First published in September 2004, one of Barricade’s best-selling true crime titles is coming back in print in paperback to coincide with the film release of “To Kill The Irishman”. With a new Introduction by the author, The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia is the fascinating chronicle of a once mighty crime family's birth, rise to power, and eventual collapse. The Cleveland crime family was third in power after New York City and Chicago, had influence with mega-mobsters like Meyer Lansky, and had a hand in the development of Las Vegas. Cleveland was also the site of the first known national meeting of the Sicilian-American Mafia that was hosted in 1928 by the author's grandfather and uncles—the notorious Porrello brothers. Although Danny Greene, "The Irishman," and La Cosa Nostra on the North Coast fall prey to this crime family, the central figure to The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia is Angelo “Big Ange” Lonardo. "Big Ange" boldly avenged his father’s death in 1929, and then rose through the ranks to become acting boss of the Cleveland crime family. He would serve two years of a life sentence before shocking family, friends, fellow mobsters, and the law enforcement community by cutting a deal with the Feds. He betrayed Omertà—the Sicilian code of silence—and his testimony helped put away mob bosses in New York City and across the country, and he provided a valuable and detailed education into the criminal society known as the Mafia.
Ohio Police Chief Rick Porrello wears many hats. The top cop gave up a successful career in music (he spent almost three years traveling internationally as the drummer for Sammy Davis Jr.)to pursue his interest in law enforcement. He took up writing too, and now he's headed for the movies.
When Rick Porrello's interest in police work eclipsed his interest in music, he left the Sammy Davis show and started on his criminal justice degree. He joined the police force in 1986. He also began researching his Mafia roots and penned his first book, The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia. It's the story of the Porrello and Lonardo Mafia families' battles to control corn sugar, a lucrative bootlegging ingredient.
The chief wrote To Kill the Irishman next. The Irishman is the true story of Danny Greene, a fearless mob associate who took on on the Cleveland Mafia in the 1970s. The book was published in 1998. Before it even hit the shelf, the Irishman caught the attention of two persons interested in the film rights. One of them was Tommy Reid, a graduate of the New York FiIm Academy and Ohio State University. To help Porrello sort out the complexities of a film option, he retained Peter Miller, president of PMA Literary and Film Management.
Reid promised to get the film made. It took 12 years but he kept his promise. He is partnered with indie producers Bart Rosenblatt and Al Corley of Code Entertainment. The Irishman is directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. It stars Ray Stevenson as Danny Greene, and co-stars Val Kilmer and Chris Walken. The impressive cast includes Paul Sorvino, Vince D'Onofrio, Linda Cardellini, Steve Schirippa, Tony LoBianco and Irish actress, Fionnula Flanagan. The film was shot last summer in Detroit where producers took advantage of Michigan's generous film tax rebate. Chief Porrello and family were on hand to watch his book's transformation to the cinema. He's hoping for similar success with his current award-winnig title, Superthief - A Master Burglar, the Mafia and the Biggest Bank Heist in U.S. History.
