Louis Bombacino "CG 6884"

[Ed]

I wrote a piece on Louis Bombacino, an Outfit informer from the 1960s. Bombacino's testimony put John Cerone in prison and compelled Paul Ricca to break his oath of silence.

I reveal Bombacino's symbol code and some Intel from declassified FBI intelligence reports. He was a minor hoodlum from what I can gather, and I doubt very much he was "made," notwithstanding former FBI agents Roemer and Inserra who say otherwise.

Bombacino is interesting because he was one of the last significant mob informers from the pre-Witsec era. As a result, the Chicago office had to create their own little program to hide Bombainco. He would have survived if he kept his head down, but Bombacino reverted to form and brought the wrong kind of attention to himself.

I don't go into it, but Bombinaco's nephew (and namesake) Louis Bombacino was part of Frank Calabrese's crew in the 1980s and 90s.

https://mafiahistory.us/rattrap/infbombacino.html

[cavita]

Wonderful write up Ed...I enjoy these "expose" pieces from you!

[PolackTony]

As always, great write up. I agree with you, of course, that the “Nardi” pseudonym was possibly derived from Bombacino’s ex-wife’s surname Nardella. Also nice detail on Ricca’s dietetic baked goods lol.

“Sam Lewis” was born Carmine Salvatore Lusi in Troia, Foggia. While Bombacino overstated Lusi’s importance in describing him as one of the “five fingers of the Black Hand” (he wasn’t even a capo), Lusi was a made guy and a close confidant who answered directly to Ricca. Even when these claims are not quite accurate, they are still interesting if we’re careful to place them in context as reflecting the perspective of a guy not in the inner circle on how he perceived the hierarchy and power structure. I’m sure Bombacino saw Lusi from his POV as a top guy because he was always next to Ricca.

I’m curious to know the exact statement about Bombacino having received a “promotion” and pay bump. I of course doubt that Bombacino was ever made, and this might also shed some light on that. Per my understanding, “Outfit guys/soldiers” (what the Feds would call “LCN associates”) were basically employees of the family, who were placed on the company payroll after being “sponsored” or spoken for by a made guy. Made guys, in contrast, were like shareholders and partners in the family and thus entitled to a cut of the company proceeds.

[Ed]

Thanks guys.

Hat tip to Tony for the Nardella reference.

Your description and assessment of Sam Lewis is spot on.

I think the promotion Bombacino received was a reference to the ability to take larger-sized bets over the telephone without checking in with his superiors. Within the betting group, the more experienced and valued employees had more independence. I don't think the promotion was a specific reference to a higher rank within the organization.

Your explanation about the difference between employees and shareholders is a good model to understand the Outfit hierarchy and power structure. It could account for why certain individuals were misidentified as members.

[Villain]

Another bullseye Ed!!! And and I agree with what Polack said/explained.

[Patrickgold]

Never knew that about Ricca. Does anyone have the transcripts from his testimony? That’s crazy an old school don like him wouldn’t do the time. I know Accardo would have. I think this shows that he was not the true power despite some claims. He had legal troubles throughout the 50s and 60s

[Villain]

Never knew that about Ricca. Does anyone have the transcripts from his testimony? That’s crazy an old school don like him wouldn’t do the time. I know Accardo would have. I think this shows that he was not the true power despite some claims. He had legal troubles throughout the 50s and 60s

It wasnt like Ricca spilled the beans but instead the investigators caught him "in a corner" or in other words they gave him the same "treatment" which they also gave to Giancana such as “immunity from prosecution”, and while being in a wheelchair during the trial, the Outfit's top boss had no choice, although Giancana previously sticked to the omerta and went to jail but theres difference. If old man (diabetic) Ricca kept his mouth shut and went to jail, it was obviously a death sentence and it was possible that many guys mightve ended up dead at the time (including Cerone) and so Cerone going to jail was the best choice. And so Ricca confirmed his presence during a meeting with Cerone and Bombacino. Thats the point with top Outfit bosses such as Ricca or Accardo, meaning their chief executives like Giancana, Battaglia, Cerone etc. usually went to prison or were murdered. Thats power and also some type of master manipulation, although the government made a smart play since they needed Cerone who in turn was the Outfit's "boss" at the time and they took him down.

