Roll of Honor
John G. Finiello
Incident
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.
Survivors
Agent Finiello was survived by his wife and two small children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-12F1FA30- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Finiello served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Finiello.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent John G. Finiello is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, 22 of 35 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John G. Finiello's cause is highlighted.
How John G. Finiello Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John G. Finiello is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John G. Finiello was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
34 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
