Maxie's Colombo Profiles

[AlexfromSouth]

BENEDETTO (BENNY) ALOI - born 1936 in Brooklyn. Son of Sebastiano (Buster) Aloi, younger brother of Vincent Aloi, both major members of the Colombo family for decades. Aloi operated a florist shop in Brooklyn for many years. Also, owned a limousine service and a “parking lot” attendants service for restaurants, nightclubs, etc. Lived in the Ozone Park section of Queens before relocating to the Floral Park area in the 1960’s. Aloi was active in the numbers racket (policy) with his father for many years. He was also a prominent loan shark, and was cited during the 1970’s senate hearings as one of two men behind the beating of a shylock victim (the other man was identified as Ralph Lombardo - a longtime minion of his father). In the early 1980’s Aloi was one of several indicted in a huge usury ring operated under the cover of a legitimate mortgage-loan company in Lake Success. Co-defendants included Anthony (Tony Nap) Napoli, Michael Franzese, Vincent (Jimmy) Rotondo, and several businessmen. The case was weak and in a flip-flop of the usual, all mob defendants were acquitted while the businessmen got convicted....By the mid-1970’s, with the so-called membership “books” opened, Aloi was officially inducted into the family. He rose to Capo status quickly, and by the late 1980’s became consigliere beside Victor Orena who was named acting boss, helping to run the family for the imprisoned Carmine Persico. This was a precursor to the third Colombo war. He had arrests over the years for policy, forgery, possessing stolen goods, contempt. Aloi was one of several major mob figures charged in the famed “Windows Case” on racketeering charges. Prosecutors alleged this group dominated the NYC window replacement industry at major apartment house buildings over many years, ripping off millions of dollars from the city coffers. Aloi was convicted and sentenced to 17 years (serving appx 15+ yrs in jail). Being released in 2010. He passed away the next year in 2011 at home with his wife and family.

I think Benny was before the 1957 closing of the books

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SIMONE (SAM) ANDOLINO - born 1907 in New Castle, PA. FBI# 506 465 5, NYPD # E-14667. A known gambler (KG). Raised and operated at his life in Brooklyn, NY (Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend sections), and resided at 132 Avenue V. A very close associate and top capo to Joseph Profaci, Boss of that Family. A very low key member, primarily active in the gambling rackets, Andolino operated a bookmaking and policy network, a specialty being the Italian lottery around the Bath Beach area. In 1948, he was among ten seized after four separate raids on locations said to be the base of a $5,000,000. a year lottery ring. One of the largest at that time for that boro, police seized a large printing press, 500lb. paper cutter and 250,000 policy slips. Among the group were several top bosses in the Profaci Family including Salvatore Profaci - Joe’s brother, Giuseppe (Joe) Tipa Sr., Joe Tipa Jr., Philip Mangano, Gaetano Mangano, Anthony D’Amico, Andolino, Philip Fontana (Capo Harry’s brother), Ignazio Mortarano, Iswaldo Mangano. Profaci and Tipa reputed to be the bankers. Andolino, one of several “controllers”. Started an arrest record in the early 1930’s, reflecting numerous arrests on gambling charges. He was a partner for many years in the Andolino and D’Amico Bakery at 651 Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn. He was associated with many top mafiosi including the Profaci brothers, Joe Bonanno, John Oddo, John Ormento, Mike Miranda, Vito Genovese and Anthony Tocco and Dominick Corrado (of Detroit). A Profaci confidant during his tenure as boss, Andolino was demoted to soldier when Joseph Colombo ascended to the leadership. He was already getting older and accepted his reduced responsibilities. Believed to have died by the late 1960’s.

