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| 1965 |
Angelo 'Andy' Perna was a made member of the Cleveland Family active in Toledo, Ohio.
Stepbrother Paul Lamonge (1913-1999) was a Suspected Member.
Born July 31, 1910 in Niles, Ohio to Vincenzo (41y) and Maria D'Angelo (39y). Parents from Termini Imerese comune of Palermo, Sicily.
In 1915 Maria died and Vincenzo later married Catherine Martino, whose first husband Paul died in 1914.
Catherine was the mother of Future Suspected Member Paul Lamonge. (Paul Sr. was from Bellona comune of Caserta, Campania.)
By April 1920 the family resided at 308 Grant St in Niles. Vincenzo owned grocery.
First arrest of record was in 1929, when charged with armed robbery and assault. Case believed dismissed.
By April 1930 they moved about a block over to 313 East Park Ave. Angelo listed occupation as contracting painter.
By April 1940 Perna, his wife Anna DeFazio (31y) and their daughter were living in the household of Anna's father Victor located at 1800 West Ave in Elyria, Ohio, about twenty miles outside of Cleveland. (Victor DeFazio was from Catanzaro Province, Calabria.)
By September 1943 the couple moved a few houses down to 330 18th Ave.
By April 1950 they were living in Washington, Ohio, where Perna worked as a house painter.
Believed to have been a formally inducted member of the Cleveland Family by the early 1960s.
Stepbrother Paul Lamonge (1913-1999) was a Suspected Member.
Born July 31, 1910 in Niles, Ohio to Vincenzo (41y) and Maria D'Angelo (39y). Parents from Termini Imerese comune of Palermo, Sicily.
In 1915 Maria died and Vincenzo later married Catherine Martino, whose first husband Paul died in 1914.
Catherine was the mother of Future Suspected Member Paul Lamonge. (Paul Sr. was from Bellona comune of Caserta, Campania.)
By April 1920 the family resided at 308 Grant St in Niles. Vincenzo owned grocery.
First arrest of record was in 1929, when charged with armed robbery and assault. Case believed dismissed.
By April 1930 they moved about a block over to 313 East Park Ave. Angelo listed occupation as contracting painter.
By April 1940 Perna, his wife Anna DeFazio (31y) and their daughter were living in the household of Anna's father Victor located at 1800 West Ave in Elyria, Ohio, about twenty miles outside of Cleveland. (Victor DeFazio was from Catanzaro Province, Calabria.)
By September 1943 the couple moved a few houses down to 330 18th Ave.
By April 1950 they were living in Washington, Ohio, where Perna worked as a house painter.
Believed to have been a formally inducted member of the Cleveland Family by the early 1960s.
The Family was then headed by John Scalish (1912-1976) with Antonio Milano (1888-1978) as Underboss. John DeMarco (1903-1972) may have been Consigliere. (Scalish and DeMarco were Sicilian, hailing from Carini, Palermo and Licata, Agrigento respectively. Milano was from San Roberto comune of Reggio Calabria.)
On January 7, 1962 the FBI's Cleveland Field Office opened an anti-racketeering investigation on Perna, noting: "It has been established that [Perna] is an associate of [Anthony Besase] in the numbers rackets in Toledo."
Detroit Member Anthony 'Whitey' Besase (1907-1977) is believed to have been related by marriage to Perna and Perna's stepbrother Paul Lamonge; like Perna, Besase's father was from Termini Imerese.
Lamonge may himself have been an inducted member by this time.
On June 15, 1964 identified by FBI Cleveland as Toledo-based LCN member.
On January 7, 1962 the FBI's Cleveland Field Office opened an anti-racketeering investigation on Perna, noting: "It has been established that [Perna] is an associate of [Anthony Besase] in the numbers rackets in Toledo."
Detroit Member Anthony 'Whitey' Besase (1907-1977) is believed to have been related by marriage to Perna and Perna's stepbrother Paul Lamonge; like Perna, Besase's father was from Termini Imerese.
Lamonge may himself have been an inducted member by this time.
On June 15, 1964 identified by FBI Cleveland as Toledo-based LCN member.
Angelo Perna [resides] at 5915 Everwood Road, Toledo, Ohio. Perna has an arrest record since 1929 on charges of armed robbery, assault to rape but has no convictions. Since 1945, he has been arrested ten times for gambling. Perna is the brother-in-law of Anthony 'Whitey' Besase, Toledo racket leader. Perna is one of Besase's lieutenants in the operation of the numbers racket in Toledo. Perna previously was a racket figure in Niles, Ohio. During the past few years, Perna has been reported agent or distributor for I.M. Suffrin Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, printer of Numbers 'K' Books. Perna was recently indicted at Toledo, Ohio, for furnishing false information on a wagering tax stamp (misdemeanor and also for excise tax evasion.)
