Read "Gangsters in Paradise" Series

By Ed Scarpo
Courtesy of Wikipedia


"In the 1970s and ’80s, state and federal officials proclaimed Palm Springs a Mafia haven, saying it had been that way since the 1960s...." 

The Desert Sun is running a five-part series that explores how the Mafia established a presence in Southern California's Coachella Valley.

Stories in the series so far (see end for link):

Gangsters in Paradise
Mafia leaders liked to spend their winters in the desert. They didn’t like any dirty business in their backyard, but that didn’t stop them from murdering a PS civic leader in Indiana. 



Mob looks to win big
The Mafia made their entry into the Coachella Valley when an associate of Detroit’s Purple Gang built a casino in Cathedral City.
Part of the family?
Frank Sinatra came of age in an era when many entertainers had to find work in Mafia-run venues. In his later years, a friend said he came to rue his early mob associations.


See the Desert Sun website for stories....

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