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JOHN (JOHNNY IRISH) MATERA - born 1932 and raised in NYC’s “Little Italy”. He later relocated to the Brooklyn and Queens areas. FBI #392437A, NYPD #B-283313. Close longtime associate of the Colombo Family’s Franzese regime. Matera served for years as Sonny Franzese’s driver and bodyguard. Known as a “piece of work” (real tough guy), by the mid-late 1970’s Matera got “straighted out” (inducted) into the Colombo Family. He would later go on to become a Caporegime, head of a South Florida crew, where he had relocated (1943 NE 175 St., North Miami). During the early and mid 1960’s he was arrested several times for operating robbery crews that targeted high-end heists. He was also charged in the gangland homicide of a notorious informant, Ernest (The Hawk) Rupolo, who was found floating in Jamaica Bay, bound with his body chained from his chest down along his legs to cement blocks attached to his feet so as to make him sink. Despite gun shots to the head and stab wounds to his lungs and stomach Rupolo surfaced. Sonny Franzese was said to have given the order that Matera and others members executed. By 1965, Franzese, Matera, Joseph (Whitey) Florio, William (Red) Crabbe, Thomas Mattio and several others found themselves fighting multiple cases/trials on extortion, a rare stamp heist, several bank robberies and the Rupolo murder. Additionally, Matera and his close associate Gennaro (Big Jerry) Gaultieri, were arrested for being among five armed robbers (Alphonse “Funzi” Terricone was alleged to be a third), who raided the Fontainbeau Hotel in Miami, Florida, early one morning, holding management at bay while gang members cracked open and rifled hundreds of safe deposit boxes of the luxury hotel. Said to have escaped with over $2,000,000. in cash and jewelry. They were later picked up and charged as suspects. Matera was convicted on several cases and given life imprisonment. But Florida law allowed for a parole after ten years, so by the mid 1970’s Johnny Irish was on the streets again. A very ambitious mafioso, Matera quickly developed and expanded his crew and operations.His activities were reported to include bookmaking, loansharking, floating dice and card games, after hours clubs, strong-arm, extortion, and narcotics (cocaine, marijuana and heroin). Being based in Florida was a perfect springboard to haul drugs into South Florida from the Bahamas, then onto New York City for distribution. Johnny was riding high and making a ton of money, then something bad happened. What that exact something was, is not known. But upon taking a flight to New York to meet mob superiors in the Colombo Family, Johnny Irish disappeared! It was never established if he got whacked out in NYC or Florida, but John Matera was never seen again. The year was 1981, Matera was 59 years old....
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(side note: LCNBios reported that Matera was also a participant in the 1976 murder of John “Mooney” Cutrone in Brooklyn).

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DOMINICK (LITTLE DOM) CATALDO - born 1936 on the (LES), raised in East New York, Brooklyn. Later on moved to Queens, Dom eventually relocated out to Valley Stream, LI (1096 Ashley Drive). FBI #139341D, NYPD #431893. Longtime Colombo family soldier. Close to the Persico faction of the family. Active in gambling, shylock, extortion, truck hijacking, high-end robberies, fencing stolen property, strong-arm, suspected narcotics. He was a very active member and well liked. In 1981, he was convicted of possession/sale of guns with silencers to an undercover agent. He received eight years in jail. Operated both in NYC and South Florida where it is said he would set-up and rob drug dealers shipments (cocaine and marijuana). Alleged to have killed several drug dealers, burying them in the Florida swamps where alligators would eat them (disposing of evidence). In 1984, he got caught up in the famed “Colombo Family” Trial with Carmine Persico, Gennaro Langella, Andrew Russo, Vito Pitta, Dominic Montemarano, Frank Falanga, among others. Convicted and sentenced in the late 1980’s to 14 years in prison. Little Dom got cancer and died in prison on August 22, 1990, he was only 54 years old.

[Super]

Top info max intrested in dom read a little about him in joe dogs book and sintatra club any info on the brother and his associate jackie donelly? Thanks

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I believe Joseph Cataldo had retired to Florida. Jackie
Donnelly I’m not familiar

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Salvatore (Lefty) Mangiamelli and Salvatore (Sonny) Pepitone profiles to follow......

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JOHN (MOONEY) CUTRONE - born 1922 in Brooklyn. A veteran “soldier” in the old Profaci Family, having been inducted in the early 1950’s. Lived for many years in the South Brooklyn (Red Hook) area. He eventually relocated for a time out to LI, living in West Amityville (75 Marine St.). LE pressure made him move back to Brooklyn. A longtime member of the old Gallo gang, and a key figure (one of the few made men who stayed with the Gallo’s) in the Gallo-Profaci gangland war during the late-1950’s/early 1960’s. Jailed with 14 other Galloites in a conspiracy to murder the Joseph Profaci - the mob leader. He had been arrested 12 times for desertion, possession of narcotics, consorting, vagrancy, possession of a gun, murder conspiracy, contempt of court. Convicted of attempted possession of drugs (1 year in jail), AWOL (5 years in the stockade) and conspiracy (3 months). With the death of faction leader Larry Gallo in 1968, and Joey Gallo’s murder in 1972, the Gallo mob was losing its strength and membership. Cutrone was known as a cantankerous mob member, who even after peace was made with the Colombo (Profaci) family leaders, was always scheming and not trusted. In the early 1970’s, while eating a hotdog from a street stand on a Brooklyn corner, a sniper shot Mooney from a nearby rooftop, hitting him in the shoulder and arm. Several years later in 1976, he was staked out and shot to death by a Colombo hit squad (said to include Hugh “Apples” McIntosh and John “Irish” Matera). Considered a “cleaning up of the house” by the Colombo leadership of the last of the Gallo “troublemakers”. Cutrone was only 52 years old.
PS: two additional Gallo “problems” were released and transferred to the Genovese Family - Albert (Kid Blast) Gallo and Frank (Punchy) Illiano went on to become inducted soldiers in the family and thrived in the following decades running their own crew under the Genovese flag.

