Maxie's Genovese Profiles

[maxiestern11]

James (Jimmy Bates) Battaglia, a little known “soldier” of the old Genovese Family. Originally from Manhattan, lived for years in Plainview. Known primarily as a bookmaker (horses and sports), a “KG” racking up at least 5 arrests for gambling. He ran/banked his own operation, with LE estimating his gross at $2,000,000. annually (a decent sum for the 1950-60’s). Battaglia owned the Big City Trucking Co. His only other known arrest was for a large-scale “bust out” scam (bankruptcy fraud) of several manufacturing companies for over $150,000. in supplies. He was acquitted of this charge........ seems to have faded from the scene by the early 1980’s. No known date of death.
.............. all are welcome to contribute to this thread!

[maxiestern11]

Vincent (Jimmy Blink) Bivona...... a little known “soldier” in the old Genovese Family. Born 1909 downtown NY. He grew up on Elizabeth Street in Little Italy. He was believed related to Pasquale (Paddy Shacks) Bivona. Jimmy lived in later years on LI, splitting his residence and time between Babylon and Little Italy. Primarily engaged in gambling and narcotics, for which he has arrests. Also, believed by LE to be a strong arm, with arrests for possession of a gun and burglary. Served several short prison terms. Seems to have kept a low profile. By the mid 70’s seems to have slowed down, retiring from active rackets activity.
......... Hope you enjoyed the info. All are welcome to contribute to this thread!

[Pogo The Clown]

He died in 1991.


Pogo

[maxiestern11]

Thanks Pogo

[gohnjotti]

Good work and good information Maxie! Keep up the good work.

[Confederate]

James (Jimmy Bates) Battaglia, a little known “soldier” of the old Genovese Family. Originally from Manhattan, lived for years in Plainview. Known primarily as a bookmaker (horses and sports), a “KG” racking up at least 5 arrests for gambling. He ran/banked his own operation, with LE estimating his gross at $2,000,000. annually (a decent sum for the 1950-60’s). Battaglia owned the Big City Trucking Co. His only other known arrest was for a large-scale “bust out” scam (bankruptcy fraud) of several manufacturing companies for over $150,000. in supplies. He was acquitted of this charge........ seems to have faded from the scene by the early 1980’s. No known date of death.
.............. all are welcome to contribute to this thread!

When LE talks "Gross", they generally mean Gross amount of bets taken in each year. In other words, they are talking about the size of his Business.

[maxiestern11]

Biagio and Charles Lanza..... brothers and little known members of the old Vito Genovese Family. (no known relation to Joseph (Joe Socks) Lanza). Biagio was a long time business agent for Local #60 - Plasterers Union (AFL-CIO). He was investigated several times for union corruption. Once for a sweetheart contract. Another time for having contractors of his local buy all their buildings materials from a building supply firm operated by his brother. Biagio also operated as a bookmaker and policy operator. He had several gambling arrests in this regard.

Charles aka “Johnny Bruno”, was president of Lanco Building Supplies Co., of the Bronx. Lanco was a major supplier to his brother Biagio’s union local. Note the name “Lanco”, a derivative of their family surname “Lanza” and
“company”. Charlie was more the street guy, active in the Bronx gambling rackets. He had a record for robbery, bookmaking (twice), grand larceny (twice), vagrancy, etc. in spite of several convictions neither brother was ever jailed. They both lived Garden City and Malverne, respectively. Believed close to long time Capo Gaetano (Tommy Palmer) Greco. ...... two more low key, long time “soldati” that you never heard of!

[maxiestern11]

Correct, and typically they exaggerate like wild. Builds up the pinch and makes them look like hero’s. And penalty’s are heavier if they prove larger volume. Mostly they bullshit! Lol

[maxiestern11]

Philip (Philly Katz) Albanese - born 1907 on the LES. Had a brother Anthony (Tony Katz), also a Genovese Soldier. Active as Boss of the 4th Ward in lower Manhattan for his regime. He was a major waterfront racketeer and power on the North River, piers 27 & 28 where he held a hidden ownership of a dock-loading firm. Utilized this stevedoring firm to “shakedown” companies on the docks. Active in labor extortion, narcotics, shylocking, strong-arm work. Close associate of Joseph (Joe Socks) Lanza, Rosario (Saro) Mogavero, Ottilio (Frankie the Bug) Caruso, Ignazio (Joe Curly) Agone - his brother in law, Joseph (Joe Beck) Lapi, George (Georgie Hooks) Nobile, among others. Arrest record commences 1925 for robbery (15 years), Heroin Sales (9 months), Tax evasion (5 years), forgery, disorderly conduct. Ran dice games on the North River Piers...... a power and highly respected hoodlum for many years!

