Willie Moretti

Willie Moretti (1894-October 4, 1951) was an Italian-American gangster who, along with fellow mafiosi Lucky Luciano, Albert Anastasia, Vito Genovese, Al Capone, Joe Adonis, and Frank Costello was working under Joe "The Boss" Masseria during the Castellammarese War.

Related Topics:
1894 - October 4 - 1951 - Italian-American - Mafiosi - Lucky Luciano - Albert Anastasia - Vito Genovese - Al Capone - Joe Adonis - Frank Costello - Joe "The Boss" Masseria - Castellammarese War

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From 1933 to 1951, Willie Moretti, the supposed Mafia boss of New Jersey, was the muscle behind the Genovese family founders Frank Costello, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. During the 1940's, he (in association with Joe Adonis & Abner Zwillman) ran lucrative gambling dens in New Jersey and Upstate New York from his Monmouth County home.

Related Topics:
1933 - 1951 - Meyer Lansky - 1940 - Abner Zwillman

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Although married, Moretti was known to have seen many cheap prostitutes, preferably, ethnic ones. Eventually, he contracted syphilis, which was said to have caused Moretti brain damage. Tellingly, it is believed that he placed bets on non-existent horses, told runaway stories that led nowhere and may have even let slip Syndicate secrets to the press.

Related Topics:
Syphilis - Syndicate

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Along with other members of the Costello gang, Moretti was called to appear at the Kefauver hearings; however, of all the gangsters who showed up to testify, Moretti was the only one who cooperated with the committee. Moretti's cohorts repeatedly pleaded the Fifth Amendment, whereas he told jokes, talked candidly, and generally played it up for the cameras. In doing so, he was violating the Mafia code of silence, known as omerta.

Related Topics:
Kefauver hearings - Fifth Amendment - Omerta

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In 1951, members of the National Crime Syndicate met to discuss Willie Moretti's loose tongue. While Frank Costello and Joe Adonis were strongly opposed to it, Vito Genovese and Albert Anastasia demanded Moretti be killed. On October 4, 1951, the latter two took matters into their own hands. Three of Anastasia's hitmen bought him lunch, then shot him repeatedly in the chest. He was 57 years old.

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Frank Sinatra was also allegedly personally linked to Willie Moretti. His first wife Nancy Barbato was a cousin of one of Moretti's senior henchmen and he sang at his daughter's wedding in 1948. According to testimony from Moretti, Sinatra received help from him in arranging performances in return for kick-backs.

Related Topics:
Frank Sinatra - Nancy Barbato - 1948

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