MOB TOWN: COLORADO'S TOP MOB BOSS AND 'THE COMMISSION'

 

Introducing the late Colorado capo Vincenzo "Black Jim" Colletti, who made history as one of the nation's top mob bosses attending the infamous and ill-fated Apalachin meeting on Nov. 14, 1957, which confirmed the existence of a nationwide Mafia conspiracy - "The Commission."

Colletti, who publicly identified himself as a cheese merchant, held sway over hoods in Pueblo, Denver, Trinidad and Canon City. He resided at 1415 Clermont Street in Pueblo.

Though one of La Cosa Nostra's more modest spheres of influence, Colorado generated cash through gambling and loansharking - as well as bootleg liquor during Prohibition. 

Colletti ruled from 1950 to 1969 with a Big Apple pedigree. He got his start in New York City, befriending notorious Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, who also moved west, settling in Arizona.

Top U.S. leadership called the 1957 national gathering at the home of mobster Joseph "Joe the Barber" Barbara in Apalachin, New York, to discuss divvying up illicit operations once controlled slain New York mob boss and "Murder Inc." chieftain Albert Anastasia as well as other matters.

The Rocky Mountain News said at the time: "It is understood ... Colletti has been given a position of importance in national syndicate racket operations."

However, it was also said that he wasn't too well known by the other mob chiefs - as he hailed from Pueblo - and "showed his billfold" to the other hoods to prove he too was a big-time bad guy.

Colletii moved into the capo slot after top wise guys Charlie Blanda and Tom “Whiskers” Incerto were sent to Leavenworth federal prison in 1952 for tax crime. He was succeeded briefly by Joseph "Scotty" Spinuzzi, who died in 1975.

Tiny Apalachin was considered safe as it is located 189 miles northwest of New York City. However, suspicious local police raided the session after observing rows of luxury cars sporting out of state license plates in the rural community.

Stunned mob bosses fled into the woods surrounding Barbara's home - an utter embarrassment for such powerful and nattily dressed men.

Law enforcement rounded up 62 mobsters and twenty were eventually charged and then convicted of obstructing justice.

However, the convictions were overturned in 1958.

While Colorado's Colletti beat the rap in Apalachin he was arrested in Denver on unrelated charges the next month - a disappointing homecoming following a disappointing trip. 

Colletti died in July 1975 and is buried in Pueblo's Roselawn Cemetery. He was born in 1897 in Sicily. 

[Photos: FBI, public domain]