Giuseppe Morello - Fall and Return

Fall and Return

Morello was found guilty of counterfeiting again in 1909 and along with his brother-in-law and second-in-command, Ignazio Lupo was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Morello maintained his position as the head of his crime family for approximately the first year of his sentence, during which time he hoped his sentence would be overturned on appeal. His appeals were not immediately successful and Morello became depressed as he lost his official position as boss of New York and all the influence he once held.

His half brother Nicolo took over control until 1916 when he was killed by the Napolitan Camorra boss in Brooklyn, Pellegrino Morano. Giuseppe's half brothers Vincenzo, as family boss, and Ciro, as underboss, were next to run the family business until the 1920s when former Morello family capo Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria took over Morello's operations in Manhattan and Salvatore D'Aquila took over in Brooklyn.

Trying to retake control of his empire, Morello, with the new nickname of Peter Morello, enlisted former family soldier Umberto Valenti in his battle against Masseria. After two failed assassination attempts against Masseria by Valenti a truce meeting was arranged between Morello and Masseria. Neither man showed up to the meeting in August 1922, however, and when Valenti tried to escape he was killed by Masseria gunman Charles Luciano. Morello decided to make peace with Masseria and shortly afterward allied himself with him. The peace allowed Masseria to take total control of New York with Morello as his consigliere and Luciano as one of his main lieutenants, running his own crew.