by Snakes » Tue May 03, 2016 11:01 am
Page 21
Sr continues discussing the threat that DiForti potentially poses to Nick if he were to cooperate. He continues by saying he could get Ronnie Jarrett to get word to"Michael" [Talarico] to see Nick and assuage his fears. Jr makes an interesting comment concerning Nick's calmness (or lack thereof) under pressure: "...you know how he panics right away if nobody's around to tell him... And Jimmy [Marcello] sees he starts acting funny... it could become a nightmare." By telling Nick to stay calm and reassuring him, they in turn hope to keep him calm in front of Marcello. Sr confesses that he doesn't have any "bad vibes" about the whole situation.
Page 22
They continue discussing their worries about Nick's mental state and how it could lead Marcello to start worrying himself. Sr explains that Marcello still needs to know the feds are looking into Nick.
Page 23
Sr switches his conversation to the "short guy," who is Joseph "Shorty" LaMantia, another member of the 26th Street crew who is locked up with them. "Charlie," "Rocky," "Raymond," and "Sonny" are all, I believe, individuals incarcerated with the Calabreses and LaMantia. Some or all of them (not entirely sure) are LCN affiliated, mostly from the east coast. Sr asks Jr about LaMantia and Jr recalls LaMantia speaking with "Rocky" about some hits in the cafeteria. Sr dismisses this as LMantia playing himself up to Rocky to appear bigger than he really was.
EDIT: "Charlie" may be Charles Marzano, a low-level knockaround guy who was serving time for drugs and money laundering. His father was one of the ringleaders of infamous Purolator heist in 1974.
To give you a brief backstory on this whole situation, LaMantia got into big trouble with Sr by introducing Sr as made to other LCN guys, possibly the same individuals mentioned above. This was problematic for a couple of reasons: Although an important lieutenant under Angelo LaPietra for many years, LaMantia was himself not made; introducing Sr as made gave the appearance that LaMantia was made to the other inmates (typically only other made guys can introduce another guy as made); and, perhaps worst of all, Sr did not want to be recognized as made, period, as he did not want that fact to be known around the prison.
Jr and Sr continue their discussion on LaMantia and Jr suggests that perhaps the "G" or "the street" also believes what LaMantia is trying to convey - that he's made and has done some killing. Sr disagrees but backpedals a bit by saying they know but they don't know - otherwise, why did they give him more time than LaMantia for similar crimes? Ostensibly, this is because the feds believe that Sr is a killer but can't prove it, so they give him a heavier sentence than a guy like LaMantia, who doesn't enjoy as vicious a reputation.
Page 24
Sr talks a little about "the life." Jr mentions Scarpelli and LaMantia as guys who just share heresy, and know less than what they actually do. Gerald Scarpelli was a made guy under Joe Ferriola who agreed to cooperate with the government in 1988, then recanted his confessions and hung himself in his cell a few months later. When Sr talks about making a "new uniform" he is talking about making guys. Jr is surprised as he always thought that this was just a movie thing. Sr goes onto say that you may be in the life for ten or fifteen years before it happens.
Page 25
Sr says that making guys isn't from the movies - it's real. He goes on to say that the way they did in the Godfather novel was close to real life and that the author must have had a relative in the life or knew someone who was involved, although he may be getting it confused with another book as I don't recall a ceremony from the novel.
Sr then goes into detail concerning the actual ceremony: The participants' fingers are cut and "they" [the bosses] take holy pictures and put them in the participants hands. The pictures are then lit on fire and the participants stay still while the pictures burn.
Page 26
Sr states the ceremony is performed separately for each proposed individual and the person doing all the speaking is the "second guy in charge." Sr doesn't mention names, but Nick testified that Al Tornabene presided over the ceremony. This is probably who Sr was referring to as the "second guy in charge." He also doesn't specify if this is in charge of the Outfit itself or the ceremony but it's probably the latter. John Cerone was underboss at the time but was not present at the ceremony. At any rate, Sr explains that the rest of the capos are watching, including the one that "brought you in," in this case, meaning Angelo LaPietra, whom Jr jokes wants nothing to do with the Calabreses anymore. Sr responds by confiding to Jr that he initially told LaPietra that he didn't want to be made because it would tie him down and not allow him to do anything else.
Page 27
Sr goes on to say that LaPietra said that this is not true but this is contrary to what Sr has been told. Sr believed that he carried enough respect without having to be made. Jr asks him if he regrets it and Sr replies in the positive but admits that burning the holy cards was what he regrets the most. Jr also talks about something that bothers him is getting ordered to kill someone for no reason, even if it's someone you're close to.
Page 28
Sr states that this never bothered him because innocent people didn't get hurt. This is particularly ironic since Sr would later be charged for planning or committing the murder of at least three individuals who were simply accomplices of Outfit hit targets. The only people targeted for death were those trying to "hurt our people" or "stool pigeons." Sr says the Outfit never gave a third warning which seems generous to me as some didn't even get one but c'est la vie.
Jr asks, rather naively I may add, about guys who didn't do what they were told or who owned a company (place of business) the Outfit wanted and Sr matter-of-factly replies that they "give the fucking company up and get out of here." If they didn't, they'd be in trouble.
