by Chaps » Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:15 pm
This was a Gangland article Capeci did on him on July 15, 2004.
Not Made, But Still A Family Man
A Gang Land Exclusive
Anthony (Tony L) LucaniaThe name Anthony Lucania is not well-known in the annals of organized crime. Tony L, as he's called on the street, isn't even a made guy. But he doesn't have to be – he's already a member of a royal mob family.
Lucania, (left) who'll be 82 next month, is a nephew of the late Charles (Lucky) Luciano, the Mafia don whose given name was Salvatore Lucania and who was hailed by Time Magazine in 1998 as one of the country's top 20 Builders and Titans of the Twentieth Century.
While Tony L doesn't come close to the heights reached by his uncle, whose criminal accomplishments Time said put him on a par with the likes of Henry Ford and Bill Gates, he is definitely in the family business. Two weeks ago, the octogenarian was arrested on charges of being part of a mob linked armed robbery ring that also purchased high quality, name brand handguns out of state for distribution on the streets of New York.
The arrest is the latest on a rap sheet that dates back to 1939 when Tony L was collared for robbery. Other busts include gambling (1973) and bribery (1974).
But if Lucania has managed to keep a low profile, that doesn't mean that the Mafia doesn't recognize a man of respect.
In 1997, Lucania's mob superior, Genovese wiseguy Ernest (Butch) Montevecchi, held a reception in Tony L's honor at the El Caribe Beach Club, the same
Brooklyn catering hall that John Gotti chose to host a gala Christmas party during the height of his reign.
The modest shindig for Tony L was held a few days before Lucania's 75th birthday, on July 27. But even though it was an event in his honor, Lucania, described by one law enforcement source as "Butch's right-hand-man" at the time, observed proper protocol and drove Montevecchi to the event, which was attended primarily by mob associates.
Sources on both sides of the law say that Lucania is a longtime associate of the crime family that his infamous uncle (right) headed until he was replaced by Frank Costello – and later Vito Genovese – following Luciano's controversial conviction for running a prostitution ring.
And while he may not have been formally inducted into the family, it hasn't prevented him from letting people know about his royal status. "Lucania is a snotty arrogant bastard," said one law enforcement source.
If so, he may be in for a comeuppance. At his age, the new charges are serious enough to put him away for the rest of his life.
According to an indictment filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, Lucania and a confederate traveled to Deerfield Florida last April 8 and purchased a cache of 16 handguns that included four .38 caliber Smith and Wesson handguns, a .45 caliber handgun made by Colt, two .357 caliber handguns and seven nine-millimeter handguns.
During tape recorded conversations made by a cooperating witness, identified as John Doe #1, Tony L often refers to the cohort, Peter Abbadessa as his "nephew" and Abbadessa, 40, calls Lucania his "uncle." In fact, sources say, the men are cousins.
Doe, the owner of a convenience store in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, tape recorded hundreds of conversations that led to four indictments on June 29 that charged 11 defendants with a variety charges including gambling and loansharking, Johnny Green Faraciaccording to assistant U.S. attorney Taryn Merkl.
Early this year, from January 3 through March 18, Tony L met six times with Doe to make arrangements for the 16 guns that Doe purchased three months ago. Sources said five of the conversations took place in a social club run by a Lucania contemporary and old friend, 81-year-old Bonanno soldier John (Johnny Green) Faraci. (left)
From Aug. 9, 2003 until last April 20, Lucania, Abbadessa and Florida-based Gambino associate Gerard (Gerry Lake) Cavera sold Doe 23 handguns for $19,600, including a top shelf nine millimeter handgun made by Germany's oldest gun maker, Sig Sauer.
The investigation, which began as a probe into Gambino family loansharking and gambling, branched out into gun trafficking by the Genoveses when Abbadessa offered to sell Doe handguns during a July 29, 2003 discussion at his convenience store.
frank (frankie dogs) chinniciThe offer was made, according to the indictment, two months after Abbadessa and cohorts George Vellios and Frank (Frankie Dogs) Chinnici, 39, (right) allegedly posed as police officers and netted more than $200,000 in cash, jewelry and other merchandise in a home invasion robbery of residents of an East Side apartment building on May 31 of last year.
Abbadessa has been detained as a danger to the community. FBI agents found loaded weapons, a police badge, NYPD baseball caps similar to those used by the armed robbers and a fur coat that was taken from the victims. Lucania, Vellios and Cavera were released on bail ranging from $300,000 to $500,000 bail.
Frankie Dogs, of 143 Bay 25 St., Bensonhurst, is a fugitive. He is described as "armed and dangerous" in a wanted poster that asks anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact FBI agent Paul Tambrino at 718-286-7388.
