Qualifications for getting made ?

[Shellackhead]

John Pennisi with the Luchese family showed us that being Italian, going to prison and not ratting was enough to get made. He wasn’t an earner and never made his bones for the family, he was a brokester.

To be fair, guys like that have always gotten made. Al D'Arco was an "ice cream man" who only got made because he was Italian, connected, and did his time without cooperating.

That is true. I read Al’s book twice and he didn’t seem like he did Jack shit.

I was surprised to see how insignificant he was. Before I read his book I had always assumed that he must have been a big shot, given that he rose to the acting boss position. But without his family connections and his friendship with Vic Amuso and a few other high-ranking members, he probably never would have been made—let alone promoted to captain and acting boss.

Even in Gaspipes book, he mentions the same thing how D’Arco was a made guy yes, but he was no killer, no earner & Barely made ends meet before Vic & Gas made him the street boss in 89-90.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Christopher got his SEC license for his resume.

[newera_212]

John Pennisi with the Luchese family showed us that being Italian, going to prison and not ratting was enough to get made. He wasn’t an earner and never made his bones for the family, he was a brokester.

To be fair, guys like that have always gotten made. Al D'Arco was an "ice cream man" who only got made because he was Italian, connected, and did his time without cooperating.

That is true. I read Al’s book twice and he didn’t seem like he did Jack shit.

I was surprised to see how insignificant he was. Before I read his book I had always assumed that he must have been a big shot, given that he rose to the acting boss position. But without his family connections and his friendship with Vic Amuso and a few other high-ranking members, he probably never would have been made—let alone promoted to captain and acting boss.

The connection to Amuso helped but I think it was more the connection he had to Schiavo and some of the older Canarsie crew members. Vario supposedly loved him. On top of that he spent a good part of his early days all around Little Italy networking and hanging out. He knew a ton of people. It was crazy because he seemed like a jack of all trades...a score guy, a legit biz guy, shakedowns, labor, trying to get into drugs... but never really had any of that take off to where he was earning big. Just pieced together a living and made a lot of friends. I'm guessing that's kinda how it goes for a lot of people in that life until they find their niche or ....get promoted due to attrition, like what happened to him

[Bklyn21]

John Pennisi with the Luchese family showed us that being Italian, going to prison and not ratting was enough to get made. He wasn’t an earner and never made his bones for the family, he was a brokester.

To be fair, guys like that have always gotten made. Al D'Arco was an "ice cream man" who only got made because he was Italian, connected, and did his time without cooperating.

Pennisi was likely a brokerster in that world as it doesn’t seem like he had a steady racket and spent alot but the guy was still likely earning $100k+ . That legit job they got him was $80k + benefits so he was still a comfortable middle class guy that could hang out almost every night.

There have been a few posters hear saying the Westside has been making guys in the building biz this decad. It could easily be BS but it would also be the smart play in today’s mob and I can BB doing a move like that given it’s the $

What job did they get him ? I read all his transcripts n don't remember reading what he was doing

[johnny_scootch]

The connection to Amuso helped but I think it was more the connection he had to Schiavo and some of the older Canarsie crew members. Vario supposedly loved him. On top of that he spent a good part of his early days all around Little Italy networking and hanging out. He knew a ton of people. It was crazy because he seemed like a jack of all trades...a score guy, a legit biz guy, shakedowns, labor, trying to get into drugs... but never really had any of that take off to where he was earning big. Just pieced together a living and made a lot of friends. I'm guessing that's kinda how it goes for a lot of people in that life until they find their niche or ....get promoted due to attrition, like what happened to him

This 100%

[Tonyd621]

Pennisi also had killed someone to get locked up so they might have seen as capable... I mean how many guys go into the life nowadays with already a body dropped to their name in the civilian world

[SonnyBlackstein]

Pennisi also had killed someone to get locked up so they might have seen as capable... I mean how many guys go into the life nowadays with already a body dropped to their name in the civilian world

Good point

[Peppermint]

Why would going to prison be a requirement? Wouldn’t they rather someone who can get the job done, keeping their mouth shut, all the while not getting caught?

Can’t say I would want someone in my crew who has a knack for getting locked up, not having fear of prison is a plus because that makes the person less likely to rat to get out of it, but having been...that certainly shouldn’t be a requirement. Is what it is

[Shellackhead]

Why would going to prison be a requirement? Wouldn’t they rather someone who can get the job done, keeping their mouth shut, all the while not getting caught?

Can’t say I would want someone in my crew who has a knack for getting locked up, not having fear of prison is a plus because that makes the person less likely to rat to get out of it, but having been...that certainly shouldn’t be a requirement. Is what it is

No but it would be ideal. Guys who have been in prison generally get more respect on the street than guys who haven’t done the time. I think there was a wiretap where Colombo guys suggested that, someone correct me if I’m wrong.

[dack2001]

Guys who went to prison and didn't snitch, either on their way in or while they were inside. Those are guys who get respect because they are few and far between in today's world.

[Tonyd621]

Why would going to prison be a requirement? Wouldn’t they rather someone who can get the job done, keeping their mouth shut, all the while not getting caught?

Can’t say I would want someone in my crew who has a knack for getting locked up, not having fear of prison is a plus because that makes the person less likely to rat to get out of it, but having been...that certainly shouldn’t be a requirement. Is what it is

No but it would be ideal. Guys who have been in prison generally get more respect on the street than guys who haven’t done the time. I think there was a wiretap where Colombo guys suggested that, someone correct me if I’m wrong.

Plus, being locked up can be tough as in mentally and physically- if you build a rep as someone who can handle themselves while being locked up especially in a state prison like sing sing or rikers/

[TallGuy19]

Some people who go to prison once will do anything to avoid to going back though. I've heard of parolees commiting suicide by cop just to avoid being sent back. Not everyone who serves a prison sentence is tough enough to handle doing it again.

[Uncle Pete]

Why would going to prison be a requirement? Wouldn’t they rather someone who can get the job done, keeping their mouth shut, all the while not getting caught?

Can’t say I would want someone in my crew who has a knack for getting locked up, not having fear of prison is a plus because that makes the person less likely to rat to get out of it, but having been...that certainly shouldn’t be a requirement. Is what it is

No but it would be ideal. Guys who have been in prison generally get more respect on the street than guys who haven’t done the time. I think there was a wiretap where Colombo guys suggested that, someone correct me if I’m wrong.

I believe Andy Mush Russo who said something along the lines of “a guy needs to be capable up here (pointing at his head), capable to do this (making a hand gesture of a gun), capable to do time, capable of anything”

[Lefty Ruggiero]

Seems the main qualification these days is being a complete fuckin idiot. Why the hell would anyone want to join a "secret society" that has been so thoroughly infiltrated by the FBI?

Honestly, seems so counterintuitive to want to be made. What are the benefits at this point? Seems like a fast lane to getting on the radar.

[jimmi_beans8]

! i concur