Charles Carneglia Arrest Notes + BEARD DRAMA

[B.]

I'm sure everyone, like me, did a double take when they saw Charles Carneglia's beard during his 2008 arrest. I don't know how much of this surfaced in the news afterward, but I didn't see any of it. He also made some incriminating comments during his arrest that led to some Miranda Rights controversy. Thought it might be of interest here.

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- When Charles Carneglia was arrested, during transit he talked to FBI agents about baseball, the "toughest guy he knew", and the Gottis, though details and the extent of what Carneglia said isn't included. The info doesn't specify who the "toughest guy" was in his opinion nor what he said about the Gottis, though whatever he said about the Gottis was justified by the defense as neighborhood gossip anyone would know.

- Carneglia was also asked about his long beard during the arrest and he told the agents he grew it to hide facial swelling and to "irritate his peers". It was later clarified that the swelling was from mouth infections and he grew the beard to "piss off" other inmates during his previous incarceration. Later, Carneglia's defense tried to use the beard as a sign that he had withdrawn from the mafia as the mafia does not allow beards / facial hair.

- During trial, prosecution witnesses testified that the mafia's rules were more lax now and gave examples of other mafia members with facial hair who stayed active in the mob. I don't have access to that testimony right now, so I can't be sure who they referenced, though we know of some examples of members who had mustaches even in NYC and others who grew facial hair when they were on the lam. The defense also had witnesses who testified that growing a beard did signify someone's withdrawal from the mob.

- Carneglia's friend John Carillo testified that he and another friend got a call from Carneglia one day asking them to come to Carosello restaurant in Howard Beach. When they arrived, Carneglia stormed outside and was cursing unintelligibly, referring repeatedly to "these motherfuckers". When he calmed down, he explained that six men (presumably Gambino members) had a meeting with Carneglia where they told him he had to shave his beard. Carillo said that Carneglia claimed "I'm not involved with them" and insisted he wasn't going to do as they say, telling Carillo "no one is going to tell me how to run my life." If this story is accurate, it means the Gambino family had an internal sitdown over Charles Carneglia's beard that caused him to have a complete meltdown.

- John Alite, a prosecution witness, testified that Carneglia used to dye his hair orange before he committed serious crimes in an effort to hide his identity. Alite said he spoke to Carneglia about the beard and Carneglia said, "It's a secret society, so I'm going to keep it a secret," inferring that the beard would confuse/mislead investigators. Carneglia told Alite he was inspired by Vincent Gigante's robe and crazy act, which Carneglia said was "smart". Carneglia told Alite he was going to do something like it, but he was going to "be smart" about it.

- When Carneglia was arrested and told he was charged with five murders, he replied "I'm fucked." He asked for the names of victims and denied knowing most of them, but when told about Sal Puma he clarified that he knew a "Sammy Puma", and he admitted he knew Louis DiBono.

- After Carneglia was told the names of his five murder victims, he kept referring to the "canaries" who gave the info and how they were untrustworthy. Carneglia was not told any specifics about the murders beyond the names, but began to refer to the Jose Delgado-Rivera armored truck murder as the "guy at Kennedy airport." The FBI had said nothing about Kennedy airport during the arrest, so he inadvertently volunteered specific knowledge of this murder.

- When Carneglia was taken to the holding facility, he asked if any of "his people" were also being held there. When he was taken into the holding area, he nodded to Gambino soldier Vincent Dragonetti who was already there. When Gambino consigliere JoJo Corozzo walked by, Carneglia and Corozzo didn't acknowledge each other. Carneglia asked the agents if Corozzo "had the same problem" as Carneglia, implying similar criminal charges.

[Wiseguy]

Him throwing Favara's finger bone in Ruggerio's chicken soup is one for the history books.

[Angelo Santino]

"Your honor, my client cannot possibly be in the mafia because the LCN prohibits facial hair, and and my client looks like Grizzley Adams."

Very interesting stuff, B.

[bronx]

very good B TY

[Pmac2]

I remember he did say the toughest guy he knew was some Albanian or some European group he was a luchese associate close to amuso. Can't remember the name. Theres a great book on Charles Carneglia. Wonder if his brother the guy who killed castellano is back in the fold hes been out for awhile. I seen pics of him in jail always with other lcn guys so he probaly be doing the same on the street if he healthy

[B.]

Oh yeah, I haven't read the Carneglia book. All of this could very well be covered in there in more detail, not sure. Kind of incredible there is a book out there about Carneglia of all people, but the Gotti connection explains it.

