TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS OF BEING A BONANNO!

[maxiestern11]

THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF BEING A BONANNO!
———-
During the “Bonanno War” years and directly thereafter - 1966-1971 - many active members and associates from New York City’s five-boro’s and outer environs (Long Island, Westchester and NJ) who were subpoenaed to testify before both the Nassau and Kings County Grand Juries probing the family’s operations, gangland murders, politics and structure found themselves buried under so-called “contempt of court”, “criminal contempt” or even “civil contempt” charges.
-
Frustrated law enforcement authorities, hampered in their efforts to probe the family and stop the wanton gangland violence, had started to subpoena the Family’s membership and various associates from the other four Families in an attempt to curtail their activities, stop the war and the resultant killings.

First among equals in this effort, was Nassau County D.A. William Cahn, Nassau’s top prosecutor, a man will political aspirations, who would become a famed “mob-buster” during these years by building his reputation by harassing and cracking down on the mob.
-
Following Cahn’s lead close behind was the Brooklyn D.A. Aaron E. Koota, who “jumped on the bandwagon”, wanting some of the positive publicity that the Nassau D.A. was garnering. Cracking down on the so-called Mafia was very in vogue in this era, as it would be in the coming years under prosecutors Denis Dillon, Tom Puccio and Rudy Giuliani. But this is where it started in earnest for the NYC area, under the local D.A’s in
Nassau, Brooklyn and Manhattan.
-
Although the various “contempt” charges carried only a measly thirty-day sentence and paltry $250. fine..... a little used provision in the law books was “dusted off”, allowing for prosecutors to re-call witnesses before the same grand jury over and over, asking the same exact questions, and re-charging those same witnesses with another fresh contempt arrest. The subsequent result was that mob figures (and others), were repeating hauled before these grand juries and jailed with a “back to back” 30 days, resulting in some mobsters serving what amounted to draconian sentences of one, two and three years in prison. As an extreme case, in New Jersey, Genovese acting-boss Jerry Catena served approximately five years in a NJ jail, all for “refusing to answer questions”!......
-
It became a catch twenty-two situation, in that if you talked (besides violating “Omertà” and possible mob retribution), mob guys often faced “perjury” counts because prosecutors did their very best to “trap” witnesses in any discrepancies in testimony. And if you didn’t talk you were automatically jailed for contempt! A “no win” situation for sure!
-
Most guys chose contempt over perjury because although the thirty-day “bits” could add up if a prosecutor chose to go that route, perjury automatically carried a five year term.
-
The prosecutors had a field day “braking balls”! ..... in short order, the jails were overflowing with “wiseguy’s” and their associates. A perfect example of this was the Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow, LI.

At any given time, there could be upwards of 60-70 mob figures or more all housed together doing contempt bits. It was like “old home week” for the underworld. Besides the Bonanno contingent, you had many Colombo mobsters who at the time dominated Long Island gangland.

