Hickey DiLorenzo/Ralph DeSimone

[MightyDR]

Does anyone have any info on these two hits the Genovese carried out?

This is an excerpt from my Bellomo writeup. It sums up the story behind the DeSimone hit.

In January 1991, Alphonse 'Little Al' D'Arco, a future government informant, was the newly appointed acting boss of the Lucchese crime family. D'Arco had a meeting with James 'Little Jimmy' Ida, then the Genovese crime family consigliere. Ida passed to Little Al a list with names of organized crime associates proposed for membership in the Genovese borgata. D'Arco shared the list's contents with the rest of the Lucchese administration to see if anybody had any problems with the proposed inductees. When Anthony 'Bowat' Baratta, who was the family's acting underboss, saw the name of Ralph DeSimone on the list, he exclaimed 'He's a rat!'.

An interfamily meeting was arranged in February 1991 to discuss the DeSimone problem. The Genovese were represented by Bellomo, Ida, and acting underboss Michele 'Mickey Dimino' Generoso. D'Arco, Baratta, and acting consigliere Steven 'Stevie Wonder' Crea Sr. showed up for the Lucchese. According to D'Arco, Baratta told everybody that DeSimone was a government informant. The Genovese leaders asked him if he was sure to which Bowat confirmed that he was. James Ida said, 'Could you get us the minutes?', implying they needed some time to reach a decision. At that point Generoso stepped forward and stated that 'We will take care of it', ending all deliberations about DeSimone's future. Alongside his short statement, Mickey Dimino made a motion with his hand and index finger like he was pulling the trigger of an imaginary gun. After Generoso's hand gesture, Ida said, 'Yeah,' and with that verbally confirmed the ruling. Everybody else nodded in agreement. Ralph DeSimone's fate was sealed.

On June 13, 1991, Ralph 'Cousin' DeSimone Jr., fifty-five, of Fort Lee, NJ, was found dead in the trunk of his car. His murder was dubbed a 'gangland-style execution' by the police investigators. DeSimone was kidnapped the previous day from the parking lot of a local business he owned, the 'Brushless Car Wash', located at 1620 Bergen Boulevard in Fort Lee. Later the same day he was allegedly murdered at Genovese crime family soldier Louis Ruggiero's New Jersey home. Desimone's son, Anthony, received a ransom demand of $150,000 a few hours after his father's disappearance. The police investigators speculated that the ransom note was just a distraction. Ralph DeSimone's body was found the next day. His Lincoln was abandoned in the long-term parking lot at LaGuardia Airport opposite the Delta Airlines Terminal. He was hogtied and had a plastic bag over his head. DeSimone was shot to death multiple times from a short distance, including twice in the head. At the time of his murder, he was identified by the New York Police Department as a convicted narcotics trafficker and a Gambino crime family associate, but his involvement in organized crime wasn't limited to the Gambinos. DeSimone was also associated with the Genovese crime family captain John 'Buster' Ardito's crew. They were partners in loansharking and narcotics trafficking.

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/ap ... 80/596920/
Could be wrong, but I interpreted "Could you get us the minutes?" as meaning could Baratta provide the Genovese people with the minutes from the trial where DeSimone was a witness. Since Baratta said he could, it convinced them to hit DeSimone.

[Browniety86]

Does anyone have any info on these two hits the Genovese carried out?

This is an excerpt from my Bellomo writeup. It sums up the story behind the DeSimone hit.

In January 1991, Alphonse 'Little Al' D'Arco, a future government informant, was the newly appointed acting boss of the Lucchese crime family. D'Arco had a meeting with James 'Little Jimmy' Ida, then the Genovese crime family consigliere. Ida passed to Little Al a list with names of organized crime associates proposed for membership in the Genovese borgata. D'Arco shared the list's contents with the rest of the Lucchese administration to see if anybody had any problems with the proposed inductees. When Anthony 'Bowat' Baratta, who was the family's acting underboss, saw the name of Ralph DeSimone on the list, he exclaimed 'He's a rat!'.