[Hired_Goonz]

In the book it describes the car ride after he gets arrested and I'm pretty sure he specifically names his brother John as well as John and Gene Gotti as the toughest guys he knew in the neighbourhood growing up. In fact if I'm not mistaken he describes to the agents a fight club type scenario back in the day where these guys would all meet up in the park and fight one on one. All it says about the beard is that the agents ask about it and he tells them "it's a Fort Dix thing". I don't think it mentions any of that other stuff like Corozzo and him pretending not to know each other in the holding cell or the sit-down over the beard lol.

[cavita]

I mean, Sam Giancana grew a beard in his exile in Mexico and kept it after he came back up until he was killed. Was he out of LCN at that point or didn't the facial hair rules apply for Chicago?

[PolackTony]

I mean, Sam Giancana grew a beard in his exile in Mexico and kept it after he came back up until he was killed. Was he out of LCN at that point or didn't the facial hair rules apply for Chicago?

Tony Spilotro wore a mustache and you see where he wound up.

On a serious note, I'd assume the same general rule applied. The vast majority in Chicago were clean shaven. There were a few made guys who had mustaches, but I can't think of anyone apart from Giancana who had a beard. I think with Giancana after getting demoted by Accardo and Ricca and then being defrauded of his fortune by the Mexican authorities, upon his return to Chicago he just DGAF. He was never a very traditional minded guy of course (reportedly even banning the membership from using the term "Cosa Nostra") and maybe the beard was just another way for him to come back and say he's still the boss and fuck what anyone else says. Who knows.

[Frank]

Maybe thats why he got wacked. He wouldnt shave his beard. Lol

[Snakes]

I mean, Sam Giancana grew a beard in his exile in Mexico and kept it after he came back up until he was killed. Was he out of LCN at that point or didn't the facial hair rules apply for Chicago?

Tony Spilotro wore a mustache and you see where he wound up.

On a serious note, I'd assume the same general rule applied. The vast majority in Chicago were clean shaven. There were a few made guys who had mustaches, but I can't think of anyone apart from Giancana who had a beard. I think with Giancana after getting demoted by Accardo and Ricca and then being defrauded of his fortune by the Mexican authorities, upon his return to Chicago he just DGAF. He was never a very traditional minded guy of course (reportedly even banning the membership from using the term "Cosa Nostra") and maybe the beard was just another way for him to come back and say he's still the boss and fuck what anyone else says. Who knows.

I have a photo of Louie Eboli with a mustache, I'll see if I can find it.

[johnny_scootch]

There is that guy Crazy Augie Cataldo that Capeci recently confirmed as a made member to a poster whom I am currently forgetting (sorry) but this guy Augie has a mustache in every single picture I've ever seen of him.

[joeycigars]

Gerry Lang had a nice beard

[B.]

Not counting the guys like Persico, Langella, Agro, and Ruggiano who grew facial hair to hide their faces on the lam, here is a list of guys who had mustaches while they were active made members:

Biagio Passanante (1930s-40s)
Angelo Bruno (1950s/60s)
Sam DeCavalcante (1950s/60s)
Joe Ciancaglini (1970s)
Greg Scarpa (1970s)
Phil Testa (1950s-1980s)
Joe Ida (Genovese family) (1980s)

No doubt more.

Many members pre-1920s had mustaches, hence "Mustache Pete". Seems the 1920s are when the mafia moved away from mustaches as you rarely see photos of members with mustaches by then.

We can tell from the pejorative "Mustache Pete" and the general rule against facial hair that it was Americanized members who pushed for the facial hair rule, but at the same time it looks like the Sicilian mafia stopped growing facial hair (with some exceptions) so it may not be as simple as the US mafia wanting to of appear like "Americanized businessmen" or whatever lore has told us.

[PolackTony]

I mean, Sam Giancana grew a beard in his exile in Mexico and kept it after he came back up until he was killed. Was he out of LCN at that point or didn't the facial hair rules apply for Chicago?

Tony Spilotro wore a mustache and you see where he wound up.

On a serious note, I'd assume the same general rule applied. The vast majority in Chicago were clean shaven. There were a few made guys who had mustaches, but I can't think of anyone apart from Giancana who had a beard. I think with Giancana after getting demoted by Accardo and Ricca and then being defrauded of his fortune by the Mexican authorities, upon his return to Chicago he just DGAF. He was never a very traditional minded guy of course (reportedly even banning the membership from using the term "Cosa Nostra") and maybe the beard was just another way for him to come back and say he's still the boss and fuck what anyone else says. Who knows.

I have a photo of Louie Eboli with a mustache, I'll see if I can find it.

There's also the pic of Bobby Abbinanti in the '90's with a big stupid Chicago "Superfans" mustache. Same with A1 Mike Zitello from the "Good Ship Lollipop" bust.