Genovese crime family

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The Genovese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra).

Contents

[edit] History of the Genovese Crime Family

[edit] Origins of the Family

The story of the Genovese family is believed to originate in the 1890s, with the arrival from Sicily of Ignazio "Lupo the Wolf" Saietta, whose Black Hand gang allied with fellow Sicilian immigrants, the Morello Family, to form a crime family in East Harlem and Little Italy, Manhatten. The Family's activities centered around extortion, theft, the Italian lottery and a large scale counterfitting ring. When Saietta and fellow Boss, Giuseppe Morello were jailed for their parts in the counterfitting ring in 1910, Morello Family member and Saietta brother-in-law, Nicholas "Nick" Morello, took control and aimed to create a unified gang of Sicilian criminals, maximising profits and eliminating opponents.

Upon taking control of the crime family, Nick Morello became involved in a war for control of the Brooklyn and Manhatten rackets with a neopolitan Cammorra Gang based in Brookly. Morello was duped into a meeting with rival Neapolitan Camorra Boss, Pellegrino Morano, who was based out of the Santa Lucia Restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Morano had Morello and his bodyguard meet him at the Brooklyn, Navy Street Cafe of Camorra Underboss, Allessandro Vollero, where Morello was killled along with his bodyguard November 6, 1916. The Family passed into the hands of Morello Family half brothers, Vincent and Ciro Terranova, who controlled the Brooklyn and Bronx/Manhatten family rackets. The brothers ran the family rackets in tandem, but the media of the times usually labelled brother and well known Bronx/Manhatten mafiosi, Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova the Boss of the Family. The brothers continued to run the Family, but they became increasingly marginalised by the rise to power of Morello Family member, Giuseppe Masseria. Morello Family co-leader,Vincent Terranova, was shot and killed from a moving car by rivals on May 8, 1922, leaving the crime family under the complete control of powerful family member Giuseppe Masseria. The family now took Masseria's name and he kept the Morello Family as allies by making recently released Giuseppe Morello, who know went by Peter, his crime family Advisor.

[edit] Joe Masseria, Salvatore Maranzano and the Castellammarese War

After becoming Boss, Giuseppe Masseria quickly asserted his authority in the underworld and eliminated his main rival, Umberto "Rocco" Valenti on August 11, 1922. By the mid 1920's Masseria had started to reach the pinnacle of New York's underworld and was referred to as "Joe the Boss" by his underlings. Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masserai decided to strengthened his underworld position by having self proclaimed Boss of Bosses, Salvatore "Tata" D'Aquila assassinated on October 10, 1928. Masseria was a glutton who could devour 3 plates of pasta before his dinner guests were finished their first and was equally hungry for absolute power in New York's underworld. Joe "The Boss" maintained criminal interests in bootlegging, gambling, loansharking, the Italian lottery, extortion, hijacking and theft. He masked his criminal activities with a number of legal food distribution businesses such as cheese, olive oil and other Italian specialties and delicasies, as well as ice distribution which was a big money maker at the time.

Joe Masseria soon faced a new foe in Salvatore Maranzano, an old-school Sicilian criminal originally from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily who arrived in America in 1925 and quickly became a power in New York's underworld. Salvatore Maranzano was a well educated and wealthy mafioso from Palermo who set up bootlegging, gambling, loansharking, theft and hijacking operations that eventually came into conflict with the interests of Joe "The Boss" Masseria. Two areas that Masseria and Maranzano battled eachother for domination were in the Italian lottery and bootleg liquor distribution in the Italian communities, Maranzano having established large liqour stills and distribution operations that competed directly with Masseria's operations. Salvatore Maranzano's top leuitenant, Joseph Bonanno was overseer of many of Maranzano's operations, including his largets liqour still in Pennsylvania. Salvatore Maranzano would battle Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria for control of New York City's bootleg empire and various rackets along with the chance to influence the city's corrupt political machine. Eventually their increasingly bitter conflict descended into what became known as the Castellammarese War, Masseria having tried to exert his authority over and demand tribute from the Castellammarese Clan Maranzano was a member of, as well as the other 3 large criminal Families that made up New York's Italian underworld.

Some crime historians believe that Joe Masseria's murder of his former ally and Bronx Family Boss, Gaetano Riena on February 26, 1930 was the first volley to start the Castellammarese War, while others believe it was the murders of Detroit and Chicago,Castellammarese Clan Bosses and Maranzano allies, Gaspar "The Peacemaker" Milazzo and Giuseppe "Joe" Aiello. Milazzo was killed by Masseria ally Caesare LaMare on May 31, 1930, while Aiello was killed by Masseria ally Alphonse "Scarface" Capone on October 23, 1930. Joe "The Boss" Masseria called Salvatore Maranzano into a meeting to discuss why he had Milazzo and Aiello killed and to figure out how the two warring camps could come to a peaceful solution to the conflict. Salvatore Maranzano and Joseph Bonanno met with Masseria, his Underboss Charles Luciano and his Advisor, Giuseppe Morello, who was now known as "Peter the Clutch Hand", but no solution to the conflict was in site, as Masseria and his Advisor, Morello made it clear that they wanted the Castellammarese Clan to be subserviant to Joe "The Boss" Masseria. Maranzano, Bonanno and their allies in New York and around the United States prepared for war with Masseria and his many supporters. The earlier conflict of encroachment on to the others territory, along with robberies, wharehouse thefts, liqour hijackings and some shootings, now erupted into a war of shootings, hijackings, bombings and murders, while the 5 Families tried to conduct business as bitter enemies, Masseria and Maranzano battled for total domination over the other. Masseria's advisor and war chief, Giuseppe Morello is killed in his 326 East 116 St. office on August 15, 1930 by Maranzano gunman.

