Nick Licata

Nick "Old Man" Licata (born Nicolò Licata; ; February 20, 1897 – October 19, 1974) was an Italian American mobster who was the boss of the Los Angeles crime family from 1967 until his death in 1974.

Early life Licata was born on February 20, 1897, in the small Italian town of Camporeale, in Sicily (although his surname may suggest family origins in Licata). He was the son of Calogero and Vita, and had six brothers and two sisters. He was arrested once in 1945 for refilling liquor containers. Licata held a fish fry party at his Five O'Clock Club Burbank Restaurant restaurant, and other guests and a waitress testified before a grand jury that Fratianno and his associates were at the restaurant the entire night. Fratianno, Licata, Charles "Charley Bats" Battaglia, Angelo Polizzi, and Leo "Lips" Moceri were all arrested, but none were charged for the crime. It wasn't until Fratianno became an FBI government witness over 25 years later that the belief of the LAPD was confirmed.

In 1952, Jack Dragna promoted Jimmy Fratianno to caporegime (captain). To pacify Licata, who was the more logical candidate, Licata was allowed to work directly under Dragna. Licata made good connections with Mafia families in Detroit, Dallas, Kansas City, and New Orleans. When Dragna died in 1956, Frank DeSimone became the new boss of the family. He named Licata his consigliere, who was a popular choice among the younger family members. He illegally took them, His funeral was attended by 150 people.