The Los Angeles Sugar Ring: Inside the World of Old Money, Bootleggers & Gambling Barons (True Crime Ser.)

By: Michael Niotta

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Synopsis: In this intimate true crime biography, the author recounts his great grandfather&’s journey from local grocer to Prohibition-era crime boss. Sicilian immigrant &“Big George&” Niotta did exceptionally well for a grocery wholesaler. That&’s because his biggest clients were bootleggers. He delivered hundreds of pounds of sugar to illegal liquor operations across California, supplying an essential ingredient and making sweet profits. But his criminal operations didn&’t end there. Niotta rose to prominence thanks to his magnetic charm, collaborating with infamous bootlegger Frank Borgia and influential gambling baron Jack Dragna. Dogged by the IRS, Niotta expanded his enterprise into ringer horses, a multimillion-dollar lottery, and a notorious gambling parlor. Through extensive research and interviews with family members, J. Michael Niotta explores three decades of L.A. crime, including a rare insider's look at the Eagle Brewing Company and other survivors of Prohibition.