THE BLACK HAND FORUM

by **JoelTurner** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:05 pm

Here's more ties between this group and the mafia in Pennsylvania, this time, with the Pittston family.

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1) Paul Cappa - (Enna, Sicily) A likely member of the Moretti crew who passed away on Apr 13 1949. Had liquor & gambling charges in Passaic dating back to 1920. His brother John Cappa was likely an early Pittsburgh member killed there on May 2 1917 during a blackmail attempt; John's daughter Gladys married Philadelphia-Trenton member Vincenzo "Jimmy Brown" Gioe.

2) Salvatore Anzalone - (San Cataldo, Caltanissetta, Sicily) Moved to Passaic, NJ in 1912 but married Rosina Parisi in Philadelphia in 1917. Passed away May 24 1976.

3) Joseph LaPadura - (San Cataldo, Caltanissetta, Sicily) A longtime NYC Genovese member, he was Angelo LaPadura's nephew. He appears to have been very close to the Pittston family, in the '50s he worked for Russell Bufalino selling draperies. The two were arrested together in 1976.

4) William Medico (father from San Cataldo, Caltanissetta, Sicily) Member of the Bufalino family. His daughter's husband, Santo Volpe Jr., was an usher at Willie Moretti's daughter's wedding in 1947.

5) Leo Ostico - (Fmaily from Campobasso, Molise) His brother was Bufalino member James Ostico

6) Anthony Scoma - (Family from Prizzi, Palermo, Sicily) Gambino member in Frank Perrone's crew. He had a few arrests with this crowd; was very close to Dr. Philip Noto, another early Sicilian member of the Moretti crew. His wife, Filippa Noto, was probably related to him but wasn't his sister.

7 & 8) Joseph & Samuel Costanza Both were arrested with Angelo LaPadura for liquor in Mar 1926. At that time, Joseph was living at 3 Madison Ave, Clifton, NJ while his brother was in Mocanaqua, PA. Either they switched places in the intervening years or there was a discrepancy. They were possibly from Alia, Palermo, Sicily.

by **PolackTony** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:43 pm

Nice work on Profita.

Worth noting that Castellana Sicula is right there in that Eastern Palermo/Madonie region which is clearly emerging as a core area of origin for Sicilian members of the Genovese Family (ie, next to Polizzi Generosa and Petralia Sottana).

by B. » Tue Mar 12, 2024 7:52 pm

Great work as usual. I've wondered if Masseria may have had a capodecina or otherwise de facto head of NJ before Moretti. No hard reason to suspect it but there was some kind of presence there pre-1930 that fed into the Genovese Family when Moretti was still in NF/Buffalo. Giuseppe Morello himself was living in the Ft. Lee / Palisades area when he died though that was in 1930 and I'm not sure when he moved there, plus to be fair those towns were more like a suburb for NYC-based members.

JoelTurner wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:23 pm I think that he was a mafia member, but I don't buy the idea that he was Passaic County's "Chief Desperado". It doesn't make sense to me that he would go from being the leader to being a random character.

It's happened with many guys. I don't know enough about Profeta, but there were former bosses who end up peripheral characters and we'd never otherwise know their true stature without inside sources or earlier cases.

by **JoelTurner** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:23 pm

VINCENZO PROFITA was born on Feb 2 1889 in Castellana Sicula, Palermo, Sicily. He generally went by James or Big Jim.

He was pretty active in the 1920s. Notably, he was with Genovese member Michael Spinella when he killed Harry "Schwabbles" Joachim on Jan 22 1927. During these years, he was often named as the leader of the group that Willie Moretti would run (Angelo LaPadura, Joe Bongiorno, Etc.)

By the early 30s, he was rapidly fading out of view. He took 2 &1/2 years for running slot machines on Feb 7 1934, but after that he was pretty much out of sight. From what I can tell, his only criminal interaction after that was harboring Charles LaGotta, who was trying to muscle out some bus routes. Genovese member Michael "Mickey Dodge" Geralle was also involved. He passed away on Feb 20 1961.

