5 Family Crew Succession

[Angelo Santino]

Made this into a sticky.

Thanks. Really amazing work you did. Your ability to compile and catalog info is truly a gift. Thank you for all that you do. Salut.

[chin_gigante]

Looks like Caiazza wasn't promoted to take over Dellacroce's crew until the end of 1968:

Ciazza.png

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 4&tab=page

Also, don't know if this has come up before but this is the first I've seen Steve LaSalle as acting boss for the Lucheses.

[Super]

Nothing really out there on mike tally or lasalle good find any more info would be appreciated

[Angelo Santino]

Traina Crew:
?-Joseph Trovato (????-1917) Killed.
Giuseppe Traina (1920-1974) Died.
-Mario “Red” Triana (1960s-1974) Became Official Capo.
Mario “Red” Triana (1974-1994) Died.
Joseph “Joe Ox” Marino (1994-Present?)

I don't believe there's any lineage with Trovato and Traina. Trovato was in Red Hook, Palermitan and his daughter married a Mangano brother. There's likely some continuity there. But so many Gambinos came out of South Brooklyn with Palermitan lineage it's a web.

Traina was in North Brooklyn, Belmontesi and before him there was a Giamlombardo who was also Belmontesi who lived in the same area. I can't connect these two men personally, just both were Belmontesi, both lived downtown, both were affiliated with the Gambinos and appeared to be of some prominence.

Note* when I say South Brooklyn, it's my bad because I'm referring to the Red Hook area which isn't "south" at all. Before 1910 Gowanus and southward still had a few farms. Bath Beach was one of the first premier properties, Lupo owned property 2 blocks away from where Profaci and and his captains would live 2 decades later.

Trovato was around Union and the 278. Mangano north around Atlantic Ave... Now zooming north to the area under "Main Street Park" was approximately where Traina, Giamlombardo, D'Aquila himself and Navy Street were at different periods within 2 decades.

[The Greek]

Up until the 90's when real estate agents needed a fresh name, Red Hook wasn't just to the south west of 278/BQE and Battery. It was the entire area of what today is Carrol Gardens. I'm pretty sure it's considered South Brooklyn still

[Extortion]

True Back in day red hook was considered south Rooklyn

[B.]

Traina was in North Brooklyn, Belmontesi and before him there was a Giamlombardo who was also Belmontesi who lived in the same area. I can't connect these two men personally, just both were Belmontesi, both lived downtown, both were affiliated with the Gambinos and appeared to be of some prominence.

You did find a potential connection a while back -- a prison record for Giallombardo showed that he was visited by a Salvatore Traina. Or maybe it was a point of contact on an immigration record (I think it was prison, though). Either way it was a connection between Giallombardo and the Traina surname. Doesn't prove a direct connection to Giuseppe Traina but makes it more likely.

Philadelphia member Giuseppe Cappello Sr. (father of the more well-known John Jr.) was from Belmonte and lived in Newark through the early 1930s, where he worked for the Empire Yeast company, which Giuseppe Traina was also involved with. Curious if he was an early NJ Gambino member. Also early Gambino NJ capodecina Antonio Paterno (father of Joe Paterno) worked for Empire Yeast, though he was from Catania. DiLeonardo said his grandfather also had a piece of that company. The Scafidis ran the Philadelphia branch of the company. Empire was a magnet for high-level mafia figures, particularly from Belmonte Mezzagno.

Another guy from Belmonte was with the Bonanno family -- murdered ex-consigliere Francesco Italiano. Beyond him, it appears to have been mainly a Gambino and Philly group, but we can see that most of the known Belmontesi were high-ranking members in the first half of the 20th century. Giallombardo seems to fit that bill as well.

[Angelo Santino]

Up until the 90's when real estate agents needed a fresh name, Red Hook wasn't just to the south west of 278/BQE and Battery. It was the entire area of what today is Carrol Gardens. I'm pretty sure it's considered South Brooklyn still

Yes. I was just clarifying it for non-New Yorkers who would hear "South Brooklyn" and naturally assume I'm discussing the most southern part of Brooklyn (Brighton Beach or Gravesend). Its like when someone says they're "going to the city." Brooklyn was it's own separate city in 1898 "The Great Mistake" and maybe that's why Brooklyn refers to Manhattan as The City. If that's even still a thing, it used to be. New York, aside from Corona has been faced with an invasion of yuppies in flannel shirts, beards and beanie hats who changed the culture more than the Moors changed Sicily.

