Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Moderator: Capos
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
May find this interesting: Vincent Mangano witnessed Salvatore DiBella's petition for naturalization in 1927. This is the Vincent Mangano who was boss of the Gambino Family, not one of the Manganos who traveled with Joe Profaci.
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Definitely, especially with what we're talking about re: Mangano and DiBella being aligned with Mineo. I'd almost think Mangano may have been with the Mineo family except we have all of his ties to D'Aquila and Traina, too. Just more "proof" those two organizations are historically intertwined.
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Here's some addresses that I found (some are hard to read, so subject to error):
Salvatore DiBella:
1910: 174 Union Street, Brooklyn (from census)
1915: 177 Union Street, Brooklyn (from declaration of intention)
1917: 8646 21st Ave, Brooklyn (draft registration card)
1920: 8646 16th Ave, Brooklyn (census)
1927/1930: 1407 75th Street, Brooklyn (passenger manifest/census)
Manfredi Mineo:
1920: 162 Utica Ave, Brooklyn (census)
1927: 515 41st Street, Brooklyn (passenger manifest)
1930: 8523 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn (census)
1930: 7920 4th Ave, Brooklyn (death record)
Salvatore DiBella:
1910: 174 Union Street, Brooklyn (from census)
1915: 177 Union Street, Brooklyn (from declaration of intention)
1917: 8646 21st Ave, Brooklyn (draft registration card)
1920: 8646 16th Ave, Brooklyn (census)
1927/1930: 1407 75th Street, Brooklyn (passenger manifest/census)
Manfredi Mineo:
1920: 162 Utica Ave, Brooklyn (census)
1927: 515 41st Street, Brooklyn (passenger manifest)
1930: 8523 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn (census)
1930: 7920 4th Ave, Brooklyn (death record)
Last edited by Antiliar on Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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PolackTony
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Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
The 1930 Mineo address is almost certainly Ocean Parkway. Funny that later Carlo Gambino lived a short way down Ocean Pkwy.Antiliar wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:09 pm Here's some addresses that I found (some are hard to read, so subject to error):
Salvatore DiBella:
1910: 174 Union Street, Brooklyn (from census)
1915: 177 Union Street, Brooklyn (from declaration of intention)
1917: 8646 21st Ave, Brooklyn (draft registration card)
1920: 8646 16th Ave, Brooklyn (census)
1927/1930: 1407 75th Street, Brooklyn (passenger manifest/census)
Manfredi Mineo:
1920: 162 Utica Ave, Brooklyn (census)
1927: 515 41st Street, Brooklyn (passenger manifest)
1930: 8501 Parkway (?), Brooklyn (census)
1930: 7920 4th Ave, Brooklyn (death record)
"Hey, hey, hey — this is America, baby! Survival of the fittest.”
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Fort Hamilton Parkway. I went back to Ancestry and they had the street transcribed.
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PolackTony
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Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Ha! Ok. So then he lived in Bay Ridge.
"Hey, hey, hey — this is America, baby! Survival of the fittest.”
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Kind of shoots down my idea that neighborhoods had much significance when it came to the alliances. Might be a little element of that, but they all moved around Brooklyn too much for it to have been significant.
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Stefano Magaddino was even recorded talking about Mineo (and Fortunato LoMonte) when he talked about being schooled in the life:
- Magaddino was 17 when he arrived in the US, so he is saying he learned how things work right after he arrived, but Mineo wasn't in the US yet and LoMonte wasn't yet a boss. From the tone of what he said he seems to be saying that his rappresentante later told him who the other bosses were, which included Mineo and LoMonte. Based on the timeline, this rappresentante must have been Nicolo Schiro.
- That Schiro would personally school Magaddino and tell him who some of the bosses were is a sign that he was probably made by mid-1914 at the latest, when LoMonte was killed. His reference to LoMonte being deceased shows he was well-aware of the murder. Magaddino doesn't mince words about the living nor the dead, so wishing that LoMonte's "soul rest in peace" is a sign he had a favorable opinion of LoMonte -- he says the same thing in another transcript about his friend Gaspare Milazzo. What's interesting too is he names Mineo, LoMonte, and two "other ones", which combined with his own rappresentante makes for five total spots. Not trying to read too far into his reference to two "other ones", as the current belief is there were still only four families in the early-mid 1910s, but thought it was interesting he implies five people.
- Side note, but Tom Hunt is incorrect about Magaddino being made in Chicago. Nothing but respect for Hunt and it's not his fault, as in his book he cites an FBI summary report where the FBI themselves believed that's what Magaddino said. The FBI was wrong in their interpretation, though. I've reviewed the original tape transcript this summary was based on and Magaddino was saying he was made a Commission member in Chicago, not inducted as a member, which fits other sources who said the Commission was formed at one of the Chicago meetings after the war. The confusion comes from him saying he was "made" (a Commission member, in context) in Chicago. Based on the above transcript, it sounds like Magaddino was made by Schiro in Brooklyn.
- Sounds like Schiro was grooming Magaddino for a leadership role from the start. I don't think it's a coincidence that Magaddio would become a boss in Buffalo less than a decade later. Schiro was a "kingmaker" who appears to have helped Rosario Desimone (LA), Frank Lanza (SF), Gaspare Messina (NE), and maybe others into boss positions.
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Maybe more importantly, Magaddino was also recorded talking about Salvatore DiBella at a national leadership meeting:
- The part of the conversation the DiBella excerpt is from starts by Magaddino saying when Joe DiCarlo Sr. got sick he wanted Magaddino to replace him as rappresentante and they discuss issues relating to this, as a "Philip" or "Maranzano" (ph. -- definitely Filippo Mazzara) wanted to become boss and Magaddino was happy to be an aide to Philip instead. Somehow the conversation shifts to a meeting of the national leadership where Magaddino turned down being elected as capo dei capi. It isn't uncommon for his "history lessons" to jump ahead many years, so it appears he jumps from 1922 to the late 1920s or early 1930s, as that is the only period when a new capo dei capi could have been elected. However, he also seems to say the meeting took place around the time he was the candidate to replace DiCarlo, so it's confusing.
- What's also confusing is the reference to Giuseppe Lonardo, who was killed in 1927. Salvatore D'Aquila was still the capo dei capi until late 1928, so they would not have been electing a new capo dei capi while Lonardo was alive. However, what Magaddino says doesn't necessarily mean Lonardo was in attendance or even alive at this meeting. His reference to Lonardo seems to be directed at someone at this meeting where Magaddino is referring to a past incident where Lonardo spoke to this man. He refers to Lonardo earlier in the conversation, too, when talking more specfically about the 1922 transition from DiCarlo to Magaddino or Mazzara.