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SALVATORE (SONNY) PEPITONE - born 1924 in Brooklyn. Resided for many years at (7309 12th Avenue).
Owned a summer home in Lake Grove, LI (73 Bayard Street). Originally a Profaci Family associate who could have been a formerly inducted “soldier” (no positive info on him). Pepitone had switched allegiance to the Gallo gang during the first gang war in 1960 for control of the Brooklyn rackets. He became a key member of the Gallo gang. Close associate of the Gallo brothers, Vincent (Chico) Regina, Anthony (Fat Tony) Regina, Frank (Punchy) Illiano, Salvatore (Sally Boy) Mangiamelli, John (Mooney) Cutrone, Anthony (Abby Shots) Abbatemarco, among others in both factions of the family. Active in bookmaking, policy, strong-arm, extortion, hijacking, prostitution and shylocking. He was suspected of having a hidden interest in a Suffolk County bar, several Brooklyn bars and a trucking company. He was identified by an informant as an importer of prostitutes for the Gallo’s. He had an police record of eight arrests for bookmaking, grand larceny, forgery, receiving stolen goods, extortion, vagrancy (twice), disorderly conduct. Convicted of bookmaking but never jailed. During the Gallo-Profaci War Pepitone was shot at several times. It is thought that he may have switched sides several times during the war. Once in Queens while he was driving on the Belt Pky., and on a Brooklyn street. After the attempted strangling of Larry Gallo at the Sahara Lounge on Utica Ave., Sonny’s girlfriend (Lila Luftschein) was put under 24-hour police guard after it was suspected that she knew who the assailants were who shot patrolman Melvin Blei, who had thwarted the murder attempt. In 1965, Pepitone was one of three hoods arrested in Nassau by DA William Cahn, as part of a mob “debt collection ring”. The men were nabbed after threatening and extorting several small business owners who owed money from various debts. The modus operandi was a simple “pay up or get your head busted open”! Also in 1965, he was in a Brooklyn bar when FBI agents grabbed Robert Haas and Seymour Waldman, for handling and selling $49,000. of stolen securities. Sonny was thought to be behind the scheme but was not arrested (although present) for lack of evidence. Pepitone was repeatedly questioned during the gang war for several gangland killings, both by the Brooklyn DA, and the Nassau and Suffolk County authorities. He also figured into the mob killing of Louis (Cadillac Louie) Mariani on Rt.347 in Port Jefferson, LI.... with the passing of the gang war, and the killing of (Crazy Joe) Gallo, Pepitone seems to have kept a low profile in later years, avoiding any additional arrests or public exposure. Believed to have passed in 1997, but no dod has been positively confirmed.

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JOHN MALIZIA - born in 1919 on Manhattan’s West Side (200 W. 69th Street). alias “Joseph DeBella”. Raised and operated by the “West Side” waterfront piers (worked as a longshoreman). He later relocated to Bayside, Queens (42-11 206th Street), before moving by the late 1950’s out to Westbury, LI (14 Jackie Drive). A former professional boxer. Malizia was identified by authorities as a Colombo Family associate. Malizia was a very active hoodlum, involved over the years in activities including bookmaking, policy (numbers), loan sharking, hijacking, narcotics, strong-arm tactics and extortion. His arrest record started in 1941 for felonious assault, policy, bookmaking, hijacking, assault (twice), disorderly conduct, narcotics conspiracy (twice), racketeering, conspiracy, horse drugging, attempted interference with a sporting event. He numbered among his associates Alexander (Al Ross) Rosato, Michael (Mike Rosie) Maione, Robert (Bobby Green) Falvo, Dominick Santoro, Joseph (Joe Nap) Napolitano, Frank Costanzo, Lawrence Quartiero, In 1954, Malizia was shot in the stomach and seriously wounded in a Manhattan bar room brawl. When questioned by police, he denied knowing who had shot him. Malizia, a heavy gambler all his life, would go on in future years to become involved in several race-fixing scandals. Indicted in 1966 and again in 1983 with several other hoodlums for attempting to fix harness races at both Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceways (co-conspirators in 1966 included Falvo and Santoro. In 1983, Costanzo and Quartiero). In 1971, he was one of several organized crime figures indicted in “Operation Flanker”, a federal investigation into narcotics trafficking (others included Michael “The Sailor” Casale, Paul Sciacca, Eugene Ciuzio and Ralph “Ronnie” Esposito). Charged with heroin conspiracy, eventually, all indicted had the charges dismissed. In 1979, he was again arrested for a drug conspiracy (quaalude pills). Again, the charges were dismissed. In 1983, he was accused of being the principal behind a horse race-fixing scheme, in which grooms were bribed and threatened to allow Malizia and associates access to the barns where they shot-up drugs into horses, and then made exotic bets on various trifecta and daily double combinations. Soon a groom ran to the FBI exposing the scheme. Indicted, tried and convicted, Malizia, Costanzo and Quartiero received three years in prison. But the convictions were all overturned on appeal..... seems to have kept a low profile in later years. Malizia is believed to have died in 2011.

