John A Pieri in Las Vegas is likely the son of Stefano “Steve” Carmelo Pieri. From information on a webpage by Thomas Hunt & Michael Tona about Sam Pieri it appears Steve Pieri one of nine children born to Giovanni and Ignazia “Anna” (nee Ciresi) Pieri who emigrated to Buffalo from Montemaggioree Belsito in Sicily. His brothers were 1. Giovanni “Johnny Rai,” 2. Salvatore “Sam,” 3. Giuseppe “Joe,” and 4. Horace “Hobbie” Pieri. His sisters included: 1. Salvatora “Elsie,” 2. Vincenzia “Genevieve,” 3. Adelina, and 4. Giuseppina “Josephine” Pieri.
Stefano “Steve” C. Pieri moved from Buffalo to Vegas in 1966 with his wife Sylvia. See Sylvia’s obituary: https://obits.reviewjournal.com/obituar ... =154637949 Upon her death at 93 years of age in 2011 it states she had been a Las Vegas resident for 45 years.
In Vegas, “Steve” Pieri became a casino executive at Caesar’s Palace: He died in 1993 and was survived by his brothers “Joe” and Horace Pieri: https://buffalonews.com/1993/11/28/stev ... executive/
Records and social media seem to indicate Steve Pieri’s son John A. Pieri followed him in the family business. He became a department head and retired from the MGM Grand. MyLife indicates he began working at MGM in 1974.
Of course the Grand is not that old but has its roots in the MGM Marina which opened across from the Tropicana ’75. If one believes MyLife, John may have had responsibilities in the construction and opening of this casino in ‘74?
Although Steve and John Pieri appear to be legitimate, these hotels/casinos are known for their mob ties during this period, and both have close family members who made members.
Of note is the fact that John A. Pieri was involved in a ’96 telemarketing scheme. Here is the link: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-r ... -pay-65000
The Buffalo crime family was known for these types of schemes and it has been established by LE that these rackets were learned in Vegas and brought to Buffalo. See my previous post on the Dead Years above for some of the many links to Buffalo’s involvement in collections/call center scams.
Background on The Pieri's:
According to Thomas Hunt and Michael Tona, brothers Sam, Joe and John became members of the “DiCarlo Gang.” There sister Elsie married Joe DiCarlo in 1924.
Sam Pieri want on to become a powerful member of the Buffalo Crime family as an enforcer for Magaddino. He was convicted of being involved in a heroin and cocaine smuggling ring in 1954. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, his rank in the underworld rose as be became close to Vito Genovese who was incarcerated with him. Here is the link to the webpage on Sam Pieri: http://buffalomob.blogspot.com/2013/08/ ... -1981.html
Joe Pieri moved to Youngstown with Joe Dicarlo. There are questions regarding which family these two were made. See DiCarl/Pieri thread on this forum started by B. Here is the link: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=5756&hilit=Pieri
Ron Fino indicates Joe Pieri, Sr. moved back to Buffalo in 1966. He writes:
Fino indicates, that back in Buffalo John A Pieri (John A. Pieri in Vegas’s cousin) become a capo in the Buffalo crime family and his brother Joe, a soldier who served in John’s crew. He writes:Joseph Pieri Sr. : Became consigliere of the Buffalo Family and brother of Sammy Pieri. He moved to Buffalo from Youngstown, Ohio around 1968, with his two sons, John and Joe. Highly intelligent and knowing of the Cosa Nostra ways, he went along with Sammy Frangiamore during the war with the Rochester faction of the family. I witnessed him on numerous occasions direct, as well as scream at, his brother Sam. He died 02/10/1998.
A couple of questions:John Pieri : Son of Joseph who rose to be a Capo in the family; not very strong, and dependent on Dan Domino
Joseph Pieri Jr .: Soldier under his brother John; very strange character
1. Could Steve C. Pieri have been sent to Vegas in 1967 as his brother Sam Pieri rose in underworld power?
2. Is this why DiCarlo, Joe Pieri and his sons came back to Buffalo from Youngstown in 1968?
According to Hunt & Tona Magaddino’s power was greatly decreased with the arrests of Randaccio and Natarelli in December of 1967. They write:
We know that Magaddino’s power was further eroded when he was caught in a lie about the crime family’s lack of profit when a half a million dollars was found in the walls of his son Peter’s home in 1968.The Magaddino organization was staggered by the imprisonment of Buffalo underworld leaders Randaccio and Pasquale Natarelli in December of 1967. Pieri and DiCarlo took advantage of the situation, mobilizing elements of the old DiCarlo Gang to take control of gambling rackets in Buffalo.
In the second volume of their book on DiCarlo the authors reference Joe Fino FBI document BU 92-232 and write:
Of course Joe Fino’s son Ron indicated his Dad was made acting boss of the Buffalo crime family, Dan Sansanese his underboss, and Frangiamore his consigliere by April of 1969. He writes:On July 9, 1969, the rebel group selected Sam Pieri as acting boss, Joseph Fino as acting underboss and Joseph DiCarlo as acting consigliere. The group hoped to win official recognition of its leaders by the Mafia Commission. Fino was dismissed as Magaddino’s second-in-command, a move he found agreeable as the position came with enormous pressure and constant attention from law enforcement.[887]
So maybe that scenario doesn’t play out at all.By April of 1969, it was agreed that the breakaway faction would stop paying tribute to Magaddino and that my father would head up the breakaway faction with Danny Sansanese Sr. as his underboss and Salvatore “Sammy” Frangiamore would be the consigliere, or adviser.
Link to Hunt & Tona webpage on Sam Pieri: http://buffalomob.blogspot.com/2013/08/ ... -1981.html
Fino quotes are taken from his book The Triangle Exit