New Yorkers also underwent a social realignment in 2004. Before then no one liked Staten Island, some would jokingly call NY the Four Boroughs "because what's in Staten Island?" But people cashed in on the housing boom in 04 and half of Brooklyn relocated there and Staten Island is having its day. Anyone older than 30 probably had that buddy in the group who hated Staten Island for no reason, like it personally offended him. But that's no longer a thing.

Traina was in North Brooklyn, Belmontesi and before him there was a Giamlombardo who was also Belmontesi who lived in the same area. I can't connect these two men personally, just both were Belmontesi, both lived downtown, both were affiliated with the Gambinos and appeared to be of some prominence.

You did find a potential connection a while back -- a prison record for Giallombardo showed that he was visited by a Salvatore Traina. Or maybe it was a point of contact on an immigration record (I think it was prison, though). Either way it was a connection between Giallombardo and the Traina surname. Doesn't prove a direct connection to Giuseppe Traina but makes it more likely.

I did? I don't even remember this. Wow, thank you. I'll have to look into it again because totally slipped my mind.

[johnny_scootch]

True Back in day red hook was considered south Rooklyn

The areas now known as Red Hook, Carroll Gardens & Cobble Hill were just past the southern border of the original Village of Brooklyn. That's where the term South Brooklyn comes from and although it hasn't made sense geographically for over a hundred years it has remained part of the NYC vernacular. Old habits die hard around here.

[Mason76]

Lucchese Family


Brooklyn Vario Crew:
Salvatore “Don Turridu/The Baker” Curiale (19??-1960) Retired/Died.
Paul Vario (1960-1988) Died.
-Salvatore Vario (Mid 1960s)
?-Peter “Pete the Killer” Abbinate (1974-197?)
-Frank “Frankie the Whop” Manzo (1980s)
-Peter Vario (1986/7-1988)
Alphonse “Little Al” D'Arco (1988-1991) Flipped.
-Also served as Acting Boss in 1991.
-Louis “Louie Bagels/Crossbay Louie” Daidone (1991) Became Official Capo.
Louis “Louie Bagels/Crossbay Louie” Daidone (1991-1992) Imprisoned.
Domineco “Danny” Cutaia (1992-20010) Imprisoned.
-From 1991-2003 the New Jersey Crew reported to this Crew.
-Johnny "Sideburns" Cerrella (1996-2002) Imprisoned.
-Michael "Mikey Bones" Corcione (2002-2005) Stepped Down.
Joseph "Big Joey" Lubrano (2010-20??) Demoted.


19th Hole Crew: Likely broke off from Brooklyn-Vario Crew.
Christopher “Christy Tics” Funari (1960s-1981) Became Consiglieri.
Vittorio “Vic the Terminator” Amuso (1981-1986) Became Boss.
Frank “Big Frank” Lastorino (1987/8-1994) Imprisoned/Demoted.
-Also served on the Ruling Panel and as Acting Consiglieri.
-Anthony "Blue Eyes" Santorelli (Mid 1990s-Late 1990s/2000) Became Official Capo.
Anthony "Blue Eyes" Santorelli (2000-Present)


McDonald Avenue Crew: Likely broke off from the 19th Hole Crew
Peter “Fat Pete” Chiodo (1988-1991) Demoted.
-Richard "The Toupee" Pagliarulo (1991) Became Official Capo.
Richard "The Toupee" Pagliarulo (1991-1997) Imprisoned.
-Frank “Frankie Bones” Papagni (1992-1996) Imprisoned.
Eugene “Bobsie” Castelle (1997-2000s) Stepped Down.
-Castelle also served as Acting UnderBoss from 1998/9-2000.
John “Big John” Castellucci (2000s-Present)


Bensonhurst Crew: (Broke off from the McDonald Avenue Crew. Some 19th Hole Crew members may have wound up with this crew was well)
-George “Georgie Neck" Zappola (1991-1994) Became Official Capo.
George “Georgie Neck" Zappola (1994-1997) Imprisoned.
-George “Georgie Goggles” Conte (1990s-1995) Imprisoned.
Joseph “Joey Flowers” Tangorra (Mid 1990s-Early 2000s) Imprisoned.
Joseph "Little Joe" DiBenedetto (20??-Present)


North Jersey Crew:
Settimo “Big Sam” Accardi (1931-1955) Stepped Down.
Anthony “Ham” Delasco (1955-Early 1960s) Died.
Benjamin “Penooks” Pizzolato (Early 1960s-1964) Died.
Joseph Abate (1964-1980) Stepped Down.
Anthony “Tumac” Accetturo (1980-1988) Demoted.
-Martin “Marty” Taccetta (1980s-1988) Became Official Capo.
Martin “Marty” Taccetta (1988-1993) Imprisoned.
-From 1991-2003 this Crew reported to the Vario-Cutaia Crew.
John "Johnny Hooks" Capra (2003-2005)
-Capra also ran his own crew.
Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo Jr. (?-2005) Demoted.
Ralph Perna (2005-Present) Imprisoned.


