1989 New Jersey Investigation Committee; State of LCN

[richard_belding]

In 1989, The state of New Jersey Commission of Investigation Committee released its annual report on the status of the Five Families operating in New Jersey. I thought Id give it a go at compiling an abridged version of its key points on the LCN groups that were operating or, under investigation in the state up to 1989. Some interesting information pertaining to key members, as well as how the Feds viewed the positions of certain members at at that time, in comparison to how some on the forum have been discussed. Some commentary is my own, though the basic info comes from the Commission Report. All info is dated at the latest September 1990.
 

GAMBINO FAMILY: known membership of approximately 250 formally initiated, and about 600 associates. Because boss John Gotti has dealt with and overcome a number of legal problems, the group has been disrupted by indictments, incarcerations and deaths of key members. In order to compensate for these losses, Gotti was forced to reorganize the family hierarchy and add new members to the roster. Since Gotti took over leadership in December 1985, six men have been promoted to caporegime positions, while caporegime Frank Locascio of the Bronx has been promoted to underboss. Those given caporegime status include:Nicholas Corozzo of Brooklyn, Capo given Joseph Corrao's operations;Gregory Depalma, capo given operations of Joseph ZingaroPeter Gotti, capo replacing brother GeneLouis Riccio, acting capo on behalf of Anthony NapolitanoMichael Mandaglia of Kenilworth, elevated to capo to replace the late Joseph PaternoThomas Gambino, caporegime who replaced Pasquale Conti as Gambino liaison to the Sicilian Mafia         Corrao, Zingaro and Gene Gotti are incarcerated; Anthony Napolitano is semi-retired and in poor health. 
     
Gambino New Jersey Operations:  

-   During the past year, Gotti operatives in New Jersey have been the targets of intense state and federal efforts. In April 1989 for example, a 70 count racketeering indictment was returned against soldier Robert "Cabert" Bisaccia of Bellville. Charges include his alleged conspiracy to burglarize the northern offices of the New Jersey Attorney General's Task Force. According to the indictment, Bisaccia's gang attempted to locate and destroy the investigative files and evidence that had been compiled against them, then mask the burglary by setting the building afire. Three months later, Bisaccia was indicted again for illegal video gambling in Passaic County. Interestingly, the investigation revealed a working relationship between Bisaccia and his associates, and the Taccetta faction of the Lucchese family. Three corrupt members of the Paterson Police Dept were arrested as a result of these charges. 

 -   Less visible than Bisaccia but significant in New Jersey is caporegime Michael Mandaglia. A retired Local official of Local 342 in Newark, Mandaglia's influence in the construction industry was recently exposed as a result of "Operation Stealth", which lasted more than 2 years. Interestingly, although Mandaglia holds a higher position in the family than Bisaccia, he does not appear to be as close to Gotti or other caporegimes. Therefore it is believed that Bisaccia has been designated as Gotti's key representative for the Gambino group's New Jersey interests. 

-    Another member residing and operating in New Jersey is 78 year old Anthony Carminati of Fort Lee. Despite his age, Carminati remains active in gambling, loansharking, narcotics, labor racketeering and legit businesses. Although a longtime member, Carminati is not respected by other NJ members, in part because he unwittingly allowed an undercover police officer to infiltrate a family loanshark operation several years ago. (this refers to Carminati bribing one of the heads of the Bergin County Task Force officers in the 1970s, who was posing as a crooked cop. Led to the arrest of 17 mobsters in 1975). In addition, group leaders lack confidence in Carminati's abilities since he is a heavy drinker.

-     Recent information indicates that Carminati reports to newly appointed Hillsdale, NJ caporegime John D'Amico, who took over for the deceased Olympio Garafalo. D'Amico, like Carminati, has fallen into disfavor with other family leaders. He is believed to have skimmed $50,000 from restaurant operations he runs for the Gambino family.

-     There has been much speculation and media attention regarding Gotti's efforts to expand the Gambino's sphere of influence. Perhaps the most significant event in the past year that benefitted Gotti was the incarceration of Genovese consigliere Louis "Bobby" Manna. This action not only eliminated key leadership in New Jersey but also rid Gotti of a bitter rival. Territorial disputes in NJ between the two led to Manna's plotting Gotti's assassination. During an investigation however, Gotti was alerted by authorities and was able to take precautions. During the course of the Manna investigations, conversations were intercepted regarding a possible takeover of the faltering Bruno/Scarfo group's enterprises. Reportedly, the Gambino's were seeking the more lucrative operations in Southern NJ, (Atlantic City, and Philadelphia), while the more limited northern rackets would be absorbed by the Genovese. While both organizations gained a considerable amount of new revenue from such an arrangement, Manna apparently viewed this appointment as another attempt by Gotti to gain dominance in New Jersey.

