FOUND A GRAVE

Organized Crime Figure. Born in Harlem, New York, Alo started working on Wall Street at age 14. As a young man, Alo was convicted of armed robbery and sent to state prison (either at Sing Sing or Dannemora state prisons).  In 1926, Alo became a made man, or full member, of Giuseppe Masseria‘s powerful New York gang. Named a capo-regime of the old Joe Adonis crew, Alo oversaw clubs, speakeasies, and illegal gambling in Brooklyn.  As a business associate and close friend of mob figure Meyer Lansky, they ran illegal gambling operations both in America and in pre-Fidel Castro Cuba. In 1970, Alo was convicted of obstructing justice. Robert M. Morgenthau, U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated that “Alo is one of the most significant organized crime figures in the United States. He is closely associated with Meyer Lansky of Miami, who is at the apex of organized crime.” Alo was described as being charming and intelligent, well liked by his associates. He retired in the mid 1970s and his crew was taken over by Matthew Ianniello.  On March 9, 2001, Alo died of natural causes in Florida at age 96. His remains were interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

The character Johnny Ola, portrayed by Dominic Chianese, in the film The Godfather Part II (1974) is based on Alo.