Organized Crime Files

Side and front view mug shot of John Carl Caldrone taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Caldrone's name, identification details, and details of his criminal record are written on the reverse side of the image: Bufile 92-7519; KC 92-303; WM; DOB 8/9/28, Kansas City, Mo.; 6' 4"; 200 lbs.; Hair - Brown; Eyes - Blue; Residence - 4904 Norwood, Kansas City, Mo.; Employment - 11 Oak Park, 1027 Oak St., Kansas City, Mo.; FBI No. 4 632 504; Arrested 53 times.; Convicted: Burglary, 2 yrs. Reformatory, 11/21/46; Burglary, 4 yrs. MSP, 3/8/54; Burglary, 3 yrs. MSP, 2/26/60.

Side and front view mug shot of John Joe Strada kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Strada's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of John Sciortino and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Sciortino's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Photograph of Joseph DeLuca kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files.

Organizational chart illustrating the extent of organized criminal activity in the Kansas City area under Charles Binaggio kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. The chart displays how criminal activity in the city filtered down from Binaggio, through his subordinates and leading to various businesses across the area.

Side and front view mug shot of Kenneth Perry Greathouse taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Greathouse's name and identification details are written on the reverse side of the image: RR - 9-22-72; R. Y.; [illegible]; Greathouse Kenneth Perry 116624; 24 6' 1" 220; Brn. Blue Med.; Unemploy 11-17-47

Side and front view mug shot of Louis (Black Louis) Cangelose taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Cangelose's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Louis LaRocca taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. LaRocca's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Michael (Mike School) Lascuola taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Lascuola's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Michael Angelo Spero taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Spero's name, identification details, and details of his criminal record are written on the reverse side of the image: Michael Angelo Spero; KC 92-558; WM; DOB 8/15/38; 5' 11"; 155 lbs.; Hair - Black; Eyes - Brown; Residence - 517 Holmes 2nd Fl. Rear Apt; Employment - Gus' Pharmacy (changed to Midtown Pharmacy), 39th & Paseo; & truck driver; FBI No. 156 768 C; 19 previous arrests, 1955-64; Convicted TFIS, Burg. 2nd degree, receiving stolen property.

Side and front view mug shot of Mike Harris and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Harris' name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Photograph of Assistant Prosecutor Mike Kennedy standing next to John Joe Strada kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Kennedy is writing on a legal pad and Strada is turned away from the photographer. Kennedy and Strada's names are written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Nagel J. (Snake) Maroon taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Maroon's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Nick Mandato and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Mandato's name and other details related to his mug shot photograph are written on the reverse side of the image: Nick A. Mandato taken [illegible]/67; W/M KCK #24490 taken 11/1/1969.

Side and front view mug shot of Norfie Brancato and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Brancato's name and details of his criminal record are written on the reverse side of the image: [illegible] 6-23-34 - 3 yrs Leavenworth; $600 - Liquor - arrested - 50 - 2-3-34 - Still; 11-13-36 [illegible]; 5-5-38 - Narc [illegible] 5 yrs Leavenworth; USIR [illegible] 5-7-32 - NPA 1 yr 1 day; Pal - Carl Ardese - #26716.

Front view full body mug shot of Norfie Brancato kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Brancato's identification details are written on the front side of the image: # 21304 Norfie Brancato; 21 yrs. - 6' 0" - 155 lbs.; Black - Brown - Dark. Brancato's incarceration information is written on the reverse side of the image: [Illegible] San Quentin.

Photograph of Paul Ferrantelli kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Ferrantelli is seated next to his hat and a stack of binders. Two unidentified individuals can be seen in the background. A note written in the upper right hand corner of the image reads: Copy + 3 prints.

Photograph of Paul Ferrantelli kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Ferrantelli is seated next to his hat and a stack of binders. Several unidentified individuals can be seen in the background.

Side and front view mug shot of Pete Spalitto taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Spalitto's name and the note "a druggist" is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Phil Cusumano taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Cusumano's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Phillip (Phil School) Lascuola taken by the Kansas City Police Department and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Lascuola's name is written on the reverse side of the image.

Side and front view mug shot of Sam Licavoli and kept by the Kansas City Star in their mafia and mob activity research files. Licavoli's name and the number 21306 are written on the reverse side of the image.

This series contains miscellaneous Kansas City Police Department mug shots from various dates showing individuals suspected of having ties to organized crime, mafia, and mob activity in Kansas City. Some include a physical description and record of previous arrests on the back side of the photograph. Please note that the individuals in these mug shots do not have a corresponding police file in this collection. Mug shots of those listed in Series 2 and 3 were kept with their corresponding file. This series is arranged alphabetically by surname.

This series contains files on criminals of Italian descent suspected of having ties to organized crime, mafia, and mob activity in Kansas City. Items include: mug shots, photographs, KCPD and FBI records, short biographies, and newspaper clippings. While most of the documents are undated, many contain arrest records from the 1930s until the year 1950. This series is arranged alphabetically by surname.

Booklet intended to inform the public of the dangers of organized crime in Kansas City. The book contains: a summary of successful prosecution of syndicate members or associates from January 1, 1961 to present (April 1970); the Kefauver Senate Committee underworld charts for Kansas City organized crime activities, Exhibits 1 and 1A; a list of members and associates of the syndicate; the danger signs for the community; and a list of syndicate business connections.