Maxie's Bonanno Profiles

[motorfab]

I only know that he was capo in the 70's and that he was demoted after the murder of Galante. And that he is Patrick's father

[thekiduknow]

He’s been mentioned in files relating to the Bonanno War, one actually had him as a “underboss”, of the NY faction while Zicarelli was “underboss” in NJ with Caruso as boss sometime in 67. I don’t fully buy those rankings, but it shows that he was high up during that time.

[maxiestern11]

DeFilippo? I’ll see ok

[maxiestern11]

MATTEO (MATTY) VALVO - born 1909, died 1985, was an influential old-line Bonanno caporegime, Brooklyn based since the 1940’s. (his Brooklyn home was valued at $27,000. in 1970). Valvo inherited the crew of Giovanni (John) Tartamella, after Tartamella had a stroke. Frank Coppa eventually took over the crew from Valvo. Longtime business agent and organizer of the 10,000 member - Novelty & Toy Workers Union, Local #223. Valvo had a prior narcotics conviction 30 years earlier in 1948, that he got a presidential pardon for (the pardon became the subject of a government probe into official corruption years later). Resided for many years at 168 Bay 41st Street, (Bay Ridge) Brooklyn. This is the section of Brooklyn Valvo was most active in. His brother was Benjamin (Coney Island Benny) Valvo (1916-1981), a longtime soldier in that family in his brothers Matteo’s regime. Old time respected member. He was called before the State Legislative Crime Hearings in 1968 & 1970 probing the Bonanno War. He also had been subpoenaed numerous time before Brooklyn and Nassau County grand juries investigating the “Banana War”, being cited for contempt on one occasion after pleading his fifth amendment rights. Valvo was one of 15-20 alleged “Caporegimes” of the family. He attended several commission meetings during the period of conflict for the family; D’Angelo’s Restaurant W.55 St., NYC. (February 11, 1970 meet) at which representatives of the Five Families, namely, Thomas Eboli and Frank Tieri for the Genovese, Carmine Tramunti for the Lucchese,
Gasper DiGregorio and Matteo Valvo for the Bonanno’s attempted resolution of the war. (Valvo was a DiGregorio/Sciacca sympathizer). He also sat in on earlier meetings on Long Island in 1965 when DiGregorio was originally selected to be boss. Matty passed away at the age of 76.

[maxiestern11]

Multigenerational Bonanno Soldier Girolamo (Jerry) Asaro profile........ coming shortly!

[maxiestern11]

GIROLAMO (JERRY) ASARO - born 1915, in Brooklyn (East New York). A longtime veteran Bonanno Family soldier. Resided for years on Sutter Ave., East New York. Asaro was a multigenerational mafioso, his father, grandfather, and uncle before him had been members in the Castellammare del Golfo cosca, where the family hails from. (and Jerry’s son Vincent and grandson Jerry - his namesake, in later years would be sponsored for family membership). He was originally active in the East New York, Brownsville, and Ridgewood sections of Brooklyn. Also active in Ozone Park in Queens where he had relocated after getting married. He later moved into the Long Beach, LI area (241 W. Broadway), where he would reside for many years. (As a side note; in 1962, Asaro was in a very bad three car accident in Ozone Park, that resulted in one driver dying). His activities included: bookmaking, policy, strong-arm enforcer, extortion, suspected narcotics. Asaro was a very active hoodlum, racking up arrests over the years for; operating a still, policy, bookmaking (twice), arson, grand larceny. Convicted for operating a still (60 days), bookmaking (twice) and policy. He owned the Astro Fence Co., of Island Park. In 1952, he was nabbed for the arson of his Ozone Park dress shop (Lee-Anne Dress Shop) to collect on the fire insurance policy. In 1936, arrested for operating a 750 gallon still in W. Islip, and again in 1952 for operating a still in North Babylon with seven other men (among them his brother Michael Asaro and a young Vincent “Jimmy Red” Caserta of the Genovese crew). In 1949, Asaro was among seven Bonanno associates arrested in a raid on the Petri Printing Plant, on Wyckoff Street, in Ridgewood, Brooklyn. Charged with operating a $5,000,000. a year policy ring. (the Italian Lottery). They confiscated policy slips, printing plates and six cars used by the ring. Asaro was a controlling figure in this operation. With the “Bonanno War”, he was suspected of active involvement, siding with the Di Gregorio/Sciacca rebel faction. Asaro found himself under multiple subpoena’s for Brooklyn and Nassau County grand juries. In 1970, he was one of 46 top mob figures from all five families brought before a grand jury probing the mob in general, and the war in particular, including Aniello Dellacroce, Philip Rastelli, Paul Sciacca, Natale Evola,
Benny Aloi, Dominick Scialo, Anthony Crisci, among other top figures. Brooklyn DA Gold eventually charged all 46 in a sweeping indictment for criminal contempt of court. By the mid-late seventies Asaro had slowed down, maybe retiring. He faded from view, maybe tired of all the intrigue of recent years.....No record of his death.

