by chin_gigante » Wed Jul 01, 2020 1:58 pm
Induction Ceremonies (1920s-1970s)
Early members
Francesco Barrale
Dominick Festa
Michael Maggio
Antonio Pollina
Marco Reginelli
Mario Riccobene
Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
John Scopoletti
Salvatore Testa
Notes:
In 1967, Rocco Scafidi described the above individuals being among the ‘original’ members of the family around 1920 when Salvatore Sabella became boss. Antonio Pollina did not arrive in the US until after 1920 (though his brother Filippo arrived earlier). Celeste Morello, however, insists that Sabella did not open the books to eastern Sicilians (e.g., Testa) until the mid-late 1920s and that southern Italians (e.g., Festa, Reginelli, Scopoletti) were not inducted until John Avena became boss in 1931. Scopoletti, however, appears to have been a leadership position by 1927 and was mistaken as the leader of the organisation at the time of the murders of Joseph Zanghi and Vincent Cocozza.
According to Morello’s view of the situation, the majority of members under Sabella were inducted in Sicily and arrived in the US before WWI, though new members were inducted around the mid-late 1920s in anticipation of the Castellammarese War. Morello cites interviews with Harry Riccobene as the source for much of her information, while Scafidi’s description of the 1920s most likely would come from what he heard from Gaetano and Joseph Scafidi. (However, Morello also claims that southern Italians elsewhere in the US, such as Vito Genovese and Al Capone, were not inducted until the 1930s, which we know to be false). Morello also cites information provided by Jimmy Rose to the FBI that claims Reginelli was proposed for membership by Joseph Ida.
Some additional early members
Gaetano Bruno
Antonio Calio
John Cappello Sr
Antonio Casella (found murdered 1926)
Salvatore Casella
George Catanese
George Catania (murdered 1928)
Joseph Fusci
Vincent Gerace
Michael Macaluso
Joseph Maggio
Biagio Passanante
Filippo Pollina
Andrea Restuccia
Paul Savarese
Notes:
Barrale, Cappello, the Casellas, and the Scafidis were from Belmonte Mezzagno, and Barrale was possibly an early boss. Catanese, Catania, Fusci, Gerace and the Pollinas were from Caccamo. The Maggios and Passanante were from Campobello di Mazara. Bruno, Calio, Riccobene and Savarese were from Enna. Sabella was from Castellammare del Golfo, and Morello argues it is more likely that he was inducted in New York due to the larger presence of Castellammaresi there than Philadelphia.
When Harry Riccobene began providing the FBI with information, he also described Edward Caminiti and Luigi Quaranta as old-time members (Quaranta was involved in the Zanghi-Cocozza double-homicide).
1927
Harry Riccobene
Notes:
Riccobene insisted that his induction was unrelated to the fact that his father Mario was a member. Riccobene was 16 years old at the time and, to his knowledge, the youngest ever to be inducted in the United States (though it was not uncommon in Sicily). Riccobene also stated that he was inducted with others who were older than him. Celeste Morello wrote that John Avena was possibly also part of this ceremony (and possibly proposed by Michael Macaluso).
c. 1930
Joseph Bruno
Notes:
According to Celeste Morello, Bruno was inducted around 1930 having possibly been proposed by John Avena.
c. 1932
Ignazio Denaro
Notes:
In April 1962, Rocco Scafidi reported of a dispute between Ignazio Denaro and Angelo Bruno. Scafidi reported that Bruno had said that Denaro had been a member for thirty years, indicating he was likely inducted around the early 1930s. Denaro arrived in the US in 1931, so perhaps he was inducted in Sicily.
c. 1942/ 1943
John Cappello
Notes:
Cappello told Rocco Scafidi that he was made in approximately 1942 or 1943 and that he had participated in three murders before being inducted.
1947 [?]