By 1931, the Castellammarese War continued to interrupt and decimate the Prohibition era activites and rackets of the Italian Families and the war seemed destined to leave them on the fringe of New York's underworld if a solution to the conflict was not found soon. Throughout the mid to late 1920's a group of young, ambitious and like-minded gangsters of the Italian and Jewish decent led by Charles Luciano and Meyer Lansky had reached a level become power and influence in New York's underworld that was beginning to rival that of the old Bosses, Masseria and Maranzano. Masseria Family Underboss, Charles Luciano was a highly respected and connected gangster with allies throughout the U.S. and in the Jewish underworld. Charles Luciano had always been very ambitious and knew that he would eventually have to eliminate the old Bosses in New York if he wanted to reorganize the American underworld and reach it's pinnicle. Luciano used the war as an excuse to finally remove his obsticle to great power, influence and wealth and requested the assastance of his Jewish and Italian allies to eliminate the old Bosses, Joe Masseria and Sal Maranzano and end the war. Luciano called upon his closest Jewish associates Meyer lansky and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel and sought the approval for his plan of reorganization of the underworld from the other Jewish Bosses Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, Abner "Longy" Zwillman and Dutch Schultz. His longtime allies under Bosses Masseria and Maranzano, such as Frank Costello, Vito Genovese and Giuseppe "Joe Adonis" Doto of the Masseria Family, Albert Anastasia of the Mineo Family and Gaetano Gagliano and Tommy Lucchese of the Reina Family rallied to Luciano's side and cause. A new breed of Americanized and modern gangster from both the Jewish and Italian underworlds came together under the leadership of Charles Luciano and plotted the elimination of the old line Bosses and the eventually reorganization of the underworld on a national level.

[edit] The Underworld Re-Organizes

Giuseppe Masseria was assassinated in Scarpato's Coney Island restaurant by 4 shooters on April 15, 1931. Luciano's plot was successfully concluded when the newly self proclaimed Boss of Bosses Salvatore Maranzano was stabbed and shot to death in his Helmsley Building, Manhatten office on September 10, 1931 by Luciano's Jewish allies posing as I.R.S agents. After Masseria and then Maranzano were assassinated at the behest of Luciano, he ascended to the head of the most powerful crime family in New York and to the pinnicle of the American underworld, reorganizing the mafia and creating it's governing body, the Commission. Along with New York's top Italian gangsters such as Joseph Bonanno, Vincent Mangano, Gaetano Gagliano and Joseph Profaci, Charles Luciano alligned the 5 Families, created the "Commission" and became the new defacto Boss of Bosses. With Luciano's influence and guidance the 26 crime families of America's La Cosa Nostra alligned themselves with the Jewish Mob to form the National Syndicate and created a national board of crime directors that included the members of the Commission and the top Jewish Bosses to oversee the rules and policies of the National Syndicate and to vote on all major decisions affecting the top criminal organizations and their activities in America.

[edit] Luciano Era

Charles Luciano was a young, powerful and influential gangster that had finally reached the pinnicle of America's underworld, directing it's criminal rules, policies and activites along with the other top Bosses. He sat atop the most powerful crime family in America, which now bore his name and contolled the most lucrative criminal rackets in New Nork such as gambling, bookmaking, loansharking, extortion, prostitution, and narcotics. Luciano was very influential in labor and union activities and controlled the Manhatten waterfront, garbage hauling, construction, garment center businesses and trucking. Luciano elevated his most trusted and loyal Family members to high level positions in the Luciano Family. The feared Vito Genovese became his Underboss, Frank Costello was made Consigliere, while former Chicago Boss, Johnny Torrio was a member and considered Senior Advisor to the Family. The Luciano family had many powerful underworld members, and Luciano trusted his Capos to oversee his empire on the streets, including Giuseppe "Joe Adonis" Doto, Michael "Trigger Mike" Coppola, Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo, Generoso Del Duca, Thomas "Tommy Palmer" Greco, Louis "Louie the Gimp" Avitabile, John "Duke" DeNoia, Gaetano Ricci, Rocco "The Old Man" Pelligrino, John "Footo" Biello, Quarico "Willie Moore" Moretti, [Angelo DeCarlo|Angelo "Gyp" DeCarlo]] and Ruggero "Ritchie the Boot" Bioardo in New Jersey, Salvatore "Big Nose Sam" Cufari in Connecticut and Anthony "Little Augie Pisano" Carfano in Florida.

Charle Luciano became extremely wealthy and liked to be seen around town at the most exclusive and expensive nightspots such as the Stork Club and Copacabana (nightclub) with a different woman every night, most likely one of the women from his alleged string of brothels, run by Luciano Family soldier, David "Little Davey" Betillo. Luciano's reign was relatively short-lived - special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey, a future Republican presidential candidate, singled out Luciano as an organised crime ringleader and succeeded in having him convicted on prostitution charges in 1936 and sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison along with Dave Betillo and others. He continued to run the Luciano Familyfrom prison, relaying his orders through his first Acting Boss, Vito Genovese, who quickly lived up to his feared reputation for violence and fled to Naples, Italy in 1937 to avoid a murder indictment. The Family's third most powerful member, Consigliere Frank Costello became the new Acting Boss and overseer of Luciano's interests, it is a mystery to most organized crime historians as to who replaces Costello as the Family Consigliere. The only hint to the Costello successor is that former Genovese Family soldier and the first mafia informer in the United States, Joseph "Joe Cago" Valachi mentions in the book "The Valachi Papers", a certain "Sandino" as the Family counselor at a meeting he attends with his Capo Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo.[1]

[edit] The Costello era

Under Frank Costello's leadership the Luciano Family maintained it's control and influence in New York's underworld and over the rackets the Family dominated. Known for his flamboyant, persuasive, leadership style, which won over many a politician and member of the judiciary (to the great benefit of the Family), Costello became known as the "Prime Minister" of the underworld. Costello was the Luciano Family's "Connection Guy", an oveseer of graft and political corruption with law enforcement, judges and politicians of Tammany Hall, which Costello was allegedly Boss of. It was said that during Costello]]'s reign as a Mob Boss that no judge in New York was made without the consent of Costello. Frank Costello allegedly even managed to get F.B.I. director J. Edgar Hoover on his side, fixing horse races in Hoover's favour when the Bureau Boss indulged in one of his favourite pastimes at the track, but even though Hoover knew the races were fixed he never wagered more than $5 or $10, which astounded Costello.

