maxiestern11 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 15, 2019 5:10 pm
GENNARO (JERRY) MANCUSO - born 1926 in NYC. A reputed Family Soldier. Nephew of the notorious murdered Gambino captain Vincent (Jimmy Jerome) Squillante. Brother of soldier Aniello (Wahoo) Mancuso, both of whom were notorious garbage racketeers. Resided for many years in Patchogue, LI (3 Lake Court). Jerry’s activities included: garbage racketeering, shakedowns and extortion, shylocking. He was the former boss of the Nassau Intercounty Cartmen’s Assn., an industry trade group, that represented Long Island garbage companies (he was installed there by his uncle Vincent Squillante). He helped his uncle, and eventually his brother control the garbage industry monopoly enjoyed by both the Gambino and Colombo families (they shared domination on LI). He had a minor arrest and conviction record for disorderly conduct and traffic scofflaw. After being ousted from the trade group and intense LE scrutiny of the industry, Mancuso seems to have stepped back from active interest in the garbage racket, although his brother “Wahoo” did continue to be a force in Long Island garbage industry rackets through the 1980’s. Jerry faded from the scene, living quietly until his death in 2012.
Jerry was active after the 80s and maybe even until his death, in some capacity.
Jerry got a 26-month sentence for loansharking in 1993. Gambino associate, Steven "Guappo" Fortunato also got 18 months i think in the same case. BOP says Jerry was released from federal prison in 1996.
Hippy Zanfardino and Enzo Stagno were his sons-in-law, so I would assume he had some sort of contact with them after his release.
ANTHONY (TONY PEP) TRENTACOSTA - born in 1940 in Brooklyn (East New York section). Moved to Ozone Park (169-11 140th Ave), in Queens by the late 1960’s. A documented (inducted) “soldier” in the Gambino Family. Anthony was primarily involved in gambling (policy), dice and card games and shylock activities over the years, operating in the Brooklyn, South Queens and Long Island sections of the NYC. He started out in a street gang during the 1950’s, which was a big social problem of the era. Arrested in 1956 in Rosesale, Queens with 14 other youths 14-19 years old during what police later said was preparation for a “rumble” with another rival gang. Dressed in the “outfit of the day” (leather jackets, dungarees, motorcycle boots, etc), they were found in possession of “homemade” blackjacks, chains, switchblades and lead pipes. They were charged with weapons possession and unlawful assembly. Then in 1960, at age twenty, he and another man named Alfred DiMichele were arrested on burglary charges after police caught them in a Woodhaven, Queens bar (87-01 91st Ave) after closing, attempting to steal several cases of whiskey. They had tripped a silent alarm alerting the cops.... By the mid-1960’s, he had advanced to more sophisticated activities. In 1966, after a police raid on an Ozone Park apartment (137-20 Lafayette St), which was where Trentacosta lived at the time, he was arrested with Gambino soldier Anthony (Tony Lee) Guerrieri on gambling charges for operating a $3,000. a day “numbers” ring. They were found in possession of 120,000 policy slips, two adding machines, $1,863. cash, 150 envelopes holding the policy slips and a loaded pistol. Police had been watching the pair for several weeks before obtaining a search warrant. Trentacosta was additionally charged with gun possession. A close associate of Anthony (Fat Andy) Ruggiano, who is believed to have been his first Capo. For years he operated a private mob social club in the Franklin Square area, where he operated weekly high-stakes card games. Became close to Carmine Fatico, John Gotti, and others in that regime, which was originally based out of his East New York neighborhood, and had relocated to the Ozone Park section. Fatico ran the “Bergin Hunt & Fishing Club”, a notorious mob social club on 101st Avenue in Ozone Park. In 1977, out in the Huntington section of Suffolk County, Trentacosta became involved in an investigation into “floating crap games” being run by several of his close associates, including John (Johnny Boy) Ambrosio, a mob associate who in later years would be inducted and raise to Capo status. Brought before a grand jury to answer questions, he was indicted for contempt after refusing to testify. Anthony was one of many arrested during a gambling raid on a Mulberry Street gambling den in 1980. It was a high-stakes “dice game” that drew all the underworld’s glitterati. Because of the top mobsters detained, the story ran in all the newspapers of the day.
Trentacosta had an arrest record starting from 1956 for; weapons possession, unlawful assembly, burglary and possession of burglar tools (a screwdriver and tire iron), policy, possession of policy slips, possessing a gun, operating a dice game, criminal contempt of court,
racketeering, and racketeering conspiracy. By the mid-1980’s he was officially “made” (inducted) into the Gambino Family. Operating his own crew of associates, using his Franklin Square social club as a base. He served under Capo Peter Gotti. Soon he expanded activities, investing in a chain of bagel stores in Manhattan. He also became engaged in the “gasoline bootlegging” racket, a massive tax-evasion scheme involving all five NY families. Trentacosta became the “point man” and overseer for the Gambino’s in partnership with a friend, soldier Alex (Black Alex) Morelli. By all accounts, “Tony Pep” was earning big money for himself and his crime family. Considered a “money maker” and smooth operator who preferred to “finesse” things as opposed to strong-arm methods used by many of his mob brethren..... as though he didn’t have enough operations in play at this time, another major money-maker fell into his lap. He became acquainted with a young man by the name of John Porcaro (who years later would disappear forever), who with several brothers operated several large moving and storage firms. First in NYC, then relocating to South Florida, Porcaro was a very astute businessman, but also a tremendous scam artist. He ran these various companies in a “wild, cowboy” fashion, scamming the public while making millions of dollars, then closing or bankrupting the firms, only to open up again under a new corporate name. Father & Son Moving-Storage, Nice Jewish Boy Moving, Family Moving Corp., were just a few of many such firms. Trentacosta became his “rabbi” and protector. A schemer such as Porcaro needed a protector against his many enemies. He “gave” Tony Pep his own moving and storage firm in Atlanta, Georgia, to operate, and made him a “full” partner in all his operations. So much money was generated by the approximate 20 or so moving firms he ran, that Pep decided to move down to Georgia where he bought a mansion, acquired his own stable of horses, purchased large tracts of land to develop, and rode around in a $250,000. “Corniche” Rolls Royce.
