Bosses
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Ignazio "Lupo the Wolf" Saietta
(1900-1910) |
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Arrived in New York in 1899, Iganzio was by far the most deadly of all the black handers. By the early-1900s, he was the strongest power in Little Italy. In 1910 he was sent to jail for 30 years for operating counterfeiting ring. He was paroled in 1920 but never to be a major factor in organized crime. Nick Morello took his place. . |
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Nick Morello
(1910-1916) |
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Nick Morello was the brother in law of Saietta and a very powerful man. Long before Lucky Luciano dreamed of creating a Commision, Merello dreamed of a unification of all the Sicilian gangs. He operated of of East Harlem and Greenwich Village in Mahattan,the base for the Genovese Family. When Don Morano, head of a Camarro gang in New York, started muscling in on his territory, Morello went to war. When Morano asked for a truce, Morello agreed to meet him at a cafe on Navy St. He was to shot death when five men opened fire on him and another man. Joe Masseria would take over Morello's rackets after his death. |
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Joe "The Boss" Masseria
(1920 - 1931) |
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Took over Morello's rackets after his death. He rose to become one of the most powerful gangsters in the history of La Cosa Nostra in New York. This guy was the man in New York, until he decided to tick off the wrong people.
He is responsible for starting the Castellammarese War and died because of it in 1931. His
death signified the end of the war. |
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Charlie Lucky replaced Masseria as the head of the Masseria Family in 1931, after the end of
the war. He was one of the seven original members of the "Commission." He became the main power
when Salvatore Maranzano was murdered in 1931. He stayed in power until the mid 40's when he
was deported. |
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Costello was known as the "Prime Minister" because he would much rather work things out then fight
over them. He was one of Cosa Nostras true earners and was known to be the best political corrupter ever. His reign as the boss ended in 1957 after an attempt on his life. He got the message. |
Vito Genovese
(1957-1969) |
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After the retirement of Costello in 1957 he became the boss. He had been a power in the families for years, but had never been boss. Now he took it away from Costello and ran. He ran right into the hands of the authorities. Genovese was the man who set up Appalachin in 1957 and ended up losing much of his power after that disaster. Soon he was convicted and ruled from prison until 1969 when he died. |
Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli
(1969-1972) |
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When Vito Genovese went to prison for narcotics in 1959, he established a "ruling panel" and would remain the official boss of the Genovese LCN Family. The panel consisited of Jerry Catena, Mike Miranda, Thomas"Tommy Ryan" Eboli, and Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo. Eboli would be seen as the spokesman for Genovese with issues regarding the la cosa nostra ruling board known as the "Commission".In 1962 Strollo dissapeared and Eboli was gaining more power within theGenovese criminal organization. Within the commission, Eboli was making few friends and would often insult fellow members with remarks Genovese had shared with him in private. The messages about fellow members were from many of the Eboli's visits with the imprisoned Genovese. While he made few friends with Commission, Eboli had accumulated a nice fortune from various rackets and was known to be rather wealthy. His rackets included nightclubs, music record shakedowns,jukeboxes, vendingmachines and controlling much of the liquor distribution to bars located in the Greenwich Village, Manhattan which catered to the gay community.With Genovese death in 1969 and Catena's narcotics conviction in 1970,Eboli was considered the boss of the Genovese LCN Family. In early 1972 Eboli sought financing from fellow mob boss Carlo Gambino for a narcotics operation. It is believed that Gambino, who always demanded his crews not to engage in narcotics trafficking, fronted Eboli $4 million to import narcotics. The plan was a bust and never made it off the ground. An irrate Gambino, along with a supportive Commission, had Eboli killed on July 1, 1972. He died, from 5 bullets, in front of his girlfriend's apartment located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. Eboli was replaced by Gambino ally Frank "Funzi" Tieri. |
Frank "Funzi" Tieri
(1972 - 1981) |
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Took over after Genovese died in prison, he controlled a family that dealt in narcotics, extortion, gambling, and fraud. He only had one conviction when he took over and that was a robbery conviction in 1922. The 76 year old Tieri would be convicted of Federal Racketeering in 1980 and would recieve 10 years. He died on March 31, 1981 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. |