-    Gotti has a working relationship with Michael Taccetta, an influential member of the Luchese group in New Jersey. It should be noted that Taccetta and his brother Martin began their careers under Gambino capo Joseph Paterno before becoming members of the Luchese organization. 


 
GENOVESE FAMILY: Approximately 300 members supervised by 14 captains, involved in gambling, labor racketeering, loansharking and narcotics distribution throughout New Jersey. Four of the 14 capos operate in New Jersey under the supervision of Manna, even though he is consigliere for the entire family.
 
Genovese New Jersey Operations: 

-   Louis Manna's Jersey base of operation was Casella's restaurant in Hoboken. Martin Casella, the owner, is subordinant to Manna and considered to be a significant member, and recent investigations show Casella controlled portions of Husdon County once the domain of the late John DiGilio. There are strong indications that Casella acted as a conduit of information for Manna.

-   The territories once controlled by DiGilio were divided among high level members of the family, but some of his rackets on the NJ waterfront have been lost to the Gambino's. After DiGIlio's death, the leadership of his faction passed briefly to Louis Auricchio of Holmdel, who is considered a suspect in Digilio's murder. Since Auricchio's conviction on federal income tax evasion charges in July 1989, responsibility for this crew has been split between Angelo Prisco (Bronx) and Salvatore Lombardo (Brooklyn).  

- When longshoreman boss Donald Carson was convicted in a massive ILA racketeering case in 1988, it was a huge blow to the Genovese waterfront racket. Carson was considered the second most powerful leader of this international union, giving the Genovese significant influence in every port in the US. However, Carson was not replaced by another Genovese man but by Gambino soldier Anthony Pimpinella of Brooklyn (Pimpinella was a Ciccone crew member and a fixture on the docks since the 1950's, remained a member for years even being seen at Bobby Boriello's funeral). This loss to the Gambino's was another death knell for DiGilio, who disappeared shortly after the trial was over. Body found May 1988, floating in a bag in Hackensack River.

-  Another powerful faction of the Genovese is the Gatto group, based in Lodi. Crew's reputation for violence, fear and intimidation contributed to a successful joint investigation by FBI and Bergen County in 1989. Effort resulted in the arrests of caporegime Louis Gatto Sr and 7 other faction members for racketeering that included: two homicides, loansharking, extortion and gambling. Gatto acquired the operations of late caporegime Peter LaPlaca of Bergen County in the 1970's. His group exapanded massively and also had the shrewedness to set up New York locations so that, should someone be arrested, New Yorks more lenient gambling statutes would insure shorter jail sentences. 

- The fourth faction in northern New Jersey is headed by Andrew Gerardo of Livingston. Based in Newark, the group was originally led by late capo Ruggerio "the Boot" Boiardo. It specializes in gambling, loansharking, and labor racketeering. Gerardo has also made investments in large consturction projects. As a result of a two year state undercover operation, 16 associates in Gerardo's faction were indicted on arson, gambling, loansharking, racketeering and theft charges in May 1987. The recent arrests and indictments against this faction have not had enough impact to warrent structural changes or cause permanent disrpution of its activities. In fact it has expanded its membership, particularly in gambling. In order to fill vacancies left by those arrested, the group recruited bettors who were indebted to it to work as gambling operatives. This scheme has a two-fold benefit in that it was difficult for law enforcement to identify the new operatives, who were also able to work off their debt to the leaders.

-   The loss of ILA union control is perhaps the most significant of the Genovese pitfalls as of late. The Elizabeth and Newark areas of the Port handle about 70% of the cargo entering the harbor. ILA membership has gone from approximately 30,000 just 10 years ago to a total of 7,000 at the present time. The Gambino family's new found strength in New Jersey has begun to surface, with its associates taking authority positions once held by Genovese associates. What remains to be seen is the full impact that John Gotti's expansion will ultimately have on the Genovese organization.


 LUCHESE FAMILY: Approximately 100 known made members, and 200 associates. Its principal base of operation in NYC is the Bronx and Brooklyn but the family also has a strong faction in northern New Jersey.
 