...[Wife] of Paul Lamonge [advised] she had no positive information that her husband belonged to the 'organization' or 'syndicate', but that in conversation with her husband he often referred to 'organization' members as Anthony Delsanter of Warren, Ohio, James Licavoli of Cleveland, and Leo Moceri, Ernie LaSalle, and James LaFatch of Akron, Ohio. Other associates of her husband whom she would consider members would be 'Whitey' Besase and Angelo Perna, her husband's half brother, both of Toledo, Ohio.
...[Wife] of Paul Lamonge [advised] she had no positive information that her husband belonged to the 'organization' or 'syndicate', but that in conversation with her husband he often referred to 'organization' members as Anthony Delsanter of Warren, Ohio, James Licavoli of Cleveland, and Leo Moceri, Ernie LaSalle, and James LaFatch of Akron, Ohio. Other associates of her husband whom she would consider members would be 'Whitey' Besase and Angelo Perna, her husband's half brother, both of Toledo, Ohio.
"
(Everwood Rd was in Toledo's Whitmer - Trilby neighborhood. James LaFatch [1911-1993] was a Cleveland Member. James Licavoli [1904-1985], Calogero 'Leo' Moceri [1907-1976] and Ernest 'Ernie LaSalle' Fusco [1903-1974] were Detroit Members. Licavoli took over the Cleveland Family upon John Scalish's death in 1976, after which Moceri and Anthony Delsanter [1911-1977] became his first Underboss and Consigliere respectively.)
(Everwood Rd was in Toledo's Whitmer - Trilby neighborhood. James LaFatch [1911-1993] was a Cleveland Member. James Licavoli [1904-1985], Calogero 'Leo' Moceri [1907-1976] and Ernest 'Ernie LaSalle' Fusco [1903-1974] were Detroit Members. Licavoli took over the Cleveland Family upon John Scalish's death in 1976, after which Moceri and Anthony Delsanter [1911-1977] became his first Underboss and Consigliere respectively.)
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| Fall 1965 (L to R): J. Besase and A. Perna |
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| Fall 1965 FBI Surveillances |
On a separate occasion Agents photographed Perna and Besase brothers John and George at the same location.
Around 1967 retired as general contractor.
On August 7, 1968 among 23 identified by FBI as LCN members residing in Cleveland Division. Report noted Perna's Family affiliation unknown.
On August 14, 1968 FBI CI reported: "...[CI] was shown photographs of the following Cleveland hoodlums but did not recognize them by name or photo: [Group includes Perna]."
Around 1967 retired as general contractor.
On August 7, 1968 among 23 identified by FBI as LCN members residing in Cleveland Division. Report noted Perna's Family affiliation unknown.
On August 14, 1968 FBI CI reported: "...[CI] was shown photographs of the following Cleveland hoodlums but did not recognize them by name or photo: [Group includes Perna]."
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| c. 1969 |
Around 1969 issued Handgun Owner's ID in Toledo.
On February 13, 1974 FBI Cleveland reported: "Sources familiar with [Perna]'s activity have stated subject not involved in gambling activity. Subject is considered to be 'retired' from illegal gambling business."
On December 18, 1974 FBI Cleveland reported: "Repeated contacts with sources familiar with gambling activities in the Toledo area have established that Andy Perna is no longer involved in any gambling business."
On June 14, 1976 FBI CV reported: "[Perna] is quite sickly and aged, which has contributed to his inactivity...Sources familiar with subject's activity have advised that subject is not involved in illegal activities and has become divorced from criminal element."
Perna died December 29, 1979 at St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo.
On January 2, 1980 waked at H.H. Birkenkamp Mortuary located in Trilby.
On November 16, 1982 FBI Cleveland reported: "[Organized Crime Information System] lists Perna as an inactive LCN member."
On February 13, 1974 FBI Cleveland reported: "Sources familiar with [Perna]'s activity have stated subject not involved in gambling activity. Subject is considered to be 'retired' from illegal gambling business."
On December 18, 1974 FBI Cleveland reported: "Repeated contacts with sources familiar with gambling activities in the Toledo area have established that Andy Perna is no longer involved in any gambling business."
On June 14, 1976 FBI CV reported: "[Perna] is quite sickly and aged, which has contributed to his inactivity...Sources familiar with subject's activity have advised that subject is not involved in illegal activities and has become divorced from criminal element."
Perna died December 29, 1979 at St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo.
On January 2, 1980 waked at H.H. Birkenkamp Mortuary located in Trilby.
On November 16, 1982 FBI Cleveland reported: "[Organized Crime Information System] lists Perna as an inactive LCN member."
More Cleveland Family posts can be found in the Index.