Tony Pep was becoming a “country squire”, and loving every minute of it! There was so much LE “heat” back in New York City on the Gambino Family (largely generated by Gotti peacocking around like a movie star) that his move south was a perfectly timed exit and reprieve from all the hustle and pressure of that era.... before long, the Gambino administration asked Trentacosta to oversee their rackets being run in the Florida area (Fort Lauderdale and surrounding towns). He would split his time between Atlanta and Ft. Lauderdale as required, picking up a girlfriend (cumare) or two along the way for a little extra curricular enjoyment while away from home. But some of his associates were less than savvy or experienced mob denizens, “loose cannons” would be a better analogy for them. Namely Freddy Massaro, a transplanted New Yorker was his main affiliate. Massaro thought he had become another “Al Capone” under Tony Pep’s wing, and started running foolish and dangerous scams (check frauds, prostitution, drugs, etc), and took into his confidence low caliber street urchins. Before long he and some associates were indicted for the murder of a topless dancer, and other crimes. The FBI indicted Trentacosta as well. Although he actually had little knowledge or involvement, but as their superior, he was tainted and connected by the conspiracy laws. They were all tried and convicted in federal court down in Ft. Lauderdale and sentenced to prison. Massaro receiving life, and Tony Pep receiving eight years. He died in 2005 in federal prison while serving his sentence....Tony Pep was only 65 years old.
Great info on tony pep didnt have a clue that he had that much history max. Throwin a few out max anthony coppola, joe locasico, paulo gambino, olympia garafola, mario traina, billy bats, angelo bruno, thomas massoto sorry for any wrong spelling. Keep em coming max.
No worries max thanks for the great info love your write ups ive been reading and researching at least 15 years and aint found half of what you have respect buddy.
Thank you very much for that vote of confidence. I wish others would give me some feedback, good or bad (hopefully good lol), so that I can gauge interest and maybe modify my posts accordingly where I feel it’s appropriate......
Super, read my DeCavalcante posts ok. I’ve been working on them all day, just put em up a few minutes ago! That will be a new focus of mine. For a few weeks at least
Have already max this is the best mob site on the planet and im sure every ones read your work and your get that feedback your a great addition to the site.
maxiestern11 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:27 pm
Thank you very much for that vote of confidence. I wish others would give me some feedback, good or bad (hopefully good lol), so that I can gauge interest and maybe modify my posts accordingly where I feel it’s appropriate......
I enjoy reading your posts on these guys, great work.
PASQUALE RUFFINO - born 1929 in NYC. By the mid-1960’s he resided on LI in Smithtown (98 Hilltop Drive). Identified as a Gambino Family “associate” from the Bronx, who police believed had been “proposed” for formal induction to soldier. Activities: narcotics trafficking (wholesaler), strong-arm. Associates included capo Rocco Mazzie. He was arrested in Queens in 1969, and charged with another man, Frank Napolitano, with a conspiracy to murder a mob-connected dope peddler who defaulted on a $14,500. narcotics debt to mob higher-ups. The plot was exposed through court-appointed wire-taps that caught Ruffino in conversation discussing the murder plot. The two would-be assassins were caught red handed in Queens as they lay in wait for their prey, heroin peddler Joseph Williams, who was also charged with narcotics and weapons violations. Arrested three times on charges of juvenile delinquency (federal), sale of heroin, conspiracy to commit murder, gun possession. He was convicted of heroin sale (served 7.5 years in prison), and murder conspiracy (no court recorded sentence was available).....No additional information about Ruffino was available, including a dod.
MICHAEL (MIKE THE GEEP) SEDOTTO- born 1920 in NYC. Resided for many years in the Bronx (2715 DeWitt Place). FBI # 3242790, NYPD # B-246243. A FBI documented soldier in the Anastasia /Gambino Family of LCN.
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Activities: narcotics, policy (lottery), bookmaking, high-end robberies, dice games.
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Note: Mike had a brother, Antonio (Tony the Geep) Sedotto, who also was a member (later elevated to captain) in this family. By the early-1960’s Tony moves to Long Beach, LI (92 Oregon Street). Said to be active in gambling, narcotics and business infiltration rackets. He had three arrests for: rape, assault and robbery, bookmaking. Convicted of bookmaking, assault and robbery (served an indeterminate jail term).
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Associates included: his brother Tony, Alfred Mauriello (boxer Tami Mauriello’s brother), Joseph (Gijio) Barra, Rocco Barra, capo Rocco Mazzie, Vincent (Jimmy Feet) Panebianco, Michael Maione, James Massi.
Probably served under either his brother or Mazzie.
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Criminal record commences 1937; possessing burglary tools, felony assault, perjury, probation violation, heroin conspiracy and sale, bookmaking.
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Had interests in a Bronx dress factory (owner-operator).
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Partners with his brother Tony, they operated almost exclusively in the East Bronx section of the borough, controlling a numbers operation (the NY number and handled the Italian lottery from Italy).
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Had a piece of a floating dice game in the Bronx in conjunction with several other mafiosi including Michael (Mike Rosie) Maione - Genovese soldier and
James (Jimmy Ward) Massi - Gambino soldier.
Also alleged to traffic in wholesale quantities of heroin, for which he had an arrest and conviction.
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By the late-1970’s no more is heard from Sedotto....No dod available.
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