A wholesome family tribute celebrating Peter Joseph Simone's life as a devoted grandfather and baseball fan failed to mention his notorious criminal career. The 79-year-old's death on June 12 marked the end of a complex life story that his family chose to selectively remember.
According to the Daily Mail, Simone's obituary portrayed him as a family-oriented man who cherished time with his six grandsons and held Kansas City Royals season tickets for over 50 years. The tribute emphasized his "core values of loyalty, honor, and friendship" while making no reference to his extensive criminal history.
Simone died from lung cancer just days before his 80th birthday, surrounded by family members who later crafted an obituary highlighting his role as a supportive "Papa" who "attended countless games to watch his grandsons play." The carefully worded remembrance painted a picture of domestic tranquility that stood in stark contrast to his documented criminal activities.
Law enforcement officials had long identified Simone as a high-ranking member of Kansas City's criminal underworld. His position as "underboss" or "capo" in the Civella crime family made him a significant figure in Midwestern organized crime during the 1990s.
The FBI testified before Congress in 1988 that Simone operated as second-in-command to bosses Nick and Carl "Cork" Civella, managing day-to-day operations for the Kansas City crime family. This testimony established Simone as more than just a low-level associate but a key figure in the organization's hierarchy.
Simone's criminal activities culminated in a 1992 guilty plea to federal gambling and money laundering charges, earning him the nickname "Las Vegas Pete." He received a 52-month prison sentence after authorities caught him laundering profits from dozens of illegal gambling machines, a scheme he tried to frame as anti-Italian persecution rather than legitimate law enforcement.
Beyond his gambling operation, Simone faced additional legal troubles throughout his criminal career. The same year as his gambling conviction, he also pleaded guilty to charges related to running an illegal casino at the Italian Businessman's Association.
After serving his initial prison term, Simone violated parole by meeting with other known mobsters at a casino in 1999, resulting in additional incarceration. His criminal associations extended beyond gambling into more violent territory, with connections to at least one murder case.
Former Kansas City Police Department investigator Gary Jenkins told public radio station KCUR that while Simone himself wasn't known as a killer, he didn't oppose murder when necessary for business. "He was a kind of a person that didn't mind that somebody had to be killed because that keeps the business going or was a threat to somebody in the family," Jenkins explained.
Perhaps most disturbing among Simone's alleged criminal acts was his reported connection to the 1990 murder of Larry Strada, a bar owner who had cooperated with federal gambling investigators. Strada was shot eight times while taking out trash after providing information to authorities.
According to the Kansas City Star, Simone had authorized the hit on Strada, though he was never indicted for the crime after pleading the Fifth Amendment. Instead, John Mandacina was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating the murder, hiring hitman Patrick H. McGuire for $25,000 to kill Strada.
Mandacina ultimately received compassionate release in 2023 due to terminal cancer, while Simone lived out his final decades largely away from public scrutiny. The Kansas City mob's influence diminished significantly in the 1990s following extensive federal investigations that dismantled much of their operation.
Peter Joseph Simone leaves behind a complicated legacy that differs dramatically depending on who tells his story. For his family, including wife Karla and three children – Joe Pete, Jennifer, and Caroline – he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
The family-written obituary focused exclusively on these domestic qualities, highlighting how Simone "was a very proud Papa to his six grandsons, who brought out the best in him." It noted his passion for baseball and how he enjoyed taking his grandsons to Royals games during his five decades as a season ticket holder.
For law enforcement and the wider Kansas City community, however, Simone represented a darker chapter in the city's history – a powerful criminal figure who helped control illegal gambling operations and allegedly sanctioned violence against those who threatened the organization. His death closes another chapter in the story of organized crime in America's heartland.
