Another of Papalia's lieutenants was a man known as "Pennybender", whose special talent was to place a penny between his teeth while bending it with his hand, which considered to be a terrifying act by those who saw it, and inspired many people to give in to Papalia's demands. Amusements, a pin-ball machine company and Beer Magic, which had a virtual monopoly on supplying beer dispensers for bars in Ontario for decades to come. And with him gone, there's no competition for John [Papalia] in Niagara Falls. [128] Simard seized the Ontario market, bringing Quebec strippers to Toronto clubs, where he allowed Papalia to put his pinball machines in his clubs. I loved it. Just Paw-fect - new police puppies put through their . Known as the "The Enforcer," Johnny (Pops) Papalia was born March 18, 1924 in Hamilton and died at the age of 73 when he was shot in the head outside his family's vending machine business,. [3] He first came through New York City before moving on to Montreal, Quebec, then to New Brunswick to work in the coal mines, before finally settling on Railway Street in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1917. [12], Antonio's wife Maria Rosa Italiano had a first cousin, Nazzareno "Ned" Italiano, who worked as a heroin dealer for Perri and Starkman. [91] On the following day, the bullet-ridden body of Filippo Vendemini was found in the parking lot behind his shoe store on Bloor Street. Not because he used his name. You may be in during the glory with the boss, but when the boss goes, you disappear with him", according to Joe Fotia, a retired OPP Detective Staff Sergeant. [30] The fact that Papalia refused an offer of a plea bargain from the Crown under which he would serve a lesser sentence in exchange for testifying against his employers gave him a reputation in the underworld as someone who could be trusted to observe omert (the code of silence). " Valachi who were all associated with the " Papalia - Agueci Network " of the Magaddino crime family of Buffalo and led by members , John " Johnny . But maybe I'd liked it to be different. ", "Parole of convicted mob killer notorious for his explosive temper tested by road raging motorist", "Kenny Murdock, mob-boss Papalia's killer, gets new identity", "Notorious mobster Pat Musitano believed to be targeted in Hamilton house shooting", "Musitano, 29, was arrested Wednesday for violating terms of his parole, which prohibited him from associating with known criminals", "Frank Papalia was 'the rock' of Hamilton mafia family", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johnny_Papalia&oldid=1142139522, Canadian people convicted of drug offences, People murdered by Canadian organized crime, People extradited from Canada to the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple parents, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 18:49. Papalia also operated various gambling bars and vending machine businesses. When I saw Bluestein, some 10 days after the affair, he looked like a piece of meat. To save face he would had to order a hit on me, he would had no choice. [114] Justice Peter Wright said of the three men convicted, "The evidence in his case is grim and appalling. [167] On 22-23 October 1997, Rizzuto met twice in a Hamilton restaurant with his Toronto agent Gaetano "Guy" Panepinto and Pasquale "Fat Pat" Musitano. [92] He was a tyrannical boss who had no tolerance for failure, and made a point of taunting and punishing his men for any mistake, no matter how minor. Mafia Criminal organization Social issue Activism . He made millions and laughed about it in the media. [56] Berton turned the Bluestein beating into a cause clbre, constantly demanding in his column that Papalia be brought to justice. Sylvestro's son-in-law Danny Gasbarrini, Papalia's brothers Frank, Rocco and Dominic, half-brothers Joseph and Angelo, brother-in-law Tony Pugliese, and associates Red LeBarre, Freddie Gabourie, Frank Marchildon and Jackie Weaver, all worked in running Papalia's clubs. "[2] Antonio Papalia was released in 1941 after he convinced the authorities that he was not a Fascist. [13] Papalia's parents were not married at the time of his birth, which was a source of much shame for him. Papalia was born on March 18, 1924, in Hamilton. [24], By the late 1950s, Johnny Papalia was a made man in the Buffalo family, and boss of the Papalia family Ontario faction. [142] In December 1985, several of Papalia's associates were charged with extortion in Greektown. [42] By 1955, Papalia was known for wearing expensive suits and driving equally expensive automobiles, together with his womanizing habits. The Papalia crime family is a 'Ndrangheta organized crime family based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as well as Plat in Southern