Joseph Bonanno was an influential Italian-American mobster who became the head of the Bonanno crime family in New York City. Born on January 18, 1905, in Sicily, he immigrated to the United States in 1907. Bonanno played a significant role in organized crime during the mid-20th century and was known for his strategic approach to maintaining power and influence within the Mafia. In the 1930s, Bonanno was involved in various criminal activities, including extortion and racketeering. He was a key figure in the Commission, a governing body of the American Mafia. His life and career were marked by both success and challenges, including a notable conflict with rival families and legal troubles that led to his eventual decline in power.