Bonanno Family Ceremony (Halloween 1977)

[Pogo The Clown]

Thanks for the info. I don't remember the specific source (you may have mentioned it) but it came up in the Bonanno Crew succession thread. It was talked about how Marangello was the Capo of that Crew and Sabella took it over after Marangello was promoted to UnderBoss.


Pogo

[B.]

We have our guesses about who the second member source was, but I'd be very curious what the story is on the long-time member you mentioned.

edit: also, do you have any more info on D'Amico wearing a wire, i.e. if he got any quality info and whom got recorded? I don't remember hearing about that. I thought it was only Tartaglione that wore a wire on the street, then later Massino in prison.

[AlexfromSouth]

The crew histories of the Bonannos are a huge mess, even with all the info gathered over the years. There weren't consistent member sources like with the Colombos or Gambinos to help put the pieces together, and like B. said guys moved around, crews broke up and merged, etc. I've got some ideas on a handful of successions but leave it for another day.

Michael Zaffarano was made a captain by Evola around mid-1972, no later than September when he's picked up on the Violi wiretap. He briefly stepped down around 1975-1976, but was back in the position and on a so-called street panel by 1977/1978.

The Summer of 1977 had multiple promotions to captain: Vito DeFilippo (moved back to NY after living in Las Vegas after the Bonannos were ran out of NY), Michael Sabella (he was not a captain straight from the 1960s through 1979 as believed, but demoted for a couple of years due to his behavior in the Bonanno conflict) and possibly Matteo Valvo.

Another thing to look is what part of Italy these guys came from, or where the (paternal) family came from anyway. I've been putting together this info as it turns up with NY, along with the DeCavs, Philly, San Jose and smaller groups. Some really interesting connections between certain factions and between Families. For the Bonannos listed in the ceremony (if anyone's got better info post a correction):

- Nicholas Marangello: Family from Ruvo del Monte in Potenza, Basilicata

- Stefano Cannone: CDG

- Vito DeFilippo: Not sure, born in East Harlem to Pasquale DeFilippo (DOB 1887), living in Williamsbridge, Bronx by the mid-1920s.

- Salvatore Ferrugia: Castrofilippo in Agrigento, Sicily

- Frank Lupo: Borgetto, Palermo

- Armando Pollastrino: Cesinali in Avellino, Campania

- Matteo Valvo: Francofonte in Syracuse, Sicily

Some of the others:

- Emanuel Guaragna: Cattolica Eraclea in Agrigento [Same town as Sciascia, the Rizzutos, Ragusa, Renda and probably other Canadian crew members]

- Joseph Benanti: Marineo in Palermo [Same town as the Lucchese Family's DiPalermos and others in the Prince St crew, he was associated with them early on]

- Gabriel Infanti: Atripalda in Avellino, Campania

- Frank Lino, Salvatore Maiorino: Province of Naples, Campania

- Dominick Trinchera: Ostuni in Brindisi, Puglia

Edit to add: I think Rastelli was from Naples as well, but not certain.

Eventually I'd like to post a topic with the various geographic origins for each of the groups.

I thought the Linos were from Sicily?

[Giacomo_Vacari]

Luigi Rastelli, Philip Rastelli father was from Marsala, Sicily. Philips mother was from outside Naples, as his uncle Giovanni Saviano an early member of Genovese or Gambino in Brooklyn, sailed from Naples, Italy in the mid 1900s.

[AlexfromSouth]

Where did you see that the Linos were Sicilian? Both of Frank's parents were from Naples.

edit: also, do you have any more info on D'Amico wearing a wire, i.e. if he got any quality info and whom got recorded? I don't remember hearing about that. I thought it was only Tartaglione that wore a wire on the street, then later Massino in prison.

He was wired up very briefly and I believe the only made guy he met with in person was Joseph Torre. D'Amico was the acting captain for Cantarella at the time and Torre was a go-between with D'Amico and the acting admin. He got a few associates on tape. After he was summoned for a meet with Joseph Cammarano and others he felt he was being set up, the FBI agreed and took him off the street.

Remmeber reading somewhere that Eddie Lino was sicilian so I assumed that they were.Looks like thats not true,I belive you JD.Sorry,honest mistake.Do you have the early adresses on Eddie and Frank lino?Thanks.

[Pete]

Seems like Halloween is a day that's been used quite a few times to make new guys is there any particular reason for using this day?

[Sol]

JD posted:


Here's an arrest photo of Nicholas Marangello taken around 1931 after an armed robbery charge:




He served ten-to-twenty in Sing Sing Prison soon after. Not sure if he was just a common street guy or actually associated with a Family at this time, but by the 1950s he's made under Carmine Galante. Another Galante crew member, Vito DeFilippo, was also serving a term at Sing Sing for an armed robbery offense at the time.

Over four decades after this photo was taken Marangello was appointed Underboss of the Bonanno Family by Philip Rastelli and most of what followed is well known.


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Ill add some more gems from the old forum later on.......Soliai

[cammy_sanzone1]

Anyone have a pic of George fresolone?just curious I want to put a face to name because I read blood oath and every body elses face was in it.like Nicky o and scoops.thanks

[Sol]

Anyone have a pic of George fresolone?just curious I want to put a face to name because I read blood oath and every body elses face was in it.like Nicky o and scoops.thanks

I do not believe there a picture of George F out there. Would be nice to see one.......Soliai

[cammy_sanzone1]

Well thanks anyway soliai.I bet scoops has one lol.

[rayray]

Anyone have a pic of George fresolone?just curious I want to put a face to name because I read blood oath and every body elses face was in it.like Nicky o and scoops.thanks

I do not believe there a picture of George F out there. Would be nice to see one.......Soliai

I wonder if anyone ever tried to find his East Side High School yearbook picture?

[cammy_sanzone1]

Good thinkin rayray.....lets look into that my friend.

[Doobeez]

East Side High? Morgan Freeman as Joe "Batman" Clark.

That's shrewd, ray ray...i like it.

[Cheech]

Faiiiirrr East Siiiiiideeeee!

[B.]

Anyone have a pic of George fresolone?just curious I want to put a face to name because I read blood oath and every body elses face was in it.like Nicky o and scoops.thanks

I do not believe there a picture of George F out there. Would be nice to see one.......Soliai

I wonder if anyone ever tried to find his East Side High School yearbook picture?

I tried at one point but didn't get very far. In his book he says that each student lists what they want to do after high school and his says "be a bookmaker" or something like that. Would be funny if that's true.