Caporegime

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A caporegime (sometimes shortened to capo) is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking member of a crime family who heads a crew (or group) of soldiers. Caporegime is an Italian word, which was originally used to signify the head of a family in Sicily, but has now come to mean a ranking member, similar to Captain. In general, the term indicates the head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate who commands a crew of soldiers and reports directly to a boss or an underboss.

In the Mafia, when a boss makes a decision, he passes instructions down through the chain of command, rather than issue orders directly to the soldiers who carry it out. This ranking system prevents the higher levels of the organization from incrimination if a lower level member should be captured by law enforcement. A caporegime acts as an intermediary between the soldiers and the boss.

1 Use in popular fiction
2 The Gambino crime family
3 Other usage
4 See also

[edit] Use in popular fiction

In The Godfather, the characters Sal Tessio (played by Abe Vigoda) and Pete Clemenza (played by Richard S. Castellano) are capos in the Corleone Family who answer to Vito Corleone, (and later Michael Corleone).

In the HBO television series The Sopranos, the term "Capo" or "Captain" is also used a to describe crew leaders in the crime family. Captains over the series' run have included Tony Soprano (before his elevation to boss), Paulie Walnuts, Christopher Moltisanti, Richie Aprile, Ralph Cifaretto, Vito Spatafore, Carlo Gervasi, Jimmy Altieri, "Larry Boy" Barese and Bobby "Baccala".

In the movie Goodfellas, Paul Cicero (played by Paul Sorvino) was the Capo of the crew that Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta) was associated with. Paul Cicero was part of the Lucchese family.

[edit] The Gambino crime family

The Gambino family of Cosa Nostra is considered by most experts to be the largest and most influential organized crime group in the United States, with a known membership of approximately 250 formally initiated, or "made", members and about 600 associates.

Those given new caporegime status, or those capos given expanded responsibilities, include:

Nicholas Corozzo of Brooklyn, caporegime of Joseph Corrao's operations.
Gregory DiPalma, given caporegime status of Joseph Zingaro's operations.
Peter Gotti, elevated to capo to replace his brother Gene.
Peter Lino, elevated to capo to supervise Florida operations.
Louis Riccio, acting caporegime on behalf of Anthony Napolitano.
Michael Mandaglia of Kenilworth, elevated to capo to replace the late Joseph Paterno.
Thomas Gambino of New York, caporegime who replaced Pasquale Conti as Gambino/Gotti liaison to the Sicilian Mafia.