- He says Toto DiBella was a "young man yet" at this meeting. DiBella was over a decade older than Magaddino, but maybe this was a figure of speech and he meant DiBella was naive or he might have been referring to the fact that DiBella was a newly elected boss. I considered that this might not be the same Salvatore DiBella of the Mineo/Profaci family, but he's at a meeting of rappresentanti weighing in on the election of a new capo dei capi, which could have only been between 1928 and 1931. It has to be him.
- The apparent reference to 24 men (presumably rappresentanti) is worth thinking about. There were definitely more than 24 US families up to this point (even if it was just a few more families), so either they limited this meetings to 24 key men or this was the point where more families were combined into the larger territorial families I've theorized about. Note the phrasing: "They arrived at a point and they made 24 when they made 24 -- the commission came -- we separated." What does he mean they "arrived at a point and they made 24" and that when they made 24 "the commission came"? I admit I'm biased by my theory but it sounds like there was some kind of consolidation of families or rappresentanti, which preceded the forming of the Commission. More info on my theory here: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6661&sid=e77b3775b ... 4ebe2d99b2
- Magaddino is talking to a "Jim" LNU in this conversation. "Jim" knows the Trifiros from Cleveland/San Francisco. "Jim" was also a made member by 1924 or earlier as he says he knew Michele Merlo of Chicago when Merlo visited Buffalo. Magaddino says "Jim" was already a made member when Merlo visited. It isn't Buffalo member Jimmy Salamone of Erie (who appears on other Magaddino tapes) as Salamone was likely too young to have known Merlo, but "Jim" appears to be a Buffalo guy as he talks about "becoming a hood" (in context he means "made") in connection to Filippo Mazzara. "Jim" was chastised at his induction by incorrectly believing they'd give him money, which he asked for because he was broke.
- Magaddino tells another long story about carrying out an attempted murder of someone called "Rosalino" along with other early figures, including Canadian Buffalo member Calogero Bordonaro. He seems to say they reluctantly carried this out for a rappresentante called "Ciccio Mero" or "Lo Mero" (ph) or another figure named "Toto / Sal Riginello (ph). Hard to tell exactly, but both Magaddino Joe Lonardo tried to save "Rosalino's" life and he survived one murder attempt but the rappresentante insisted he be killed and it sounds like he was eventually murdered. If "Ciccio Mero/LoMero" (ph) is the correct name, there must have been a boss named Frank or Francesco who gave this contract.
- After the "Rosalino" situation Magaddino met with Mike Merlo who wanted to "break the borgata" and make Magaddino the rappresentante. There was a "board" of 15 rappresentanti who listened to someone called "Joe" but Merlo cursed them out and insisted on breaking the borgata. It sounds like this is when Magaddino became a rappresentante and he agreed to it as long as "capo dei capi Joe Albmemi" (ph) was not in the borgata. He says he would accept "Albmemi" in his borgata only if "Albmemi" threw himself down a staircase first.
- Hard to interpret all of this, but it sounds like there was a rappresentante of the Buffalo family in between DiCarlo Sr. and Magaddino, or Magaddino was otherwise carrying out a contract for another family's rappresentante for some reason. Mike Merlo was instrumental in getting this rappresentante removed from his position and replaced by Magaddino. However the bit about Magaddino not allowing "capo dei capi Joe Albmemi" (ph) in the borgata is strange -- the timing (1922?) suggests it could be Giuseppe Morello, who at this time was petitioning against a death sentence from D'Aquila. Was Morello hiding out in Buffalo during this period or were they considering placing him in the Buffalo family to keep him out of NYC? What other "capo dei capi" named "Joe" was around when Mike Merlo was still alive? It's not Masseria.
Link to the entire transcript:
https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 8&tab=page
--
Getting far off track from the Mangano, Traina, and D'Aquila talk, but I think this is relevant given these conversations all concern national mafia politics at the time, including the position of capo dei capi and even Salvatore DiBella makes a cameo.
--
Stefano Magaddino was even recorded talking about Mineo (and Fortunato LoMonte) when he talked about being schooled in the life:
- Magaddino was 17 when he arrived in the US, so he is saying he learned how things work right after he arrived, but Mineo wasn't in the US yet and LoMonte wasn't yet a boss. From the tone of what he said he seems to be saying that his rappresentante later told him who the other bosses were, which included Mineo and LoMonte. Based on the timeline, this rappresentante must have been Nicolo Schiro.
- That Schiro would personally school Magaddino and tell him who some of the bosses were is a sign that he was probably made by mid-1914 at the latest, when LoMonte was killed. His reference to LoMonte being deceased shows he was well-aware of the murder. Magaddino doesn't mince words about the living nor the dead, so wishing that LoMonte's "soul rest in peace" is a sign he had a favorable opinion of LoMonte -- he says the same thing in another transcript about his friend Gaspare Milazzo. What's interesting too is he names Mineo, LoMonte, and two "other ones", which combined with his own rappresentante makes for five total spots. Not trying to read too far into his reference to two "other ones", as the current belief is there were still only four families in the early-mid 1910s, but thought it was interesting he implies five people.
- Side note, but Tom Hunt is incorrect about Magaddino being made in Chicago. Nothing but respect for Hunt and it's not his fault, as in his book he cites an FBI summary report where the FBI themselves believed that's what Magaddino said. The FBI was wrong in their interpretation, though. I've reviewed the original tape transcript this summary was based on and Magaddino was saying he was made a Commission member in Chicago, not inducted as a member, which fits other sources who said the Commission was formed at one of the Chicago meetings after the war. The confusion comes from him saying he was "made" (a Commission member, in context) in Chicago. Based on the above transcript, it sounds like Magaddino was made by Schiro in Brooklyn.
- Sounds like Schiro was grooming Magaddino for a leadership role from the start. I don't think it's a coincidence that Magaddio would become a boss in Buffalo less than a decade later. Schiro was a "kingmaker" who appears to have helped Rosario Desimone (LA), Frank Lanza (SF), Gaspare Messina (NE), and maybe others into boss positions.
--
Maybe more importantly, Magaddino was also recorded talking about Salvatore DiBella at a national leadership meeting:
- The part of the conversation the DiBella excerpt is from starts by Magaddino saying when Joe DiCarlo Sr. got sick he wanted Magaddino to replace him as rappresentante and they discuss issues relating to this, as a "Philip" or "Maranzano" (ph. -- definitely Filippo Mazzara) wanted to become boss and Magaddino was happy to be an aide to Philip instead. Somehow the conversation shifts to a meeting of the national leadership where Magaddino turned down being elected as capo dei capi. It isn't uncommon for his "history lessons" to jump ahead many years, so it appears he jumps from 1922 to the late 1920s or early 1930s, as that is the only period when a new capo dei capi could have been elected. However, he also seems to say the meeting took place around the time he was the candidate to replace DiCarlo, so it's confusing.