Costello also pushed the Family into legitimate liquor importation business when prohibition ended and the lucrative slot machine business with great success. The one armed bandits braught in millions of dollars for Costello and the Luciano Family, but in 1934, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia who had run on a reform and anti-corruption ticket singled out Costello's slots for a search and destroy mission, destroying hundreds of the machines, swinging a sledgehammer himself for the newsreels. Frank Costello placed the rest of the machines in storage, then in 1935 Costello was able to start his slot operation once more, thanks to the dubious motives of Louisiana Governor Huey Long and New Orleans mafiosi Salvatore Silver Dollar Sam" Corolla and Carlos Marcello. Govenor Long allowed Costello to bring the slots to his State of Louisiana for 10 percent of the take, Corolla and his underling Marcello made sure the slots were placed all over the State. Frank Costello associate, Philip "Dandy Phil" Kastel was chosen to oversee the slot machine and gambling operations with the Costello set up in Louisiana with the New Orleans Family.

But all the while Costello was pushing the Luciano Family into new rackets and forging political alliances, Genovese was simmering on the sidelines from Italy, believing he was the Family's rightful Boss. Genovese was forced to bide his time, ingratiating himself with Fascist leader Benito Mussolini and his son-in-law, Count Ciano, as well as overseeing narcotics and Black Market operations in Italy during the Second world War, but following the war he was returned to New York in 1946 by a U.S. Army official that had arrested him in Italy after the war, when 2 of his Black Market operatives were caught and rolled over on Genovese. Vito Genovese faced no trial or prison due to the fact that the only witness to the 1934 murder of gangster Ferdinand "The Shadow" Boccia was killed in his jail cell awaiting trial. Vito Genovese rejoined the Luciano Family, no longer as Acting Boss or even Underboss, as Frank Costello had elevated New Jersey gangster, Quarico "Willie Moore" Moretti to the position. Genovese ostensibly became a loyal Costello supporter and by extension a supporter of the still-exiled Luciano, now only a Capo, Genovese felt that Frank Costello had only looked after his and Luciano's interests, leading the Family into white collar crimes and neglecting the blue collar crews that Genovese was popular with. Vito Genovese once again forced to bide his time until he could plan his take-over and recrute allies to support him, Genovese began a campaign to take control of the Luciano Family from Costello and Luciano.

[edit] Genovese Plans

Frank Costello was popular with the white collar crews in the Family, those involved in the garment center, garbage hauling, construction, labor and union rackets, along with legitimate businesses. Costello was a connection guy and political corruptor and was vying for the same political influence as New York Boss, Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese and now he had Vito Genovese to deal with as well. Genovese felt that Costello had only looked after his and Luciano's interests, leading the Family away from the blue collar rackets such as hijacking, theft, fencing, extortion, prostitution and narcotics, neglecting the crews that worked on the streets and that Genovese was popular with. Rackets such as gambling, bookmaking and loansharking are a universal mainstay for all Families and are never neglected, but when the soldiers on the streets who do the debt collecting, muscle work and murders are not happy, there is a lack of trust and confidance in the Bosses leadership abilities and this is exactly what Genovese was trying to accomplish. Vito Genovese knew that most of Frank Costello's muscle and support on the street came from his cousin and Underboss, Willie Moretti and his band of goons and hitters. With this in mind, Genovese influenced the Commission to order the October 4, 1951 murder of Moretti in a New Jersey restaurant, by engineering a campaign of fear based upon the latter's mental problems caused by his untreated syphilis, which was "loosening his tongue" about mafia affairs loosely. Moretti had been a loyal Costello supporter, but was dismayed to learn of the newly-formed alliance between Costello and Albert Anastasia, Boss of what would become known as the Gambino Family, which further strengthened Costello's position and underminded Moretti's. An underworld theory is that Albert Anastasia helped influence the commissions decision to kill Moretti because Anastasia feared willie Moretti's mental instability and felt he could possibly make an attempt to have Anastasia killed. This theory is strengthened by the fact that the main shooter in Moretti's assassination was Anastasia Family member, John "Johnny Roberts" Robilotto and Anastasia would have to give his blessing for Robilotto to be used in the hit.

[edit] Genovese Takes Control

Starting in 1950, the underworld began to experience a number of investigations that exposed the Bosses and their criminal operations to the media and the public. The Keafauver Committee hearings began in May of 1950 and ended in May of 1951, Luciano Family Boss, Frank Costello was the highlight of the event, with over 600 gangsters, pimps, bookies, politicians, and shady lawyers taking the stand. Costello had always craved respectability from the upper world, since he already had it from the underworld, so he agrred to testify and not plead the Fifth Amendment, like so many other Bosses such as Tommy Lucchese, [[Albert Anastasia] and Vito Genovese had. Television was new to America and the hearings would be covered by the 3 major networks and Costello made only one demand, that his face not be shown, only his hands be televised in the coast-to-coast hook up. Although he testified, Costello refused to answer hostile questions and skirted others, when asked "What have you done for America", Costello replied, "Paid my tax". Frank Costello's refusal to answer all the questions, eventual walk-out on in the hearings and revived notoriety as America's #1 gangster galvanized the government and Costello eventually spent 11 months in prison for tax evasion before his conviction was overturned on appeal.[2] The whole time Frank Costello was in prison, Vito Genovese was busy lobbying behind the scenes for Costello's removal following a poor performance by the Boss at the Kefauver Committee hearings, but this led to nothing, and eventually Genovese decided he could wait no longer. On May 2, 1957, Genovese gunman and protege, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante tried to assassinate Luciano Family Boss, Frank Costello in the lobby of his manhatten apartment building, but botched the hit, leaving Costello with a minor scalp/head wound. Future Acting Boss, Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli, drove the getaway car.

