Born on May 11,1892 in Italy, Leonard Cellura arrived in Detroit at the age of 16. Cellura's name began appearing in news print regularly during the Gianolla/Vitale gang war. Cellura was counted amoung the many capable soldiers employed by the Gianolla brothers. Cellura was a close friend of Sam Catalanotte and mentored many of the younger gunmen Sam recruited to fill the void left by the deaths of much of the gangs leadership at the hand of the rival Vitale contingent. Cellura was often linked to Angelo Meli, Joe Zerilli, Black Bill Tocco and a host of others. Infact Cellura was one of eight men detained on August 11, 1920 after Tony Badalamenti a nephew of John Vitale was shot and killed as he stood infront of his market in Detroit. This murder was carried out to avenge the shooting of two Eastside gangsters also tied to Cellura earlier in the day.
Black Leo Cellura died in Detroit on October 12,1972 at the age of 80
