In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Italian immigrants migrated to the United States, including criminals looking to escape Italian justice and establish criminal organizations. Various Camorra groups operated in New York, such as the Navy Street Gang and the Coney Island Gang, led by prominent figures like Leopoldo Lauritano and Pellegrino Morano. The Italian community in New York provided a lucrative market for illegal activities like prostitution and gambling, as well as sought-after food products. Collaboration and conflicts among these criminal groups shaped the organized crime scene in New York during this period.
Pellegrino Morano, also known as "Don Grino," emerged as a key figure in the Camorra in New York, forming alliances and conspiring with other criminal leaders to gain control of New York's criminal enterprises. The assassination of Gallucci and the subsequent power struggles within the criminal underworld illustrate the complex dynamics at play. Additionally, the rise of Alphonse Capone within the Navy Street Gang and his transition to lead the Chicago mafia underlines the interconnectedness of criminal activities across different cities.
Alphonse Capone, born into an Italian immigrant family in Brooklyn, rose through the ranks of the Navy Street Gang and later joined Johnny Torrio's gang in James Street. His early involvement in illegal activities eventually led him to become a prominent figure in organized crime, establishing an empire in Chicago. Capone's criminal career highlights the influence and reach of Italian-American criminal organizations during that era.