United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, September 19, 1930
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 19, 1930
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Special Agent John Finiello was shot and killed while conducting a raid on a brewery in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with several other agents from the Philadelphia Office. The agents had taken three men prisoner in the brewery's boiler room when Arent Finiello walked away from the others to another room where he surprised seven gunman. One opened fire, killing Agent Finiello as he tried to return fire but his gun jammed. The suspects then escaped by jumping through windows in the brewery. One man, 26, was arrested in Philadelphia ten days later and returned to New Jersey where he was charged with murder.
The suspect along with the other six were noted gangsters that were members of a gang out of Philadelphia. The suspect managed to post a $15,000 bail in December 1931. He and two others went to Philadelphia and shot and killed the gang's leader. On December 28, 1931, the suspect and one of the men with him were shot and killed by other members of the gang. Another member of the gang was arrested in 1933, charged with Agent Finiello's murder, then tried and acquitted. In 1934 others were apprehended and charged but a judge dismissed all the cases due to a lack of evidence.
Agent Finiello was survived by his wife and two small children.