- What's also confusing is the reference to Giuseppe Lonardo, who was killed in 1927. Salvatore D'Aquila was still the capo dei capi until late 1928, so they would not have been electing a new capo dei capi while Lonardo was alive. However, what Magaddino says doesn't necessarily mean Lonardo was in attendance or even alive at this meeting. His reference to Lonardo seems to be directed at someone at this meeting where Magaddino is referring to a past incident where Lonardo spoke to this man. He refers to Lonardo earlier in the conversation, too, when talking more specfically about the 1922 transition from DiCarlo to Magaddino or Mazzara.
- He says Toto DiBella was a "young man yet" at this meeting. DiBella was over a decade older than Magaddino, but maybe this was a figure of speech and he meant DiBella was naive or he might have been referring to the fact that DiBella was a newly elected boss. I considered that this might not be the same Salvatore DiBella of the Mineo/Profaci family, but he's at a meeting of rappresentanti weighing in on the election of a new capo dei capi, which could have only been between 1928 and 1931. It has to be him.
- The apparent reference to 24 men (presumably rappresentanti) is worth thinking about. There were definitely more than 24 US families up to this point (even if it was just a few more families), so either they limited this meetings to 24 key men or this was the point where more families were combined into the larger territorial families I've theorized about. Note the phrasing: "They arrived at a point and they made 24 when they made 24 -- the commission came -- we separated." What does he mean they "arrived at a point and they made 24" and that when they made 24 "the commission came"? I admit I'm biased by my theory but it sounds like there was some kind of consolidation of families or rappresentanti, which preceded the forming of the Commission. More info on my theory here: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6661&sid=e77b3775b ... 4ebe2d99b2
- Magaddino is talking to a "Jim" LNU in this conversation. "Jim" knows the Trifiros from Cleveland/San Francisco. "Jim" was also a made member by 1924 or earlier as he says he knew Michele Merlo of Chicago when Merlo visited Buffalo. Magaddino says "Jim" was already a made member when Merlo visited. It isn't Buffalo member Jimmy Salamone of Erie (who appears on other Magaddino tapes) as Salamone was likely too young to have known Merlo, but "Jim" appears to be a Buffalo guy as he talks about "becoming a hood" (in context he means "made") in connection to Filippo Mazzara. "Jim" was chastised at his induction by incorrectly believing they'd give him money, which he asked for because he was broke.
- Magaddino tells another long story about carrying out an attempted murder of someone called "Rosalino" along with other early figures, including Canadian Buffalo member Calogero Bordonaro. He seems to say they reluctantly carried this out for a rappresentante called "Ciccio Mero" or "Lo Mero" (ph) or another figure named "Toto / Sal Riginello (ph). Hard to tell exactly, but both Magaddino Joe Lonardo tried to save "Rosalino's" life and he survived one murder attempt but the rappresentante insisted he be killed and it sounds like he was eventually murdered. If "Ciccio Mero/LoMero" (ph) is the correct name, there must have been a boss named Frank or Francesco who gave this contract.
- After the "Rosalino" situation Magaddino met with Mike Merlo who wanted to "break the borgata" and make Magaddino the rappresentante. There was a "board" of 15 rappresentanti who listened to someone called "Joe" but Merlo cursed them out and insisted on breaking the borgata. It sounds like this is when Magaddino became a rappresentante and he agreed to it as long as "capo dei capi Joe Albmemi" (ph) was not in the borgata. He says he would accept "Albmemi" in his borgata only if "Albmemi" threw himself down a staircase first.
- Hard to interpret all of this, but it sounds like there was a rappresentante of the Buffalo family in between DiCarlo Sr. and Magaddino, or Magaddino was otherwise carrying out a contract for another family's rappresentante for some reason. Mike Merlo was instrumental in getting this rappresentante removed from his position and replaced by Magaddino. However the bit about Magaddino not allowing "capo dei capi Joe Albmemi" (ph) in the borgata is strange -- the timing (1922?) suggests it could be Giuseppe Morello, who at this time was petitioning against a death sentence from D'Aquila. Was Morello hiding out in Buffalo during this period or were they considering placing him in the Buffalo family to keep him out of NYC? What other "capo dei capi" named "Joe" was around when Mike Merlo was still alive? It's not Masseria.
Link to the entire transcript:
https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 8&tab=page
--
Getting far off track from the Mangano, Traina, and D'Aquila talk, but I think this is relevant given these conversations all concern national mafia politics at the time, including the position of capo dei capi and even Salvatore DiBella makes a cameo.
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Maybe a list of leaders in the 1920s-early 30s could help with the identifications
Buffalo: Giuseppe DiCarlo Sr., Filippo Mazzara?, Stefano Magaddino
Los Angeles: Vito DiGiorgio, Rosario Desimone, Joseph Ardizzone, Jack Dragna (Tom Dragna, consigliere)
Chicago: Anthony D'Andrea, Michele Merlo, Tony Lombardo (Joe Aiello, underboss), Pasqualino Lolordo, Giuseppe Giunta, Joe Aiello, Toto Loverde
Bonanno: Cola Schiro, Giuseppe Parrino?, Salvatore Maranzano (Angelo Caruso, underboss)
Gambino: Toto D'Aquila (Giuseppe Traina, consigliere), Manfredi Mineo (Stefano Ferrigno, underboss?), Frank Scalise
Profaci: Manfredi Mineo, Salvatore DiBella, Joe Profaci (Giuseppe Magliocco, underboss)
Lucchese: Tom Reina, Gaetano Gagliano (Tom Lucchese, underboss)
Genovese: Salvatore Loiacano, Vincenzo Terranova?, Joseph Masseria (Giuseppe Morello, underboss; Saverio Pollaccia, consigliere)
Boston: Gaspare Messina
Cleveland: Joseph Lonardo (Nick Gentile, consigliere?), Salvatore Todaro, Rosario Porrello, Frank Milano
Pittsburgh: Salvatore Calderone, Gaetano Conti?, Stefano Monastero, Giuseppe Siragusa
Chicago Heights: Filippo Piazza
Birmingham: Giuseppe Caternicchia?
Newark: Gaspare D'Amico
Philadelphia: Salvatore Sabella (John Avena, underboss; Joe Bruno, consigliere)
New Orleans: Charles Matranga?, Sam Guarina, Corrado Giacona, Sylvestro Carrollo
Detroit: John Vitale, Angelo Caruso, Salvatore Catalanotte?, Gaspare Milazzo, Cesare Lamare, Bill Tocco or Joe Zerilli (Angelo Meli, consigliere)
Gary, IN: Paolo Palazzolo?
Utica, NY: Pietro Lima?, Domenico Aiello?
San Francisco: Francesco Lanza
Tampa: Ignazio Italiano
Flint, MI: Tony Cusenza?