Clearly shaken by the attempt on his life, Costello decided almost immediately to retire as Boss of the family, only being able to stand in the background as friend and ally Albert Anastasia was assassinated on October 25, 1957 in the barber shop of Manhatten's Park Sheraton Hotel. With the now volatile situation in New York's underworld ready to explode, due to the attempt on Costello's life and Anastasia's assassination, Vito Genovese calls for a National La Cosa Nostra meeting. The Apalachin, New York estate of Northeastern Family Boss, Joseph "The Barber" Barbara, is chosen for the meeting where Genovese plans to solicit the other family Bosses in allowing him to take Charles Luciano's seat as the defacto Boss of Bosses. The Apalachin Meeting becomes a debacle when curious New York state trooper, Edgar Crosswell decides to check out the estate of known New York and Pennsylvania criminal, Joseph Barbara and accidently comes across a national meeting of the nation's La Cosa Nostra. The delegates representing the 26 mafia Families in North America try to flee, but over 60 are detained and later indicted. The worst result the Bosses faced due to the Apalachin Meeting was not only the indictments, but the mafia is finally braught into the public lite and now faces more law enforcement scrutiny, even F.B.I. director, J. Edgar Hoover, who formerly denied the existance of a National Crime Syndicate must now admit it's existance. The blame for the Apalachin debacle is placed on the shoulders of Vito Genovese for calling the meeting and Buffalo Boss, Stefano Magaddino for chosing the location, many Bosses will not forgive them.

Despite the shambolic end to the meeting, Genovese is to powerful, influential and feared to eliminate and finally manages to reach the summit of power in the former Luciano Family which now takes his name. Vito Genovese choses New Jersey mafioso, Gerardo "Jerry" Catena as his Underboss and longtime ally, Michele "Mike" Miranda as Consigliere of the new Genovese Family. After Genovese successfully removed Costello from power and checked the power of defacto Boss of Bosses Charles Luciano and became Boss of the Family, he continued with the traditional rackets, but made an effort to bring the Genovese Family into the narcotics trade in a big way.

[edit] Drugs and the Genovese Family

A great deal of debate took place during the 1950s regarding the place of drugs in the mafia. Some believed they would corrupt the organization and increase its profile, leading to more arrests and police harassment. Others, including Vito Genovese, Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, Carmine "The Cigar" Galante and Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese took the view that the money to be made in narcotics was too good to be turned down. It is a great myth that La Cosa Nostra does not deal in narcotics, being that they were the largest purveyors of heroin in the United States for decades and it was this which ultimately led to Genovese's and to an extent, La Cosa Nostra's downfall.

Charles Luciano had now lost control of his crime family and with it the power and prestige he once carried. Luciano was still a highly respected and influential mafiosi and still had many allies in the United States. His long-time associate Meyer Lansky, new Gambino Family Boss Carlo Gambino and a revenge-seeking Frank Costello, set in motion a plan to frame Genovese in a drug bust. with Luciano and his allies paying $25,000 to a small time Puerto Rican drug dealer named Nelson "Melon" Cantellops to turn informant, the authorities managed to pin a 15-year trafficking conviction on Genovese on April 17, 1959, despite the fact that the claims made by Cantellops (via information fed to him by Lansky et al) were spurious to say the least.

Upon his 1959 conviction, Vito Genovese placed loyal Capo,Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo as Acting Boss of the Genovese Family. Tony Bender ran the Family with Underboss, Jerry Catena, Consigliere, Mike Miranda. What didn't surface until the 1987 defection of Genovese Family soldier and Tony Salerno right-hand-man, Vincent "The Fish" Cafaro was that after Genovese's 1959 conviction that high ranking, New Jersey, Genovese Family Capo, Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo also stepped up under mentor Jerry Catena to run the Family and start his rise to power.

Genovese continued to run the family from prison, giving orders and commands concerning the Family and from time to time making heirarchy changes such as the one he made when Acting Boss, Tony Bender Strollo disappeared on April 8, 1962, after saying goodbye to his wife and leaving his Fort Lee, New Jersey home. Genovese may have suspected that Strollo did what he does best and switched his allegiance to new Boss, Carlo Gambino, Strollo knowing that with Genovese in prison, Gambino would begin his rise to dominate the New York underworld. Boss Vito Genovese would maintain control over his Family from prison by using a Committee of top Genovese Family members to run the Family, appointing a substitute or substituto to oversee the Family's Commission seat. After Strollo's disappearance in 1962, Capo, Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli was named as Acting Boss and Commission substitute for the Family, but Underboss Catena and Consigliere, Miranda were the real powers on the streets. Legendary Boss Vito Genovese would try and plot against the remainder of those who had helped engineer his downfall, but before he could take his revenge he died of a heart attack on February 14, 1969 in an Atlanta prison.

[edit] Without Genovese

While in jail, Genovese had made Tommy Eboli his Acting Boss, and upon Don Vito's death the former boxing manager allegedly became the Genovese Family's new Boss and continued to run the family with Jerry Catena, Mike Miranda and Philip Lombardo. In 1970, Underboss Jerry Catena was convicted and imprisoned for 4 years, leaving Eboli, Miranda and Lombardo as the top members of the Genovese Family. Eboli's power and influence in the Family, along with his respect in La Cosa Nostra, quickly diminished after ascending to the top position due to a number of hapless decisions he made during his time in charge and a known lack of respect for fellow Bosses. In early 1972 Eboli and millionare drug dealer, Louis Cirillo recieved a $4 million loan from Carlo Gambino to finance a drug deal, Cirillo was eventually indicted on narcotics charges and when the police came to his home to arrest him they uncovered millions of dollars hidden in his home. Top Boss and Commission chairman, Carlo Gambino demanded the loan be repayed and Eboli refused. Eboli was killed on July 16, 1972, after leaving the home of a Crown Heights, Brooklyn girlfriend, taking five bullets to the face and chest while sitting in his car.