You also had a healthy share of Lucchese guys, with Paul Vario and even Carmine Tramunti leading the pack. Cahn tortured Vario with many back to back contempt citations. Altogether, Vario served several years on contempt convictions.
-
Literally hundreds of mob guys disappeared from their homes and usual haunts in an often futile attempt to avoid testifying. Others “went on the lam” for extended periods of time after seeing their brethren repeatedly jailed.
-
Note: [wiseguys will be wiseguys.... as a result of their extended “stay” courtesy of the government, several mob guys did their best to make good of a very bad situation. Bonanno soldier Rosario morale and Lucchese captain Paul Vario were the leading mob “point men” who befriended and bribed many prison guards to smuggle in Italian food provisions, liquor, drugs and even prostitutes to make their stay a bit more enjoyable. Eventually both were indicted along with over 24 jail guards on corruption charges. - read my profile on Morale for more info on the investigation]
—-
What follows here is a short list of some of the more well publicized contempt jailing of Bonanno figures. From bosses to associates, with little discretion, they were all repeatedly jailed during the Bonanno War “conflict”!
-
After the famed “Troutman Street” shootout in 1966 between rival Bonanno factions, again after the triple-homicide of the D’Angelo brothers and Frank Telleri, and finally the 1969 disappearance and presumed double-murder of Frank Mari and Mike Adamo, grand juries were empaneled and their “life” repeatedly extended for six months intervals and a major mob crackdown was sustained in earnest.......hundreds were subpoenaed!
—
Note: [many fought contempt sentences as “double jeopardy” and unconstitutional to no avail. Despite the constitution, the government was not about to give up their “ace in the hole”! ....As time past, applications were made before congress to increase the penalties for contempt. Eventually contempt became punishable by up to four years imprisonment, and up to the judges discretion..... thereby bolstering the weapons in LE’s arsenal against the mob]
-
SCIACCA LOYALISTS:
—-
Paul Sciacca
Gaspare Di Gregorio
Nicholas Marangello
Sereno Tartamella
James Genna
Pietro Crociata
Frank Mari
Giacomo Musumeci
Michael Adamo
Antonio Adamo
Joseph Mastracola
Matteo Valvo
Benjamin Valvo
Thomas D’Angelo
Frank Telleri
Anthony Leone
Steven Cannone
Philip Rastelli
Rocco Matra
Peter Monteleone
Anthony Lisi
Jerry Chilli
Joseph Chilli
Peter Pomaro
Michael Casale
Vito Licata
Nichols DeStefano
Michael Sabella
Thomas Zummo
Joseph Zummo
Joseph Tegano
Pasquale Gigante
Carmine Castellano
George Guarino
Anthony Crisci
Nicolino Alfano
Anthony Cosenza

__________________________
BONANNO LOYALISTS:
—-
Bill Bonanno
Frank Bonomo
Peter Notaro
Philip Notaro
Steven Menna
Vincent Morsellino
Joseph Morsellino
Samuel Perrone
Vincent Pedone
Angelo Presinzano
Frank Presinzano
Michael Bonfondeo
Natale Evola
John Fiordilino
Camillo Sardegna
Frank D’Ambrosia
Bruno Capio
Guy Musillo
Joseph Messina
Pietro Magaddino
Michael Consolo
Vito DeFilippo
Patrick DeFilippo
Carlo Simari
Armando Pollastrino
Rosario Morale
John Morale
Angelo Lapi
Murad Nersissian
Dominick Colavita
Joseph Di Maria
Walter Falcetta
Julius Sirowitz
Michael Comparetti
William Gonzalez

____________________________
SITTING ON THE FENCE:
—-
John Petrone
Patrick Colarusso
Vincent Curatola
Ernest Montevecchi
Michael Nido

—-
Note: [there were many others subpoenaed and subsequently jailed, but not all the jailing’s made the newspapers. The 77 mobsters listed above is only of those so publicly named]
———————————————————————————————————

[maxiestern11]

This post is obviously for all on the forum to read and enjoy...........BUT, it is especially for our friend "thekidtoknow" who is doing research on the Bonanno's, specifically the Banana War years.

I hope this helps you ok kid!..... and some of the names listed are "new" in that regard. Some possibly "inducted", all certainly "associated" with the Bonanno Family of that era. More info to research and probe!

[maxiestern11]

THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF BEING A BONANNO!
———-
During the “Bonanno War” years and directly thereafter - 1966-1971 - many active members and associates from New York City’s five-boro’s and outer environs (Long Island, Westchester and NJ) who were subpoenaed to testify before both the Nassau and Kings County Grand Juries probing the family’s operations, gangland murders, politics and structure found themselves buried under so-called “contempt of court”, “criminal contempt” or even “civil contempt” charges.
-
Frustrated law enforcement authorities, hampered in their efforts to probe the family and stop the wanton gangland violence, had started to subpoena the Family’s membership and various associates from the other four Families in an attempt to curtail their activities, stop the war and the resultant killings.

