The LaMare gang rose from the ashes of the Gianolla/Vitale fued to dominate vice in Hamtramck. The leader of this organization Chester LaMare had been an inconsequential member of the Gianolla gang but due to his relationship with Salvatore Catalonotte was appointed head of his own gang in 1920. Throughout the '20s, the LaMare Gang made it's mark due mainly to the efforts of it's leader and his ace lieutenant Leo Cellura. In conjunction with the Catalanottes and downriver beer baron Joe Tocco, the LaMare gang became one of the most recognized of Detroit's prohibition era organizations under the name of the Westside Mob.
The LaMare gang began to unravel in 1928 with the indictment of Cellura on charges of bribing U.S. Customs agents. With this federal indictment looming, Cellura fled across the river to Windsor Canada where he was shocked and dismayed when he was cut off from the rackets he had left behind by LaMare. Cellura and LaMare would become bitter enemies as Cellura joined the Licavoli gang and worked to eliminate his one time friend, confidant and business partner. The LaMare gang "much like the Vitale, Bucellato and Mirabile gangs before it," was absorbed into other gangs following the elimination of Chester LaMare in February of 1930.
Note;Elmer Macklin, Joe Marino and Joe Amico found employment with various mobs.
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