by furiofromnaples » Thu Feb 06, 2020 10:29 am
CHRONOLOGY OF A MOB WAR
On January 14, 1977, Samuel “Red” Russotti, Rene Piccarreto, Sal vatore “Sammy G” Gingello, Richard Marino, Thomas Marotta, and Eugene DeFrancesco, upper echelon members of organized crime in Rochester, N.Y., were imprisoned for 25 years to life as a result of their conviction in Monroe County Court for the November 23, 1973, murder of Vincent “Jimmy the Hammer” Massaro. The incarceration of these individuals resulted in a virtual elimination of all vestiges of leadership in the Rochester mob. Thomas Didio, a bodyguard, chauffeur, and confidant of Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello, and a cousin of Thomas Marotta, was placed in control of the operation by Samuel “Red” Russotti and Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello. Didio, previously a soldier under Thomas Ma rotta, was known primarily for his intimidating size and slow wit. It was believed that Didio's blood relationship to Thomas Marotta would insure that the wives and families of the defendants would be pro vided for, and that Didio's allegedly limited mental capacity would allow the defendants to control Didio, and the organized crime opera tion, from their jail cells. Once in power, Didio did not prove receptive to orders from Russotti, Piccarreto, or Gingello. Didio did not provide financial support for the defendants' families, despite his relationship to Marotta. Orga nized crime members loyal to Russotti and Gingello were reduced in Status and removed from union positions and no-show jobs by Didio. This caused a great deal of resentment and dissension within the Organization. In the spring of 1977, a fund-raising event was held for the benefit of the imprisoned mob leaders. It is alleged that Didio diverted a large sum of the money raised for his personal use. Sensing the discontent within the organization, Thomas Didio sought counsel with Stanley Valenti, and through him received guidance from Frank Valenti, who was incarcerated at the Springfield Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield, Mo. It is believed that the Valentis viewed the current circumstances as an opportunity to regain control of the Rochester organized crime operations. In July 1977, Angelo Vaccaro returned to Rochester, N.Y., from Texas, at the re quest of Thomas Didio. During midsummer 1977, Didio loyalists Samuel Campanella and James Canarozza were added to the list of persons allowed to visit with Frank Valenti, with the notation “to be allowed only when ac companied by Stanley Valenti.” During approximately the same pe riod, Gingello loyalist John Fiorino visited the imprisoned mob bosses in jail. Reliable information reveals that by the late summer of 1977, the imprisoned former mob bosses had decided to cause the removal of Thomas Didio from his position of power. In September 1977, team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro and Dominic “Sonny” Celestino were confronted by a larger contin gent of team. A loyalists, including John Fiorino, Joseph Rossi, Thomas Taylor, and others not identified, at the Blue Gardenia Res taurant, Irondequoit, N.Y. At the direction of Gingello and the other imprisoned mob bosses, Didio and his followers were advised that they were “all done” and an altercation ensued. Didio, Vaccaro, and Celestino were severely beaten and ejected from the restaurant by the team A faction. Didio and his group were outnumbered and went into hiding. Almost coincidental with this incident, there were indications that Russotti, Piccarreto, Gingello, Marotta, and Marino might be released from jail due due to alleged discrepancies in witness testimony at their mur er trial. Commencing in October 1977 through January 1978, team B had almost daily clandestine meetings at the Vineyard Restaurant, Pitts ford, N.Y. These meetings were attended by Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro, Rosario “Ross” Chirico, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, William Barton, and a small number of other participants who remain un identified. One of the unidentified participants—described as a small, elderly man—when in attendance, virtually controlled the conduct of the meetings. When he raised his hand, everyone would stop speaking, and he would point or nod to the participants when he wanted them to voice their ideas or opinions. In December of 1977, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, William Barton, Angelo Vaccaro, and Thomas Didio attempted to place a remote con trol dynamite pipe bomb under the vehicle owned by team A member Joseph Rossi. While attempting to place the device, they were discovered by team A members, and a running gun battle erupted, including a high-speed car chase through the streets of Rochester. The explosive device fell off Rossi's vehicle and was later discovered and dismantled by a 12 year-old boy who subsequently reported finding the device to the police. - In late December 1977, team B member Rodney Starkweather ap proached Earl Merritt, a member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club and told Merritt that he was attempting to purchase quantities of ex plosives. Shortly thereafter, Merritt took Starkweather to the residence of Timothy Ryan in Auburn, N.Y., where Starkweather pur £ a quantity of Kinepak stick explosives and blasting caps from yan. Ryan, a member of the Hackers motorcycle club, acquired the Kine pak stick and blasting caps along with a Hell's Angels club member in Georgia and Tennessee, and brought them back to New York State. Kinepak stick is a binary explosive consisting of a two-part mix. The two parts do not constitute an explosive material until mixed to gether. Kinepak stick is not a regulated substance under the Federal Explosives Control Act of 1970, Public Law 91-452. In January 1978, team B members Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, Wil liam Barton, and Rodney Starkweather ambushed a vehicle containing team. A members Leonard Stebbins, Loren Piccarreto (son of Rene Piccarreto), and others unidentified. The vehicle was riddled by shot gun blasts and handgun fire but, miraculously, all occupants escaped Injury. £anuary 1978, the murder convictions of the imprisoned team A mobsters were reversed due to irregularities in trial testimony. Within weeks, Russotti, Piccarreto, Gingello, Marotta, and Marino were re leased from prison and returned to Rochester, N.Y., where they once again assumed leadership of an organization that was seriously divided and being subjected to outside influences. After the release of the team A hierarchy from prison, almost daily meetings were conducted by team B members in Rochester, N.Y. Pres ent at these meetings were team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, Rosario “Ross” Chirico, William Barton, Frank Frassetto, and Rodney Starkweather. It was during these meetings that the decision was made to kill Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello. Gingello was selected for elimination because of the following reasons:
ing reasons: A. Gingello was at one time a favorite protege of Frank Valenti, and his position within the organization was enhanced by this relation ship. Valenti's influence was responsible for Gingello's quick rise through the ranks to the position of “capo.” Frank Valenti was greatly upset when he became aware that Gingello was one of the individuals responsible for the confrontation which forced him into retirement. B. Thomas Didio and Stanley Valenti were aware that although relatively new as an underboss, Gingello had successfully succeeded in uniting various factions of the organizations. As a result of his per sonality and generosity to his underlings, Gingello commanded the loyalty of his subordinates. The untimely death of Gingello would create dissension within the team A ranks. C. Gingello was a highly visible and readily identified member of organized crime in Rochester, N.Y. He reveled in playing the role of the “top mobster” in Rochester and surrounded himself with attrac tive women and bodyguards. Gingello spent lavishly and was chauf feured about in expensive cars, unconcerned that he was identified publicly as an upper echelon organized crime member. It was the con sensus of opinion among team B that killing Gingello would most impress upon the gamblers and operators of illicit enterprises the courage and determination of the team B faction to retain control of the organization.