Italy and Buccinasco in N. He got to his person because he used our name. [56] The "French Connection" heroin was grown in the poppy fields of Turkey and further afield in the "Golden Crescent" nations of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran or the "Golden Triangle" nations of Burma, Thailand and Laos. Don Micu's personality, friendships, dedication to the rules with which he moves, the close relationships with the powerful De Stefano 'ndrina, immediately make him a point of reference for the rest of the 'Ndrangheta. [51], Two of Australia's best known murders have linked to the family. [44] Papalia had the games rigged at his gambling club, having the dice loaded to favour certain numbers, having small dents placed in the cards to let the dealers know what the cards were and clips were placed under the gambling tables to remove cards with high values. [171] One police officer, Shawn Clarkson, of the Niagara Falls Police Department, stated: "There was nobody to stand up to the Hells Angels the way Barillaro or Papalia would have. [148] Papalia was prepared to grudgingly tolerate other outlaw biker clubs such as the Outlaws and Satan's Choice, but drew a line at the Hells Angels. In October 1985, Papalia was one of the principal suspect in the disappearance of Louis Iannuzzelli, a prominent businessman in Niagara Falls who vanished after angering Papalia by operating a loansharking business in what Papalia saw as his turf. After the Rizzuto crime family were not re-paid, in September 1996, Mora was shot in the head four times at a Vaughan farm; Giacinto Arcuri was arrested and charged with Mora's murder, but was acquitted for lack of evidence. [11] In June 1955, while collecting money from various Montreal businesses together with the boxer Norm Yakubowitz, Papalia was the subject of an assassination attempt when someone opened fire on the duo. Help me! "Mafia hitman reveals his code for killings", "His brother was Ontario's pre-eminent Mafia boss, but long-suffering Frank Papalia was still his keeper", "Bawdy houses, biker clubs and Mafia joints: Should we give gang landmarks historical status? According to his death notice, Papalia is survived by his daughter Rachael and two grandchildren. [55] The report by the National Anti-Mafia Directorate stated, "The links with the Mafia families are steadfast and deeply rooted in Australia where permanent traditional links with the Calabrian clans have been solidly establishedClans like Sergi, Barbaro, and Papalia have been active through their Australian affiliates for some time. For a guy who been doing so much in this country, the police haven't been able to come up with anything on me. [28] Bynoe was identified by the Ontario Provincial Police in April 1980 and brought in for questioning, where he confessed the sexual favours made available by the Papalias. "[81] Another Hamilton policeman told the same reporter, "A real deadly man who would crush you without thinking. [57] Bluestein refused to "merge" his operations with Papalia's and was beaten with brass knuckles, iron bars and fists as a result. [50] Papalia, a boxing fan, together with 100 guests watched the last known bare knuckles boxing match in Canada, a fight that was notorious for its bloodiness and ended with Chard defeating Parker. According to the investigations, Domenico is "one of the most authoritative figures, by far, of the entire 'Ndrangheta organization". [79] On March 11, 1963, Papalia was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Another branch of the family is based in Griffith in the Australian state of New South Wales. He was born out of wedlock. The Papalia crime family is a 'Ndrangheta organized crime family based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as well as Plat in Southern Italy and Buccinasco in N. On May 10, 1987, Domenico Papalia was murdered outside of his house in Melbourne and on September 3, 1989, Filippo Papalia was also murdered outside of his house in Sydney. [13] Antonio is believed to have been involved in Starkman's murder as her killers fled in an automobile stolen from the garage where Antonio worked. His scalp was split seven or eight times. "[75] While waiting trial in New York's West Street jail, Papalia was known as "Canadian John" and learned how to play chess. The killings of Johnny and his lieutenant Carmen Barillaro in 1997, ordered by the Musitanos, had effectively wiped out the family's remaining leaders in Canada. [152], In April 1997, Pasquale "Fat Pat" Musitano, the boss of the Musitano family, met with Gaetano "Guy" Panepinto, the Toronto agent of Montreal's Rizzuto family, in Niagara Falls. He used our name. "[121] The Gold Key Club became Papalia's principal base for entertaining visitors as the large, illuminated