[gohnjotti]

His grandson Jerry still owns Astro Fence to this day. It will be interesting to see if Jerry’s son become involved in the life too - Vincent Asaro’s nephew Ronald Giallanzo had a lot of young guys in his crew too.

[maxiestern11]

Yes, many connected cousins, etc involved over the years. There was also an Andrew Asaro. From massapequa I believe on either the 83 or 88 senate list. Don’t know if they were related

[maxiestern11]

NICHOLAS (NICK THE BATTLER) DE STEFANO - born 1914. Resided for many years in Babylon, LI (55 Scott Ave). FBI #447871, NYPD #B-104328. Identified by LE as a top figure in the Bonanno Family, alleged to have held the position of “captain” for many years. Although low key and unknown to authorities, by 1964, with trouble brewing in the family, DeStefano was exposed as a top figure during mob meetings with other family leaders. Both federal and local authorities started to track his movements (as well as other mob targets). He and Michael Adamo were said to be Acting Boss Paul Sciacca’s main Capo’s on LI. They discovered that he was active in gambling rackets, both bookmaking and numbers for which he had a previous arrest for. DeStefano was suspected of being a partner in a South Shore “numbers” operation in Suffolk County. His activities were alleged to include: bookmaking, policy (numbers), shylocking and extortion. He was officially employed as a salesmen by a construction firm in Nassau County. He had arrests for burglary, policy, attempted extortion, illegally discharging firearms, conservation law violations, civil contempt. He was convicted of burglary and policy but never jailed. The civil contempt charge came from his appearance before a grand jury, investigating the Bonanno Family civil war and several subsequent killings. By late 1968-69, he was under very close scrutiny, as were all Bonanno members, in an attempt by LE to curb the gang violence that was
generating mob killing all over NYC and LI. He was surveilled by agents at the wake for Matteo Di Gregorio in 1969, one of a slew of mobsters from all five families (LE said it was the largest mob turnout for a funeral since the death of Thomas Lucchese in 1967). Known associates included Sciacca - who was a confidant, Gaspare Di Gregorio, Anthony Di Gregorio, Adamo, Sereno Tartamella, James Genna, Joseph Tegano (several listed were alleged soldiers in his crew). DeStefano tried to fade from the FBI’s view and seems to have succeeded. Aside from multiple grand juries he had been subpoenaed to, he was never again charged with a crime.....faded into retirement. There is no dod of his passing.

[maxiestern11]

**Matteo Di Gregorio - was Gaspare’s brother. And the huge turnout from all five families was a clear indication to LE of Gaspare’s standing in the underworld, despite having retired after suffering a heart attack several years before.

[maxiestern11]

ANTHONY (TONY CRISH) CRISCI - born 1911 in Beaverdale, PA. Raised on the LES (171 Norfolk St), where he operated for years, frequenting areas around Clinton St. and Ridge St. He owned a summer home on LI. Later relocated to the exclusive “Beech Hill” section of Yonkers (7 Nantucket Road). This is the former residence of Nicolino (Nick) Alfano - a senior captain in the old Bonanno Family who transferred the home to Crisci before returning to his native Italy. Alfano was probably Crisci’s capo. FBI #995937, NYCPD #74250. He had an arrest record that dated to the depression era (1929) for; assault and robbery, truck hijacking, and served a five year prison term in 1954 on a federal narcotics conviction. He was considered to be an important narcotics importer, supplying large quantities of high-grade heroin to interstate dealers. Crisci was described by the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics in 1968, as allegedly “the largest importer of narcotics into the NY area and a transporter to the West Coast”. He repeatedly pled the fifth amendment before the Joint Legislative Committee investigating organized crime. According to the McClellan Hearings, Crisci was an associate in 1963 of the following mafiosi; Salvatore Poliafico, Salvatore Rizzo, Salvatore Pieri (all from the Buffalo Family), Annunzio Romano, Rocco Mazzie and Michael Erra. In the early 1940’s, Crisci was one of 24 men indicted on charges of alcohol “bootlegging” after a huge still exploded in Yonkers. U.S. Treasury agents said the ring evaded over $1,250,000. in liquor tax revenue. The ring operated from the 1932 to at least 1941 in Yonkers, Harrison and New York City, running alcohol stills including a huge 3,500 gallon still in Manhattan. Other stills were operated in the Bronx, Staten Island and Harrison. Among the 24 accused were Joseph Zingaro, John Zingaro and Anthony Sabia. (so it seems this was a multi-Family cooperation: Gambino, Genovese, Bonanno). During the late-1960’s, Crisci was repeatedly subpoenaed to testify before multiple federal and county grand juries in Brooklyn and Long Island about his knowledge of the Bonanno gang war for control of the family. He was one of several Bonanno members from the upper NYC counties to testify (others being Armando Pollastrino and Bruno Capio)....Crisci seems to have died young in 1971, at age 60.

