Anthony Provenzano commonly referred to as “Tony Pro” was a ruthless organized crime leader who also doubled up as a leader in the Local 560 employees union in New Jersey in the early period of 1940s. Born in 1917 to a family of six sons of an immigrant couple, Tony Pro could not proceed further with his education beyond the age of fifteen years. After dropping out of school, he picked up a job as a truck helper but later became a truck driver (Abadinsky 318). However, his burning desire was to become a professional boxer and could not hesitate to taste his skills of throwing that heavy punch to anyone’s face that dared knowingly or unknowingly cross his line drawn on the sand. Admittedly, because of his reputation for violence in the neighborhood he caught the eye of a crime leader and a powerful racketeer who lived next door. Anthony Strollo nicknamed “Tony Bender,” introduced Provenzano to the Genovese family, a criminal outfit and thus begun the lifetime journey of criminal activities (Abadinsky 318). In addition, Strollo assisted Provenzano in becoming an organizer of the IBT Local 560 in the area. Appreciably, by 1940, Provenzano had …show more content…
In 1975, he was at it again on extortion charges. The prosecution indicted him of violation of the kick back statute. On this charge Provenzano used his influence in order to facilitate a criminal outfit that he was attached to obtain a loan from New York’s State Teamsters Employee Welfare. Incidentally, the trustee asked for a kick back for facilitating the loan which made so many other people to demand for a share. Eventually, the borrowers retreated. Provenzano was convicted in 1978 and sentenced to a four year jail term. In the same year, he was found guilty of being responsible for the murder of Anthony Castillito and sentenced to life