D. Individually, many of the team B members had personal motives for seeking the death of Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello. Rosario “Ross” Chirico was the brother of Dominic Chirico, who was killed at the direction of Gingello in 1972. Anthony Chirico, the son of Rosario Chirico, was the nephew of Dominic Chirico. Angelo Vaccaro sponsored both Dominic and Rosario Chirico upon their entry into the organization and had strong personal ties to both men. At the direction of Gingello, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino had been beaten and ejected from the mob by Gingello in 1974, and was not allowed back into the organization until Thomas Didio assumed control. Team B was unable to get sufficiently close to Gingello to enable them to effect his murder by conventional means (that is, gun or knife). Due to this problem, it was determined that explosives would have to be utilized and by constructing a device that could be remotely detonated, the team B members could remain far enough away to go undetected by Gingello or his bodyguards. Among schemes proposed was a plan wher:y team B would secrete a remote control explosive device in a child's toy, such as a “big wheel,” and leave it on the walkway of Gingello's apartment. Upon seeing Gingello leave the premises and approach the toy, the device would be remotely detonated. This plan was abandoned for fear that a child might walk off with the toy and team B would lose the bomb. The concern for safety of the child was not paramount, but the loss of the device was inexcusable. Due to the expense of manufacturing the remote control device (the component electronic equipment cost in excess of $350) the technical expertise required to modify the transmitter and receiver, and the scarcity of explosives, team B could not afford to lose any remote controlled explosive devices. Another plan which was formulated involved lowering a remotely controlled device down the chimney of the Gingello apartment, and detonating it when Gingello was present. At the last moment, it was discovered that the Gingello apartment did not have a chimney into which a device could be lowered. - Also considered was filling a traffic cone with explosives and re motely detonating it when Gingello's vehicle approached. This plan was apparently abandoned because the possibility of damaging the car, but not killing Gingello, existed. During February and April 1978, five unsuccessful attempts to kill Gingello by means of explosives were made. Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello was known to frequent the Blue Gardenia restaurant in Iron dequoit, N.Y., which was located in a busy suburban shopping center. Team B members hid remotely controlled devices in snowbanks sur rounding the restaurant, with the intention of detonating the bombs as Gingello approached the premises. On two occasions Gingello failed to show up, and on the other occasion the devices failed to detonate. On or about February 24, 1978, team B members Didio, Vaccaro, Celestino, Barton, and Frasseto devised and attempted to carry out a plan to kill Gingello inside the Blue Gardenia restaurant. Frank Frassetto (who was not at that time identified as a team B member) entered the restaurant carrying a remotely controlled pipe bomb inside an attaché case. After determining that Gingello was present, Frassetto was to go to the pay phone inside the restaurant and Gingello was present. Frassetto would then leave the attaché case by the tele phone and proceed to the bar area of the restaurant. Barton would then place a call to Celestino, Didio, and Vaccaro, who were at a pay phone near the shopping plaza and could observe the front of the Blue Gardenia restaurant. Barton would advise the other team B members that Gingello was in the restaurant and they in turn would prepare to remotely detonate the explosives from the parking lot. Barton was then to call the pay phone at the Blue Gardenia res taurant and ask for Gingello. Frassetto, upon observing Gingello approach the telephone, would then leave the premises as a signal for his cohorts to detonate the device which was left by the phone booth in the attaché case. If this plan proved successful, numerous patrons and employees of the restaurant would have been killed or severely injured upon the detonation of the device. The plan, however, failed to work because when Frassetto at tempted to telephone Barton, he consistently got a busy signal. It was later determined that this was due to Barton having an extended con versation on the telephone with his girlfriend. In late February 1978, team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vac caro, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, William Barton, Frank Frassetto, and Rodney Starkweather met with Stanley Valenti at his residence in Victor, N.Y. The discussion centered around the fact that there would be no ac tive involvement of other organized crime families in the current power struggle between team A and team B, but that if team B emerged vic torious, they would have the support of organized crime interests in Pittsburgh, Pa. On March 2, 1978, team B, returning to less elaborate plans, planted a remotely controlled device in a snowbank in front of the Blue Gar denia restaurant. Frank Frassetto was in the parking lot of the shop ping center, with Dominic “Sonny” Celestino secreted in the trunk of the vehicle with the remote radio signaling device required to detonate the explosives. A hole had been drilled in the trunk of Frassetto's car so that the antenna for the radio device could be extended outside the vehicle to insure detonation of the device. Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello arrived at the Blue Gardenia in a vehicle operated by John Fiorino. Stepping in front of the restaurant, Gingello got out and approached the front door, at which time Celes tino detonated the explosive device. Due to the manner in which the device was placed, Gingello was blown into the air but miraculously escaped serious injury. Shrapnel from the device caused damage to the front of the restaurant and adjoining buildings. After this incident, Rodney Starkweather was directed by the other team B members to secure more explosives. Starkweather traveled to Auburn, N.Y., and purchased another quantity of blasting caps and Kinepak stick from Timothy Ryan. In late March 1978, team B members Didio, Vaccaro, Celestino, Frassetto, and Starkweather met with Stanley Valenti at his residence in Rochester, N.Y. Stanley Valenti advised them that his brother, Frank Valenti, would be released from jail soon, and that “Rochester should be ready when Frank gets out.”