[maxiestern11]

FRANCESCO (FRANKIE T) MARI - born 1926 in Reggio, Calabria. His family immigrated when Frank was a baby to the LES of Manhattan where he grew up at (124 and 68 Forsythe St.). As an adult, resided at 20 Monroe St., before relocating out to Nassau County’s Searingtown neighborhood (3 Hillsdale Drive). FBI # 4371934, NYPD # 233493. Record dates from 1945 (19 years old) for felonious assault, petty larceny, possessing a gun (twice - served one 3 month term), vagrancy (3 times), grand larceny, suspicion of murder (twice), conspiracy to sell heroin. Frequented the entire lower East Side including: CIA Club at 72 Forsythe St., Vivere Bar, at 192 Second Ave., Sugar Bowl Bar at 305 Broome St., around Mulberry St. and Mott St., all NYC. Also active in the Brooklyn area. Never known to be legitimately employed. Close friend and associate of Anthony Lisi, Frank (Chow) Mancino, Angelo (Little Angie) Tuminaro, Carmine Galante,
Salvatore Giglio, Michele Adamo, Cosmo (Carlie) DiPietro - brother in law, Paul Sciacca, Anthony Di Pasqua. He was active in policy, extortion, shylocking, narcotics and considered a top enforcer (killer) for the family. Considered by the FBN to be a large-scale narcotics trafficker, obtaining supply from Tuminaro and Di Pasqua who in turn dealt with the Cotroni gang in Canada. Mari was inducted by the mid-1950’s as a soldier, operating within a unknown regime until he was catapulted to an Acting Boss position toward the end of the “Banana War”. He was considered a top enforcer during the war and suspect in several gang war hits, including the murder of Samuel (Hank) Perrone on a Brooklyn Street corner. Mari was machine-gunned himself and seriously wounded during the two year conflict. When Paul Sciacca was selected to head the family, he elevated Mari to either the underboss/acting Boss position. By 1969, the Bonanno Family was still not unsettled, with turbulent undercurrent and dissension lurking between many members. It seems that Frank Mari and Michael Adamo made a “power play” for the leadership, seizing it without official sanction of the commission. One day they both were picked up by soldier/driver Frank Bonomo for a prearranged mob meeting, being dropped off by Bonomo at the designated spot..... they never returned. After four days missing, there wife’s called in a missing persons reports to the police dept. That was in 1969, it’s 2019..... 50 years ago! ...... I don’t think they’re coming back! Just another mob tale in the Big Apple....Mari was 42 years old.

[maxiestern11]

MICHAEL (MIKEY BOND) BONFONDEO- born 1936 in NYC. Identified by federal and local authorities as a Bonanno Family associate. Resided at 1077 Martinstein Avenue, Bay Shore, LI. In 1968, Bonfondeo came to the attention of federal authorities during a separate investigation into the activities of then NYC Water Commissioner James L. Marcus (a close aide of Mayor John Lindsey). Marcus and a close associate lawyer Herbert Itkin (a longtime FBI informer), took $40,000. in bribes from Anthony (Tony Ducks) Corallo, a Lucchese Capo and Daniel Motto, a Lucchese associate and head of Local # 350 - Bakery and Confectionary Workers Union (AFL-CIO) to award an $840,000. contract to clean a Bronx city reservoir. The Manhattan DA Frank Hogan charged Bonfondeo in the loanshark/kickback scheme with loaning Marcus $5,000. at 2% interest a week (104% a year). The money was needed by Marcus to shore up his losing stock investment portfolio. Bonfondeo was released on $10,000. bail after being indicted on seven counts of usury, possession of usurious loan records and conspiracy. Besides the 2% weekly interest loan he gave Marcus, he was also accused of making two other loans at a 5% weekly interest rate to several other men. One man Steven Birnbaum from Westchester County received two loans totaling $20,000. in 1965 at (260% a year), another, Jack Glickman, a Bronx building contractor got $3,000. at the 260% annual rate. Bonfondeo had been employed as a salesman by a Brooklyn golf professional shop (1192 Nostrand Avenue) that he owned and operated. Disgraced Commissioner James Marcus was convicted of bribery, conspiracy, accepting illegal gratuities, and related counts. One extra count was for lying to the grand jury when he denied knowing Corallo or Bonfondeo. He served 11 months of a 15 month jail term. No specific info was available on Bonfodeo, but he faded from the mob scene after the fallout and tremendous notoriety of the high profile case. Probable serving a jail term and either keeping his nose clean or ducking his head very well in the following decades, because nothing more was ever heard from him publicly!

[maxiestern11]

James Genna and Steven Menna profiles to follow......

[Eline2015]

Mari was in Mike Consolo crew, who became a capo in 1965. Crew members were Patsy Giganti, Tony Lisi, Mari and Nicholas Marangello