Steven La Torre Explained

Steven La Torre
Birth Name:	Stefano La Torre
Birth Date:	March 12, 1886
Birth Place:	Montedoro, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy
Death Place:	Pittston, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting Place:	Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality:	Italian
Citizenship:	United States
Spouse:	Rose Lucchino
Children:	4
Allegiance:	Bufalino crime family
Occupation:	Crime boss

Steven Joseph La Torre^[1] (born Stefano La Torre; pronounced as /it/; March 12, 1886 – July 5, 1984) was an Italian-American crime boss of the Bufalino crime family. He founded what would become the Bufalino crime family, which he ran from 1903 to 1908.

Early life

La Torre was born on March 12, 1886, in Montedoro, Sicily, to Giuseppe La Torre and Maria Marranca.^[2] He entered the United States in May 1903,^[3] settling in Pittston, Pennsylvania.^[1] He set up a criminal empire in Pittston-Scranton-Wilkes-barre areas of Pennsylvania. La Torre paid for the passage of Mafia boss Santo Volpe to Pennsylvania in 1906. They formed "the men from Montedoro".^[4] In April 1907, La Torre was arrested with Santo Volpe, Charles Bufalino, uncle of future crime boss Russell Bufalino,^[1] and twenty other men for a protection racket against mine workers in the region.^[5]

La Torre married Rose Lucchino, and had two sons, Joseph and Samuel and two daughters, Mary and Lena.^[6]

Criminal career

In 1908, La Torre stepped down as boss of Pittston, but remained connected to the Mafia. Volpe became the new crime boss.^[7] In 1955, La Torre was called to a meeting with Joe Barbara where he refused to have a possible rat in the Pittston crime organization killed. Barbara became angry with La Torre and reduced his influence in the Mafia. La Torre remained a consultant to Russell Bufalino until his death in 1984.

Death

La Torre died of natural causes on July 5, 1984, at the age of 98. He is buried in Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton, Pennsylvania.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: No Title. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mary Ferrell Foundation. STEVEN JOSEPH LA TORRE was born on 3/11/86 in Montedoro, Sicily, immigrated to the United States in 1903 and had always resided in Pittsaton, Pa., area. [...] It is to be noted the CHARLES C. BUFALINO, is the uncle of RUSSELL A. BUFALINO [...] Since 4/20/67, SA WAYNE D. SMITH of the Wilkes-Bare RA has been contacting SAMUEL STEVEN LA TORRE (PH 872-PC), subject of Philadelphia File 137-4887.. May 12, 1967. July 1, 2020.
2. Web site: Immagine 22. Italian. Antenati. L'anno milleottocentottantasei, addì quattordici di Marzo [...] è comparso La Torre Giuseppe di Stefano, [...] il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore [...] del dì dodici del corrente mese [...] da Marranca Maria, sua moglie, [...] è nato un bambino di sesso maschile che egli mi presenta, e a cui dà il nome di Stefano.. July 1, 2020.
3. Passenger Manifest for the S.S. Sicilian Prince, May 16, 1903, available at Ellis Island: The Statue of Liberty.
4. Book: Fox, Stephen R.. Stephen R. Fox

   . Stephen R. Fox. Blood and Power: Organized Crime in Twentieth-Century America. registration. 1989. Morrow. 978-0-688-04350-6.

5. Book: Birkbeck, Matt. The Quiet Don: The Untold Story of Mafia Kingpin Russell Bufalino. 2013. Berkley Books. 45. That changed on April 22, 1907, when Volpe, LaTorre and Charles Bufalino were arrested, along with twenty other men for terrorizing the mining communities.. 978-0-425-26685-4.
6. News: Stephen LaTorre. Times Leader. 15. His wife, Rose, died in 1973. Surviving are his sons, Joseph, Jenkins Township; Samuel, Exeter; daughters, Mrs. Mary Parrino, Pittston; Mrs. Lena Lipparini, Jenkins Township; [...] Interment will be in a family plot in Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton.. July 6, 1984. July 1, 2020. Newspapers.com.
7. Book: Newton, Michael. Michael Newton (author)

   . Michael Newton (author). The Mafia at Apalachin, 1957. April 6, 2012. McFarland. 22. 978-0-7864-8986-2.