Maxie's Lucchese Profiles

[maxiestern11]

Here's a story on the history Knickerbocker Village and what it was like in the old days for residents.

https://www.6sqft.com/the-lower-east-si ... clearance/

Just accessed those pics u posted here. They’re priceless. Very cool! Really captures the era

[maxiestern11]

Said to be the most unruly and free spirited of the brothers.... maybe that’s why he moved away to Florida.
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Who am I talking about? ......he’s next “on deck”!

[Manhattan_]

Jerry Chilli

[maxiestern11]

Jerry Chilli

Lucchese guys! Each thread is specifically for a separate crew..... so no!
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But good guess anyway lol

[maxiestern11]

It’s Frankie Dio!
- and you readers are gonna really like this one. I know I did just gathering his bio info!

[axx]

My guess was Jimmy Doyle. Keep it up!

[maxiestern11]

My guess was Jimmy Doyle. Keep it up!

Thanks pal! I intend to!

[maxiestern11]

FRANK (FRANKIE DIO) DIOGUARDI - born 1917 on Manhattan’s Lower East Side (Forsythe Street).
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From 1939 through the mid-1950’s he resided alternately at:
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1939: 137-16 Rockaway Blvd, So. Ozone Park
1940: 138 Second Ave., Manhattan.
1942: 33-16 86 St., Jackson Hghts.
1945: 145 West 86th St., Manhattan
1946: 108-24 67th Dr., Forest Hills
1954: 107-25 93rd St., Ozone Park
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When first moving to Florida around 1956, he initially resided at the Riverside Apts., 320 80th Street, in Miami.
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Later he relocated to (1021 N.E. 162nd Street) in North Miami Beach.
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Frankie had a reputation as that of a bit of a loose cannon and hothead.
Known as an extremely active hoodlum, open to any and all rackets able to turn a buck!
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Younger brother to the infamous Johnny Dio and a third brother Tommy Dio. He, as well as his brothers and father Dominick, uncle and cousin were all “connected” guys affiliated with the Lucchese Family of LCN.
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FBI # 863929, NYPD # B-121379, Miami-PD #A-29553.
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Aka: “Frank Dioguardia”, “Frank Sutera”, “Whitey”. (brother Johnny was also known as Blackie)
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Known criminal activities included:
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Bookmaking (horses, sports)
Casino-style games (dice, roulette, etc)
Shylocking
Vending-machine rackets
Extortion, strong-arm tactics
Business infiltration
Narcotics (heroin)
Receiving and fencing stolen goods
Truck hijacking and cargo theft
Flim-Flam scams, business frauds
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Frankie migrated down to Miami Beach during the mid-1950’s, and liked it so much that he and his wife Camille ended up staying permanently for the rest of his days.
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Note: [his girlfriend Diane liked it also, so much so that he put her up in a luxury apartment only blocks from his nightclub]
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He alternately operated several restaurants and cocktail lounges over the years with various partners. He was also active in running jukebox and cigarette machine routes along the Collins Avenue strip and vicinity.
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The Little Napoli Restaurant; 7444 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Beach..... Frankie operated this place for several years.
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Angelo Palange’s Restaurant; 17300 Collins Avenue. Dio was a partner of the famed Angelo Palange from Jackson Heights, NY, in the Miami version of this NYC favorite. (uncle Jimmy Doyle was also a partner in this venture).
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Ciro’s Nightclub and The Skyview Lounge, both in Miami (Dio paid no rent while operating these nite spots because the landlord, Jerry Cohen owed him extensive gambling monies)...... Dio used this locale to sucker a wealthy businessman to invest over $60,000. in the nightspot. Within months of his purchase, Dio had drained the place dry - “busting out” the place out for over sixty-large!
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Five O’Clock Club - Miami (alleged to hold a hidden interest)
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Casa Maria Ristorante; a Miami Beach pizzeria-red sauce casual restaurant.
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La Rosa Restaurant; Sunny Isles Blvd., Miami (he had an interest, later bought out by a partner)
