THE BLACK HAND FORUM

by **JoelTurner** » Tue May 06, 2025 2:38 pm

Joe Valachi wasn’t close to Willie Moretti but did share some interesting information about him.

In 1924, Valachi’s gang, that he calls the Irish Mob, was in a conflict with the East Harlem crew. Discussing a peace summit, he names him as a mafia member:

VALACHI: I found out through the years, later on, he [MORETTI] was one of the Cosa Nostra members, but at that time we didn't know.

[…]

CHAIRMAN: You didn't know anything about Cosa Nostra?

VALACHI: No; this was 1924.

Moretti was hosting the summit at his Pompeii Restaurant. From the rest of Valachi says, it’s fairly clear that he was a part of the East Harlem crew.

————————-

Valachi’s says something pretty intriguing about Lucky Luciano’s status at the time too, explicitly naming him as a soldier:

All the big shots went over at this restaurant. By big shots I mean Ciro Terranova, Dutch Schultz, and all kind of big shots from out of town, Charlie Lucky used to go there too, even though he was nothing but a soldier. I didn't know anything about soldiers at this time but I found out later.

He’s referring to the end of 1924. I had previously assumed that Luciano was made captain in the early ‘20s though I didn’t know the exact year. Dominick “Terry Burns” DiDato was discussed earlier in this thread; he seems like a good candidate for his capo.

by **JoelTurner** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:53 pm

JoelTurner wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:38 pm Official employment: U.S Linen Supply Business (113-137 N 1st, Paterson, NJ)

His partners were Ben & Mark Golden, John “Midgie” Welsh, and Robert Neilley

The Golden bros, led by Ben, were Jew mobsters and had the only policy bank in Passaic County. Known as Gold Bank, they were arrested for this alongside the Moretti bros, Pete LaPlaca, Etc.

Other than numbers, Ben Golden co-owned the Sand and Surf Cabana Club (717 Ocean Ave, Long Branch, NJ) with the Moretti bros and was also involved in political corruption. He was close to NJ Attorney General Theodore Parsons.

Robert Neilley was the Passaic County water commissioner. Additionally, he was a top member of its Democratic Party and involved in doling out patronage jobs. He arranged for US Linen to buy an entire city block for $10K.

The firm’s rival was Noxall Linen Supply. Its president Abraham Frumker had claimed that Moretti’s group was using strong-arm tactics before he “fell of a horse” and died. Noxall merged with US Linen subsequently.

by B. » Mon Apr 28, 2025 9:03 am

Great to have it confirmed. Their families coming from the same town adds a lot to what we know of the Moretti/Costello relationship.

by **motorfab** » Sun Apr 27, 2025 9:51 pm

Thanks for the info Joel

by **JoelTurner** » Sun Apr 27, 2025 8:22 pm

B. wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:04 am Regarding Moretti's heritage, Joe Bonanno said in his book that Moretti was Calabrian. He says Moretti and Anastasia were "paesani from Calabria" who nonetheless "admired the Sicilian Tradition".
So we have Bonanno believing Moretti to be Calabrian like Anastasia and Moretti himself saying he came from the same part of Italy as Frank Milano, who was as Calabrian as it gets.

motorfab wrote: ↑Sat Oct 14, 2023 9:34 am I also always wondered if he was Calabrian, as he once claimed, or if he was from Puglia...

As a follow up to this earlier discussion, I found where exactly his family was from.

His father, Genaro Moretti, was born on Apr 23 1858 in Cassano, Cosenza, Calabria.

Notably, this was Frank Costello’s hometown too. This could be where the cousin rumor started. Costello clarified during the Kefauver hearings that they were just good friends and not related.

by **Antiliar** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 4:28 pm

JoelTurner wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:52 pm On the 1963 Genovese family chart, Michael Spinella is listed as a member of Miranda crew who was deported to Italy. This may not have been accurate, here’s a better look at him:

Born Mar 3 1894 in Marineo, Palermo, Sicily to Matteo Spinella & Rosa Tripoli, he moved to NJ as a toddler. By the start of the ‘20s, he was a well-known criminal in Paterson, NJ; involved in bootlegging, holdups, and gambling.

On Jan 21 1927, members of Anthony “Sparky” Wilda’s holdup gang, brothers Harry “Swchwabbles” & Richard Joachim, attempted to sell him liquor that they had stolen from him earlier. Initially refusing, he seemingly agreed after they tore up his bar The Lincoln Inn (937 Market St, Paterson, NJ). The next night, on Jan 22 1927, when they came to collect, he was waiting with Jim Profita, Frank Failla, and Frank Logioco. The ambush left Harry dead and Richard injured.

Facing a murder charge, Spinella went on the run. On Dec 15 1933, he resurfaced in Detroit using the alias Martin Steel:

Joe & Peter Bommarito, James Licavoli, and Tony Abati were Detroit members. I haven’t heard of the others.

A few years after beating the murder charge, he moved to Miami but remain in the NJ rackets as he was charged with operating a brother in Paramus, NJ in 1951. This led to him being deported to Capri 1953.

————————————-

Spinella killing Joachim kicked of a violent war, that lasted from 1927-31, between the NJ Genovese & the Wilda gang.

