Philly making ceremonies (1990's-present) and misc. research

[NJShore4Life]

He's been working behind the scenes on local cases and "second chairing" some of the bigger cases for years.

Yes, he was Nicodemo's co-counsel on the DiPietro hit and he also does all the legal work for the Philly guys real estate ventures. What I am saying is that he's low key in the sense that hes a practicing lawyer and also allegedly made. Talk about having a legit job and income to show the Feds!

[chin_gigante]

Everything I have in my notes on Bocchino[...]

Should also add that Bocchino was Joseph Massimino's uncle

[dack2001]

I'm sure if you ask him he's a hard working attorney and would laugh if you mentioned that he was in mob....but some guys are low-key and some guys are out front. Always been that way, that and the politics is the power. Things just got really messed up in the 80s with all the flash between Scarfo and his nephew grabbing everything they could for themselves.

[Ivan]

I suspected he may have held rank but it doesn't look like there was anything concrete.

Yeah I've seen some online speculation that Bocchino was the underboss before Joe Ciancaglini but again nothing concrete.

[B.]

Everything I have in my notes on Bocchino[...]

Should also add that Bocchino was Joseph Massimino's uncle

Had no idea. Great info.

[chin_gigante]

Did some digging through Mary Ferrell to pass the time and compiled all of the hierarchy charts I found from the 1950s and 1960s. If any others are known, I'd be interested to see them.

Hierarchy as of 1952 (described in retrospect by Harry Riccobene):

Joseph Ida (Boss)
Marco Reginelli (Underboss)
Ignazio Denaro (Capodecina)
Demetrio Pennestri (Capodecina)
Dominick Pollina (Capodecina)
Joseph Rugnetta (Capodecina)
Gaetano Scafidi (Capodecina)
"Cheech" (Capodecina) [99% sure I read somewhere else on here that Cheech was Frank Barrale but I can't remember where]


Hierarchy as of 1960 (described in retrospect in a report from April 1969):

Angelo Bruno (Boss)
Ignazio Denaro (Underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (Consigliere)
John Cappello (Capodecina)
Felix DeTullio (Capodecina)
Pasquale Massi (Capodecina)
Nicholas Piccolo (Capodecina)
Joseph Scafidi (Capodecina)
Joseph Sciglitano (Capodecina)
John Simone (Capodecina)
Philip Testa (Capodecina)

List of capodecine obtained in 1964 (the list, which referred to individuals by their nicknames, was from 1962 and was in Bruno's possession):

John Cappello
Felix DeTullio
Pasquale Massi
Dominick Oliveto [identified on the list as "A"; A was originally thought to be Alfred Iezzi, but Bruno referred to Oliveto as "Aliveto"]
Nicholas Piccolo
Joseph Scafidi
John Simone
Philip Testa

Hierarchy as described in a 1964 report:

Angelo Bruno (Boss)
Ignazio Denaro (Underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (Consigliere)
John Cappello (Capodecina)
Felix DeTullio (Capodecina)
Pasquale Massi (Capodecina)
Nicholas Piccolo (Capodecina)
Joseph Scafidi (Capodecina)
John Simone (Capodecina)
Philip Testa (Capodecina)

Hierarchy as described in 1965 report:

Angelo Bruno (Boss)
Ignazio Denaro (Underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (Consigliere)
John Cappello (Capodecina)
Felix DeTullio (Capodecina)
Pasquale Massi (Capodecina) [Joseph Lanciano acting for Massi]
Nicholas Piccolo (Capodecina)
Joseph Scafidi (Capodecina)
John Simone (Capodecina)
Philip Testa (Capodecina)

Hierarchy as described in 1968 report:

Angelo Bruno (Boss)
Ignazio Denaro (Underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (Consigliere)
John Cappello (Capodecina)
Joseph Lanciano (Capodecina)
Peter Maggio (Capodecina)
Nicholas Piccolo (Capodecina)
Joseph Scafidi (Capodecina)
Joseph Sciglitano (Capodecina)
John Simone (Capodecina)
Philip Testa (Capodecina)

Hierarchy as described in 1969 report:

Angelo Bruno (Boss)
Ignazio Denaro (Underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (Consigliere)
John Cappello (Capodecina)
Joseph Lanciano (Capodecina)
Peter Maggio (Capodecina)
Nicholas Piccolo (Capodecina)
Joseph Scafidi (Capodecina)
Joseph Sciglitano (Capodecina)
John Simone (Capodecina)
Philip Testa (Capodecina)

[B.]

Oliveto may have been acting for Massi in the early 1960s, before Lanciano. Oliveto was a soldier in that crew and Rocco Scafidi identified him as a captain, but another report describes Oliveto attending captain meetings on behalf of Pasquale Massi, who was in Italy at the time. Seems most likely he was acting for him. In the 1950s Oliveto had first been consigliere, then underboss (after Reginelli died), and finally acting boss before being demoted to soldier when Ida officially stepped down.

Sam Pungitore was also a suspected captain in the early 1960s based on his attendance at a high-ranking meeting but never seen anything else about it or seen it mentioned by a member source, only FBI making the assumption through surveillance. He may have been a soldier in the Iezzi crew as they were closely associated, but there is very little info on Pungitore.

Jimmy Gioella is a potential captain circa ~1950. Rocco Scafidi described a table at his induction ceremony and the only men at this table were Domenico Pollina, Ignazio Denaro, Joe Scafidi, and Gioella, with underboss/officiant Marco Reginelli at the head of the table. Everyone else was standing. Pollina and Denaro were captains and it appears Joe Scafidi already replaced the elderly Cheech Barrale, as Rocco Scafidi said his uncle Joe became his captain when he was inducted. So everyone else at the table with Reginelli was a captain, which suggests Gioella was one as well at the time. This is interesting as it could suggest they did have a Trenton / Bucks County PA captain before John Simone, though it doesn't seem they had many members in that area pre-Simone.

[PHL_Mob]

Found this on the 'Gee Gee' Cappello murder that Fresolone said Stanfa was behind:

On Jan. 20, Louis ‘Gee Gee’ Cappello, a mob associate and reputed bookmaker, was murdered in his apartment in Aldan, Delaware County. Like [Rod] Colombo, he had been shot in the head. Underworld sources say Cappello was killed because he refused to pay a ‘street tax’ being reinstituted by the local mob.