Vincent Villone
Notes:
According to interviews with Celeste Morello, ‘Fingers’ Villone was inducted under Joseph Ida at the age of 16 and remained a sleeper member of the family until his death in 2003. Having read what Morello published of her interviews with Villone I am not sure I believe him. He claimed to not know about the hierarchy of the family beyond to respect the boss and he talked about how Frank Sinatra and other celebrities wanted him to write his own story. He also claimed Salvatore Tamburrino was a member. He just sets off my bullshit detector in the same way as Ralph Natale.
c. 1949/ 1950
Nicholas Piccolo
Notes:
Inducted approximately five years before Nicodemo Scarfo and the rest of the Piccolos.
c. 1950
Location:
Casablanca Night Club, Camden (owned and operated by Pasquale Massi and Marco Reginelli)
Attendees:
Joseph Ida
Marco Reginelli
Pasquale Massi
Ignazio Denaro
Pasquale Massi
Antonio Pollina
Joseph Rugnetta
Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
James Gioella
Inductees:
Anthony Maggio
Anthony Perella
Rocco Scafidi (sponsored by Joseph Scafidi; Pollina selected as his ‘godfather’)
Notes:
Scafidi was shelved and later reinstated at a ceremony in 1961.
1950-1952
Philip Testa
Notes:
Inducted after participating in the April 1950 murder of Joseph Sadia. Harry Riccobene, to the best of his recollection, told the FBI that Testa was made by 1952. Ralph Natale wrote that Testa was proposed for membership by Alfred Iezzi.
1952
Frank Nicoletti
Leonard Nicoletti
Notes:
Made in 1952 according to Frank Nicoletti’s FBI file, though Harry Riccobene had also referred to Frank as a long-time member. It is possible that Philip Testa was part of this ceremony, considering that he, Angelo Bruno and Frank Nicoletti were involved in the murder of Joseph Sadia.
1954
Louis Luciano
Pasquale Martirano
Notes:
These individuals were proposed by Antonio Caponigro according to a former New Jersey wiseguy interviewed by Scott Deitche for Garden State Gangland. However, the source also misidentified Ralph Napoli and Gerardo Fusella as being made at this time when we know they were made in 1962 and 1982, respectively. Deitche also has Caponigro as being made in 1947.
1954/ 1955
Location:
Sans Souci Restaurant, Cherry Hill
Inductees:
Anthony Piccolo
Joseph Piccolo
Michael Piccolo
Nicodemo Scarfo
Notes:
In Mafia Prince, both Felix DiTullio and Nicholas Piccolo are described as proposing Scarfo for membership.
c. 1955
Angelo Bruno
Notes:
Proposed for membership by Michael Maggio. To the best of his recollection, Harry Riccobene did not believe Bruno was made by the time he (Riccobene) went to prison in 1952 and was surprised when he found out he was the boss. Riccobene eventually provided information that he believed Bruno was made around 1955. In October 1961, Ray DeCarlo was picked up on tape discussing how Bruno had only been made for five or six years, and how his appointment to the position of boss was a political move.
Celeste Morello writes that Bruno was possibly made in the 1930s under John Avena, however this seems far less likely.
I have been told there is an FBI file somewhere that says Bruno and Philip Testa were made in the same ceremony. I would be interested to see it if anyone finds it or knows where it is.
26 September 1959 [possible ceremony]
Peter Maggio
Notes:
Maggio is described as being ‘elected’ to the organisation at a meeting where Joseph Rugnetta was taken down as acting boss of the family in favour of Dominick Oliveto
09 October 1961
Location:
Buckeye Club, Philadelphia (bar owned by Adam D’Olio)
Attendees:
Angelo Bruno (boss)
Ignazio Denaro (underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (consigliere)
Felix DiTullio (captain)
Pasquale Massi (captain)
Joseph Scafidi (captain)
John Simone (captain)
Philip Testa (captain)
Peter Maggio (soldier)
Antonio Pollina (soldier)
Rocco Scafidi (soldier)
Inductees:
Michael Cammarota (sponsored by John Simone)
Frank Monte (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Frank Narducci (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Santo Romeo (sponsored by Joseph Rugnetta)
Michael Tramantana (sponsored by John Simone)
Rocco Scafidi (sponsored by Ignazio Denaro; appointed to Joseph Scafidi)
Notes:
As Scafidi was being reinstated rather than inducted, he was not required to go through the oath. After the ceremony, the group went to an oyster house across the street from Anthony Perella’s La Rosa Restaurant in Vineland where they were introduced to members who were not present at the ceremony
1962
Carl Ippolito
Ralph Napoli
Notes:
Mentioned by Ray DeCarlo in taped conversations in 1962.
