Stroccos wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:13 am
Chris Christie wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 8:16 pm
I used my contacts to reach out to some people (ie I dm'd John Alite on Facebook) asking about Tanso's status. Worst he can do is not respond. Cheech, if you're still in touch with Gene would you consider asking him?
Again, I have no agenda in this but the truth. I took it at face value that he was a member based on what was said here. But with that interview-
1 They didn't ID him as being made, you'd think they would.
2 If he was made, what's he doing attending an interview with 4 informants? That's just not something a member, even a retired one, would do.
I think Philadelphia deserves a re-evaluation. Much of our beliefs stem from Anastasia and his last two books- Goodfella Tapes and Last Gangster really carried a strong narrative that may not be the entire picture or completely accurate. Stanfa was made out to be an "old-world Don" in contrast with "Young Turk" Merlino and that appears to be an over-dramatization. Just because someone was born in Sicily and speaks broken English doesn't make them old-school and again, Stanfa was in the US for 20-30 years before becoming boss. It's not like he moved from Caccamo to take over.
Merlino with all of his partying and whatnot, appears to have been a traditional boss in regards to organizational protocol, more so than Stanfa. They don't seem to "make anybody and everybody" contrary to popular belief.
apparently we can add one more to the list Tommy Caruso
1. in there own podcast show they said Tanso was a solider
2. if we are to beleive tanso was made , he was only made because he was loyal to luisi lifelong friend of him and his family,
Merlino a boss who follows protocol ? yeah maybe after he got out of prison , but this is the 90s merlino i find it very plasubile he sold those buttons for the money
1 I heard "they" said he was a soldier and apparently I missed that. I'll have to rewatch it. Maybe I missed it and it'll change my perspective.
2 That likely would be why Tanso was made if he was.
*1 There's a hierarchy of sources combined with formal and informal terminology. Remember the Cleveland associate who was the #2 for a made member who identified himself as so&so's 'underboss.' We know that he was speaking informally and that a soldier does have an underboss within the mafia organization and its ranking system. We've had similar non-members refer to themselves as loyal soldiers despite not being made.
*2 That's generally not a reason to make someone although it has happened due to internal politics or the leadership liking someone.
Merlino's 1995-2000 Philly didn't have alot of making ceremonies in Philly at that time, it was between 5-10 new members during that 5 year period. It could have happened but it just seems odd to me that Philly beefed up its membership in Boston (with people they don't know) rather than Phila. itself. I looked at the FBI reports and it listed 3 members in Boston including the captain and that's what caused me to raise the question asking for additional proof of these other so-called members.
Merlino, his personal antics aside, past or present, I really haven't seen anything that shows he violated internal protocol. Perhaps making Natale as a soldier who then promoted himself to boss but for all we know, the Genoveses may have given the ok for that. Apart from the Luccheses, NY seems to recognize and accept Philadelphia which, if Merlino was that much of a rule-breaking disorderly LCN member, seems like they wouldn't.