I think that he was a mafia member, but I don't buy the idea that he was Passaic County's "Chief Desperado". It doesn't make sense to me that he would go from being the leader to being a random character.

by **PolackTony** » Sat Mar 09, 2024 12:48 pm

JoelTurner wrote: ↑Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:30 am
PolackTony wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:55 pm Interesting story there, as I don’t know much about these guys back in the day in Passaic County. Anthony Wilda was a Polish guy and a notorious gunman around Paterson; apparently him and Bill Schlessinger had a multi-ethnic gang (Polish, German, Irish) who ran around sticking up stills in the area, which is what LE believed led to the battle between them and Curatola/LaPadura group (who seemed to also have some non-Italians with them, as Frank LoGioco was killed with “Bayonne racketeer” Charles “Yiggy” Huff). Given that LoVullo was shot the same night as Wilda and Schlessinger, LE believed that the latter two had attempted to rob one of the Curatola/LaPadura stills and got into a shootout, fatally wounding LoVullo. Wilda and Schlessinger were then believed to have chased down by LoVullo’s comrades, tortured, and repeatedly shot.
Yiggy was actually Arthur Huff from Perth Amboy. Also, he wasn't with the LaPadura group. As you said, their robbery of the Ye Old Time Inn turned into a shootout. It was alleged that Logioco shot Huff and that Wilda in turn killed him. The two were known to be friends and were living together.

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LoGioco and LoVullo jointly owned Ye Old Time Inn .

A bouncer there, Angelo Zarella, was a hold-up man who was killed by in May 1933 by the Moretti gang. Interestingly, he looks to have started out in Buffalo, NY. I haven't found too much on him yet.

Thanks for the clarification on Huff, I had seen a different article that erroneously put him as one of LoGioco’s buddies.

What do you know about Jim Profita? In a previous post you stated that he wasn’t a major figure, though the papers seemed to think that he was from what I’ve seen.

by **JoelTurner** » Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:30 am

PolackTony wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:55 pm Interesting story there, as I don’t know much about these guys back in the day in Passaic County. Anthony Wilda was a Polish guy and a notorious gunman around Paterson; apparently him and Bill Schlessinger had a multi-ethnic gang (Polish, German, Irish) who ran around sticking up stills in the area, which is what LE believed led to the battle between them and Curatola/LaPadura group (who seemed to also have some non-Italians with them, as Frank LoGioco was killed with “Bayonne racketeer” Charles “Yiggy” Huff). Given that LoVullo was shot the same night as Wilda and Schlessinger, LE believed that the latter two had attempted to rob one of the Curatola/LaPadura stills and got into a shootout, fatally wounding LoVullo. Wilda and Schlessinger were then believed to have chased down by LoVullo’s comrades, tortured, and repeatedly shot.

Yiggy was actually Arthur Huff from Perth Amboy. Also, he wasn't with the LaPadura group. As you said, their robbery of the Ye Old Time Inn turned into a shootout. It was alleged that Logioco shot Huff and that Wilda in turn killed him. The two were known to be friends and were living together.

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LoGioco and LoVullo jointly owned Ye Old Time Inn .

A bouncer there, Angelo Zarella, was a hold-up man who was killed by in May 1933 by the Moretti gang. Interestingly, he looks to have started out in Buffalo, NY. I haven't found too much on him yet.

by **PolackTony** » Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:55 pm

Interesting story there, as I don’t know much about these guys back in the day in Passaic County. Anthony Wilda was a Polish guy and a notorious gunman around Paterson; apparently him and Bill Schlessinger had a multi-ethnic gang (Polish, German, Irish) who ran around sticking up stills in the area, which is what LE believed led to the battle between them and Curatola/LaPadura group (who seemed to also have some non-Italians with them, as Frank LoGioco was killed with “Bayonne racketeer” Charles “Yiggy” Huff). Given that LoVullo was shot the same night as Wilda and Schlessinger, LE believed that the latter two had attempted to rob one of the Curatola/LaPadura stills and got into a shootout, fatally wounding LoVullo. Wilda and Schlessinger were then believed to have chased down by LoVullo’s comrades, tortured, and repeatedly shot.

