Maxie's Bonanno Profiles

[maxiestern11]

FRANCESCO (FRANKIE CARROLL) GAROFALO - born 1891 in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. Naturalized in 1931. He was a “powerhouse” in his own right, a highly respected and feared leader. Confidant and advisor to Bonanno for many years. Had a kid brother Vincent who was wounded with Vincent (Lefty) Cassese during the Bonanno War. By that time Frank had relocated back to Sicily, where he became a power within the local Castellammare cosca. He was highly suspected of being the “anchor” of a multi national, multi-family narcotics conspiracy with the Bonanno Family leading the troops. Held ownership interests in several large real estate property holdings, and the High Grade Packing Co., of Merced, California. High Grade was suspect as a conduit for heroin trafficking activity. Before going back to live in Sicily, Garofalo resided for many years on the upper east side of Manhattan, at 339 E. 58th Street, and maintained an apartment in California as well. Although a suave, educated and polished man, Garofalo was a top killer and enforcer, suspected of ordering the execution type killing of Carlo Treasca, an anti-fascist publisher in 1943. This killing was suspected as a favor for Benito Mussolini, and carried out by a young Carmine (Lilo) Galante and his buddy and sidekick, Joseph (Joe Beck) Di Palermo, a Lucchese tied member from downtown Elizabeth Street in Little Italy. Garofalo has been arrested once in 1926 in NYC for bootlegging. Otherwise, he kept such a low profile as to be a virtual unknown outside the world of OC. He attended the Binghamton NY mob meeting in 1956. Close associates included Joe Bonanno, Galante, William Tocco of Detroit and Robert Dionisio of Colorado (a suspected member). In closing, Garofalo was considered one of the top leaders of LCN in both the United States and Italy until his death.

[maxiestern11]

FRANCESCO (FRANKIE CARROLL) GAROFALO - born 1891 in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. Naturalized in 1931. He was a “powerhouse” in his own right, a highly respected and feared leader. Confidant and advisor to Bonanno for many years. Had a kid brother Vincent who was wounded with Vincent (Lefty) Cassese during the Bonanno War. By that time Frank had relocated back to Sicily, where he became a power within the local Castellammare cosca. He was highly suspected of being the “anchor” of a multi national, multi-family narcotics conspiracy with the Bonanno Family leading the troops. Held ownership interests in several large real estate property holdings, and the High Grade Packing Co., of Merced, California. High Grade was suspect as a conduit for heroin trafficking activity. Before going back to live in Sicily, Garofalo resided for many years on the upper east side of Manhattan, at 339 E. 58th Street, and maintained an apartment in California as well. Although a suave, educated and polished man, Garofalo was a top killer and enforcer, suspected of ordering the execution type killing of Carlo Treasca, an anti-fascist publisher in 1943. This killing was suspected as a favor for Benito Mussolini, and carried out by a young Carmine (Lilo) Galante and his buddy and sidekick, Joseph (Joe Beck) Di Palermo, a Lucchese tied member from downtown Elizabeth Street in Little Italy. Garofalo has been arrested once in 1926 in NYC for bootlegging. Otherwise, he kept such a low profile as to be a virtual unknown outside the world of OC. He attended the Binghamton NY mob meeting in 1956. Close associates included Joe Bonanno, Galante, William Tocco of Detroit and Robert Dionisio of Colorado (a suspected member). In closing, Garofalo was considered one of the top leaders of LCN in both the United States and Italy until his death.

[maxiestern11]

He sounds like an interesting guy. The type it would be interesting to develop a full profile on. He could be subject #1 for the new thread I suggested ..... Sleepers - unknown members development profile. Low key, little known guy who may be a good first subject

[CabriniGreen]

Garafolo is a guy I've always found particularly interesting.... he was close to the man who had the either the largest construction company, or the largest Italian owned construction company, I forget which off the top of my head.

Generosso Pope was his name, I think. In that movie dramatization, they made it seem the Tresca murder was related to the pressure he was putting on businessmen like Pope, who were close to the mafia.

I always wondered why the Bonnanos weren't bigger in construction, just based on Pope.

I agree, hes a VERY underrated figure in LCN history... seemed to be very powerful, linked to politics and big business on both sides of the Atlantic...

[CabriniGreen]

Oh, forgot to add..

I became interested in Garofolo because of his involvement with the Tresca murder.

I never understood why Vito Genovese would order a Bonnano soldier ( Galante , not one of his own men...) to kill Tresca. So when I got the Garofolo angle, it seemed to make more sense, at least to me.

Maybe Garofolo and Genovese had a mutual enemy, but it made more sense to me for Garofolo, ( He was Genoveses equal in rank) to order Galante to do it....

[maxiestern11]

Genovese has fled to Italy during the WWII years. He grew close to Benito Mussolini. Gave Mussolini $250,000. Cash “goodwill” money. When Genovese was captured and brought back to the states to stand trial for the Boccia murder, he later ordered Tresca’s murder as another favor to Mussolini. Tresca was “anti fascist”. Against Mussolini understand?

[CabriniGreen]

I knew all that already....

It just made sense to me, once Garofolos involvement became known to me....

That's why I said he and Genovese had a mutual enemy....

[CabriniGreen]

I guess I wasnt clear, I never understood why the order came from Genovese to a Bonanno button, but with Garofolos involvement with fascist, it made sense.....

[CabriniGreen]

Other reason I found the guy interesting is he was underboss before Galante... ( I think Bonaventre was after him, but they both seemed to go back to Sicily around the same time frame..)

I always wondered if Galante " came from Gafofolo" more than he was a Bonnano protege...

[CabriniGreen]

Bonnano seemed to shun the guy...

[CabriniGreen]

You have a bio for John Bonaventre?

[maxiestern11]

I hear ya and Di Palermo accompanying Galante n the hit. But I think several things may be at play here. Tresca is no poker, he’s a major name. So Commission approval would def be required. Maybe it was a multi family hit. Several bosses signing off on it. And each offering a man for the assignment. And remember Joe Beck was a very close buddy of Lilo. So he chose Joe for a sidekick and I’m sure had other varied top guys as crash cars etc

[maxiestern11]

Piker. Lol.
And although you see several families here, guys end up in different crews but may be otherwise close buddies understand. And lifelong running partners on things,

[CabriniGreen]

@Maxiestern11

I get you.... This was one topic that baffled me for a long time, the Tresca thing.

Also, for a long time, ( still, to this day..) I was VERY confused about the Bonnano underbosses. After Garofolo, it was confusing to me... Was it Bonaventre, Galante, or Johnny Burns? All three? I could never get it straight.... Maybe B. knows...

[maxiestern11]

When a family has a massive conflict of leadership, and violent strife as the Bonanno’s did. You don’t rebound from that quickly. It took many years, and with split leadership, unproven leaders, and the intrigue that goes with it, the administration positions; acting positions, etc., underbosses, consigliere’s, capo’s, are often set in shifting sands. with many changes until a comfortable fit is established. Remember, Bosses or acting bosses pick their personal “underboss” or (second), and capo’s are named and broken at will.