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Soon after the death of "Tommy Ryan" and Tony ended up a very powerful boss. He was the consigliege under Funzi Tieri and ran the Harlem Rackets that was said to have earned 50 million anually. "Fat Tony" was also said to have been the richest and most powerful gangster in the U.S. He was in power during most of the 70's and was finally upended by the authorities in 1987 during the "Commission Trials". He died in prison on July 29, 1992. |
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Vincent "The Chin" Gigante took power after "Fat Tony" went up the river in 1987. Some say that he was acually become boss in 1982 and used Tony Salerno as a front. Most people would have never suspected the assassin who tried to kill Frank Costello three decades earlier would ever have risen to power. He was the most powerful man in New York but his insanity ploy finally caught up to him was found guilty of racketering and murder conspiracy charges on July 25, 1997. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison and $1.25 million in fines. |
Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo
(1998-Present) |
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Just became the official boss after "Oddfather" got twelve even, "Quiet Dom" Cirillo, who as opposed to his Gigante and his bathrobe, prefers slacks and a tee-shirt. He's not bringing a lot of attention unto himself and is the most powerful boss in the country, with his Family of about 250-300 members, by far the largest with the Gambino's being the only Family coming close with about 200 members. |
Underbosses
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Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano
(1981-Present) |
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Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano grew up in the east village area of lower Manhattan. He acquired
the name "Benny Eggs" from stealing eggs as a kid. He served as underboss under Tony Salerno and
Vincent "Chin" Gigante. It is alledged that he and Chin knew each other for decades. While
underboss he precided over many rackets (NYC's garment district, NYC's fish market and the
"concrete club"). He was also instrumental in assisting Gigante pull of his insanity act and instructing
soldiers to never mention Gigante's name. Often referring to Gigante as "that guy" while grabbing his
chin. Mangano was sentenced to 15 years in 1991 and is expected to be released in 2006 at the age
of 85. It is believed that Mangano is still the official underboss. |
Consigliere
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Louis "Bobby" Manna
(1981-1990) |
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Louis "Bobby" Manna was highly respected consigliere of the Genovese family
under such bosses as Tony Salerno and Vincent "The Chin" Gigante. Manna
looked after the Genovese family interest in New Jersey. He operatedout of
the Hoboken, NJ and the local restraunt known as Casella's. In 1987,Manna
and some of his crew were overheard by an FBI listening bug discussing
murdering then Gambino boss John "Dapper Don" Gotti. Manna and manyother
mafioso were not pleased by the unsanctioned hit of former Gambino boss Paul
"The Pope" Castellano which was orchestrated by Gotti and other. Whenthe
FBI learned of this plan, they warn Gotti and for a short time Gottichange
his daily routine. The listening bugs would help put away Manna forprobably
the rest of his life. |
James "The Little Guy" Ida
(1990-1997) |
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James "The Little Guy" Ida has long been apart of the Genovese LCNFamily.
This pint-sized made member oversaw a Local Union 560 in Newark. Healso was
instrumental in continuing the Genovese family control over NYC's San
Gennaro festival of Little Italy. This festival has long been a mobstable
or money by charging people high prices to set up booths or displays.In
1997, Ida was charged with murderering a Genovese soldier, cospiracy to
murder a New Jersey drug dealer and racketeering charges stemming fromfraud
in the San annaro festival. Originally, Ida could have plead and wouldhave
been sentenced to 15 years. He gambled, plead innocent and lost. By1998,
Ida and others were given life. |
Caporegime
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Joseph "Joe Adonis" Doto
(1920s-1972) |
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Joseph "Joe Adonis" Doto began his career during the heyday of
Prohibition.
He was close with such figures as Charles Luciano and Meyer Lanksy.
Adonis
was also the leader of the Manhattan based Broadway Mob. Sometime
during the
late 1920s he moved his operations to Brooklyn.
Adonis would eventually oversee the numbers/policy rackets for the
Luciano
Famiglia later known as the Genovese family. Besides illegal gambling,
Adonis became involved in Brooklyn local politics and the restraunt
business. Later he would preside over Brooklyn and New Jersey
waterfront
rackets.
By 1944, Adonis moved all of his operation to New Jersey. In 1951 he
was
feeling pressure by the Kefauver hearings. In 1956 he faced perjury
charges
and would voluntarily return to Italy to avoid prsoecution. He would
live a
life of luxury in Milan and would attend Luciano's funeral in 1962. It
was
said that while at his funeral he wept a great deal. Adonis himself
would
die in 1972.