Pueblo: Pellegrino Scaglia, Pete Carlino
St. Louis: Dominic Giambrone, Alphonse Palazzola?, Vito Giannola, Frank Agrusa (AKA Alo, Abbate)
Kansas City, MO: Paolo DiGiovanni, Nicola Gentile?, John Lazia
Dalla: Carlo Piranio
Pittston: Stefano LaTorre, Santo Volpe
Milwaukee: Vito Guardalabene, Peter Guardalabene, Joseph Amato, Joseph Vallone
I'm sure I'm missing a lot of names, but this should be a start.
Buffalo: Giuseppe DiCarlo Sr., Filippo Mazzara?, Stefano Magaddino
Los Angeles: Vito DiGiorgio, Rosario Desimone, Joseph Ardizzone, Jack Dragna (Tom Dragna, consigliere)
Chicago: Anthony D'Andrea, Michele Merlo, Tony Lombardo (Joe Aiello, underboss), Pasqualino Lolordo, Giuseppe Giunta, Joe Aiello, Toto Loverde
Bonanno: Cola Schiro, Giuseppe Parrino?, Salvatore Maranzano (Angelo Caruso, underboss)
Gambino: Toto D'Aquila (Giuseppe Traina, consigliere), Manfredi Mineo (Stefano Ferrigno, underboss?), Frank Scalise
Profaci: Manfredi Mineo, Salvatore DiBella, Joe Profaci (Giuseppe Magliocco, underboss)
Lucchese: Tom Reina, Gaetano Gagliano (Tom Lucchese, underboss)
Genovese: Salvatore Loiacano, Vincenzo Terranova?, Joseph Masseria (Giuseppe Morello, underboss; Saverio Pollaccia, consigliere)
Boston: Gaspare Messina
Cleveland: Joseph Lonardo (Nick Gentile, consigliere?), Salvatore Todaro, Rosario Porrello, Frank Milano
Pittsburgh: Salvatore Calderone, Gaetano Conti?, Stefano Monastero, Giuseppe Siragusa
Chicago Heights: Filippo Piazza
Birmingham: Giuseppe Caternicchia?
Newark: Gaspare D'Amico
Philadelphia: Salvatore Sabella (John Avena, underboss; Joe Bruno, consigliere)
New Orleans: Charles Matranga?, Sam Guarina, Corrado Giacona, Sylvestro Carrollo
Detroit: John Vitale, Angelo Caruso, Salvatore Catalanotte?, Gaspare Milazzo, Cesare Lamare, Bill Tocco or Joe Zerilli (Angelo Meli, consigliere)
Gary, IN: Paolo Palazzolo?
Utica, NY: Pietro Lima?, Domenico Aiello?
San Francisco: Francesco Lanza
Tampa: Ignazio Italiano
Flint, MI: Tony Cusenza?
Pueblo: Pellegrino Scaglia, Pete Carlino
St. Louis: Dominic Giambrone, Alphonse Palazzola?, Vito Giannola, Frank Agrusa (AKA Alo, Abbate)
Kansas City, MO: Paolo DiGiovanni, Nicola Gentile?, John Lazia
Dalla: Carlo Piranio
Pittston: Stefano LaTorre, Santo Volpe
Milwaukee: Vito Guardalabene, Peter Guardalabene, Joseph Amato, Joseph Vallone
I'm sure I'm missing a lot of names, but this should be a start.
Last edited by Antiliar on Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Angelo Santino
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Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
The Gambinos and Colombos have very early similarities and ties.
1 Both Palermitan and Villabates.
2 Both Brooklyn dominant (Mineo's group formed smack dead center in the heart of Gambino territory).
3 Members of one Family had relatives in the other Family. DiLeonardo's bro was a Colombo even.
4 When the Profaci-Gallo war erupted, the Gallos went to Gambino for protection which brings us another link- The Napolitan connection.
5 Both had Napolitans in their ranks who remained connected. Neil Dellacroce was a prime reason why the Gallos sought Gambino protection.
It goes back to the beginning, the Palermitan Gambinos due to immigration were expanding in size, likely dwarfing the Corleonese and Cast, resulting in a peaceful agreement that the Palermitan Family would either split or a new one form, hence Mineo arriving onto the scene.
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MichaelGiovanni
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Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Great list and very helpful.Antiliar wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 3:32 pm Maybe a list of leaders in the 1920s-early 30s could help with the identifications
Buffalo: Giuseppe DiCarlo Sr., Filippo Mazzara?, Stefano Magaddino
Los Angeles: Vito DiGiorgio, Rosario Desimone, Joseph Ardizzone, Jack Dragna (Tom Dragna, consigliere)
Chicago: Anthony D'Andrea, Michele Merlo, Tony Lombardo (Joe Aiello, underboss), Pasqualino Lolordo, Giuseppe Giunta, Joe Aiello, Toto Loverde
Bonanno: Cola Schiro, Giuseppe Parrino?, Salvatore Maranzano (Angelo Caruso, underboss)
Gambino: Toto D'Aquila (Giuseppe Traina, consigliere), Manfredi Mineo (Stefano Ferrigno, underboss?), Frank Scalise
Profaci: Manfredi Mineo, Salvatore DiBella, Joe Profaci (Giuseppe Magliocco, underboss)
Lucchese: Tom Reina, Gaetano Gagliano (Tom Lucchese, underboss)
Genovese: Salvatore Loiacano, Vincenzo Terranova?, Joseph Masseria (Giuseppe Morello, underboss; Saverio Pollaccia, consigliere)
Boston: Gaspare Messina
Cleveland: Joseph Lonardo (Nick Gentile, consigliere?), Salvatore Todaro, Rosario Porrello, Frank Milano
Pittsburgh: Salvatore Calderone, Gaetano Conti?, Stefano Monastero, Giuseppe Siragusa
Chicago Heights: Filippo Piazza
Birmingham: Giuseppe Caternicchia?
Newark: Gaspare D'Amico
Philadelphia: Salvatore Sabella (John Avena, underboss; Joe Bruno, consigliere)
New Orleans: Charles Matranga?, Sam Guarina, Corrado Giacona, Sylvestro Carrollo
Detroit: John Vitale, Angelo Caruso, Salvatore Catalanotte?, Gaspare Milazzo, Cesare Lamare, Bill Tocco or Joe Zerilli (Angelo Meli, consigliere)
Gary, IN: Paolo Palazzolo?
Utica, NY: Pietro Lima?, Domenico Aiello?
San Francisco: Francesco Lanza
Tampa: Ignazio Italiano
Flint, MI: Tony Cusenza?
Pueblo: Pellegrino Scaglia, Pete Carlino
St. Louis: Dominic Giambrone, Alphonse Palazzola?, Vito Giannola, Frank Agrusa (AKA Alo, Abbate)
Kansas City, MO: Paolo DiGiovanni, Nicola Gentile?, John Lazia
Dalla: Carlo Piranio
Pittston: Stefano LaTorre, Santo Volpe
Milwaukee: Vito Guardalabene, Peter Guardalabene, Joseph Amato, Joseph Vallone
I'm sure I'm missing a lot of names, but this should be a start.