First among equals in this effort, was Nassau County D.A. William Cahn, Nassau’s top prosecutor, a man will political aspirations, who would become a famed “mob-buster” during these years by building his reputation by harassing and cracking down on the mob.
-
Following Cahn’s lead close behind was the Brooklyn D.A. Aaron E. Koota, who “jumped on the bandwagon”, wanting some of the positive publicity that the Nassau D.A. was garnering. Cracking down on the so-called Mafia was very in vogue in this era, as it would be in the coming years under prosecutors Denis Dillon, Tom Puccio and Rudy Giuliani. But this is where it started in earnest for the NYC area, under the local D.A’s in
Nassau, Brooklyn and Manhattan.
-
Although the various “contempt” charges carried only a measly thirty-day sentence and paltry $250. fine..... a little used provision in the law books was “dusted off”, allowing for prosecutors to re-call witnesses before the same grand jury over and over, asking the same exact questions, and re-charging those same witnesses with another fresh contempt arrest. The subsequent result was that mob figures (and others), were repeating hauled before these grand juries and jailed with a “back to back” 30 days, resulting in some mobsters serving what amounted to draconian sentences of one, two and three years in prison. As an extreme case, in New Jersey, Genovese acting-boss Jerry Catena served approximately five years in a NJ jail, all for “refusing to answer questions”!......
-
It became a catch twenty-two situation, in that if you talked (besides violating “Omertà” and possible mob retribution), mob guys often faced “perjury” counts because prosecutors did their very best to “trap” witnesses in any discrepancies in testimony. And if you didn’t talk you were automatically jailed for contempt! A “no win” situation for sure!
-
Most guys chose contempt over perjury because although the thirty-day “bits” could add up if a prosecutor chose to go that route, perjury automatically carried a five year term.
-
The prosecutors had a field day “braking balls”! ..... in short order, the jails were overflowing with “wiseguy’s” and their associates. A perfect example of this was the Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow, LI.

At any given time, there could be upwards of 60-70 mob figures or more all housed together doing contempt bits. It was like “old home week” for the underworld. Besides the Bonanno contingent, you had many Colombo mobsters who at the time dominated Long Island gangland.

You also had a healthy share of Lucchese guys, with Paul Vario and even Carmine Tramunti leading the pack. Cahn tortured Vario with many back to back contempt citations. Altogether, Vario served several years on contempt convictions.
-
Literally hundreds of mob guys disappeared from their homes and usual haunts in an often futile attempt to avoid testifying. Others “went on the lam” for extended periods of time after seeing their brethren repeatedly jailed.
-
Note: [wiseguys will be wiseguys.... as a result of their extended “stay” courtesy of the government, several mob guys did their best to make good of a very bad situation. Bonanno soldier Rosario morale and Lucchese captain Paul Vario were the leading mob “point men” who befriended and bribed many prison guards to smuggle in Italian food provisions, liquor, drugs and even prostitutes to make their stay a bit more enjoyable. Eventually both were indicted along with over 24 jail guards on corruption charges. - read my profile on Morale for more info on the investigation]
—-
What follows here is a short list of some of the more well publicized contempt jailing of Bonanno figures. From bosses to associates, with little discretion, they were all repeatedly jailed during the Bonanno War “conflict”!
-
After the famed “Troutman Street” shootout in 1966 between rival Bonanno factions, again after the triple-homicide of the D’Angelo brothers and Frank Telleri, and finally the 1969 disappearance and presumed double-murder of Frank Mari and Mike Adamo, grand juries were empaneled and their “life” repeatedly extended for six months intervals and a major mob crackdown was sustained in earnest.......hundreds were subpoenaed!
—
Note: [many fought contempt sentences as “double jeopardy” and unconstitutional to no avail. Despite the constitution, the government was not about to give up their “ace in the hole”! ....As time past, applications were made before congress to increase the penalties for contempt. Eventually contempt became punishable by up to four years imprisonment, and up to the judges discretion..... thereby bolstering the weapons in LE’s arsenal against the mob]
-
SCIACCA LOYALISTS:
—-
Paul Sciacca
Gaspare Di Gregorio
Nicholas Marangello
Sereno Tartamella
James Genna
Pietro Crociata
Frank Mari
Giacomo Musumeci
Michael Adamo
Antonio Adamo
Joseph Mastracola
Matteo Valvo
Benjamin Valvo
Thomas D’Angelo
Frank Telleri
Anthony Leone
Steven Cannone
Philip Rastelli
Rocco Matra
Peter Monteleone
Anthony Lisi
Jerry Chilli
Joseph Chilli
Peter Pomaro
Michael Casale
Vito Licata
Nichols DeStefano
Michael Sabella
Thomas Zummo
Joseph Zummo
Joseph Tegano
Pasquale Gigante
Carmine Castellano
George Guarino
Anthony Crisci
Nicolino Alfano
Anthony Cosenza