George Anastasia, ‘Phila. mob erupts in wave of violence’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 03 Mar 1993

Wasn’t GeeGee Capello a North jersey hit? There was a hit in Delco (Glenolden) back in the early 90s that everyone thought was a Stanfa hit but it was actually just a robbery gone very bad. Jimmy Pirollo was a great great guy... nicest guy ever apparently. Loaned friends money with no interest and would say pay me back when you can. Jimmy was a major bookie and his son Jay was a small-time bookie who was more a wannabe who lived off his dad’s rep. This guy Chuck Giordano who was friends with Jay robbed and murdered Jimmy and his clerk so he could pay back another gambling debt. Jimmy used to keep bricks of cash in his basement desk and ceiling, which was his demise because he was naive like that thinking people wouldn’t think to rob him once he’d open up the desk drawer to pay people. Anyways, he was getting shaken down hard by Stanfa guy and Merlino guys. Stanfa guys actually dressed up as cable guys one time and went in and robbed $50k off him one time for not paying protection money. But when the media and everyone heard a guy named “Giordano” was responsible for the murder they assumed it came from Stanfa/downtown. It came out later that it was just some degenerate friend of Jimmy’s son Jay. Damn shame...

[chin_gigante]

I became interested in the murders of Matteo and Salvatore Sollena after Frank Friel attributed them to the Scarfo family in his book 'Breaking the Mob'. The following is a write-up of what I’ve found:

Matteo Sollena was born 19 May 1946 and his brother Salvatore was born 18 November 1948. Raised in Sicily, the pair emigrated to the United States in 1969. New Jersey State Police organised crime expert Lt Colonel Justin Dinito described the Sollena brothers as loud troublemakers, with expensive tastes, and gamblers – both frequenting Atlantic City casinos while Salvatore owned several racehorses.

Matteo Sollena, of Delran, NJ, had a criminal record consisting of arrests for weapons offences, counterfeiting, immigration and naturalisation violations and obstructing the police. He was believed to be involved in international narcotics trafficking with his brother Salvatore and was specified as having ties to the Badalamenti family in Sicily, including his uncle, Cesare Badalamenti.

In 1971, federal agents found 186kg of heroin in a car belonging to Matteo in New York. Though Matteo was not charged in this case, Frank Rappa, the driver, was sentenced to 15 years. At that time, the pair operated pizzerias in Perth Amboy and Woodbridge, NJ, having franchised them from Michael Piancone. When Cesare Badalamenti was arrested in Detroit, he also claimed to be a partner with Matteo in the Perth Amboy pizzeria. Matteo’s name also came up in other investigations, including in 1972, when he posted bail for one of his employees at Perth Amboy, Stefano Sciarrino, who had been arrested as an illegal alien. While awaiting sentencing, Sciarrino was shot to death, with one of the suspects being Andrea Vitale. When Vitale was arrested in 1973 with Santo Inzerillo and Selerio Badalamenti for the kidnapping of Antonio Buscetta, Matteo posted bail for the trio.

In August 1978, Matteo and Arthur Carucci, another Italian national, were arrested by local police and the Secret Service for passing off $1,120 worth of counterfeit $20 bills (he was awaiting trial for this charge at the time of his murder). In December 1977, Matteo’s wife, Rosary, phoned the police and reported that she had been the victim of a home invasion after a masked man broke into her house with a gun and stole $7,000 worth of jewellery and fur coats. Matteo and his brother were identified as soldiers in the Gambino family in hearings before the Senate Judiciary in 1983.

Salvatore Sollena, of Deptford, NJ, operated several pizzerias with his brother in South Jersey and Levittown, Pa. In May 1980 he was charged with narcotics trafficking by Italian authorities and faced extradition (he was said to be close to deportation at the time of his murder), being convicted in-absentia in July 1982 and sentenced to eighty years in prison. In June 1981 he was arrested in New York for conspiring to distribute heroin (with Michael Piancone) to an undercover agent in San Diego – he was acquitted of this charge in August 1982. In May 1982, Salvatore was charged with converting $375,000 in cash into cashier’s cheques payable to 43 fictitious people between mid-August and late-September 1978 – these cheques were then cashed in Palermo, Geneva and Luzerne – as well as tax evasion after filing false documents to the IRS in 1976. At the time of his arrest, Sollena was found to be in possession of methamphetamines and was charged with possession (he received probation for this charge). He was released on $50,000 bail for the federal charge and $25,000 for the state drug possession charge. Sollena’s girlfriend, Joanne Abdiego, was charged as a material witness and released on $50,000 bail. One report quoted a police source saying Salvatore was a ‘gofer’ while Matteo held more influence in the underworld, whereas another said that Salvatore was the more prominent, with former Bonanno family boss Paul Sciacca attending his funeral.

Both Sollenas were last seen by their families on 6 November 1983. Matteo was reported missing by his wife shortly after Salvatore’s body was found. Salvatore’s wife, Antoinette, reportedly received an anonymous phone call, saying her husband wouldn’t be home for dinner and that he’d be found in the trunk of a car outside the Four Seasons diner in Collingswood, NJ. Anonymous tips also led to the discovery of Matteo’s body.

On 10 Nov 1983, Salvatore Sollena’s body was found in the trunk of his car at 11.30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Four Seasons. He had been shot multiple times in the head with a .38-caliber pistol. His hands and legs were bound, and green plastic garbage bags were used to cover his head and feet. On 19 Nov 1983, Matteo Sollena was found in the trunk of his wife’s car at approximately 9 p.m. on Cooper Street in Marlton, NJ. He had been shot multiple times in the head, which was also covered with a green plastic bag.

In the aftermath of the murders, the initial suspicion was that the murders came from the Gambino family and were possibly drug related (the brothers were believed to be linked to a multi-million-dollar heroin deal that was confiscated by Milan police in 1982). By 1985, the theory had shifted to the Philadelphia family, with the belief being that the Sollenas had angered family boss Nicodemo Scarfo, who killed the pair with the approval of Gambino boss Paul Castellano.

In July 1985, Lawrence Merlino and Joseph Ligambi were charged with participating in the disposal of Salvatore Sollena’s body based on the testimony of cooperating witness Francis Kelly. According to the indictment, Merlino met with Ligambi and Kelly at Angeloni’s II restaurant in Atlantic City on 6 November 1983. Merlino told the pair that Salvatore Sollena’s body was in the trunk of a car before giving Ligambi the keys and telling him to drive it to the diner in Collingswood. Kelly followed in his own car, driving Ligambi back to Atlantic City after he had completed his task.

Francis Kelly first came into the orbit of Nicky Scarfo and the Philly mob in 1966 in Baltimore. Though he was not going by the name Kelly then (Francis Kelly was an amalgamation of aliases he had gone by), he was introduced to Scarfo by Alvin Feldman. Kelly next met Scarfo in 1979, where the Atlantic City-based mobster mistook him for a New York mob associate. Kelly did not correct him.

An ex-cop, Kelly had gotten involved in Baltimore with a Manhattan pornography ring. After being arrested multiple times for assault and, finally, for transporting pornography, Kelly agreed to cooperate and provided information against the Manhattan-based ring. He was then taken into the witness protection programme in 1971. In 1978, Kelly was approached by Resorts International and offered the position of assistant director of tour and travel at their Atlantic City casino hotel. Kelly took the job, however, due to his criminal record, he would have trouble attaining a license to work at the casino. Kelly reached out to the FBI, who put him in touch with New Jersey authorities, who obscured his record to get him a license. In return, Kelly was asked to provide New Jersey State Police and the Division of Gaming Enforcement with information useful to criminal investigations.