[PolackTony]

My understanding is what Villain said. Further, bringing Bombacino into the bookmaking op was ultimately on Cerone’s head, so he would have to take the fall for it.

[Villain]

My understanding is what Villain said. Further, bringing Bombacino into the bookmaking op was ultimately on Cerone’s head, so he would have to take the fall for it.

Spot on.

[Ed]

The Outfit politics aside, I think it's significant that Ricca willingly testified and essentially became a government witness against the "acting" boss. Of course, the prosecution did not "need" Ricca's testimony to make a successful case against Cerone and the others, but it shows Ricca was in it for himself and reflected poorly on him. (Can't blame him, mind you.)

Interestingly, Frank Aureli and Louis Bombacino were childhood friends, and Aureli brought him into the Outfit. However, Bombacino's brother, Anthony, co-owned the Albano bakery with his brother-in-law Eugene Albano. Villian and others can speak better to this, but my understanding is Albano was Ricca's driver and errand boy (at times) and testified (and lied) in Ricca's perjury trial around the same time as the Cerone trial. I wonder what bearing Albano's relationship with Ricca had on Cerone's decision to bring Louis Bombacino into the group.

From reading the intelligence reports, there was something like a hierarchy of manipulation. Ricca used Accardo, who used Giancana, then Battaglia, then Cerone, etc. All to keep out of prison.

Villain, can you elaborate on why Cerone and others might have died if Ricca went to jail? Do you mean Ricca would have been pissed and killed Cerone and others in relation, or that there might have been a power struggle for control with Ricca out of the way?

[Patrickgold]

I would love to know what questions they asked him and what his answers were. If it was from meetings 5 years earlier, he could have just said i don’t recall. If he gave any info that contributed in the conviction of Cerone then he is a rat in the eyes of true hard core mafiosos

[Villain]

The Outfit politics aside, I think it's significant that Ricca willingly testified and essentially became a government witness against the "acting" boss. Of course, the prosecution did not "need" Ricca's testimony to make a successful case against Cerone and the others, but it shows Ricca was in it for himself and reflected poorly on him. (Can't blame him, mind you.)

From reading the intelligence reports, there was something like a hierarchy of manipulation. Ricca used Accardo, who used Giancana, then Battaglia, then Cerone, etc. All to keep out of prison.

Villain, can you elaborate on why Cerone and others might have died if Ricca went to jail? Do you mean Ricca would have been pissed and killed Cerone and others in relation, or that there might have been a power struggle for control with Ricca out of the way?

Theres no question that Ricca broke the code of silence because obviously he was able to keep his mouth shut and die in jail like a "true Mafioso or Camorrista" BUT as you already said, there was a some type of hierarchial "manipulation".

Yes, I believe that Accardo and Ricca would've been pissed if the latter one went to jail at the time because of Cerone's mistake or lack of security details. Maybe Ricca was already connected to Bombacino but according to protocol, Cerone wasnt allowed to make business decisions with a low level soldier in front of the Outfit's top boss.

The same thing happened previously with Battaglia, Amabile and LaKey...when Amabile brought LaKey to Battaglia by assuring him that LaKey was cool while on the other hand guys like Pranno became quite mad because of it and what happened? LaKey later testified against Battaglia and Amabile but was later killed on Nicolettis orders as favor for Battaglia. The same thing happened with Ricca, Nitto and Bioff etc. As you already know, the only difference was that Nitto and Battaglia were expendable while Ricca wasnt.

Regarding the killing stuff...men and women were killed when Ricca went to jail during the early 1940s, and also some guys were killed when he got out of jail. Some were even killed before his indictment regarding his immigration status and in 1959 he was in jail but got out in 1961. If you ask me...if Ricca went to jail instead of Cerone, I believe it might've been similar situation like with the guys who later entered Accardos home. These guys didnt screw around when their lives and egos were at the stake.