By late 1972, Eboli was dead, Catena was in prison, planning his sem-retirement to Boca Raton, Florida once released and Consigliere, Michele Miranda had recently retired. This left Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo as top Boss in the Genovese Family with top Capos like Frank "Funzi" Tieri, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, Gaetano "Toddo" Marino, Thomas "Tick" Contaldo, [Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianiello]]Joseph "Joe by the Bay" Schipani, Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano in New Jersey. Even old timers like Vincent "Jimmy Blue Eyes" Alo, Dominick "Dom the Sailor" DiQuarto, Ruggero "Ritchie the Boot" Bioardo and Angelo "The Gyp" DeCarlo still in New Jersey and Salvatore "Big Nose Sam" Cufari always in control of Connecticut and keeping the Genovese Family strong.

With Carlo Gambino being the supreme mafia power in New York, Gambino's ally and preferred choice as new Boss of the Genovese Family, was Capo Frank "Funzi" Tieri. Frank Tieri or "Funzi" as he was known, allegedly took over after Eboli was killed, but the 1987 testimony of informant Vincent Cafaro sheds light on Tieri. Gambino was the most powerful underworld Boss in America and backed longtime friend, Frank Tieri as the new Boss, but the Family was still on the same level of power as the Gambino Family and would never let another Family's Boss chose their Boss outright, so the top Genovese Family members most likely met and voted to elect Frank Tieri as a Front Boss, which according to Vincent Cafaro the Family had been doing since 1969. Phil Lombardo was the real power in the family in 1972 and let Frank Tieri be the Family's representative to the Commission and take the law enforcement heat of of him. The Genovese Family heirarchy was completed in 1972 when Carmine "Little Eli" Zeccardi was made Underboss and Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno was made Consigliere,[3] while Jerry Catena stayed on as Senior Advisor and mentor to Philip Lombardo from his Florida condo. Carmine Zeccardi disappeared in late 1975, allegedly killed by the West Side Hell's Kitchen/Westies Gang, but the underworld grapevine has Frank Tieri eliminating Zeccardi who was growing in power and could have made a move for the top position. Regarding Carmine Zeccardi, informer Vincent Cafaro stated in his testimony that Zeccardi was Acting Boss from 1972-74, then former Underboss from 1972-74, Frank Tieri took over and Zeccardi was demoted to Underboss from 1974-75 and then disappeared. [[1]] This would make Zeccardi's death understandable, Tieri believing Zeccardi would try to regain the Bosses seat, thus he had to be eliminated. Tony Salerno was promoted to Underboss after Zeccardi's disappearance, leaving Antonio "Buckaloo" Ferro as alleged Consigliere from 1976-78 until he retired and then Dominic "Fat Dom" Alongi was promoted to Consigliere from 1978 until his semi-retirement due to ill health in 1981. Frank Tieri was not a weak Boss, being that he was highly respected and feared and had been a good earner for the Family. Frank Tieri showed his cunning and ruthlessness when he engineered the assassination of Philadelphia Family Boss, Angelo Bruno on March 12, 1980, giving the Genovese Family a portion of the Atlantic City rackets that Bruno controlled and then covered his tracks by killing the Bruno assassination conspirators, Philadelphia Family Consigliere, Anthony "Tony Bananas" Caponigro and brother-in-law Alfred Salerno on April 18, 1980 and took over Caponigro's lucrative North Jersey gambling operation. Tieri not only goes down in mafia history as a Genovese Family Boss, but the first mafia Boss to indicted and convicted under the RICO statute on November 21, 1980, and sentenced to ten years on January 23, 1981, but under mafia ideals, he beat the system by not going to prison when he died on March 31, 1981, in Mount Sanai Hospital of natural causes before starting his sentence.

The true power in the Genovese family from 1972 until his retirement in 1981 and quite possibly since the 1969 death of Boss Vito Genovese was Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo, also known as "Cockeyed Ben" and "Ben Turpin". The Genovese Family followed a highly secretive plan or pattern of using Front or Acting Bosses and Ruling Committee's since the 1959 incarceration of Family namesake, Vito Genovese and would continue to use this method of sheltering the real Boss from media and law enforcement atttention up to the present day. Boss, Phil Lombardo was mentor to Capo and Greenwich Village rackets Boss, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante and had groomed his protege to be the future Boss, by placing Gigante on the Family's Ruling Committee as an Advisor in 1972 and quite possibly made the Consigliere in 1975 when Salerno was promoted to Underboss, either way by the mid 1970's Gigante help tremendous power on the streets. It is mentioned by former Gambino Family Underboss and informer, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano in his testimony that when he met with Genovese Family representatives in 1978, concerning the construction business that Vincent Gigante was introduced to him as a Capo and Gigante politely corrected the person and said that he had been promoted to Consigliere, backing up rumors of Gigante's position in the Family's hierarchy in the 1970's. Former Los Angeles Family Capo and acting Underboss, Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno makes reference to Gignate's high level Family position and how he was present at a very important Family meeting with Boss Teiri, Underboss Zeccardi and Consigliere Salerno to vote on a murder in his 1981 book, "The Last Mafioso".[3] By 1981, Philip Lombardo was retired and living in Miami, Florida and died soon afterward, but made the list at #27 of Fortune Magazine's article, "The 50 Biggest Mafia Bosses", Tony Salerno was listed as #1.

