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| c. 1980 |
Joseph Giardano was a member of the St. Louis Family.
His younger brothers Salvatore/Sam (DOB 1905-1957) and Anthony (1914-1980) were also members, the latter serving as Family Boss from the 1960s until his death.
Additional member relatives included nephews Anthony (1918-2002) and James Giammanco (1920-1985).
Joseph Giardano was born April 30, 1900 in Palermo (Terrasini?), Sicily.
By summer 1926 he resided at 1128 North 8th St in St. Louis.
In early November 1927 convicted for involvement in the July 1926 robbery of $8,100 in payroll from the Suburban Railway Company located directly across the border in East St. Louis, Illinois. Press coverage of the trial noted: "[Giardano] was declared to be the chief of the gang which carried out the robbery."
He served approximately seven-and-one-half years of a ten year sentence at Southern Illinois Penitentiary in Chester.
Press covered from 1942 claims that in 1928 Giardano was arrested on a concealed weapons charge and also held for investigation in a murder case.
An FBI informant later reported that both Joseph and his brother Anthony, along with John Vitale, were inducted into the St. Louis Family around 1934.
On November 18, 1938 Giardano and several others were questioned in the attempted murder of Lee Baker near Creve Coeur Lake in St. Louis County. The victim, shot twice by two assailants, was a witness for the State in a bombing case against Isadore Londe.
The following year Londe and Giardano brothers Joseph and Anthony were questioned in another bombing in Cuba, Missouri.
In 1940 Giardano and brother-in-law Samuel Tocco (1900-1949) were temporarily charged with the robbery of $7,880 in cash and checks from a Maplewood market.
On February 27, 1942 Giardano and four others were indicted for involvement in the December 1941 robbery of $500 cash and $20,800 worth of jewelry and precious metals from the Krause Gold Refinery Company in Kansas City, Missouri. The group was specifically accused of transporting the proceeds over the state line into Johnston County, Kansas.
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| Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1942) |
Labeled a fugitive, Giardano was arrested that June at his North 8th St residence. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported: "[Giardano] denies implication in the [robbery] or that he has been 'hiding out'. He asserted that he had been staying at home for 'several months', doing odd jobs about the house. His wife, Mrs. Bessie [Orlando] Giardano, told the same story." The following month a brother-in-law, Onofrio 'Louis' Tocco (1908-1951), and Arthur Smith (37y) confessed their own involvement and exonerated Giardano.
By March 1945 Giardano operated a tavern at 3702 Olive St, employing his brother Anthony as a bartender.
On March 16, 1945 the brothers were held for disturbing the peace after a shooting near the tavern. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported: "[Lloyd Carter] told police an automobile similar in color and make to one owned by Joseph Giardano drove alongside his car and one of two men in the other machine fired three shots at him with a revolver. Two bullets struck his car, he said. He was unable to identify either of the Giardanos as occupants of the other car. Carter said that shortly before the shooting he had been waiting in his car across the street from Giardano's tavern for a waitress employed there, but that he drove away when two men came out of the tavern after he saw a bartender take a revolver from under the bar. He said the two men got into a car and followed him."
By 1950 Giardano owned a new tavern downtown at 525 Market St. He and his family had moved to 4104 Begg Blvd in Pine Lawn, a small town located just outside the city proper.
On July 18, 1950 briefly testified before a US Senate Committee investigating Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce.
On December 6, 1951 arrested by St. Louis PD on unspecified charge.
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| 1956 |
He was arrested on another unspecified charge in February 1956.
In January 1963 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised a criminal organization consisting of Italian police characters did exist in St. Louis. [CI] stated this organization was referred to as a 'Family' and in years gone by this 'Family' was active in criminal matters...[CI] stated that the organization in St. Louis has been in existence for many years and John Joseph Vitale, one of the members of the St. Louis Family, had been 'made' in 1934. At the time same Anthony Giardano and his brother Joe Giardano were also made. [CI] advised that the St. Louis Family was closely aligned with the Kansas City Family and Vitale and the Giardanos were close to Kansas City."
On July 1, 1963 FBI reported: "The following individuals are believed members of 'La Cosa Nostra' in the St. Louis area, which is under the Family of Nicholas Civella of Kansas City: John Joseph Vitale; Joseph Giardano; Anthony Giardano; Ralph Caleca; Joseph Cammarata; Anthony Miceli; (and possibly) Vincent Filipello aka Sugar Vince; Anthony DiMartino."