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Sunny Isle Cigarette Vending Co.; a jukebox and cigarette coin-machine route operation. (untaxed cigarettes and skimming) - during a six month period after first opening, Dio was quickly able to place appx 40 machines around town which scared members of the “Cigarette Vendors Assn.”, a trade group which Dio didn’t belong too. They were correct to fear that he would soon dominate the local marketplace because of his mob influence.
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Albert’s Fisheries Co.; Miami Beach,
a wholesale shrimp distributor to motel, hotels, restaurants and nightclubs in the Miami area. (Joe Scootch and Dio were partners in this company)
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It should be noted that until Frankie moved to Florida, from the 1930’s through 1950’s period, he (like his two brothers) held active ownership interests in many garment factories, and other businesses. Here are a few;
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1934-35; Triboro Cigar Distributors,
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1935-36; Yeast Supply Co., listed as a driver for his father Dominic’s company.
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1936-40; Roma Sportswear Co., 210 Varick St., Brooklyn (first a partner, then as sole owner)
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1938-40; Jaynnell Coat Mfg., Co.; 130 Orchard St., (LES) NYC. (listed as a part owner and operator)
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1941-42; Moylan Coat Co., Inc., 35 Meadow St., Brooklyn (president and stockholder)
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1941-44; Victory Sportswear Co., 72 Spring St., Manhattan -partners with brothers John and Tommy.
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1951-54; The Little Napoli Restaurant & Bar, West 57th Street, Manhattan - he held a silent partnership.
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Had an arrest record spanning forty years starting when he was 17 for:
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1934 homicide by gunshot
1935 disorderly conduct
1935 possession of a stink bomb
1935 disorderly conduct
1935 policy slips
1936 carrying concealed weapon (monkey wrench)
1944 liquor law violations - unregistered still (NJ)
1946 possession of stolen goods and conspiracy
1946 theft from interstate shipment
1958 investigation (Miami)
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Every arrest above resulted in either a dismissal or suspended sentence. Never served a jail term.
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Note: [this 1944 NJ bootleg case involved 21 defendants including his brother John and Settimo (Big Sam) Accardi]
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It also seems that during the 1940’s era, Frankie was a principal in a very active truck-hijack ring. He was tied to over 19 truck cargo-thefts of mostly textiles and garment piece goods.
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He also was nabbed while fencing a stolen garment load to a jobber on Eldridge Street, in his old neighborhood on the LES.
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In 1965, narcotics conspiracy. He was tied into a huge (200lb) heroin cache seized in Miami (this is the case where he eventually fell, and served a big jail term, 15 years) - served his term in Leavenworth FCI.
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In 1971, he subsequently fell again, being convicted in a mortgage kickback scheme. He received an additional 2-year term to run concurrent with his narcotics sentence.
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Additionally, through the years both local and federal authorities linked Frankie Dio to the following;
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1958; he was linked to the bookie operation of convicted narcotics dealer Julius (Johnny) Flink - FBI #450870, operating out of his Ande Hill Bar in Miami.
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1959 and 1961; his good friend (KG) Bernie Stein ran a bookmaking ring in which Dioguardi was alleged to have an interest as either a partner or in “bankrolling” the operation.
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Also alleged to operate a “skin” game at the North Dade Civic Club in partnership with several others.
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Frankie was also suspected of handling all labor union matters on behalf of his brother Johnny Dio in the greater Miami area. This provided him with unfettered access to several top Teamsters leaders (Abe Gordon and George Baker among them), giving Frankie a lot of “juice”.
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Note: [it also seems he attempted to be active in Local #259, a catchall union aimed at miscellaneous industries; aluminim mfg., truck drivers, etc. and Teamsters Local #290, business mgr. Dave Fachette, a Dio minion.
These union connections were compliments of his brother Johnny. utilizing Frank as a point man of sorts]