[ATTHEBARBERSHOP]

Would that be Frank ziganette Ziggy costanzo

[ATTHEBARBERSHOP]

Many South Brooklyn guys in 80s stayed in a bar on Smith street i cannot remember the name of bar

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SALVATORE (LEFTY) MANGIAMELLI - born 1929, and raised in Brooklyn. alias “Sally Boy”. NYPD #B-246874. Reputed to have been a long time “soldier” in the old Gallo mob of the Profaci/Colombo Family. During the Gallo-Profaci gang wars of the early 1960’s, he was alleged to be a very active shooter, involved in several gangland killings. In 1963, out in Port Jefferson, on LI, Profaci hitmen
Anthony (Fat Tony) Regina and John (Moose) Battista shot into a moving car on Rt. 347, killing the driver, Louis (Cadillac Louie) Mariani and wounding Francis A. Getch (both Gallo loyalists). Also in the car was Louise Mangiamelli (Lefty’s wife). Police theorized that the intended target had been Lefty Mangiamelli, and Mariani was killed by mistake. He was one of the top Gallo hoods who “holed up” at 51 President St., the Gallo compound designed like a fortress (protective chicken wire on all windows to guard against hand grenades being thrown, armed gunmen on the roof 24/7, etc.), during the height of the mob war. In 1961, Mangiamelli, Angelo Parfumi and Larry (Big Lolly-pop) Carna were shot at from a moving car near President street as they were walking to their car. Nine bullets were pegged at them. Carna was wounded in the ankle. In 1965, he was one of 17 hoods charged and with conspiracy to murder Joseph Profaci and various members of the Gallo opposition. All were jailed for 3-6 months upon conviction to get them “off the streets” as the police commissioner said. (included were Larry Gallo, Albert Gallo, Gennaro Basciano and Frank Illiano). Then in 1971, he was implicated in a huge $750,000. jewelry robbery at the L.I. Diamond Exchange in Garden City, NY. A Colombo associate, Ralph Esposito conspired with Robert Aaron, the manager of the diamond exchange to pull a fake robbery and steal the jewelry. When Esposito hesitated, Aaron went to another hood named Robert Viggiano of Brooklyn to pull the heist (Viggiano was Mangiamelli’s in-law and family associate). The thieves used Mangiamelli to dispose of the jewels for $160,000. in a “foreign market”. Upon learning of Aaron’s duplicity, Esposito threatened his life if he didn’t receive a full share of the proceeds of the score. With Esposito’s threatening to kill Aaron, and causing problems, Viggiano went to Joe Colombo himself for advise. Colombo advised to give $2,000. cash to Esposito, who wasn’t happy but took the money and left. Then, Esposito and Aaron approached Louis Savel, the exchange owner, and told him that Esposito could get the jewels back for $150,000. cash. Savel went to Lloyd’s of London, who had insured the jewels, to see if they would pay the funds....They refused! The FBI was called in, and everybody got arrested (Colombo included). It became a major indictment and case for Nassau DA Cahn and the federal authorities. Had Colombo not been shot and incapacitated at the Italian American Unity Day rally later that summer, Esposito, Aaron, Viggiano, and possibly Mangiamelli probably would have been killed for getting a Family boss involved in the mess. In 1972, Mangiamelli was again indicted. This time with Gennaro Ciprio for conspiracy to receive and fence $720,000. in stolen securities. Ciprio was gunned down and murdered only several months after the indictments were returned. He was primarily active in gambling, fencing of stolen goods, shylocking, truck hijacking. By the late 1960’s, also suspected of handling-fencing stolen securities. He had an arrest record for assault, consorting with known criminals, conspiracy to commit murder, grand larceny and conspiracy, possession of stolen goods (the $750,000. in jewels), theft and disposal of stolen securities ($720,000. in stocks). He served several prison terms for the above cases. Believed to have moved to South Florida (Fort Lauderdale). No dod was available, so Lefty may still be kicking down in the sunshine state!