By 1960, Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno was the Capo of the Genovese Family's East Harlem, and South Bronx Crew, overseeing a multimillion dollar gambling racket with his brother and soldier, Cirino, that included bookmaking, numbers and floating dice games. Even when their East Harlem territory changed from a predominately Italian to predominately Black neighbourhood, the Salerno brothers maintained control over their rackets wich were said to employ over 200 people. Anthony Salerno maintained a base of operations from his East Harlem, Palma Boys Social Club, located at 416 East 115th St. in Manhatten throughout his criminal career. Tony Salerno was a low key mafiosi who was respected and feared and by 1976 was the Underboss of the Family and had not experienced any jail time until his 6 month conviction on tax evasion charges in 1978. By then Salerno was one of the most powerful and rich gangsters in New York with interests in gambling, loansharking and influence in garbage hauling, construction, labor and union activities which all added to his power and wealth. It has been debated by the media, crime historians and law enforcement as to whether or not Tony Salerno became the official Boss of the Genovese Family in late 1980, early 1981 during Frank Tieri's legal troubles, eventual RICO conviction and death soon after in 1981, but what is certain is that Salerno suffered a mild stroke in 1981 and was given permission to relax and recover at his Hudson Valley, New York horse farm. It is rumored that this is when Vincent "The Chin" Gigante was elevated to official Boss of the Family, but by late 1982, Gigante allowed the recovered Salerno to return to New York and oversee his rackets, while sheltering the real Boss Gigante from law enforcement and the other New York Families as the Genovese Family Front or Acting Boss. Whether Tony Salerno or Vincent Gigante, what is known is that Saverio Santora was promoted to Underboss and New Jersey's Louis "Bobby" Manna was promoted to Consigliere. What was unknown to Tony Salerno and the rest of the Genovese Family was that Salerno's Palma Boys Social Club had been bugged by the F.B.I. and that in February 1985 that a RICO indictment had been handed down by the Federal District Court in Manhatten against Anthony Salerno and the other New York Family Bosses or the Commission and that on February 25, 1985 they would all be arrested by the F.B.I. Anthony Salerno was arrested at his East Harlem apartment, about to sit down to an order of food from Andy's Colonial Tavern with his personal physician, Bernard Weschler and 4 Genovese Family underlings. The famous "Commission Case" began in September of 1986. On November 19, 1986 the jury filed into the courtroom after 6 days of deliberation and found Tony Salerno and all seven of the other defendants guilty on all 151 counts in th indictment. In January of 1987, seven mafia Bosses including Salerno returned for sentencing. The sentence was identical for each of them: the maximum for a RICO conviction, one hundred years without the possibility of parole. Legendary mafiosi, Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno died five years into his sentence in a Springfield, Missouri prison on July 27, 1992, at age 80.

[edit] The Oddfather

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante was most likely the Boss of the Genovese Family throughout the alleged reign of Acting Boss, Tony Salerno from 1981-87, while law enforcement and mob watchers are certain that by 1987, Gigante was the official Boss of the Family. Boss Vincent Gigante elevated longtime associate and ally Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano to Underboss in 1986, while Bobby Manna remained in the position of Consigliere. Vincent Gigante was a former boxer turned gangster who was once managed by Genovese Family member Thomas Eboli. By the late 1940's Vincent and his brothers Pat, Mario and Ralph were all soldiers in the crew of former Genovese Family Underboss and Capo since 1946, Vito Genovese. Another Gigante brother, Louis Gigante went in a totally opposite direction and became a well known New York Catholic priest. Along with Genovese underling, Tommy Ryan Eboli and his brother Pat, the Gigante brothers all were loyal Genovese underlings. By the early 1950's Vincent Gigante, known as "The Chin", became driver and bodyguard for Vito Genovese. In May of 1957, Vincent Gigante proved his loyalty to Genovese by trying to assassinate Genovese Family Boss, Frank Costello, but failed. Gigante was arrested, but eventually aquited in the spring of 1958 when costello failed to identify his shooter. Three months later in July of 1958, Vincent Gigante was indicted and arrested with his Boss Vito Genovese, Giovanni "Big John" Ormento of the Lucchese Family, Natale Evola, Carmine Galante and Anthony Mirra of the Bonanno Family and Rocco Mazzie of the Gambino Family, along with a total of 35 defendants on narcotics charges. A year later in 1959, Vincent Gigante received 7 years, while his Boss Genovese received 15 years.

Gigante was paroled from Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania less than 5 years later in 1964 and was immediately promoted to Capo by Boss, Vito Genovese for his loyalty. Vincent Gigante led a crew that oversaw rackets and operations in Greenwich Village and Little Italy, Manhatten and the West side, from the Battery at the Southern tip of the borough to 14th St. By the late 1960's Gigante became famous in and out of mafia circles not only for his leadership abilities, but for his most famous eccentricity, walking around Greenwich Village in his pajamas and slippers, while muttering to himself and acting crazy. This was an act that Gigante had used in the mid 1960's to avoid being charged and prosecuted for trying to bribe a New Jersey Sheriff's Department. In over a period of over 3 decades, Vincent Gigante has used his crazy act to throw off law enforcement from his criminal activities and his true position as Boss of the Genovese Family, having charges dismissed or winning aquitals due to his ability to fake mental illness, earning him the name, "The Oddfather". After the death of Boss Vito Genovese in 1969, Gigante stayed loyal to Acting Boss Tommy Eboli until his 1972 murder and then came under the tutelage of Genovese Family power and Boss, Philip Lombardo. Lombardo took Gigante under his wing and became his mentor and by the mid 1970's Gigante was an Advisor or Consigliere to Lombardo and possesed alot of power and influence in the Family and on the streets. By 1980 Philip Lombardo was in poor health, semi-retired in Maimi, Florida and when he died in 1981, "The Chin" took over the Genovese Family, putting Tony Salerno in as Front Boss.

Boss, Vincent Gigante ran the affairs of the Genovese Family or the West Side as the Family was known in the New York underworld, from the Triangle social Club on Sullivan St., between West 3rd and Bleeker Streets. Throughout the 1980's Gigante ran the Genovese Family with an iron fist, all the killings Gigante would eventually sanction were because a La Cosa Nostra rule had been broken. He maintained the Family's control over gambling, loansharking, extortion, hijacking and narcotics rackets and maintained a firm grip on the garment center, garbage, construction, labor and union rackets in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as the Genovese Family's influence over most of the smaller East coast Families in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and New England. The Chin kept his most loyal associates very close, men such as his brothers, Underboss, Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano, his most trusted Capos, the 4 Doms,Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo, Dominick "Baldy Dom" Canterino, Dominick "Dom the Sailor" DiQuarto and "Dominick "Fat Dom" Alongi, driver and bodyguard Vito "Bruce" Palmieri and soldier Frank "Frankie California" Condo who was the caretaker of the Triangle Social Club.

