Mike was known as "the Devil" for his explosive nature. Mike, Sam and Peter Genna all lived together at 750 West taylor street in a three story building. The Gennas were the kings of corn sugar alcohol. They had the grip on distilling and selling it. They made their fortunes by hiring newly arrived countrymen into distilling alcohol with makeshift stills set up in each tenement room. Mike Genna, along with enforcers Albert Anselmi and John Scalise once had a shootout with Bugs Moran and Vincent Drucci at Congress and Morgan streets during the Genna-North Side Gang war.