Frank Piccolo
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Frank Piccolo (1923 - September 19, 1981) was a caporegime in the Gambino crime family in Bridgeport, Connecticut who became involved in a famous extortion case with singer Wayne Newton.
Newton turned to Piccolo for help with threats he was receiving from other organized crime figures in his effort to purchase the now-demolished Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.[1] Piccolo and his cousin Guido Penosi were charged with conspiring to extort money and 'valuable rights' from Newton and entertainer Lola Falana.[2] When the National Broadcasting Company broke the story, Newton sued them and lost. Piccolo was central in the libel case [3]
Piccola was reportedly killed on the orders of Paul Castellano, then Gambino family boss. [4] Piccolo was killed because he had become embroiled in a power struggle with Connecticut's Genovese crime family. This feud threatened lucrative constructions rackets the Gambino family held with the Genovese family.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Floyd Abrams, Speaking Freely, published by Viking Press, Pages 94-110.
- ^ New York Times, The Region; 2 Allegedly in Mobs Accused of Extortion, June 13, 1981.
- ^ New York Times, Deliberations Started in Wayne Newton Case, December 11, 1986.
- ^ FBI document registered in court case against Sammy Gravano
- ^ Jerry Capeci, Gang Land Goes to the Emailbag, GangLandNews.com.