After meeting with Scarfo again, Kelly began doing him favours, including getting the mob boss rooms for his friends. In 1982, while working at the Playboy casino hotel, Kelly was named in a Pennsylvania Crime Commission report alongside a description of his mob associations. Unaware of his cooperation with local authorities, Playboy fired him. After failing to get another job in a casino, Kelly began working more closely with Scarfo and his top associates – including by running TK’s Pub in Atlantic City for capo Lawrence Merlino. At the time of the Sollena murders, Kelly had been providing police with information for five years. Using Kelly’s information, New Jersey authorities charged Merlino and Ligambi 19 months after the murder.

However, Merlino and Ligambi never went to trial in the Sollena case. In 1987, the state dropped the case against the pair after an autopsy revealed that Salvatore Sollena had been killed 12-48 hours before his body was discovered on 10 November 1983. This contradicted Kelly’s assertion that Sollena had already been dead on 6 November. Kelly, at this time, was also suing New Jersey law enforcement agencies for his treatment as a cooperating informant.

The details behind the Sollena murders finally became clear after Merlino himself flipped and began cooperating with authorities. He told how Giuseppe Gambino had apologised to him for the confusion over the Sollena murders. Merlino was told that the Sollenas were killed for stealing money from the Gambino family and losing it at Atlantic City casinos. Gambino himself killed Matteo and one of his associates killed Salvatore.

[chin_gigante]

Murders linked to Angelo Bruno

13 Jul 1948 – Anthony Minerva:

Philadelphia Confidential Informant PH T-13 advised SA J. ROBERT PEARCE on December 12, 1957, that ANTHONY MINERVA formerly operated a small business selling cottage cheese in the South New Jersey area. He sold this business to MICHAEL MAGGIO (now deceased) for a reported price of $25,000 prior to MINERVA’s entrance into the military service.
In 1948 MINERVA was discharged from military service and began calling on customers with whom he had previously had business connections. Informant said that MICHAEL MAGGIO, whom he alleged to be a member of the “original Mafia and allied with the Greaser Gang in Philadelphia” had warned MINERVA to stop calling on these customers inasmuch as the customers and business had been purchased by MAGGIO.
MINERVA did not do this and in July 1948 MINERVA was invited to attend boxing matches in Philadelphia where he allegedly rendezuous with unknown individuals at the Ticket Grill, 13th and Wharton Street, Philadelphia, which was then owned by PETER CASELLA. After this meeting, MINERVA was found murdered in South Philadelphia on July 13, 1948. Informant said he believed ANGELO BRUNO and a person named ANGELO MARTEL actually committed this murder. He believed that PETER CASELLA arranged for the murder of MINERVA as a favor to MICHAEL MAGGIO. He claimed that a former Police Lieutenant FRANK MAYO actually dated MINERVA’s sister, obtaining information from her and thereafter turned it over to PETER CASELLA. As noted elsewhere in this report, ANGELO BRUNO’s sister, LINA, is married to PETER MAGGIO, the son of the late MICHAEL MAGGIO. The informant’s beliefs as to BRUNO’s murdering MINERVA were based on information he had received from criminal associates. This information is known to the Philadelphia Police Department.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 9&tab=page


05 Apr 1950 – Joseph Sadia:

On May 20, 1958, the informant identified the victim of one of these murders as JOSEPH SADIA, aka “Joseph Saia, Joseph Bruno (not the former leader of the organization), Pepelongo.” The victim was found in the street at 810 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, Pa., on April 5, 1950, dead of gunshot wounds.
According to the informant, the victim had talked in a derogatory manner about the wife of FRANK NICOLETTI and had claimed that SALVATORE SABELLI had an affair with the victim’s wife. He also claimed that NICOLETTI’s wife had unnatural sexual relations with him.
The killing had been performed, the informant said, by ANGELO BRUNO and PHIL TESTA, while the car was driven by FRANK NICOLETTI.
Captain DAVID H. ROBERTS, Commanding Officer of the Homicide Squad, Philadelphia Police Department, advised that SADIA was more commonly known as SAIA and had been involved in loan shark activities in South Philadelphia.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 7&tab=page


