Maxie's Colombo Profiles

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ROCCO (ROCKY THE RUG) LAURIA - born 1931 in Brooklyn, NY. ....aka “Rocky the Shoemaker”. Resided for many years in the East Meadow and Levittown sections of Long Island. Reputed to have been active in bookmaking and loansharking. Lauria was a reputed associate of both the Colombo and Genovese families. In 1965, the Nassau DA described Lauria as “the coordinator of loan shark activity in Nassau for Franzese”. He operated a shoe repair store for many years that doubled as his gambling base. Associates included Joseph (Joe Shep) Schipani, John (Sonny) Franzese, Jesse Smith - a DeCavalcante Family associate, Frederick (Fat Freddy) Di Gregorio, Dominick Santoro, Vincent Carvelli. He had arrests for bookmaking (thrice), possession of bookmaking records (twice), being absent without leave, contempt, extortion, usury and conspiracy. Convicted on bookmaking (twice), AWOL (5 years), contempt of court (30 days), extortion (5 years). A known gambler (KG) on LI for many years for which he had several arrests, Lauria was also indicted on loan shark and extortion charges in 1971 for terrorizing a Centereach, Long Island couple in a loan shark transaction that became a vicious extortion with Lauria and two associates (Smith and Carvelli) making threats and strong arming their victims. The couple ran to the FBI, who subsequently indicted the hoodlum trio. Believed to have lived well into his early eighties. No exact dod is available.

Note: [Lauria acquired his nickname “Rocky the Rug” because of an ill-fitting cheap “toupee” he wore on his head..... a “rug” so to speak. It was the cheapest hairpiece in the country. Lol..... must have cost him .39 cents! ...... when he wore it, it looked like a dead muskrat was perched on his head. ..... and he would attach a band-aid to the back of his neck so it wouldn’t fall off. Def good for a few laughs anyway]

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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).

Correction: at the time of his disappearance, Johnny Irish was about 48-49 years old..... I mis-typed it

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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!

Note: [I believe that present day “alleged” Gambino member Louis (Louie Black) Mariani may very well be the son of murder victim (Cadillac Louie) Mariani back in the 1960’s..... it would make sense that the son jumped to another crew after the death of his father at the hands of the old Profaci crew.]

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MODESTO (DUKE) SANTORO - born 1912 in Brooklyn (Greenpoint section). Later resided for many years at (84-2 Benson Ave) and (2402 Benson Ave). A trusted and loyal Brooklyn based hoodlum for decades.

Identified by both local and federal authorities as a veteran (inducted) soldier in the old Joseph Profaci (later Colombo) Family of Brooklyn.

During the 1963 Valachi Hearings, although not overly familiar with the Brooklyn crime families, Joe Valachi did know and name Santoro as a family soldier.
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Activities: policy, shylocking, strong-arm tactics, extortion, hijacking and fencing stolen goods, labor shakedowns.
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Claimed employment for years as a partner in a Brooklyn dress factory.

Note: [he operated a private club, the 2-3’s Social Club (617 Lorimer Street), a longtime mob hangout in Williamsburg and base for Duke, Franzese and others of the Colombo mob]
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Close criminal associates over the years have included:
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Joseph Colombo - former Capo, later elected Family Boss (Santoro would be assigned to serve in his “personal” crew)
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John (Sonny) Franzese - legendary top Family capo, former Underboss.
(hidden owner at the time of the San Su San Nightclub in Mineola and many other nightclubs)
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Salvatore (Sally the Sheik) Mussachio - a top Capo and former “consigliere”, in whose crew Santoro served for years. (partner in the Sapienza Bread Co.)
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Ambrose Magliocco - old-line capo of Profaci Family and brother of Joe Magliocco - former Underboss (president of Arrow Linen Supply Co.)
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Joseph (Little Joey) Brancato - top Family member, onetime “Acting Capo” of Franzese crew.
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Carmine (Tutti) Franzese - a Family soldier and nephew of Sonny.
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Lazzaro (Larry) Sangiovanni - a top associate, later a possible member of this family
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Anthony (Tony the Gawk) Augello - a Family soldier who later would commit suicide
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Anthony (Buddy Cugine) Maltese - a Family Soldier.
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Santoro’s NYCPD criminal identification started in 1936, recording over (13) arrests for:
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assault and robbery
malicious mischief
policy (thrice)
promoting gambling
usury
coercion
interstate theft
criminally receiving stolen property
extortion conspiracy
felonious assault with intent to kill
grand larceny by extortion
conspiracy (twice)
kidnapping
criminal contempt of court
........and served several related prison terms.
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In 1959, he was arrested by the FBI with several other men (Meyer Cohen and Max Silverman) for the possession with intent to “fence” a $7,000. load of pharmaceuticals that were part of a $750,000. interstate drug shipment stolen from the Charles Pfizer Co.