[b][u]Page 21[/u][/b]
Sr continues discussing the threat that DiForti potentially poses to Nick if he were to cooperate. He continues by saying he could get Ronnie Jarrett to get word to"Michael" [Talarico] to see Nick and assuage his fears. Jr makes an interesting comment concerning Nick's calmness (or lack thereof) under pressure: "...you know how he panics right away if nobody's around to tell him... And Jimmy [Marcello] sees he starts acting funny... it could become a nightmare." By telling Nick to stay calm and reassuring him, they in turn hope to keep him calm in front of Marcello. Sr confesses that he doesn't have any "bad vibes" about the whole situation.
[b][u]Page 22[/u][/b]
They continue discussing their worries about Nick's mental state and how it could lead Marcello to start worrying himself. Sr explains that Marcello still needs to know the feds are looking into Nick.
[b][u]Page 23[/u][/b]
Sr switches his conversation to the "short guy," who is Joseph "Shorty" LaMantia, another member of the 26th Street crew who is locked up with them. "Charlie," "Rocky," "Raymond," and "Sonny" are all, I believe, individuals incarcerated with the Calabreses and LaMantia. Some or all of them (not entirely sure) are LCN affiliated, mostly from the east coast. Sr asks Jr about LaMantia and Jr recalls LaMantia speaking with "Rocky" about some hits in the cafeteria. Sr dismisses this as LMantia playing himself up to Rocky to appear bigger than he really was.
EDIT: "Charlie" may be Charles Marzano, a low-level knockaround guy who was serving time for drugs and money laundering. His father was one of the ringleaders of infamous Purolator heist in 1974.
To give you a brief backstory on this whole situation, LaMantia got into big trouble with Sr by introducing Sr as made to other LCN guys, possibly the same individuals mentioned above. This was problematic for a couple of reasons: Although an important lieutenant under Angelo LaPietra for many years, LaMantia was himself not made; introducing Sr as made gave the appearance that LaMantia was made to the other inmates (typically only other made guys can introduce another guy as made); and, perhaps worst of all, Sr did not want to be recognized as made, period, as he did not want that fact to be known around the prison.
Jr and Sr continue their discussion on LaMantia and Jr suggests that perhaps the "G" or "the street" also believes what LaMantia is trying to convey - that he's made and has done some killing. Sr disagrees but backpedals a bit by saying they know but they don't know - otherwise, why did they give him more time than LaMantia for similar crimes? Ostensibly, this is because the feds believe that Sr is a killer but can't prove it, so they give him a heavier sentence than a guy like LaMantia, who doesn't enjoy as vicious a reputation.
[b][u]Page 24[/u][/b]
Sr talks a little about "the life." Jr mentions Scarpelli and LaMantia as guys who just share heresy, and know less than what they actually do. Gerald Scarpelli was a made guy under Joe Ferriola who agreed to cooperate with the government in 1988, then recanted his confessions and hung himself in his cell a few months later. When Sr talks about making a "new uniform" he is talking about making guys. Jr is surprised as he always thought that this was just a movie thing. Sr goes onto say that you may be in the life for ten or fifteen years before it happens.
[b][u]Page 25[/u][/b]
Sr says that making guys isn't from the movies - it's real. He goes on to say that the way they did in the Godfather novel was close to real life and that the author must have had a relative in the life or knew someone who was involved, although he may be getting it confused with another book as I don't recall a ceremony from the novel.
Sr then goes into detail concerning the actual ceremony: The participants' fingers are cut and "they" [the bosses] take holy pictures and put them in the participants hands. The pictures are then lit on fire and the participants stay still while the pictures burn.
[b][u]Page 26[/u][/b]
Sr states the ceremony is performed separately for each proposed individual and the person doing all the speaking is the "second guy in charge." Sr doesn't mention names, but Nick testified that Al Tornabene presided over the ceremony. This is probably who Sr was referring to as the "second guy in charge." He also doesn't specify if this is in charge of the Outfit itself or the ceremony but it's probably the latter. John Cerone was underboss at the time but was not present at the ceremony. At any rate, Sr explains that the rest of the capos are watching, including the one that "brought you in," in this case, meaning Angelo LaPietra, whom Jr jokes wants nothing to do with the Calabreses anymore. Sr responds by confiding to Jr that he initially told LaPietra that he didn't want to be made because it would tie him down and not allow him to do anything else.
[b][u]Page 27[/u][/b]
Sr goes on to say that LaPietra said that this is not true but this is contrary to what Sr has been told. Sr believed that he carried enough respect without having to be made. Jr asks him if he regrets it and Sr replies in the positive but admits that burning the holy cards was what he regrets the most. Jr also talks about something that bothers him is getting ordered to kill someone for no reason, even if it's someone you're close to.
[b][u]Page 28[/u][/b]
Sr states that this never bothered him because innocent people didn't get hurt. This is particularly ironic since Sr would later be charged for planning or committing the murder of at least three individuals who were simply accomplices of Outfit hit targets. The only people targeted for death were those trying to "hurt our people" or "stool pigeons." Sr says the Outfit never gave a third warning which seems generous to me as some didn't even get one but c'est la vie.
Jr asks, rather naively I may add, about guys who didn't do what they were told or who owned a company (place of business) the Outfit wanted and Sr matter-of-factly replies that they "give the fucking company up and get out of here." If they didn't, they'd be in trouble.