THE BLACK HAND FORUM

I didn´t know where exctly to put this post so I put it in this section. Over on the old forum, there were talks about creating something like a "wiki page", directly linked and attached to this forum. On this "wiki page" certain members could post and edit the stories put up the...

JD, you say that the books were officially reopened in 1976. But what about Vincent Cafaro´s statement that he was made in 1974 with Patsy Genese? The only explanation of this would be that Cafaro (just like Michael Franzese) was wrong about the year. What is your opinion on this? In 1988 he said h...

Was Artuso one of the shooters on the Castellano hit?

I think he was one of the four designated shooters but he never fired any shots. I think his gun jammed or something? I could be wrong though.

Where does the "This is for you, Frank" line originally come from? A witness? Like a lot of the more famous stories from mob lore, I question how much of this hit attempt went down the way it's been described. I don't have anything that disagrees with the established story except gut feel...

Perhaps it was only meant as a warning? Frank had a lot of respect. I know you guys are going to say that it was wouldn't been a very risky shot but still... It's just a little too sloppy for someone who would continue to rise through the ranks all the way to becoming boss. I find it very hard to b...

Is it just me or do you guys also think that the botched hit on Frank Costello was extremely sloppy? - Vincent Gigante calls on Frank to get his attention before he shoots. (What a sneak up huh?) He fires only one shot and the bullet only grazes scalp of Costello. He does not fire a second shot but ...

Great stuff guy's. Thanks for the info. Didn't Casso also claim he was made in 1974? Pogo I think the Casso info on being made in 1974 comes from Philip Carlo´s awful book. A major part of it should not be taken seriously. I don´t know If it was Casso who told Carlo to write 1974 as the year of his...

Pogo, here´s some additions: Bonanno Family Dec 1976/very early Jan 1977 - Tony Mirra (Info from Tony Mirra´s FBI files) Genovese Family 1977 - Alexander Russo (Info from JD) Oct 1977 - Joseph Zito (Info frm JD) Gambino Family 1953 - Alfred Santantonio (Info from one document found on Mary Ferrell) ...

Both Philly Lucky and Gerry Lang were made in 1976. Not in the 1950s.

Finally parts of the audio recorded that day has been released! Thanks for posting this. Here is a near full transcript of the audio. Transcript of Mafia Induction Ceremony made by Sonny Mercurio This was taken from five hours' of tapes made by the FBI transmitted through a listening device planted ...

I know there is a document that can be found on Mary Ferrell saying that Genovese members Sabato and Napoli were made in 1967. But the informant who claimed this was most probably wrong. Both of them (Sabato and Napoli) were likely made in 1976. I doubt that any NY soldier were made in the 1960s. JD...

Philip "Philly Lucky" Giaccone also had a pretty fast rise. Two years after being made in 1976, Giaccone was part of a ruling panel, installed after Galante was sent to prison for parole violations. Another one would be Gerry Lang with the Colombos. He was made in 1976 and by 1981, he was ...

Do we know exactly when this ruling panel was installed? I mean, it could have been installed only temporary due to to Vernace´s legal troubles. It´s possible that Cefalu decided to step back (not step down) for a while because of Vernace´s indictment. A Family having a ruling panel and a fully func...

(This is an old post moved from the old forum. If any new info or new ideas pops up regarding this topic, please post it in this thread.) ...because I have been convinced that Lombardo was the official head of the Genovese family throughout the 1970s. I´m no longer convinced of this. Looking through...

(This is an old post moved from the old forum. If any new info or new ideas pops up regarding this topic, please post it in this thread.) By the looks of it, Mario Gigante does not seem to have been in the same crew once led by his famous brother Vincent. On September 16, 1980, an informant gave thi...