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Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo
(1930s-1962) |
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Anthony "Tony Bender" Strollo was an opportunist capo whose best man
was
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese. Bender would throughout his criminal career
be
regarded as a "chamelom" and constanty switch sides. In the early
1930s,
Bender was alligned with Salvatore Maranzano, then he switched to
Charles
Lucianoand Frank Costello. He would later throw his faith and loyalty
to
Vito Genovese.
Bender was believed to have set up over 50 gangland murder victims.
Besides
his lust for violence, Bender oversaw rackets in Greenwich Village,
Manhattan and oversaw the New Jersey docks. The previous New Jersey
racketeer for the Genovese LCN Family had been Joseph "Joe Adonis" Doto
and
he was deported in 1956.
Bender was also the mobster who met with Frank Costello and was able to
give
Genovese his daily schedule. This was used in Costello's murder attempt
that
failed. Bender would later help orchestrate a plot to send Genovese to
prison for heroin trafficking. Genovese would later die in prison too
but
managed to run his family until then. As Genovese sat rotting away in a
cell, he plotted for revenge and on April 8, 1962 Bender dissapeared.
He has
not been seen since then.
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Angelo "Gyp" DeCarlo
(1920s-1973) |
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Angelo "Gyp" DeCarlo was another long time capo in the Genovese LCN
Family.
He would base his operations out of New Jersey. Most of his earnings
were
derived from loan sharking, illegal gambling, and stolen securities
(stocks
and bonds).
Through secretly planted FBI bugs, it was revealed that he was
politically
active, very feared and very respected. In 1970 he was sent away to
prison
for 12 years. In less than 19 months, President Richard M. Nixon, for
unknown reasons, granted him relief by early parole. There were medical
reason, DeCalo had been diagnosed with cancer, but this didn't explain
why
Nixon was invloved.
DeCarlo was eventually slapped with a $20,000 fine and would return to
jail
if he didn't pay. The date for payment was set for October 25, 1973. He
died
on October 20 and in the eyes of La Cosa Nostra had beaten the
government by
not paying.
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Willie Moretti
(1920s-1951) |
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Willie Moretti, who began his criminal career as a bootlegger in New
Jersey,
would become a gambling czar for bosses Charles Luciano and Frank
Costello.
It also helped Moretti that he was a cousin to Costello.
While in New Jersey he teamed up with Jewish gambling kingpin Abner
"Long"
Zwillamn. Moretti's crew of soldiers and associates, which numbered to
about
60, were responsible for protecting the duos' lucrative casino and were
used
as muscle for Costello.
Moretti was also the supposed "godfather" for singing sensation and
Hoboken,
NJ native Frank Sinatra. Moretti was instrumental and helping out
Sinatra's
career. Sinatra had been under contract with big band leader Tommy
Dorsey,
Sinatra felt he could earn more if he was independent and sought out
Moretti
for help. Moretti returned the request by sticking a gun in Dorsey's
face
and buying Sinatra's contract for $1.
By early 1950 Moretti had shown signs of mental illnes. It was from a
case
of syphillis. He became withdrawn and when in public he would discuss
rackets out loud. During the early stages of the 1950-51 Kefauver
Committee,
where several senators had televised investigations into organized
crime,
Moretti was called in for questioning. The American mafia feared
Moretti
would babble on about criminal activity and to their relief he composed
himself well. Prior to his appearance, many, especially Costello's
underboss
Vito Genovese, wanted to have Moretti killed. Costello, who had been
Moretti's best man at his wedding besides being his cousin, quickly
intervened. Instead, Costello the ever diplomat, place Moretti on the
west
coast in hopes of keeping him alive and out of trouble. It wasnt long
until
Moretti returned back to the NJ/NYC area.
By 1951 Moretti's mental health had worsened and he was becoming a big
problem. Vito Genovese, sensing more power within the organization even
though not boss until 1957, particularly wanted Moretti dead. It wasn't
until fellow mob boss Albert Anastasia stepped in, pleaded with
Costello to
have Moretti murdered and not Genovese that he agreed to have it
done.So on
October 4, 1951, while dining at a New Jersey restraunt, 3 or 4 killers
stepped in and shot Moretti in the forehead. Morettie died in a pool of
blood at the age of 57. His murder was seen as some kind of perverse
"mercy
killing" within la cosa nostra and he was shot in the front as a sign of
"respect". The respect being Moretti was able to see his murderers and
it
wasnt a surprise. Almost immediately, Vito Genovese went in and
tookover
Moretti's New Jersey based gambling rackets. Moretti's Jewish partner,
Abner
Zwillman, would be killed on orders of Genovese in 1957.