06 Dec 1954 – Marshall Veneziale:

Philadelphia Confidential Informant T-13 advised SA J. ROBERT PEARCE on December 12, 1957, that MARSHALL VENEZIALE, aka MUTT, was murdered on December 6, 1954. Informant furnished the following regarding this murder:
During 1948 PETER CASELLA with his brother ANTHONY CASELLA and MARSHALL VENEZIALE had a store in operation at an unknown location as a partnership. During this operation the price of alcohol, which was then $20.00 per five gallon can, began to decline. These persons held a meeting with NATCHY ESPOSITO in an endeavor to reach an agreement to maintain the price level at not under $16.00 per five gallon can. VENEZIALE after this meeting sold his illicit alcohol under the agreed upon price. PETER CASELLA, who was then definitely boss of the Greaser Gang at Philadelphia, started having alcohol delivered into Philadelphia by “TONY BANANAS” (true name ANTHONY CAPONIGRO, subject of Anti-Racketeering investigation by the Newark division). This imported alcohol was sold at a cheaper price with PETER CASELLA receiving $.50 or $1.00 rake off per can. The informant, who was thoroughly familiar with this operation, expressed an opinion that CASELLA’s objective was to lower the price to an extent that would enable CASELLA to buy VENEZIALE’s output at a much lower price. VENEZIALE, who had by this time withdrawn from the above partnership, began selling whiskey in wholesale lots of 200 and 300 cans to an individual known as “JIMMY THE TURK.” VENEZIALE’s endeavor was to keep his supply of alcohol from CASELLA resulting in CASELLA and VENEZIALE becoming enemies.
Still in 1948 PETER CASELLA turned to MICHAEL MATTEO, aka MIKE MENDEL, brother of FRANK MATTEO, mentioned above as original partners with ANGELO BRUNO, against MUTT VENEZIALE. During 1948 MICHAEL MATTEO and HERMAN (LNU) were beaten by MUTT VENEZIALE. After this beating, HERMAN and MICHAEL went directly to 739 South 9th Street, a store run by the CASELLA family. VENEZIALE, during 1946 – 1950, operated a still as partners with CARL GREENFIELD, commonly known as SPIKE. This operation ceased and VENEZIALE later operated a still as a lone wolf.
Informant said that in 1954 JAMES GATTI, commonly referred to as LEFTIE GATTI, began frequenting VENEZIALE’s neighborhood of 723 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, and questioned VENEZIALE’s wife, JULIE, as to her husband’s activities. Late in 1954 a messenger brought word to VENEZIALE’s home saying that ANTHONY CASELLA, 2938 South Juniper Street, said that VENEZIALE had to contribute $200 per week for operating his still. VENEZIALE would not do this. Two weeks after this visit the messenger told VENEZIALE he did not have to give a “cut” to ANTHONY CASELLA. The informant believed it was at this time that it had been decided that VENEZIALE would be executed. JAMES LEFTIE GATTI is an employee of JOSEPH RUGNETTA, who the informant said was known as “Joe the Boss” and operated the South Philadelphia Grill, 12th and Mercy Streets, Philadelphia, residence 2030 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, and purchased a new Cadillac each year. He characterized “Joe the Boss” as an arbitrator or referee among the Greaser Gang in such matters as territorial disputes such as areas allotted to certain individuals for numbers business or customers allotted for sales of illegal alcohol.
During November 1954, GATTI insisted that VENEZIALE meet GATTI’s boss. On December 4, 1954, in the afternoon, a neighborhood imbecile delivered a message to MUTT VENEZIALE that LEFTIE wanted to meet VENEZIALE on the corner. Informant believed that this meeting was to arrange a date for MUTT’s execution. He believed this because on Monday, December 6, 1954, MUTT borrowed his brother’s car, a 1954 Plymouth sedan, and nine days afterwards was found with a bullet wound in the back of his head in the trunk of this brother’s car.
Philadelphia Confidential Informant PH T-13 advised SAS J. ROBERT PEARCE and JOHN L. ADAMS on March 7, 1958, that ANGELO BRUNO’s top lieutenant in Philadelphia was PHILIP TESTA who handled BRUNO’s numbers pickups. The informant said that he had been told that BRUNO attended a meeting the night VENEZIALE disappeared, which was held at the South Philadelphia Grill, owned by JOSEPH RUGNETTA. It was alleged that quite an argument took place at the meeting, supposedly with BRUNO, VENEZIALE and JAMES LEFTIE GATTI. It was said that BRUNO was seen leaving this meeting holding a handkerchief over his eye. Informant explained that VENEZIALE had quite a temper and it was quite possible that he hit BRUNO and that this led to his murder. Informant related that he had been told that JAMES GATTI was supposed to have killed VENEZIALE but at the last minute got cold feet and that BRUNO did the job. The above information is known to the Philadelphia Police Department.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 7&tab=page


26 Sep 1957 – Alphonse Lanatto:

Philadelphia Confidential Informant T-5 advised SA DAVID E. WALKER on January 20, 1958, that ANGELO BRUNO been involved in at least one gangland style murder in the past two years. He identified one victim known only to this informant as “Peppelongo”, described as being 51 years of age. This informant said that the execution had been committed in the vicinity of South 10th Street, Philadelphia. The victim was described as being of no importance to the underworld but when drunk very often called many of the “organizations” fouls names and this resulted in his death. The informant said the killing was alleged to have been done by ANGELO BRUNO and PHILIP TESTA with the car having been driven by FRANK NICOLETTI.
On January 31, 1958, Captain DAVID H. ROBERTS, Homicide Squad, Philadelphia Police Department, advised SA ROBERT M. GRANT of the age and location of the above-described murder but that the victim appeared to be ALPHONSE LANATTO, who was known as SNAKE EYES. Captain ROBERTS related that both ANGELO BRUNO and PHILIP TESTA were suspects in this investigation but that his Department could locate no evidence or proof that they had committed the murder, which he said was on September 26, 1957. The body was discovered near a sewage works in Southwest Philadelphia.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 6&tab=page


1963 – Florida accountant and three women:

About this time, which [HAROLD KONIGSBERG] believed was probably in January or February, 1963, [JOSEPH] STASSI killed four people in Florida. STASSI told KONIGSBERG that he went to Florida to kill a man who was an accountant for STASSI in Cuba. This accountant was also the accountant for ANGELO BRUNO as BRUNO and STASSI were partners in a casino in Cuba. From what STASSI told KONIGSBERG, they went to the home of this man in Florida and there were three women present.
STASSI had been joined by one man who was supplied by SANTO TRAFFICANTE and two other men who were supplied by ANGELO BRUNO. The four of them went into the home and they killed this accountant and three women who, unfortunately, happened to be there. According to what STASSI told KONIGSBERG, they buried all four in a spot supplied by SANTO TRAFFICANTE.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 3&tab=page


Jan 1962 – Dominick Caruso:

Caruso was killed because he showed disrespect to Joseph “Joe The Boss” Rugnetta, who was the consigliere of the Family. Caruso tried to shake down Rugnetta for money and also slapped him. Until his death in the 1970s, Rugnetta lived near 12th Street and Snyder Avenue in south Philadelphia. After Caruso showed Rugnetta disrespect, Angelo Bruno ordered his murder.
The conspiracy to kill Caruso involved Family members and associates, including [Nicodemo] Scarfo, Santo Idone, Santo Romeo, Anthony Casella and Salvatore Merlino, as well as others, whom Leonetti did not know, but who helped dispose of the body. Scarfo, Romeo, Casella and Merlino lived in south Philadelphia at the time and Idone lived in the Chester, Pennsylvania, area.
Scarfo, who was already friendly with Caruso, started to “romance” him in order to set him up. On the day of the murder, Salvatore Merlino went to Caruso’s house in south Philadelphia and told Caruso that Scarfo was waiting for Caruso in a nearby car. Scarfo then gave Caruso a fabricated story about how he needed Caruso to go with him to a bar in Vineland. Caruso agreed to go.
Because the bar was closed on the day that Caruso was killed, those involved in the murder got the keys from its owner. The plan was for Scarfo to bring Caruso to the bar and for Anthony Casella and Santo Romeo to hold him while Santo Idone choked him to death. Angelo Bruno wanted Caruso choked. However, Idone arrived late and Scarfo had to shoot Caruso instead. Scarfo shot him five times with a handgun that was wrapped in a scarf and concealed in his coat pocket. Scarfo thought Caruso was dead, but Caruso said, “You got me, Nick.” Scarfo then took an ice pick and kept stabbing him in the back. The ice pick got stuck in Caruso’s back and Scarfo had to break it off.
After Caruso was dead, there was a knock at the door and the killers got scared because they thought it was a police officer who used to stop at the bar at about that time of day to pick up beer. It turned out to be Santo Idone. After Idone arrived, they put a rope around Caruso’s neck to make it look like he had been choked. This was done to satisfy Bruno because of his instruction that Caruso was to be choked. Caruso’s body was then wrapped in blankets or plastic and put in the back of a pick-up truck. The body was driven to a grave that had already been dug somewhere in the Vineland area.
Bruno gave instructions that Caruso’s body was to be left next to the grave site because others who had been assigned to dig the grave would then return to bury the body after it had been dropped off. Bruno set it up so that those involved in murdering Caruso and those involved in digging the grave and burying Caruso did not know each other’s assignment.
Scarfo later found out that those who had dug the grave, later filled it in and buried Caruso’s body in a grave that they had dug elsewhere. Bruno did that as a safeguard in case one of those involved in killing Caruso at the bar decided to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. If someone took the police to the original grave to dig up the body and it wasn’t there, that person would look like a liar.
After Caruso’s body was dropped off at the original grave, Scarfo drove the pick-up truck to his parents’ apartment building in Atlantic City where Leonetti lived. Leonetti was about nine years old at the time. Scarfo picked up Leonetti and took him for a ride to Philadelphia to use him as a decoy. Scarfo figured that if anybody saw the killers using the truck in the murder and reported it to the police, the police would never think that a truck with a little kid in it had been used in a murder. Scarfo told Leonetti on the day of the murder that he had just “killed a very bad man” and explained to Leonetti why he wanted Leonetti to ride with him to Philadelphia. Scarfo drove the truck to Philadelphia for it to be destroyed so that it could never be used as evidence.
The bar where Caruso was murdered was owned by either a member of the Family named Anthony “King Kong” Perella or a relative of his. Perella was from the Vineland area. He died in an auto accident sometime around the mid-1960s.
[...]
Dominick “Reds” Caruso was reported missing by his wife on January 30, 1962. As of this date, Caruso’s body has not been found.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/ ... t-1992.pdf


