"Getting Pussy" -- the fall of Anthony Russo 1978-1979 (+Boiardo crew history)

[B.]

Anthony "Pussy" Russo is well-known as a soldier under captain Richie Boiardo, but was a major figure in his own right as the Genovese family's representative in Long Branch, NJ, holding influence throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties. He also traveled extensively and had dealings with members of other families in Florida and served as Boiardo's representative in Las Vegas. He shows up in a number of the infamous wiretaps of the 1960s, including Sam DeCavalcante's office bug as well as the DeCarlo tapes, showing extensive knowledge on the inner-workings of the Genovese family at the highest levels. He continued to be an aggressive player following his legal troubles in the 1970s and with the unpopular Tony Boiardo dying in April 1978 and other crew members like Andrew Gerardo stepping up to run the crew's main operations, Russo was able to continue operating with a large amount of autonomy, which may have contributed to his death.


- In June 1978, Anthony "Pussy" Russo visited Las Vegas where he had dinner with Anthony Spilotro for over three hours. The Genovese family were apparently partnering in Jackpot Casino as well as a sports book in a 50/50 split with Spilotro, along with investments in Jolly Trolley Casino and Honest John's Casino along with other casinos and two hotels. One of these may be the El Mirador Motel, which Russo later says "we bought" in a recorded conversation. Russo was in Las Vegas to, among other things, deliver and/or collect money and his brother John Russo in NJ was involved in sending money to Las Vegas during the visit. Other Russo associates involved in him with Las Vegas matters were Peter Delamos, Paul Bendetti, and Dennis Mastro, as well as Springfield Genovese soldier Cosmo "Pinky" Panarelli.

- Later Russo was recorded having a discussion with a corrupt police officer working under him. Russo gave money to the officer, Phil Leone, and told him that he would build himself up and that the Genovese family wouldn't "go to anyone but you", while Tony Spilotro had his own man in a similar role, detective Joe Blasco, described as "Tony's man." Russo also told Leone he would be seeing "the Boot" on the following Monday.

- Russo also "grabbed hold of" "Russ, Kelly, Louis Volpe, and them" regarding some situation seemingly related to the Aladdin casino. No doubt this is a reference to Kelly Mannarino and Volpe of Pittsburgh, and I assume Russell Bufalino. References are also made to "Fat Tony" being involved, no doubt a reference to Salerno, and earlier regarding another situation a "Tony" and "Matty" were mentioned regarding Vegas, possibly referring to Tony Spilotro, Salerno, or Provenzano and Matty Ianniello.

- Russo later tells Leone if "Somebody comes into town that's around us, I'll tell you" and uses the example of "Matty", telling Leone that if he can help "a guy like Matty", to "help him." He says, however, that a guy like Matty should have enough "common sense" to tell someone like Phil to stay away from him, assumably because of the heat it would bring a police officer like Leone.

- "Tony Pro" is mentioned, as Leone had apparently sought a favor from him and Russo says, "You can't get something for nothing from Pro." In context with this, a "Bobby" who is "with Matty" is mentioned and Russo says "Matty comes in and out." Russo had talked with Tony Pro in Florida, then when Russo was carrying "the package with the old man's money" he went to New York and then Florida, eventually speaking to "Bobby" and Tony, telling Tony that "we're getting the money." Russo told Tony he would "be back and I'll drop it off to you."

- Russo tells Leone about New Jersey, "when you're talking about the shore area, I'm there 40 years. I've been there with Vito. I brought Vito down." He goes on to clarify that he is talking about Ocean County and Monmouth County. I thought he was referring to Vito Genovese, but it is clarified he is talking about someone named Vito who works under him, which is surely Vito Montemarano. This Vito used to be a junkie "when he was a young kid" but apparently is a "good kid" at this time. Leone asked Russo about a Frank Gaspari in reference to Monmouth and Ocean counties and Russo says "Frank ain't there" but he "was there" and is "in Florida" now. Russo says he has the unions in Ocean County and Monmouth County.

- During this conversation Russo claims he doesn't drink, only that he "had vodka once." It's in context with a conversation about associate Paul Benetti being a degenerate gambler. He says Paul's father had been "with me and Gyp."

- During these discussions Russo stated that "Jimmy the Weasel supposed to be the Don Cheech of this crew" and says Jimmy Fratianno was a "made guy" but "never a boss" and had "destroyed that whole crew out in Cleveland." He also discussed the murder of a "Frank" LNU who was called to a phone both and then killed. Clearly a reference to the recently murdered Frank Bompensiero. He also says they were trying to kill Jimmy Fratianno in Florida which is why he "gave himself up, cause they were looking to whack him." He goes on to say that "Frank was an informant", which we know is true, but he also says "Jimmy White" in connection to cleveland was an informant. This must be a misheard or misspoken reference to Jimmy Fratianno and not Jack White Licavoli of Cleveland.

- During earlier intercepted conversations, the FBI states that Russo has referred to himself as the national emissary for the Genovese family. The FBI also stated that the Boiardo New Jersey faction of which Russo is a part "reports directly to the Genovese LCN family leadership in New York" concerning these national business interests, i.e. Nevada.

- In August 1978, Russo was approached by the FBI in Long Branch, NJ, and informed of the investigation into state crimes he was suspected of, including extortion and loansharking. The agents interviewing him also made him aware of the investigation into suspected Las Vegas crimes and directly referenced specific aspects of his alleged crimes, including "specific amounts of skim money" that had been collected and divided among Russo, his brother John Russo, Richie Boiardo, and other Genovese members. They also discussed with him his suspected bribery of LE officers in Las Vegas. Russo was uncooperative but attentive during the interview.

- In the months preceding the interview with Russo, search warrants had been drafted for the casinos and establishments in Vegas which Russo and the Genovese family were suspected of being involved in. Following the August 1978 interview, state police conducted searches of Russo's office and person, the residence of Richie Boiardo, a Newark restaurant where Russo spent time, as well as Newark homes of other members/associates. Various records and correspondence was seized at Russo's office. Following the interview and searches, the plan was to initiate a RICO case against Russo given that the investigation was now public. This was likely going to be bundled with another simultaneous RICO case against members of the Boiardo crew, including Boiardo himself, though Boiardo would be severed from that case due to health reasons and circumstances would change for Russo.