[maxiestern11]

Michelino (Mike) Clemente - born 1909 in NYC. Resided on Colonial Rd., Brooklyn, and Point Lookout (summer home). He was the business agent and ‘power’ in Local #856 - International Lomgshormen’s Union. Appointed to his post as caretaker of the ILA local (by Genovese administration) to fill the shoes of Joseph (Socks) Lanza, who was imprisoned on corruption charges (extortion, etc).... until he too was eventually ordered off the docks by the Waterfront Commission. He was a close associate of Saro Mogavero, Ottilio Caruso, Ignazio (Joe Curly) Agone, Joseph (Joe Shep) Schipani, Gaetano (Toddo) Marino, Joseph (Joe Beck) Lapi, Harry Bonsignore,.... and most hoodlums on the LES. He then become the ‘rep’
for a Detroit equipment company that supplied machinery to stevedores on the waterfront. He had a piece of a travel agency that specialized in boat and plane trips to the Mediterranean. Highly respected hoodlum who was active in waterfront rackets; cargo-pier theft, extortion, floating dice games and bookmaking on the docks. Later expanded into the shylock business, supplying the money to several associates to pay off money borrowed from Nicholas (Jiggs) Forlano, a “shylocks shylock” and then became the partner of those associates, receiving a heathy share of all “vigorish” paid into the new partnership. A lengthy arrest record for rape, assault (60 days), disorderly conduct, conspiracy to violate tax laws (operating 28,000 gal. alcohol still - 3 years federal prison), extortion (twice), perjury(2.5-5 years) , violating state tax laws. In 1980 charged in the federal UNIRAC investigation - exposing ILA corruption from the NY to FL docks. Union leader Anthony Scotto and Tino Fuimara among the multitude of defendents charged. Served a significant federal term and by that time he was aging (late 70’s) and faded into retirement.

[maxiestern11]

Frank (Frankie Stutz) Tortorici - born 1925 in East Harlem.
Brother of the notorious Joseph (Joe Stutz) Tortorici. Lived in later years in Atlantic Beach in LI’s Nassau County. Closely associated with labor racketeer Irving Horowitz and Luchese Capo Carmine (Gribs) Tramunti, Robert Rao (Son of notorious Joey Rao), and capo’s Gaetano (Tommy Palmer) Greco and Frank (Cheech) Livorsi. Tortorici was a key figure in Genovese Family labor union operations. He was installed early on as an official of many varied union locals through the years, including; he was Treasurer for Locals # 422, 222, 517, 719 and 815 of the International Production Workers and Sales Employees Union (Independent). This union was cited in federal hearings as mobster dominated, with Frank Fiorello serving as Secretary (he served time for robbery), Robert Rao headed the welfare fund which had control of over $5,000,000. in assets. The locals represented workers in the jewelry and electronics industries. In 1965, 17 workers of a candy factory ridded themselves of the union after a National Labor Relations Board ruled that the union had provided a “sweetheart contract” for company management. Tortorici had no known criminal record. Brother Joe Stutz Tortorici supervised Frank in his union activity for the Genovese Family. It was suspected (but never confirmed) that Frank was a inducted member. But was a documented key “associate” of the family. He lived a comfortable life as the brother of an original member of the family entrusted with supervision of millions in assets for the hierarchy.

[Snakes]

These are great, I just wanted to condense some of the threads. I collapsed them into "parent" threads by family.

[HairyKnuckles]

Vincent (Jimmy Blink) Bivona...... a little known “soldier” in the old Genovese Family. Born 1909 downtown NY. He grew up on Elizabeth Street in Little Italy. He was believed related to Pasquale (Paddy Shacks) Bivona. Jimmy lived in later years on LI, splitting his residence and time between Babylon and Little Italy. Primarily engaged in gambling and narcotics, for which he has arrests. Also, believed by LE to be a strong arm, with arrests for possession of a gun and burglary. Served several short prison terms. Seems to have kept a low profile. By the mid 70’s seems to have slowed down, retiring from active rackets activity.
......... Hope you enjoyed the info. All are welcome to contribute to this thread!

In the 1960s, Bivona´s captain was Pete Defeo. He was moved to be under DeFeo possibly after Generoso Delducca died.

[maxiestern11]

Thanks Knuckles

[HairyKnuckles]

The Tortoricis had a third brother as well, Philip (born around 1930) who was made in the 1970s. He was a trustee of a IBT local union.