Santoro and company attempted to move (fence) the load through a wholesale drug firm in the Bronx run by Silverman.
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In 1966, Santoro (54), fellow Colombo hoodlum Anthony Maltese (47) and Frank Buonagara were arrested by the Brooklyn D.A. for the kidnapping, beating and the eventual $7,000. attempted extortion of a Brooklyn construction company owner they claimed owed them money.

They forced the man aboard a 30’ft. cabin cruiser, took him out onto the sea, and beat him with fists and feet and threatened to throw him overboard and drown him, until he submitted to their demands.
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In 1971, Duke was again indicted for extortion by the FBI. This time with fellow Colombo members Carmine (Tutti) Franzese and convicted hijacker Lazzaro Sangiovanni.

They were accused of the systematic “shakedown” of the huge Mobil Oil Corp., for their requested alleged “help” in maintaining a steady flow of gasoline deliveries during a labor strike by Mobil company truck drivers, who were union members of the Petroleum Employees Trade Union.
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The three mafiosi were alleged to have been knowingly hired by Mobil specifically because of their underworld connections, to basically “break” the strike by providing Mobil with “scab” drivers through their newly formed company “Sular Enterprises”, to complete gas and oil deliveries despite the striking workers, thereby crossing picket lines and using mob strong-arm methods to intimate the union strikers.

Note: [Duke, Tutti and company did provide over 100 drivers and another 100 drivers-helpers daily. But demanded monies far and above anything agreed upon, and started threatening the lives of Mobil executives when money wasn’t being paid fast enough]

They demanded and received over $130,000. in cash, of a demanded $300,000. extortion.
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During Joe Colombo’s rallies to trumpet his newly created Italian-American Civil Rights League, and many protests of various daily newspapers (Staten Island Advance, etc), Kings County and Nassau County district attorney’s, the FBI office, etc., Santoro could often be found on the picket lines carrying a placard and leading protests.
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Duke Santoro was a dedicated hoodlum to his craft, and liked by fellow mafiosi.

By the mid-late 1970’s “The Duke” was slowing down. He died in 1983, at the relatively young age of 71.
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[maxiestern11]

As per a forum request.... Carmine Franzese profile coming up!

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CARMINE (TUTTI) FRANZESE - born 1932 in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn (346 Leonard Street) then moved to (505 Lorimer Street). He later relocated to nearby Maspeth in Queens (67-17 54th Avenue) and later (51-38 69th Street)..... by the early 1980’s Tutti had relocated up to Hastings on the Hudson, or Dobbs Ferry (not sure which), in Westchester County. Also maintained a winter-condo down in Margate, Florida.
NYCPD # B-274013.
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The son and grandson of Profaci associates Onofrio “Nufio” (his father) and Carmine “Turiddo di Leone” (his grandfather) and the nephew of legendary Profaci/Colombo capo-underboss John “Sonny” Franzese.

By the mid-1950’s Carmine was being identified by (LE) as a mob associate. By the mid-1970’s (LE) reported he was formally inducted to (soldier status) into the family.

Note: [Tutti was inducted in either the first or second wave as soon as the books opened in 1975 - proposed by Joseph Brancato.... I believe he was among the first 10 inducted]

LCNBios reports on his induction as well.
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Activities: policy, bookmaking, dice games, football-sheet lottery, shylocking, extortion, strong-arm, labor rackets.
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Business Activities (Tutti was not oriented to business per se, but over the years did own):
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a discount dry-goods store
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extensive real estate investments in the Williamsburg-Greenpoint areas (apartment rentals)
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Val Sports Service Inc.