Stories abound about Gigante's remarkably secretive leadership style and his ability to install fear in his underlings. He is alleged to have ordered his men never to utter his name but instead to point to their chin (a reference to a shortened version of the Italian version of his first name, "Chin"), to receive them at his headquarters one by one and to never allow them to speak above a whisper. He also created the position of "messaggero", a messenger used to put further distance between himself and his men. Close associate Dom Cirillo was said to retain this position throughout the 1980's, until 1997 when he was promoted, but in 1998 he suffered a heart attack and stepped down to recover. Vincent Gigante's sons, Vincent Esposito and Andrew Gigante, believed to have held the position from 1998-2002. The Genovese Family also uses "Street Bosses" to assist the Boss or Acting Boss and the Underboss in relaying orders to Capos, soldiers and associates on the streets. The First Genovese Family member to hold the Street Boss position was Capo, Liborio Bellomo.

It is well known by underworld members and mob watchers alike, the sheer hatred and contempt Vincent "The Chin" Gigante held for Gambino Family Boss, John Gotti, throughout Gotti's reign as Boss, before his 1992 conviction and life sentence. Gotti's fascination with his media persona and flamboyant lifestyle were a contradiction to the traditional mafia lifestyle that Vincent Gigante was loyal to and counter to the motivations and ambitions of a true mafioso. Gigante demonstrated his discust with Gotti when he ordered his Consigliere, Bobby Manna to have Gotti killed. the plot was never carried out as Manna and his underling, Martin "Motts" Casella were caught on an F.B.I. bug planted in Casella's Hoboken, New Jersey restaurant discussing the Gotti hit. Manna and casella were eventually convicted of attempted murder and jailed in 1989. Genovese Family member, James "Little Guy" Ida took the position of Acting Consigliere when many was jailed.

Gigante orchestrated the Family's moves into more hi-tech crime, such as boiler room stock scams, mortgage, insurance and computer fraud, alongside the usual racketeering and construction industry scams that were the bedrock of the Family's income. On May 30, 1990 Gigante, along with his Underboss Venero Mangano, Colombo Family Consigliere, Benedetto "Benny" Aloi and Lucchese Family Boss and Underboss, Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso were indicted the "Windows Case", due to Genovese Family associate and informer Peter Savino. This is the case that Managno and Aloi received 15 years for a white collar, non violent crime that called for 3 to 5 years. Vincent Gigante was bonded from the "Windows Case" on a $1 million bail and then indicted again in 1993 on murder and being a La cosa nostar Boss. His lawyers delayed the trials for 4 years with motions concerning Gigante's mental state, however, following seven years of evading prosecution due to his alleged mental instability, Gigante faced trial in the Summer of 1997 and in July of 1997, at age 69, Gigante received a 12-year jail sentence on various racketeering and conspiracy charges, including conspiring to kill Gambino Family Boss John Gotti for Gotti's unsanctioned hit on previous Gambino Family Boss, Paul Castellano on December 16, 1985. [2]. His trial included testimony from a number of mobster-turned-informants, including Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, a former Underboss to Gigante's principal rival, Gambino Family Boss, John Gotti.

Gigante kept control of the Genovese Family, continueing to run the Family and give orders through his trusted sons, who visited him regularly. In 2002 Vincent Gigante was again indicted, this time for running the Genovese Family from prison and at a court hearing in April 2003, Gigante finally admitted that his insanity defense had been a ruse all along and he was given an additional 3 years on his sentence. He died in prison from heart disease on December 19, 2005.[3].

[edit] After The Chin

The Genovese Family is the most secretive and disciplined Family in the U.S. La Cosa Nostra and since the days of Eboli, Catena and Lombardo the Family's top members have used Front or Acting Bosses to disguise the identity of the Family's real Boss from the other New York Families and law enforcement. When Gigante's legal troubles started in 1990 and Underboss Benny Mangano was convicted in 1990, Gigante placed East Harlem Capo Liborio "Barney" Bellomo as the Family's Street Boss and Capo and Family power, Michele "Mickey Dimino" Generoso as Acting Underboss to replace Mangano. Bellomo was indicted, charged and eventually incarcerated in 1996 and Generoso in 1997, who was replaced as Acting Underboss by Capo Joseph Zito. By 1997, powerful and highly respected Capo, Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello stepped up as Acting Boss of the Family and Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo was made Street Boss from 1997 until his heart attack in 1998. From 1997, the Acting Boss Ianiello was assisted by the Street Bosses and by several high level Genovese Family members who had been elected to lead the Family through a Ruling Committee. From Bellomo's 1996 incarceration, the powerful East Harlem Crew seemed to step up and place members of the crew in the Street Boss position, including, Frank "Farby" Serpico from 1998 until his death in 2002, Ernest "Ernie" Muscarella from 2002 until he was incarcerated in 2003 and then Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo once again stepped up as Street Boss from 2003 until his 2005 conviction. The ruling Committee was in use from roughly after the time of Bellomo's 1996 incarceration until 2002. Genovese Family members who were on the Committee include Frank "Farby " Serpico from 1997-98 (promoted), Pasquale "Patsy" Parrello from 1997-2001 (jailed), Ernest Muscarella from 1997-2002 (promoted), Alan "Baldie" Longo from 1997-2002 (jailed), Lawrence "Larry Fab" Dentico from 1997-2002 (promoted), John "Johnny Sausage" Barbato from 1997-2002 (promoted) and now it is known that present Acting Boss, Daniel Leo was a Committee member from 1997-2002. In 2003, Acting Boss, Matty Ianiello was assisted by Street Boss, Dom Cirillo, Acting Underboss, John Barbato and Acting Consigliere, Larry Dentico until Cirillo, Barbato and Dentico's 2005 convictions. So Matty Ianiello was Acting Boss from 1997-2006 and now Daniel Leo is Acting Boss. Who will run the Genovese Family with Leo is the question.