- In April 1979, Anthony Russo was involved in meetings to arrange the takeover of the casino workers and nursing home workers unions in Northern New Jersey. However, someone involved in these discussions had begun cooperating against Russo and was informing the FBI of these plans. Agents determined that it would not be entrapment to allow Russo to go forward with the meetings.

- However, that same month, on April 26th, 1979, Russo was found dead from four "large caliber" gun shot wounds to the head in his Long Branch, NJ condo. A pillow had been used to muffle the sound. Russo's condo was in a highly secure complex and his apartment door was triple locked with no sign of forced entry. He was found by his attorney. Neighbors believed they heard shots at 5:30 PM and again at 11:30 PM and the coroner determined he died around 11:30 PM. He was scheduled to meet with an "Anthony" LNU the night of his murder but failed to meet him. Someone tried to call Russo at the condo between 6 and 9 PM that night via a switchboard operator but refused to give his identity.

- Over $17,000 in hundred dollar bills was found in a closet in Russo's home after his death. Two documents were also found hidden behind a picture frame in Russo's office, which were secret contracts dividing shares of the Jolly Trolley casino and other Las Vegas interests.

- Within days of the Russo murder, on April 30th, 1979, the FBI learned from a source that the murder had been carried out by Genovese soldier Rudy Santobello, Daniel Cilenta aka "Vito DiSalvo", and a Louis LNU, said to be a good-looking, dapper man approximately 50-years-old. All three men had been in Atlantic City the day prior to the murder in a light gray Thunderbird driven by Louis LNU, where they met with an attorney.

- Before traveling to Atlantic City, Rudy Santobello had told someone (possibly the informant) that there was a problem with a "sweet old guy" who was "causing problems with Casinos and Atlantic City and that he has "got to go". The morning of the murder, Danny Cilenta was heard telling someone "the sweet old guy's gone."

- The informant who reported on the killers in the Russo murder believed that the Genovese family has contacts with local police and if the police were to learn any of the information the source provided they would easily determine who gave the information and kill the informant. The source was apparently living in Phoenix, Arizona and was sent to the New Rochelle FBI office from the Phoenix FBI.

- In a subsequent report it reveals that Russo's associates Paul Bendetti and Dennis Mastro both live in Phoenix, Arizona. Russo's associate Dennis Mastro also had a restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was contacted by agents and informed of the Russo murder on the same day that the FBI cited the earlier informant's information. Mastro stated that "the authorities" felt Russo was killed for his mishandling of the Genovese interest in the Jolly Trolley Casino. It is likely Mastro was the above informant, as Bendetti was in Florida and not Arizona at the this time and the information's info came the same day that they interviewed Mastro.

- Associate Emilio "the Count" DeLio was also being sought for interview about Russo's activities leading up to the murder. DeLio was in Florida at this time and had been a longtime associate of Russo and the Genovese New Jersey groups. Russo had visited Florida prior to Las Vegas and was observed at the Florida home of DeLio.

- It was widely believed that Russo was murdered for his mishandling of the Genovese family's Las Vegas operations and other behavior that contributed to FBI cases against Russo, Boiardo and other members of the Boiardo crew, and the Genovese family.

- Following Russo's murder, Peter Delamos, Paul Bendetti, and Dennis Mastro were prosecuted for their involvement in the Genovese Las Vegas casino operations and all three agreed to plea guilty. They planned to blame Russo for their involvement and intended to convince the sentencing judge that they were victimized by Russo. However, there were concerns that Bendetti would be unable to convince the judge of this given his extensive criminal career and long-established association with Russo. To handle this, the plan was for the FBI to interview and debrief Bendetti at his home residence about his criminal history and consult the FBI about this debriefing at his sentencing hearing to convince the judge. It is unknown if this interview happened, but the judge ultimately rejected the plea deal and the case went to trial. All three men were convicted on all counts and received three years incarceration each.

[Snakes]

Thanks, B.

A random bit of trivia on Russo: Bruce Springsteen's wife grew up next door to him.

[B.]

Thanks, B.

A random bit of trivia on Russo: Bruce Springsteen's wife grew up next door to him.

That is good trivia. The Pussy next door.

Another side note, but Russo was believed to have ties to judge Edwin Helfant and Russo's name came up in the investigation into Helfant's 1978 murder. Of course later we would learn that Helfant was killed by Nick Virgilio and the Philadelphia family.

[Eld]

- Russo tells Leone about New Jersey, "when you're talking about the shore area, I'm there 40 years. I've been there with Vito. I brought Vito down." He goes on to clarify that he is talking about Ocean County and Monmouth County. I thought he was referring to Vito Genovese, but it is clarified he is talking about someone named Vito who works under him, which is surely Vito Montemarano. This Vito used to be a junkie "when he was a young kid" but apparently is a "good kid" at this time. Leone asked Russo about a Frank Gaspari in reference to Monmouth and Ocean counties and Russo says "Frank ain't there" but he "was there" and is "in Florida" now. Russo says he has the unions in Ocean County and Monmouth County.

Good post, B

Another thing that might have contributed to Russo's demise was that his sometimes driver, Patrick Pizuto, flipped in february of 1978 and wore a wire on the Genovese Newark crew during the spring of 1978. Around the christmas of 1977 Russo and Anthony DeVingo had sponsored Pizuto and Vito Montemarano to be made, with John Russo and Andrew Gerardo taking their names to New York. Pizuto's co-operation became known in the autumn of 1978 and he testified in a racketeering case against the Newark crew in 1980. Montemarano was made, but not Pizuto.

[B.]