Would love to see the list go back even before the 20’s and 30’s.
Nice rug ya got here kid...it’d be great for a craps game
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Not directly connected to all of this, but worth mentioning somewhere...
In 1921, D'Aquila capodecina Accursio Dimino returned to the US from Sciacca along with his brother-in-law Vincenzo Baldassano. Interestingly, though, Giuseppe Accardi of Vita was listed alongside them, heading to Newark. This is infamous Newark/Lucchese capodecina Settimo Accardi's brother and Giuseppe Accardi himself is believed to have been a mafioso.
Accursio Dimino's brother Antonino was married to the sister of the Utica Falcone brothers, themselves likely Gambino members/associates earlier in NYC. Michael DiLeonardo has said his grandfather Jimmy was also close to the Falcones. Lots of connections all around.
In 1921, D'Aquila capodecina Accursio Dimino returned to the US from Sciacca along with his brother-in-law Vincenzo Baldassano. Interestingly, though, Giuseppe Accardi of Vita was listed alongside them, heading to Newark. This is infamous Newark/Lucchese capodecina Settimo Accardi's brother and Giuseppe Accardi himself is believed to have been a mafioso.
Accursio Dimino's brother Antonino was married to the sister of the Utica Falcone brothers, themselves likely Gambino members/associates earlier in NYC. Michael DiLeonardo has said his grandfather Jimmy was also close to the Falcones. Lots of connections all around.
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Going to keep posting this kind of stuff here, as it connects to D'Aquila/Mineo and overseas travel...
- Palermo boss Antonino Grillo (married to Lucia Mineo) came to the US with Manfredi Mineo in 1911, as has been mentioned, but Grillo came to NYC by himself the year previous in 1910. His arrival contact was a cousin named Isidore Croce who lived near the docks in Downtown Brooklyn. CC/Antiliar identified this man as Isidore Croceverde, formerly part of the Palermo Acquasanta family (which Grillo was part of) and a relative of another former Acquasanta boss, D'Aleo. It shows this clan already had ties to that area before Mineo entered NYC and was a leadership class within the mafia given at least three bosses can be identified.
- The following year, when Grillo returned and Mineo joined him, Grillo's arrival contact was a Messinese man in Brooklyn named Eugenio Scattareggia. Scattareggia lived in Brooklyn until his death but died in Queens in 1918, still in his early 40s. I can't find any cause of death and his last name would lend itself to misspelling in newspaper records, so hard to know if it's suspicious or not. I wonder what Grillo's connection was to this man -- it's interesting Messina comes up so much in connection to the Palermitani mafia figures in NYC. Candelaro Bettini, Umberto Valenti, and Joe Biondo all became prominent mafia figures close to the Palermitani, which seems like an American development, but here we have a Palermo mafia boss who never lived in NYC arriving to a Messinese man.
- The above Isidore Croceverde was also identified as a cousin of high-ranking figure Giuseppe Fanara, killed in NYC in the 1910s around the same time Villabatese leader Giuseppe Fontana was killed. This would have direct implications on the Mineo family -- Fanara was from Carini and Fontana from Villabate, the two key towns that would supply most of the leadership (and membership for that matter) of Joe Profaci's family. While Fanara and Fontana have been suspected of being D'Aquila family leaders, Fanara's relation to the Grillo-Mineo clan and his compaesani's exclusive membership in the Profaci family raises questions about affiliation. If Fanara and Fontana weren't Mineo-Profaci members, their murders may have resulted in their compaesani later joining the Mineo-Profaci family instead of the D'Aquila family.
- Antonino Grillo's namesake grandson posted this on an Italian genealogy site in 2003:
Looking for info on my grandfather, Antonino Grillo, born in Palermo about 1870-1875; married Lucia Mineo; children were Giovanni, Francesco, Stefania, Ida and Ignazia. He had a very large estate on Via della Liberta with the family crest on the front gates.
His business was vessels; he was a very powerful, influential man with business connections in the U.S. (New York) during the period of the 1920's.
Any information would be appreciated.
^ We have believed Lucia Mineo is Manfredi's sister, but Manfredi's father was Stefano and you would expect a second son to have that name. Maybe grandson Tony Grillo didn't know or didn't include all of his father's siblings; or it wouldn't be the first time naming tradition wasn't perfectly followed.
^ Giovanni Grillo was born in 1906 and ended up living in Naples where he died. Manfredi Mineo's wife was from Rome (there's no obvious record of her living in Sicily, though she must have at some point) and was said to have returned to Italy, so this family had at least a couple connnections to the mainland.
^ The "large estate" on Via della Liberta fits info on immigration records as well as Antiliar/CC's article. Antiliar/CC had the Grillos living at Via della Liberta 3, right by Manfredi Mineo's Palermo home, but two immigration records show Grillo and Lucia Mineo living at Via della Liberta 93. Either way we know the street they lived on. A man of his wealth may have had multiple properties and today it's impossible to see on a map where exactly the estate was given urban development in Palermo.
^ Tony's reference to his grandfather being "powerful, influential" could indicate he was aware Antonino was a mafia leader. Unsurprisingly, though, he was also a successful businessman and it could just as well apply to his role in the community, politics, etc. We know Grillo was deeply involved in the Palermo political conflict of the 1920s, which D'Aquila was involved with (hence the original post in this thread). Shows his grandson was aware of the ongoing NYC connections.
^ Haven't found any info on son Francesco Grillo. Bill Feather has a Frank Grillo listed as a Gambino member who was dead by 1975 -- curious where he got the name. There were early Gambino members named Liborio and Leonardo Grillo but I don't think they connect. There are also Ernest Grillo Sr. and Jr. with the Gambino family, but not sure their background.
^ Tony Grillo posted that inquiry 18 years ago and givien he was Antonino's grandson, he is likely very old by now if he's still alive.
- Palermo boss Antonino Grillo (married to Lucia Mineo) came to the US with Manfredi Mineo in 1911, as has been mentioned, but Grillo came to NYC by himself the year previous in 1910. His arrival contact was a cousin named Isidore Croce who lived near the docks in Downtown Brooklyn. CC/Antiliar identified this man as Isidore Croceverde, formerly part of the Palermo Acquasanta family (which Grillo was part of) and a relative of another former Acquasanta boss, D'Aleo. It shows this clan already had ties to that area before Mineo entered NYC and was a leadership class within the mafia given at least three bosses can be identified.