By Late 1963 involved with the Anthony Novelty Company at 3401 Kienlen Ave in Pine Lawn.
On December 17, 1963 FBI SL reported: "[CI] advised [John] Vitale, in company with Joe Giardano and Ralph Caleca, had visited Las Vegas in an attempt to purchase an interest in one of the 'Strip' hotels. [CI] said their contact man in Las Vegas was one Tony Renda, an employee of the Stardust Hotel. [CI] said Vitale had attempted to purchase points in the Riviera Hotel, but his efforts were unsuccessful and Vitale exhibited an interest in buying into the Clark Vending Machine Company of Las Vegas." FBI noted: "Subsequent investigation of the Clark Vending Machine Company reflected Frank Milano Jr., son of Frank Milano, and Lee Parisi met in Cleveland, and were scheduled to have meetings in Cleveland, St. Louis and Kansas City concerning additional financing, as well as to obtain instructions regarding [company], and were to receive an 'okay' from top people. Investigation indicated Milano and Parisi did meet with Joe Giardano (brother of Anthony Giardano) at either the Anthony Novelty Company in St. Louis or Vitale's office on Produce Row."
On March 28, 1967 FBI CI reported: "..[CI] further stated Tony Giardano is currently the Boss of the St. Louis Family, and that back in 1949, when Frank Coppola and Silvester Carrollo of Kansas City had been deported, they were hiding out in Tijuana, Mexico, and were visited by Tony Giardano, his brother Joe Giardano,and [Joe] Laudicina [of Detroit]."
On April 22, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] stated there are only two men in St. Louis that have any stature with the 'outfit' and these men are Anthony Giardano and John Vitale. [CI] said both of these were older men and were engaged in gambling and had few business interests. [CI] said both Vitale and Giardano owe their strength to connections that they have with Chicago and Sam Giancana. [CI] said there were no other important members of the 'outfit' in St. Louis, other than possibly Joseph Giardano, who obtained his strength through his brother Anthony. [CI] said the rest of the St. Louis hoodlums were of no importance and just 'small guys'."
On June 14, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] stated the head of the Italian criminal organization in St. Louis, and who is referred to as the 'Boss', is unquestionably Anthony Giardano. [CI] stated that Sam Viviano, who was formerly from St. Louis and who recently died in Battle Creek, Michigan, was the person who groomed Anthony Giardano for his position of prominence in the Mafia. Sam Viviano, Sam Buffa, who are now deceased, and Pete Corrado were all members of the organization and all close friends of Giardano's older brother, Joe Giardano."
On June 14, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] said in the old days in St. Louis, when Pasquale Miceli was alive and head of the organization, the higher-ups in the Family in St. Louis met at the 'council table' at the Miceli Funeral Parlor where they decided on matters of policy...[CI] stated in those days the policy makers would be such individuals as Pasquale Miceli, Sam Viviano and others, many of whom are now deceased. Other policy makers were Joe Giardano and John Ferrara, both of whom are still residing in St. Louis...Joseph Giardano, brother of Tony, is also unquestionably a member of the St. Louis Family and derives his power from the same source as his brother, name Joe Zerilli of Detroit. Joseph Giardano is less active but would be considered in all matters of policy and concerning activities taking place in St. Louis."
On October 20, 1967 FBI NY reported: "The following individuals have been identified as members of the St. Louis Family of LCN: Ralph Caleca; Joseph Cammarata; Anthony DiMartino; Giovanni Ferrara; Vincent Filipello; Joseph Geloso; Anthony Giardano; Joseph Giardano; Anthony Miceli; Frank Pisciotta; John Joseph Vitale; James Giammanco. The following individual is considered to be a suspected member of the St. Louis Family of LCN: Sam Guccione."
On October 20, 1967 FBI NY reported: "[CI] advised Anthony Giardano, 'Boss', of the St. Louis Family...Other persons close to Anthony Giardano, and who are considered highly placed members of this Family, according to [three CIs] are: John Vitale; Joseph Giardano; Ralph Caleca; John Ferrara; Frank Pisciotta."
By the late 1970s Giardano resided in Chesterfield, Missouri.
He died March 7, 1989 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery located in Ellisville.