- Russo tells Leone about New Jersey, "when you're talking about the shore area, I'm there 40 years. I've been there with Vito. I brought Vito down." He goes on to clarify that he is talking about Ocean County and Monmouth County. I thought he was referring to Vito Genovese, but it is clarified he is talking about someone named Vito who works under him, which is surely Vito Montemarano. This Vito used to be a junkie "when he was a young kid" but apparently is a "good kid" at this time. Leone asked Russo about a Frank Gaspari in reference to Monmouth and Ocean counties and Russo says "Frank ain't there" but he "was there" and is "in Florida" now. Russo says he has the unions in Ocean County and Monmouth County.

Good post, B

Another thing that might have contributed to Russo's demise was that his sometimes driver, Patrick Pizuto, flipped in february of 1978 and wore a wire on the Genovese Newark crew during the spring of 1978. Around the christmas of 1977 Russo and Anthony DeVingo had sponsored Pizuto and Vito Montemarano to be made, with John Russo and Andrew Gerardo taking their names to New York. Pizuto's co-operation became known in the autumn of 1978 and he testified in a racketeering case against the Newark crew in 1980. Montemarano was made, but not Pizuto.

Great info -- thanks for sharing that.

Curious if anyone knows who the Louis LNU might be who allegedly participated in the Russo murder with Santobello and Cilenta.

[Hellboy]

Idk, but this is the best name of a thread ever. Lmao

[SILENT PARTNERZ]

Anthony "Pussy" Russo is well-known as a soldier under captain Richie Boiardo, but was a major figure in his own right as the Genovese family's representative in Long Branch, NJ, holding influence throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties. He also traveled extensively and had dealings with members of other families in Florida and served as Boiardo's representative in Las Vegas. He shows up in a number of the infamous wiretaps of the 1960s, including Sam DeCavalcante's office bug as well as the DeCarlo tapes, showing extensive knowledge on the inner-workings of the Genovese family at the highest levels. He continued to be an aggressive player following his legal troubles in the 1970s and with the unpopular Tony Boiardo dying in April 1978 and other crew members like Andrew Gerardo stepping up to run the crew's main operations, Russo was able to continue operating with a large amount of autonomy, which may have contributed to his death.


- In June 1978, Anthony "Pussy" Russo visited Las Vegas where he had dinner with Anthony Spilotro for over three hours. The Genovese family were apparently partnering in Jackpot Casino as well as a sports book in a 50/50 split with Spilotro, along with investments in Jolly Trolley Casino and Honest John's Casino along with other casinos and two hotels. One of these may be the El Mirador Motel, which Russo later says "we bought" in a recorded conversation. Russo was in Las Vegas to, among other things, deliver and/or collect money and his brother John Russo in NJ was involved in sending money to Las Vegas during the visit. Other Russo associates involved in him with Las Vegas matters were Peter Delamos, Paul Bendetti, and Dennis Mastro, as well as Springfield Genovese soldier Cosmo "Pinky" Panarelli.

- Later Russo was recorded having a discussion with a corrupt police officer working under him. Russo gave money to the officer, Phil Leone, and told him that he would build himself up and that the Genovese family wouldn't "go to anyone but you", while Tony Spilotro had his own man in a similar role, detective Joe Blasco, described as "Tony's man." Russo also told Leone he would be seeing "the Boot" on the following Monday.

- Russo also "grabbed hold of" "Russ, Kelly, Louis Volpe, and them" regarding some situation seemingly related to the Aladdin casino. No doubt this is a reference to Kelly Mannarino and Volpe of Pittsburgh, and I assume Russell Bufalino. References are also made to "Fat Tony" being involved, no doubt a reference to Salerno, and earlier regarding another situation a "Tony" and "Matty" were mentioned regarding Vegas, possibly referring to Tony Spilotro, Salerno, or Provenzano and Matty Ianniello.

- Russo later tells Leone if "Somebody comes into town that's around us, I'll tell you" and uses the example of "Matty", telling Leone that if he can help "a guy like Matty", to "help him." He says, however, that a guy like Matty should have enough "common sense" to tell someone like Phil to stay away from him, assumably because of the heat it would bring a police officer like Leone.

- "Tony Pro" is mentioned, as Leone had apparently sought a favor from him and Russo says, "You can't get something for nothing from Pro." In context with this, a "Bobby" who is "with Matty" is mentioned and Russo says "Matty comes in and out." Russo had talked with Tony Pro in Florida, then when Russo was carrying "the package with the old man's money" he went to New York and then Florida, eventually speaking to "Bobby" and Tony, telling Tony that "we're getting the money." Russo told Tony he would "be back and I'll drop it off to you."

- Russo tells Leone about New Jersey, "when you're talking about the shore area, I'm there 40 years. I've been there with Vito. I brought Vito down." He goes on to clarify that he is talking about Ocean County and Monmouth County. I thought he was referring to Vito Genovese, but it is clarified he is talking about someone named Vito who works under him, which is surely Vito Montemarano. This Vito used to be a junkie "when he was a young kid" but apparently is a "good kid" at this time. Leone asked Russo about a Frank Gaspari in reference to Monmouth and Ocean counties and Russo says "Frank ain't there" but he "was there" and is "in Florida" now. Russo says he has the unions in Ocean County and Monmouth County.

- During this conversation Russo claims he doesn't drink, only that he "had vodka once." It's in context with a conversation about associate Paul Benetti being a degenerate gambler. He says Paul's father had been "with me and Gyp."

- During these discussions Russo stated that "Jimmy the Weasel supposed to be the Don Cheech of this crew" and says Jimmy Fratianno was a "made guy" but "never a boss" and had "destroyed that whole crew out in Cleveland." He also discussed the murder of a "Frank" LNU who was called to a phone both and then killed. Clearly a reference to the recently murdered Frank Bompensiero. He also says they were trying to kill Jimmy Fratianno in Florida which is why he "gave himself up, cause they were looking to whack him." He goes on to say that "Frank was an informant", which we know is true, but he also says "Jimmy White" in connection to cleveland was an informant. This must be a misheard or misspoken reference to Jimmy Fratianno and not Jack White Licavoli of Cleveland.