Apart from the Daniele murder, Curatolo had been a partner of Luigi LaMendola, also from Caltanissetta, a major bootlegger in Pittsburgh (rumored to have had close ties to Capone in Chicago and Rocco Perri in Ontario). In May of 1927, LaMendola and Curatolo were leaving the restaurant that they operated together when two men opened fire on LaMendola, fatally wounding him (the hit was believed to have been ordered by Caccamese Pittsburgh boss Stefano Monastero). LaMendola and Curatolo were believed to have been responsible for the 1924 murder of powerful Pittsburgh leader Giovanni LaPaglia, of Villarosa (also at that time in Caltanissetta), who I’ve suspected may have been the boss of the Pittsburgh Family at the time.

by **JoelTurner** » Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:09 pm

Here's an interesting connection that predated Moretti:

In Rosario "Robert" Garioto's bio on reddit, it says that he was a member of the Pittsburgh family who fled to Lodi, CA after the Jan 1928 murder of John Daniele. Another figure who was pinched in the Daniele case, in addtion to Charles Sparlino, and who left the area was Peter Curatolo.

In 1929, Peter Curatolo (Apr 13 1889 - San Cataldo, Caltanissetta, Sicily) turned up in Passaic County, NJ and was partnered with his paisan Angelo LaPadura in a bar known as Venetian Gardens/International Inn. At the time, the latter was part of a group that was at war with a rival gang led by an Anthony "Sparky" Wilda. They had struck several times notably killing Frank Logioco (Oct 18 1887 - San Mauro Castelverde, Palermo, Sicily) and Frank LoVullo (55 at death in 1930 - From Serradifalco per LCNBios).

On May 30 1930, immediately after the LoVullo shooting, Curatolo "evened the score". Wilda and his partner William 'Wild Bill' Schlessinger were tortured and killed; their bodies were found the next day by a farmer. He hardly lasted the summer, being put on the spot on Aug 3 1930.

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I think that this is more evidence that the group that LaPadura was a part of was more than just an Italian gang and was a part of the mafia. Curatolo looks to have moved seamlessly from Pittsburgh to NJ. He looks to have been a very serious figure in Pittsburgh, a report following his murder says that he was responsible for a dozen homicides in that city. One of his accomplices in the Daniele murder, Charles Sparlino/Spalino, was cast into the spotlight a few years later when he was arrested for the John Bazzano affair.

Another interesting aspect is that Willie Moretti is said to have "led the charge" after the Wilda/Schlessinger slaying. I'd speculate that the could have taken over following LoVullo's demise. Their gang was generally seen as being led by Jim Profita but the press really wouldn't have known their inner workings. Additionally, Profita was around during Moretti's era and wasn't a major figure.

by B. » Tue Mar 05, 2024 2:17 pm

Yeah that is an excellent find.

by **quadtree** » Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:22 pm

Great find! This doesn't necessarily mean he was a mafia associate, but it sounds plausible. By this point, non-Sicilians like Frankie Yale could already be made men, so why shouldn't Moretti be with this family already at this time, at least he moved in these circles.

by **JoelTurner** » Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:49 pm

Willie Moretti may have been involved with the Genovese family WAY earlier than previously thought:

On Oct 13 1915, Moretti was arrested on a weapons charge.

In his famous Kefauver Committee testimony, he explains that he heard a shooting at 116th St. in East Harlem. Since he knew the victim, he helped him to a hospital. When a gun fell from the victims clothes, Moretti put it in his own pocket which led to his pinch. He then adds that the killer was caught that day and later executed.

On Oct 13 1915, Thomas LoMonte was shot on 116th St. in East Harlem. Though he passed away at a nearby hospital, his killer Antonio Impoluzzo was caught that day and executed on May 17 1917.

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I don't think that this was a random coincidence.