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Michael "Trigger Mike" Coppola
(1920s-1966) |
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Michael "Trigger Mike" Coppola was a well known assasin and capo for
the
Genovese LCN Family. Hi violent nature would seeped into his homelife
and
that would be his ultimate downfall. His personal life would be a direct
reason why he he would lose stature within the Genovese crime family.
Coppola came to rise with the deportation of Charles "Lucky" Luciano
and the
flight of Vito Genovese to Europe. Coppola was left in charge of some
very
lucrative rackets. They mainly consisted of a monopoly over NYC's
artichoke
industry and Harlems numbers rackets. In 1960 Coppola would be placed
in
Nevada's infamous "black book" and be barred from casinos in Las Vegas
and
Reno. It was reported that Coppola also had some kind of skimming
(embezzling) activity in several casinos.
As mentioned before, Coppola's personal life would be his undoing. His
first
wife died mysteriously after giving birth to their daughter. Reportedly
she
had overheard a murder plot being dicussed by Coppola. He would always
remain a suspect in her death.
During his second marriage, the insane Coppola forced her to have an
abortion and actually assisted in the procedure. Later she was planning
to
testify against him on matters of income tax evasion and possible
narcotics
trafficking.
By late 1960, the La Cosa Nostra (LCN) syndicate had had enough and
forced
Coppola to plea guilty to tax evasion. He would spend three years in
the
Atlanta Federal Prison, Atlanta, GA and be released in in 1963. Upon
his
return, Coppola spent the last few years living in shame from the
American
mafia for failing to control his wife, living off his illegal gambling
profits and rasing orchids. He died in 1966.
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Tino Fiumara
(1970s-Present) |
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By the late 1970s Genovese LCN Family capo Tino Fiumara was starting to represent the crime family's interest. His crew would share many rackets with then Lucchese LCN Family capo Anthony Accuetero. Their Neward, NJ rackets consisted of labor racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling,loan sharking and narcotics trafficking.In 1979 Fiumara would be convicted of extortion in Newark and be sentenced to 15 years. Upon his release in 1994, with the Lucchese NJ faction nearly gone, Fiumara became the Genovese organization's NJ respresentative. Fiumara would replace jailed for life consigliere Louis "Bobby" Manna. Due to Fiumara's tight parole restrictions he would often travel to NYC by car but hidden in their trunks. The F.B.I was able to prove his travels, a major parole violation, and had arrested in April 1999. Fiumara currently awaits his trial and possible sentencing.
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Ruggiero "Richie the Boot" Boiardo
(1930s-1984) |
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The boot began taking bets while working as a milkman shortly after arriving in the U.S from Italy in 1910. Flashy, brutal and an incurrable womanizer, Ruggiero ran the Italian first ward section of Newark, New Jersey. During the prohibition era the boot waged a furious battle with Jewish gangster Abner "Longy" Zwillman for control of the lucrative rackets in Newark. This battle would result in the boot receiving 12 bullets compliments of Longy. The doctor said it was a miracle he survived but survive and flourish he did. The animosity between the two would eventually be put aside and the crime lords became good friends and allies. The partnership of the boot and der langer led to Boiardo's induction into the family headed by Lucky Luciano. The boot ultimately out lasted Longy by more than 20 years,finally gaining control of Newark when Longy was killed in 1959. The boot moved into a palatial New Jersey estate which boasted a statue garden and afurnace which was reportedly used to dispose of quite a few mob hit victems. Ruggiero Boiardo ran his gambling and extortion rackets untill his death in 1984 at the age of 95.
