Mistaken Identity Averts Mob Hit on Jimmy Hoffa

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In a dramatic encounter at the Teamster's offices, mob boss Sam Perrone showed up intending to kill Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa, believing Hoffa was interfering with his union-busting efforts. However, Hoffa's associate Joey Franco was able to convince Perrone to hold off, defusing the situation and preventing Hoffa's assassination through a case of mistaken identity.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the complex and often violent power struggles between organized crime, labor unions, and corporate interests that shaped American history in the mid-20th century. Hoffa's survival allowed him to continue building the Teamsters' influence, which in turn strengthened the mafia's ties to the union and its control over industries like trucking and Las Vegas casinos. The fallout from this near-miss assassination attempt would have far-reaching consequences.

The details

According to the account, mob boss Sam Perrone showed up at the Teamster's offices intent on killing Hoffa, believing the Teamster leader was interfering with his efforts to union-bust at the Stove Works in Detroit. Perrone's associate, Joey Franco, was able to convince Perrone to hold off on the assassination by lying that Hoffa was not in the office at the time. Franco then arranged for a Sicilian intermediary to meet with Perrone and work out the misunderstanding, which stemmed from Perrone mistakenly believing Hoffa was Italian like himself.

• Perrone appeared at the Teamster's offices one day.
• Hoffa was expected to return to the office by 3 or 4 pm that day.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The incident led to a meeting between Hoffa, Perrone, and "the Council of Five", where they were able to work out their differences and establish a working relationship between the Teamsters and the Italian mob families.