Background
Born in Naples, Italy, Fratianno was brought to the US by his parents four months later. He began stealing from fruit stands as a child. Fratianno used the first name "Jimmy" because he believed "Aladena" sounded like "a broad's name". He earned his nickname "Weasel" from a witness who saw him outrun police in the Little Italy section of Cleveland. The police then attached the nickname to his criminal record. As a youth, Fratianno boxed under the name "Kid Weasel", but otherwise did not like the name and was never called "Weasel" in person.
As a young man, Fratianno became involved in the Cleveland's organized criminal syndicate as a gambler and robber. After a prison sentence for assault, he moved to Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Chicago Outfit mobster John Roselli. In 1947, Fratianno became a made man in the Los Angeles crime family under boss Jack Dragna. Fratianno worked with fellow Los Angeles Mafiosi Frank "Bomp" Bompensiero, Leo Moceri, Dominic Brooklier, and Louie Piscopo. In 1952, Dragna promoted Fratianno to caporegime.
Read more about this topic: Jimmy Fratianno
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