- The following year, when Grillo returned and Mineo joined him, Grillo's arrival contact was a Messinese man in Brooklyn named Eugenio Scattareggia. Scattareggia lived in Brooklyn until his death but died in Queens in 1918, still in his early 40s. I can't find any cause of death and his last name would lend itself to misspelling in newspaper records, so hard to know if it's suspicious or not. I wonder what Grillo's connection was to this man -- it's interesting Messina comes up so much in connection to the Palermitani mafia figures in NYC. Candelaro Bettini, Umberto Valenti, and Joe Biondo all became prominent mafia figures close to the Palermitani, which seems like an American development, but here we have a Palermo mafia boss who never lived in NYC arriving to a Messinese man.
- The above Isidore Croceverde was also identified as a cousin of high-ranking figure Giuseppe Fanara, killed in NYC in the 1910s around the same time Villabatese leader Giuseppe Fontana was killed. This would have direct implications on the Mineo family -- Fanara was from Carini and Fontana from Villabate, the two key towns that would supply most of the leadership (and membership for that matter) of Joe Profaci's family. While Fanara and Fontana have been suspected of being D'Aquila family leaders, Fanara's relation to the Grillo-Mineo clan and his compaesani's exclusive membership in the Profaci family raises questions about affiliation. If Fanara and Fontana weren't Mineo-Profaci members, their murders may have resulted in their compaesani later joining the Mineo-Profaci family instead of the D'Aquila family.
- Antonino Grillo's namesake grandson posted this on an Italian genealogy site in 2003:
Looking for info on my grandfather, Antonino Grillo, born in Palermo about 1870-1875; married Lucia Mineo; children were Giovanni, Francesco, Stefania, Ida and Ignazia. He had a very large estate on Via della Liberta with the family crest on the front gates.
His business was vessels; he was a very powerful, influential man with business connections in the U.S. (New York) during the period of the 1920's.
Any information would be appreciated.
^ We have believed Lucia Mineo is Manfredi's sister, but Manfredi's father was Stefano and you would expect a second son to have that name. Maybe grandson Tony Grillo didn't know or didn't include all of his father's siblings; or it wouldn't be the first time naming tradition wasn't perfectly followed.
^ Giovanni Grillo was born in 1906 and ended up living in Naples where he died. Manfredi Mineo's wife was from Rome (there's no obvious record of her living in Sicily, though she must have at some point) and was said to have returned to Italy, so this family had at least a couple connnections to the mainland.
^ The "large estate" on Via della Liberta fits info on immigration records as well as Antiliar/CC's article. Antiliar/CC had the Grillos living at Via della Liberta 3, right by Manfredi Mineo's Palermo home, but two immigration records show Grillo and Lucia Mineo living at Via della Liberta 93. Either way we know the street they lived on. A man of his wealth may have had multiple properties and today it's impossible to see on a map where exactly the estate was given urban development in Palermo.
^ Tony's reference to his grandfather being "powerful, influential" could indicate he was aware Antonino was a mafia leader. Unsurprisingly, though, he was also a successful businessman and it could just as well apply to his role in the community, politics, etc. We know Grillo was deeply involved in the Palermo political conflict of the 1920s, which D'Aquila was involved with (hence the original post in this thread). Shows his grandson was aware of the ongoing NYC connections.
^ Haven't found any info on son Francesco Grillo. Bill Feather has a Frank Grillo listed as a Gambino member who was dead by 1975 -- curious where he got the name. There were early Gambino members named Liborio and Leonardo Grillo but I don't think they connect. There are also Ernest Grillo Sr. and Jr. with the Gambino family, but not sure their background.
^ Tony Grillo posted that inquiry 18 years ago and givien he was Antonino's grandson, he is likely very old by now if he's still alive.
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Couple corrections:
- Isidore Croceverde / Crocevera / Crocivera appear to be different spellings of the same name.
- Grillo was ID'd in the Sangiorgi report as a Resutanna member, not Acquasanta,, so these figures were related across multiple Palermo families. Marital ties like Lupo / Morello and Lucchese / Gambino were nothing new.
- Isidore Croceverde / Crocevera / Crocivera appear to be different spellings of the same name.
- Grillo was ID'd in the Sangiorgi report as a Resutanna member, not Acquasanta,, so these figures were related across multiple Palermo families. Marital ties like Lupo / Morello and Lucchese / Gambino were nothing new.
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Major twist to the original post of this thread:
- Ignazio Lupo was the same ship as Vincenzo Mangano and Giuseppe Traina when they returned to NYC from Sicily in August 1925.
- Also on the ship was Calogero DeLeo from Porto Empedocle, identified in Nick Gentile's memoirs as a D'Aquila figure.
- Lupo, Mangano, Traina, and DeLeo all boarded the ship in Naples on August 21 and arrived in NYC together on August 31.
- While Mangano and Traina are listed together, Lupo and DeLeo are listed separately from Mangano/Traina as well as each other.
As mentioned in the original post, Mangano and Traina were likely sent by D'Aquila to meet with and show support for Antonino Grillo in connection to growing political conflicts in Palermo. No doubt the other two can now be included in this theory.
Lupo in particular is of interest in the above scenario based on another piece of info I found:
- When Ignazio Lupo returned from Sicily in 1922 after petitioning Sicilian leaders for help, the ship manifest shows he was accompanied by Palermo boss Antonino Grillo.
- Grillo's arrival contact was a Francesco Zito in Greenpoint, Brooklyn -- they initially wrote that Zito was a "relation" of Grillo but that part is scratched out.
- Also on the ship, possibly a coincidence, was future Lucchese consigliere Vincenzo Rao's sister Maria Rao Speciale and her children, but no adult male relatives. Interesting given Lupo's marital ties to Corleone.
- Also of note is that Manfredi Mineo returned to NYC from Sicily just weeks before Lupo and Grillo's return to NYC. So it appears Mineo and Lupo were both in Sicily at the same time and Lupo returned with Mineo's in-law Grillo only a short time after Mineo left for NYC.
--
Gentile said Lupo had his death sentenced lifted earlier than Morello and the others. Grillo's arrival to NYC with Lupo in 1922 suggests that Grillo was heavily influential in helping Lupo remove the death sentence. We know D'Aquila was a Grillo ally in the 1920s and given Grillo's marriage to Mineo's sister, we can see that his presence with Lupo had massive political implications among the NYC Palermitani.
The fact that four top D'Aquila figures, including Lupo, then traveled to Sicily in 1925 around the time that other sources reported D'Aquila was supporting Antonino Grillo in a budding Palermo conflict also speaks volumes. It suggests, too, that Lupo remained an influential figure for a period after he was reinstated in the mafia.
The importance of Antonino Grillo in NYC can't be overlooked. He came to NYC in 1910 where he met with cousin Isidore Crocevera (important Lupo member), then in 1911 he arrived to NYC with in-law Manfredi Mineo right before Mineo became an NYC boss, and in 1922 he arrived to NYC with Ignazio Lupo at the time Lupo was fighting his death sentence. In 1925, D'Aquila sent his top men to Palermo likely to support Grillo.