Note: [he also operated a private mob social club off the corner of Leonard Street for many years]
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Among many others, his criminal associates included:
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his uncle - (Sonny) Franzese - one of the most experienced of family members, longtime capo who served as underboss several times over the decades...... a top powerhouse of his era!
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Joseph (Little Joey) Brancato - old-time neighborhood member, close associate, Tutti’s mentor
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Joseph (Jojo) Vitacco - veteran neighborhood soldier, enforcer.
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Modesto (Duke) Santoro - veteran Family Soldier and friend
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Lazzaro (Larry) Sangiovanni - hijacker, family associate and friend
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Vincent (Jimmy Nap) Napoli - a neighborhood family friend and one of the top policy racketeers in the nation, became a Genovese power
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James (Lefty) Napoli Jr., - Napoli’s son and aide in the numbers business. Died young!
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Pasquale (Patty Mac) Macchiarole - onetime top Genovese capo, found murdered in his car trunk
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Vincent (Jamsey) Delio - Genovese member, nephew of Macchiarole, murdered shortly after Maxchiarole
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Joseph (Doo Doo) Pastore - Family associate, hijacker and cigarette smuggler, allegedly murdered by Tutti as a favor to Massino (as per Massino’s testimony)
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Richard Dorme - Pastore’s half-brother and partner, murdered shortly after Pastore.
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Anthony (Donuts) DeDona - associate of Lucchese and Colombo crews, vending machine operator/cigarette smuggler
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Vincent (Big Lou) Russo - boyhood friend and lifelong partner of Tutti, later inducted into the family under Tutti’s sponsorship (just before Tutti’s death - he kept his promise to Louie of “inducting” him
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Vito Loiacono - convicted bookmaker, partner of Tutti, ran Val Sports Service.
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Joseph (Big Joey) Massino - boyhood friend, future Bonanno Boss
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Salvatore (Good Looking Sally) Vitale - a friend through Massino, future Bonanno underboss
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Carmine “Tutti” Franzese stood at 6’-2” and appx 220lbs.... and cut an imposing figure. Primarily operated in his boyhood neighborhood in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg sections of North Brooklyn. Also active in the Maspeth and Middle Village areas.

Upon becoming “straightened out”, he settled down, developing various gambling rackets. Always a low-key guy, quiet and reserved.....his manner served him well in future years helping him to avoid exposure and arrests.

He specialized in both the numbers business (policy), and sports bookmaking. His partner in these operations was (Big Lou) Russo. He would stay close with Russo and eventually propose Lou for formal induction.
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Tutti was also always heavily engaged in the loan-shark business. He had a large shy “book” operating “on the streets” for many years.
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But his “candy” racket, was both the printing and “banking” of his own “football sheets”. These “parley combo” betting tickets, displayed both college and pro-football games of the week. They were very popular for decades back with seasonal football fans. He eventually partnered with a bookmaker named Vito Loiacono, who doubled as the owner-operator of a printing plant. Besides his legitimate printing customers, Vito surreptitiously printed these “football sheets” weekly.

Using his mob connections, Franzese and Loiacono soon had not only expanded their football sheet “betting” business to a huge volume, but were supplying many other crews and hoods with them as well, so each crew could book their own.

Charging $50. per (500 count) box, and selling literally hundreds of boxes weekly, both the legal printing business and this side-racket made him a fortune for many years.

Note: [he netted an estimated several hundred-thousand dollars annually just with this racket. The cost of printing these sheets was pennies per box. And he probably generated a gross of $400-500,000.+/- a year.....with a net probably close to that because of such low overhead]
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In 1960, he was arrested along with Brancato and his uncle Sonny for contempt of a Kings County grand jury probing Brooklyn gambling rackets, after they each repeatedly refused to answer questions put to them.

They were among 25 men, that had been arrested for gambling at a large dice game at the Cafe Royale, on New Utrecht Ave., in Brooklyn. The D.A. also hit them with subpoenas and granted them each immunity to testify. But charged them with contempt after they still refused to speak.
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In 1971, he, Santoro and Sangiovanni were indicted for a major extortion plot against the Mobil Oil Corp. They were charged with the extortion of over $130,000. in cash, paid by Mobil for their “strikebreaking” services during a labor union strike by company workers. Franzese and company operated through Sular Enterprises Inc., a front company they utilized as a conduit to hire “scab” drivers and helpers to ensure delivery of Mobil gasoline to various stations and other customers.

