Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Moderator: Capos
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
August 13, 1975 Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Report on OC in Pennsylvania claims LaRocca Family had 6 Capo's. Ironically, James "Jimmy Westfield" Salamone was under Maggadino then fell under Pittsburgh. He and LaRocca had a history going back to the early days in Jamestown, NY. FBI Reports had Salamone as a Pittsburgh member but I've also seen him as a member of Buffalo. This article states that Maggadino controlled Erie County, PA (Northwestern PA) until his death in 1974. I assume Salamone then fell under LaRocca because illegal gambling in Erie was certainly controlled by Pittsburgh by the late 1970's through the 80's and 90's.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
January 16, 1978 Pittsburgh Press
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
David Robert Iacovetti: Lived in Trumbull, CT and came from Altoona, PA somewhere in the mid to late 1940's. He is a cousin of Altoona/Pittsburgh member John "Jack" Verilla through marriage.
Per this informant, David Iacovetti is acting Capo in Bridgeport, CT
Per this informant, David Iacovetti is acting Capo in Bridgeport, CT
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Info regarding 1963 Pittsburgh:
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Mannarino family changed their name from RuggieroPolackTony wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 10:49 pm Kelly Mannarino I believe was just the nickname of Gabriel Mannarino.
I have Gabriel born 1915/10/31 in New Kensington, PA. Samuel Mannarino born 1905/12/24 in Pitt. They have these dates on some documents, but I’d imagine they’re not precise, as it’s be a hell of a thing if one was born in Halloween and the other Xmas Eve.
Their parents were George Mannarino and Domenica “Minnie” De Paladino (several spelling variations appear). Unable to verify their origin as of yet, but Mannarino is obviously a Calabrese surname, and most likely from Cosenza province (e.g., Amantea and the surrounding area).
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
From what I found, once Maggadino died, Pittsburgh assumed control of Erie, PA and Salamone due to his close relationship with LaRocca answered to him.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Gabriel & Sam Mannarino's Parents:
Their parents, Giancinto Ruggerio and Domenica, were Italian immigrants who first settled in Pittsburgh and then moved to New Kensington sometime before 1914. Giancinto and his wife operated a small grocery store near where they lived in the integrated, predominately immigrant and black residential neighborhood in the downtown flats along the Allegheny River.
Their parents, Giancinto Ruggerio and Domenica, were Italian immigrants who first settled in Pittsburgh and then moved to New Kensington sometime before 1914. Giancinto and his wife operated a small grocery store near where they lived in the integrated, predominately immigrant and black residential neighborhood in the downtown flats along the Allegheny River.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Some background on Frank Amato Sr.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Guessing the source of the 1963 info on Vito Adraga came from a Bay Area informant who thought he was a member but it later came out he wasn't made, whereas his brothers George and Joe were.
Valenti was still a Pittsburgh member in the early 1960s then transferred to Buffalo after his legal restrictions ended and he could return to Rochester. Sam Mannarino told the FBI Valenti was sponsored into the Pittsburgh Family by Ripepi.
I've wondered when LaRocca was made. He was married in the Pittston area then was a bootlegger in Jamestown between 1928-1933. His heritage would lend itself to him first getting made in Pittston or Jamestown/Buffalo but never seen anything definitive.
Valenti was still a Pittsburgh member in the early 1960s then transferred to Buffalo after his legal restrictions ended and he could return to Rochester. Sam Mannarino told the FBI Valenti was sponsored into the Pittsburgh Family by Ripepi.
I've wondered when LaRocca was made. He was married in the Pittston area then was a bootlegger in Jamestown between 1928-1933. His heritage would lend itself to him first getting made in Pittston or Jamestown/Buffalo but never seen anything definitive.
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Makes sense that Ripepi sponsored Frank Valenti. Frank's brother Costenze "Stanley" Valenti was married to one of Ripepi's daughters.B. wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 12:08 pm Guessing the source of the 1963 info on Vito Adraga came from a Bay Area informant who thought he was a member but it later came out he wasn't made, whereas his brothers George and Joe were.