October 1961 to September 1964
Alphonse Marconi
Guerino Marconi
Notes:
Scafidi had a conversation with Ernest Perricone in September 1964, where Perricone said that the family could not induct any new members since Joseph Valachi began cooperating. Perricone noted that since the October 1961 ceremony only the Marconi brothers had been inducted.
Ray DeCarlo was caught on tape in October 1962, talking about how the Philadelphia family had continued making members despite the books being closed elsewhere, and how the books finally where closed a couple of months before this conversation. This could indicate that the Marconi’s were made in 1962, possibly at the same ceremony as Ippolito and Napoli. In November, DeCarlo noted that he brought this up with Gerardo Catena, who told him that Philadelphia had been making individuals because Angelo Bruno was not boss when the books were closed and, resultingly, did not know about it.
16 January 1965
Domenic Rugnetta
Notes:
Nephew of Joseph Rugnetta. John Cappello advised Scafidi of this ceremony.
c. April 1969
John Grande (sponsored by Frank Narducci)
Francis Iannarella (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Joseph Perella (sponsored by Joseph Scafidi)
Frank Sindone (sponsored by Angelo Bruno)
Unsub (sponsored by John Simone)
Notes:
Rocco Scafidi advised in May 1964 that a meeting was scheduled to take place on 15 June at a motel in Camden (possibly owned by Pasquale Massi) where new rules would be established in the family and possibly six new members (their identities unknown to him) would be inducted. Scafidi was invited to the ceremony and offered to wear a recording device to it. However, on 16 June, Scafidi advised that the ceremony had been postponed because of Angelo Bruno’s legal problems and that those scheduled to be inducted were Frank Sindone (proposed by Joseph Piccolo), two unknown individuals from Trenton (proposed by John Simone) and Joseph Perella (proposed by Anthony Perella and Joseph Scafidi). In December 1964, John Cappello advised Scafidi that Perella and Sindone were awaiting induction, but he did not know when the ceremony would take place.
A ceremony was scheduled to take place on 26 January 1969 at La Rosa Restaurant in Vineland, with Perella, Francis Iannarella and an unknown subject from Trenton to be inducted. However, Joseph Rugnetta, Nicholas Piccolo and Joseph Sciglitano opposed going to New Jersey for the ceremony as no Calabrian candidates were proposed for membership. Angelo Bruno met with Giuseppe Traina, who advised him to go ahead with the ceremony but not to do so behind Rugnetta’s back.
In March 1969, Scafidi learned from Ernest Perricone that the ceremony had been expanded to nine individuals, including Sindone, John Grande and two individuals being proposed by Albert Esposito (Perricone learned of this from his captain, Peter Maggio). Perricone related that the ceremony would likely be held at the Buckeye Club or The Post (a club owned by Perricone and Frank Narducci). Bruno had changed the location of the ceremony from Vineland to Philadelphia to appease the Calabrian faction. Perricone and Harry Riccobene were trying to get Sindone blackballed from membership.
John Cappello told Scafidi that Sindone and ‘a mess’ of guys were to be inducted. Scafidi learned that his uncle Joseph was unaware of the increase in proposed members but was willing to go along with it to just get the situation over with. On 24 March, Scafidi met with Bruno, who acknowledged that new members were going to be made but that four names proposed by Esposito had been shot down because they were too young. Scafidi was told to let his uncle know that the ceremony would likely take place the next week.
I have not found any confirmation of when exactly the ceremony ended up taking place.
1970s
Joseph Ciancaglini (sponsored by Frank Sindone)
Notes:
Most reports indicate that Ciancaglini was inducted in the early 1970s, however Philip Leonetti stated that Ciancaglini was still an associate at the time of the 1974 murder of Alvin Feldman. It should also be noted that Angelo Bruno was incarcerated from 1970 to 1973, and Philip Testa from 1973 to 1975, which could have had an impact on when new members were inducted.
