New Legend Magazine August Issue | Page 71

Joe Bonanno (or “Joe Bananas” as he was nicknamed) is yet another of the characters who can be allegedly be tracked to being in Trinidad during this time. At the age of 26, Joe Bonanno was named leader of the “five families” in New York City. This national crime syndicate later became known as the Bonanno Family as Joe ruled the empire of gambling, labor racketeering, and drug trafficking for more than 30 years. In the 1940s, Bonanno was linked to the Colorado Cheese Company which had started in Trinidad. The FBI later listed 23 cheese and pizza companies that were owned or affiliated with mafia families, including Joe Bonanno, used as “cover” businesses as they infiltrated the United States. It is, to this day, speculated that Italian mafia families are still prevalent in the state of Colorado, from Denver to Trinidad. But like any gangster mafia film has taught us, mums the word. Find out more at Newlegendsmag.com Check us out on facebook N 69