Valenti was still a Pittsburgh member in the early 1960s then transferred to Buffalo after his legal restrictions ended and he could return to Rochester. Sam Mannarino told the FBI Valenti was sponsored into the Pittsburgh Family by Ripepi.
I've wondered when LaRocca was made. He was married in the Pittston area then was a bootlegger in Jamestown between 1928-1933. His heritage would lend itself to him first getting made in Pittston or Jamestown/Buffalo but never seen anything definitive.
Great question about LaRocca. Prior to Jamestown, he was in Indiana, PA where he was arrested for assault with the intent to maim a woman by the name of Teresa Trunzo. I have the criminal case file and documents. With his deep Sicilian roots, Pittston makes the most sense that he was made there but I've never seen any evidence to support it.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Regarding LaRocca:
As to any addresses for the Larocca family, it appears they were living in mining patches, so their only address would be a PO Box at the patch post office.
J. S. father's name was Ignacio, or some variation. Here is what I have on him:
1910 CENSUS PA Indiana Co. Young Twp. ED 101 Family 143 (probably Iselin #3, Whiskey Run, Reed)
Ignots Lurocco, 44, m1 20y, IT arr 1907 coal miner (boarder with Vincent Blantino)
1920 CENSUS PA Indiana Co. Center Twp. ED 99 Family 711 (perhaps near Homer City, maybe Luciusboro, SE of Homer City)
Nichte, Rock, 54, IT arr 1903, coal miner
Rosie, 46, IT arr 1910; Joseph, 26, IT, arr 1910; Lester, 18, IT arr 1910; Tony, 8; Angela, 6; John, 4
1930 CENSUS PA Philadelphia Co. Philadelphia Ward 39, ED 146 Family 166
Ignacious Larocco, 64, m at 25, IT arr 1904
Rosaria, 59, m at 20, IT, arr 1907; Anthony, 18; Angeline, 17; John, 15; Leona Rose, dau, 30, widow, IT arr 1905; Michael, 7; Rose, 12
At time of the death of Ignacio LaRocca, August 26, 1937, his address was given as 616 Morris St., Philadelphia, Pa.
At some point, John Sebastian, or more probably Sebastian John, went by the name Lester LaRock (see 1920 census).
As to any addresses for the Larocca family, it appears they were living in mining patches, so their only address would be a PO Box at the patch post office.
J. S. father's name was Ignacio, or some variation. Here is what I have on him:
1910 CENSUS PA Indiana Co. Young Twp. ED 101 Family 143 (probably Iselin #3, Whiskey Run, Reed)
Ignots Lurocco, 44, m1 20y, IT arr 1907 coal miner (boarder with Vincent Blantino)
1920 CENSUS PA Indiana Co. Center Twp. ED 99 Family 711 (perhaps near Homer City, maybe Luciusboro, SE of Homer City)
Nichte, Rock, 54, IT arr 1903, coal miner
Rosie, 46, IT arr 1910; Joseph, 26, IT, arr 1910; Lester, 18, IT arr 1910; Tony, 8; Angela, 6; John, 4
1930 CENSUS PA Philadelphia Co. Philadelphia Ward 39, ED 146 Family 166
Ignacious Larocco, 64, m at 25, IT arr 1904
Rosaria, 59, m at 20, IT, arr 1907; Anthony, 18; Angeline, 17; John, 15; Leona Rose, dau, 30, widow, IT arr 1905; Michael, 7; Rose, 12
At time of the death of Ignacio LaRocca, August 26, 1937, his address was given as 616 Morris St., Philadelphia, Pa.
At some point, John Sebastian, or more probably Sebastian John, went by the name Lester LaRock (see 1920 census).
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Here's a summary of the locations that I found for LaRocca through legal documents:
1902 Born Villa Rosa, Sicily.
1910 Arrived in US. Traveling to join father in Reed, Pa. (Iselin or Whiskey Run, Indiana Co., Pa.).
1910 - 1916 Yatesboro, Pa, Armstrong Co., where he attended public schools until the 7th grade.
