Ep 14. Danny Greene
- August 15, 2018
Danny Greene was an Irish-American gangster who rose to power in the Cleveland underworld in the 1970s. He quickly gained a reputation as a ruthless enforcer, willing to use any means necessary to protect his interests and eliminate his enemies.
In this episode of Gangsters: America's Most Evil, viewers will be taken on a journey through Greene's rise to power and eventual downfall. Through expert interviews and first-hand accounts from those who knew him, we will get a glimpse into the psyche of one of America's most infamous gangsters.
Born in Cleveland in 1933, Danny Greene grew up in poverty and turned to a life of crime at an early age. He quickly rose through the ranks of the local criminal underworld, becoming a member of the Teamsters Union and a key enforcer for various crime bosses.
But it was Greene's ability to form alliances with other ethnic gangsters that made him truly powerful. He embraced the Irish-American culture of his ancestors, and used it to build a network of connections throughout the city. He even went so far as to ally himself with the Italian Mafia, something that was unheard of at the time.
As his power grew, however, so did his enemies. Rival gangs and factions within the Teamsters Union saw Greene as a threat, and a series of violent clashes erupted throughout the city. Greene responded in kind, using car bombs and other tactics to take out those who opposed him.
But it was one of Greene's own men, a hitman named John Nardi, who ultimately brought him down. Nardi had become disillusioned with Greene's leadership and began working with the FBI to take him out. In 1977, Nardi orchestrated a car bombing that killed Greene outside his dentist's office.
Danny Greene's story is one of power, violence, and ultimately betrayal. Viewers will be left wondering how one man could have so much influence over a city, and how he could fall so far in the end. But perhaps the biggest question of all is whether there are still Danny Greenes out there today, lurking in the shadows and waiting to make their move.
