Joe Masseria | |
|---|---|
 Masseria's 1922 mugshot | |
| Born | Giuseppe Masseria January 17, 1886 |
| Died | April 15, 1931 (aged 45) New York City, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Gunshot |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Other names | "Joe the Boss" |
| Occupation(s) | Crime boss, mobster |
| Predecessor | Vincenzo Terranova |
| Successor | Charles Luciano |
| Allegiance | Masseria crime family |
| Conviction(s) | Burglary (1909) |
| Criminal penalty | Four to six years imprisonment (1913) |
Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria (Italian: [dʒuˈzɛppe masseˈriːa]; January 17, 1886 – April 15, 1931) was an early Italian-American Mafia boss in New York City. He was boss of what is now called the Genovese crime family, one of the New York City Mafia's Five Families, from 1922 to 1931. In 1930, he battled in the Castellammarese War to take over the criminal activities in New York City. The war ended with his murder on April 15, 1931, in a hit ordered by his own lieutenant, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, in an agreement with rival faction head Salvatore Maranzano.