Giuseppe Roma was a diminutive mobster in the Denver area known as "Little Caesar". Roma controlled bootlegging in North Denver. His grocery store was a legitimate front for his bootlegging activities. Roma worked with brothers Pete & Sam Carlino who controlled bootlegging South of Denver. By the early 1930s, the brothers felt they were strong enough to expand their bootlegging empire and take control of the Denver area. Joe Roma, the boss of the city, agreed to a sit down with the brothers in an effort to head off a gang war. On January 24, 1931, Roma sponsored a meeting of 30 of Colorado's top bootleggers. The police department was informed of the meeting, which was being held in the city's Italian district, and sent a raiding party. Unfortunately the meeting was interrupted before a com