neon yellow key on the front of the club became a symbol of his power in Hamilton. [5] On April 30, 1974, Papalia went to Montreal, where Cotroni told him, "I don't want chicken feed. $11 million boost for frontline response to family and domestic violence: 24/11/2022. [150] Papalia was especially opposed to the Hells Angels moving into Ontario because of their close alliance with the Rizzuto family as he felt that any Hells Angels chapters in Ontario would in effect be Rizzuto family chapters. (Bobby Hristova/CBC) Pasquale (Pat) Musitano was killed Friday, but Mafia experts say the notorious Hamilton mobster was living on borrowed time long before the fatal shot was fired. Walter Stadnick, a Hamilton native and Hells Angels in charge of expanding them into Ontario, was forced to keep a low profile in his hometown as long as Papalia lived. To John, it would have been the fact that he was taken for a fool, which he couldn't handle; that he had trusted somebody that he couldn't. Antonio, born in 1894, was thought to have immigrated straight to Canada in 1900, however U.S. immigration records were found in 2004 confirming his origin. Sylvestro's son-in-law Danny Gasbarrini, Papalia's brothers Frank, Rocco and Dominic, half-brothers Joseph and Angelo, brother-in-law Tony Pugliese, and associates Red LeBarre, Freddie Gabourie, Frank Marchildon and Jackie Weaver, all worked in running Papalia's clubs. [88] Two of Papalia's Australian cousins were murdered. His companies were the biggest vending-machine and liquor-dispensing equipment firms in Canada. [155] The hitman Kenneth Murdock claimed that he had been ordered to kill Papalia by Angelo and Pat Musitano of the Musitano crime family who owed $250,000 in bookmaking debts to Papalia. [23] After police raids, Papalia started working with James McDermott and Vincent Feeley in several clubs throughout southern Ontario. [53], In 2010, the National Anti-Mafia Directorate of Italy named the Papalia family as one of the 'ndrinas with "active affiliates" in Australia. They do it for the future. "[46] Those who refused his offers of partnership were then beaten bloody by Papalia's thugs. Violi and Cotroni got their sentences appealed to just six months, but Papalia's was rejected; he served four of the years. [83], Due to the indictment, Magaddino promoted Santo Scibetta to leader of the Buffalo family's Ontario branch, replacing Papalia. [156] Papalia was brought to Hamilton General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. [14] Moon stated, "John was a bastard. Pat Musitanothe alleged boss of Hamilton's Musitano crimefamilyhas been released from the hospital after being shot four times in an apparent mafiahit. [56] Berton described the beating, "as terrible a beating as it is possible to give a man without killing himIron bars with ropes attached to them for greater leverage rained down on Bluestein's head and across his forehead, eyes and cheekbones. "[131]In 1994, Papalia began suffering from health problems, and spent most of his time either at his penthouse apartment on Market Street or his office at the Galexy Vending company across the street. [5][73] After his sentence for the Bluestein assault was commuted on March 15, 1962, he was finally extradited. Joseph Valachi, who also attended the same meeting in New York, and later turned informer, testified that he knew Papalia as a capo (boss) who dominated southern Ontario under the authority of the Magaddino family of Buffalo. [19] When Antonio Papalia was interned, his profession was listed as "bootlegger. [35], Also in late 1979, the wiretaps allowed police to raid homes and businesses for files in a defrauding case. The branch was founded and headed by the children of Giuseppe Papalia and Serafina Barbaro. I believe you'll kill me. Rocco projected power and over the years some of it rubbed off on meYou need help? "[14] Johnny, the oldest brother to Frank, Rocco and Dominic Papalia, half-brothers Joseph and Angelo Papalia, brother-in-law Tony Pugliese, and associates, all worked in running his clubs and gambling operations. Papalia was born in Hamilton, to Italian immigrants who also had a history in organized crime. John was the type of guy-even back then-that if he sensed fear in you, he tried to prey on it. "[48] Papalia's principle enforcer was Howard "Baldy" Chard, a professional heavyweight boxer with a scarred face. [148] The crime expert Jerry Langton wrote, "Well into the '90s, Papalia was the undisputed Godfather in Hamilton, especially after Luppino died in 1987. [93] The speech caused a media storm in Ontario. [17] Maria Rosa initially married Antonio's younger brother Giuseppe Papalia Jr., giving birth to two sons in Italy, however when Giuseppe died, she immigrated to Canada with