- During earlier intercepted conversations, the FBI states that Russo has referred to himself as the national emissary for the Genovese family. The FBI also stated that the Boiardo New Jersey faction of which Russo is a part "reports directly to the Genovese LCN family leadership in New York" concerning these national business interests, i.e. Nevada.

- In August 1978, Russo was approached by the FBI in Long Branch, NJ, and informed of the investigation into state crimes he was suspected of, including extortion and loansharking. The agents interviewing him also made him aware of the investigation into suspected Las Vegas crimes and directly referenced specific aspects of his alleged crimes, including "specific amounts of skim money" that had been collected and divided among Russo, his brother John Russo, Richie Boiardo, and other Genovese members. They also discussed with him his suspected bribery of LE officers in Las Vegas. Russo was uncooperative but attentive during the interview.

- In the months preceding the interview with Russo, search warrants had been drafted for the casinos and establishments in Vegas which Russo and the Genovese family were suspected of being involved in. Following the August 1978 interview, state police conducted searches of Russo's office and person, the residence of Richie Boiardo, a Newark restaurant where Russo spent time, as well as Newark homes of other members/associates. Various records and correspondence was seized at Russo's office. Following the interview and searches, the plan was to initiate a RICO case against Russo given that the investigation was now public. This was likely going to be bundled with another simultaneous RICO case against members of the Boiardo crew, including Boiardo himself, though Boiardo would be severed from that case due to health reasons and circumstances would change for Russo.

- In April 1979, Anthony Russo was involved in meetings to arrange the takeover of the casino workers and nursing home workers unions in Northern New Jersey. However, someone involved in these discussions had begun cooperating against Russo and was informing the FBI of these plans. Agents determined that it would not be entrapment to allow Russo to go forward with the meetings.

- However, that same month, on April 26th, 1979, Russo was found dead from four "large caliber" gun shot wounds to the head in his Long Branch, NJ condo. A pillow had been used to muffle the sound. Russo's condo was in a highly secure complex and his apartment door was triple locked with no sign of forced entry. He was found by his attorney. Neighbors believed they heard shots at 5:30 PM and again at 11:30 PM and the coroner determined he died around 11:30 PM. He was scheduled to meet with an "Anthony" LNU the night of his murder but failed to meet him. Someone tried to call Russo at the condo between 6 and 9 PM that night via a switchboard operator but refused to give his identity.

- Over $17,000 in hundred dollar bills was found in a closet in Russo's home after his death. Two documents were also found hidden behind a picture frame in Russo's office, which were secret contracts dividing shares of the Jolly Trolley casino and other Las Vegas interests.

- Within days of the Russo murder, on April 30th, 1979, the FBI learned from a source that the murder had been carried out by Genovese soldier Rudy Santobello, Daniel Cilenta aka "Vito DiSalvo", and a Louis LNU, said to be a good-looking, dapper man approximately 50-years-old. All three men had been in Atlantic City the day prior to the murder in a light gray Thunderbird driven by Louis LNU, where they met with an attorney.

- Before traveling to Atlantic City, Rudy Santobello had told someone (possibly the informant) that there was a problem with a "sweet old guy" who was "causing problems with Casinos and Atlantic City and that he has "got to go". The morning of the murder, Danny Cilenta was heard telling someone "the sweet old guy's gone."

- The informant who reported on the killers in the Russo murder believed that the Genovese family has contacts with local police and if the police were to learn any of the information the source provided they would easily determine who gave the information and kill the informant. The source was apparently living in Phoenix, Arizona and was sent to the New Rochelle FBI office from the Phoenix FBI.

- In a subsequent report it reveals that Russo's associates Paul Bendetti and Dennis Mastro both live in Phoenix, Arizona. Russo's associate Dennis Mastro also had a restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was contacted by agents and informed of the Russo murder on the same day that the FBI cited the earlier informant's information. Mastro stated that "the authorities" felt Russo was killed for his mishandling of the Genovese interest in the Jolly Trolley Casino. It is likely Mastro was the above informant, as Bendetti was in Florida and not Arizona at the this time and the information's info came the same day that they interviewed Mastro.

- Associate Emilio "the Count" DeLio was also being sought for interview about Russo's activities leading up to the murder. DeLio was in Florida at this time and had been a longtime associate of Russo and the Genovese New Jersey groups. Russo had visited Florida prior to Las Vegas and was observed at the Florida home of DeLio.

- It was widely believed that Russo was murdered for his mishandling of the Genovese family's Las Vegas operations and other behavior that contributed to FBI cases against Russo, Boiardo and other members of the Boiardo crew, and the Genovese family.

- Following Russo's murder, Peter Delamos, Paul Bendetti, and Dennis Mastro were prosecuted for their involvement in the Genovese Las Vegas casino operations and all three agreed to plea guilty. They planned to blame Russo for their involvement and intended to convince the sentencing judge that they were victimized by Russo. However, there were concerns that Bendetti would be unable to convince the judge of this given his extensive criminal career and long-established association with Russo. To handle this, the plan was for the FBI to interview and debrief Bendetti at his home residence about his criminal history and consult the FBI about this debriefing at his sentencing hearing to convince the judge. It is unknown if this interview happened, but the judge ultimately rejected the plea deal and the case went to trial. All three men were convicted on all counts and received three years incarceration each.

Great post B. Thanks


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[cavita]

I agree... Grade A piece of writing!

[FriendofFamily]

I agree... Grade A piece of writing!

Everyone likes a Grade A Piece

[richard_belding]

Great post! Just to touch on Eld’s post of the Pizuto story:

It had started with the murder of a small time Trenton hood named Paul Campanile, who had killed a member of the Genovese family in a Pennsylvania restaurant. The Boot along with Genovese brass had called for Campanile’s death. Shot by Anthony Devingo, Campanile was lured to his death by Patrick Pizuto, who as mentioned earlier was a driver and numbers runner for the crew. He was told his help in the murder would get him made, but as we know that didn’t happen and implicated Devingo in the killing after flipping. Devingo was later acquitted of the murder.

