Frank Gioia, Jr.
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Frank Gioia, Jr. (b. 1967), aka The Spaghetti Man and Baby Face, was a New York mobster serving as a soldier for the Lucchese crime family who eventually became a government witness.
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[edit] Early years
Born in Little Italy, Manhattan, Gioia grew up to be a tough guy. His father, Frank Gioia, Sr. was a made man, or full member, of the Lucchese family operating in the Little Italy. Gioia's grandfather was Nunzie Lanza, a bookie connected to the Luccheses, who operated a gambling parlor and social club on Grand Street. One of Gioa's uncles was future family underboss Anthony Casso. Gioia was also the cousin of Genovese crime family soldier Alexander "Black Alex" Morelli. Several other relatives were also connected to either the Luccheses or the Colombo crime family.
When Gioia was 8, one of his uncles was shot 11 times, and stuffed in the trunk of a car. The murder of a relative did not deter him from entering a life of crime. As a teenager, Gioia began committing acts of violence to prove himself, and engaging in robberies and loansharking.
At age 18, Gioia was ordered to shoot a club bouncer who had been disrespectful to a Lucchese wiseguy. Gioa approached the man ,holding an umbrella to hide the firearm, and shot him in the leg. Goia then shoved the gun into the bouncer's mouth and promised to kill him next time he acted out of place. Gioia began selling guns and drugs, including Uzis submachine guns and AK-47 assault rifles. Along the way, he picked up a black belt in karate.
In October 1991, at age 24, Gioia was sponsored into the Lucchese family by George "Georgie Neck" Zappola. However, since Zapolla was a fugitive at the time, George "Georgie Goggles" Conte filled in for him at the secret ceremony held in Howard Beach, Queens. Presiding over the induction ceremony was consigliere Frank Lastorino.
[edit] Arrest and Cooperation
In 1992, Gioia and his captain, Frank "Frankie Bones" Papagni, murdered Lucchese wiseguy Frank "Frankie the Blond" Mariconda because Mariconda had made sexual advances at Papagni's girlfriend.
As a made man of the Lucchese family, Gioia set up a major narcotics trafficking operation based in New York and Boston. In June 1992, Gioia was arrested on an illegal gun charge in Brooklyn. In 1993, Gioia and Boston drug dealer Valentin "Float" Becerril started selling large quantities of heroin that Gioia obtained from his New York suppliers. In 1995, Gioa was convicted of drug trafficking and received a prison sentence. At the same time, Goia learned from his cousin, Vincent Salanardi, that Papagni planned to kill Goia's father over a money dispute.
His upcoming prison sentence and Papagani's murder plot convinced Gioia to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and offer to cooperate. Both Gioias were delivered to the United States Marshals Service and placed in the federal Witness Protection Program. Later on, Salanardi would also become a cooperating witness.
[edit] Testimony Against the Mob
Gioia soon became a valuable cooperating witness for the government, possibly eclipsing the importance of witnesses such as Salvatore Gravano and Alphonse D'Arco. In 1998, in his first court case, Gioia testified against Lucchese associates Michael "Baldy Mike" Spinelli (who would later be inducted into the family in a prison ceremony) and his brother Robert Spinelli. The two brothers were charged with trying to kill the sister of Lucchese informant Peter Chiodo.
In another case, Gioia testified against a former drug partner of his, Lucchese soldier Ralph Cuomo, the proprietor of Ray's Pizza on Prince Street. Gioia indicated that Cuomo was making heroin deals inside the pizzeria. Gioia also testified that Cuomo introduced Gioia to Gambino crime family acting boss John Gotti, Jr. in 1992 at the Little Italy social club of Gambino captain Joseph "Joe Butch" Corrao. Gioia would later testify about a plot hatched by former underboss Casso, consigliere Lastorino, and other high ranking Luccheses to kill Gotti, Jr.
[edit] The Convicted
Over the years, Gioia has helped to convict over 60 mobsters in several trials. He has addressed many FBI organized crime events around the country.
Among those convicted due to Giola's testimony include acting bosses of the Lucchese family Louis "Louie Crossbay" Daidone and Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede, Lucchese capos Carmine Avellino, Anthony "Bowat" Baratta, Conte, Zapolla, Papagni, and soldiers Cuomo, Jody Calabrese, Frank Galione, Frank Giacobbe, Nicholas "Fat Nicky" DiCostanza, and Rocco Vitulli.
Among other organized crime figures implicated by Gioia included Gambino capos Louis "Big Lou" Vallario, Greg DePalma, Sr., Michael DiLeonardo and Gambino soldiers Frank Fappiano and Frank Smith, Jr., the latter a Colombo family associate and former future brother-in-law [1].
