Michael Rizzitello

Michael Rizzitello
Mug shot of Rizzitello in 1983.
Born	(1929-03-15)March 15, 1929 Montreal, Canada
Died	October 26, 2005(2005-10-26) (aged 78) Palm Springs, California
Occupation	Caporegime in the Los Angeles crime family
Criminal charge	Attempted murder
Criminal penalty	33 years in prison
Criminal status	Died in custody

Michael Anthony Rizzitello (March 15, 1929 – October 26, 2005), also known as "Mike Rizzi", was an Italian American mobster in the Los Angeles crime family. Rizzitello's criminal record stretched back to 1947. He was also featured in several biography novels by mobsters-turned-informants Jimmy Fratianno (The Last Mafioso and Vengeance Is Mine), Anthony Fiato (The Animal in Hollywood), and Kenny Gallo (Breakshot).

Rizzitello was born in Montreal, Canada on March 29, 1927. He later moved to New York City and became associated with organized crime. He worked for "Crazy Joe" Gallo in the 1950s who was a member of the Profaci crime family (later named the Colombo crime family). When Gallo attempted to take over the crime family Rizzitello was one of his gunman. In 1956 Rizzitello moved to California.

In 1962, he was arrested for a string of armed robberies of restaurants and businesses in the Hollywood area and served nine years in prison. In 1970 he met William Carroll at Chino prison. The two became quick friends. During his time in Los Angeles, he became associated with the Los Angeles crime family. He became involved in illegal gambling, loan sharking, fraud, and extortion. On June 6, 1976 Rizzitello became a made man. Instead of the traditional ceremony of induction, Rizzitello became a made man in the back of a car with 3 other people present. These men were consigliere Frank Bompensiero, acting boss Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno and co-acting boss Louis Tom Dragna. Rizzitello quickly moved up in the family and was promoted to caporegime by acting boss Fratianno a year later in 1977.