Also discussed at this meeting was the group's displeasure with co conspirator William Barton, who had been excluded from the meeting. The team B members were upset about Barton's absence from recent meetings, and his apparent propensity to foul up their attempts to kill Gingello. Additionally, it was believed that Barton had contacted Gin gello and attempted to ingratiate himself with him. The team B members feared that Barton would identify Frank Frassetto as a team B member, and divulge the participation of Stan ley Valenti in the conspiracy. A vote was taken, and it was recom mended that William Barton be killed. This task was assigned to Rodney Starkweather. During March and the early part of April 1978, team B members Didio, Celestino, Vaccaro, and Frassetto made trips to West Virginia for the purpose of acquiring explosives. In the early morning hours of April 23, 1978, team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, and Frank Frassetto placed a remote control device under Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello's vehicle, which was parked in a lot in front of Ben's Cafe Society, Main and Stillson Streets, Rochester, N.Y. At approximately 2:30 a.m., Gingello and his two team. A bodyguards, Thomas Taylor and Thomas Torpey, returned to the vehicle. As Gingello and his associates entered the vehicle, the device was remotely detonated and the resulting explosion completely destroyed the ve hicle and caused damage to surrounding vehicles and business loca tions. The force of the explosion amputated Gingello's right leg and nearly severed the left leg at the thigh. Within 20 minutes, Gingello died at Genesee Hospital as a result of the severe injuries suffered in the explosion. Thomas Tyler and Thomas Torpey suffered less ex tensive injuries. The following day Dominic “Sonny” Celestino was reputed to have stated that if he had placed the bomb properly, he would have “gotten all three of them bastards.” Within days after the death of Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello, team B member Dominic “Sonny” Celestino met with team. A repre sentatives at Lloyd's Restaurant, Rochester, N.Y., in an attempt to negotiate a settlement between the two opposing factions. Apparently unhappy with the outcome of the meeting, Celestino and the other team B members decided to embark on a bombing campaign directed at gambling establishments operated by team A. It was believed that if the team A gambling establishments could be closed down, the resulting loss in revenue would require team A to settle their differences with team B. To further terrorize team A, Starkweather offered to furnish Ryan a dirt bike, bulletproof vest, and hand grenades, if Ryan would ride the motorcycle on the sidewalk and throw the grenades through the window of T. & T. Talent, 253 Lyell Avenue. T. & T. Talent is a theatrical booking agency operated by team A members Marvin Pizzo and Thomas Torpey. Starkweather said he would pay Ryan $1,000, but Ryan refused the offer. On or about May 11, 1979, team B member Anthony Chirico broke into an explosives magazine at Genesee Explosives, Rochester, N.Y., and stole a quantity of explosives. These explosives were delivered to Dominic “Sonnv” Celestino and Frank Frassetto, at the Frassetto resi dence, Greece, N.Y. and Bates threw a pipe bomb through the window of a team A gamblin establishment located at 1264–1266 Clifford Avenue, Rochester, £ Although the club was full of patrons when the pipe bomb detonated, there were no reported injuries. On the evening of May 21, 1978, team B members Celestino, Fras setto and Starkweather placed a time bomb near the entrance of a team A gambling establishment located at 1455 University Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. This device detonated at about 5:30 a.m. on May 22, 1978, while the club was in operation and full of patrons. No personal injuries were reported, but extensive damage was done to the exterior and interior of the building. On May 25, 1978, team B member Rosario “Ross” Chirico, while driving his vehicle near his residence, was fired upon by a sniper with a high-powered rifle. Chirico was only superficially wounded. The sniper escaped through a wooded area on a motorcycle. On June 6, 1978, team B members Celestino, Frassetto, Chirico and Starkweather decided to place another device in the team A gambling establishment at 1264–1266 Clifford Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. After a few aborted attempts to break into the basement of the premises, entry was finally gained and a timed device was placed in the basement directly under the office area of the operator of the club. This device apparently malfunctioned, and failed to detonate. On June 7, 1978, team B members Celestino, Frassetto, and Starkweather returned to the premises and placed a second timed device next to the device they had placed the night before. On June 8, 1978, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the second device detonated, causing an immediate sympathetic detonation of the orig inal device. The blast caused a volume of debris and shards of glass to fly into a busy intersection shortly before scores of schoolchildren were to be excused from a nearby grade school. Extensive damage was caused to the building, which contained commercial space on the street level and occupied apartments on the second floor. The structural damage done to the building was so severe that the building was immediately condemned. A number of occupants in the gambling establishment were injured. On June 18, 1978, local police officers conducting surveillances of team A and team B members in an attempt to curtail the violent bomb ings, observed team B members Dominic “Sonny” Celestino and Frank Frassetto in a vehicle. A surveillance was initiated, but apparently the police vehicles were spotted. The vehicle operated by Frassetto at tempted to elude the surveilling officers and a high-speed chase ensued. The vehicle was finally halted, and Frassetto and Celestino were ar rested for illegal possession of weapons, which were found in the car. A sawed-off M-1 carbine was recovered along the route of the chase, and it is assumed that the firearm was thrown out of the vehicle by Frassetto and Celestino. As a result of Frassetto's arrest, ATF special agents initiated a neighborhood canvass in the vicinity of the Frassetto residence. Neighbors told investigators bizarre stories of unusual activities in and around the Frassetto residence. Carloads of men were seen en tering the house at all hours of the day and night. A mysterious “WisePotato Chip” truck would appear at the residence from time to time, and men wearing brown gloves would remove and place items into the truck. A New York State transporter license plate was frequently switched from the Wise Potato Chip truck to numerous other passen ger vehicles. Men apparently not related to the Frassettos would live at the residence for periods of time. Investigation subsequently identified the Frassetto residence as a focal point of