Lessons for Today From "Machine Gun" Kelly

     On August 2 Steve Kaplan, owner of the now infamous Gold Club in Atlanta, pled guilty in the middle of a high-profile trial which was getting national media coverage due to the lurid sex acts taking place there with big name professional athletes. Kaplan, an alleged associate of the Gambino Crime Family, admitted that he paid his strippers to have sex with the athletes. Kaplan is facing a sentence of three years in prison and a $5.0 million fine.

     A provision of the agreement is that the Gold Club becomes the property of the Federal government. Bill "I Did Not Have Sex With That Woman" Clinton must be pulling his hair out. Eight years in office and just six months after leaving the White House the government lands the hottest strip joint in the nation.

     The 7,000-square foot club, furnished with mirrored walls and lots of gold rails, was turned over to its new landlord last week.

     What a Christmas gift for Congress – this coming on last month’s revelation that approximately 80 members were involved in extra-marital affairs. Maybe Representative Gary Condit, who is likely to be searching for a new job, can manage it. Don’t be surprised to see Bill Clinton, who just settled into a Harlem office two weeks ago, establish an office in the south soon. Perhaps Bill can serve as director of lap dances, or in some similar capacity.

     Now the slimier members of Congress can pay for their sexual delights instead of getting them for free from the taxpayer financed interns.

     In an exclusive article in the New York Post, former AM.com writer Al Guart reported on Wednesday, August 8 that Carmine Agnello would plead guilty on Friday. It is believed the plea was prompted by Federal Judge Nina Gershon’s decision to allow tape recordings of Agnello instructing an informant on how to build a firebomb as evidence. Agnello, the son-in-law of John Gotti, then offered to pay him $2,000 to light up Stadium Scrap Company, which was really a New York Police Department sting operation the hapless Agnello stumbled into.

     In accepting the plea Agnello could face up to nine years in prison and a fine of $11 million. Keeping an eye on Carmine’s assets – a net worth of $40 million – are lawyers for Victoria Gotti. Currently in divorce proceedings against Agnello, when Miss Gotti gets through with Carmine his net worth may only be $40 bucks. Earlier this year a judge ordered the philandering Carmine to pay his novel writing wife $17,500 in monthly support. In turn she was ordered to let the couple’s three sons visit daddy in jail.

     Although the season ended a couple of month’s ago, Anthony Soprano, Jr. is leading a one-man crusade to keep the spirit of the show fresh in everyone’s mind. Robert Iler, the on screen son of Tony Soprano, was indicted in a mugging incident in New York in which two 16 year-old teenagers were relieved of $40.

     The media is eating this up as well as the New York newspapers, which are printing everything they can get their hands on. The latest news is that Iler’s companion that night, 19year-old Michael Cournede, was charged last Wednesday with felony robbery in a separate incident that occurred this past April. Reports say Cournede could face up to 25 years in prison. Meanwhile, Iler is said to be looking at 15 years. Yeah, right! When is the last time a media personality was convicted and spent time behind bars. Perhaps Iler’s best bet is to get that "hanging judge" that sentenced Robert Downey, Jr.

     This weekend HBO will replay the original Sopranos’ series beginning at 8:00pm EDST. This is the episode where Iler, in his Anthony Junior role, spits out his award winning line, "What, No fuckin’ ziti?" in front of mom, dad and grandma.

August 14, 1921 – In Chicago Joseph Sinacola was shot down by two gunmen in front of his house. His death was one of many that took place during what was called the "Bloody 19^th Ward War." At the time Sinacola was recovering from wounds suffered in an attempt to murder him on July 7. Both shootings occurred in front of his young daughter. For more info see my AM.com column dated 10-2-00, "Chicago’s Unione Siciliano – 1920 – A Decade of Slaughter (Part Two).

August 14, 1946 – Race wire magnate James M. Ragen died in his hospital bed after being poisoned. The 65 year-old Ragen was recovering from an ambush on June 24 on State Street. Despite the hope that he would recover Ragen suddenly died. It was later reported that Ragen’s autopsy showed traces of mercury in his blood indicating that someone had entered his room and poisoned him. See my column dated 8-2-99, "The History of the Race Wire Service – Part Three."

August 15, 1930 – Pietro "Peter" Morello, a top lieutenant of Joe "the Boss" Masseria was murdered in his East Harlem office in the middle of the afternoon during the Castellammarese War. According to Joseph Valachi the murder was carried out by the infamous "Buster from Chicago." However, in Luciano’s quasi autobiography, "The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano," he claims he sent Frank Scalise and Albert Anastasia to murder "The Clutching Hand," as Morello was known. Killed with Morello was a collector named Giuseppe Pariano.

August 16, 1962 – In New Orleans Philip "Dandy Phil" Kastel, a longtime gambling associate of Frank Costello died form a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The 68 year-old Kastel, whose criminal career was advanced due to his association with the legendary Arnold Rothstein, was suffering from abdominal cancer. See my 3-1-99 column – "Perfecting the Number Two Spot" – for a short biography on Kastel.

August 16, 1991 – Howard J. Ferrini became one of the first victims of a mob war in Boston. Ferrini, a professional gambler, was beaten to death on August 16, 1991 in his Berkley home and tossed in the trunk of his 1988 Cadillac. Five days later, the car was found at Logan Airport dripping blood and emitting a foul odor. See my two articles covering the conflict in "Mob War in Beantown," 9-11 and 9-18-2000.

August 17, 1936 – John "Big Nose" Avena, the boss of the Philadelphia Family, was murdered on a street corner called the "Bloody Angle." Known as John Nazzone, Avena was cut down by members of the Lanzetti brothers’ gang while conversing with a friend. He was succeeded by John Bruno.

August 18, 1948 – Hooky Rothman was shotgunned to death during what was known as the "The Battle of Sunset Strip." Members of the Los Angeles Mafia were trying to eliminate Jewish mobster Mickey Cohen. Early that evening Jimmy "the Weasel" Fratianno used his wife and daughter to help set Cohen up at his haberdashery office. Fortunately for Cohen he was in the bathroom washing his hands, a bizarre fetish he had, after shaking hands with Fratianno. As the Weasel left he signaled gang members who closed in and rushed the office. Rothman was killed by a shotgun blast to the face fired by Frank Bompensiero. See my column 5-15-00 – "Frank Bompensiero: San Diego Hitman, Boss & FBI Informant" (Part One).

August 18, 1954 – Charles "Cherry Nose" Gioe was murdered after climbing behind the wheel of his car after a late night business meeting. The 53 year-old Gioe had been Capone’s man in Des Moines and one of the key figures in the Hollywood Extortion Case. He was trying to restore his position in the Chicago mob when he was killed. See my biography on Gioe dated 7-3-00.

August 19, 1991 – In "Crime Town USA," Joseph "Little Joey" Naples, Jr. was cut down by a sniper as he inspected a house he was having built in Beaver Township, a suburb south of Youngstown, Ohio. The 58 year-old Naples was the underboss of the Mahoning Valley rackets for the Pittsburgh Family. He was the last of three brothers who met their death at the hands of mob assassins.

Contact: AllanMay@AmericanMafia.com

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