[size=150][b]Induction Ceremonies (1920s-1970s)[/b][/size]
[u]Early members[/u]
Francesco Barrale
Dominick Festa
Michael Maggio
Antonio Pollina
Marco Reginelli
Mario Riccobene
Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
John Scopoletti
Salvatore Testa
Notes:
In 1967, Rocco Scafidi described the above individuals being among the ‘original’ members of the family around 1920 when Salvatore Sabella became boss. Antonio Pollina did not arrive in the US until after 1920 (though his brother Filippo arrived earlier). Celeste Morello, however, insists that Sabella did not open the books to eastern Sicilians (e.g., Testa) until the mid-late 1920s and that southern Italians (e.g., Festa, Reginelli, Scopoletti) were not inducted until John Avena became boss in 1931. Scopoletti, however, appears to have been a leadership position by 1927 and was mistaken as the leader of the organisation at the time of the murders of Joseph Zanghi and Vincent Cocozza.
According to Morello’s view of the situation, the majority of members under Sabella were inducted in Sicily and arrived in the US before WWI, though new members were inducted around the mid-late 1920s in anticipation of the Castellammarese War. Morello cites interviews with Harry Riccobene as the source for much of her information, while Scafidi’s description of the 1920s most likely would come from what he heard from Gaetano and Joseph Scafidi. (However, Morello also claims that southern Italians elsewhere in the US, such as Vito Genovese and Al Capone, were not inducted until the 1930s, which we know to be false). Morello also cites information provided by Jimmy Rose to the FBI that claims Reginelli was proposed for membership by Joseph Ida.
[u]Some additional early members[/u]
Gaetano Bruno
Antonio Calio
John Cappello Sr
Antonio Casella (found murdered 1926)
Salvatore Casella
George Catanese
George Catania (murdered 1928)
Joseph Fusci
Vincent Gerace
Michael Macaluso
Joseph Maggio
Biagio Passanante
Filippo Pollina
Andrea Restuccia
Paul Savarese
Notes:
Barrale, Cappello, the Casellas, and the Scafidis were from Belmonte Mezzagno, and Barrale was possibly an early boss. Catanese, Catania, Fusci, Gerace and the Pollinas were from Caccamo. The Maggios and Passanante were from Campobello di Mazara. Bruno, Calio, Riccobene and Savarese were from Enna. Sabella was from Castellammare del Golfo, and Morello argues it is more likely that he was inducted in New York due to the larger presence of Castellammaresi there than Philadelphia.
When Harry Riccobene began providing the FBI with information, he also described Edward Caminiti and Luigi Quaranta as old-time members (Quaranta was involved in the Zanghi-Cocozza double-homicide).
[u]1927[/u]
Harry Riccobene
Notes:
Riccobene insisted that his induction was unrelated to the fact that his father Mario was a member. Riccobene was 16 years old at the time and, to his knowledge, the youngest ever to be inducted in the United States (though it was not uncommon in Sicily). Riccobene also stated that he was inducted with others who were older than him. Celeste Morello wrote that John Avena was possibly also part of this ceremony (and possibly proposed by Michael Macaluso).
[u]c. 1930[/u]
Joseph Bruno
Notes:
According to Celeste Morello, Bruno was inducted around 1930 having possibly been proposed by John Avena.
[u]c. 1932[/u]
Ignazio Denaro
Notes:
In April 1962, Rocco Scafidi reported of a dispute between Ignazio Denaro and Angelo Bruno. Scafidi reported that Bruno had said that Denaro had been a member for thirty years, indicating he was likely inducted around the early 1930s. Denaro arrived in the US in 1931, so perhaps he was inducted in Sicily.
[u]c. 1942/ 1943[/u]
John Cappello
Notes:
Cappello told Rocco Scafidi that he was made in approximately 1942 or 1943 and that he had participated in three murders before being inducted.
[u]1947[/u] [?]
Vincent Villone
Notes:
According to interviews with Celeste Morello, ‘Fingers’ Villone was inducted under Joseph Ida at the age of 16 and remained a sleeper member of the family until his death in 2003. Having read what Morello published of her interviews with Villone I am not sure I believe him. He claimed to not know about the hierarchy of the family beyond to respect the boss and he talked about how Frank Sinatra and other celebrities wanted him to write his own story. He also claimed Salvatore Tamburrino was a member. He just sets off my bullshit detector in the same way as Ralph Natale.
