Giuseppe “Joe” Profaci (1897-1962)

Born in Palermo, Italy he came to the United States at the age of 29. Profaci was the boss of the Profaci family which specialized in smuggling, racketeering and murder. Unlike most other bosses of his day, Profaci had a legitimate business exporting olive oil from Italy. It’s said he used this business as a cover to export large amounts of heroin, shiping heroin over in hollowed wax oranges. Despite the murder and racketeering, Profaci was also a devout Catholic and was known to kill and torture people who stole or went against the Church. In 1962 Profaci died of liver cancer. Joe Colombo took over the family.