting of the Sicilian-American Mafia that was hosted in 1928 by the author's grandfather and uncles--the notorious Porrello brothers. Although Danny Greene, "The Irishman," and La Cosa Nostra on the North Coast fall prey to this crime family, the central figure to The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia is Angelo "Big Ange" Lonardo. "Big Ange" boldly avenged his father's death in 1929, and then rose through the ranks to become acting boss of the Cleveland crime family. He would serve two years of a life sentence before shocking family, friends, fellow mobsters, and the law enforcement community by cutting a deal with the Feds. He betrayed Omert --the Sicilian code of silence--and his testimony helped put away mob bosses in New York City and across the country, and he provided a valuable and detailed education into the criminal society known as the Mafia.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569802777
• ISBN13: 9781569802779
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Barricade Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

This town ain't big enough....

There was room for five families in New York. In Cleveland there was only room for one. The Lonardos and the Porellos struggle to control the manufacture and distribution of liquor during prohibition is well-chronicled in this work. Moe Dalitz financing of Las Vegas casinos is discussed. The book even continues on into the racketeering of Danny Greene and the ILA in the 1970's.

Martin Scorsese should read this book

Martin Scorsese would have great content for his next film if he read this book. Rick Porello is able to take these moments in Cleveland history and make them as compelling as the stories about Luciano, the Gambino Family, etc. I can't wait to begin reading his other two books.

My Family Was a Part of This!

This book was quite interesting- But I felt a knot in my stomach when I read the part about my Grandfather's death. I knew he was a part of this, but I never read it word for word. You know- "I can't really believe it until I see it,"- I believed it at first, but the book brought the truth to reality. Definately recommend for people interested to get a true taste of what it was like (and still is).

Historical, nostalgic...yet very personable. Good reading.

This book is a must for nostalgic buffs who want to go back to Cleveland when bootleggers tried to take over the city. The reading about a history that involved part of a family's patriarchal demise is saddening, yet paints the reality and cruelty involved with gang warfare. I enjoy history, and this book is excellent in telling a part of early 20th century crime in Cleveland and its mob history. I can't wait for the next book.