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Joseph Hersch Reinfeld (1891-1958) (last name later changed to Renfield)〔Joseph Renfield Dies; Liquor Dealer Aided U.S. in Case on Tax for Extortion ''New York Times'' December 30, 1958〕 was a major bootlegger during the Prohibition era in the United States. After prohibition ended, he owned several large liquor distribution companies. Reinfeld was born in Poland and emigrated to the United States in 1910, settling in Newark, New Jersey, where he opened a tavern.〔(United States Census 1930 )〕 When Prohibition arrived in 1920, he had difficulty in getting good quality liquor for his business. Reinfeld formed a syndicate with Newark mobsters Abner Zwillman and Joseph Stacher, and henchman James Rutkin. The syndicate imported liquor from Canada, partnering with Samuel Bronfman's Joseph E. Seagram & Sons distiller. The liquor was transported from Canada to the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory near Newfoundland, Canada, and then shipped to Port Newark, Atlantic Highlands and other areas in New Jersey. The syndicate bribed local politicians and police to ensure the liquor was transported and stored without interference. Testimony during the Kefauver Committee hearings estimated that Reinfeld's syndicate imported nearly 40% of all the alcohol consumed in the U.S. during Prohibition. Reinfeld was charged in 1925 for the murder of Louis LaFera, a former government prohibition agent, but the government failed to get an indictment from the grand jury and the charges were dropped.〔Kefauver Committee Final Report Aug. 31, 1951 U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce ()〕〔How Newark Became Newark: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American City By Brad R. Tuttle ISBN 9780813544908 ()〕 After Prohibition ended in 1933, Reinfeld founded Browne-Vintners, a liquor distribution company, as a legal continuation of his old syndicate. The company was sold to Seagrams in 1940 for $7.5 million. However, Reinfeld ran into problems when he allegedly short-changed the other members of his syndicate. One of the members, James Rutkin, threatened to kill Reinfeld if he did not receive additional funds. Reinfeld then gave Rutkin $250,000. However, Rutkin did not declare the money as income on his tax return and was convicted in 1950 of income tax evasion. An appeal of the case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court in 1952, with the court finding against Rutkin.〔(Even Extortion Money Taxable, Court Decides ''The Day'' March 24, 1952 )〕〔(RUTKIN v. UNITED STATES. 343 U.S. 130 (72 S.Ct. 571, 96 L.Ed. 833) )〕 Reinfeld started Reinfeld Importers (later Renfield Importers), a liquor distribution company, which bought Somerset Importers from Joseph P. Kennedy in 1946. The company distributed various brands, including Haig & Haig and King William IV scotch whiskeys, Gordon's gin and vodka, Remy Martin cognac, Piper-Heidsieck champagne, and Martini & Rossi vermouth. Reinfeld also was a part owner of the Tanforan Racetrack in California.〔Race Track Snubbed Court With Harry Vaughan's Help ''The Free Lance-Star'' August 4, 1949 ()〕 Sources have reported that Reinfeld was later knighted by the British government, as Sir Joseph Renfield, but this was not accurate.〔Living on the Edge of the World: New Jersey Writers Take On the Garden State by Irina Reyn ISBN 9780743291606 ()〕〔(New Jersey History, Volume 122 New Jersey Historical Society, 2004 )〕 ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joseph Reinfeld」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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