Prince Street Crew:
Frank “Chick Wilson” Citrano (19??-1960) - ?
Ciro “Charley Baker” Giampaolo (1960s) Retired.
Joseph “Joey Calabrese” Lagano (b. 1906-1973) (1960s-1973) Died.
Joseph “Joe Beck” DiPalermo (1973-1990) Stepped Down.
-Peter “Pete Beck” DiPalermo (Early 1980s/1986-1990) Died.
Dominic "Crazy Dom" Truscello (1990-Present)
-Anthony “Torty” Tortorello (1991-1997) Imprisoned.
-Ralph “Raffie” Cuomo (Mid/Late 1990s)
-Vincent "Vinny Casablanca" Mancione (2001-2002) Imprisoned.
-Anthony Croce (2002-2010) Imprisoned.


Bronx-Westchester Crew:
?-Joseph “Joe Brown” Lucchese (19??-1970s) Stepped Down.
Anthony “Tony Higgins” Castaldi (19??-1981) Died.
Anthony “Buddy” Luongo (1981-1986) Killed.
? -Anthony “Antonio” Ciccone (1986-1987) Died.
Samuel “Sammy Bones” Castaldi (1986-1990) Stepped Down.
Steven “Stevie Wonder/Herbie” Crea (1990-1998/9) Became Official UnderBoss.
-Also served as Acting Consiglieri in 1991 and Acting UnderBoss from 1994-1998.


107th Street-Harlem Crew:
Vincent "Nunzio" Rao (19??-1953) Became Consigliere.
-In 1953 this crew was split between Giovanni “Big John” Ormento and Salvatore “Tom Mix” Santoro.
Giovanni “Big John” Ormento (1953/5-1959) Imprisoned.
Antonio “Tony Ducks” Corallo (1967-1972) Became Boss.
Carmine LoCascio (19??-1983) Died.
Anthony Ciccone (1983-1985) Stepped Down.
-Anthony “Curly” Russo (1985) Became Official Capo
Anthony “Curly” Russo (1985-1986) Demoted.
Samuel “Big Sam” Cavalieri (1986-1987) Died.
Anthony “Bowatt” Baratta (1988-1995) Imprisoned/Demoted.
?Angelo “Cheesecake” Urgitano (Mid 1990s?-1998) Died.
-Not sure who took over for Baratta.


Bronx Crew: (Broke off from the 107th Street-Harlem Crew)
Salvatore “Tom Mix” Santoro (1953-1960s) Demoted.
-Joseph Capra (1960s)
Joseph Capra (1960s-Late 1960s/Early 1970s)
Salvatore “Tom Mix” Santoro (Late 1960s/Early 1970s-1975) Became UnderBoss.
Joseph Capra (1975-1986) Demoted.
Michael Salerno (1986-1990) Killed.
Joseph Giampa (1990-Present)


East Harlem Crew:
Joseph “Joe Palisades” Rosato (19??-1950s) Stepped Down/Demoted.
Ettore "Fast Eddie" Coco (19??-1953/5) Imprisoned.
Paul “Paulie Hamm” Correale (1950s-1962) Died.
Carmine "Mr. Gribs" Tramunti (1962-1967) Became Boss.


Queens-Long Island:
Joseph “Joey Narrow” LaRatro (1950s-1985) Retired.
-Louis “Louie Beans” Foceri (Late 1970s)
-Aniello “Neil” Migliore (Mid/Late 1980s)
Salvatore “The Golfer” Avellino (1985-1994) Imprisoned.
Frank Petrullo (1994-2000s)
Aniello “Neil” Migliore (Early 2000s-20??) Stepped Down.
Carmine Avellino (20??-Present) Imprisoned.