Grillo's 1922 trip to NYC also matches up with his grandson's post where he says his grandfather had connections to NYC in the 1920s. The grandson said "business," but clearly this included the highest levels of international mafia politics.
- Ignazio Lupo was the same ship as Vincenzo Mangano and Giuseppe Traina when they returned to NYC from Sicily in August 1925.
- Also on the ship was Calogero DeLeo from Porto Empedocle, identified in Nick Gentile's memoirs as a D'Aquila figure.
- Lupo, Mangano, Traina, and DeLeo all boarded the ship in Naples on August 21 and arrived in NYC together on August 31.
- While Mangano and Traina are listed together, Lupo and DeLeo are listed separately from Mangano/Traina as well as each other.
As mentioned in the original post, Mangano and Traina were likely sent by D'Aquila to meet with and show support for Antonino Grillo in connection to growing political conflicts in Palermo. No doubt the other two can now be included in this theory.
Lupo in particular is of interest in the above scenario based on another piece of info I found:
- When Ignazio Lupo returned from Sicily in 1922 after petitioning Sicilian leaders for help, the ship manifest shows he was accompanied by Palermo boss Antonino Grillo.
- Grillo's arrival contact was a Francesco Zito in Greenpoint, Brooklyn -- they initially wrote that Zito was a "relation" of Grillo but that part is scratched out.
- Also on the ship, possibly a coincidence, was future Lucchese consigliere Vincenzo Rao's sister Maria Rao Speciale and her children, but no adult male relatives. Interesting given Lupo's marital ties to Corleone.
- Also of note is that Manfredi Mineo returned to NYC from Sicily just weeks before Lupo and Grillo's return to NYC. So it appears Mineo and Lupo were both in Sicily at the same time and Lupo returned with Mineo's in-law Grillo only a short time after Mineo left for NYC.
--
Gentile said Lupo had his death sentenced lifted earlier than Morello and the others. Grillo's arrival to NYC with Lupo in 1922 suggests that Grillo was heavily influential in helping Lupo remove the death sentence. We know D'Aquila was a Grillo ally in the 1920s and given Grillo's marriage to Mineo's sister, we can see that his presence with Lupo had massive political implications among the NYC Palermitani.
The fact that four top D'Aquila figures, including Lupo, then traveled to Sicily in 1925 around the time that other sources reported D'Aquila was supporting Antonino Grillo in a budding Palermo conflict also speaks volumes. It suggests, too, that Lupo remained an influential figure for a period after he was reinstated in the mafia.
The importance of Antonino Grillo in NYC can't be overlooked. He came to NYC in 1910 where he met with cousin Isidore Crocevera (important Lupo member), then in 1911 he arrived to NYC with in-law Manfredi Mineo right before Mineo became an NYC boss, and in 1922 he arrived to NYC with Ignazio Lupo at the time Lupo was fighting his death sentence. In 1925, D'Aquila sent his top men to Palermo likely to support Grillo.
Grillo's 1922 trip to NYC also matches up with his grandson's post where he says his grandfather had connections to NYC in the 1920s. The grandson said "business," but clearly this included the highest levels of international mafia politics.
Re: Enzo and Piddu's Excellent Adventure
Was Antonino Grillo living in Rhode Island in 1929-1930?
- A 1930 census for Frank Grillo, age 40, of Providence, Rhode Island, shows that his father and mother Antonio and Lucia Grillo lived with him, recent immigrants from Italy. Frank himself was born in Italy, suggesting his birth name was Francesco.
- Palermo boss Antonino Grillo's wife was Lucia Mineo, so the wife's name matches the census record. We also know from grandson Tony's online posting that Antonino had a son named Francesco. The 1930 census record shows a grandson named Antonio, which would match with the grandson Tony. Tony's online posting from 2003 also gives an impression English is his first language, suggesting he is American.
- Immigration records show that Palermo boss Antonino Grillo also used the spelling "Antonio", as evidenced by his 1920s trip with Ignazio Lupo.
- The 1930 census says Frank's parents Antonio and Lucia Grillo immigrated to the US in 1929. We know Antonino Grillo was living in Palermo as of the mid-late 1920s when he was involved in the murderous Palermo political war. In addition to the mid-late 1920s political war, Antonino Grillo was a well-known mafia figure first identified in the Sangiorgi report. He could well have been a target by the Fascist government. Grillo certainly had reason(s) to leave Sicily around 1929 and multiple earlier travels to the US and at least two relatives in the NYC mafia, including extensive contacts, show he was not a stranger to the US.
- While I can't find a record for Antonio/Antonino and Lucia Grillo traveling to the US from Italy in 1929, Grillo's in-laws Manfredi and Maria Mineo returned from a trip to Italy in July 1929 -- if the Grillos left Sicily in 1929, Mineo's 1929 visit could have related to this.
- The 1930 census gives Antonio Grillo's birth year as ~1962. Palermo boss Antonino's immigration records all point to his DOB being around 1968/1969. However, ages on census records are notoriously unreliable for older Italian immigrants and can be egregiously wrong in some cases, likely due to broken English and/or lack of cooperation. Lucia Grillo's DOB in the census is also listed as ~1962 and it is uncommon for husband/wife from Italy to be the same exact age, so it's possible they simply gave identical answers or there was confusion.
- Draft record for a Frank Grillo in Providence around the right age says he was born in Roccamonfina, Caserta. However, the listing for the record mentions both "Rocca" and "Palermo, Sicily," together as his birthplace. Palermo boss Antonino Grillo's other son Giovanni apparently died in Naples and Grillo's sister-in-law Maria Mineo was originally from Rome, so the Palermo Grillos did have mainland ties and Antonino was a well-traveled businessman in the "vessel" business, opening up the possibility of other mainland ties.
- The Frank Grillo from Roccamonfina and/or Palermo lists his parents as dependents as of WWI. This would clash with the Frank Grillo mentioned on the 1930 census, as his parents had only recently come to the US. Of course, someone could consider their parents dependents overseas, though I'm not sure the implications of doing that on WWI draft registration. If this is Antonino's son, it would be absurd given his father was a wealthy Sicilian businessman and mafia boss, but hard to gauge without more info.
- Frank Grillo's census record says he came to the US in 1912. If this is Palermo boss Antonino's son, this would be the year after Antonino Grillo and Manfredi Mineo came to NYC together, and two years after Antonino's earlier trip to NYC. It's possible Antonino Grillo made preparations or otherwise influenced his son to come to the US. We also can't be sure how long Antonino Grillo stayed during his 1911 trip -- if this is Antonino's son, it's possible Francesco/Frank joined him in the US before Antonino returned to Sicily. With Frank's uncle Mineo living permanently in NYC and becoming a mafia boss in 1912, this could have also influenced the young man's decision to live in the US. Immigration dates on censuses, like DOBs, are also prone to error.