team B activity. Numerous meetings were held there, and most of the explosive devices were manufactured in the basement. Prior to Frassetto's identification with team B, other team B members utilized his residence as a hideout. The neighbors expressed great concern for their safety, due to Fras setto's apparent organized crime connections and the unusual ac tivity around the Frassetto residence, and many were reticent to co operate with authorities. One family was so concerned for their safety that after testifying before a Federal grand jury, they sold their house and moved to a distant State. ATF agents located the Wise Potato Chip truck parked at a nearby service station. Suspecting that the vehicle was used to hide the illegal cache of team B explosives and firearms, a 24-hour surveillance of the truck was immediately initiated. On June 28, 1978, after observing no activity around the suspect vehicle, special agents contacted the service station owner in the hope that this action would prompt team B to react. Within a few hours Betti Frassetto, wife of team B member Frank Frassetto, arrived at the gas station and attempted to move the truck. Unfortunately, the service station personnel could not find the keys for the vehicle and Betti Frassetto left. A short time later, team B members Anthony Chirico and Rodney Starkweather appeared at the gas station and surreptitiously removed from the truck a beer cooler and secreted it in the £ grass close to 8, £ nursing home. Chirico and Starkweather then returned to their vehicle and left the area, followed by an ATF surveillance team. Other special agents inspected the contents of the beer cooler and found it to contain a large quantity of explosives, blasting caps, timing mechanisms, batteries, remote radio transmitting devices and other miscellaneous component parts used to construct explosive devices. ATF agents then arrested Rodney Starkweather and Anthony Chirico for violation of Federal explosives and firearm laws. Under the front seat of the vehicle they occupied were fully loaded hand guns. It should be noted that no further bombings occurred after the seizure of explosives and related items in the Wise Potato Chip truck. As the investigation continued, Timothy Ryan was developed as a suspect in connection with furnishing explosives to Starkweather. Ex tensive attempts to locate Ryan failed, until it was learned that a $10,000 contract had been put out for the death of Timothy Ryan. Ryan subsequently cooperated with the authorities and was relocated into the Federal witness security program. Information was also developed that Gary Haak may have been involved in the construction of the devices used in the bombings. Haak, a former business associate of Rosario “Ross” Chirico, was located and interviewed, but denied any knowledge of the bombing incidents. machinegunned to death at the Exit 45 Motel, Victor, N.Y. A short distance from the scene of the homicide, a Thompson submachinegun and two sawed-off shotguns were recovered. The Thompson was identified as the firearm used to kill Didio, and it is assumed that the three weapons had been abandoned by the perpetrators of the homicide. Near Didio's body in the motel room was a loaded handgun which he apparently was attempting to reach when he was gunned down. On July 30, 1978, team B member Rodney Starkweather, who was out on bail on the pending Federal charges, was ambushed by two unidentified men wearing ski masks who approached him on a dark street and shot him three times. Starkweather was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital in serious condition and eventually recovered from his wounds. The attempt on his life, and the awareness of the Govern ment's case against him, convinced Starkweather to provide testimony against his coconspirators. Starkweather subsequently pled guilty to pending Federal charges and was relocated into the Federal witness Security program. Continued investigation determined the involvement of James Bates as a coconspirator with other team B members. Bates subsequently agreed to cooperate with authorities and render truthful testimony concerning his knowledge of team B activities. Bates pled guilty to Federal charges and was relocated in the Federal witness security program. On August 29, 1978, ATF special agents executed a Federal search warrant at Trolley Collision, 5 Fromm Place, Rochester, N.Y., an auto collision shop operated by team B members Rosario “Ross” Chirico and his son, Anthony Chirico. Seized at the premises were a firearm silencer, literature on how to manufacture firearms silencers, assorted firearms, a quantity of safety fuse, and miscellaneous component parts utilized in the construction of destructive devices. On March 14, 1979, officers of the Gates Police Department observed a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of the residence of Angelo “Oskie” DeMarco. DeMarco, operator of one of the team A gambling establish ments, had cooperated with Federal authorities in the bombing investi gation. As police officers approached, the vehicle left the scene at a high rate of speed and a chase ensued. The vehicle was eventually apprehended and the two occupants were identified as team A mem. bers Anthony Oliveri and Anthony Columbo.
Retracing the route of the chase, police officers recovered a sawed-off shotgun, a loaded handgun, a ski mask and a pair of black leather gloves. Neither Oliveri nor Columbo had any identification on their person. It was later determined that the vehicle that they were oper ating was fictitiously registered, in that the person to whom the vehicle was registered is nonexistent. It is speculated that Angelo “Oskie” DeMarco was slated to be killed as a result of his cooperation with Federal authorities. On April 12, 1979, team B members William “Billy” Barton, Anthony Chirico, Rosario “Ross” Chirico, Dominic “Sonny”Celestino, Frank Frassetto, Angelo Vaccaro, Stanley Valenti, and Betti Fressetto were named in a 14-count Federal indictment: The indictment alleged violations of Federal firearms, explosives and con spiracy statutes. Additionally, certain defendants were charged with RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) violations. On September 10, 1979, defendant Stanley Valenti was granted a severance from trial due to ill health. On January 8, 1980, the trial of team B defendants commenced be fore Hon. Lloyd F. MacMahon, in Federal Court, Rochester, N.Y. On January 30, 1980, the jury returned a guilty verdict against all defendants for all counts of the indictment. On March 11, 1980, Hon. Lloyd F. MacMahon sentenced William Barton to 10 years imprisonment; Anthony Chirico to 15 years im prisonment; Rosario “Ross” Chirico to 25 years imprisonment; Dominic “Sonny” Celestino to 30 years imprisonment; Frank Frassetto to 30 years imprisonment; Angelo Vaccaro to 25 years imprisonment; and Betti Frassetto to 2 years imprisonment. Rodney Starkweather and James Bates, who testified at the trial against their coconspirators, are currently pending sentencing.
