The New England Family

The Providence Faction

Frank "Butsey" Morelli
(1917 - 1947)

 Frank "Bustey" Morelli was one of five famous brothers of Brooklyn,NYC. The Morelli brothers would eventually fall into various La Cosa Nostra families. As for Frank and his brother Joseph, they would move to Providence, RI and set up rackets. These rackets included bootlegging, speakeasies, loan sharking, illegal gambling and extortion. Besides these crimes the Morelli brothers' gang also engaged in numerous burglaries and and robberies throughout New England. By 1917 Frank "Butsey" Morelli was seen as the La Cosa Nostra boss of Providence, RI. One of the most infamous events that occurred during Morelli's reign was the payroll robbery of the Slater & Mirill Shoe Company. The robbery would lead also leave behind a double murder too. Two Morelli gang members,Nicolo Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti,were tried and convicted. They both were sentenced to death by hanging. Later a New England associate turned government witness, Vincent "Fat Vinnie" Teresa, said that the two convicted were really innocent. Besides much of Rhode Island, Morelli's criminal enterprise also emcompassed parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Unfortunately by themid 1940s Morelli began to drink heavily and lost interest. Also in June 1947 Morelli was summoned to testify before a jury. They wanted to know why he had been harboring Genovese LCN Family capo Michael "Trigger Mike"Coppola and his family. Coppola, who was known for his violent temper, was a suspect in the beating death of republican political district captain Joseph Scottoriggio. With all these events, along with his battle of cancer, Phillip Buccola of Boston forced Morelli to retire. Morelli would later die in themid-1950s. Buccola then placed the Morelli gang's racket under his wing. In 1954 Raymond L.S. Patriarca, Sr. became boss,successfully "merged" both parties, the Providence, RI and Boston, MA factions were then seen as the New England LCN Family.

The Boston Faction

Gaspare Messina
(1916 - 1924)

 Nothing really is known aside from his name. He is the earliest boss known and was named by Joseph Bonanno as a capo consigliere (chief advisor to all the bosses, basically capo de tutti capi, boss of all bosses) after Salvatore D'Aquila. He had been given this position reluctantly in 1931 during the waning power of Masseria and gave it up after Masseria's murder to Salvatore Maranzano. Messina died in 1924. Philip Buccola replaced him.

Philip Buccola
(1924-1954)

 Arrived in Boston from Sicily in 1920, he and his second Joseph Lombardo got the Boston Mafia known. He wouldn't give in to anyone and included the killing of the Gustin Gang in 1931. In 1932 he was named official head of the Boston Family by the newly formed Luciano commision. He was able to put his foot in Boston through his consigliere Joe Lombardo. He never expanded bigtime and decided to leave the business early. In 1954 him and his wife took off for Italy where he retired and set up a chicken coop. After his retirement, Buccola gave his rackets up to Raymond Patriaca. Patriaca would merge the Boston and Providence Families into one. From then on, the Families were known as the New England Family. Buccola made one return in 1957 giving a message from Lucky Luciano to Frank Cucchiara, the reprentative of New England at the Apalachin fiasco. He died of natural causes in 1987 at the age of 101.

The New England Family

Raymond Loredo Salvatore Patriarca
(1954-1984)

 Became boss of the new New England Family when he merged the Providence and Boston Families into one. The most famous of the New England bosses, known especially for his ability to bribe high ranking officials. In 1938 he was sentenced to five years for armed robbery and was pardoned by the governor of Massachusetts. He was close with Frank Costello. After becoming boss, he moved the New England Family's headquarters from Boston to Providence, Rhode Island. He expanded business all over New England and was especially tough on people who did not pay their debts to his loansharks, many times having them killed. His business interests included gambling, loansharking, hijacking to name a few. He was rather greedy with his money and was arrested in 1966 for conspiracy to kill Rocco Desiglio and after several appeals he began serving his sentence in 1970. He died in 1984.

Raymond Joseph Patriarca
(1984-1991)

 Born into the Mafia through his father, "Junior" Patriarca had not had to really prove himself and was simply given the job. He was a rather weak boss and didn't go by a lot of the rules of the olde timers. He talked on radio shows and was caught on tap presiding over induction ceremonies to Cosa Nostra. In 1991 he plead guilty to racketeering charges and is serving an eight year sentence. He was demoted after his conviction. Frank Salemme took over as boss of the New England Family. Junior was released in December of 1998 and has kept it low since his release.

Frank "Cadillac Frank" Salemme
(1991-Present)

 "Cadillac Frank" was a possible candidate to succeed Patriarca Sr. but was in hiding at the time of his death after an attempted hit was made on his life. He is still the current boss and is on trial presently, but the case may be thrown out as it appears the prosecution's star witness was an FBI informant, jeopardizing the government's case entirely. The current status of the New England Family is in chaos. Members are out of control and there seems to be a new indictment against members and associates every month. There has been talk of a New England movement into Las Vegas but with the indicments going on there, there wont be a movement anytime soon. There is said to be around 45 "made" members. A huge dropp compared to when Ray Patriarca Sr. ruled.

