Joseph Iacobacci, better known as Joe Loose, was the boss of the Cleveland Mafia from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s. He was one of the few mob leaders who managed to avoid long prison sentences and retire by choice. He died of a heart attack in April 2020 at the age of 70. This article will explore his life, his rise to power, and his death.
Contents
From Burglar to Mobster
Joe Loose was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950. He grew up in the Collinwood neighborhood, an Italian-American enclave that produced many mobsters over the years. He started his criminal career as a teenager, robbing businesses in and around Collinwood. He earned the nickname Loose for his violent temper and his reckless behavior. According to American Mafia History, some of his fellow gangsters joked that he had a “screw loose” in his head.
He soon caught the attention of James Licavoli, a respected mobster who took him under his wing and used him for collections and enforcement work. Licavoli was a former member of the Detroit’s infamous Purple Gang during Prohibition. He became the leader of the Cleveland Crime Family in 1976, after the death of longtime boss John Scalish.
Bomb City USA
Licavoli’s ascension was not smooth, as he faced a challenge from John Nardi, a union boss, and Danny Greene, an Irish-American gangster. The two rivals wanted to take over Cleveland’s rackets, which included loansharking, gambling, and skimming from union construction jobs. The Cleveland Mafia also had a share of the skim from Las Vegas casinos, thanks to its connection with the Teamsters Union.
A bloody war erupted between Licavoli’s faction and Nardi and Greene’s faction, which involved many car bombings. The national media dubbed Cleveland “Bomb City, USA” for the frequent explosions that rocked the city. Joe Loose was on the front lines of the war, carrying out hits and bombings for Licavoli. Eventually, both Nardi and Greene were killed by car bombs, with Greene dying in 1977 outside of a dentist’s office.
Licavoli was convicted in 1982 for his role in Greene’s death and sentenced to life in prison. He was replaced by Angelo Lonardo, the son of a former mob boss. Lonardo, however, turned informant in 1983, after being arrested on drug charges. He exposed the inner workings of the Cleveland Mafia and its ties to other crime families.
The Rise of Joe Loose
With Lonardo’s defection, the Cleveland Mafia was in disarray. Many of its members were indicted, imprisoned, or killed. Joe Loose, who had served a few short stints in jail for racketeering and extortion, emerged as the new leader of the weakened organization. He was officially inducted into the Mafia in 1986, along with four other men, in a ceremony held in a suburban home.
Joe Loose proved to be a cunning and capable boss, who rebuilt the Cleveland Mafia into a viable enterprise. He focused on low-profile and profitable activities, such as gambling, loansharking, and sports betting. He also expanded the mob’s influence into other areas, such as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Youngstown, Ohio. He maintained a good relationship with other crime families, especially the Detroit and Chicago outfits.
Joe Loose was also careful to avoid law enforcement attention, by keeping a low profile and using front men and associates to run his operations. He rarely used violence, preferring to negotiate and compromise with his rivals. He also avoided drugs, which had brought down many of his predecessors. He was described by Gangsters Inc. as “a model career in the Mafia”.
The Retirement and Death of Joe Loose
Joe Loose led the Cleveland Mafia for nearly two decades, until he decided to retire in 2005. He moved to Pittsburgh, where he lived a quiet life with his wife and children. He reportedly suffered from diabetes and heart problems, which may have contributed to his decision to leave the mob. He was succeeded by Russell Papalardo, his longtime friend and underboss.
Joe Loose died of a heart attack in April 2020, at the age of 70. He was one of the few mob bosses who died of natural causes, and not by violence or imprisonment. He was also one of the last surviving members of the Cleveland Mafia, which had declined significantly in power and influence over the years. His death marked the end of an era for the Cleveland underworld.