Gaetano "Thomas" LoMonte was part of the Morello group. His brother, Fortunato "Charles" LoMonte had been the leader at the time of his murder the year prior (May 29 1914).

Moretti was fairly young but wasn't a kid. By this time, he had multiple robbery charges and had spent over a year in prison. I don't think that he was made, but he could have been an associate.

I think that it's really interesting because it shows that he was interacting with important mafia figures way earlier than previously thought.

by **Antiliar** » Mon Feb 05, 2024 1:20 am

Great finds

by **JoelTurner** » Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:30 pm

Willie Moretti and his brother Solly were involved in North Jersey while they lived in NYC:

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Willie Moretti's wife and Salvatore "Solly" Moretti were in Charles D'Arrigo's wedding party. At the time, per the following articles, both were living in the Bronx.

Mrs. William Moore Moretta [sic], of the Bronx, attended as maid of honor in spangled gown arranged in a jacket effect.

Sal Moretta [sic] of the Bronx acted as best man.

Charles D'Arrigo was a member of the Moretti gang. He generally used the alias Richard Wallace. Largely involved in gambling, in 1934, he was arrested and identified as Willie's chauffeur.

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Both Willie and Solly were involved in the June 26 1929 kidnapping of bank president Willard H. Elliott. This article calls him Joseph, but other ones correctly identify him as Salvatore.

Important to note that Angelo LaPadura was also arrested for this kidnapping.

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It's really interesting that they were living in the Bronx and working/associating with the Bergen/Passaic group.

I can't help but wonder if the crew started out as a part of NYC-based crew and broke off.

by B. » Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:22 pm

Is he not saying Cardinale was under Boiardo and Willie Moretti was going to move him to Catena? It's not clear to me exactly what happened with the Newark crews. Moretti was never an official part of the administration but had been acting and assisting the admin for a long time by the time he died so I wouldn't be surprised if Boiardo and Catena both became captains in the preceding years. But since Moretti had only been "acting" for the admin, was he still an official captain when he died?

In addition to their kids intermarrying, Palmeri's son later became an influential Genovese associate with the LaPlaca crew. I suspect Paul Palmeri transferred to the Genovese Family under Moretti when he fell out with Buffalo and moved to Paterson.

by **JoelTurner** » Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:44 pm

B. wrote: ↑Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:21 pm On one of the Magaddino tapes, Stefano says his brother (probably Gaspare) taught Moretti how to speak Italian. With how close Moretti was to the Magaddinos, including sending him to pick up Bonanno, I've wondered if he was initially made with Buffalo and transferred.

I buy this theory. In addition to what you mentioned, he was also probably close to Palmeri who would have been an influential member at the time.

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On page 22 they talk about Willie Moretti confronting Boiardo about having killed so many of his own men, telling Boiardo he might as well gather the rest of his men together and kill them. Keep in mind this is a few years before Boiardo killed even more of his long-time crew members in the early 1970s. They discuss Boiardo killing 5 men at one point but it's not clear who they were.

The “five kids down in South River” were Isadore Gutman, Henry Teel, Peter Georgiana, and Victor Ploskon. They were a hold-up gang who supposedly graduated to hijacking liquor trucks. They were killed in June 1934.

DeCarlo is quoting Willie Moretti in the previous sentence. Maybe the “bawling out” took place later, but it indicates that Boiardo answered to Moretti during this period, possibly as early as 1934.

the murder of Billy Cardinale, a Boiardo soldier killed in the 1950s.

Crucially, while Moretti was alive, DeCarlo says that Cardinale was going to ask to be transferred to Jerry Catena. I’ve always heard that Catena inherited Moretti’s crew. However, this implies that he could have been a captain concurrently.

Could Catena have had a crew while Moretti was alive and absorbed the remnants of his crew after Boiardo and DeCarlo split in 1951?

I don’t know who’s Mike (Mike Miranda ? He was said to be close to Boiardo) or what the Wilkes-Barre part was about. Cardinale went missing in Jan 1951.

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What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

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