Tony Parretti

Antonio Parretti (1892 - February 17, 1927), also known as Tony Parretti or Tony the Shoemaker, was a Camorra gangster. He was a member of the Brooklyn-based Coney Island gang in New York City, serving as the right-hand man of Pellegrino Morano.[1]

He received a death sentence for his part in the killing of Nicholas Morello and Charles Ubriaco on September 7, 1916, during the Mafia–Camorra War.[2][3] Paretti originally fled to Italy to escape capture, while his brother Aniello Paretti was imprisoned charged with another murder.[4] Both were also involved in the murder of Joe Nazzaro.[5]

He returned to New York in March 1926, confident that most of the witnesses against him would no longer be there. Nevertheless, Paretti was convicted for first degree murder, despite witnesses who "suddenly developed a surprising lack of memory" - replying "I cannot remember" to all questions asked of them.[2] However, the prosecution was able convince a fellow gangster, Alphonso Sgroia, to come back from Italy and testify against Paretti.[6]

Leading to his execution security in Sing Sing prison was enhanced from 16 hours a day to 24 hours a day. He was pressuring politicians to deny the death penalty but this was not granted. He was electrocuted on February 17, 1927, at the age of 35. One of his last visitors was future Mafia boss, Vito Genovese,[4] and his brother Aniello who had spent 8 months on death row himself before being released.[7]

References
  1. Critchley, The Origin of Organized Crime in America, p. 118
  2. Murder Witnesses Suddenly Silent, The New York Times, June 30, 1926
  3. The Struggle for Control, GangRule.com
  4. Antonio Paretti, GangRule.com
  5. Tells Jury He Has Slain Three, The New York Times, April 22, 1921
  6. Paretti's Death Ends Black hand Grip On Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Standard Union, February 20, 1927
  7. Revisits The Death Cell, The New York Times, February 13, 1927
  • Critchley, David (2009). The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931, New York: Routledge, ISBN 0-415-99030-0


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