I think bruno had a ton of legit business, again, supposedly. A pizza parlor, auto salvage, and i think he was set up as a vendor at the Brooklyn Terminal Market. D'Arco was the one who said he couldn't read or write, but was a "sharp guy"
I agree on Trinchera. I'm not sure where i read/heard that but that's why i said supposedly. I have an older in law who managed to buy a home and run a business in Brooklyn and still to this day does not speak English but they aren't illiterate. I frankly find it hard to believe that anyone in LCN from that era (born in 20s-40s and/or born in USA) would be completely illiterate