The West Side Secrecy

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Re: The West Side Secrecy

by newera_212 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:57 am

Grouchy Sinatra wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:25 pm
TallGuy19 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:34 pm
newera_212 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age
Genovese soldier Salvatore "Sally KO" Larca is currently in prison for running a large weed-trafficking ring in the Bronx.
See? They're not only giving stiff sentences for drugs they're giving stiff sentences for weed, too.
But that's really only because of who he is and the "scope" of the indictment. I'm not going to say they were discriminated against because they were italian, but if that were just a regular pot trafficking operation and didn't involve what...at least 2 crime families... it probably would have been different. I think Larca was an established, reputed Genovese solider when he got indicted - I'm sure that factored in, big time. It seems like everyone in the Bronx from every family represented there was eating off of this operation. There's something in the FBI Files section, ostensibly about Crea and the murder case, that talks about it.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by Grouchy Sinatra » Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:25 pm

TallGuy19 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:34 pm
newera_212 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age
Genovese soldier Salvatore "Sally KO" Larca is currently in prison for running a large weed-trafficking ring in the Bronx.
See? They're not only giving stiff sentences for drugs they're giving stiff sentences for weed, too.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by slimshady_007 » Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:50 pm

Pmac2 wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:17 pm Massimo had made a rule weed trafficking was ok just not coke and dope. Kinda smart. He was ahead of his time but even old time racketeer like gerry angulo was caught on a wire back in 1980 calling himself a weed trafficker then he went on to say with the rico law it didnt matter there all going to jail and he was rite
Massino’s rule was bs lol. Bonanno capo Tony Graziano was big into moving coke around Brooklyn in the 90’s while Massino was boss.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by Pmac2 » Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:17 pm

Massimo had made a rule weed trafficking was ok just not coke and dope. Kinda smart. He was ahead of his time but even old time racketeer like gerry angulo was caught on a wire back in 1980 calling himself a weed trafficker then he went on to say with the rico law it didnt matter there all going to jail and he was rite

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by Wiseguy » Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:25 pm

elasticman wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:40 amWhich drugs specifically do LCN families get involved with nowadays? Historically obviously its been heroin.
In New York over the past 20 years, the LCN families traffic mainly in marijuana and prescription drugs. We also see regular cocaine charges in cases involving the LCN but the volume is much lower compared to the other two. Ecstasy was also big for them back in the 2000's but I haven't seen a case since 2013. Relatively little in the way of heroin, meth or other drugs.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by Etna » Thu Apr 29, 2021 10:06 am

elasticman wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:40 am
Wiseguy wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:33 am
newera_212 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age
Over the past 20 years or so, the family has had several drug cases connected to it, but the majority of those charged have been associates. Associates being the ones mostly involved in drugs is the case with all the NY families but pretty much all the Genovese members charged with narcotics have been soldiers. Namely six of them: Albert Scibelli, Anthony Arilotta, Ralph Balsamo, Anthony Scaffidi, Joseph Ida, and Salvatore Larca. One possible captain was Anthony Romanello but that never went passed information passed to law enforcement by an informant.

By comparison,when it comes to the family with the membership being most involved in drug trafficking, it would definitely be the Gambinos. They've had the most drug cases over the past 20 years, as well as the most members indicted; including high level ones - a consigliere, four captains, and 10 soldiers. Also possibly an underboss.
Which drugs specifically do LCN families get involved with nowadays? Historically obviously its been heroin.
Some of them - including Basciano's kids were involved in smuggling weed from California. I think the Gotti kid was selling steroids. Others are in pills - probably a little bit of everything. The latest Philly indictment had them involved in fentanyl if I'm not mistaken.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by elasticman » Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:40 am

Wiseguy wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:33 am
newera_212 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age
Over the past 20 years or so, the family has had several drug cases connected to it, but the majority of those charged have been associates. Associates being the ones mostly involved in drugs is the case with all the NY families but pretty much all the Genovese members charged with narcotics have been soldiers. Namely six of them: Albert Scibelli, Anthony Arilotta, Ralph Balsamo, Anthony Scaffidi, Joseph Ida, and Salvatore Larca. One possible captain was Anthony Romanello but that never went passed information passed to law enforcement by an informant.