..............and the usury rackets:
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1960 - informants report Frankie Dio was a shylock partner of Joe (Scootch) Indelicato, a very close friend and Gambino soldier.
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1961 - Dio said to be giving out large shylock loans in partnership with Gambino capo Stefano (14th St. Steve) Armone.
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1962 - Genovese power Anthony (Tony Gobels) Ricci and Frankie were said to be partners in pushing “shy” loans.
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Also in 1960, Miami informants reveal Frankie Dio is active in the fencing and trafficking of stolen goods and cargo, much as he did back in NYC.
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Being the brother of Johnny Dio did have its advantages. Frankie became friendly and associated with most of the better known hoodlums in the South Florida area
including;
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Dio’s brothers; Johnny and Tommy
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Vincenzo (Jimmy Doyle) Plumeri; his uncle, a Capo and frequent visitor to Dio’s Little Napoli Restaurant (a well known mob hangout)
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Agostino (Augie) Amato; a Gambino Family old-timer, loanshark, vending operator, had two sons also “connected”. Said to be close personal friends with Santo Trafficante Jr., and Carlo Gambino himself.
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John (Johnny Connecticut) Busso;
FBI #2449 560, reputed Gambino soldier under Steve Armone
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Vincent (Jimmy) Palmisano; a Gambino soldier and longtime Miami resident
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Pasquale (Patsy) Erra; top Genovese soldier handling south Florida for Trigger Mike Coppola. Close to Dio
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Joseph (Joe Scootch) Indelicato; a major loanshark, heist man and notorious Mafia soldier, a close friend and oft partner of Frankie.
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Locascio brothers (Carmine and Peter); important Lucchese members and international narcotics merchants.
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George (Georgie Hooks) Nobile; another LES based Genovese hood and heroin dealer
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Ettore (Eddie) Coco; notorious Family capo who spent much of his time in Florida (he would get life for shooting a black carwash employee who made the fatal mistake of disrespecting Coco).
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Henry Rubino; FBI #166744A, Miami-PD #C-190148, of Brooklyn. A (KG) thrice convicted California based bookmaker. Suspected Profaci member. Part-time resident of Miami (7545 Buccaneer Ave.), where he owned several nightclubs, one of which he partnered with Frankie Dio, the Hoi-Toi Restaurant, a popular chinese eatery. Also co-owned the Gold Key Club and Albion Lounge, both Miami....... Rubino would later be tied to heroin trafficking.
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Anthony Sutera; FBI #712574A, Dio brother-in-law, narcotics dealer, close associate involved in many of his operations.
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Michael (Trigger Mike) Coppola; top Genovese capo based in Miami. Friend of Dio.
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Alfred (Freddy Red Shirt) Felice; a NYC mafioso who resided in Miami. Very active in most rackets. Dio associate.
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Benjamin (Benny Roberts) Robilotto; a Genovese hoodlum, brother of the murdered Johnny Roberts, wealthy shylock active in Miami. Close friend of Frankie. Owned the Dixie Dunbar Restaurant in Hollywood. Said to have built a fabulous home in the Hollywood section of Florida.
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Frankie Dio was always known as the “wild” unruly Dio brother. I do believe that’s the main reason why although his uncle and both brothers were formal inducted members, Frankie was either never offered or never interested in getting a “button”.
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Nonetheless, being related to such mob heavyweights, Frankie was afforded a lot of respect anyway by most mob guys, and indeed was a close friend and partner of many, as can be seen from the above.
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The FBI and local authorities officially carried Frank in their files as a Lucchese Family “associate”. But as you can see he was much more than a simple associate, wielding the power of a top “button guy” although not having the official rank.
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Frank (Frankie Dio) Dioguardi died in 1976. He was only 59 years old!
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I must say, in researching Frank Dioguardi, I was amazed at just how active he was. And how many rackets, schemes and business ventures he involved himself in over the years.
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Both in NYC and Florida he was active in a slew of activities. And I also never realized what a large arrest record he had, or how well he skirted LE until his narcotics fall.
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Anyway folks, I hope you enjoyed this little trip down mob memory lane! ....... until our next post!
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Buona Notte e Tutti! .......e che Dio benedica! (and May God bless!)
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[Oc1878+]

Maxie,

Amazing research. I love these.

Any plans for some more anytime soon ?

Thanks

[johnny_scootch]

Maxie,

Amazing research. I love these.

Any plans for some more anytime soon ?

Thanks

Don’t count on it.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Maxie,

Amazing research. I love these.

Any plans for some more anytime soon ?

Thanks

Guy was a fraud, is banned.
Be very very skeptical of anything posted. He'd interweave bits of truth to give his bullshit cred.
Best to ignore.