Here is Pizuto pointing at Devingo in court

3B900E5C-F714-40D8-A658-51F4A6509782.jpeg

[B.]

Here is some additional background on the Russos and the Boiardo crew.

General Boiardo / Boiardo crew History:

- An early member of Richie Boiardo's gang prior to Boiardo's membership in the Genovese family was Ralph Russo, the older brother of future Boiardo soldiers Anthony and John Russo. Ralph Russo and his brother John had joined Boiardo's gang after Boiardo split off from the Mazzocchi brothers' gang and the Russos helped run Boiardo's operations in the early 1930s when Boiardo was imprisoned. The Russos also participated in Boiardo's war with his former associates/superiors the Mazzocchi brothers, but following his release Boiardo had several of his former associates murdered, including Ralph Russo, who was killed in Pittsburgh or Cleveland. An informant told the FBI that Anthony and John Russo were aware that Boiardo was responsible for their brother's murder but it did not stop them from associating with Boiardo and one informant stated that Boiardo "raised" Anthony and John Russo. However, Angelo"Gyp" DeCarlo, who had also been a Boiardo gang member along with the Russos, severed ties from Boiardo during the period of Russo, etc.'s murders.

- Richie Boiardo first became well known in 1925 as a bootlegger working for a gang headed by the Mazzocchi brothers, including Frank, John, and Dominick Mazzocchi. Boiardo managed the group's stills. Other Mazzocchi associates were Jerry "Sweat" Rullo, "Jeff Lane" Malanga, Joseph Rossi, and "Dilly" Rossi. This group operated together until 1928 when they split and Boiardo became independent. The other aforementioned names stayed under the Mazzocchis, while Jerry Rullo joined Boiardo's new gang which also included Ralph Russo, John Russo, Joseph Juliano, and Angelo "Gyp" DeCarlo. The two gangs became "bitter enemies" due to the bootlegging business and Frank Mazzocchi was murdered via machine gun fire in Newark, with the Boiardo group suspected of the murder. Mazzocchi associate Joseph Rossi was later shot to death as well, with Boiardo associates John Russo and Anthony Nappi convicted of the murder. Russo received a 30 year sentence while Nappi got off light as he had turned witness. I'm not sure how much of this sentence John Russo served, as he would be an inducted member of the Genovese family under Boiardo by the 1950s.

- Following Boiardo's ongoing dispute with Longie Zwillman, which was still unresolved after intervention from Al Capone (via Capone's cousin) at an Atlantic City meeting, an attempt on Boiardo's life was believed to have been carried out in 1930 by men working for New Jersey Genovese leader Willie Moretti. While Boiardo served a prison sentence in the 1930s, his group, which was led by Ralph Russo, Jerry Rullo, and Joseph Juliano in alliance with Angelo DeCarlo, made peace with the Zwillman group.

- Despite perhaps not getting into gambling until 1925, Boiardo had been arrested in 1920 for running a gambling house and in 1921 for manslaughter, so his criminal involvement predated his bootlegging activities.

- In 1932, while Boiardo was still incarcerated, remaining members of the Mazzocchi group, including Dominick Mazzocchi and Dilly Rossi, were murdered in Newark.

- Following Boiardo's release from prison, he ordered the murders of some of his top associates, with Jerry Rullo murdered in New Jersey and Joseph Juliano shot in Newark, then barred from Boiardo's area when he survived. Juliano and possibly others were also suspected in an attempt on Boiardo's life. Ralph Russo was killed in Pittsburgh, PA according to some reports, though other reports cite Cleveland. Angelo DeCarlo also severed ties with Boiardo and began operating with another group. Curious if this is when DeCarlo officially went on record with the Genovese family or if, like Boiardo, that would come later. Former Mazzocchi associate John "Jeff Lane" Malanga, who had been a former associate of Boiardo, re-joined Boiardo along with Henry Abrams, Longie Zwillman, and others. This group continued to be involved in bootlegging well after prohibition ended.

- It isn't clear when Boiardo went on record with the Genovese family but he was inducted in early 1944, though he was without question a powerful criminal leader dating back to the late 1920s. Boiardo had been raised in Chicago and had ties to other Neapolitans. In contrast, Gerry Catena, who was also inducted in the 1940s, had a history of close association with Nick Delmore of the future DeCavalcante family and other Cosa Nostra figures, possibly being associated with the Newark family before joining the Genovese family.

- I had previously written that Boiardo doesn't appear to have been with the Camorra before joining Cosa Nostra, but an FBI report from late 1969 that is heavily redacted seems to indicate that they received some information that indicates Boiardo may have operated with a Camorra group before Cosa Nostra. The reports mentions that Camorra groups throughout the US merged with Cosa Nostra between 1915 and 1931 and that the FBI planned to ask an unspecified individual what year the Camorra merged with Cosa Nostra in the Newark area. The redacted name might be Boiardo himself and the report indicates that other members who had been part of the Joe Masseria family who were believed to have been Camorra members before joining Masseria were: Al Capone, Vito Genovese, Angelo DeCarlo, and Willie Moretti. We know that Al Capone and Genovese were associated with the Camorra if not members (Camorra membership is different, too, in that what we would normally call "associates" were actually initiated into a lower tier of membership), so interesting that these others may have been, too. Genovese captain Rocco Pellegrino, though not mentioned, was a high-ranking Camorra member before joining the Genovese, as there was an early informant with the group who reported on it.

- An informant (probably Eugene Farina) identified Salvatore Lombardino as having been a former Profaci member and said Lombardino had once tried to move in on Boiardo's rackets and was chased "back across the river". Similar reports talk about the Pizzolato brothers (future Lucchese members) being involved with Lombardino in this, indicating they were all members of the Newark family at the time. Reports also indicate that Boiardo ran up against the Accardi brothers (other future Lucchese members who likely started with Newark) who associated with Boiardo's on-again off-again rival Longie Zwillman. It's clear that Zwillman was close to the Newark Sicilian element in these associations along with the aforementioned connection to Nick Delmore.

