THE BLACK HAND FORUM

Paul (Paulie Ham) Correale, born 1911 in East Harlem. By the late 1950’s had moved to 38 Olive St., Lake Success, LI. Top “Capo di decina” in the old Lucchese Family.
He was arguably one of the most important capo’s, a Lucchese favorite. Reputedly in line to have succeeded Lucchese, but Paulie died very young. Passed away suddenly while on a trip to Florida appx 1962, in his early 50’s. A very astute underworld power. Very well liked by the membership. He ran a private social club for many years on 112th Street as his base. Heavily engaged in the policy racket (numbers), controlling multi-million dollar volume in Harlem. Also, ran floating dice games (The so-called Harlem game). Close associates included Vincent Rao, Joey Rao, Pasquale Zaccaro, Carmine (Gribbs) Tramunti (a childhood friend and life long partner), Gaetano Lucchese, Louis (Louie Beans) Foceri, Joseph (Socks) Lanza, (Trigger Mike) Coppola, (Jimmy Blue Eyes) Alo, among many more of the NYC underworld elite. Arrest record starts 1924 for; truancy, robbery, felonious assault, parole violation. Held interests in the Gay Lady Dress Mfg., Co., Bronx, NY. Suspected of having hidden interest in several midtown Manhattan bars and nightclubs, including The Golden Door (with Vinny “Bruno” Mauro) and The Bazaar Room. Activities listed as:
policy, shylocking, dice games and suspected high-level narcotics trafficking (heroin). Note: his brother Jimmy served a long prison term for a charge murder, and Tommy Lucchese himself got involved to attempt at getting Jimmy parole. (It was said Jimmy had taken the fall for Lucchese himself in the case). Maybe another reason why Paul Correale was favored by Tommy Lucchese. In 1959, narcotics detectives raided a mid-town apartment, thinking it was a drug stash house. It wasn’t!..... but it was the “bank” of Correale’s policy network. They nabbed, a huge amount of policy slips, ribbons, $30,000. cash (a enormous amount in 1959), and what was believed to be shylock records. Alleging a $60,000. a day volume,
several underlings were arrested, Correale was charged by released. He was pulled in a conspiracy count that didn’t hold up (he was not on the scene). Members in his regime were said to include Teddy Orso (his cousin and a convicted narcotics dealer), Louis Forceri, Jacob (Jack Mace) Maislich (a top NYC fence), Joseph (Joe Babes) Bendenelli, James (Pat Patty) Reger, Frank Petrella,
among others.
In 1941, Correale was charged with felony assault (for shooting at a cop to allow a partner to escape), it is said that person was his “compare” Tramunti.
In closing, it was common underworld knowledge that Correale was a big spending, generous and
classy mob figure. A rarity in the mob!.... he died very young of lung cancer. The Lucchese Family might have taken a different historic turn if Correale had lived and succeeded to the boss position.... Note: not much has ever been written about “Paulie Ham”. I thought he deserved a write up!

***Note: among my sources were The FBN Mafia Book, The Daily News archives, MF, and many other sources. Lol.... ok fella’s?

Great find on the Paulie ham file. Thank you.

HairyKnuckles wrote:Here´s a good 32 page FBI report on Correale with description, personal history and background, health status, criminal record and more.

http://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html ... 6&tab=page

Interesting that Teddy Orzo was a cousin of Correale.

Alex, Corallo probably took over from Ormento and Tramunti from Correale. Finding out what crew Plumeri was heading is tricky (you asked this in another thread). Could be that he headed a smaller crew primarily based in the Lower East Side section or Florida. Could also be that he was directly assaigned to Tommy Lucchese, handling the garment working trucking association for him and at the same time holding a captain´s rank but had no crew. I really don´t know. But if he was directly assaigned to Lucchese, he probably lost his position once Lucchese died.

Thank you HK very much, I appreciate it. The other thing that is not to clear to me is that the brooklyn lucchese crew isn't mentioned til '68, '69 (in the docu ive seen, and the Valacci chart) they were probably very low key. Although Vario was a force since '55. Wierd

Here´s a good 32 page FBI report on Correale with description, personal history and background, health status, criminal record and more.

http://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html ... 6&tab=page

Interesting that Teddy Orzo was a cousin of Correale.

Alex, Corallo probably took over from Ormento and Tramunti from Correale. Finding out what crew Plumeri was heading is tricky (you asked this in another thread). Could be that he headed a smaller crew primarily based in the Lower East Side section or Florida. Could also be that he was directly assaigned to Tommy Lucchese, handling the garment working trucking association for him and at the same time holding a captain´s rank but had no crew. I really don´t know. But if he was directly assaigned to Lucchese, he probably lost his position once Lucchese died.

The thing that that is not clear to me is where did Anthony Corallo fit in? In other words was he Paulie Ham's crew member and did he Inherit the crew after his death? And where does Carmine Tramunti fit in also?
Thanks, looking forward for your answer guys.

Than you very muc for that OBEC.

NAME: Paul CORREALE

ALIASES: Paulie Ham, Paul Hamm, Paul Hamilton, Paul Hour, Paul Mason.

DESCRIPTION: Born 4-25-11 NYC, 5'11", 185 Ibs, medium build, brown hair, brown eyes.

LOCALITIES FREQUENTED: Resides 38 Olive St, Lake Success, L.I., NY. Frequents Jefferson Major Club, 252 E 112th, 72 Club, 72nd St, & 2nd Ave.; Late Edition Club, 43rd St, & 2ns Ave.; vicinity of E 56th St, & 3rd Ave, all NYC.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Married Ann Gastoni; father: Rosario; mother: Michelina Allarella; sisters: Carmela, Edith & Philomenia.

CRIMINAL ASSOCIATES: Vicent Alo, Joseph Rao, [REDACTED], Patsy Zaccaro, [REDACTED], Carmine Tramunti, Gaetano Lucchese, [REDACTED], all of New York.

CRIMINAL RECORD: FBI #177910, NYC PD #B71983. Record dating from 1924 includes arrests for truancy, assault, robbery, felonious assault and violation of parole.

BUSINESS: Has an interest in the Gay Lady Dress Manufacturing Co., Boston Post Rd, Bronx, NY.

MODUS OPERANDI: Important and trusted member of a Mafia group,with headquarters in New York's East Harlem, which engages inthe wholesale distribution of heroin, both locally and interstate.

Thank you very nuch Rave.

I believe so. I'm pretty sure that is where I got the photo. I will look later in the book and if so, I will scan and send it to you.

Raven wrote:Yeah on Mary Farrell there is files about him. He was a power since at least the 1950's. The one thing I thought it said that was interesting was his "girlfriend" whom he lived with was a former hooker and still worked as a hooker when he was out of town. He was married but apparently lived with the hooker girlfriend instead of his wife at least, for a time.

Okay that is Interasting and thans for the photo. Is there a FBN page on him?

Yeah on Mary Farrell there is files about him. He was a power since at least the 1950's. The one thing I thought it said that was interesting was his "girlfriend" whom he lived with was a former hooker and still worked as a hooker when he was out of town. He was married but apparently lived with the hooker girlfriend instead of his wife at least, for a time.

Hello guys, ive been looking into the Lucchese fam of the 60s. It states somewhere that Paulie ham was a rising star in the fam and considered to take the top spot after Tommy Lucchese until he suddenly died in 1962. Is that true? Is there a picture or some more info on this guy? The info online if very limited.

Thanks .