Johnny "Keys" DeSimone

[SonnyBlackstein]

Very interesting. I had no idea there was a potential scenario where loyalists were eliminated by NY.

Had a chuckle at your definition of ‘respect’. Two in the head but nothing in the ass. Ha.

[Pogo The Clown]

George Freselone also said Sindone and Simone were killed because they were Bruno loyalists. Granted he was a North Jersey Associate so he may not have been in a position to know the full score but it is interesting.


Pogo

[Ivan]

I do suspect that Long John Martorano was part of the conspiracy, though he is never mentioned as a suspect despite strong circumstantial evidence.

You know that Mario Riccobene told Frank Friel that Martorano told him that he was in on the Bruno hit, right?

[B.]

I do suspect that Long John Martorano was part of the conspiracy, though he is never mentioned as a suspect despite strong circumstantial evidence.

You know that Mario Riccobene told Frank Friel that Martorano told him that he was in on the Bruno hit, right?

I remember you mentioning that -- which makes it doubly surprising that Martorano's name doesn't come up elsewhere. Harry Riccobene had blocked Martorano (and Sonny Riccobene) from being made many years earlier and Angelo Bruno upheld this, then Martorano was finally inducted about a year after Bruno was murdered. Seems obvious what his motivation was.

[Heathen]

I believe Harry Riccobene blocked his brother from being made because he did not want him completley brought into that life. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but what where his objections to Martorano being made?

[PHL_Mob]

My guess is since they were doing a lot of drug dealing for Harry and Angelo, they didn’t want them made because it would contradict with ange’s no-drug dealing edict. Also, I think harry liked to keep his guys just down and hungry enough that they still needed him.

[Heathen]

That is probably why DeLuca and Pedula flipped so quick, also the open shut murder case probably didn't help.

[B.]

I believe Harry Riccobene blocked his brother from being made because he did not want him completley brought into that life. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but what where his objections to Martorano being made?

Sonny Riccobene was more involved in the life than many made members going back to the time Angelo Bruno first took over, supervising gambling and loansharking for high-ranking members. Harry Riccobene claimed he didn't want him to be made because the organization had degenerated.

I'm not sure the reason for blocking Martorano, only that Martorano was originally a Riccobene associate which may have given his word more weight in blocking his induction. Harry also tried to block Frank Sindone from being inducted apparently to no avail.

I doubt the induction had anything to do with drugs, as Harry himself was a major drug dealer along with other members.

[Heathen]

This is just hearsay, I think it was on one of these forums I heard it but didn't Riccobene say something about quality and such when he found out Scarfo was inducted.

[B.]

This is just hearsay, I think it was on one of these forums I heard it but didn't Riccobene say something about quality and such when he found out Scarfo was inducted.

He told the FBI that Scarfo wasn't a member to his knowledge, but from other sources we know Nicky Scarfo was introduced to him as a member while they were in jail together and Riccobene went on a rant about the organization going downhill, something along those lines.

[nash143]

Here's a photo I stuck in the Philly Mugshots thread. Simone and Stanfa.

[Stroccos]

Did he really want to get whacked with his shoes off ? I remember seeing that in some crappy made for TV movie .
Set up by Cleveland’s boss peanuts tronolone

[PHL_Mob]

Woah that's Tony Banana's club in Down Neck (Newark) the 311 Club on Ferry St I believe? Was the HQ for the Philly North Jersey Crew for years. I've got to imagine that photo was taken in the days after the Bruno hit?

Yeah Johnny Keys asked that they remove his shoes before shooting him so that his wife knew that it was an LCN hit and not a random murder - true story according to Sammy the Bull.

[stubbs]

I thought I read Long John was tight with Bruno and was running scared after Bruno was clipped? And Long John fed bullshit to Caramandi in the can about how Scarfo was going to clip him, which caused Caramandi to flip and rat out Scarfo. The theory was Long John hated how Scarfo was running things and wanted the Sicilians to be back in control so he lied to Caramandi to hurt Scarfo.

[Wiseguy]

Did he really want to get whacked with his shoes off ? I remember seeing that in some crappy made for TV movie .
Set up by Cleveland’s boss peanuts tronolone

If I remember right, according to Gravano, it was a promise Simone made to his wife - that he would die with his shoes off, which I assume meant he would be at home or at least die a normal death of natural causes as opposed to what she apparently feared and for good reason. Him taking his shoes off in that situation seemed to be a last message to her. Pretty sad. But, as Gravano put it, he "died Cosa Nostra."