- A story Boiardo liked to tell associates as well as the FBI was that he was once shot 18 times and nearly died as a result of his opposition to narcotics trafficking in his area. According to a source, after surviving this attempt he was able to send these narcotics traffickers back to Philadelphia and New York City. Curious if these were mafia-connected drug dealers or who they were.

- An FBI report claimed that Boiardo received the nickname "the Boot" because "as a young man he got sadistic pleasure out of kicking people repeatedly." However, member informant Eugene Farina claimed that he was told by his father that Boiardo was called "the Boot" because he was a "ladies man" and "lover" when he was young and spent so much time in phone booths making dates with girls that the "old-time Italians" called him "the Boot" because they couldn't pronounce the "th" in "booth", intending to call him "the Booth." Boiardo would confirm the latter story in an FBI interview, though without the bits about being a "ladies man", saying simply that he received the nickname after telephone booths were installed around Newark and his associates often found him using these phone booths.

- In 1965, an informant claimed that Boiardo "likes young girls" and brings "young Italian girls illegally" into the US where they are kept in a house on Boiardo's estate and later sent back to Italy.

- In the late 1960s, money made in Anthony Russo's Jersey shore territory was said to be split between Angelo DeCarlo, Richie Boiardo, and Russo, with an amount set aside for Vito Genovese. Russo was very close to DeCarlo in addition to Boiardo and the Russos in addition to DeCarlo had been associated with Boiardo's independent gang long before they were part of the Genovese family. It's unknown to me if DeCarlo was initially a member of Boiardo's crew after they were inducted into the Genovese family, as DeCarlo would not be promoted to capodecina of his own crew until a number of years after their induction. It's also not known when Boiardo was officially promoted to capodecina, though it was likely soon after his induction or at least in the 1940s, as he was already sponsoring his close associates for membership by the late 1940s.


--

1962 FBI Interview:

- Boiardo was consistently open and friendly toward law enforcement and the media, at least beginning in the early 1960s. By this time he carried himself openly as a retired racketeer, though we know he was still a capodecina at the time in charge of a large number of criminal activities. Boiardo was particularly forthcoming in an interview with the FBI in late 1962 and would continue to be friendly and relatively open during further FBI contacts over the years.

- He claimed that he got into bootlegging while working as a milkman; the demand for alcohol from his clients led him to start bootlegging alcohol. He delivered milk to a speak-easy on his deliveries and made an arrangement to supply all of the alcohol the speak-easy owner could buy. Boiardo initially used his milk truck as a cover, but the operation got so big that he gave his "two weeks notice" to the milk company and went full-time into bootlegging. Boiardo was also involved in hijacking two or three boats of alcohol worth about $300,000. He discussed being shot at during prohibition, including being shot off the running board of a car by a shotgun blast that left buckshot in his neck, shoulder, and side.

- He told the FBI that he liked some of the associates he met through the rackets, but didn't like others. One he didn't like was future DeCavalcante family boss Nicholas Delmore, who "would tell you one thing and do another" in addition to Delmore being close to Abner "Longie" Zwillman, a rival of Boiardo's.

- He admitted having been very close to Vito Genovese in the past and had been to Genovese's home many times. Boiardo couldn't understand how Genovese got involved in narcotics given that Genovese had always spoken openly to Boiardo against narcotics and those connected to drug trafficking, telling Boiardo he would not be involved with it. He said Genovese was possibly "responsible" for something redacted, which I assume is a murder, as Boiardo wouldn't elaborate further. In a later FBI interview in 1965, he claimed to have met Genovese at a certain club where they became friendly. He said Joe Valachi had made a lot of money with Genovese but when he (Valachi) ran into bad luck couldn't handle it. Boiardo laughed during this 1965 interview when asked if he was a member of the Genovese family.

- Boiardo told the FBI that he has always been a "crook" and does not pretend to be anything else and admitted doing "many illegal things in his life" but also claimed he had been blamed for activities he was not involved in or responsible for. He says during prohibition he was a leader who controlled all rackets in a certain section of Newark, taking his main source of income from illegal alcohol. He tried not to allow pimps or drug dealers to operate in his area. He stated, however, that at the time of this interview he was not involved in any "criminal groups" or crimes, focusing mostly on his large estate and home which he built from material salvaged by his construction company between 1939 and 1944.

- When asked about his health, Boiardo claimed to be in excellent health and told the agents that he believes he would die in 1976 when he is 86-years-old. However, he told them his son Tony was in poor health, having had his gall bladder removed and the younger Boiardo kept his health problems a secret from the father. Boiardo was "deeply concerned" with his son's health. The following year, the FBI learned that Richie Boiardo was planning a trip to Italy so that he could take "mud baths" to improve his health.

- He encouraged the FBI to call on him at any time if they wished or to request his presence at the FBI office to discuss "any matter" with the agents.


--

Problems with Longtime Crew Members:

- With Tony Boiardo taking a larger role in his father's crew in the 1950s and 1960s, a problem developed with crew members passing money to the father vs. the son. Anthony "Pussy" Russo ran into trouble with Eugene Catena for giving money Catena intended for Richie Boiardo to Tony Boiardo, when Catena had specifically asked Russo to give the money direct to the elder Boiardo. Russo complained that whenever he gave money to either of the Boiardos, he received criticism for giving it to the wrong one. John Lardiere however backed Russo up to Catena and claimed that he had ran into problems depending on who he gave money to. Tony Boiardo told Lardiere that when money is given to Richie Boiardo, he buries it behind a tree on his estate and that Tony Boy checks each tree until he finds the buried money. Catena's response was that "he does not care if the Boiardos kill each other over the money" after it is given to them. Richie Boiardo later told a source that he does bury all of his money on his property but does not have a "map" and has the locations memorized in his head.

