Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. In this episode of the Gangland Wire Podcast, Gary Jenkins explores the intense gang war between the Civella and Spero families. Gary explains the key figures, Nick Civella and his brother Cork Civella, and outlines their roles within the mob. Jenkins also highlights Nick Spero, a flamboyant character with connections to the mob. He explains Nick Civella’s strict dress code, including rules against facial hair and the requirement for specific haircuts. He shares stories of Civella’s involvement in sports gambling charges and the first FBI wiretap that led to his indictment. The murder of Saul Landie and the attempted murder of Lester Moore further escalated tensions within the organized crime network. Moving on, Jenkins focuses on Carl Spero and his criminal activities. A professional criminal, Carl aligns himself with other professional criminals to create his own organization. The speaker emphasizes Carl Spero’s cautious nature and his crew’s efforts to avoid surveillance. He describes the stalking of the Spero faction by the Civella Faction. Tensions rise as both families continue surveillance efforts, culminating in a shooting incident at the Virginia Tavern that leaves Carl Spero paralyzed. In the latter part of the podcast, He provides updates on Joe Spero’s involvement in a bombing attempt and eventual capture. After Joe Spero is killed, Carl remains a target, facing multiple assassination attempts, including a dynamite bombing of his car. Jenkins highlights the collaboration between an undercover state trooper and a professional thief and as thet build a case against Spero. Ths stoy culminated in a bomb planted under Carl Spero’s office, signaling the end of the Spero-Civella War.Support the Podcast

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[0:00] Well, hey, all you wiretappers out there, good to be back here in the studio of Gangland Wire. This is Gary Jenkins, retired KCPD intelligence detective.

I’m going to tell you another story about my career and things that I lived through here in Kansas City, the 1970s mob wars.

I told you about the war in the River Key, the war between the Commissaros and Bonadonna and the fallout from all that.

Well, now I’m going to tell you about the Civella-Spero war.

I did a movie on this. The Civella-Spero Mob War, I think was the name of it.

I don’t know, but if you want to find it, you’ll find it.

First thing I want to talk about is the Civella family. Nick Civella, he was a famous boss that came out of Appalachian.

He was caught back there with Joe Filardo, who was an old gangster from the 30s and 20s.

He was being introduced as a new boss in 1957.

[0:51] Growing up in the mob, really, during those years, He had been the boss until he died.

He had a brother, Cork Civella, who was a real firebrand. The guy really never had a little crew that worked for him.

He seemed to be kind of an independent operator, although he always bent to the will of his older brother, Nick Civella.

They called him Cork because he’d pop off. He was the kind of guy that he got mad at some newsmen one time during a grand jury hearing.

They were all sitting around in the hallway outside the grand jury room.

Cork was waiting to go in and he started getting mad at him for some reason.

We don’t really know why.