Angelo Meli was born on February 10,1897, in San Cataldo, Sicily, the youngest son of 13 children born to Vincenzo Meli and Maria Antonia Gugaglio.
21 Facts About Angelo Meli
1.
2.
Angelo Meli worked in a Pittsburgh foundry and moved to Detroit in 1918.
3.
In 1924, Meli married Jennie Dimercurio, and had two sons, Vincent H and Salvatore, and two daughters, Maria Antoinette and Angela.
4.
In May 1929, Angelo Meli became a naturalized citizen at the age of 32 through the US District Court in Brooklyn, New York.
5.
Angelo Meli moved to the city of Detroit in 1915 and soon became affiliated with the Gianola Mob.
6.
Thirty-one criminals were convicted of liquor law violations Angelo Meli escaped without convictions.
7.
In doing so, Angelo Meli entered into an agreement with Salvatore Catalanotte, boss of Detroit's Unione Siciliana.
8.
Angelo Meli responded by ordering LaMare's murder, which happened on February 6,1931.
9.
Angelo Meli's bail was forfeited in 1921 due to his not showing up to court.
10.
Angelo Meli was believed to be the leader of the dominant wing of warring Detroit gangs in 1930.
11.
Angelo Meli, wary, sent Gaspare Scibilia and Sam Parina in his place and they were shot and killed by LaMare gangsters.
12.
Seven of Angelo Meli's men were subpoenaed by police, but he was still in hiding at the time.
13.
Once the Detroit Partnership was established, Angelo Meli became the first and longest serving consigliere.
14.
Angelo Meli was considered to be one of the five members of the Ruling Council of the Partnership, along with Joseph Zerilli, Peter Licavoli, Black Bill Tocco, and John Priziola.
15.
Angelo Meli was a major figure in illegal weapons smuggling and in settling labor disputes.
16.
Angelo Meli suffered only one conviction; on charges of carrying a concealed weapon.
17.
Angelo Meli had extensive legitimate business holdings in the Michigan area, including a motel, a farm, a trucking company, a gas station, and two different music stores.
18.
Angelo Meli had holdings in a warehouse and a cold storage facility.
19.
Angelo Meli's family was very interconnected with the rest of the Detroit mafia community.
20.
Over time, as Angelo Meli's health declined, he began to spend less time working with the Partnership, and spent more time at his residence in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
21.
Angelo Meli died at his Fort Lauderdale residence on December 1,1969.