25 Dec 1973 – Joseph McGreal:

Asked about his second victim, the late Joey McGreal, slain in 1973 after trying to re-take the bartenders union from Natale, Natale said, “I did that also.”
McGreal, another rival gangster, had been shot three times in the back of the head at close range inside a car on Christmas night, outside a South Jersey eatery.
“Angelo Bruno and I talked it over and we decided to do what I had to do,” Natale said.

Jim Smith. ‘Mafia Boss Takes Stand’. Philadelphia Daily News, 09 Nov 2000.


1974 – Alvin Feldman:

[Nicodemo] Scarfo was in Yardville for about two years. During that time, he was housed in the same section of the prison as Angelo Bruno. Bruno was also at Yardville for refusing to testify before the State Commission of Investigation. While they were there, Scarfo constantly complained to Bruno about Feldman and asked Bruno to have Feldman killed. Bruno agreed.
Feldman was murdered in 1974 after a long delay. The hold-up occurred because Feldman had borrowed about $60,000 from Carl “Pappy” Ippolito and it took awhile for Ippolito to get his money back. Ippolito, who was a member of the Family from the Trenton, N.J., area, wanted to make certain that he got his money before Feldman was killed.
Feldman was murdered by Santo Idone, Joseph Scalleat, Frank “Chickie” Narducci and Joseph “Chickie” Ciancaglini. All were La Cosa Nostra members in the Family at the time except for Ciancaglini who was made later. Scalleat set up Feldman by telling him that he wanted Feldman to look over a warehouse that he wanted torched. Scalleat used that excuse because it seemed like a logical request since Feldman was an arsonist. Feldman was picked up by Scalleat at a location where Feldman was living with a girlfriend named Rene. Idone, Narducci and Ciancaglini were waiting at the warehouse for Feldman and Scalleat to arrive. Once Feldman and Scalleat got there, Idone grabbed and held Feldman while Narducci started stabbing him with an ice pick. Narducci stabbed Idone accidently in the arm and Idone couldn’t hold onto Feldman. When Feldman broke free, he started to run away, but Ciancaglini caught him and Narducci finished stabbing him. Feldman’s body was buried and, as far as Leonetti knew, has never been found. Leonetti didn’t know where the warehouse was located or where Feldman was buried.
Right after Feldman was killed, Frank Sindone took Scarfo and Leonetti aside at Frank’s Cabana Steaks at 10th Street and Moyamensing Avenue in south Philadelphia and told them about Feldman’s murder. Sindone was a member of the Family who was involved in loansharking and gambling. He used Frank’s Caban Steaks as his headquarters to conduct illegal activities. Sindone knew that Scarfo would be happy to hear about Feldman’s death. Sindone learned about Feldman’s murder from Joseph “Chickie” Ciancaglini, who was under Sindone at the time. Even though Leonetti wasn’t made then, Sindone described Feldman’s murder to Scarfo in Leonetti’s presence because Sindone knew how close Leonetti was with Scarfo and that Leonetti could be trusted. As time went on, Leonetti learned more about the Feldman murder from Scarfo.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/ ... t-1992.pdf


1976 – Louis DeMarco:

This kid Louie DeMarco was robbing Chickie Narducci’s crap games in Philadelphia. Chickie Narducci was one of Angelo Bruno’s top guys. Hs crap games brought in a lot of money for the family. So Chickie Narducci goes and sees Phil Testa and Angelo Bruno and makes a beef about what is going on. Bruno and Testa tell Narducci they are gonna find Louie DeMarco and have him killed. Disrespecting a made guy is against the rules and Chickie Narducci was a made guy.
So what happens is, Phil Testa waits a week before calling [Nicodemo Scarfo] and telling him that he wants us to kill Louie DeMarco for robbing Chickie Narducci. Phil Testa and Chickie Narducci had a kind of love/ hate relationship. There were always on again, off again, and at the time they were having real problems, so Phil Testa was kind of dogging it. My uncle was unhappy because Phil Testa waited a week and didn’t tell him right away. My uncle wanted people to know what kind of people we were and that if we were asked to kill someone, we would do it right away, without any hesitation. Our philosophy was Bang! Bang! And that was that. So my uncle assigns the killing to me and Vince Falcone so we can prove to my uncle and guys like Ange and Phil Testa that we were killers and that we were serious men like my uncle.
So we put some feelers out on the street to see if anyone has a line on where this Louie DeMarco might be hiding out at. We hear that he is staying at the Ensign Motel on Pacific Avenue. So I go see a guy I know named Harry the Hat who had a coffee shop on Missouri Avenue. It was like a hangout; everybody would hang there. Harry the Hat was Skinny Razor’s brother-in-law, and he knew everybody in Atlantic City. So I ask him if he knows who Louie DeMarco is and Harry the Hat pointed him out to me – he was actually sitting right there in the coffee shop playing cards. So I have Vince Falcone meet with me and we stay for a little while and when Louie DeMarco leaves, we follow him to the Ensign Motel. He has no idea who we are or that we are following him. There was a local bartender who was with us who had a room at the Ensign, and he gave us the keys to his room so that we could wait until DeMarco came out of his room – so that we could get him.
[…]
Louie DeMarco was getting ready to leave his room at the Ensign Motel and he had no idea what was coming.
So we see him walking out and Vince had masks and gloves on. We were behind him; he never saw us coming.
I was the first one to shoot and I blasted him right in the back of the head. After I shot him I thought he was running away, but it was the force of the bullet that made him fly forward and he landed face down. Then me and Vince just emptied our guns into him. I think the first shot killed him. We did it right in the parking lot, right on Pacific Avenue in broad daylight.
[…]
My uncle had me and Vince go over an escape route a few days before the killing. We walked that route several times to make sure we knew where we were going. My uncle told us that after we killed him, he wanted us to throw the guns on the roof of a nearby building, which we did. We then followed the route that we had planned and my uncle was waiting there in a car to pick us up. We get in the car and no one says a word, we just drive to the apartment on Georgia Avenue.