1916 - 6/21/22 Resided with parents and worked in the coal mines near Luciusboro, Pa. [Brushvalley Twp., Indiana Co.]
3/28/22 Cut Teressa Trunzo
6/21/22 - 6/19/25 Confined to the Western State Penitentiary at Pittsburgh, Pa., convicted of cutting an Indiana Co. girl.
6/19/25 - early 1927 Resided with sister Rose Conti at Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked in a linoleum factory.
Early 1927 - 1928 Resided with parents at Homer City, Pa., where he was unemployed.
1928 At Scranton, Pa., looking for work.
Sept. 30, 1928 Married in Pittston, Pa.
Late 1928 - 1933 Resided with uncle, John LaValli, at Jamestown, N.Y., where subject operated a filling station at Cassadaga, N.Y. and during this period was transporting liquor.
1930 - 1933 Arrived in Pittsburgh at some point. (Frank Valenti was in Pgh by 1931.)
1934 Arrest on North side in connection with an alcohol ring.
Aug. 8, 1939 Raid on his house; number evidence and stolen license plates
April 2, 1940 Fined on lottery and stolen property charges.
Sept. 1933 - October, 1949 Resided at 6426 Apple Avenue, Pittsburgh.
1940s Vending machine business.
Late 40s North Star Cement Block Co.
Feb. 25, 1944 Adopted a child (Howard Leslie Hoffman) at Greensburg, Pa. through the Westmoreland Co. Orphans Court. The father of this child is Tony Terrigio (not further identified) and the child was born in Greensburg, Pa. The child was then named John
Oct., 1949 to Death Resided at 900 West Ingomar Road, Ingomar, Pa.
1902 Born Villa Rosa, Sicily.
1910 Arrived in US. Traveling to join father in Reed, Pa. (Iselin or Whiskey Run, Indiana Co., Pa.).
1910 - 1916 Yatesboro, Pa, Armstrong Co., where he attended public schools until the 7th grade.
1916 - 6/21/22 Resided with parents and worked in the coal mines near Luciusboro, Pa. [Brushvalley Twp., Indiana Co.]
3/28/22 Cut Teressa Trunzo
6/21/22 - 6/19/25 Confined to the Western State Penitentiary at Pittsburgh, Pa., convicted of cutting an Indiana Co. girl.
6/19/25 - early 1927 Resided with sister Rose Conti at Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked in a linoleum factory.
Early 1927 - 1928 Resided with parents at Homer City, Pa., where he was unemployed.
1928 At Scranton, Pa., looking for work.
Sept. 30, 1928 Married in Pittston, Pa.
Late 1928 - 1933 Resided with uncle, John LaValli, at Jamestown, N.Y., where subject operated a filling station at Cassadaga, N.Y. and during this period was transporting liquor.
1930 - 1933 Arrived in Pittsburgh at some point. (Frank Valenti was in Pgh by 1931.)
1934 Arrest on North side in connection with an alcohol ring.
Aug. 8, 1939 Raid on his house; number evidence and stolen license plates
April 2, 1940 Fined on lottery and stolen property charges.
Sept. 1933 - October, 1949 Resided at 6426 Apple Avenue, Pittsburgh.
1940s Vending machine business.
Late 40s North Star Cement Block Co.
Feb. 25, 1944 Adopted a child (Howard Leslie Hoffman) at Greensburg, Pa. through the Westmoreland Co. Orphans Court. The father of this child is Tony Terrigio (not further identified) and the child was born in Greensburg, Pa. The child was then named John
Oct., 1949 to Death Resided at 900 West Ingomar Road, Ingomar, Pa.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Great breakdown. Didn't know he spent time in Philly too.
Re: Visiting Pittsburgh 1963
Sebastian John LaRocca's brother, John J. LaRocca. It appears the FBI describes him as "effeminate."
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP
-Pauly Walnuts, RIP