Colorado crime family
The Colorado crime family, also known as the Smaldone crime family, Denver crime family, Denver Mafia or the Mountain Mafia was an Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in Pueblo and Denver, Colorado. Pete and Sam Carlino’s bootlegging organization was the foundation of the Denver Mob, which was later taken over by Giuseppe “Little Caesar” Roma. Roma’s organization evolved into the modern Denver branch of the La Cosa Nostra of which is known today as the Smaldone crime family. Roma expanded their criminal operations into extortion, loan sharking, drugs, bookmaking, and more. It is believed by federal authorities that the Denver Mafia went defunct in the 2000s after the death of Clarence Smaldone, however, evidence suggests that they still have a small but significant presence in the Colorado state, particularly in mountain towns.
| Founded by | Carlino Brothers (BH) Giuseppe Roma (LCN) |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Fremont County and Denver, Colorado |
| Years active | 1920s-2000s |
| Territory | Colorado |
| Ethnicity | Men of Italian, Italian-American, Sicilian and Sicilian-American descent are full (made) members, while other ethnicities are employed “associates” or “enforcers,” however Italians can be associates before they are inducted into the family. |
| Membership | N/A, family is widely believed to be defunct (2023) |
| Criminal activities | Racketeering, bootlegging, loansharking, extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal gambling |
| Allies | Five Families Chicago Outfit |