Frank Illiano
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Frank "Punchy" Illiano (b. 1928) is a Brooklyn mafioso and was formerly top member of the Gallo wing of the Profaci crime family. Illiano earned the nickname "Punchy" as a result of a short boxing career.
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[edit] Gang Wars
As a Gallo partisan, Illiano was involved in several shootouts in the wars against Joseph Profaci, Joseph Colombo, and Carmine Persico. According to one story, Illiano planted a bomb underneath Persico's car. The bomb exploded but Persico escaped death. In another story, told by Colombo family turncoat Joseph Luparelli, one night in Little Italy during the late-1950s, Joey Gallo and Illiano got into a fight with a much larger man at a Chinese restaurant on Mott Street. Luparelli had to help them to stomp the guy. After he was subdued, Gallo used a kitchen cleaver to break open a storage room and shove the man inside.
[edit] Hero
In 1962, Illiano and the Gallos became "heroes". They entered a burning President Street house and rescued several children who were inside. Life Magazine published an article on the hero hoods. In December 1963, Illiano was arrested on gambling, assault and weapons charges. He received a six-month prison sentence in 1965.
[edit] Switch to Genovese Family
In 1972, after Gallo's execution, Illiano helped set up the attempted murder of Persico soldiers at the Neopolitan Noodle restaurant. However, when listening to a radio news account later at home, Illiano realized that the victims at the Neopolitian were just innocent bystanders. After this abortive hit, the Persico faction solidified its power within the Profaci family; the former Gallo crew members were kicked out.
However, the Genovese crime family was happy to welcome in the Gallo outcasts. The Gallo crew had enjoyed a longstanding relationship with leaders of the Genovese family, including Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo, Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello, and Vincent "The Chin" Gigante. Illiano and Albert "Kid Blast" Gallo quickly become made Genovese wiseguys and Illiano eventually became a captain. During the late-1990s or early 2000s, Illiano served on a family ruling panel while Gigante was away in prison.
[edit] Later Years
Illiano still operates a crew in conjunction with Albert Gallo based out of Court Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. They run gambling and loan sharking operations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island.
[edit] Further reading
- Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