The money was part of an alleged $300,000. demanded by them “if Mobil didn’t wanna see violence like 1930’s Chicago”! The FBI indicted them on conspiracy, extortion, grand larceny and forgery counts after they threatened Mobil executives.
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In later years, Tutti was shifted into the crew of (Donny Shacks) Montemorano, and later allegedly served in the (Jerry Lang) Langella regime.
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By the mid to late 1980’s Franzese became aware he was under intense surveillance and investigation by authorities. He was preparing to get “picked-up” at some point and indicted for something. Many of his associates were being subpoenaed before grand juries and his name was being brought up way too frequently.

As it turned out, Tutti took ill, contracting cancer I believe. Before long he got very sick and passed.... relatively quickly.

I believe he died in either 1989-90, at the very young age of 57-58 years old.......He actually beat the Feds by passing away, because I believe he was close to getting nailed for something.

It was a shame, because as far as mob careers go, he successfully maintained a low profile, while accumulating extensive wealth over his lifetime. Many didn’t realize it, but Tutti Franzese (although he never flaunted it) had become a multi-millionaire from “the street”. And I don’t believe he ever served any significant prison time, if any at all......it’s a shame he never lived to enjoy his achievements!
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[maxiestern11]

Hey Maxie got a few for you sir .Sal scarpa the bolinos fuscos amatos thanks for anything you can do in advance buddy

One more tutti or turri franzese thank you

Hi Super, don’t know if you noticed it, but I did the Tutti Franzese profile you requested of me.....

[Super]

Very appreciated sir know he was close to Massino and related to sonny thanks buddy apart from that didn't have a clue about him thanks again.

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LAWRENCE (LARRY) MESSINA - born 1927 in Queens (40-04 12th Street) LI City. He later relocated out to Baldwin in Nassau County.
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Messina was identified by the mid-1960’s as a mob associate. Specifically affiliated with the Sonny Franzese regime of the Colombo Family based in Nassau County.

He was a longtime partner of two notorious Franzese bookmakers by the names of Nicky Botta and Albert Maione (nephew of Murder, Inc., contract killer Happy Maione).
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As a young man he worked as a NYC sanitation worker.
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Activity: bookmaking (horses-sports)
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Starting in 1951 he had arrests for:
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Disorderly conduct
Bookmaking (four times)
Promoting gambling
Bribery and conspiracy
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In 1976, Messina was among eleven federally indicted on interstate gambling charges. This was an FBI run investigation incorporating wiretaps put on several separate “wire-rooms” operations which established that several bookies were utilizing a master “lay-off” service.

Co-defendants included Richie Esposito (lay-off boss), Louie Maggio, Botta, Joseph Falco, John Yarmosh - a major bookie and John Iannone.
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In 1980, Messina and Botta again figured into a gambling related probe. This time in relation to the systematic bribery of a Queens State Supreme Court criminal Judge named William Brennan.
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Operating through an intermediary, restauranteur Andy Bruno, they as well as other mob figures including Colombo soldier “Little Dom” Cataldo, “Crazy Sal” Polisi among others, paid bribes over several years to either have criminal cases completely dismissed or charges vastly reduced.

Eventually the scheme came to light and the subsequent arrests, various indictments and trials became a major “black eye” for the NYS judicial system.
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Nicholas Botta turned informant and testified for the prosecution. He testified that in 1974 he paid $3,000. cash to have his five year probation sentence shortened by two years, and $12,000. cash to Judge Brennan to have a gambling indictment against his partner Larry Messina dismissed.
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After the early 1980’s and the publicity that the bribery conspiracy trials brought, Larry Messina seems to have faded away. I could find nothing more about him or his activities. No dod available.
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LAWRENCE (LARRY BACCALA’) ABBANDANDO - born 1924 (?) in Brooklyn (East New York). By the late 1950’s he’d relocated out to West Islip on LI. He eventually moved down to South Florida where he resided until his death.
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The son of notorious Murder Inc. gunman and executioner Frank (The Dasher) Abbandando, who went to the electric chair in the 1940’s for murder with his sidekick Harry (Happy) Maione.
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Activities: bookmaking, extortion, pornography racket.
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Abbandando was originally affiliated with the Profaci/Colombo Family in the crew of top capodecina John (Sonny) Franzese.
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After Franzese’s imprisonment for fifty years for bank robbery conspiracy, he switched over to the Gambino crew of Anthony (Fat Andy) Ruggiano. Where he would remain.