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JOSEPH (LITTLE JOEY) BRANCATO - born 1917 in Brooklyn (Greenpoint) section. By the mid-1950’s he had relocated to Middle Village section (61-26 75th Place) of Queens.
FBI #4939580, NYPD #B-430316. Reputed to have been a veteran soldier and “acting captain” for the John (Sonny) Franzese regime (one of the most powerful in the Family). Identified by the authorities as Franzese’s closest associate. For many years Brancato handled the shylock “book” and gambling operations for Franzese in the Greenpoint-Williamsburg areas. His close associates included; Franzese, Joseph (Jojo) Vitacco, Carmine (Tutti) Franzese, Carmine Scotti, John (Johnny Irish) Matera, Gennaro (Jerry) Galtieri, Modesto (Duke) Santoro, John (Johnny Tarzan) Lusterino, Dominick (Mimi) Scialo and Vincent Aloi. Brancato kept a very low-key profile, which enabled him to operate with minimal interference from LE. Held interests in the Timm Trucking Corp., of Maspeth for many years. This firm was active hauling dresses in NYC’s “garment district”. In 1960, during an arrest, he listed his occupation as an “organizer” of Local #88 - Amalgamated Production Workers Union. When Franzese was jailed for fifty years on federal bank robbery conspiracy in 1970, Brancato took over control of the regime (a very large crew active in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island). By the early 1970’s, after Colombo’s shooting, he was elevated to be the “Acting Boss” of the entire Family. During his tenure, Brancato is said by authorities to have ordered the gangland killings of John Lusterino and Dominick Scialo (by Charles “Moose” Panarella and Brancato himself). As the Carmine Persico regime came into power, Brancato was forced to “step down” from the boss position. He subsequently was placed with the Jerry Langella crew. He had arrests for
assault, gun possession, contempt of court, disorderly conduct, running a dice game and usury (shylocking). Convictions for possession of a weapon, dice game, contempt of court (30 days), and usury (one year). In 1960, Brancato, (Sonny) Franzese and nephew Carmine (Tutti) Franzese were indicted for refusing to answer questions before a Kings County grand jury probing gambling rackets in the borough, after being among 25 men arrested at a dice game at the Cafe Royale (8022 New Utrecht Ave). In 1966, he was charged with consorting with known criminals after being caught in a midtown Manhattan diner with Gennaro (Big Jerry) Galtieri, who was suspected of having just pulled off a $2,000,000. (cash and jewels) armed-robbery of over 70 safe deposit boxes at a plush Miami hotel - The Harbor Island Spa Hotel (the other diners arrested were John Franzese and Carmine Scotti). Other suspects in the hotel heist indicted were John Matera and Alphonse Terricone. In 1976, he was surveilled attending the funeral for Family Boss Carlo Gambino. Accompanying Brancato was Tutti Franzese and Joseph LaRosa.
From the late 1970’s through 1989 when he died, Brancato operated in a very low profile style, “Little Joey” holding court at Crisci’s Restaurant on Lorimer Street in his old stomping grounds of his boyhood Greenpoint
neighborhood. He was 72 year old!

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FRANK CARIONE - born 1930 in Brooklyn. By the early 1960’s he resided in Commack, LI (44 Bethany Drive). Identified as an associate of the Colombo Family, he and his brothers Anthony and Joseph were active in the Long Island carting industry. Activity: garbage rackets. Frank served as president of the Suffolk Cartmen’s Association. He operated Riteway Carting Corp., of Terryville. He was subpoenaed by a federal grand jury investigating the garbage rackets. During the early 1960’s, he was picked up, questioned and released by the district attorney’s rackets squad about Suffolk bombing incidents involving two garbage firms. Also questioned in 1966 about beatings, arsons and intimidation of rival carters. He was an associate of mob capo Carmine (The Snake) Persico and his cousin Andrew Russo, and garbage racketeers Angelo and Vincent Garofalo. Frank Carione had an arrest record for assault, abduction and rape. He was convicted of abduction (1 year in jail and a $300. fine). By the late-1970’s Carione and his brother Anthony relocated to South Florida, where they started a new garbage carting business. Seems to have kept away from public exposure. No more was heard about him. No dod is available.