[SolarSolano]

As always, great write up. I agree with you, of course, that the “Nardi” pseudonym was possibly derived from Bombacino’s ex-wife’s surname Nardella. Also nice detail on Ricca’s dietetic baked goods lol.

“Sam Lewis” was born Carmine Salvatore Lusi in Troia, Foggia. While Bombacino overstated Lusi’s importance in describing him as one of the “five fingers of the Black Hand” (he wasn’t even a capo), Lusi was a made guy and a close confidant who answered directly to Ricca. Even when these claims are not quite accurate, they are still interesting if we’re careful to place them in context as reflecting the perspective of a guy not in the inner circle on how he perceived the hierarchy and power structure. I’m sure Bombacino saw Lusi from his POV as a top guy because he was always next to Ricca.

I’m curious to know the exact statement about Bombacino having received a “promotion” and pay bump. I of course doubt that Bombacino was ever made, and this might also shed some light on that. Per my understanding, “Outfit guys/soldiers” (what the Feds would call “LCN associates”) were basically employees of the family, who were placed on the company payroll after being “sponsored” or spoken for by a made guy. Made guys, in contrast, were like shareholders and partners in the family and thus entitled to a cut of the company proceeds.

Somewhat off-topic, but Luisi's sons became police and I believe one of them was a CI as well. The same son who had an infamous fight with Michael Mags some years ago and was scared the Outfit was going to hit him because of it.

[PolackTony]

As always, great write up. I agree with you, of course, that the “Nardi” pseudonym was possibly derived from Bombacino’s ex-wife’s surname Nardella. Also nice detail on Ricca’s dietetic baked goods lol.

“Sam Lewis” was born Carmine Salvatore Lusi in Troia, Foggia. While Bombacino overstated Lusi’s importance in describing him as one of the “five fingers of the Black Hand” (he wasn’t even a capo), Lusi was a made guy and a close confidant who answered directly to Ricca. Even when these claims are not quite accurate, they are still interesting if we’re careful to place them in context as reflecting the perspective of a guy not in the inner circle on how he perceived the hierarchy and power structure. I’m sure Bombacino saw Lusi from his POV as a top guy because he was always next to Ricca.

I’m curious to know the exact statement about Bombacino having received a “promotion” and pay bump. I of course doubt that Bombacino was ever made, and this might also shed some light on that. Per my understanding, “Outfit guys/soldiers” (what the Feds would call “LCN associates”) were basically employees of the family, who were placed on the company payroll after being “sponsored” or spoken for by a made guy. Made guys, in contrast, were like shareholders and partners in the family and thus entitled to a cut of the company proceeds.

Somewhat off-topic, but Luisi's sons became police and I believe one of them was a CI as well. The same son who had an infamous fight with Michael Mags some years ago and was scared the Outfit was going to hit him because of it.

Carmen Salvatore had three sons — Sam, Edward, and Joseph, who I believe were all cops. The Sam Louis from the Mikey Mags incident I’m pretty sure was (“was” as he died 2006) the son of Edward Louis, so the grandson of Carmen Salvatore.

[Antiliar]

I wrote a piece on Louis Bombacino, an Outfit informer from the 1960s. Bombacino's testimony put John Cerone in prison and compelled Paul Ricca to break his oath of silence.

I reveal Bombacino's symbol code and some Intel from declassified FBI intelligence reports. He was a minor hoodlum from what I can gather, and I doubt very much he was "made," notwithstanding former FBI agents Roemer and Inserra who say otherwise.

Bombacino is interesting because he was one of the last significant mob informers from the pre-Witsec era. As a result, the Chicago office had to create their own little program to hide Bombainco. He would have survived if he kept his head down, but Bombacino reverted to form and brought the wrong kind of attention to himself.

I don't go into it, but Bombinaco's nephew (and namesake) Louis Bombacino was part of Frank Calabrese's crew in the 1980s and 90s.

https://mafiahistory.us/rattrap/infbombacino.html

Great work as always, Ed.