CHRONOLOGY OF A MOB WAR
On January 14, 1977, Samuel “Red” Russotti, Rene Piccarreto, Sal vatore “Sammy G” Gingello, Richard Marino, Thomas Marotta, and Eugene DeFrancesco, upper echelon members of organized crime in Rochester, N.Y., were imprisoned for 25 years to life as a result of their conviction in Monroe County Court for the November 23, 1973, murder of Vincent “Jimmy the Hammer” Massaro. The incarceration of these individuals resulted in a virtual elimination of all vestiges of leadership in the Rochester mob. Thomas Didio, a bodyguard, chauffeur, and confidant of Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello, and a cousin of Thomas Marotta, was placed in control of the operation by Samuel “Red” Russotti and Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello. Didio, previously a soldier under Thomas Ma rotta, was known primarily for his intimidating size and slow wit. It was believed that Didio's blood relationship to Thomas Marotta would insure that the wives and families of the defendants would be pro vided for, and that Didio's allegedly limited mental capacity would allow the defendants to control Didio, and the organized crime opera tion, from their jail cells. Once in power, Didio did not prove receptive to orders from Russotti, Piccarreto, or Gingello. Didio did not provide financial support for the defendants' families, despite his relationship to Marotta. Orga nized crime members loyal to Russotti and Gingello were reduced in Status and removed from union positions and no-show jobs by Didio. This caused a great deal of resentment and dissension within the Organization. In the spring of 1977, a fund-raising event was held for the benefit of the imprisoned mob leaders. It is alleged that Didio diverted a large sum of the money raised for his personal use. Sensing the discontent within the organization, Thomas Didio sought counsel with Stanley Valenti, and through him received guidance from Frank Valenti, who was incarcerated at the Springfield Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield, Mo. It is believed that the Valentis viewed the current circumstances as an opportunity to regain control of the Rochester organized crime operations. In July 1977, Angelo Vaccaro returned to Rochester, N.Y., from Texas, at the re quest of Thomas Didio. During midsummer 1977, Didio loyalists Samuel Campanella and James Canarozza were added to the list of persons allowed to visit with Frank Valenti, with the notation “to be allowed only when ac companied by Stanley Valenti.” During approximately the same pe riod, Gingello loyalist John Fiorino visited the imprisoned mob bosses in jail. Reliable information reveals that by the late summer of 1977, the imprisoned former mob bosses had decided to cause the removal of Thomas Didio from his position of power. In September 1977, team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro and Dominic “Sonny” Celestino were confronted by a larger contin gent of team. A loyalists, including John Fiorino, Joseph Rossi, Thomas Taylor, and others not identified, at the Blue Gardenia Res taurant, Irondequoit, N.Y. At the direction of Gingello and the other imprisoned mob bosses, Didio and his followers were advised that they were “all done” and an altercation ensued. Didio, Vaccaro, and Celestino were severely beaten and ejected from the restaurant by the team A faction. Didio and his group were outnumbered and went into hiding. Almost coincidental with this incident, there were indications that Russotti, Piccarreto, Gingello, Marotta, and Marino might be released from jail due due to alleged discrepancies in witness testimony at their mur er trial. Commencing in October 1977 through January 1978, team B had almost daily clandestine meetings at the Vineyard Restaurant, Pitts ford, N.Y. These meetings were attended by Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro, Rosario “Ross” Chirico, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, William Barton, and a small number of other participants who remain un identified. One of the unidentified participants—described as a small, elderly man—when in attendance, virtually controlled the conduct of the meetings. When he raised his hand, everyone would stop speaking, and he would point or nod to the participants when he wanted them to voice their ideas or opinions. In December of 1977, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, William Barton, Angelo Vaccaro, and Thomas Didio attempted to place a remote con trol dynamite pipe bomb under the vehicle owned by team A member Joseph Rossi. While attempting to place the device, they were discovered by team A members, and a running gun battle erupted, including a high-speed car chase through the streets of Rochester. The explosive device fell off Rossi's vehicle and was later discovered and dismantled by a 12 year-old boy who subsequently reported finding the device to the police. - In late December 1977, team B member Rodney Starkweather ap proached Earl Merritt, a member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club and told Merritt that he was attempting to purchase quantities of ex plosives. Shortly thereafter, Merritt took Starkweather to the residence of Timothy Ryan in Auburn, N.Y., where Starkweather pur £ a quantity of Kinepak stick explosives and blasting caps from yan. Ryan, a member of the Hackers motorcycle club, acquired the Kine pak stick and blasting caps along with a Hell's Angels club member in Georgia and Tennessee, and brought them back to New York State. Kinepak stick is a binary explosive consisting of a two-part mix. The two parts do not constitute an explosive material until mixed to gether. Kinepak stick is not a regulated substance under the Federal Explosives Control Act of 1970, Public Law 91-452. In January 1978, team B members Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, Wil liam Barton, and Rodney Starkweather ambushed a vehicle containing team. A members Leonard Stebbins, Loren Piccarreto (son of Rene Piccarreto), and others unidentified. The vehicle was riddled by shot gun blasts and handgun fire but, miraculously, all occupants escaped Injury. £anuary 1978, the murder convictions of the imprisoned team A mobsters were reversed due to irregularities in trial testimony. Within weeks, Russotti, Piccarreto, Gingello, Marotta, and Marino were re leased from prison and returned to Rochester, N.Y., where they once again assumed leadership of an organization that was seriously divided and being subjected to outside influences. After the release of the team A hierarchy from prison, almost daily meetings were conducted by team B members in Rochester, N.Y. Pres ent at these meetings were team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, Rosario “Ross” Chirico, William Barton, Frank Frassetto, and Rodney Starkweather. It was during these meetings that the decision was made to kill Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello. Gingello was selected for elimination because of the following reasons:
ing reasons: A. Gingello was at one time a favorite protege of Frank Valenti, and his position within the organization was enhanced by this relation ship. Valenti's influence was responsible for Gingello's quick rise through the ranks to the position of “capo.” Frank Valenti was greatly upset when he became aware that Gingello was one of the individuals responsible for the confrontation which forced him into retirement. B. Thomas Didio and Stanley Valenti were aware that although relatively new as an underboss, Gingello had successfully succeeded in uniting various factions of the organizations. As a result of his per sonality and generosity to his underlings, Gingello commanded the loyalty of his subordinates. The untimely death of Gingello would create dissension within the team A ranks. C. Gingello was a highly visible and readily identified member of organized crime in Rochester, N.Y. He reveled in playing the role of the “top mobster” in Rochester and surrounded himself with attrac tive women and bodyguards. Gingello spent lavishly and was chauf feured about in expensive cars, unconcerned that he was identified publicly as an upper echelon organized crime member. It was the con sensus of opinion among team B that killing Gingello would most impress upon the gamblers and operators of illicit enterprises the courage and determination of the team B faction to retain control of the organization.
