Sam Maceo

Salvatore V. "Sam" Maceo (Italian pronunciation: [salvaˈtoːre maˈtʃɛːo]; March 1, 1894 – April 16, 1951) was an American business entrepreneur, power broker and racketeer in Galveston, Texas, who controlled both the government and organized crime in the city for almost 30 years.

Sometimes known as the "Velvet Glove," Sam held considerable criminal and political influence in Southeast Texas and soon expanded his empire throughout the state.

Over the years Sam was able to secure substantial financing from Moody's American National Insurance Company (ANICO) and many other institutions.

[14][citation needed] During this time period, the criminal aspect of his empire was said to include dozens of casinos, bookmaking parlors and speakeasies throughout the city and Galveston County, particularly Kemah and Dickinson.

Additionally, during this time period, Maceo came to dominate corrupt politics, bootlegging and narcotics trafficking as far north as Dallas.

Well-known mobsters, such as Albert Anastasia, Frank Nitti and Al Capone were gambling and bootlegging partners to the Maceos.

Nitti was chased by one of Maceo's men and made to leave Galveston, before handling in a large amount of cash he had stolen from Johnny Jack Nounes, a powerful local mobster and former rival of Ollie Quinn.

Sam Maceo became a major investor in the Desert Inn, which opened in 1950, the largest and most elaborate casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip at the time.

Moe Dalitz, who opened the Desert Inn, and Sam and had long been allies and business partners, and financing of the Las Vegas project was largely facilitated by the Maceos and Moodys through the ANICO[20][21] (the company, for its part, is known to have lent millions to known mob figures).

[24] Galveston's wide-open era ended a few years after Maceo's death when authorities raided the island's gambling establishments.

[26] In spite of Sam's influence in the community and importance to the economy, the Maceos were never accepted by the leading families of Galveston society.

According to one story, a local automobile dealer, on the edge of bankruptcy, fortuitously managed to sell a fleet of cars to all of the priests in the city, paid for by Sam Maceo.

[26] After a giant port explosion devastated neighboring Texas City in 1947, Maceo organized a fundraiser featuring celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny.