by Wiseguy » Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:00 am
Just finished the Alite book. Some of the more interesting stuff...
1. The Junior Gotti crew was into a lot of stuff. Their biggest money-maker was the drug trade. Alite said their cocaine operation was grossing about $1 million a month. They also extorted and robbed other drug dealers. They were partners in the bookmaking business with Willie Boy Johnson. They ran a prostitution house for a short time with Ronnie Trucchio. As we already knew, they were involved in different legit businesses (albeit funded with drug and gambling money) down in Florida like the valet business, a glass shop, a restaurant and a nightclub. They also moved into the valet business in New Jersey. There was the extortion of the Scores strip club. And they "unionized" bouncers in several clubs in Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island by forcing the clubs to only hire their bouncers from which they got a cut of their pay.
2. Alite said Gotti Sr. took over as captain of the Bergin crew after Fat Andy Ruggiano went to prison (I think this was before his final sentencing in 1987). I found that interesting because the conventional wisdom seemed to be he took over after Fatico retired.
3. Just months after Gotti Sr.'s conviction, a plot to kill Gotti Jr. was planned by the imprisoned John Carneglia (who believed the Gotti's had robbed him of money owed to him on the street), Charles Carneglia, Nick Corozzo and Danny Marino. They approached Alite about helping set Junior up and, his relationship with Junior on the skids by then, he agreed. Alite said at one point Nick Corozzo decided to "trade bullets for dollars" by sending his nephew to visit Gotti Sr. in prison and deliver a message - "We can't protect Junior on the streets. He's got to slide over or he's going to be killed." Gotti Sr. got the message and worked out a deal where he funneled several hundred thousand dollars to Corozzo, thus ending Corozzo's involvement in the plot. Alite said Charles Carneglia "sold out for a lot less" when Carmine Agnello agreed to put him on the payroll of an auto salvage yard he owned. Later on, in 2006, there was supposedly another plot to kill Junior. The Gambinos believed he "had millions stashed away" and couldn't do a long prison stretch. In fact, they thought he may already be cooperating and didn't like how he had been acting and his claims of "leaving" the mob. Members of the "Howard Beach Crew" met with Sonny Franzese who gave his approval to have Junior killed.
4. At one point Alite tried to transfer over to the Lucchese family but Gotti and the rest of the Gambino hierarchy wouldn't approve it.
5. While they were running the valet business down in Florida, one night there was a Bentley parked in the VIP spot next to one of the clubs. Whoever parked there was supposed to put $20 in the tip bucket but it was empty. Alite discovered it was NBA star Allen Iverson. Alite approached Iverson at his table and told him to move his car. Iverson balked at first, playing the "Do you know who I am?" routine, but after he asked the club manager who Alite was, Iverson was very apologetic and put money in the bucket.
6. Alite claimed that Vincent Gotti took a girl he was dating to the Kennedy Inn Airport Hotel. They were doing drugs, got into an argument, and he ended up strangling her to death. Her body was later found dumped in a garbage pile in Brooklyn.
7. Alite did time with Gene Gotti and hung out with him in prison but they had a falling out after Alite confronted Gene, and slapped him, because Gene was "abusing" old Gambino captain Joe Gambino who was also there in the same prison.
8. When Alite started operating in South Jersey he got to know some of the Philly guys. At one point Louie Turra tried to hire Alite to kill Joey Merlino but Alite turned him down, saying he didn't need the money. He thought the Turras were "crazy." He also got to know Ronnie Turchi (they were involved in the cell phone tower business) and he warned Turchi it appeared other Philly mob guys were planning to kill him after Natale flipped but Turchi didn't believe it. Alite also knew Johnny Gongs, Joe Ligambi, Anthony Staino and Joe Massimino.
"John Gotti's Rules of Leadership" (many of which the Gottis themselves broke)
1. Whenever possible, underlings must take the weight of a crime pending against Gotti or his family.
2. No member of any crew, in the presence of the boss, may wear sunglasses.
3. Members and associates are not to speak to the media.
4. Wives and girlfriends are to remain low-key. They are not to speak in public or call attention to themselves.
5. Whenever possible, use demeaning nicknames to describe underlings. It establishes who is in charge and who is subservient.
6. Drug dealing is prohibited and punishable by death. (Any member or associate dealing drugs must share his profits with the boss.)
7. Always keep underlings waiting. It reminds them who's in control without saying a word.
8. No member or associate is to fool around with the wife, girlfriend, or daughter of another member of the organization.
9. Always acknowledge the presence of the boss first in any public or social setting. In any social setting with members of other crime families, make them come to you to pay their respects. Going to them first is a sign of weakness.
10. Never talk business indoors. The government has "ears." If you are talking business in a car, be sure the radio is turned up loud. Best to talk on the street while walking.
11. When charged with a crime, no matter the circumstances, do not plead guilty. It's a sign of weakness.
12. Always manipulate the facts to present a positive image. Perception is reality.
Just finished the Alite book. Some of the more interesting stuff...
