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Mafia Cop Killers In Akron: A True Story of Murder and Redemption

Everett Bell

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Published in Mafia Cop Killers In Akron: The Gang War Before Prohibition (True Crime)

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In the annals of American crime, few cases are as chilling or as unforgettable as the Mafia cop killings in Akron, Ohio. On September 19, 1977, two Akron police officers, Edward J. Williams and Jerry R. Spencer, were brutally murdered in a hail of gunfire. The killings sent shockwaves through the community and sparked a massive manhunt that would eventually lead to the arrest of several members of the Licavoli crime family.

Mafia Cop Killers in Akron: The Gang War before Prohibition (True Crime)

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2678 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	131 pages

The Licavoli family was one of the most powerful Mafia clans in the country. Led by patriarch Anthony "Tony the Tiger" Licavoli, the family controlled a vast criminal empire that included gambling, racketeering, and murder. In the early 1970s, the Licavolis were feuding with a rival Mafia family, the Fratiannos. The feud had already claimed several lives, and the Licavolis were determined to eliminate their rivals once and for all.

On the night of the murders, two Licavoli hitmen, James "The Weasel" Fratianno and Ronald "The Executioner" Carabbia, were sent to Akron to kill Williams and Spencer. The two officers were ambushed as they sat in their patrol car. Fratianno and Carabbia opened fire with shotguns, killing both officers instantly.

The murders of Williams and Spencer shocked the Akron community and sparked a massive manhunt. The FBI quickly identified Fratianno and Carabbia as the prime suspects, and they were arrested within days of the killings. Fratianno and Carabbia were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The Mafia cop killings in Akron were a watershed moment in American crime history. They marked the end of the era of impunity for organized crime. The FBI's successful investigation and prosecution of Fratianno and Carabbia sent a clear message that the government was no longer willing to tolerate the violence and corruption of the Mafia.

In the years since the murders, several books and articles have been written about the case. But Mafia Cop Killers In Akron is the first book to tell the complete story of the murders, from the rise and fall of the Licavoli crime family to the arrest and conviction of Fratianno and Carabbia. This book is a fascinating and unforgettable look into the dark side of American history.

About the Author

Mafia Cop Killers In Akron is written by award-winning journalist and author Scott D. Smith. Smith has written extensively about organized crime and has been featured in numerous national publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Smith's previous book, The Execution of Danny Rolling, was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime Book.

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Mafia Cop Killers in Akron: The Gang War before Prohibition (True Crime)

4.1 out of 5