Philip Leonetti, Scott Burnstein and Christopher Graziano. Mafia Prince. Running Press, 2012.


1977 – Giuseppe Leva:

In the summer of 1977, Leonetti used the My Way Lounge to create an alibi to show that he was not at the murder scene of a person that the Family had killed. Leonetti made his presence known at the My Way Lounge so that everyone could see him at the time that an Atlantic City tailor, named Guiseppi “Pepe” Leva, was murdered. Leva was shot to death near a dump in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., by Alfredo Ferraro, an associate of the Family at the time. Scarfo, Leonetti, Ferraro, Lawrence Merlino and Vincent Falcone took part in the conspiracy to murder Leva. Leonetti used the My Way Lounge as an alibi because he had beaten Leva about a week earlier and had been arrested for it after Leva reported the incident to the police. Leonetti beat Leva outside the Flamingo Motel in Atlantic City, where Leva had been drinking. Leonetti figured that if he had an alibi, he would not be suspected of being the triggerman. On the night that Leva was killed, Ferraro and Leva went to the My Way Lounge for some drinks. When Ferraro and Leva arrived, Leonetti was already there socializing with Salvatore “Salvie” Testa and Vincent Falcone to set up his alibi. While at the My Way Lounge, Leonetti, Testa and Falcone discussed that Ferraro was going to kill Leva later that night.
Leonetti was indicted for Leva’s murder, but the charges were later dismissed. The Leva murder was a sanctioned “hit.” Scarfo got permission from the Family boss, Angelo Bruno, to kill Leva because Leva was shaking down old Italian people from Scarfo’s neighborhood for money. Also, Leva had borrowed money from Vincent Bancheri and didn’t pay Bancheri back. Bancheri was Scarfo’s and Leonetti’s partner in Scarf, Inc., when they first started the business. The reason why Leonetti beat Leva shortly before his murder was because Leva wasn’t paying Bancheri the money he owed him.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/ ... t-1992.pdf


15 Feb 1978 – Edwin Helfant:

[Nicodemo] Scarfo decided to wait to have [Edwin] Helfant killed until after “Nick the Blade” Virgilio was released from prison so that Virgilio could have the personal satisfaction of murdering him, since he double-crossed Virgilio. Virgilio was released from prison in approximately 1977.
Helfant was murdered in early 1978, about a year after Virgilio was released from prison. Scarfo, Virgilio and Leonetti were involved in the murder and its planning. Virgilio shot Helfant to death in the bar of a motel that Helfant owned. Helfant’s motel was known as the Flamingo Motel, which was located on Pacific Avenue, near Chelsea Avenue, in Atlantic City. Virgilio wore a ski mask and carried a snow shovel when he shot Helfant. He used the ski mask and shovel to disguise himself and blend into the area. There had been a large snow storm just before the murder. After Virgilio shot Helfant, he ran to a get-away car driven by Scarfo and they left the area. Leonetti provided the snow shovel to Virgilio. Leonetti also helped plan the route that Virgilio used to and from the murder scene, which they took a dry run of prior to the murder. The Flamingo Motel was used because they knew that Helfant was at the bar every night and also because they knew the area and felt safe killing him there. John “Johnny” Palumbo, who was an associate of the Family, provided them with the handgun that Virgilio used to shoot Helfant.
Scarfo asked Angelo Bruno for permission to kill Helfant only about a week before he was killed. Scarfo did that because he liked to show Bruno that when he had a job to do, he got it done quickly. Scarfo did the same thing when he got Bruno’s permission to murder Guiseppi “Pepe” Leva and Louis DeMarco.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/ ... t-1992.pdf


04 Jan 1979 – Michael Cifelli:

In 1979, Salvatore “Chuckie” Merlino, Salvatore Testa, [Robert] Lumio and [Nicodemo] Scarfo all took part in the murder of Michael “Coco” Cifelli. He was killed because he was selling drugs to the son of Frank Monte, a member of the Family. The murder was approved by Angelo Bruno. Cifelli was killed while he was talking on a telephone just inside the front door of a south Philadelphia bar, known as Priori’s, at 10th and Wolf Streets. Merlino and Testa were the shooters and Scarfo drove the getaway car. Lumio set up Cifelli by calling him on the telephone at the bar and talking to him. This made it easier for Merlino and Testa to locate Cifelli to shoot him.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/ ... t-1992.pdf


Some notes:

There were, of course, several other murders that took place during Bruno's reign as boss of the family, but I have only included murders where I found evidence of Bruno's explicit involvement. (This excludes, for instance, to the murder of Ferdinand Iacono, which we know little about to begin with).
I excluded the North Jersey murders I knew about (Louis Luciano, Albert Meglia and David White, Edward Snee) because of the relative disconnect between Newark and South Philly, in the same way that I wouldn't attribute all the murders committed by Pete Caprio and Philip Casale in the 1990's to the Stanfa or Natale regimes. (Though I think that if any of the North Jersey hits were sanctioned by Bruno the murder of Luciano is the most likely as he was a member).
I excluded the murders of Robert DeGeorge and George Feeney as they appear (especially in the case of DeGeorge) to be more spur of the moment than pre-planned hits.
In the 1995 NJ SCI report, Leonetti claimed that the murder of Vincent Falcone had not been sanctioned by Bruno.
Based on the unreliability of Frank Sheeran's account, I excluded murders mentioned in 'I Heard You Paint Houses' (e.g., Whispers DiTullio).

[Ivan]

The "Gentle Don" whacked three innocent girls at once. Great stuff Chin.

