Talk:Crime in Melbourne/Archive 1

message: I am wondering what, if any, work is being planned for the Early History of this article?
There's certainly a lot of material available, especially given Frank Hardy's "fictional" novel Power Without Glory and similar.  It's been a few years since I've read up on much of it, but it's certainly something I wouldn't mind delving into again.  Particularly the roles of Jack Wren, Squizzy Taylor, Daniel Mannix and Frank Hardy (in publishing it).  It also includes the time of the only ever police strike in Melbourne and all sorts of other entertainment.
BenM 07:51, 4 Oct 2004 (UTC)
replies: text:  Good bloody question.... at the moment I only have informatoin form the painters and dockers onwards, so we need pre 1950s stuff there Agnte 20:40, 14 October 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  pre-WWII crime in Melbourne 

message: this article is a mess, the structure is confused, history is spread out over different sections.  it needs a good rewrite/restructure.  if i knew more about melbourne and/or melbourne crime, i'd do it. clarkk 13:43, 16 May 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I don't think this is at the right place in the first place. While a history of organized crime in Melbourne may be an interesting article, this isn't that article (and even if it was, it should be renamed anyway). Anyway, I'd prefer to see it renamed ****-05 Melbourne gangland war or something along those lines. It'd be much easier then to get it into some sort of decent shape. Ambi 14:12, 16 May 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I look at this article a lot and shake my head. I often wonder where to go with it. How about we rename it Operation Purana, which is what the taskforce investigating the Melbourne underworld murders is known as? We can then trim the remainder of left over information into useful stubs. Half of the guys mentioned in this article had nothing to do with the underworld war and need removing if we're taking that direction. -- Longhair | Talk 17:30, 16 May 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I think this should really be split into three articles - History of organized crime in Melbourne for the earlier stuff, ****-2005 Melbourne gangland war or something similar as a timeline of events (and giving the broader picture, such as the political ramifications, and a more specific Operation Purana, on the investigation and capture of those involved. Ambi 05:00, 17 May 2005 (UTC)

text: Attempting to do this now Agnte 17:17, 1 October 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  please cleanup article 