-This Frank Grillo appears to have been in Providence since at least WWI, so if he is the son of Palermo boss Antonino, it raises the question of what their ties were to Rhode Island. His uncle Mineo would have been an NYC boss during this entire period and in 1929, when this "Antonio" Grillo shows up in the US, Manfredi Mineo was the head of a large NYC family and a close ally of the capo dei capi.
- I can't find a 1940 census record for any of the family members. It's possible their name was misspelled or they returned to Italy. Joe Valachi said Manfredi Mineo's widow returned to Italy following her husband's 1930 murder, so it's possible other relatives left the US as well, assuming this is them.
--
I don't know if these are the same Grillos. There are certainly a few outstanding coincidences.
The most glaring discrepancies are Antonio's 1962 DOB, but that is often erroneous on census records. The other possible discrepancy is the Frank Grillo of Providence born in Caserta, but the listing also mentions Palermo as a birthplace (perhaps indicating his family was from Palermo but staying in Caserta at the time of his birth), so that isn't an obvious dealbreaker.
If Antonino and Lucia Grillo were in fact living in the USA in 1929-1930, it adds another dimension to the Castellammarese War given a top Palermo mafia boss and relative of Manfredi Mineo would have been involved at the start of the war. Given Grillo had been a D'Aquila ally who may have helped Mineo become a boss and saved Lupo's life, he could well have given additional legitimacy to the Masseria forces who took over post-D'Aquila. If this were the case, you'd think Gentile or someone would have mentioned it, but Gentile didn't arrive back in the US until later in the war and after Manfredi Mineo's death. Those factors would have changed the situation if this is the same Grillo.
- A 1930 census for Frank Grillo, age 40, of Providence, Rhode Island, shows that his father and mother Antonio and Lucia Grillo lived with him, recent immigrants from Italy. Frank himself was born in Italy, suggesting his birth name was Francesco.
- Palermo boss Antonino Grillo's wife was Lucia Mineo, so the wife's name matches the census record. We also know from grandson Tony's online posting that Antonino had a son named Francesco. The 1930 census record shows a grandson named Antonio, which would match with the grandson Tony. Tony's online posting from 2003 also gives an impression English is his first language, suggesting he is American.
- Immigration records show that Palermo boss Antonino Grillo also used the spelling "Antonio", as evidenced by his 1920s trip with Ignazio Lupo.
- The 1930 census says Frank's parents Antonio and Lucia Grillo immigrated to the US in 1929. We know Antonino Grillo was living in Palermo as of the mid-late 1920s when he was involved in the murderous Palermo political war. In addition to the mid-late 1920s political war, Antonino Grillo was a well-known mafia figure first identified in the Sangiorgi report. He could well have been a target by the Fascist government. Grillo certainly had reason(s) to leave Sicily around 1929 and multiple earlier travels to the US and at least two relatives in the NYC mafia, including extensive contacts, show he was not a stranger to the US.
- While I can't find a record for Antonio/Antonino and Lucia Grillo traveling to the US from Italy in 1929, Grillo's in-laws Manfredi and Maria Mineo returned from a trip to Italy in July 1929 -- if the Grillos left Sicily in 1929, Mineo's 1929 visit could have related to this.
- The 1930 census gives Antonio Grillo's birth year as ~1962. Palermo boss Antonino's immigration records all point to his DOB being around 1968/1969. However, ages on census records are notoriously unreliable for older Italian immigrants and can be egregiously wrong in some cases, likely due to broken English and/or lack of cooperation. Lucia Grillo's DOB in the census is also listed as ~1962 and it is uncommon for husband/wife from Italy to be the same exact age, so it's possible they simply gave identical answers or there was confusion.
- Draft record for a Frank Grillo in Providence around the right age says he was born in Roccamonfina, Caserta. However, the listing for the record mentions both "Rocca" and "Palermo, Sicily," together as his birthplace. Palermo boss Antonino Grillo's other son Giovanni apparently died in Naples and Grillo's sister-in-law Maria Mineo was originally from Rome, so the Palermo Grillos did have mainland ties and Antonino was a well-traveled businessman in the "vessel" business, opening up the possibility of other mainland ties.
- The Frank Grillo from Roccamonfina and/or Palermo lists his parents as dependents as of WWI. This would clash with the Frank Grillo mentioned on the 1930 census, as his parents had only recently come to the US. Of course, someone could consider their parents dependents overseas, though I'm not sure the implications of doing that on WWI draft registration. If this is Antonino's son, it would be absurd given his father was a wealthy Sicilian businessman and mafia boss, but hard to gauge without more info.
- Frank Grillo's census record says he came to the US in 1912. If this is Palermo boss Antonino's son, this would be the year after Antonino Grillo and Manfredi Mineo came to NYC together, and two years after Antonino's earlier trip to NYC. It's possible Antonino Grillo made preparations or otherwise influenced his son to come to the US. We also can't be sure how long Antonino Grillo stayed during his 1911 trip -- if this is Antonino's son, it's possible Francesco/Frank joined him in the US before Antonino returned to Sicily. With Frank's uncle Mineo living permanently in NYC and becoming a mafia boss in 1912, this could have also influenced the young man's decision to live in the US. Immigration dates on censuses, like DOBs, are also prone to error.
-This Frank Grillo appears to have been in Providence since at least WWI, so if he is the son of Palermo boss Antonino, it raises the question of what their ties were to Rhode Island. His uncle Mineo would have been an NYC boss during this entire period and in 1929, when this "Antonio" Grillo shows up in the US, Manfredi Mineo was the head of a large NYC family and a close ally of the capo dei capi.
- I can't find a 1940 census record for any of the family members. It's possible their name was misspelled or they returned to Italy. Joe Valachi said Manfredi Mineo's widow returned to Italy following her husband's 1930 murder, so it's possible other relatives left the US as well, assuming this is them.
--
I don't know if these are the same Grillos. There are certainly a few outstanding coincidences.
The most glaring discrepancies are Antonio's 1962 DOB, but that is often erroneous on census records. The other possible discrepancy is the Frank Grillo of Providence born in Caserta, but the listing also mentions Palermo as a birthplace (perhaps indicating his family was from Palermo but staying in Caserta at the time of his birth), so that isn't an obvious dealbreaker.
If Antonino and Lucia Grillo were in fact living in the USA in 1929-1930, it adds another dimension to the Castellammarese War given a top Palermo mafia boss and relative of Manfredi Mineo would have been involved at the start of the war. Given Grillo had been a D'Aquila ally who may have helped Mineo become a boss and saved Lupo's life, he could well have given additional legitimacy to the Masseria forces who took over post-D'Aquila. If this were the case, you'd think Gentile or someone would have mentioned it, but Gentile didn't arrive back in the US until later in the war and after Manfredi Mineo's death. Those factors would have changed the situation if this is the same Grillo.