__________________________
BONANNO LOYALISTS:
—-
Bill Bonanno
Frank Bonomo
Peter Notaro
Philip Notaro
Steven Menna
Vincent Morsellino
Joseph Morsellino
Samuel Perrone
Vincent Pedone
Angelo Presinzano
Frank Presinzano
Michael Bonfondeo
Natale Evola
John Fiordilino
Camillo Sardegna
Frank D’Ambrosia
Bruno Capio
Guy Musillo
Joseph Messina
Pietro Magaddino
Michael Consolo
Vito DeFilippo
Patrick DeFilippo
Carlo Simari
Armando Pollastrino
Rosario Morale
John Morale
Angelo Lapi
Murad Nersissian
Dominick Colavita
Joseph Di Maria
Walter Falcetta
Julius Sirowitz
Michael Comparetti
William Gonzalez

____________________________
SITTING ON THE FENCE:
—-
John Petrone
Patrick Colarusso
Vincent Curatola
Ernest Montevecchi
Michael Nido

—-
Note: [there were many others subpoenaed and subsequently jailed, but not all the jailing’s made the newspapers. The 77 mobsters listed above is only of those so publicly named]
———————————————————————————————————

Here’s a few more Bonanno’s who were cited:
ALL SCIACCA LOYALISTS:
-
Louis Fragiliossi - Mari’s former chauffeur
Salvatore Ferrugia - Capo
Jerome Asaro - soldier
Pasquale Zirpoli - soldier
Nicholas Castello - soldier
Anthony Leone - soldier
Angelo Sparaco - Capo
Bruno Capio - Capo in New Rochelle

[MichaelGiovanni]

Good stuff Maxie thanks. You have Bruno Capio on Bonanno list and then added him to Sciacca faction. Did he switch sides during the conflict?

[maxiestern11]

Good stuff Maxie thanks. You have Bruno Capio on Bonanno list and then added him to Sciacca faction. Did he switch sides during the conflict?

My mistake. If I remember correctly he was listed as a Bonanno adherent by LE at that time..... but as you said, many or these fellows did Flip-Flop on loyalty as the war progressed. Most eventually came over to the Sciacca-rebel faction as they became “recognized” by the Commission.
-
The last of the Joe Bonanno stalwarts either faded from the scene altogether, or actually relocated out to Arizona with Bonanno by the end of the conflict.

[thekiduknow]

Great info as always Maxie! Always good to read through your own research. Unfortunately life has gotten in the way so I haven’t been activity researching the banana war but I hope to get back on track soon!

I see you have William Gonzalez listed! He is an interesting associate. He was partners with both Vito and Patrick DeFilippo(who was Gonzalez’s brother in law) in a casino Haiti, which was taken over by the Volpe brothers from Canada in 1966. The casino was also suspected as being a front for narcotics.

Gonzalez was of course wounded in April 1968, at the height of the war. I don’t remember for sure, but I believe he was with either Vito or Patrick, or both, during the shooting so he might not have been the intended target. Either way, the shooting rattled his nerves and he later cooperated with the FBI and grand juries about the war.