her two sons in 1923 to marry Antonio. [33] With her gathered recordings, trial began in the summer of 1981, where Frank and Papalia lieutenant Steve Koaches pleaded guilty to obstructing justice, and in return, Frank's prostitution charge was dropped. [49] In 1955, Papalia organized in Toronto a bare-knuckle boxing match between Chard and James. [15] It is also believed that Antonio and his son Johnny Papalia, along with Stefano Magaddino of the Buffalo crime family played a role in Perri's disappearance in 1944 after Perri left members of his Mafia crew "slighted", though both cases remain unsolved. [28], Police also identified Ryce a month later and also admitted to being paid by the Papalias for sexual favours, agreeing to cooperate with police by placing a tape recorder in her purse. [9] Antonio, born in 1894, was thought to have immigrated straight to Canada in 1900, however U.S. immigration records were found in 2004 confirming his origin. "[129] In contrast to Simard, Papalia hated Eddie Melo, a boxer turned mob enforcer for the Cotroni family, who had replaced Simard as the Cotroni's family's supervisor for the Toronto area. [38], By the mid-1950s, Papalia was called back to Ontario by Magaddino and inducted as a made man into the Canadian arm of the Buffalo crime family and to be boss of the Papalia family in Ontario. He was basically the only Canadian Mafia figure who could sit at the table with the top guys in New York. [117], In 1979, Monarch Vending was sold to Allind Distributors of Toronto while a non-competition agreement was signed with Frank Papalia and Monaco, stating the two were not to compete with Monarch Vending in the greater Toronto area for the next five years. At a young age, he was involved in petty crimes, but by the 1950s, moved his way up to drug trafficking and formed a powerful alliance with the Buffalo crime family. [57] It was understood that if Bluestein accepted a drink paid for by Papalia, it would mean submission to Papalia and he refused it, it would mean defiance; Bluestein refused the proffered drink. Here is a Law Society bencher, he's likey going to become a judge, or if he goes into politics, he'll become the attorney general. Half. [37] He liked to flash what he called "reds and browns" ($50 and $100 bills) as a sign of his wealth. [39][40] It is not clear just precisely when Papalia became a made man, but it appears to have occurred sometime in 1955. [94] The photographs of Papalia entering the Old City Hall of Toronto to testify at the inquiry dressed in a trench coat and a fedora while smoking a cigarette made the frontpages of the Canadian newspapers. "[55], "Hamilton mobster changed Niagara's underworld", "Reputed mobster Pat Musitano fights for life after shooting", "Frank Papalia was 'the rock' of Hamilton mafia family", "Buccinasco, il sindaco antimafia Pruiti: "Sono saltati gli equilibri tra le famiglie, temo una guerra tra clan", "Hamilton's Rocco Perri became the 'king of the bootleggers' during prohibition era", "His brother was Ontario's pre-eminent Mafia boss, but long-suffering Frank Papalia was still his keeper", "Guns found in attic of Hamilton mobster Frank Papalia's old home", "Mafia hitman reveals his code for killings", "Parole of convicted mob killer notorious for his explosive temper tested by road raging motorist", "Kenny Murdock, mob-boss Papalia's killer, gets new identity", "Brothers plead guilty in mob murder case", "Reputed Mafia Boss dies at home at age 93", "Chi comanda a Buccinasco: la terra dei clan e l'attesa per Micu Papalia, il Papa di 'ndrangheta in cella dal 1977", "Scarcerato il boss Rocco Papalia. It wasn't for a lack of trying, he was just too smart. They used a password that changed from time to time, just like in gangster movies. They serve as his trophies. [37][30] Businessmen who were unable to repay their loans were forced to take on vending machines from Papalia on his terms while those who could still not repay their loans were further threatened "or worse. I tell you, this guy was like a fox. [52] Together with Alberto Agueci of the Magaddino family, Papalia contacted Antoine Cordoliani and Joseph Csari, two Corsican leaders of Le Milieu, to buy high-quality heroin. A French language version of the show premiered on November 11, 2017 on Ici Radio-Canada Tl under the title Les liens du sang.. No regard for anyone or anything, neither for the criminal laws nor the laws of the underworld. [107] In 1973, Bader swindled a group of Montreal investors, which Swartz mentioned to Papalia. [92] The way that murders in Toronto always seemed to occur at the same time that Papalia met with Luppino led the police to suspect that Papalia was the killer. [59], The 100 some witnesses to the beating were reluctant to come forward, but