[u]c. 1949/ 1950[/u]
Nicholas Piccolo
Notes:
Inducted approximately five years before Nicodemo Scarfo and the rest of the Piccolos.
[u]c. 1950[/u]
Location:
Casablanca Night Club, Camden (owned and operated by Pasquale Massi and Marco Reginelli)
Attendees:
Joseph Ida
Marco Reginelli
Pasquale Massi
Ignazio Denaro
Pasquale Massi
Antonio Pollina
Joseph Rugnetta
Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
James Gioella
Inductees:
Anthony Maggio
Anthony Perella
Rocco Scafidi (sponsored by Joseph Scafidi; Pollina selected as his ‘godfather’)
Notes:
Scafidi was shelved and later reinstated at a ceremony in 1961.
[u]1950-1952[/u]
Philip Testa
Notes:
Inducted after participating in the April 1950 murder of Joseph Sadia. Harry Riccobene, to the best of his recollection, told the FBI that Testa was made by 1952. Ralph Natale wrote that Testa was proposed for membership by Alfred Iezzi.
[u]1952[/u]
Frank Nicoletti
Leonard Nicoletti
Notes:
Made in 1952 according to Frank Nicoletti’s FBI file, though Harry Riccobene had also referred to Frank as a long-time member. It is possible that Philip Testa was part of this ceremony, considering that he, Angelo Bruno and Frank Nicoletti were involved in the murder of Joseph Sadia.
[u]1954[/u]
Louis Luciano
Pasquale Martirano
Notes:
These individuals were proposed by Antonio Caponigro according to a former New Jersey wiseguy interviewed by Scott Deitche for [i]Garden State Gangland[/i]. However, the source also misidentified Ralph Napoli and Gerardo Fusella as being made at this time when we know they were made in 1962 and 1982, respectively. Deitche also has Caponigro as being made in 1947.
[u]1954/ 1955[/u]
Location:
Sans Souci Restaurant, Cherry Hill
Inductees:
Anthony Piccolo
Joseph Piccolo
Michael Piccolo
Nicodemo Scarfo
Notes:
In [i]Mafia Prince[/i], both Felix DiTullio and Nicholas Piccolo are described as proposing Scarfo for membership.
[u]c. 1955[/u]
Angelo Bruno
Notes:
Proposed for membership by Michael Maggio. To the best of his recollection, Harry Riccobene did not believe Bruno was made by the time he (Riccobene) went to prison in 1952 and was surprised when he found out he was the boss. Riccobene eventually provided information that he believed Bruno was made around 1955. In October 1961, Ray DeCarlo was picked up on tape discussing how Bruno had only been made for five or six years, and how his appointment to the position of boss was a political move.
Celeste Morello writes that Bruno was possibly made in the 1930s under John Avena, however this seems far less likely.
I have been told there is an FBI file somewhere that says Bruno and Philip Testa were made in the same ceremony. I would be interested to see it if anyone finds it or knows where it is.
[u]26 September 1959[/u] [possible ceremony]
Peter Maggio
Notes:
Maggio is described as being ‘elected’ to the organisation at a meeting where Joseph Rugnetta was taken down as acting boss of the family in favour of Dominick Oliveto
[u]09 October 1961[/u]
Location:
Buckeye Club, Philadelphia (bar owned by Adam D’Olio)
Attendees:
Angelo Bruno (boss)
Ignazio Denaro (underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (consigliere)
Felix DiTullio (captain)
Pasquale Massi (captain)
Joseph Scafidi (captain)
John Simone (captain)
Philip Testa (captain)
Peter Maggio (soldier)
Antonio Pollina (soldier)
Rocco Scafidi (soldier)
Inductees:
Michael Cammarota (sponsored by John Simone)
Frank Monte (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Frank Narducci (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Santo Romeo (sponsored by Joseph Rugnetta)
Michael Tramantana (sponsored by John Simone)
Rocco Scafidi (sponsored by Ignazio Denaro; appointed to Joseph Scafidi)
Notes:
As Scafidi was being reinstated rather than inducted, he was not required to go through the oath. After the ceremony, the group went to an oyster house across the street from Anthony Perella’s La Rosa Restaurant in Vineland where they were introduced to members who were not present at the ceremony
[u]1962[/u]
Carl Ippolito
Ralph Napoli
Notes:
Mentioned by Ray DeCarlo in taped conversations in 1962.
