Search found 27 matches

by Lefty Ruggiero
Wed Feb 26, 2025 10:39 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: littleitaly
Replies: 20
Views: 2878

Re: littleitaly

I’ll be in nyc first time in a few months and am debating dinner in Bronx little Italy vs mulberry. Is it safe to assume mulberry is more touristy & Bronx is more authentic these days? Don’t give a shit about trying to spot wiseguys, just a good night out. The restaurants in the Bronx look good...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Thu Jan 09, 2025 10:05 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Black Hand Forum North American Conference
Replies: 55
Views: 9359

Re: Black Hand Forum North American Conference

I'd totally be down. I'm not a very active user here because I can't contribute as much as most but I love reading all of it and would love to meet some of the brains behind the forum. I'm in Chicago frequently for work too so it'll be easy for me to make time to get there. My only suggestion is to ...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:36 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Merlino Cheesesteak place burned
Replies: 57
Views: 11928

Re: Merlino Cheesesteak place burned

Merlino is the boss in Philly. The crap he pulled to get to the top only to supposedly step down and live an honest life. Give me a break. That smirk on his face says it all. And his clinical hatred of rats is another hint. He brags about doing time, never informing. And now he supposedly walks awa...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Tue Jun 04, 2024 7:44 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Merlino Cheesesteak place burned
Replies: 57
Views: 11928

Re: Merlino Cheesesteak place burned

SonnyBlackstein wrote: Thu May 23, 2024 4:48 pm Reported multiple molitov cocktails inside.

How do you fuck that up.
maybe they used plastic bottles :lol:
by Lefty Ruggiero
Tue Jun 04, 2024 7:42 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Some questions about the mob and cocaine during 1980s
Replies: 4
Views: 793

Re: Some questions about the mob and cocaine during 1980s

I think it's important to not overlook networks. A massive reason LCN was able to control heroin distro in the US was due to their networks with OC in Italy, and via those guys, the Corsican mob. They just had the connections to make that happen. As Scott mentioned, the SA cartels (and later Mexican...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Tue May 07, 2024 8:03 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Even the Italians are getting away from murdering people - the future of OC really is fraud
Replies: 12
Views: 1428

Re: Even the Italians are getting away from murdering people - the future of OC really is fraud

17 murders by the mafia in one year still sounds like a huge amount to me, being an American and everything. When was the last time the American Cosa Nostra killed 17 people in one year? Probably in the 80s or early 90s I guess, when all five families in New York would still often kill several peop...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Mon Jan 08, 2024 10:49 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Context on Ron Fino
Replies: 3
Views: 906

Re: Context on Ron Fino

Unrelated in the context of Fino but related in the sense of OG Pod - is Buccellato gone? Haven't seen him on any of the vids in quite a while. I did some googling but couldn't find anything.
by Lefty Ruggiero
Fri Dec 08, 2023 2:36 pm
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Could one more big RICO end the Philly/Merlino mob?
Replies: 4
Views: 8051

Re: Could one more big RICO end the Philly/Merlino mob?

Ivan wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:21 am
Beatty wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:47 am The real thing taking out the mob here is a demographic shift
Hipsters taking over South Philly, I take it?
That's a nice free-range chicken you got there. Would be a shame is someone fed it some GMO soy beans.
by Lefty Ruggiero
Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:50 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Gangland 12-7-2023
Replies: 65
Views: 220707

Re: Gangland 12-7-2023

At 68, he's got plenty of life to live and memories to be made. That shouldn't be the case for someone who took that exact right from 75+ people. What would have been honorable morally was for him to disclose the details of these murders so the families get closure. I'm sure the families are sicken...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:49 pm
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: How long was Merlino a made man before he took over the family via Natale?
Replies: 37
Views: 4951

Re: How long was Merlino a made man before he took over the family via Natale?

Merlino was inducted by Stanfa in September 1992. Then the war broke out in 1993 and Merlino went to prison for violating his parole. By the time he got out in November 1994, the Stanfa faction was all in prison and he and Natale had the backing of the Genovese and Gambino families to take over Phi...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:58 pm
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: How long was Merlino a made man before he took over the family via Natale?
Replies: 37
Views: 4951

How long was Merlino a made man before he took over the family via Natale?

They were at war with Stanfa before anyone in that crew was actually made, right? I wonder what their plan was had they been successful in getting rid of Stanfa. Anyway, who gave Natale his button? Merlino? Wouldn’t that mean he was the boss already? And then he installed Natale as a front boss? Tha...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Tue Sep 05, 2023 10:57 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Will a true Tampa mafia story be a Hollywood movie?
Replies: 6
Views: 502

Re: Will a true Tampa mafia story be a Hollywood movie?

I would love to see more mob movies made about families outside of NYC or about Irish gangsters in Boston. There's so much history all over the country that there's plenty of great stories to tell. Something that always drives me nuts is how EVERY mafioso in a movie sounds like they're from NYC. I g...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Thu Jun 29, 2023 11:27 am
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Ralph Balsamo has been keeping up to date of the Genovese Family thanks to google
Replies: 32
Views: 2500

Re: Ralph Balsamo has been keeping up to date of the Genovese Family thanks to google

Googling your own name and "mafia" or "organized crime" or "genovese crime family" AT ALL let alone on your own friggin' phone when they Feds have busted you once before and you know are on the look out to bust you again is some Ivy League brainpower if I've ever seen i...
by Lefty Ruggiero
Tue Jan 17, 2023 12:25 pm
Forum: MAFIA FORUM
Topic: Smaller Crime Family Mobsters' Homes
Replies: 320
Views: 19715

Re: Smaller Crime Family Mobsters' Homes

5878 Estelle St., San DIego, CA- Frank Bompensiero, San Diego https://www.trulia.com/p/ca/san-diego/5878-estelle-st-san-diego-ca-92115--2079835822?mid=19#lil-mediaTab (1946 home) 4417 Braeburn Rd., San Diego, CA- Frank Bompensiero, home in later years. https://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Diego/4417-Braeb...