The shooter was George Guarino, who you have listed as a Sciascia supporter. I don’t know much about him, other than he was with Frank Mari when he was wounded July 1966, and that Guarino “shot and killed the Bonanno man who would have otherwise would have slain Mari”. As far as I know, this person has not been named as a causality in the war.

Hope this is not too off topic, I saw Gonzalez and remembered all this info. Glad I could put it out there!

[thekiduknow]

Also! Vito and Patrick DeFilippo went underground after the Gonzalez shooting. After the Mari/Sciacca wedding, where LE believed the war was officially ended, they believed that The DeFilippos will finally appear in front of the grand jury. Whether they did or not, I do not know.

[maxiestern11]

Great info as always Maxie! Always good to read through your own research. Unfortunately life has gotten in the way so I haven’t been activity researching the banana war but I hope to get back on track soon!

I see you have William Gonzalez listed! He is an interesting associate. He was partners with both Vito and Patrick DeFilippo(who was Gonzalez’s brother in law) in a casino Haiti, which was taken over by the Volpe brothers from Canada in 1966. The casino was also suspected as being a front for narcotics.

Gonzalez was of course wounded in April 1968, at the height of the war. I don’t remember for sure, but I believe he was with either Vito or Patrick, or both, during the shooting so he might not have been the intended target. Either way, the shooting rattled his nerves and he later cooperated with the FBI and grand juries about the war.

The shooter was George Guarino, who you have listed as a Sciascia supporter. I don’t know much about him, other than he was with Frank Mari when he was wounded July 1966, and that Guarino “shot and killed the Bonanno man who would have otherwise would have slain Mari”. As far as I know, this person has not been named as a causality in the war.

Hope this is not too off topic, I saw Gonzalez and remembered all this info. Glad I could put it out there!

Great added info Kid, adds nicely to the thread. Thank you!..... if you like, I’ll try and put aside for a future post any additional info I gather on the war and that era of the Bonanno’s in general to make your life easier if you want. (I’ll then contact you ok).
-
On another note: as I’ve stated on this forum, I don’t know how to upload pictures for my posts of my profile subjects. If you have the knowhow to do so, I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you or anyone else who cares to. I think it would add a wonderful dimension to the “subjects”, almost “bringing them to life” with a visual so to speak! Please let me know ok!

[thekiduknow]

I’d be very interested to see the info you’ve gathered on the war, could i pm you? We could swap info and see if we can put together a thorough summary of the war/the Bonanno during this time.

As for pictures, I’m not too sure. I’ve uploaded some PDFs of articles before but I’m not sure if I did it as a pdf, or if I had to change the format. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable can help you, but I’ll also look into it later on this evening.

[thekiduknow]

Also, speaking of grand juries. Going through my notes I found a news article that says Tommy Eboli and Jerry Catena were called in 1965 to testify about the war.

[maxiestern11]

I’d be very interested to see the info you’ve gathered on the war, could i pm you? We could swap info and see if we can put together a thorough summary of the war/the Bonanno during this time.

As for pictures, I’m not too sure. I’ve uploaded some PDFs of articles before but I’m not sure if I did it as a pdf, or if I had to change the format. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable can help you, but I’ll also look into it later on this evening.

I’ll keep you posted when/as I put Bonanno info together ok. Especially if I feel it’s War related

[maxiestern11]

I’d be very interested to see the info you’ve gathered on the war, could i pm you? We could swap info and see if we can put together a thorough summary of the war/the Bonanno during this time.

As for pictures, I’m not too sure. I’ve uploaded some PDFs of articles before but I’m not sure if I did it as a pdf, or if I had to change the format. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable can help you, but I’ll also look into it later on this evening.

I’ll keep you posted when/as I put Bonanno info together ok. Especially if I feel it’s War related

Through my research I come upon things of course. Not that I have any pertinent Bonanno stuff at the moment. But I’ll just put info aside as I gather it

[thekiduknow]

Sure! Whatever you find/post I’d love to read and discuss!