This was a Gangland article Capeci did on him on July 15, 2004.
Not Made, But Still A Family Man
A Gang Land Exclusive
Anthony (Tony L) LucaniaThe name Anthony Lucania is not well-known in the annals of organized crime. Tony L, as he's called on the street, isn't even a made guy. But he doesn't have to be – he's already a member of a royal mob family.
Lucania, (left) who'll be 82 next month, is a nephew of the late Charles (Lucky) Luciano, the Mafia don whose given name was Salvatore Lucania and who was hailed by Time Magazine in 1998 as one of the country's top 20 Builders and Titans of the Twentieth Century.
While Tony L doesn't come close to the heights reached by his uncle, whose criminal accomplishments Time said put him on a par with the likes of Henry Ford and Bill Gates, he is definitely in the family business. Two weeks ago, the octogenarian was arrested on charges of being part of a mob linked armed robbery ring that also purchased high quality, name brand handguns out of state for distribution on the streets of New York.
The arrest is the latest on a rap sheet that dates back to 1939 when Tony L was collared for robbery. Other busts include gambling (1973) and bribery (1974).
But if Lucania has managed to keep a low profile, that doesn't mean that the Mafia doesn't recognize a man of respect.
In 1997, Lucania's mob superior, Genovese wiseguy Ernest (Butch) Montevecchi, held a reception in Tony L's honor at the El Caribe Beach Club, the same
Brooklyn catering hall that John Gotti chose to host a gala Christmas party during the height of his reign.
The modest shindig for Tony L was held a few days before Lucania's 75th birthday, on July 27. But even though it was an event in his honor, Lucania, described by one law enforcement source as "Butch's right-hand-man" at the time, observed proper protocol and drove Montevecchi to the event, which was attended primarily by mob associates.
Sources on both sides of the law say that Lucania is a longtime associate of the crime family that his infamous uncle (right) headed until he was replaced by Frank Costello – and later Vito Genovese – following Luciano's controversial conviction for running a prostitution ring.
And while he may not have been formally inducted into the family, it hasn't prevented him from letting people know about his royal status. "Lucania is a snotty arrogant bastard," said one law enforcement source.
If so, he may be in for a comeuppance. At his age, the new charges are serious enough to put him away for the rest of his life.
According to an indictment filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, Lucania and a confederate traveled to Deerfield Florida last April 8 and purchased a cache of 16 handguns that included four .38 caliber Smith and Wesson handguns, a .45 caliber handgun made by Colt, two .357 caliber handguns and seven nine-millimeter handguns.
During tape recorded conversations made by a cooperating witness, identified as John Doe #1, Tony L often refers to the cohort, Peter Abbadessa as his "nephew" and Abbadessa, 40, calls Lucania his "uncle." In fact, sources say, the men are cousins.
Doe, the owner of a convenience store in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, tape recorded hundreds of conversations that led to four indictments on June 29 that charged 11 defendants with a variety charges including gambling and loansharking, Johnny Green Faraciaccording to assistant U.S. attorney Taryn Merkl.
Early this year, from January 3 through March 18, Tony L met six times with Doe to make arrangements for the 16 guns that Doe purchased three months ago. Sources said five of the conversations took place in a social club run by a Lucania contemporary and old friend, 81-year-old Bonanno soldier John (Johnny Green) Faraci. (left)
From Aug. 9, 2003 until last April 20, Lucania, Abbadessa and Florida-based Gambino associate Gerard (Gerry Lake) Cavera sold Doe 23 handguns for $19,600, including a top shelf nine millimeter handgun made by Germany's oldest gun maker, Sig Sauer.
The investigation, which began as a probe into Gambino family loansharking and gambling, branched out into gun trafficking by the Genoveses when Abbadessa offered to sell Doe handguns during a July 29, 2003 discussion at his convenience store.
frank (frankie dogs) chinniciThe offer was made, according to the indictment, two months after Abbadessa and cohorts George Vellios and Frank (Frankie Dogs) Chinnici, 39, (right) allegedly posed as police officers and netted more than $200,000 in cash, jewelry and other merchandise in a home invasion robbery of residents of an East Side apartment building on May 31 of last year.
Abbadessa has been detained as a danger to the community. FBI agents found loaded weapons, a police badge, NYPD baseball caps similar to those used by the armed robbers and a fur coat that was taken from the victims. Lucania, Vellios and Cavera were released on bail ranging from $300,000 to $500,000 bail.
Frankie Dogs, of 143 Bay 25 St., Bensonhurst, is a fugitive. He is described as "armed and dangerous" in a wanted poster that asks anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact FBI agent Paul Tambrino at 718-286-7388.