D. Individually, many of the team B members had personal motives for seeking the death of Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello. Rosario “Ross” Chirico was the brother of Dominic Chirico, who was killed at the direction of Gingello in 1972. Anthony Chirico, the son of Rosario Chirico, was the nephew of Dominic Chirico. Angelo Vaccaro sponsored both Dominic and Rosario Chirico upon their entry into the organization and had strong personal ties to both men. At the direction of Gingello, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino had been beaten and ejected from the mob by Gingello in 1974, and was not allowed back into the organization until Thomas Didio assumed control. Team B was unable to get sufficiently close to Gingello to enable them to effect his murder by conventional means (that is, gun or knife). Due to this problem, it was determined that explosives would have to be utilized and by constructing a device that could be remotely detonated, the team B members could remain far enough away to go undetected by Gingello or his bodyguards. Among schemes proposed was a plan wher:y team B would secrete a remote control explosive device in a child's toy, such as a “big wheel,” and leave it on the walkway of Gingello's apartment. Upon seeing Gingello leave the premises and approach the toy, the device would be remotely detonated. This plan was abandoned for fear that a child might walk off with the toy and team B would lose the bomb. The concern for safety of the child was not paramount, but the loss of the device was inexcusable. Due to the expense of manufacturing the remote control device (the component electronic equipment cost in excess of $350) the technical expertise required to modify the transmitter and receiver, and the scarcity of explosives, team B could not afford to lose any remote controlled explosive devices. Another plan which was formulated involved lowering a remotely controlled device down the chimney of the Gingello apartment, and detonating it when Gingello was present. At the last moment, it was discovered that the Gingello apartment did not have a chimney into which a device could be lowered. - Also considered was filling a traffic cone with explosives and re motely detonating it when Gingello's vehicle approached. This plan was apparently abandoned because the possibility of damaging the car, but not killing Gingello, existed. During February and April 1978, five unsuccessful attempts to kill Gingello by means of explosives were made. Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello was known to frequent the Blue Gardenia restaurant in Iron dequoit, N.Y., which was located in a busy suburban shopping center. Team B members hid remotely controlled devices in snowbanks sur rounding the restaurant, with the intention of detonating the bombs as Gingello approached the premises. On two occasions Gingello failed to show up, and on the other occasion the devices failed to detonate. On or about February 24, 1978, team B members Didio, Vaccaro, Celestino, Barton, and Frasseto devised and attempted to carry out a plan to kill Gingello inside the Blue Gardenia restaurant. Frank Frassetto (who was not at that time identified as a team B member) entered the restaurant carrying a remotely controlled pipe bomb inside an attaché case. After determining that Gingello was present, Frassetto was to go to the pay phone inside the restaurant and Gingello was present. Frassetto would then leave the attaché case by the tele phone and proceed to the bar area of the restaurant. Barton would then place a call to Celestino, Didio, and Vaccaro, who were at a pay phone near the shopping plaza and could observe the front of the Blue Gardenia restaurant. Barton would advise the other team B members that Gingello was in the restaurant and they in turn would prepare to remotely detonate the explosives from the parking lot. Barton was then to call the pay phone at the Blue Gardenia res taurant and ask for Gingello. Frassetto, upon observing Gingello approach the telephone, would then leave the premises as a signal for his cohorts to detonate the device which was left by the phone booth in the attaché case. If this plan proved successful, numerous patrons and employees of the restaurant would have been killed or severely injured upon the detonation of the device. The plan, however, failed to work because when Frassetto at tempted to telephone Barton, he consistently got a busy signal. It was later determined that this was due to Barton having an extended con versation on the telephone with his girlfriend. In late February 1978, team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vac caro, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, William Barton, Frank Frassetto, and Rodney Starkweather met with Stanley Valenti at his residence in Victor, N.Y. The discussion centered around the fact that there would be no ac tive involvement of other organized crime families in the current power struggle between team A and team B, but that if team B emerged vic torious, they would have the support of organized crime interests in Pittsburgh, Pa. On March 2, 1978, team B, returning to less elaborate plans, planted a remotely controlled device in a snowbank in front of the Blue Gar denia restaurant. Frank Frassetto was in the parking lot of the shop ping center, with Dominic “Sonny” Celestino secreted in the trunk of the vehicle with the remote radio signaling device required to detonate the explosives. A hole had been drilled in the trunk of Frassetto's car so that the antenna for the radio device could be extended outside the vehicle to insure detonation of the device. Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello arrived at the Blue Gardenia in a vehicle operated by John Fiorino. Stepping in front of the restaurant, Gingello got out and approached the front door, at which time Celes tino detonated the explosive device. Due to the manner in which the device was placed, Gingello was blown into the air but miraculously escaped serious injury. Shrapnel from the device caused damage to the front of the restaurant and adjoining buildings. After this incident, Rodney Starkweather was directed by the other team B members to secure more explosives. Starkweather traveled to Auburn, N.Y., and purchased another quantity of blasting caps and Kinepak stick from Timothy Ryan. In late March 1978, team B members Didio, Vaccaro, Celestino, Frassetto, and Starkweather met with Stanley Valenti at his residence in Rochester, N.Y. Stanley Valenti advised them that his brother, Frank Valenti, would be released from jail soon, and that “Rochester should be ready when Frank gets out.”