Nothing about Spinella’s activities nor the people that he was with point to him being in Miranda’s crew. Rather, he was likely a member of Moretti’s crew like the rest of the Jersey guys.

Frank Knapp could have been an alias for Napoli or Nappi or something similar. The others may have members of the Jewish Purple gang.

by **JoelTurner** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:52 pm

On the 1963 Genovese family chart, Michael Spinella is listed as a member of Miranda crew who was deported to Italy. This may not have been accurate, here’s a better look at him:

Born Mar 3 1894 in Marineo, Palermo, Sicily to Matteo Spinella & Rosa Tripoli, he moved to NJ as a toddler. By the start of the ‘20s, he was a well-known criminal in Paterson, NJ; involved in bootlegging, holdups, and gambling.

On Jan 21 1927, members of Anthony “Sparky” Wilda’s holdup gang, brothers Harry “Swchwabbles” & Richard Joachim, attempted to sell him liquor that they had stolen from him earlier. Initially refusing, he seemingly agreed after they tore up his bar The Lincoln Inn (937 Market St, Paterson, NJ). The next night, on Jan 22 1927, when they came to collect, he was waiting with Jim Profita, Frank Failla, and Frank Logioco. The ambush left Harry dead and Richard injured.

Facing a murder charge, Spinella went on the run. On Dec 15 1933, he resurfaced in Detroit using the alias Martin Steel:

Joe & Peter Bommarito, James Licavoli, and Tony Abati were Detroit members. I haven’t heard of the others.

A few years after beating the murder charge, he moved to Miami but remain in the NJ rackets as he was charged with operating a brother in Paramus, NJ in 1951. This led to him being deported to Capri 1953.

————————————-

Spinella killing Joachim kicked of a violent war, that lasted from 1927-31, between the NJ Genovese & the Wilda gang.

Nothing about Spinella’s activities nor the people that he was with point to him being in Miranda’s crew. Rather, he was likely a member of Moretti’s crew like the rest of the Jersey guys.

by **Brovelli** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 1:50 pm

JoelTurner wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 1:12 pm
Brovelli wrote: ↑Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:58 pm Wasn’t there a Phil denoia around Andy Gerardo too? May be no relation to these guys
He doesn’t appear to be related

Thanks

by **JoelTurner** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 1:17 pm

B. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 25, 2025 5:08 pm I've wondered too if Denoia was a captain (acting or otherwise) given Moretti was an acting part of the administration on a seemingly recurring basis for many years.

Did captains who were holding an acting position usually do that?

by **JoelTurner** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 1:12 pm

Brovelli wrote: ↑Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:58 pm Wasn’t there a Phil denoia around Andy Gerardo too? May be no relation to these guys

He doesn’t appear to be related

by **bronx** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 10:20 pm

wassel was also selling jewelry

by B. » Tue Mar 25, 2025 5:08 pm

I've wondered too if Denoia was a captain (acting or otherwise) given Moretti was an acting part of the administration on a seemingly recurring basis for many years.

In addition to listing him as a capodecina, Valachi identified Denoia as being under Richie Boiardo in an FBI interview although we know there are many issues with some of Valachi's apparent Boiardo crew identifications.

by **Brovelli** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:58 pm

Wasn’t there a Phil denoia around Andy Gerardo too? May be no relation to these guys

by **JoelTurner** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:50 pm

Listed as a deceased captain by 1963, John “Duke” Denoia was a member of Willie Moretti’s crew. Here’s a better look at him:

Born in NYC, NY Oct 20 1899 to Antonio DeNoia & Irena Spera, Denoia grew up in East Harlem at 3466 E 112th St, NYC, NY. In 1930, he was married to Lillian Ward, living at 2046 3rd Ave, NYC, NY

By Feb 8 1933, he was in North Jersey as he was pinched for liquor there. He was operating out of 783 Palisades Ave, Cliffside Park, NJ; this was where his infamous Duke’s Restaurant would be located.

It isn’t clear when exactly he served as a captain. I’d speculate that he could have stepped up during Moretti’s long trips to California in the ‘40s.

Post-Moretti, Denoia worked as a night boss at the Jersey City docks. He passed away on Dec 3 1959.

——————-

His brother Carmine “Jardine” Denoia knew Damon Runyon and was the inspiration for Nicely-Nicely, a character from Guys and Dolls.

Two of Carmine’s sons were with the Genovese family. John “JJ” Denoia (1927-1991) was a member in Florida and Carmine “Wassel” Denoia (1925-2015) was an associate involved in the music industry.

by **JoelTurner** » Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:50 pm

He almost certainly would have known Masseria & Luciano. Patsy lived for years in the East Village at 441 E 12th St, NYC, NY. Genovese member Pietro Dolcemascolo lived a stone’s throw away at 437 E 13th St, NYC, NY

He also lived in Brooklyn (1655 75th St, Brooklyn, NY) for a short time, between the WW1 draft & his daughter’s birth in NJ on Aug 24 1922

THE BLACK HAND FORUM

What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Post a reply

Expand view Topic review: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

Re: What do We Know about Willie Moretti?