Salvatore Todaro (mobster)

Salvatore Todaro
Police mugshot of Salvatore Todaro
Born	Agosto Arcangelo[a 1] (1885-01-26)January 26, 1885 Licata, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy
Died	June 11, 1929(1929-06-11) (aged 44) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Cause of death	Gun shots
Nationality	Italian
Other names	"Black Sam" "Sam Todaro"
Citizenship	American
Occupation(s)	Sugar merchant, crime boss
Predecessor	Joseph Lonardo
Successor	Joseph Porrello
Spouse	Carmella Todaro
Children	3
Allegiance	Cleveland crime family

Salvatore Todaro (Italian pronunciation: [salvaˈtoːre ˈtɔdaːro]; born Agosto Arcangelo;^{[a 1]} [aˈɡosto arˈkandʒelo]; January 26, 1885 – June 11, 1929), also known as "Black Sam" and "Sam Todaro", was a Sicilian emigrant to the United States who became the second boss of the Cleveland crime family. A friend and criminal associate of rising organized crime figure Joseph Lonardo, he rose swiftly in the Mayfield Road Mob and became manager of Lonardo's legitimate corn sugar and criminal corn whiskey operations. He was a well-recognized figure in organized crime circles, and became briefly involved with the Buffalo crime family.

After Lonardo organized the Cleveland crime family, Todaro became underboss. Lonardo briefly considered having him assassinated, but relented after pressure from other mafioso. Frustrated with the minimal profits he made as underboss, Todaro allied with Lonardo's emerging competitor, Joseph Porrello, in 1927. Todaro likely arranged for Lonardo's assassination on October 13, 1927.

U.S. federal law enforcement officials believe Todaro became the second boss of the Cleveland family, although there is evidence that he shared power with the Porrello family. He quickly became wealthy, even as revenues from corn sugar and corn whiskey declined due to changing consumer tastes. When word spread in early 1929 of his involvement with Joseph Lonardo's death, Todaro began to fear for his life. He was murdered by Joseph's son, Angelo Lonardo, in a daylight assassination at a Porrello-owned barber shop on June 11, 1929.
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