1. The Junior Gotti crew was into a lot of stuff. Their biggest money-maker was the drug trade. Alite said their cocaine operation was grossing about $1 million a month. They also extorted and robbed other drug dealers. They were partners in the bookmaking business with Willie Boy Johnson. They ran a prostitution house for a short time with Ronnie Trucchio. As we already knew, they were involved in different legit businesses (albeit funded with drug and gambling money) down in Florida like the valet business, a glass shop, a restaurant and a nightclub. They also moved into the valet business in New Jersey. There was the extortion of the Scores strip club. And they "unionized" bouncers in several clubs in Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island by forcing the clubs to only hire their bouncers from which they got a cut of their pay.
2. Alite said Gotti Sr. took over as captain of the Bergin crew after Fat Andy Ruggiano went to prison (I think this was before his final sentencing in 1987). I found that interesting because the conventional wisdom seemed to be he took over after Fatico retired.
3. Just months after Gotti Sr.'s conviction, a plot to kill Gotti Jr. was planned by the imprisoned John Carneglia (who believed the Gotti's had robbed him of money owed to him on the street), Charles Carneglia, Nick Corozzo and Danny Marino. They approached Alite about helping set Junior up and, his relationship with Junior on the skids by then, he agreed. Alite said at one point Nick Corozzo decided to "trade bullets for dollars" by sending his nephew to visit Gotti Sr. in prison and deliver a message - "We can't protect Junior on the streets. He's got to slide over or he's going to be killed." Gotti Sr. got the message and worked out a deal where he funneled several hundred thousand dollars to Corozzo, thus ending Corozzo's involvement in the plot. Alite said Charles Carneglia "sold out for a lot less" when Carmine Agnello agreed to put him on the payroll of an auto salvage yard he owned. Later on, in 2006, there was supposedly another plot to kill Junior. The Gambinos believed he "had millions stashed away" and couldn't do a long prison stretch. In fact, they thought he may already be cooperating and didn't like how he had been acting and his claims of "leaving" the mob. Members of the "Howard Beach Crew" met with Sonny Franzese who gave his approval to have Junior killed.
4. At one point Alite tried to transfer over to the Lucchese family but Gotti and the rest of the Gambino hierarchy wouldn't approve it.
5. While they were running the valet business down in Florida, one night there was a Bentley parked in the VIP spot next to one of the clubs. Whoever parked there was supposed to put $20 in the tip bucket but it was empty. Alite discovered it was NBA star Allen Iverson. Alite approached Iverson at his table and told him to move his car. Iverson balked at first, playing the "Do you know who I am?" routine, but after he asked the club manager who Alite was, Iverson was very apologetic and put money in the bucket.
6. Alite claimed that Vincent Gotti took a girl he was dating to the Kennedy Inn Airport Hotel. They were doing drugs, got into an argument, and he ended up strangling her to death. Her body was later found dumped in a garbage pile in Brooklyn.
7. Alite did time with Gene Gotti and hung out with him in prison but they had a falling out after Alite confronted Gene, and slapped him, because Gene was "abusing" old Gambino captain Joe Gambino who was also there in the same prison.
8. When Alite started operating in South Jersey he got to know some of the Philly guys. At one point Louie Turra tried to hire Alite to kill Joey Merlino but Alite turned him down, saying he didn't need the money. He thought the Turras were "crazy." He also got to know Ronnie Turchi (they were involved in the cell phone tower business) and he warned Turchi it appeared other Philly mob guys were planning to kill him after Natale flipped but Turchi didn't believe it. Alite also knew Johnny Gongs, Joe Ligambi, Anthony Staino and Joe Massimino.
[b]"John Gotti's Rules of Leadership"[/b] (many of which the Gottis themselves broke)
1. Whenever possible, underlings must take the weight of a crime pending against Gotti or his family.
2. No member of any crew, in the presence of the boss, may wear sunglasses.
3. Members and associates are not to speak to the media.
4. Wives and girlfriends are to remain low-key. They are not to speak in public or call attention to themselves.
5. Whenever possible, use demeaning nicknames to describe underlings. It establishes who is in charge and who is subservient.
6. Drug dealing is prohibited and punishable by death. (Any member or associate dealing drugs must share his profits with the boss.)
7. Always keep underlings waiting. It reminds them who's in control without saying a word.
8. No member or associate is to fool around with the wife, girlfriend, or daughter of another member of the organization.
9. Always acknowledge the presence of the boss first in any public or social setting. In any social setting with members of other crime families, make them come to you to pay their respects. Going to them first is a sign of weakness.
10. Never talk business indoors. The government has "ears." If you are talking business in a car, be sure the radio is turned up loud. Best to talk on the street while walking.
11. When charged with a crime, no matter the circumstances, do not plead guilty. It's a sign of weakness.
12. Always manipulate the facts to present a positive image. Perception is reality.