Crooked City: Youngstown, OH
From Marc Smerling, the creator of Crimetown and The Jinx, welcome to CROOKED CITY. The Saturday Evening Post dubbed Youngstown, Ohio “Crimetown U.S.A.” It was a mob town. Illegal gambling was so lucrative that a mob war raged for decades, and bodies piled up. Then, Jim Traficant ran for sheriff, riding into office as the city’s steel industry fell on hard times. Traficant battles the local newspaper, then the FBI, the IRS and finally his own demons as an eight-term, twice-indicted congressman.
Chapter One | Welcome to Youngstown
In 2014, congressman Jim Traficant dies, and the city that loved him mourns. Why so much love for such a flawed man?
Chapter Two | The United California Bank Heist
The Cleveland mob has a tip for Youngstown bank burglar Amil Dinsio: there’s a vault in California, full of President Richard Nixon’s dirty money.
Chapter Three | Jim Traficant for Sheriff
After Youngstown suffers the shocking loss of the steel industry, local football hero Jim Traficant runs for sheriff, promising to clean up the city amidst a brutal mob war.
Chapter Four | The Pied Piper
FBI agent Bob Kroner tangles with Jim Traficant in a game of cat-and-mouse…and a battle for the hearts and minds of Youngstown.
Chapter Five | David and Goliath
Sheriff Jim Traficant defends himself in and out of court against the federal government. Will Youngstown set him free?
Chapter Six | The Younger Guys
Frank Susany is an up-and-coming thief, making his bones with mob boss Joey Naples…until he crosses paths with violent drug addict Mark Batcho.
Chapter Seven | America First
Sheriff Jim Traficant is a local hero after he defeats the federal government in court. Now he plans to take the fight to Washington...as a U.S. Congressman.
Chapter Eight | Pigs, Hogs, and a Beef
When mob boss Jimmy Prato dies, a longstanding feud between his right hand, Joey Naples, and his nephew, Lenny Strollo, boils over. Only one can be the new boss.
Chapter Nine | Pull the Trigger and You’re In
Frankie Susany vows revenge on the man who almost killed him, Mark Batcho. But enemies soon become friends as Susany introduces Batcho to the mob.
Chapter Ten | The One Way Street
Lenny Strollo runs the rackets in Youngstown, but not everyone wants to get in line.
Chapter Eleven | Ivan the Terrible
Congressman Jim Traficant takes on a wayward cause: the fight to free a man convicted of being a notorious Nazi war criminal.
Chapter Twelve | No Place for an Honest Man
A newly-elected county prosecutor threatens the mob’s way of life. Now, his life is in danger.
Chapter Thirteen | The End of Omertà
A late-night tipster leads to the biggest mob dragnet in Youngstown history. Who will talk, and who will live by the code?
Chapter Fourteen | The Farm
After the fall of the mob in Youngstown, the feds gather information to go after corrupt officials. Will they go after Congressman Traficant?
Chapter Fifteen | Beam Me Up
Jim Traficant faces expulsion in the House of Representatives. Will he stand firm, like a junkyard bulldog in the face of a hurricane?