Thomas Joseph McGinty, commonly known asThomas Jefferson McGinty, (aka T.J. McGinty and Thomas "Blackjack" McGinty, 1892 - 1970) was an early Cleveland mobster, one of the city's largest bootleggers during theProhibition, as well as a longtime boxing promoter.[1][2]
A former professional boxer, McGinty was hired as muscle forThe Plain Dealer's circulation department and, by 1913, headed a gang of labor sluggers competing against rivalCleveland News sluggers theMayfield Road Mob under Arthur McBride during Cleveland's "Circulation Wars".
McGinty operatedMcGinty's Saloon onWest 25th Street with two relatives, McGinty was indicted by a federal grand jury in 1924 on charges of operating a"gigantic wholesale and retail conspiracy". Although initially in hiding, McGinty turned himself in after several days and, pleading not guilty, he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. After his release fromAtlanta Federal Penitentiary, he soon resumed his bootlegging activities without further interference from authorities (who may have been paid off by McGinty). U.S. Attorney A.E. Bernstein stated McGinty was the "King of the Ohio Bootleggers."[3] During the 1930s and 1940s, McGinty operated gaming halls on West 25th Street and theMounds Club in Lake County.
McGinty was a member of the Cleveland Syndicate, which included Jewish gangstersMoe Dalitz, Maurice Kleinman,Louis Rothkopf, Sam Tucker and Charles Polizzi, the adopted brother ofAlfred Polizzi, head of the ItalianMayfield Road Mob.[4] The Syndicate's gaming operations were located inYoungstown, Ohio,Covington, Kentucky,Newport, Kentucky and as far away as Florida.[5] McGinty and other members of the Syndicate were stockholders of the Las Vegas casinoDesert Inn during the 1950s[1]. He was also involved inMeyer Lansky'sHotel Nacional inHavana, Cuba[2].
McGinty held an interest in numerous race tracks, including Maple Heights,Fair Grounds Race Course,Thistledown Racecourse,Fairmount Park Racetrack,Aurora Downs, and theAgua Caliente Racetrack.[6] McGinty testified before the Kefauver Committee about the Cleveland Syndicate and organized crime.