Note: [never an inducted guy, he nonetheless knew many varied hoodlums and traveled seamlessly around gangland]
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By 1968 he was identified by LE as having “pushed in” on several porno dealers along 42nd Street in the Times Square district.

He and Franzese were said to have infiltrated and extorted the “peep show” vending machine business. In 1971, both were named in testimony before the SIC probing the pornography industry.

Larry Baccala was specifically said to have gained a partnership interest in 1968 in Motion Pictures Vending Inc., a NYC peep-show/bookstore operation alleged to control 150 peep-show machines. Abbandando was said to have been paid an annual salary of $13,500. a year by the company.

His alleged partners Robert Genova and Arthur Volgarino (a policy gambler) of the Bronx, were said to have asked he and Franzese to step in and settle a dispute between them and Martin Hodas, another top porn dealer over peep show machine competition.
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“Larry Baccala” was a longtime boyhood friend and partner of Albert Maione - nephew of Happy Maione - in bookmaking operations in the NYC-LI areas. They and Nicholas Botta, another Franzese oriented gambler were part of a gambling combination active at that time.
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Larry Abbandando relocated down to Miami, Florida by the mid-1970’s. He stayed active although I don’t believe he attracted any more LE attention.

I don’t have his exact dod but I believe he had died by approximately the late 1980’s or so.
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JOHN (JOHNNY TARZAN) LUSTERINO - born 1932 in Brooklyn. Later resided at 2 Sommerset Drive, Great Neck, LI.

Identified by 1955 as a mob associate. By the later 1960’s LE carried him as a “captain” in the Colombo Family. This may have been an exaggeration but he was possibly a “soldier” in that Family.
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Activities: hijacking, robberies, stolen securities, fencing stolen goods, strong-arm extortion, shylocking, business infiltration.
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Among known criminal associates were:
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John (Sonny) Franzese
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Joseph (Jojo) Vitacco
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Benjamin (The Claw) Castellazzo
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He was a longtime Colombo affiliated hood, having been arrested with Vitacco and others in 1955 for hijacking and armed robbery.
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He previously had served 11 years for armed robbery in state prison.
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By 1971, Lusterino was alleged to have hidden interest in several Queens bars, and to have infiltrated The Lakeville Manor, a popular Great Neck nightclub and restaurant. After tapping phones and placing bugs in the nightclub, investigators overheard talk of truck hijackings, sale of 850 cases of stolen whisky at $35. per case, sale of stolen federal food stamps to butchers and stolen stocks and bonds.
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A grand jury was empaneled in 1972, and soon Lusterino and others had been arrested for perjury and criminal contempt for giving evasive answers when brought before the grand jury that was investigating his “push” into the establishment. While probing the nightclub extortion, LE uncovered a smorgasbord of crime!
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He was also alleged to have been a cousin to famed NYPD narcotics detective Robert Leuci, who wrote the popular book “The Prince of the City”.
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By the late 1960’s he was said to be very active in mob operations.

His seemingly meteoric underworld rise ended abruptly in 1973. John “Johnny Tarzan” Lusterino suddenly disappeared and was presumed murdered!
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[AntComello]

Anyone ever hear of Vincent “the little guy” Posa from Brooklyn. Not sure if he’s made or not

[gohnjotti]

Anyone ever hear of Vincent “the little guy” Posa from Brooklyn. Not sure if he’s made or not

Hasn’t been confirmed made, but has been confirmed by the Probation Department as still being active. If he has been inducted, it would have to be after his 2006 release from prison.

[maxiestern11]

How old is he Gohn? I never heard of him

[AntComello]

How old is he Gohn? I never heard of him

He’s 49 or 50 pretty sure he’s from Bensonhust