The origins of the River Gang trace back to the mixed ghetto's of turn of the century St.Louis. Known alternately as the Licavoli mob, the gang was comprised of a close nit group of young St.Louis toughs who had committed virtually every violent crime immaginable before the age of 16. Comprised principally of Thomas "Yonnie" Licavoli, Frank Cammarata and Peter Joseph Licavoli, "cousins" James "Blackie" Licavoli and Leo Morceri with advice and often physical assistance from transplanted St. Louis gangster Joseph Massei, Leo Cellura and members of the feared and respected Moceri and Bommarito clans, the Licavoli Mob had been active in the Detroit area since 1921. [see Horseface Pete Licavoli.]
It was at this time that Yonnie and Frank Cammarata were picked up in Windsor Ontario Canada where they had been charged with possession of illegal weapons they had attempted to smuggle back to their Riverside base of operaton. This conviction removed two of the gangs most important members for two years. This marked the emergence of Peter Joseph Licavoli as a leader in the motor city mob. Pete would perfect and expand the gangs liquor smuggling operation to the point where they became the top bootlegg operation in the city.
Pete, enjoyed the protection of Sam Catalonotte's Unione Sciliana organization due to his close association with Joe Massie and the Bommarito family who had travelled East with the Licavoli boys to secure new territory for themselves under the auspicies of the Unione. Recognizing the strength and potential of the upstart organization Sam Catalonotte extended an invitation to Pete that requested his gangs participation in the Pascuzzi Combine. Licavoli accepted the invitation while continuing to expand his gangs influence and wealth as a member of the combine. The Licavoli Mob became the River Gang "also called the purple gang at times," and formed a very important faction of the Detroit Partnership with factions in Toledo "headed by Pete Corrado, Youngstown "Tony Delsanter and other parts of the country. The Licavoli penchant for crossing ethnic lines in pursuit of business profits "in addition to employing a capable stable of gunmen such as Angelo Livecchi to enforce their control in gambling circles," broke new ground in Detroit circles.
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