Underbosses

Enrico Henry "The Referee" Tameleo
(1954-1968)

 1954-1968 Enrico Henry "The Referee" Tameleo served as underboss for Raymond Patriarca. Tameleo served as second-in-command for the Providence, RI group of the New England LCN Family. Genarro "Jerry" Anguillo would be considered the underboss of the Boston, MA faction. Tameleo, not Anguillo, held the most power and respect with the la cosa nostra underworld.Tameleo, who also had ties to the 5 NYC LCN families, was known as a stone cold killer. During the late 1960s he was hit with a string of murder indictments. In 1968 he was convicted for the murder of Irish gangster Teddy Deegan of Boston. Originally he was given the death penalty for his crime, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the death penalty too cruel in 1972 and his sentence was commuted to life. Tameleo died in August 1985 while still serving his sentence.

Jerry Anguilo
(1954-1986)

 Took care of the Family's operations in Boston when the headquarters was in Providence. The FBI managed to bug his headquarters in Boston's North End with an investigation begining in 1981. Withing five years, the FBI had all they needed. On February 20, 1986, Jerry Anguilo was convicted of racketering and sentenced to to forty-five years in prison

Consiglieres

Joseph Lombardo
(1924-1954)

 Was part of the hit squad that knocked off the Gustin Gang, that tried to cut in on the Lombardo's liquor racket, Lombardo in a quick decision decided no way. This hit changed the viewing of the Boston Family from the puny pushcart peddlers of organized crime compared with Capone's Chicago. Lombardo as consigliere and later an elder statesmen to Philip Buccola, was very important in the shaping of the New England Mafia. He would retire from the rackets when Bruccola retired. He died of natural causes in 1969. Frank Cucchiara would take his place as consigliere.

Frank "The Cheeseman" Cucchiara
(1954-1976)

 When boss Phillip Bruccola and Boston consigliere Joe Lombardo left the New England rackets, a new boss was needed and Raymond L.S. Patriarca, Sr. filled the void. Patriarca chose Frank "The Cheeseman" Cucchiara as his consigliere or counselor for his crime family. There is little known about Cucchiara besides the fact that he fast rising capo in the state of Massachussets. He was known to hide his illegal activities or launder his money through the disguise as a cheese importer. In his youner days he was a close associate of Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Vito Genovese of NYC. On January 23, 1976 Cuccharia killed his wife and then committed suicide at their Belmont, MA home using a shotgun.

Nicolo "Nicky" Angiulo
(1976-1984)

 Nicolo "Nicky" Angiulo was one of the five Angiulo brothers that operated out of the Boston-Revere areas for mob boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca. His brother Gennaro "Jerry" Angiulo was Patriarca's Boston underboss. After the suicide of Frank Cuccharia Nicolo was promoted to consigliere or counselor of the New England LCN Family. What is known about Nicolo Angiulo is very little. He along with his brothers controlled all of the illegal activities in Boston. The most prominet of them being gambling. Any bookmaker or numbers/policy operator were under the Angiulos' thumb. In 1983 Nicolo Angiulo was indicted along with brothers Gennaro, Frank and Donato. Also named were capo Sammy Granito and soldiers Freddie Simone, Illario Zannino's soldiers Conie Frizzi and John Cincotti. By 1984 brother Nicolo was seriously ill. He would eventually be dropped from the indictment. All other defendents would be found guilty and given very long sentences. Nicol Angiulo would later die in 1987 from natural causes.

Illario "Larry Baiona" Zannino
(1984-1987)

 Illario "Larry Baiona" Zannino was a top ranking capo under boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca, Sr. during the 1960s. An FBI report states that by the early 1970s he was kind of an underboss over the Providence, RI rackets while Jerry Anguillo served as the official second in command and was based out of Boston, MA. Much of the 1970s, Zannino and others could be found in jail. He had been convicted on jewel thievery and a murder stemming from 1965. By 1984 Zannino was considered consigliere of the Patriarca LC Family and would support Raymond Patriarca, Jr. as the new boss in 1984. Originally Patriarca, Sr. wanted current boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salleme as boss but he was on the lam from arson charges. In 1987 Zannino was sentenced to 30 years to prison for running an illegal gambling operation and extortion. There was 5 years for 3 counts of illegal gambling and a 15 year count on extortion. Before he was sentenced Zaninno apologized to the jurors. He had previosuly declared out loud that he hoped each of them would die the next day if they found him guilty. Zaninno died in prison on March 6, 1996.

