Dominick Oliveto, born on December 24, 1906, in New Jersey, was born to Italian immigrants Antonio and Maria Oliveto. Despite occasional misspellings of his surname as “Olivetto,” his father, Antonio, migrated from Muro Lucano, Italy, in 1901. In 1905, he facilitated the immigration of his mother, two brothers (William and Philip), and sisters (Anna Maria and Catherine). Dominick’s birth in 1906 was followed by siblings Rose, Angelina, Lucy, and Daniel.
Upon Antonio’s arrival, he secured employment in the Pennsylvania Railroad freight yards near the Market Street Ferry. The family initially lived at 214 Taylor Avenue during the 1910 Census, later relocating to 510 Federal Street by 1914. Between 1917 and 1929, they resided at 422 Stevens Street.
City directories from 1927 and 1929 document Dominick living at 422 Stevens Street with his family. In 1927, he worked as a shipper, likely at Campbell Soup, while by 1929, he was employed as a salesman for Camden Electric Appliance & Radio Company, located at 449 South 5th Street, owned by John Girgenti, whose address was 323 Benson Street.
In April 1930, Dominick and his wife Mae lived at 4104 Westfield Avenue, where he worked as a chauffeur. Notably, the census recorded his name as “Olivett.” He likely became involved in illegal gambling around 1927, facing gambling charges in 1932 and a larceny charge in 1937. Newspaper accounts suggest that he resided at 444 Royden Street in February 1933, which was in close proximity to the bar at 601 South 4th Street, owned by Giacinto Sciamanna and colloquially known as Sherman’s Cafe. This bar would later become a frequented spot for Marco Reginelli.
Marco Reginelli, a prominent figure in organized crime, emerged in Camden in the 1930s. By 1939, he established a strong presence in Camden and South Jersey, with Oliveto as his right-hand man. The 1940 and 1943 directories list their residences and indicate Oliveto’s role in Reginelli’s operations. The 1940 Polk’s City Directory listed Reginelli residing at the Plaza Hotel, situated at 500 Cooper Street. At the time of the 1943 directory, he had acquired a home at 2403 Baird Boulevard and was still residing there in 1947.
In the 1947 directory, Oliveto, listed as Olivette, resided in Parkside at 1151 Magnolia Avenue and operated a garage at 517 Main Street in North Camden. Following Reginelli’s death in 1956, Oliveto assumed control of their operations. He was among those arrested at the Appalachin conference in 1957, associated with Vito Genovese.
By December 1957, Oliveto was still residing in Parkside, summoned to testify before a grand jury regarding the Appalachin conference. Amid heightened scrutiny, he chose to step aside, allowing Angelo Bruno to assume control of the mob.
Residing at 6401 Walton Avenue in Pennsauken, New Jersey, Oliveto passed away on January 26, 1969, and was interred at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
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