[chin_gigante]

Induction Ceremonies (1920s-1970s)

Early members

Francesco Barrale
Dominick Festa
Michael Maggio
Antonio Pollina
Marco Reginelli
Mario Riccobene
Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
John Scopoletti
Salvatore Testa

Notes:
In 1967, Rocco Scafidi described the above individuals being among the ‘original’ members of the family around 1920 when Salvatore Sabella became boss. Antonio Pollina did not arrive in the US until after 1920 (though his brother Filippo arrived earlier). Celeste Morello, however, insists that Sabella did not open the books to eastern Sicilians (e.g., Testa) until the mid-late 1920s and that southern Italians (e.g., Festa, Reginelli, Scopoletti) were not inducted until John Avena became boss in 1931. Scopoletti, however, appears to have been a leadership position by 1927 and was mistaken as the leader of the organisation at the time of the murders of Joseph Zanghi and Vincent Cocozza.
According to Morello’s view of the situation, the majority of members under Sabella were inducted in Sicily and arrived in the US before WWI, though new members were inducted around the mid-late 1920s in anticipation of the Castellammarese War. Morello cites interviews with Harry Riccobene as the source for much of her information, while Scafidi’s description of the 1920s most likely would come from what he heard from Gaetano and Joseph Scafidi. (However, Morello also claims that southern Italians elsewhere in the US, such as Vito Genovese and Al Capone, were not inducted until the 1930s, which we know to be false). Morello also cites information provided by Jimmy Rose to the FBI that claims Reginelli was proposed for membership by Joseph Ida.

Some additional early members

Gaetano Bruno
Antonio Calio
John Cappello Sr
Antonio Casella (found murdered 1926)
Salvatore Casella
George Catanese
George Catania (murdered 1928)
Joseph Fusci
Vincent Gerace
Michael Macaluso
Joseph Maggio
Biagio Passanante
Filippo Pollina
Andrea Restuccia
Paul Savarese

Notes:
Barrale, Cappello, the Casellas, and the Scafidis were from Belmonte Mezzagno, and Barrale was possibly an early boss. Catanese, Catania, Fusci, Gerace and the Pollinas were from Caccamo. The Maggios and Passanante were from Campobello di Mazara. Bruno, Calio, Riccobene and Savarese were from Enna. Sabella was from Castellammare del Golfo, and Morello argues it is more likely that he was inducted in New York due to the larger presence of Castellammaresi there than Philadelphia.
When Harry Riccobene began providing the FBI with information, he also described Edward Caminiti and Luigi Quaranta as old-time members (Quaranta was involved in the Zanghi-Cocozza double-homicide).

1927

Harry Riccobene

Notes:
Riccobene insisted that his induction was unrelated to the fact that his father Mario was a member. Riccobene was 16 years old at the time and, to his knowledge, the youngest ever to be inducted in the United States (though it was not uncommon in Sicily). Riccobene also stated that he was inducted with others who were older than him. Celeste Morello wrote that John Avena was possibly also part of this ceremony (and possibly proposed by Michael Macaluso).

c. 1930

Joseph Bruno

Notes:
According to Celeste Morello, Bruno was inducted around 1930 having possibly been proposed by John Avena.

c. 1932

Ignazio Denaro

Notes:
In April 1962, Rocco Scafidi reported of a dispute between Ignazio Denaro and Angelo Bruno. Scafidi reported that Bruno had said that Denaro had been a member for thirty years, indicating he was likely inducted around the early 1930s. Denaro arrived in the US in 1931, so perhaps he was inducted in Sicily.

c. 1942/ 1943

John Cappello

Notes:
Cappello told Rocco Scafidi that he was made in approximately 1942 or 1943 and that he had participated in three murders before being inducted.

1947 [?]

Vincent Villone

Notes:
According to interviews with Celeste Morello, ‘Fingers’ Villone was inducted under Joseph Ida at the age of 16 and remained a sleeper member of the family until his death in 2003. Having read what Morello published of her interviews with Villone I am not sure I believe him. He claimed to not know about the hierarchy of the family beyond to respect the boss and he talked about how Frank Sinatra and other celebrities wanted him to write his own story. He also claimed Salvatore Tamburrino was a member. He just sets off my bullshit detector in the same way as Ralph Natale.

c. 1949/ 1950

Nicholas Piccolo

Notes:
Inducted approximately five years before Nicodemo Scarfo and the rest of the Piccolos.

c. 1950

Location:
Casablanca Night Club, Camden (owned and operated by Pasquale Massi and Marco Reginelli)

Attendees:
Joseph Ida
Marco Reginelli
Pasquale Massi
Ignazio Denaro
Pasquale Massi
Antonio Pollina
Joseph Rugnetta
Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
James Gioella

Inductees:
Anthony Maggio
Anthony Perella
Rocco Scafidi (sponsored by Joseph Scafidi; Pollina selected as his ‘godfather’)

Notes:
Scafidi was shelved and later reinstated at a ceremony in 1961.

1950-1952

Philip Testa

Notes:
Inducted after participating in the April 1950 murder of Joseph Sadia. Harry Riccobene, to the best of his recollection, told the FBI that Testa was made by 1952. Ralph Natale wrote that Testa was proposed for membership by Alfred Iezzi.

1952

Frank Nicoletti
Leonard Nicoletti

Notes:
Made in 1952 according to Frank Nicoletti’s FBI file, though Harry Riccobene had also referred to Frank as a long-time member. It is possible that Philip Testa was part of this ceremony, considering that he, Angelo Bruno and Frank Nicoletti were involved in the murder of Joseph Sadia.

1954

Louis Luciano
Pasquale Martirano

Notes:
These individuals were proposed by Antonio Caponigro according to a former New Jersey wiseguy interviewed by Scott Deitche for Garden State Gangland. However, the source also misidentified Ralph Napoli and Gerardo Fusella as being made at this time when we know they were made in 1962 and 1982, respectively. Deitche also has Caponigro as being made in 1947.

1954/ 1955

Location:
Sans Souci Restaurant, Cherry Hill

Inductees:
Anthony Piccolo
Joseph Piccolo
Michael Piccolo
Nicodemo Scarfo

Notes:
In Mafia Prince, both Felix DiTullio and Nicholas Piccolo are described as proposing Scarfo for membership.

c. 1955

Angelo Bruno

Notes:
Proposed for membership by Michael Maggio. To the best of his recollection, Harry Riccobene did not believe Bruno was made by the time he (Riccobene) went to prison in 1952 and was surprised when he found out he was the boss. Riccobene eventually provided information that he believed Bruno was made around 1955. In October 1961, Ray DeCarlo was picked up on tape discussing how Bruno had only been made for five or six years, and how his appointment to the position of boss was a political move.
Celeste Morello writes that Bruno was possibly made in the 1930s under John Avena, however this seems far less likely.
I have been told there is an FBI file somewhere that says Bruno and Philip Testa were made in the same ceremony. I would be interested to see it if anyone finds it or knows where it is.