- John Lardiere also told Eugene Catena about Russo telling him (Lardiere) the details of a meeting Russo had with Richie Boiardo where garbage contracts at the Jersey shore were discussed. Boiardo apparently told Russo to "forget the garbage business" and pay money he owed to Tommy Eboli, Angelo DeCarlo, and others. Russo owed Eboli $28,000 and DeCarlo $40,000. Eugene Catena was surprised that Russo had spoken so openly to Lardiere about what went on in a meeting with his capodecina Boiardo, but Lardiere said that Russo is the type of guy to "tell everyone." Catena told Lardiere that he and his brother are "very close" to the Boiardos and asked Lardiere to immediately tell him anything he hears about Boiardo's crew members so that Catena can tell the Boiardos. Lardiere was related to the Boiardos through marriage, with Boiardo's wife's sister being married to the brother of Lardiere's wife.

- Tony Boiardo was still an unpopular throughout the 1970s despite stepping back somewhat due to severe health problems. One report from 1974 claims that if the elder Boiardo were to die, Tony Boiardo would likely be murdered. Similar reports about Tony Boiardo existed over a decade earlier. Boiardo would die in Spring of 1978.

- Despite being involved in gang warfare and killing off some of his early associates, Boiardo also had a number of longtime associates who had been under him prior to his Genovese affiliation, some of whom he inducted into the Genovese family, and who would stay close to him for decades. However, ongoing problems with these longtime soldiers led to severe fallout in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as explained below.

- Joseph "Joe Casey" Juliano had been an early associate of the Boiardo gang during prohibition who was at odds with Boiardo some years later. Juliano was killed in 1967, decades after his initial falling out with Boiardo, allegedly on Boiardo's orders. According to one source, Juliano was suspected of giving information to the police and Boiardo was concerned that because of their past association, which included murders committed together during prohibition, Juliano could hurt Boiardo. Another informant however felt that Boiardo did not order the murder and if he had, it would have been many years earlier when Juliano and Boiardo first split, at which time Juliano had made an attempt to kill Boiardo and Boiardo in turn had Juliano shot and banished from the first ward. It's not clear to me which mafia or criminal groups, if any, Juliano affiliated with after his problems with Boiardo in the 1930s or if there were other suspected groups/individuals involved in his murder.

- Soldier Vic Pisauro had fallen into disfavor with Boiardo by the mid-1960s because of Pisauro's severe drinking problem and lack of mental alterness. Boiardo described him as "too dumb." As a result, Boiardo no longer associated with Pisauro. Pisauro was suspected in the 1963 murder of James Del Grosso in Newark. Pisauro would die of natural causes in 1969. His name would show up on a 1991 Genovese induction list as one of the deceased members being replaced. The list also included Silvio DeVita as one of the proposed inductees, who would join the modern Boiardo/Gerardo crew. (Thanks to LCNBios for this induction info)

- Boiardo sponsored Eugene "Gino" Farina into the Genovese family in the late 1940s. Farina would become an informant as early as February 1964, telling the FBI that both Richie and Tony Boiardo were made members in the Genovese family and giving general background on Boiardo and his crew in addition to information about their activities. In a 1966 report, Farina claimed to have taken an "oath in blood" and "swore to God" when he was inducted into the Genovese family. Farina allegedly participated in murders on Boiardo's behalf, but his main task was keeping records and "books" of Boiardo's operations. Farina and Tony Boiardo did not get along but Richie Boiardo was "adamant" that his son consult with Farina and the senior Boiardo relied on Farina to "keep 'Tony Boy' out of trouble." A 1972 report cites an informant who states that Farina was killed several years earlier and made to disappear for stealing money from Boiardo's gambling operations, which Farina had been operating. When questioned about Farina's disappearance in May 1968, approximately 7 months after he went missing, Boiardo said Farina used to be "with" him and didn't know where he "ran off" to, but said Farina's "big problem" was "he wanted to be a boss." He later told the FBI that he and Farina used to "chase girls" together and he believed Farina's disappearance was because he "ran off" with a Sicilian girl.

- Boiardo soldier Angelo Chieppa was murdered in 1973 and found in a trunk due to "inaccurate accounting" on gambling junkets" and/or skimming money from gambling operations at the Dutch Antilles Casino which he managed for Boiardo. Another informant claimed that Chieppa was killed for having a "big mouth" and that Chieppa, a former bootlegger, was "too friendly" with a government alcohol agent. The source said that Boiardo suspected Chieppa of being an informant for 20 years but his other associates felt otherwise and apparently this saved Chieppa during that time. Yet another source backed up the first report, claiming that Chieppa was killed for skimming from a gambling casino. He said that the Boiardos are "trigger happy" and "more prone to kill its own than any other group he knows of." Chieppa's body was apparently stripped of its personal effects to send a message that Chieppa was stealing and "those things which were not really his were taken back."

- Another longtime Boiardo associate killed in 1973 was John "Jeff Lane" Malanga, killed that December for unknown reasons. Despite Malanga having a history of stealing money from the Boiardos on multiple occasions it was felt this was not why he was killed, though no alternate motive was named. Malanga had a long history working for Boiardo going back to the prohibition days. Boiardo's daughter had died accidentally two months previous after a fall while washing windows.

- In contrast to the above events, as of 1974 John Russo was identified as the top soldier under Boiardo and it was felt if Boiardo were to die, Russo would replace him. While Russo's brother Anthony appears to have had more independence in his Jersey shore and national operations, John Russo appears to have stayed closer to Boiardo and often was the liaison between his brother Anthony and Boiardo. John Russo was believed to have initiated the Las Vegas operations that his brother Anthony later represented and while Anthony Russo was in Las Vegas he made contact with his brother, who seemed to be giving him some degree of direction. John Russo would die of natural causes in late 1978, prior to his brother's murder. John Russo seems to have been one of the few old-line Boiardo associates from the pre-Genovese days to die a natural death without being killed or otherwise having a significant fallout with Boiardo.

- A heavily redacted report seems to suggest Boiardo, still a capodecina, may have been "allowed" to induct new member(s) into his crew in March 1976. A source seems to imply that this is "because of the fact" that a number of Boiardo crew members from the past are now dead. Another report with heavy redactions suggests at least one member was inducted into the Boiardo crew around late May 1976, if not referring to the same as the March induction(s).