[u]October 1961 to September 1964[/u]
Alphonse Marconi
Guerino Marconi
Notes:
Scafidi had a conversation with Ernest Perricone in September 1964, where Perricone said that the family could not induct any new members since Joseph Valachi began cooperating. Perricone noted that since the October 1961 ceremony only the Marconi brothers had been inducted.
Ray DeCarlo was caught on tape in October 1962, talking about how the Philadelphia family had continued making members despite the books being closed elsewhere, and how the books finally where closed a couple of months before this conversation. This could indicate that the Marconi’s were made in 1962, possibly at the same ceremony as Ippolito and Napoli. In November, DeCarlo noted that he brought this up with Gerardo Catena, who told him that Philadelphia had been making individuals because Angelo Bruno was not boss when the books were closed and, resultingly, did not know about it.
[u]16 January 1965[/u]
Domenic Rugnetta
Notes:
Nephew of Joseph Rugnetta. John Cappello advised Scafidi of this ceremony.
[u]c. April 1969[/u]
John Grande (sponsored by Frank Narducci)
Francis Iannarella (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Joseph Perella (sponsored by Joseph Scafidi)
Frank Sindone (sponsored by Angelo Bruno)
Unsub (sponsored by John Simone)
Notes:
Rocco Scafidi advised in May 1964 that a meeting was scheduled to take place on 15 June at a motel in Camden (possibly owned by Pasquale Massi) where new rules would be established in the family and possibly six new members (their identities unknown to him) would be inducted. Scafidi was invited to the ceremony and offered to wear a recording device to it. However, on 16 June, Scafidi advised that the ceremony had been postponed because of Angelo Bruno’s legal problems and that those scheduled to be inducted were Frank Sindone (proposed by Joseph Piccolo), two unknown individuals from Trenton (proposed by John Simone) and Joseph Perella (proposed by Anthony Perella and Joseph Scafidi). In December 1964, John Cappello advised Scafidi that Perella and Sindone were awaiting induction, but he did not know when the ceremony would take place.
A ceremony was scheduled to take place on 26 January 1969 at La Rosa Restaurant in Vineland, with Perella, Francis Iannarella and an unknown subject from Trenton to be inducted. However, Joseph Rugnetta, Nicholas Piccolo and Joseph Sciglitano opposed going to New Jersey for the ceremony as no Calabrian candidates were proposed for membership. Angelo Bruno met with Giuseppe Traina, who advised him to go ahead with the ceremony but not to do so behind Rugnetta’s back.
In March 1969, Scafidi learned from Ernest Perricone that the ceremony had been expanded to nine individuals, including Sindone, John Grande and two individuals being proposed by Albert Esposito (Perricone learned of this from his captain, Peter Maggio). Perricone related that the ceremony would likely be held at the Buckeye Club or The Post (a club owned by Perricone and Frank Narducci). Bruno had changed the location of the ceremony from Vineland to Philadelphia to appease the Calabrian faction. Perricone and Harry Riccobene were trying to get Sindone blackballed from membership.
John Cappello told Scafidi that Sindone and ‘a mess’ of guys were to be inducted. Scafidi learned that his uncle Joseph was unaware of the increase in proposed members but was willing to go along with it to just get the situation over with. On 24 March, Scafidi met with Bruno, who acknowledged that new members were going to be made but that four names proposed by Esposito had been shot down because they were too young. Scafidi was told to let his uncle know that the ceremony would likely take place the next week.
I have not found any confirmation of when exactly the ceremony ended up taking place.
[u]1970s[/u]
Joseph Ciancaglini (sponsored by Frank Sindone)
Notes:
Most reports indicate that Ciancaglini was inducted in the early 1970s, however Philip Leonetti stated that Ciancaglini was still an associate at the time of the 1974 murder of Alvin Feldman. It should also be noted that Angelo Bruno was incarcerated from 1970 to 1973, and Philip Testa from 1973 to 1975, which could have had an impact on when new members were inducted.