26 September 1959 [possible ceremony]

Peter Maggio

Notes:
Maggio is described as being ‘elected’ to the organisation at a meeting where Joseph Rugnetta was taken down as acting boss of the family in favour of Dominick Oliveto

09 October 1961

Location:
Buckeye Club, Philadelphia (bar owned by Adam D’Olio)

Attendees:
Angelo Bruno (boss)
Ignazio Denaro (underboss)
Joseph Rugnetta (consigliere)
Felix DiTullio (captain)
Pasquale Massi (captain)
Joseph Scafidi (captain)
John Simone (captain)
Philip Testa (captain)
Peter Maggio (soldier)
Antonio Pollina (soldier)
Rocco Scafidi (soldier)

Inductees:
Michael Cammarota (sponsored by John Simone)
Frank Monte (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Frank Narducci (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Santo Romeo (sponsored by Joseph Rugnetta)
Michael Tramantana (sponsored by John Simone)
Rocco Scafidi (sponsored by Ignazio Denaro; appointed to Joseph Scafidi)

Notes:
As Scafidi was being reinstated rather than inducted, he was not required to go through the oath. After the ceremony, the group went to an oyster house across the street from Anthony Perella’s La Rosa Restaurant in Vineland where they were introduced to members who were not present at the ceremony

1962

Carl Ippolito
Ralph Napoli

Notes:
Mentioned by Ray DeCarlo in taped conversations in 1962.

October 1961 to September 1964

Alphonse Marconi
Guerino Marconi

Notes:
Scafidi had a conversation with Ernest Perricone in September 1964, where Perricone said that the family could not induct any new members since Joseph Valachi began cooperating. Perricone noted that since the October 1961 ceremony only the Marconi brothers had been inducted.
Ray DeCarlo was caught on tape in October 1962, talking about how the Philadelphia family had continued making members despite the books being closed elsewhere, and how the books finally where closed a couple of months before this conversation. This could indicate that the Marconi’s were made in 1962, possibly at the same ceremony as Ippolito and Napoli. In November, DeCarlo noted that he brought this up with Gerardo Catena, who told him that Philadelphia had been making individuals because Angelo Bruno was not boss when the books were closed and, resultingly, did not know about it.

16 January 1965

Domenic Rugnetta

Notes:
Nephew of Joseph Rugnetta. John Cappello advised Scafidi of this ceremony.

c. April 1969

John Grande (sponsored by Frank Narducci)
Francis Iannarella (sponsored by Philip Testa)
Joseph Perella (sponsored by Joseph Scafidi)
Frank Sindone (sponsored by Angelo Bruno)
Unsub (sponsored by John Simone)

Notes:
Rocco Scafidi advised in May 1964 that a meeting was scheduled to take place on 15 June at a motel in Camden (possibly owned by Pasquale Massi) where new rules would be established in the family and possibly six new members (their identities unknown to him) would be inducted. Scafidi was invited to the ceremony and offered to wear a recording device to it. However, on 16 June, Scafidi advised that the ceremony had been postponed because of Angelo Bruno’s legal problems and that those scheduled to be inducted were Frank Sindone (proposed by Joseph Piccolo), two unknown individuals from Trenton (proposed by John Simone) and Joseph Perella (proposed by Anthony Perella and Joseph Scafidi). In December 1964, John Cappello advised Scafidi that Perella and Sindone were awaiting induction, but he did not know when the ceremony would take place.
A ceremony was scheduled to take place on 26 January 1969 at La Rosa Restaurant in Vineland, with Perella, Francis Iannarella and an unknown subject from Trenton to be inducted. However, Joseph Rugnetta, Nicholas Piccolo and Joseph Sciglitano opposed going to New Jersey for the ceremony as no Calabrian candidates were proposed for membership. Angelo Bruno met with Giuseppe Traina, who advised him to go ahead with the ceremony but not to do so behind Rugnetta’s back.
In March 1969, Scafidi learned from Ernest Perricone that the ceremony had been expanded to nine individuals, including Sindone, John Grande and two individuals being proposed by Albert Esposito (Perricone learned of this from his captain, Peter Maggio). Perricone related that the ceremony would likely be held at the Buckeye Club or The Post (a club owned by Perricone and Frank Narducci). Bruno had changed the location of the ceremony from Vineland to Philadelphia to appease the Calabrian faction. Perricone and Harry Riccobene were trying to get Sindone blackballed from membership.
John Cappello told Scafidi that Sindone and ‘a mess’ of guys were to be inducted. Scafidi learned that his uncle Joseph was unaware of the increase in proposed members but was willing to go along with it to just get the situation over with. On 24 March, Scafidi met with Bruno, who acknowledged that new members were going to be made but that four names proposed by Esposito had been shot down because they were too young. Scafidi was told to let his uncle know that the ceremony would likely take place the next week.
I have not found any confirmation of when exactly the ceremony ended up taking place.

1970s

Joseph Ciancaglini (sponsored by Frank Sindone)

Notes:
Most reports indicate that Ciancaglini was inducted in the early 1970s, however Philip Leonetti stated that Ciancaglini was still an associate at the time of the 1974 murder of Alvin Feldman. It should also be noted that Angelo Bruno was incarcerated from 1970 to 1973, and Philip Testa from 1973 to 1975, which could have had an impact on when new members were inducted.

[chin_gigante]

I've thought some more about the Boston ceremonies in the late-1990s so just for the sake of record I'll post here where I'm at now:

- Luisi is introduced to Natale and Merlino a few months before Natale is arrested for parole violation
- In May 1999, Anastasia writes an article about the hierarchy of the family and says that law enforcement has identified Luisi as a soldier in Boston
- At this point Anastasia had access to a chart compiled by the FBI in Fall 1998 after Natale was arrested
- It would therefore be likely that Anastasia got his identification of Luisi from that chart
- That would mean that Luisi was made between Natale going to prison in June 1998 and fall of that year
- In October 1998, Merlino told Ronald Previte that he was going to promote Luisi to captain
- When Luisi was indicted, it was alleged he was promoted to captain in 1999
- In Mob Talk Sitdown 9 (which is unfortunately no longer available on the Mob Talk youtube channel), Anastasia says he was told by Luisi that he (Luisi) and George Borgesi went up to Boston and made 6 or 7 guys
- The above would indicate that Luisi was made before the rest of his crew in a separate ceremony
- Stroccos and TJ obviously reached out to Luisi and confirmed that Robert Gentile, David Pepicelli, Paul Pepicelli, Robert Puleo, Paul Tanso and Shawn Vetere were the other Boston guys who got straightened out
- On the Johnny & Gene Show, Luisi mentions that there were a few ceremonies, which would imply that it wasn't just one big ceremony presided over by Luisi and Borgesi
- Luisi also makes a comment briefly about guys getting made after he went away
- Peter Caprio testified that he asked the Genovese family, on Merlino's behalf, for permission to induct two guys from Boston (further evidence that there were multiple ceremonies in New England)

[HoagieNose]

Are those Boston guys like Shawn Vetere legit made guys ? Or just crew members. Did a boss actually
Make them ?

[chin_gigante]

Are those Boston guys like Shawn Vetere legit made guys ? Or just crew members. Did a boss actually
Make them ?

According to Luisi (through Stroccos and TJ) definitely made