Criminal Tokyo Joe
Jan 5, 2024
Explore the fascinating story of Ken Eto, a Japanese American who rose through the ranks of Chicago's organized crime family. Discover his involvement in gambling and the discrimination faced by Japanese Americans during World War II. Learn about Eto's arrest, cooperation with the FBI, and his later life in Atlanta. Dive into the intriguing details of Eto's life in the Chicago outfit and his ultimate betrayal.
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Outfit Became Corporate Powerhouse
- The Chicago Outfit shifted from flashy figures like Al Capone to a powerful, corporate-style criminal enterprise after WWII.
- It acquired legal and illegal businesses across regions to centralize control and profits.
Tokyo Joe Ran The Boleta Machine
- Ken Edo rose as the Outfit's 'Boleta' expert, running lottery-style numbers that funneled millions to organized crime.
- Newspapers called him the Boleta chief because that racket generated massive dark income for the mob.
Early Life And Internment Shaped Him
- Ken Edo was born into poverty and ran away during the Depression to work in farms and canneries.
- He was interned at Minidoka during WWII where gambling rings reportedly flourished among detainees.