Taking in money from protection rackets, gambling, and bootlegging, Stefano Monastero founded the Pittsburgh La Cosa Nostra family in 1926. Monastero was killed in Allegheny General Hospital in 1926. Joseph Siragusa then took over the family. He was murdered in his home in September of 1931. It was rumored he was whacked because he was a very close friend of Salvatore Maranzano, who was killed three days prior. John Bazzano ruled the family before being murdered in August of 1932. Just one month earlier Bazzano had ordered a hit on the Volpe brothers and so his murder was to avenge theirs, supposedly. Vincenzo Capiazzi was boss 1933-1937, he brought the family national attention. After Capizzi stepped down as boss, Frank Amato took control. He wanted to so badly get in with the unions of the steel workers but failed to do so. Frank Amato died in 1956, making way for John LaRocca who befriended Kansas City boss Nick Civella and establishing gambling rackets with him. LaRocca died in 1986 of lung cancer, having never served a day in jail. Vito Genovese's cousin, Micheal James Genovese, succeeded LaRocca and was heavily watched because of the fact he was Vito's cousin. In 1997, a few members of the family were indicted on charges of attempting to extort money from a native american casino near San Diego. Also some family members were indicted in Youngstown and Cleveland areas on RICO charges.
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