message: The validity of the following section is not established.
Melbourne underworld factions 
The Mafia (or Honored Society)
Former Godfather: Frank Benvenuto
The Melbourne Mafia controls the fruit and vegetable industry and markets of Melbourne. Since the Market Wars of 60’s the headquarters have moved from Queen Victoria Market, and now operate out of the Footscray Wholesale market. The Mafia’s activities include price fixing, extortion, marijuana growing and cocaine/ heroin importing. In 1999 Joe Quadara former millionaire and market identity was shot dead by two men as he arrived for work. Then in 2000 Godfather Frank Benvenuto was shot dead outside his Beaumaris home, some believe it to be payback for the 1992 killing of brother-in-law Alfonso Muratore.
The Organatiza (or Russian Mafia)
Boss: Unnamed
The Organatiza operates out of St Kilda (red light district) and Caufield (a Jewish suburb). The organisation consists of members who have an Eastern European or Former Soviet Republics background. Its main activities include abalone poaching, fraud, extortion, prostitution and immigration and mail-order bride rackets. In 2003 Istvan "Steve" Gulyas and his wife were executed; They ran a dating agency linking Victorian men with Russian woman. The agency was suspected of doubling as a brothel. In 2002 Michael Goldman had attempted to execute fellow criminal turned informer Alexander Kudryavstev with a bullet to the head. 
The Painters and Dockers
Most prominent figure: Graeme "The Munster" Kinniburgh
A loose coalition of Australian criminals, the Painter and Dockers control the wharves and docks of the Port of Melbourne. During the Dock Wars of the 80’s over 40 men were killed. The groups main activities include standing over drug shipments and other contraband, ghosting rackets, large scale theft and drug importing. Victor Peirce and Jason Moran both murdered have worked as painters and dockers. In 2003 Graeme "The Munster" Kinniburgh was executed outside his Kew house. He was a master safecracker with infamous Magnetic Drill Gang and fence for the UK-based shoplifting group known as the Kangaroo Gang.
The Carlton Crew
Former Boss: Alphonse Gangitano</br>
Current Boss: Dominic “the Don” Gatto
A predominantly Italian group that operates out of Carlton (the little Italy of Melbourne) and surrounding areas, with links to the Mafia. The groups main activities include standing over restaurants/ night clubs/ building sites, illegal gaming and the manufacture of party drugs. In 1998 the “prince of lygon street” Alphonse Gangitano was shot dead. In 1999 Vincenzo Mannella was shot dead near his home, months later brother Gerardo Manella was shot dead. In 2004 current boss Dominic “the Don” Gatto was arrested for killing suspected hit man Andrew “Benji” Veniamen.
The Sunshine Crew
Former Boss: Dino Dibra
A predominantly Italian group similar to the Carlton Crew that operates out of Sunshine and the inner western suburbs of Melbourne. The groups various activities include growing hydroponic marijuana, a stolen car racket, kidnap/ extortion and drug dealing. In 2000 mob leader Dino Dibra was blasted to death outside a home in West Sunshine. In 2002 partner in crime Rocco Arico was the main suspect in the execution of stand over man Richard "The Lionheart" Mladenich. Following this Rocco Arico and Terrence Chimirri pleaded guilty to kidnapping for ransom.
The Pettingill Clan
Matriarch: Kath Pettingill
The Pettingill Clan is an extended crime family that still remains 49 strong and operates out of Richmond. The groups main activities include drugs, vice and robbery. The Matriarch Kath Pettingill used to run several brothels in the Richmond area. In 1987 Dennis “Dr D” Allen (one of Kath’s sons) died of drug-induced heart failure, he was connected to up to 15 underworld murders. Then in 2002 Victor Pierce (one of Kath’s sons) acquitted of murder over the Walsh Street police shootings, and hired muscle for Godfather Frank Benvenuto, was executed in Port Melbourne.
The Moran Family
Former patriarch: Lewis “the Fly” Moran
The Moran Family has their roots with the painters and dockers and is heavily involved in the drug scene they operate out of the Pascoe Vale/ Essendon area. In 2000 Mark Moran was executed in front of his $1 million home, just like his father Leslie "Johnny" Cole who was executed near his home in the 80’s Sydney Underworld War. In 2003 Jason Moran along with bodyguard Pasquale “Little Pat” Barbaro were executed in Essendon. In 2004 Lewis “the Fly” Moran was executed in Brunswick also hit was Herbert “Bertie” Wrout.  “Tuppence” Moran is now left flying the flag.
The Williams Family
Boss: Carl “the Commissioner” Williams 
Relative newcomers to the amphetamine industry, sometimes referred to as “Steptoe and Son”, the father and son drug team of George and Carl Williams operating out of Broadmeadows in the north western suburbs. In 1999 Carl Williams was shot in the stomach by one of the Moran brothers over unpaid debts. Defacto Brother-in-law Thomas Hentschell along with Victor “the Marathon Man” Brincat were charged over the murder of drug dealer Michael Marshall. In 2004 Andrew “Benji” Veniamen who acted as a bodyguard for Carl Williams was shot dead, he was the suspected hitman in up to 7 underworld deaths.
Other crime syndicates
*The Radev Gang 
*The Mokbel Brothers
*The Chinese Triads
----
It all sounds great, reminds me of the last Cliff Hardy novel I read. Damn good story. Is any of it true? Where are the references? Tannin 11:11, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Parking some completely unreferenced stuff here until someone comes up with some actual evidence to support it

message: So the bulk of the information (under history) about the tit for tat killings between  1998 (Gangitano murder) and 2004 (Veniamin murder, Carl Williams arrest) needs to go into a seperate section, called something like Melbourne gangland killings (98-04), as this bit of history should only be one section of a much more general Crime in Melbourne article  Agnte 16:37, 1 October 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Alright, I've done this, will do more, work in progress, still needs cleanup and a boatload of references Agnte 17:24, 1 October 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Pulled out specific references to melbourne underworld - thats all going in Melbourne gangland killings, have started to index for the majoy events we have pages for.  not sure if its better under a timeline or headings for each incident, or other listing suggestions....? Agnte 19:33, 14 October 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Thoughts on Attempted Cleanup