Gambino capo Gaetano Russo

[AlexfromSouth]

Who is this guy Gaetano Russo of the Gambinos?What crew did he head,ive never heard of him.Supposedly he was in Bensonhurst and had a funeral parlot on W 6th st,but I dont know what crew this was so please help.Here is the text where I read about him

RUSSO-GAETANO 1891 Palermo, Sicily / USA 19?

Alias :- Don Russo

Associates :- A.Anastasia, C.Gambino. G.Profaci, G.Magliocco, S.Nani [ Colombo]
S.Luciano [Genov.].

This man is sometimes listed as a Colombo member, because of his close association with Joseph Profaci [plus Magliocco and Nani]. Ostensibly a respected businessman, he had no criminal record, he was in fact a Gambino Capo in the Bensonhurst area of Brooklyn. Arrived in 19?, from Palermo, although the Mafia book states he was Naturalized in 1924. A suspect in the murder of Joseph Vecchio in 1922. Settled in Brooklyn, and listed in the 1930 Census as an importer of Cheese and Olive Oil. He later owned a Funeral Parlour on West 6th Street in Brooklyn. In 1955 he visited Luciano in Italy, and the FBN suspected his involvement in Narcotics smuggling. His name was found on an arrested drug courier.
Probably made a Capo after the membership surge of the 1950’s, and listed as such in 1969 [Book-Don Carlo]. Died in 1970, and is named in 1975 list of deceased members.


What crew was this?Does anybody know.Ive also posted this question in the Mafia charts section,so sorry about that..Thanks

[bronx]

cusimano and russo was the funeral parlor, they were both made

[AlexfromSouth]

cusimano and russo was the funeral parlor, they were both made

He wasn't a capo?

[AlexfromSouth]

cusimano and russo was the funeral parlor, they were both made

Were they both with Lilo G?

[HairyKnuckles]

Alex, what you posted above (from Bill Feather´s site) is basically what we know about Russo, unless there´s a forum member on here who has Russo´s FBI file and can chip in. We know that Russo was close to Domenico Cusimano way back. Cusimano´s sons Joseph and Anthony may have been under Russo as well. Another guess is that the Toregrossa´s (Andrew Sr and Jr, Angelo and John) also may have been under Russo. It appears that Russo´s crew was disbanded after his death in 1970. Joseph Cusimano is later under Garofalo.


Gaetano Russo (I think this is his passport photo).

[AlexfromSouth]

Alex, what you posted above (from Bill Feather´s site) is basically what we know about Russo, unless there´s a forum member on here who has Russo´s FBI file and can chip in. We know that Russo was close to Domenico Cusimano way back. Cusimano´s sons Joseph and Anthony may have been under Russo as well. Another guess is that the Toregrossa´s (Andrew Sr and Jr, Angelo and John) also may have been under Russo. It appears that Russo´s crew was disbanded after his death in 1970. Joseph Cusimano is later under Garofalo.


Gaetano Russo (I think this is his passport photo).

Yes thats were I found the info.It was amazaing to me that he was kind of a big shot and had his own crew,and I never heard abot him.It makes sense now that his crew was broke up.Very interesting indeed.Do you think that both Cusimanos were with lilo aswell as Andrew jr T.?They all had funeral parlirs,remmember reading that The Toregrossa's had one on 13th ave.Ofcourse i,m thinking post Russo.
Thank you for providing his picture,thats a great touch Hk.And thanks for the info

[HairyKnuckles]

In 1965, Russo was apparently sought by Italian police to be charged in a narcotics case involving (among others) Frank Coppola, Frank Garofalo and don Genco Russo. To my knowledge, nothing came of it.




And in 1930, a man with the same name, living in the same area as "our" Gaetano Russo, was picked up for questioning in a murder case.

[bronx]

great work Hairy, i'm impressed. the torregrossa's were put on the shelf, they all were put with lilo,

[AlexfromSouth]

Very nice info,very nice this clears up a lot of things.Thank you,

[johnny_scootch]

They all had funeral parlirs,remmember reading that The Toregrossa's had one on 13th ave.Ofcourse i,m thinking post Russo

Torregrossas main funeral home at least today is on Flatbush and Fillmore they still have the 13ave home and one on either X or U right off McDonald. The biggest funeral I've ever been to was at their parlor on Flatbush for Craig Marinos little brother Lance. A wild scene they had to shut down Flatbush ave.