Alphonse Attardi
Encyclopedia
Alphonse "The Peacemaker" Attardi (April 1, 1892 – July 17, 1970) was a New York mobster involved in narcotics who later became a government informant. His front was ownership of an olive oil
importing business.
In the early 1950s, Attardi was arrested for drug trafficking in Houston, Texas
. While in prison, his wife died and the bank foreclosed on his front business. Following his release from prison, Attardi moved to a dilapidated apartment on Delancey Street
on New York's Lower East Side
.
In 1952, U.S. Treasury Agents
asked Attardi to become an informant. Fearing for his life, Attardi initially refused their offer. However, six months later Attardi changed his mind and agreed to assist agents in a sting operation
. The sting began when Attardi introduced undercover agent Joe Tremoglie to several of his associates. Within ten months Tremoglie had become associated with major drug traffickers and organized crime figures such as Benny Bellanca and Pietro Beddia. Attardi's efforts let Tremoglie to infiltrate the New York Mafia's drug trade and, assisting in police surveillance, helped ensure the success of the sting operation.
Attardi received $5,000 from the government for his assistance and immediately left the country with his girlfriend. Alphonse Attardi died on July 17, 1970.
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
importing business.
In the early 1950s, Attardi was arrested for drug trafficking in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. While in prison, his wife died and the bank foreclosed on his front business. Following his release from prison, Attardi moved to a dilapidated apartment on Delancey Street
Delancey Street (Manhattan)
Delancey Street is one of the main thoroughfares of Manhattan's Lower East Side, running east from the Bowery to connect to the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn. It is an eight-lane, median-divided street....
on New York's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
.
In 1952, U.S. Treasury Agents
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
asked Attardi to become an informant. Fearing for his life, Attardi initially refused their offer. However, six months later Attardi changed his mind and agreed to assist agents in a sting operation
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
. The sting began when Attardi introduced undercover agent Joe Tremoglie to several of his associates. Within ten months Tremoglie had become associated with major drug traffickers and organized crime figures such as Benny Bellanca and Pietro Beddia. Attardi's efforts let Tremoglie to infiltrate the New York Mafia's drug trade and, assisting in police surveillance, helped ensure the success of the sting operation.
Attardi received $5,000 from the government for his assistance and immediately left the country with his girlfriend. Alphonse Attardi died on July 17, 1970.
Further reading
- Whitehead, Donald F. Border Guard: The Story of the United States Customs Service, 1963.