Anthony Milano

Who is Anthony Milano?

Anthony "Tony" Milano was an Italian mobster who rose to power in America working for the Cleveland crime family in the American Mafia. He served as the longtime Underboss in the Cleveland crime family from 1930 until his retirement in 1976. He was the godfather of future Cleveland crime family Underboss Angelo Lonardo.

Milano was born on December 5, 1888 in Reggio Calabria in Southern Italy to Pietro and Grazia Milano. His family eventually immigrated to the United States and made their way to Cleveland, Ohio. Milano and his brother Frank were active in Black Hand extortion and bootlegging during prohibition. His younger brother Frank was leader of the "Mayfield Road Mob", an Italian gang that fought the Porrello crime family for control of criminal rackets in Ohio. In the early 1930s, the Porrello family was defeated and Frank became Boss of the Cleveland crime family, being an original member of The Commission. Anthony served as his Underboss. In 1935, Frank fled the country due to tax evasion charges. Alfred Polizzi took over as Boss of the family and kept Anthony on as Underboss. Milano remained Underboss for decades despite the changes in leadership over the years.