The Cuban Gangster Who Mysteriously Refused to Die

[Judi Lynn]

In the ’80s, the Cuban mob called the Corporation did a thriving business in the Northeast and Miami, when, that is, they weren’t busy settling vendettas against fellow Cubans.

T.J. ENGLISH
03.17.18 10:07 PM ET

Palulu.

All you had to do was say the name and José Miguel Battle Sr., the Godfather of the Corporation, would tighten up. He would breathe in deeply, his ears would turn red, and his blood pressure would rise to levels that were clinically unhealthy for a man of his girth. Palulu was the stone in his shoe, the thorn in his side. If one of Battle’s men mentioned the name of Palulu in his presence, he would find himself on the receiving end of a stare so chilling, so filled with bad intent that his gonads would inadvertently shrivel up in his scrotum.

It had been eight years since El Padrino first called for Palulu’s head. Now the mere fact of Palulu’s existence was, in Battle’s mind, a rebuke to his manhood. If someone had put Fidel Castro and Palulu in front of him and said to kill whomever you must, Battle would first have to kill Palulu and then go after Fidel. Palulu had killed his brother in a very public way. Palulu had pissed on his family’s name. Palulu, who by now had already survived half a dozen attempts on his life, just by the fact that he breathed the same air as José Miguel was an abomination. Palulu was making José Miguel Battle and the Corporation look foolish. This was a problem that had to be dealt with—pronto. Or Battle might as well retire to his finca in South Miami and spend the rest of his days stroking his rooster.

On April 30, 1982, Palulu Enriquez walked out of Dannemora prison after having served two years and five months for illegal possession of a weapon. From the moment he hit the streets, he must have felt like violating the terms of his release by doing the very thing that got him incarcerated. A gun was certainly what he needed. He knew there was a bounty on his head.

And yet, like a creature of habit, he returned to the streets of New York.

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The Cuban Gangster Who Mysteriously Refused to Die

[KatyMan]

1. Link...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-cuban-gangster-who-mysteriously-refused-to-die

Great article, thanks!

[Judi Lynn]

2. Oh, jeez! Thanks for adding the link. I really blew that one!

Wow, that's embarrassing.

A link does help when one posts an article, for sure.

Thanks, KatyMan, for your kind help.

[KatyMan]

3. LOL no worries

I always enjoy your posts here and in the Anthropology group. Thanks very much for all you post, it's always interesting!