Different Bronx crew listing

East Harlem "107th Street Mob" breaks into three crews
1. Gaetano “Tommy” Gagliano/Vincenzo “Vincent” Rao
2. Gaetano “Tommy Brown” Lucchese
3. Stefano “Steve LaSalle” LaSala

West Bronx-Westchester Crew
- Gaetano “Tommy” Gagliano (1916-1931) - became boss
- Vincenzo “Vincent” Rao (1931-1953) active in Westchester construction, became consigliere
- Joseph “Joe Brown” Lucchese – (1953-1970s) died
- Joseph Capra (1970s-1980s)
- Anthony “Blue Eyes” Santorelli (1980s-1997)
-- Santorelli also supervised recruitment gang the Tanglewood boys
- John “Johnny Hooks” Capra (1997-2008 ) imprisoned 2008
-- Capra also supervised the Jersey crew from 2003-2005
- Joseph “Big Joe” Lubrano (2008-2010) associated with Cutaia sons
- Presently Unknown (2010-present)

East Bronx-Schuylerville-Westchester Crew (controlling construction and Garment rackets)
- Gaetano “Tommy Brown” Lucchese (1922-1930) became Underboss
- Joseph “Joe Palisades” Rosato (1930-1953) retired
-- 1950s' there are two new crew created from members of this crew -- "Pleasant Ave-Harlem Crew (Drugs)” and “Prince Street Crew”
- Anthony “Tony Ducks” Corallo (1953-1970s) imprisoned, becomes boss 1970s
- Anthony “Tony Bones” Castaldi (1970s-1986)
- Anthony Ciccone (1986-1987) died
- Samuel “Sammy Bones” Castaldi (1987-1990) stepped down
- Steven “Stevie Wonder” Crea (1990-1993) became acting consigliere, became Underboss
- Joseph “Joey Dee” DiNapoli (1993-2009) became consigliere
-- Salvatore “Sally Bo” DiSimone (Acting 1995-1999)
-- Andrew DiSimone (Acting 2005-2009)
- Steven D. Crea Jr. (2009-2017) imprisoned

Harlem Game-Morris Park Crew (merged)
- Stefano “Steve LaSalle” LaSala (1916-1951) became underboss, controlled part of the Harlem dice game
- Paul “Paulie Ham” Correale (1963-1966) died, controlled Harlem dice game
- Carmine Paul “Mr. Gribbs” Tramunti (1960s-1967) became boss
- Carmen Locascio (1966-1983) died
- Anthony “Curly” Russo (1983-1986)
- Salvatore “Big Sam” Cavalieri (1980s-1987) controlled East Harlem with a large-scale numbers and sports betting
- Michael Salerno (1987-1990) moves the crew to Pelham Gardens and Morris Park. Controlled a Bronx and Westchester with a seven-million-dollar bookmaking ring. Killed in June 1990.
- Joseph “Joe” Giampa (1990-1998) imprisoned 1994
- Matthew Madonna (1998-2009) became Acting boss
-- this crew merged into Steven D. Crea Jr.'s “East Bronx-Schuylerville-Westchester Crew”

Pleasant Ave-Harlem-Heroin Crew (merged)
- John “Big John” Ormento (1951-1959) controlled drug trafficking from Pleasant Avenue into East Bronx, imprisoned
- Salvatore “Tom Mix” Santoro (1953-1958) imprisoned, moved the crew to Morris Park Ave in Bronx
- Vincent “Vinnie Beans” Foceri (1958-1975) controlled local 20, and operated his crew from 116th Street between first and second avenues in Manhattan and the 19th Hole on Brooklyn’s Fourteenth Avenue. Became consigliere
-- 1970s crew split and forms the new Bensonhurst 19th Hole Crew
- Anthony “Buddy” Luongo (1975-1986) killed Dec. 1986
- Anthony “Bowat” Baratta (1986-1992) controlled Pleasant Avenue narcotics, became acting underboss, imprisoned 1992
-- this crew merged into Joseph Giampa's "Harlem Game-Morris Park Crew"

[gohnjotti]

I don’t know anything about the Luccheses but great work Mason.

[Pogo The Clown]

A lot of it seems like guess work though.


Pogo

[HairyKnuckles]

A lot of it seems like guess work though.


Pogo

Maybe an old timer told him?

[gohnjotti]

A lot of it seems like guess work though.


Pogo

Damn, that’s a shame.

[Mason76]

A lot of it seems like guess work though.


Pogo

Some is original work; some I found with indictments, news articles and books.