Penissi and the size of the Luccheses today

[Bklyn21]

In his statements and sworn testimony to the court Penissi testified there were currently 7 total crews and 7 to 8 members in each crew . Now, Was he testifying about the crews and sizes before the bust or after ? Either way they lost Alotta members . There would be about, A total of 55-65 active members according to him . If it was after the bust he was referring to it would probably be closer to 50-57 somewhere around there. That's really small ! Probably not too much bigger than Philly . And , If the Luccheses are down this low I wonder what the Colombos are looking like today since the Luccheses were always historically larger than the Colombos and the Colombos lost a ton of members due to the wars and then years ago in the last big bust the entire hierarchy was wiped out and many members flipped , Died , Went inactive and left the family etc. So , what's the number on Colombos ? IMO they have no more than 35-45 members on the streets if that

[Gabagool718]

Only a matter of time before west side and Gambinos absorb everything

[JohnnyS]

There's no way they're down to 55-60 in total membership. They haven't lost that many guys. Penissi may have been talking about active members on the street or he might not have been aware of everybody in the family and what crews they belong to. I would be surprised if the Lucchese's have dropped below 90.

[Mason_dixon]

Don’t think the west side and Gambinos will absorb the Lukes but I’d be more confident the won’t absorrb the Bonannos. Some figures have suggested the Bonnanos might be up to 140 made men...

[Mason_dixon]

Also Penisi was just a soldier I’m sure there are lots of things he wasn’t aware of.... seems like he knew a lot for a soldier but there was probably still a lot he didn’t know

[Moscone65]

Exactly ^

[JohnnyS]

Also Penisi was just a soldier I’m sure there are lots of things he wasn’t aware of.... seems like he knew a lot for a soldier but there was probably still a lot he didn’t know

Agreed.

[roydemeo]

Also Penisi was just a soldier I’m sure there are lots of things he wasn’t aware of.... seems like he knew a lot for a soldier but there was probably still a lot he didn’t know

Agreed.

Watching Pogo chart there are listed 86 men on the streets and 17 in jail.

[Pogo The Clown]

In his statements and sworn testimony to the court Penissi testified there were currently 7 total crews and 7 to 8 members in each crew . Now, Was he testifying about the crews and sizes before the bust or after ? Either way they lost Alotta members . There would be about, A total of 55-65 active members according to him . If it was after the bust he was referring to it would probably be closer to 50-57 somewhere around there. That's really small ! Probably not too much bigger than Philly . And , If the Luccheses are down this low I wonder what the Colombos are looking like today since the Luccheses were always historically larger than the Colombos and the Colombos lost a ton of members due to the wars and then years ago in the last big bust the entire hierarchy was wiped out and many members flipped , Died , Went inactive and left the family etc. So , what's the number on Colombos ? IMO they have no more than 35-45 members on the streets if that

Philly has less than 50 total members and only about about half of them are active. And that is not even getting into the Associate count which the Luccheses have several times as many. So not really close to Philly levels.


Pogo

[Wiseguy]

In his statements and sworn testimony to the court Penissi testified there were currently 7 total crews and 7 to 8 members in each crew . Now, Was he testifying about the crews and sizes before the bust or after ? Either way they lost Alotta members . There would be about, A total of 55-65 active members according to him . If it was after the bust he was referring to it would probably be closer to 50-57 somewhere around there. That's really small ! Probably not too much bigger than Philly . And , If the Luccheses are down this low I wonder what the Colombos are looking like today since the Luccheses were always historically larger than the Colombos and the Colombos lost a ton of members due to the wars and then years ago in the last big bust the entire hierarchy was wiped out and many members flipped , Died , Went inactive and left the family etc. So , what's the number on Colombos ? IMO they have no more than 35-45 members on the streets if that

What Pennisi said makes sense if you look at it in the right context. Most official estimates put the total membership of the family at about 100 members.

In all probability, Pennisi was referring to the average number of active members in each crew. 7-8 active guys in 7 crews, you're looking at around 60 or so if you also include the captains and administration of the family. Add around 20 members currently in prison (see Pogo's chart), and perhaps as many that are inactive, and you get to 100.

100 members have been the average estimate of both the Luccheses and Colombos for years now.

