Photo: San Quentin State Prison · Public domain

Born in Italy · Nationality Italian — Crime / mafias / terrorism / criminal cases — organised crime

Jack Dragna

Organised crime and cartels Violent crime and serial killers

Documented profile covering 7 controversies, including “1952–1956: Immigration arrest and deportation order for unlawful entry, contested until his death” and “1950–1951: Identified as head of Southern California crime syndicate and summoned before Kefauver Committee”.

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Profile No. 2177 · Updated on 12 October 2026

7Documented controversies

8Sources

2 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

1952–1956

1952–1956: Immigration arrest and deportation order for unlawful entry, contested until his death

Civil / administrative proceedings

Federal authorities arrested Dragna over his return from Mexico in 1932 with documents deemed insufficient and for allegedly making a fraudulent claim to US citizenship. The Department of Justice listed him in 1953 among racketeers under deportation orders. Dragna pursued numerous appeals and died in 1956 before any deportation was carried out.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Department of JusticeAddress on organized crime and deportation program, August 27, 1953Official documentVery high reliability
[2]
San Diego ReaderHow mobsters made their move on San DiegoInvestigative journalismHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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1950–1951

1950–1951: Identified as head of Southern California crime syndicate and summoned before Kefauver Committee

No legal proceedings

California authorities described Dragna as a central figure in Southern California organised crime. He was subsequently questioned in the Kefauver Senate investigation into organised crime and denied the allegations against him.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Senate Special Committee / digitized copyThe American Mafia — Kefauver Committee Final ReportParliamentary recordVery high reliability
[2]
Los Angeles Public LibraryHome of the 'Capone of Los Angeles'Very high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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1951

1951: Local conviction for vagrancy / lewd conduct, sentence reduced to 30 days

Conviction

Amid an intensive police campaign against Los Angeles underworld figures, Dragna was convicted of vagrancy and conduct then classified as lewd conduct. An initial six-month sentence was reduced to thirty days in county jail.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
San Diego ReaderHow mobsters made their move on San DiegoInvestigative journalismHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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1947–1950

1947–1950: War against Mickey Cohen and series of attacks attributed to Dragna faction

No legal proceedings

After Bugsy Siegel's death, Cohen refused Dragna's authority over Los Angeles rackets. A gang war followed, with ambushes and attacks against Cohen and his associates. Archival sources and later testimony attribute several attempts to Dragna's network.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Los Angeles Public LibraryHome of the 'Capone of Los Angeles'Very high reliability
[2]
West Hollywood History1948: Mickey Cohen Moves UpSecondary sourceMedium reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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années 1920–1933

1920s–1933: Bootlegging, extortion and illegal gambling attributed to his network during Prohibition

No legal proceedings

After his release from prison, Dragna became a major figure in Los Angeles's Sicilian underworld. Historical research and police records attribute bootlegging, extortion and illegal gambling activities to him, notably through networks described as collecting tribute and protection payments.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
San Diego ReaderWhy did Frank Bompensiero come to San Diego?Investigative journalismHigh reliability
[2]
Los Angeles TimesA few small victories — Tales From the Gangster SquadPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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1931

1931: Takes control of Los Angeles family after Joseph Ardizzone disappears — untried historical suspicion

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Dragna became head of the Los Angeles crime family following Joseph Ardizzone's disappearance. Several historical accounts suspected Dragna of involvement in the disappearance, regarded as a probable gangland killing.

State of the evidence: Documented
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

[1]
Los Angeles TimesA few small victories — Tales From the Gangster SquadPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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1915–1918

1915–1918: Conviction for "Black Hand" extortion and imprisonment at San Quentin

Conviction

Under the alias Jack Rizzotto/Rizotta, Dragna was arrested in an extortion case targeting rancher Dominico Lauricella and his family. He was convicted and served approximately three years at San Quentin before being released on parole.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Mafia GenealogyLos Angeles, 1915: Jack Dragna and Sam StrevaSecondary sourceMedium reliability
[2]
San Diego ReaderWhy did Frank Bompensiero come to San Diego?Investigative journalismHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)

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