Luchese New Jersey Operations:

-  The powerful northern New Jersey faction of the group, headed by Michael Taccetta of Florham Park, has experienced its share of pressure from law enforcement. In addition, there has been dissension among the leadership. The faction had long been under the control of Anthony Acceturo of Newark and Taccetta had been his protege. However, Accetturo fled NJ for Florida in the 1970's to avoid a subpoena. Taccetta took over for Accetturo but remained a subordinate till 1987. That year a size-able narcotics and racketeering trial began against both men and 17 others. During the trial, Taccetta and Accetturo's once close relationship deteriorated into a power struggle that culminated in a murder contract being put on Acceturo's life. A major cause of that animosity was resentment over the emergence of Anthony Accetturo Jr as a soldier and rising star in the family. Young Accetturo who lives in Florida, has been observed by law enforcement at high level meetings of OC figures in Florida and New Jersey.

- Although Taccetta has apparently won the battle for faction leadership, he will be unable to run the family as he is serving a five-year federal term in Minnesota after pleading guilty to weapons and tax evasions charges. Expected to be released by July 1992. While he is incarcerated, his brother Martin has been entrusted to run the operations, even though he himself is under indictment in California for a fraud scheme involving the porn industry.

- Despite legal setbacks, the New Jersey operations of the Luchese's continue to flourish. For example, caporegime Peter Chiodo Jr of Oak Ridge has taken over the activities of jailed consigliere Christopher Furnari. He is also the vice president of a lucrative construction company in Oak Ridge, and his business acumen may be the reason he has been looked upon favorably by family leaders in recent years. 

-  Another Luchese member who has been watched by law enforcement is Michael Perna of Bellville, who was recently charged with conspiracy. His codefendants include northern New Jersey members of the Bruno family.

-  Currently, the Luchese group's legal activity has been predominantly narcotics trafficking. Although it is considered a small group, it has expanded into northern New Jersey with illegal gambling and loansharking. It is unlikely that Michael Taccetta's incarceration will have a serious impact on the group's growth since his prison term is not legnthy and he faces no pending charges when he is released.


COLOMBO/PERSICO FAMILY: Approximately 120 members as well as more than 450 associates. Only six of the family's members and one of the 28 caporgeime's live in New Jersey. 
 
Colombo new Jersey Operations:

- Of the five families in New York the Colombo family has most been affected by a string of major criminal prosecutions, resulting in the incarceration of over 10 leaders of the family, and even more members. 

- The small contingent of Colombo members in New Jersey has also felt the impact of law enforcement. Caporegime Salvatore Profaci of Holmdel, was convicted of mail fraud in December 1985 and sentenced to four years in federal prison. Profaci has had extensive involvement in the food industry in New Jersey. Since his release from prison in 1988, he is again employed in that industry in Edison. Based on his heritage and his stature within the family, Salvatore Profaci is a strong candidate to replace Carmine Persico.

- In addition to Profaci, another key member operating in New Jersey is caporegime Vincent Aloi of Suffern, NY. Aloi, along with his two sons Sebastion and Vincent Jr, own and operate a garment trucking company in Hudson County. 


Bonnano/Rastelli Family: Approximately 195 members and 500 associates, ranging from New York, Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California. 

Bonnano New Jersey Operations

- The family has elevated some of it younger members to positions of authority. Following the death in 1983 of caporgime Joseph "Bayonne Joe" Zicarelli, Gabriel Infanti of Bloomfield became the predominant family member in northern New Jersey. Infanti, who had controlled a gambling network in New York, was well respected in New Jersey, as evidenced by his meeting on December 16th 1985 with John Riggi, boss of the Decavalcante family, the same day Gambino boss Paul Castellano was murdered in New York City. Infanti himself was declared missing nearly two years later on December 22, 1987. Presumed dead. It is believed that Infanti has been replaced by caporegime James Tartaglione of Queens, who has been observed meeting with Bonnano family boss Sal Vitale almost daily.

-  Another New Jersey resident who has been gaining influence in the family is Louis Attanasio Jr, of Holmdel, a caporegime. Attanasio ran a gambling operation out of a club he owns in Brooklyn. When he is released from prison in 1990, it is believed he will regain a position of authority with the Bonnano's both in New Jersey and New York. Attanasio also has businesses with Genovese members. 

- To fill the void left by several deaths and incarcerations of the group, Salvatore Ferrugia of West Orange has come out of retirement and has been assigned the status of caporegime. Ferrugia, now 75, was at one time family underboss but had been demoted to caporegime by Rastelli. Ferrugia is best known for his close ties to the Sicillian mafia and the smuggling of illegal aliens from Sicily to the United States.





~~ May do a separate post on Philly and the Decavalcante's, as their status in northern New Jersey in 1989 was very active and convoluted in its membership reorganization. 

[Wiseguy]

The 2004 report is a relatively more up to date from the same source but still largely out of date.

Some things are obviously way off, i.e 28 captains for the Colombos and 195 members for the Bonannos.