By comparison,when it comes to the family with the membership being most involved in drug trafficking, it would definitely be the Gambinos. They've had the most drug cases over the past 20 years, as well as the most members indicted; including high level ones - a consigliere, four captains, and 10 soldiers. Also possibly an underboss.
Which drugs specifically do LCN families get involved with nowadays? Historically obviously its been heroin.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by Wiseguy » Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:33 am

newera_212 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age
Over the past 20 years or so, the family has had several drug cases connected to it, but the majority of those charged have been associates. Associates being the ones mostly involved in drugs is the case with all the NY families but pretty much all the Genovese members charged with narcotics have been soldiers. Namely six of them: Albert Scibelli, Anthony Arilotta, Ralph Balsamo, Anthony Scaffidi, Joseph Ida, and Salvatore Larca. One possible captain was Anthony Romanello but that never went passed information passed to law enforcement by an informant.

By comparison,when it comes to the family with the membership being most involved in drug trafficking, it would definitely be the Gambinos. They've had the most drug cases over the past 20 years, as well as the most members indicted; including high level ones - a consigliere, four captains, and 10 soldiers. Also possibly an underboss.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by SonnyBlackstein » Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:25 pm

eboli wrote: Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:13 am There are many reasons, but it boils down to tradition. After the problems they experienced in the late 1950s, the family adopted their modus operandi that carries them to this day. Almost everything can be traced back to the administration that ran the family while Vito was in prison.

1) Acting bosses with a ton of influence that were kept in check by other powerful high-ranking members.
2) More operational freedom for the West Side captains compared to the other New York families, but harsher punishments.
3) With ruling panels and different messengers, they are more effective in running their operations.
4) Being very selective who they propose for membership. More focus on money-making abilities and less on street cred.
5) Hereditary rulership i.e. the Genovese boss picks and grooms his replacement.
This + Allocutions + Luck.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by SB1825 » Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:37 pm

TallGuy19 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:34 pm
newera_212 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age
Genovese soldier Salvatore "Sally KO" Larca is currently in prison for running a large weed-trafficking ring in the Bronx.
He was released last year

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by TallGuy19 » Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:34 pm

newera_212 wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age
Genovese soldier Salvatore "Sally KO" Larca is currently in prison for running a large weed-trafficking ring in the Bronx.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by newera_212 » Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:21 pm

Haven't they had the highest membership totals on paper for the last 40 something years? Yet they manage to remain the most secretive? I always found that to be the most interesting part about them.

I would imagine they have to have some guys into drugs somewhere down the chain right now. I just don't see it not happening in this day and age

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by Grouchy Sinatra » Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:40 pm

Plea deals? Willing to make allocutions, admit they're in the mob without testifying against anyone else?

Avoided drug dealing (and the draconian sentencing) more than other families?

Dry snitching? Luciano and Costello historically rumored to get a little chatty with feds to the tune of rivals getting pinched.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by funkster » Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:28 am

My guess is the Gambinos getting out from under the Gottis and being taken over by the Sicilians has helped them immensely.

Re: The West Side Secrecy

by Villain » Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:24 am

eboli wrote: Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:13 am There are many reasons, but it boils down to tradition. After the problems they experienced in the late 1950s, the family adopted their modus operandi that carries them to this day. Almost everything can be traced back to the administration that ran the family while Vito was in prison.

1) Acting bosses with a ton of influence that were kept in check by other powerful high-ranking members.
2) More operational freedom for the West Side captains compared to the other New York families, but harsher punishments.
3) With ruling panels and different messengers, they are more effective in running their operations.
4) Being very selective who they propose for membership. More focus on money-making abilities and less on street cred.
5) Hereditary rulership i.e. the Genovese boss picks and grooms his replacement.
Thanks for this since it doesnt just explain the story regarding the Genoveses, but other families too

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