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Liborio "Barney" Bellomino
(1990s-Present) |
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It is capos like Liborio "Barney" Bellomino that make the Genovese LCN Family the most strongest mob family in the U.S. Currently Bellormino is one of the highest ranking capos in the Genovese crime family. He is also one of the youngest have been elevated to capo status close to 10 years ago.With the conviction of underboss Venero Mangano capo Michele "Mickey Dimino" Generoso was selected to fill his spot on an acting basis. Then boss Vincent Gigante was facing multiple racketeering charges in 1990 and hand selected Bellomino to be one of his acting bosses. Besides these duties,Bellomino along with imprisoned consigliere James Ida, he oversaw extortion and illegal gambling rackets from the San Gennaro Feast which is held in NYC's Little Italy once a year.In 1996 Bellomino, Ida and Generso were indicted for double murder and extortion. Bellomino even took a lie detector test, denying his knowledge of the murders and past! The FBI attempted to find traces of drugs in Bellomino's system that may affected his results but none were found.When the case went to trial Ida gambled, plead innocent, lost and was given life. Bellomino and Generso plead guilty to lesser charges and won. Generso was given 15 months. Bellomino was given a sentence of no more than 10 years in 1997. He may be released as soon as 2004 at the age of 47. |
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Soldiers
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Although he never was of a very high position, Valachi was the first member of Cosa Nostra to turn complete government witness. His testimony exposed Cosa Nostra and played a great part to its downfall. |
Vincent "Fish" Cafaro
(1974-1986) |
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In 1956 Vincent "Fish" Cafaro was arrested on a narcotics charge. His family sought out Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno for help. Salerno, who was then a soldier, intervened and was able to get the charges dropped to a lesser degree. Soon Salerno and Cafaro became like father and son.Cafaro was "made" into the Genovese LCN Family in 1974. Salerno, who had been promoted to underboss, attended his ceremony. Frank "Funzi" Tieri who was boss precided over his ceremony. Cafaro, unlike almost all made members, did not commit or assist in a murder. Instead, Salerno saw him as a son and did not want him involved in such a crime. The murder act is a typical prerequisite for introduction into a La Cosa Nostra crime family.Salerno became the boss of the Genovese LCN Family in 1981 and had longheld court at the East Harlem based social club "Palma Boys Social Club,Inc.". Cafaro acted as his driver and messenger. He was even set up in a numbers racket which was located West Harlem. He would also help with delivering money to various parties with regard to "concrete club" and other labor union rackets. According to Cafaro's testimony Salerno made him an equal partner in his gambling interests and allowed him a cut from the labor racket profits.In 1986 a massive indictment brought forth by the U.S. Justice Department against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. It charged the whole union as a criminal enterprise. Salerno, Cafaro and Cleveland LCN Boss John "Peanuts" Tronolone were named as defendents. Sometime afterwards Cafaro switched sides and testified in the trial. Cafaro, who never rose above the rank of soldier, provided detailed facts regarding the La Cosa Nostra. He would placed in the U.S. Federal Marshall's Witness Protection Program. Cafaro is one of a handful of made members to ever testify against the Genovese LCN Family.
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Associates
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Frank Ericson
(1928-1968) |
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Frank Ericson began his criminal career for Jewish bootlegging king
Arnold
Rothstein. When Rothstein was killed in 1928, Ericson alligned himself
with
Frank Costello and would figure prominently into their gambling
rackets.
In time Ericson would become, what some believe, the biggest bookmaker
in
the U.S. He would specialize in high dollar "lay off bets". These types
of
bets occur when a low level bookmaker has unusually large number of
bets on
a set of odds. For instance, a bookmaker or bookie receives a majority
of
his bets on a sports team to win or certain point spread. This occurs
the
same with horse races, win a large number of bets are taken for a horse
to
win, certain combination of three or more to place or show in a race.
The
small time bookies would lay off some of this activity on to Ercison's
gambling book.
During the 1950-1951 Kefauver Hearings on organized crime Ericson was
called
in for questioning. He had come to attention of law enforcement because
during a ten year time frame more than $30 million had been deposited
and
withdrawn from bank accounts with Ericson's name on them.
Frank Costello was believed to have some kind of an "agreement" with
then
FBI head J. Edgar Hoover. The former director, who avoided
investigating
into la cosa nostra activities, would occasionally bet small amounts at
the
Aqueducts Race Track in New York. It is believed that when Hoover was
planning a visit, he would contact gossip collumnist Walter Winchell,
in
turn Winchell would meet with Frank Costello and tell him Hoovers
plans.
Costello would then meet with Ericson and discuss Hoover's bets.
Needless to
say, the fix was on and Hoover won almost everytime. Costello would
often
complain about the small amounts , never over $5 a bet, that Hoover
would
place and the time it took to secure a win.
When Costello was forced into retirement, Ericson faded from importance
and
the rackets. He wasn't seen nearly as relevant to then boss Vito
Genovese.
Ercison died on February 2, 1968 from cardiac arrest. Frank Costello
came
out of retirement and paid his last respects to his old friend. |