in May of that year Papalia turned himself in to police to take some heat off of the crime family, and he was sentenced in June to 18 months in prison for the assault. [39], Johnny Papalia was shot dead on May 31, 1997, at the age of 73, in the parking lot outside his vending machine business, Galaxy Vending, on 20 Railway Street in Hamilton by hitman Kenneth Murdock claimed to be ordered by Angelo and Pat Musitano of the Musitano crime family who owed $250,000 to Papalia. [135] Despite his fondness for Chinese food, Papalia refused to go to Lee's Garden, his favourite Chinese restaurant, which was located just outside outside of Hamilton in Burlington, instead patiently waiting in his car for someone to pick up the food he ordered. [27] When visiting Toronto, Papalia was known to joke that the particular branch of the Toronto-Dominion bank that he robbed in 1944 was "our bank. "[138], Several times, the police were able to pressure criminals to wear wires while visiting Papalia at his office on Railroad Street, but he never said anything that would had allowed the police to lay charges. "[47] The protection payments served as seed money for Papalia's loan sharking business, which he called "shylocking. [41][42][43][44][40] The Musitano's pleaded guilty to conspiracy of Barillaro's death, but not Papalia's, receiving a 10-year sentence in February 2000, but were released in October 2006. [149] The Quebec biker war confirmed his prejudices as he found the Angels to be too violent and too vulgar for his liking. "[146] The police suspect that Barillaro was involved in Iannuzzelli's presumed murder. [16][5] On 23 April 1944, Perri vanished after going out for a walk and it is believed Papalia along with his father was involved in "the mysterious affair" of Perri's disappearance. [6], In Italy, the Papalia family is a sort of branch within the Barbaro 'ndrina, operating in Lombardy, and having its stronghold in the city of Buccinasco. The Papalia crime family is a 'Ndrangheta organization based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as well as Plat in Southern Italy and Buccinasco in Northern Italy. That's what the police tell you, isn't it? [33] Luciano had assigned Montreal to the Bonnano family. [2], During his time in Toronto, Papalia served with a youth gang consisting of Paul Volpe, Pasquale Giodrano , Roy Pasquale, and Alberto Mignacchio. [1] It is typical of what happens when a syndicate tries to take over and organize crime. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. More posts you may like. [163][164], Papalia's brother Frank, the former underboss of the family, who would have been the heir to the operation, decided not to retaliate; instead, he retired and lived inconspicuously. Langton stated, "It's hard for people to understand now just how powerful Johnny Pops was. "[46] When the answer was no, Papalia replied "Well, it's going to. [170] Langton noted Papalia had a marked distaste for outlaw bikers and, in a sign of his power, Walter Stadnick, the former president of Hells Angels Canada, had trouble establishing the Angels in Ontario while Papalia was alive. [10], In 1940, Papalia's father was arrested and sent to internment at Camp Petawawa as part of the Italian Canadian internment, as potentially dangerous enemy aliens with alleged connections to Benito Mussolini's fascist regime, causing his son to have a grudge against the Canadian government. [19] In 1940, Antonio Papalia was sent to internment at Camp Petawawa as part of the Italian Canadian internment, as potentially dangerous enemy aliens with alleged fascist connections to Benito Mussolini's regime. He got where he is through fear. [116] After his release from prison, Papalia went to his cottage at Lake Temagami in northern Ontario. [60], A profile of Papalia was published in Toronto Star Weekly Magazine by Peter Sypnowich under the title "He Wanted To Be Canada's Al Capone. Papalia. [129] Cotroni's right-hand man, Claude Faber, told Simard, "If he makes any trouble, kill the fucker he's old enough to die. You have to remember, he grew up in an era when it was a terrible thing to be conceived out of wedlock. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . [7], Antonio Papalia was a bootlegger with early Picciotteria values,[8] who immigrated to Canada from Delianuova, Calabria, Italy, in 1912, through New York City before moving on to Montreal, Quebec then New Brunswick in the coal mines, before finally settling on Railway Street in Hamilton, Ontario in 1917. Joseph Todaro Sr. took control of the family in the mid-1980s and began to pull the somewhat weakened family together including strengthening its Canadian ties to longtime crime family crew in Hamiton, Ontario also known as the Papalia crime family.