Philly has less than 50 total members and only about about half of them are active. And that is not even getting close the Associate count which the Lyccheses have several times as many. So not really close to Philly levels.


Pogo

Yeah, any of the remaining families outside New York are small operations compared to even the smallest NY family. Comparing apples to apples and looking at the official estimates, the Luccheses (or Colombos) are said to have about 100 total members and even the smallest associate estimate we've seen over the years (1:3) would mean 300 associates. Philadelphia has less than 50 total members and an estimate of about 100 associates. 400 vs. 150. In other words, Philly would a little over 1/3 the size of the smallest NY family in total manpower. Even less so if you go with larger associate estimates (like 1:5) we've seen for New York.

[Bklyn21]

In his statements and sworn testimony to the court Penissi testified there were currently 7 total crews and 7 to 8 members in each crew . Now, Was he testifying about the crews and sizes before the bust or after ? Either way they lost Alotta members . There would be about, A total of 55-65 active members according to him . If it was after the bust he was referring to it would probably be closer to 50-57 somewhere around there. That's really small ! Probably not too much bigger than Philly . And , If the Luccheses are down this low I wonder what the Colombos are looking like today since the Luccheses were always historically larger than the Colombos and the Colombos lost a ton of members due to the wars and then years ago in the last big bust the entire hierarchy was wiped out and many members flipped , Died , Went inactive and left the family etc. So , what's the number on Colombos ? IMO they have no more than 35-45 members on the streets if that

Philly has less than 50 total members and only about about half of them are active. And that is not even getting close the Associate count which the Lyccheses have several times as many. So not really close to Philly levels.


Pogo

Yes , True ! I forget to mention that fact that half of the 50 aren't active for Philly

[Bklyn21]

In his statements and sworn testimony to the court Penissi testified there were currently 7 total crews and 7 to 8 members in each crew . Now, Was he testifying about the crews and sizes before the bust or after ? Either way they lost Alotta members . There would be about, A total of 55-65 active members according to him . If it was after the bust he was referring to it would probably be closer to 50-57 somewhere around there. That's really small ! Probably not too much bigger than Philly . And , If the Luccheses are down this low I wonder what the Colombos are looking like today since the Luccheses were always historically larger than the Colombos and the Colombos lost a ton of members due to the wars and then years ago in the last big bust the entire hierarchy was wiped out and many members flipped , Died , Went inactive and left the family etc. So , what's the number on Colombos ? IMO they have no more than 35-45 members on the streets if that

What Pennisi said makes sense if you look at it in the right context. Most official estimates put the total membership of the family at about 100 members.

In all probability, Pennisi was referring to the average number of active members in each crew. 7-8 active guys in 7 crews, you're looking at around 60 or so if you also include the captains and administration of the family. Add around 20 members currently in prison (see Pogo's chart), and perhaps as many that are inactive, and you get to 100.

100 members have been the average estimate of both the Luccheses and Colombos for years now.

Philly has less than 50 total members and only about about half of them are active. And that is not even getting close the Associate count which the Lyccheses have several times as many. So not really close to Philly levels.


Pogo

Yeah, any of the remaining families outside New York are small operations compared to even the smallest NY family. Comparing apples to apples and looking at the official estimates, the Luccheses (or Colombos) are said to have about 100 total members and even the smallest associate estimate we've seen over the years (1:3) would mean 300 associates. Philadelphia has less than 50 total members and an estimate of about 100 associates. 400 vs. 150. In other words, Philly would a little over 1/3 the size of the smallest NY family in total manpower. Even less so if you go with larger associate estimates (like 1:5) we've seen for New York.

Agreed ! Active members on the streets are probably in or near in context in what Penissi claimed . I agree the total membership including Amuso and other currently in Prison equals about 100 members or so

[Mason_dixon]

But what about the Pernas? I heard that was a BIG crew down there of made guys and associates ?

[JohnnyS]

Lucchese's have always had a strong crew in NJ and Perna is still the captain there as far as we know.

[Wiseguy]

But what about the Pernas? I heard that was a BIG crew down there of made guys and associates ?

Known made members of the Jersey crew -

1. John Perna
2. Joseph Perna
3. Michael Perna
4. Ralph Perna
5. Antonio Russo
6. Nicky Scarfo Jr.
7. Michael Taccetta
8. Martin Taccetta
9. Carlo Taccetta