[edit] Current Leadership

Since late 2004 a series of prosecutions against high ranking Genovese Capos has weakened the Family. Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo, allegedly the Street Boss while Gigante was in prison, was charged with racketeering, conspiracy to murder, extortion and loan-sharking in 2005, and sentenced to 46 months in prison on March 3, 2006.[4]. Former Street Boss, Liborio "Barney" Bellomo[5], already incarcerated for racketeering, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges ranging from drug dealing to murder along with 31 other reputed mobsters. Other alleged high-ranking Genovese Family members convicted on RICO charges include alleged Acting Consigliere, Lawrence "Larry Fab" Dentico, alleged Acting Underboss, John "Johnny Sausage" Barbato and Capo, Anthony "Tico" Antico who were charged in the same indictment as Cirillo and received between 4 and 5 years incarceration. April 10, 2006, also saw four members of the Family pleading guilty to various charges while controlling the drywall industry in New York - a typical occurrence in an increasingly difficult time for the family. Over in New Jersey Capo Angelo The Horn" Prisco was already under the spotlight for getting out on parole early through Governor McGreevey's unusual aid arranged by their mutual friend, lawyer Donald Scarinci, a prominent advisor to Senator Bob Menendez [6][7][8]. Prisco was arrested by the Feds on March 7, 2006, and charged with extortion involving bid rigging at the San Gennaro Festival[9],[10]. In a related development, former NJ parole chief took the Fifth Amendment 75 times in a court case when asked about Prisco's early release[11]. Prisco had previously been convicted of leaning on John Gotti Jr. and the nightclub Scores for money, as well as being asked to provide protection for famed actor Steven Seagal from various Gambino Familyextortion efforts[12].

Also facing charges is Vincent Gigante's brother [13]Mario[14], seen by many as the caretaker boss of the family while the leadership remains in limbo, under attack from federal prosecutors. 85 year old Underboss, Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano who is in ill health [15] was released from prison into a Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn half way home in late 2006 and returned home on November 2, 2006. [16] Only time will tell if the ailing Mangano will be able to step up and be an active member of the Genovese Family or if he will retire as the classy and respected mafiosi New York media and law enforcement have portrayed him to be? On December 1, 2006, New York Post reporters Jean MacIntosh and Kati Cornell reported that assistant U.S. attorney, Eric Snyder identified 65 year old, Rockleigh, New Jersey businessman, Daniel Leo as the newly elected Genovese Family Acting Boss. At the November 31, 2006 bail hearing of Genovese Family member Charles Salvano, assistant U.S. attorney Snyder also implicated Leo in two violent extortion schemes involving an East Harlem gambling operation and a New York taxi-company owner, perpetrated by Daniel Leo and his alleged right-hand-man Salvano. [17] New York mob reporter and foremost mafia expert, Jerry Capeci, identified Daniel Leo in his November 30, 2006 Gangland News column as a former member of the Genovese, Bonanno and Lucchese associated, East Harlem and Bronx Purple Gang in the 1970's. The low key and virtually unknown gangster's only arrest came in 1980 when he was charged with contempt of court when he refused to testify in a grand jury probe investigating loansharking, drug trafficking and 4 murders, Leo was found guilty in 1981, but spent no time in prison. In October 1999, the F.B.I. listened in on Genovese Family Capo, Salvatore "Sammy Meatballs" Aparo as he described how the well respected Leo assisted fellow high ranking Genovese Family members, Lawrence Dentico and Ernest Muscarella as they conducted a La Cosa Nostra induction ceremony of 14 proposed associates by pricking their fingers and telling them what to say. A year later in 2000 the F.B.I. listened in once again as Genovese Family associate and informant, Michael "Cookie" D'Urso recorded his conversation with Capo, Allen "Baldie" Longo in which Longo described Leo and Dentico as close associates of incarcerated Boss, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante and how they were presently running the still powerfulGenovese Family since Gigante's 1997 conviction. This shows that Daniel Leo is considered a high ranking and influential member of the Genovese Family and is another example of the their high level of secrecy and organization that has kept the Family on top of the New York and American underworld, earning the Family the title of Organized Crime's Rolls Royce! [18]

[edit] Bosses of the Genovese crime family

(Due to the secretive nature of the organisation, this list is based on generally accepted names and dates but may not be accurate)

[edit] Leading Family Members

  • Anthony “Tino” Antico
  • John "Buster" Ardito
  • Anthony Arilotta
  • John “Johnny Sausage” Barbato
  • Liborio Bellomo
  • Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo
  • Joseph "Joe D" Denti, Jr.
  • Silvio DeVita
  • Louis DiNapoli
  • Vincent DiNapoli, Jr.
  • Vincent Esposito
  • Anthony "Tony Parkside" Federici
  • Tino Fiumara
  • Albert Gallo
  • Rosario Gangi
  • Mario Gigante
  • Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello
  • Joseph Ida
  • Frank Illiano
  • Alan “Baldy” Longo
  • Alphonse "Allie Shades" Malangone
  • James Messera
  • Louis Moscatiello
  • Ernest Muscarella
  • Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello
  • Ciro Perrone
  • Angelo “the Horn” Prisco
  • Renaldi "Ray" Ruggiero
  • Charles Tuzzo
  • Joe Zito

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Mass, Peter. The Valachi Papers. New York, Harper Collins, 1968.
  • Demaris, Ovid. The Last Mafioso: Jimmy the Weasel Fratianno. New York, Bantam Books, 1981.
  • Dannen, Fredric. Hit Men. New York: Vintage, 1991
  • Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia: Second Edition. New York, Checkmark Books, 1999.
  • Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis, Alpha, 2002.
  • Cowan, Rick & Century, Douglas. Takedown: The Fall of the Last Mafia Empire. New York, Berkley Books, 2002.
  • Raab, Selwyn. The Five Families. New York, St. Martin's Press, 2005.

[edit] External links

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