Also discussed at this meeting was the group's displeasure with co conspirator William Barton, who had been excluded from the meeting. The team B members were upset about Barton's absence from recent meetings, and his apparent propensity to foul up their attempts to kill Gingello. Additionally, it was believed that Barton had contacted Gin gello and attempted to ingratiate himself with him. The team B members feared that Barton would identify Frank Frassetto as a team B member, and divulge the participation of Stan ley Valenti in the conspiracy. A vote was taken, and it was recom mended that William Barton be killed. This task was assigned to Rodney Starkweather. During March and the early part of April 1978, team B members Didio, Celestino, Vaccaro, and Frassetto made trips to West Virginia for the purpose of acquiring explosives. In the early morning hours of April 23, 1978, team B members Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro, Dominic “Sonny” Celestino, and Frank Frassetto placed a remote control device under Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello's vehicle, which was parked in a lot in front of Ben's Cafe Society, Main and Stillson Streets, Rochester, N.Y. At approximately 2:30 a.m., Gingello and his two team. A bodyguards, Thomas Taylor and Thomas Torpey, returned to the vehicle. As Gingello and his associates entered the vehicle, the device was remotely detonated and the resulting explosion completely destroyed the ve hicle and caused damage to surrounding vehicles and business loca tions. The force of the explosion amputated Gingello's right leg and nearly severed the left leg at the thigh. Within 20 minutes, Gingello died at Genesee Hospital as a result of the severe injuries suffered in the explosion. Thomas Tyler and Thomas Torpey suffered less ex tensive injuries. The following day Dominic “Sonny” Celestino was reputed to have stated that if he had placed the bomb properly, he would have “gotten all three of them bastards.” Within days after the death of Salvatore “Sammy G” Gingello, team B member Dominic “Sonny” Celestino met with team. A repre sentatives at Lloyd's Restaurant, Rochester, N.Y., in an attempt to negotiate a settlement between the two opposing factions. Apparently unhappy with the outcome of the meeting, Celestino and the other team B members decided to embark on a bombing campaign directed at gambling establishments operated by team A. It was believed that if the team A gambling establishments could be closed down, the resulting loss in revenue would require team A to settle their differences with team B. To further terrorize team A, Starkweather offered to furnish Ryan a dirt bike, bulletproof vest, and hand grenades, if Ryan would ride the motorcycle on the sidewalk and throw the grenades through the window of T. & T. Talent, 253 Lyell Avenue. T. & T. Talent is a theatrical booking agency operated by team A members Marvin Pizzo and Thomas Torpey. Starkweather said he would pay Ryan $1,000, but Ryan refused the offer. On or about May 11, 1979, team B member Anthony Chirico broke into an explosives magazine at Genesee Explosives, Rochester, N.Y., and stole a quantity of explosives. These explosives were delivered to Dominic “Sonnv” Celestino and Frank Frassetto, at the Frassetto resi dence, Greece, N.Y. and Bates threw a pipe bomb through the window of a team A gamblin establishment located at 1264–1266 Clifford Avenue, Rochester, £ Although the club was full of patrons when the pipe bomb detonated, there were no reported injuries. On the evening of May 21, 1978, team B members Celestino, Fras setto and Starkweather placed a time bomb near the entrance of a team A gambling establishment located at 1455 University Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. This device detonated at about 5:30 a.m. on May 22, 1978, while the club was in operation and full of patrons. No personal injuries were reported, but extensive damage was done to the exterior and interior of the building. On May 25, 1978, team B member Rosario “Ross” Chirico, while driving his vehicle near his residence, was fired upon by a sniper with a high-powered rifle. Chirico was only superficially wounded. The sniper escaped through a wooded area on a motorcycle. On June 6, 1978, team B members Celestino, Frassetto, Chirico and Starkweather decided to place another device in the team A gambling establishment at 1264–1266 Clifford Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. After a few aborted attempts to break into the basement of the premises, entry was finally gained and a timed device was placed in the basement directly under the office area of the operator of the club. This device apparently malfunctioned, and failed to detonate. On June 7, 1978, team B members Celestino, Frassetto, and Starkweather returned to the premises and placed a second timed device next to the device they had placed the night before. On June 8, 1978, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the second device detonated, causing an immediate sympathetic detonation of the orig inal device. The blast caused a volume of debris and shards of glass to fly into a busy intersection shortly before scores of schoolchildren were to be excused from a nearby grade school. Extensive damage was caused to the building, which contained commercial space on the street level and occupied apartments on the second floor. The structural damage done to the building was so severe that the building was immediately condemned. A number of occupants in the gambling establishment were injured. On June 18, 1978, local police officers conducting surveillances of team A and team B members in an attempt to curtail the violent bomb ings, observed team B members Dominic “Sonny” Celestino and Frank Frassetto in a vehicle. A surveillance was initiated, but apparently the police vehicles were spotted. The vehicle operated by Frassetto at tempted to elude the surveilling officers and a high-speed chase ensued. The vehicle was finally halted, and Frassetto and Celestino were ar rested for illegal possession of weapons, which were found in the car. A sawed-off M-1 carbine was recovered along the route of the chase, and it is assumed that the firearm was thrown out of the vehicle by Frassetto and Celestino. As a result of Frassetto's arrest, ATF special agents initiated a neighborhood canvass in the vicinity of the Frassetto residence. Neighbors told investigators bizarre stories of unusual activities in and around the Frassetto residence. Carloads of men were seen en tering the house at all hours of the day and night. A mysterious “WisePotato Chip” truck would appear at the residence from time to time, and men wearing brown gloves would remove and place items into the truck. A New York State transporter license plate was frequently switched from the Wise Potato Chip truck to numerous other passen ger vehicles. Men apparently not related to the Frassettos would live at the residence for periods of time. Investigation subsequently identified the Frassetto residence as a focal