In this episode of Gangland Wire, retired Kansas City Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins takes listeners deep into a lesser-known corner of American mob history—Denver, Colorado. While most think of Denver as a gateway to the Rockies and a hub for skiing, few realize it also served as the long-standing stronghold of the Smaldone crime family.
Gary uncovers the roots of organized crime in southern Colorado, beginning in Pueblo, where early mobster James Coletti, a one-time associate of the Bonanno crime family, helped lay the foundation. He and the infamous Carlino brothers, including Pete Carlino—dubbed the "Al Capone of Southern Colorado"—dominated bootlegging during Prohibition and attempted to expand northward. But peace efforts failed, and bloody gang wars soon erupted, culminating in drive-by shootings, betrayal, and ultimately murder.
From there, the story shifts to Joe Roma, Denver’s would-be peacemaker and one-time crime boss, whose 1933 assassination created a power vacuum. Into that void stepped the Smaldone brothers—Clyde (“Flip Flop”), Eugene (“Checkers”), and Clarence (“Chauncey”)—who would dominate Denver’s underworld from the 1940s through the 1980s. Their North Denver restaurant, Gaetano’s, became both a community staple and a notorious mob hangout.
Gary details the family’s criminal enterprises, from gambling, loan sharking, and bootlegging to jury tampering and racketeering, including the high-profile 1953 gambling raid that brought federal heat. But the Smaldones weren’t just feared—they were admired by many locals for their generosity, community involvement, and quiet acts of charity. They donated to orphanages, covered college tuition, and ensured no one in the neighborhood went hungry, blurring the line between gangster and good neighbor.
The episode also explores the Smaldones’ national connections, including partnerships with mob bosses in St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago. Gary breaks down their Las Vegas Riviera Casino skim, in collaboration with Anthony Giordano, and how FBI wiretaps and surveillance exposed their involvement in one of the Mafia’s most lucrative rackets. Figures like “Fat Willie” Villano, a nephew of Checkers, handled casino marker collections, sometimes doubling as muscle for overdue debts.
As always, Gary brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective, asking: Were the Smaldones cold-blooded criminals or Robin Hood-style community protectors? The truth lies somewhere in between.
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Transcript
In this episode, I delve deep into the intriguing world of organized crime in Denver, Colorado, a city not typically associated with mob activities. The focus of my research centers around the Small Dome family, who dominated the organized crime scene for several decades. Many listeners are surprised to learn that organized crime had roots in Denver, often overshadowed by its reputation as a skiing and outdoor paradise. But as we explore the historical timeline, we uncover how mob influence permeated this seemingly tranquil landscape.
To kick off the narrative, I introduce the criminal origins in southern Colorado with figures like James Coletti, who made his reputation in Pueblo during the late 1950s. We examine Coletti's ties to the Bonanno family and his subsequent move to Pueblo, where he became embroiled in local organized crime. The podcast elaborates on key players like Pete Carlino, dubbed the "Al Capone of Southern Colorado,