Joseph "J.R." Russo
(1987-1992)

 Joseph "J.R." Russo was behind the murder or associate-turned-witness Joe Barboza in 1976. Undoubtly, because this was one of the few murder relating to a hidden witness, Russo climbed in stature and power. By the mid 1980s Russo, who was then a capo, would be able to gain control of most rackets in the east Boston, MA area. Then boss Raymond Patriarca, Jr. promoted Boston capo Charles Quinito as the Boston underboss to watch over the ever growing power of Russo.By 1987 Russo had replaced the imprisoned Illario Zannino as consigliere or counselor of the New England LCN Family. Law enforcemnet was making great strides against the Patriarca crime family and with success. On January 6, 1992 Russo along with others were indicted for the Boston RICO trial.The charges included drug trafficking, extortion and murder. Sixteen days later all defendants pleaded guilty, with the stipulation that they not admit to being a"made" member or associate of la cosa nostra criminal organization.Russo, whose indictment also included the murder of Barboza, was fined $758,000 and sentenced to 16 years.Russo would be housed at the Lompoc Federal Prison in Lompoc, CA. While there he was known to be often seen with, long time imprisoned boss of the Colombo LCN Family of NYC, Carmine "The Snake" Persico. The picture shown here, which was taken in 1992, is of Russo posing as a cowboy for a prison rodeo. Russo also played guitar, with Persico on drums, in a prison band. Russo would die on June 1, 1998 at the Springfield Federal Prison Hospital, at Springfield, MO.

Caporegimes

Donato "Danny" Angiulo
(1970s-1986)

 Donato "Danny" Angiulo was the real muscle behind his underboss and brother Gennaro Angiulo. It was a well known fact that Gennaro had never "made his bones" or murdered. The act of murder was usually a prequisite for joining La Cosa Nostra. In fact illegal hidden FBI bugs picked up on this fact when the two Angiulo brothers were arguing.Donato Angiulo's crew derived their earnings from loansharking, illegal gambling and narcotics. In 1981 the FBI began all out assault on the Angiulo brothers. Most of them were convicted in 1986. Brother Donato was handed 20 years when he was found in guilty in 1986.

Soldiers

John Cincotti
(1960s-1986)

 Illario Zannino was Raymond L.S. Patriarca's favorite Boston capo. John Cincotti was Zannino's favorite soldier. FBI secret listening bugs planted in Zannino's Boston social club recorded time and time again conversations between the two mobsters. Cincotti would always run his plans by Zannino. His capo, Zannino, would always praise him on his loyalty and his earning ability.Cincotti became more and more a messenger between Zannino and underboss Gennaro Angiulo. Cincotti was solid to the end. In 1986, convicted along with Angiulo, he was given 20 years for a string of loansharking charges.

Associates

Joseph "The Animal" Barboza
(1958-1966)

 Joesph "The Animal" Barboza was a Portugese associate of the New England LCN Family within the Boston, MA area. He is believed to have killed at least 26 men and was often used as "muscle" for Patriarca himself. Barboza mainly earned his living as a loanshark and a freelance collector.Then in October of 1966 Barboza was arrested for illegal gun possession. By then, for whatever reason, Barboza had fell out of favor. While detained in jail, Barboza was sure that Patriarca or somebody would have posted his $100,000 bail for him. None of this happened. What did happened was his friends, Arthur Bratso and Thomas DePrisco, began asking for donations.They had managed to collect $59,000 for Barboza's release. In November the pair showed up at the Night Lite Cafe looking for more funding. Instead what they received was bullets and death. They were dumped in the northern area of Boston and the $59,000 was missing. Capo or captain Illario Zaninno was believed to have been one of the murderers.Barboza sat in jail, while other friends of his were being killed off and pressured by the FBI to testify. In 1968 he did speak and his words shook the entire New England LCN Family hierarchy. Patriarca, who had been untouchable, found himself doing time in Atlanta Federal PrisonAtlanta, GA for murder conspiracy. His Providence, RI underboss Henry Tameleo, considered to be vicious, was sentenced to death for the murder of Irish gangster Teddy Meehan. His sentenced was later commuted to life.However, Boston, MA underboss Genarro "Gerry" Anguillo wasnt found guilty of murder conspiracy charges. Throughout his testimony the crime family made numerous threats and did make good on one of them. His lawyer, John Fitzgerald, suffered a severed leg from a car bomb.In 1969 Barboza was paroled and banished from the state of Massachusetts. In 1971 he plead guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to five years at Folsom Federal Prison. He would be paroled in late 1975. On February 11, 1976 Barboza was killed in San Francisco, CA. Capo Joseph Russo, of Boston, was behind the murder. Russo was believed to have asked for permission from San Francisco LCN boss Jimmy Lanza to kill Barboza. Barboza is often considered the "Joe Valachi" of New England with regards to his testimony. He was believed to be the first gangster turned witness against the New England LCN Family.