point of team B activity. Numerous meetings were held there, and most of the explosive devices were manufactured in the basement. Prior to Frassetto's identification with team B, other team B members utilized his residence as a hideout. The neighbors expressed great concern for their safety, due to Fras setto's apparent organized crime connections and the unusual ac tivity around the Frassetto residence, and many were reticent to co operate with authorities. One family was so concerned for their safety that after testifying before a Federal grand jury, they sold their house and moved to a distant State. ATF agents located the Wise Potato Chip truck parked at a nearby service station. Suspecting that the vehicle was used to hide the illegal cache of team B explosives and firearms, a 24-hour surveillance of the truck was immediately initiated. On June 28, 1978, after observing no activity around the suspect vehicle, special agents contacted the service station owner in the hope that this action would prompt team B to react. Within a few hours Betti Frassetto, wife of team B member Frank Frassetto, arrived at the gas station and attempted to move the truck. Unfortunately, the service station personnel could not find the keys for the vehicle and Betti Frassetto left. A short time later, team B members Anthony Chirico and Rodney Starkweather appeared at the gas station and surreptitiously removed from the truck a beer cooler and secreted it in the £ grass close to 8, £ nursing home. Chirico and Starkweather then returned to their vehicle and left the area, followed by an ATF surveillance team. Other special agents inspected the contents of the beer cooler and found it to contain a large quantity of explosives, blasting caps, timing mechanisms, batteries, remote radio transmitting devices and other miscellaneous component parts used to construct explosive devices. ATF agents then arrested Rodney Starkweather and Anthony Chirico for violation of Federal explosives and firearm laws. Under the front seat of the vehicle they occupied were fully loaded hand guns. It should be noted that no further bombings occurred after the seizure of explosives and related items in the Wise Potato Chip truck. As the investigation continued, Timothy Ryan was developed as a suspect in connection with furnishing explosives to Starkweather. Ex tensive attempts to locate Ryan failed, until it was learned that a $10,000 contract had been put out for the death of Timothy Ryan. Ryan subsequently cooperated with the authorities and was relocated into the Federal witness security program. Information was also developed that Gary Haak may have been involved in the construction of the devices used in the bombings. Haak, a former business associate of Rosario “Ross” Chirico, was located and interviewed, but denied any knowledge of the bombing incidents. machinegunned to death at the Exit 45 Motel, Victor, N.Y. A short distance from the scene of the homicide, a Thompson submachinegun and two sawed-off shotguns were recovered. The Thompson was identified as the firearm used to kill Didio, and it is assumed that the three weapons had been abandoned by the perpetrators of the homicide. Near Didio's body in the motel room was a loaded handgun which he apparently was attempting to reach when he was gunned down. On July 30, 1978, team B member Rodney Starkweather, who was out on bail on the pending Federal charges, was ambushed by two unidentified men wearing ski masks who approached him on a dark street and shot him three times. Starkweather was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital in serious condition and eventually recovered from his wounds. The attempt on his life, and the awareness of the Govern ment's case against him, convinced Starkweather to provide testimony against his coconspirators. Starkweather subsequently pled guilty to pending Federal charges and was relocated into the Federal witness Security program. Continued investigation determined the involvement of James Bates as a coconspirator with other team B members. Bates subsequently agreed to cooperate with authorities and render truthful testimony concerning his knowledge of team B activities. Bates pled guilty to Federal charges and was relocated in the Federal witness security program. On August 29, 1978, ATF special agents executed a Federal search warrant at Trolley Collision, 5 Fromm Place, Rochester, N.Y., an auto collision shop operated by team B members Rosario “Ross” Chirico and his son, Anthony Chirico. Seized at the premises were a firearm silencer, literature on how to manufacture firearms silencers, assorted firearms, a quantity of safety fuse, and miscellaneous component parts utilized in the construction of destructive devices. On March 14, 1979, officers of the Gates Police Department observed a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of the residence of Angelo “Oskie” DeMarco. DeMarco, operator of one of the team A gambling establish ments, had cooperated with Federal authorities in the bombing investi gation. As police officers approached, the vehicle left the scene at a high rate of speed and a chase ensued. The vehicle was eventually apprehended and the two occupants were identified as team A mem. bers Anthony Oliveri and Anthony Columbo.
Retracing the route of the chase, police officers recovered a sawed-off shotgun, a loaded handgun, a ski mask and a pair of black leather gloves. Neither Oliveri nor Columbo had any identification on their person. It was later determined that the vehicle that they were oper ating was fictitiously registered, in that the person to whom the vehicle was registered is nonexistent. It is speculated that Angelo “Oskie” DeMarco was slated to be killed as a result of his cooperation with Federal authorities. On April 12, 1979, team B members William “Billy” Barton, Anthony Chirico, Rosario “Ross” Chirico, Dominic “Sonny”Celestino, Frank Frassetto, Angelo Vaccaro, Stanley Valenti, and Betti Fressetto were named in a 14-count Federal indictment: The indictment alleged violations of Federal firearms, explosives and con spiracy statutes. Additionally, certain defendants were charged with RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) violations. On September 10, 1979, defendant Stanley Valenti was granted a severance from trial due to ill health. On January 8, 1980, the trial of team B defendants commenced be fore Hon. Lloyd F. MacMahon, in Federal Court, Rochester, N.Y. On January 30, 1980, the jury returned a guilty verdict against all defendants for all counts of the indictment. On March 11, 1980, Hon. Lloyd F. MacMahon sentenced William Barton to 10 years imprisonment; Anthony Chirico to 15 years im prisonment; Rosario “Ross” Chirico to 25 years imprisonment; Dominic “Sonny” Celestino to 30 years imprisonment; Frank Frassetto to 30 years imprisonment; Angelo Vaccaro to 25 years imprisonment; and Betti Frassetto to 2 years imprisonment. Rodney Starkweather and James Bates, who testified at the trial against their coconspirators, are currently pending sentencing.