The Lanzetta Brothers
| Founded by | Leo Lanzetta |
|---|---|
| Founding location | South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Years active | early 1920s–1940 |
| Territory | South Philadelphia and Atlantic City |
| Leader(s) | Pius, Leo and Ignatius Lanzetta |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, prostitution, bootlegging, numbers writing |
| Allies | Michael Falcone, Louis Delrossi |
| Rivals | Mickey Duffy, Joseph Bruno, Salvatore Sabella, and other various street and bootlegging gangs in South Philadelphia |
The Lanzetta Brothers, also known as the Lanzetti Brothers (due to incorrect documentation), was a group of six brothers that ran bootlegging operations in Philadelphia and possibly Atlantic City.
There were six brothers in the gang: Leo (the leader), Pius "the Brain", Ignatius (who was a good dresser), Lucien (who had an explosive temper), Willie (the quiet one), and Teo "the Baby" Lanzetta (who was the youngest and made women swoon because of his good looks). It is not known when the brothers were born, but what is known is that they were born to Italian parents, that Leo Lanzetta was the oldest, and that Teo Lanzetta was the youngest of the six.
When Prohibition went into effect in January 1920, the Lanzettas organized an "Alky Cooking" supply network by providing a contingent of row house dwellers with home stills and paying them to produce sale-able liquor. The brothers then sold the liquor at higher prices. Their most trusted associates included Louis "Fats" Delrossi and Mike Falcone. The brothers' criminal careers were marked by frequent arrests and brutal violence.
At various times, the brothers feuded with several different groups of racketeers in South Philadelphia, as well as Mickey Duffy and some of his partners. Between 1924 and 1939, at least one brother was involved as a suspect or a material witness in no less than fifteen murder cases, including Pius' imprisonment and dismissal during the early stages of the investigation into the murder of Mickey Duffy. The brothers were also rivals of Max Hoff's criminal organization.
Leo and Ignatius killed rival dope peddler and bootlegger Joe Bruno on August 18, 1925, at 8th and Catherine Streets. Bruno was also a made man in the Philadelphia crime family.
Leo was killed on August 22, 1925, as he left a barber shop at 7th and Bainbridge Streets, in retaliation for the murder of Joe Bruno.Sicilian Philadelphia family boss Salvatore Sabella was Leo's suspected killer. Pius was killed in a luncheonette on December 31, 1936 at 726 South Eighth Street. Willie was found with his head in a burlap bag with a bullet in his brain on July 2, 1939.
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