Mariposa crime family

The Mariposa crime family was an organized crime syndicate from the Sicilian Mafia, one of the first families in New York. It is currently known as the Barzini crime family, after Vito Corleone took it over in 1934, and Capo Emilio Barzini took over the remnants and founded his own gang.

History[]

The family was founded in 1920 by Giuseppe Mariposa, taking over the Barzini Gang, whose leaders Ettore Barzini and Emilio Barzini became Caporegimes in Mariposa's organization. The family became one of the most powerful organizations, with only a few families holding up against their might; the Tattaglia crime family, Cuneo crime family, and Stracci crime family were allied, and the LaConti crime family were their sole enemy, with the Corleone crime family posing as a neutral syndicate. Mariposa killed Rosario LaConti in 1933, ending his organization, and asked to share the olive oil business with Vito Corleone, since he was a promising Don who would be a good asset. However, he refused, and Mariposa went on the attack, beginning the Olive Oil War.

Mariposa's ally, Al Capone, sent his soldato Willy Russo and another hitman to assist the Mariposas, but Corleone soldato Luca Brasi killed them both, and Capone cowered out of the fighting. Brasi also killed Mariposa soldato Jimmy Grizzeo, and carried out other hits, until Mariposa arranged a meeting with Corleone to make peace. However, Mariposa Underboss Tomasino Cinquemani and Corleone Capo Salvatore Tessio riddled him with bullets at the Brooklyn restaurant where they met, and the Corleone Family took over the family, conquering New York City. The caporegime Emilio Barzini founded his own family out of its remains.

Members[]

Don: Giuseppe Mariposa

Underboss: Pietro Testa

Consigliere: Dante Marcelini

Caporegimes: Emilio Barzini, Tony Rosato, Tomasino Cinquemani and Frank Pentangeli

Soldati: Carmine Rosato, Jimmy Grizzeo, Nicky Crea, Victor Piazza, Mickey Mariposa and Fiorello Inzana