--

Other Information:

- Following a 1967 Life Magazine article that described Boiardo's activities, Boiardo was not upset about the contents of the article but was "very upset" that it contained a photo of the statues of his grandchildren on his estate.

- In 1973, a source stated that Boiardo refers to himself as "a broken down soldier." This was likely a figure of speech, as many sources confirmed that Boiardo was still the official capodecina of his crew through the 1970s. One report referred to Andrew Gerardo as a capodecina by 1978, though other reports have Boiardo still in the official role during and after the same period.

- Richie Boiardo at one point owned a rendering company where horses and other animals were shot and processed for horse meat and tallow. An informant stated that due to the number of firearms already being fired at the rendering plant, the gunshots allowed Boiardo to use the rendering plant to commit murders where the victims were then processed in the facility to leave no trace. The informant claimed Boiardo would threaten associates by asking, "Do you want to wind up tallow?"

- After being subpoenaed before the grand jury following the Valachi hearings, Boiardo was asked by reporters about Joe Valachi. Boiardo said he didn't know Valachi but commented that his name sounds like "Pagliacci, the clown." In a separate interview with the FBI, Boiardo called Valachi "insane" and commented that Valachi always claimed to be "in the background and never quite on the scene when an act of violence occurred." He had "contempt" for Valachi and said that he himself had no problem discussing his own activities but would never talk about the activities of anyone else.

- Following his conviction on gambling charges in 1969 resulting in a prison term into the early 1970s, an informant reported that Boiardo was upset about LE scrutiny on the "mafia" because blacks were also operating in an organized fashion and doing similar activities without punishment. Boiardo was of the opinion that allowing "blacks both in illegal activity and in politics will eventually work to the detriment of the country."

- Boiardo was also reported to be "disgusted" by the Joe Gallo and Joe Colombo shootings and bothered by the publicity of these killings. However, he felt that the news coverage of these killings was unnecessary since these sorts of "Italian 'associations'" have "rules" they live by and these conflicts between "associations" are similar to "competing clubs or politicsl parties", but settled "the Italian way." He felt that these killings should "be of no concern to others" as long as "outsiders" are not hurt since the participants know "the rules" they "live and conduct themselves" by. Boiardo was upset that a large shooting involving black drug dealers was only mentioned in the news for one day in contrast to the Gallo and Colombo shootings.

- When asked for his opinion following the 1967 Bonanno triple killing that included that D'Angelo brothers, Boiardo commented "Did you ever stop to think that they did something wrong?" He said the victims "must have been bad guys", otherwise "they would not have been killed that way." he said that gangland killings "have a purpose."

- Boiardo was consistently paranoid of and opposed to blacks taking over rackets in Newark and encouraged opposition to this. He referred to all of the black gangsters in the area as "Muslims" and may have been responsible for ordering the shooting of one unspecified "Muslim" leader. Boiardo frequently complained about the seeming immunity these black / "Muslim" gangsters had from the law and many reports reference his pointing out individual cases where black criminals received lesser sentences or non-convictions in criminal cases. He said that blacks were heavy into the numbers business in Newark "so they can buy guns."

- Regarding Tommy Eboli's death, Boiardo said Eboli had been "given a little power and lost sight of other things." Boiardo said that Eboli must have been visiting his girlfriend in Brooklyn and that he (Boiardo) had also been shot many years earlier while visiting a girlfriend. The source did not know if Boiardo had inside info on the Eboli murder or was speculating. Boiardo didn't believe rumors that appeared in the news about Eboli being involved in narcotics trafficking given that Eboli had "plenty of money" and "a piece of a lot of things", therefore not needing drugs for income. However he didn't dismiss the idea of Eboli having a Puerto Rican drug trafficker "under his 'protection.'"

- Boairdo spoke again about his own opposition to drugs, saying that he himself was shot over his opposition to drug trafficking. He also said that Vito Genovese was against drugs and had "spoken" to Anthony Strollo about Strollo's drug trafficking activities. Boiardo felt that Genovese had been set up by the government by "plantings" drugs in a place Genovese frequented. Boiardo also claimed Charlie Luciano and Frank Costello were opposed to drug trafficking and that Luciano was given a "bum rap" in his infamous prostitution arrest. He did say that Luciano had pimps under his "protection."

- Boiardo told a source in 1971 that an "old timer" with the "Italian Tribute" newspaper in Newark was a major contributor to Mario Puzo when writing "the Godfather". Boiardo pointed out similarities between Vito Corleone and his own life and felt that Corleone was based "to some degree" on his own life. He claimed that both he and Corleone were shot because they tried to keep narcotics out of their area yet survived the shootings, both lived in secluded houses with relatives and close associates, both "have a great interest in gardening", and that Corleone has 4 sons and 1 daughter, while Boiardo has 4 daughters and 1 son. Boiardo continued to compare himself to Vito Corleone into 1974, at this time building a large hand-painted sign in his tomato garden reading "Godfather's Garden." Sources who visited Boiardo during this period claimed he was tending to his garden each time they visited.

[CabriniGreen]

The absolute CONSISTENCY, that LCN members deny narcotics trafficking is truly breathtaking....

[CabriniGreen]

Also, I found it quite interesting the thing about Ebolis murder. The drug thing never made sense to me..

The fact that he got involved, WHY he would have needed to borrow money, WHY he borrowed it from Gambino and not one of the rich Genovese gangsters, OR the idea that it was all a machiavellian plot by Gambino....

[CabriniGreen]

All around Great Research and writing.... The Utica thing you did could be a book....

[Pogo The Clown]

Boiardo was of the opinion that allowing "blacks both in illegal activity and in politics will eventually work to the detriment of the country."

It was almost like he had a crystal ball.

and may have been responsible for ordering the shooting of one unspecified "Muslim" leader.

Just occasionally these guys act in a socially conscious way.


Pogo