An interfamily meeting was arranged in February 1991 to discuss the DeSimone problem. The Genovese were represented by Bellomo, Ida, and acting underboss Michele 'Mickey Dimino' Generoso. D'Arco, Baratta, and acting consigliere Steven 'Stevie Wonder' Crea Sr. showed up for the Lucchese. According to D'Arco, Baratta told everybody that DeSimone was a government informant. The Genovese leaders asked him if he was sure to which Bowat confirmed that he was. James Ida said, 'Could you get us the minutes?', implying they needed some time to reach a decision. At that point Generoso stepped forward and stated that 'We will take care of it', ending all deliberations about DeSimone's future. Alongside his short statement, Mickey Dimino made a motion with his hand and index finger like he was pulling the trigger of an imaginary gun. After Generoso's hand gesture, Ida said, 'Yeah,' and with that verbally confirmed the ruling. Everybody else nodded in agreement. Ralph DeSimone's fate was sealed.

On June 13, 1991, Ralph 'Cousin' DeSimone Jr., fifty-five, of Fort Lee, NJ, was found dead in the trunk of his car. His murder was dubbed a 'gangland-style execution' by the police investigators. DeSimone was kidnapped the previous day from the parking lot of a local business he owned, the 'Brushless Car Wash', located at 1620 Bergen Boulevard in Fort Lee. Later the same day he was allegedly murdered at Genovese crime family soldier Louis Ruggiero's New Jersey home. Desimone's son, Anthony, received a ransom demand of $150,000 a few hours after his father's disappearance. The police investigators speculated that the ransom note was just a distraction. Ralph DeSimone's body was found the next day. His Lincoln was abandoned in the long-term parking lot at LaGuardia Airport opposite the Delta Airlines Terminal. He was hogtied and had a plastic bag over his head. DeSimone was shot to death multiple times from a short distance, including twice in the head. At the time of his murder, he was identified by the New York Police Department as a convicted narcotics trafficker and a Gambino crime family associate, but his involvement in organized crime wasn't limited to the Gambinos. DeSimone was also associated with the Genovese crime family captain John 'Buster' Ardito's crew. They were partners in loansharking and narcotics trafficking.

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/ap ... 80/596920/
Could be wrong, but I interpreted "Could you get us the minutes?" as meaning could Baratta provide the Genovese people with the minutes from the trial where DeSimone was a witness. Since Baratta said he could, it convinced them to hit DeSimone.

That's how I took it too. They wanted proof he testified via court docs...

[newera_212]

With Tony D being an acting capo, he had the luxury of being direct with the boss? Or did he actually break protocol and should have reported the transgression to his official captain? Chin seemed like such a stickler for Cosa Nostra rules...

Palumbo was reported to have been a Gigante loyalist. Very close with Cirillo and Pagano, who were direct with Chin and were important pieces of his power base.

The more and more I read, I've really underestimated how much of a power Danny Pagano is in that family...he was relation to Andy Gerardo if I remember correctly

I thought it was Palumbo that was related to Andy Gerard? His nephew IIRC?

Is Palumbo out? I'm guessing he's been out for a minute, because he was sentenced a little over 10 years ago to...10 years. Talk about a fuckin sweetheart deal. Plead guilty to one murder conspiracy and a part of the deal was that the Feds wouldn't pursue charges against him in the other (Sangiuolo) murder. Those Genovese guys really know how to work the courts.

An article from the NY Post about his sentencing lays out this (probably bullshit) dramatized scenario:

"After the murder, Palumbo hugged and kissed admitted triggerman John “Johnny Balls” Leto, then celebrated Sangiuolo’s death by dancing, drinking and eating caviar at Zilber’s Rasputin nightclub in Brighton Beach, Weitzman said."

Picturing Palumbo wearing that black and white striped polo he was photograpphed in, looking like a Foot Locker employee, dancing to some Russian folk tunes and eating caviar is kind of hilarious...

I believe Alite has mentioned Johnny Balls Leto a couple of times on his podcast. I'm like 99% sure he has said that Leto lives in Freehold NJ area and runs a construction company and makes a lot of money.

Also, DiLorenzo sounds like he would have been pegged for the Admin at one point in time. The guy had a lot going on and went back in the family a ridiculously long time. D'Arco claims that he lost his mind and started talking reckless, and that's why he was clipped, but I'm guessing and speculating that it was probably much deeper than that. Just speculation but I'm wondering if DiLorenzo was trying to get something going. You never ever really heard about any sort of power struggles / cold wars with the Genovese but surely Gigante had to have his personal rivals?

[Browniety86]

With Tony D being an acting capo, he had the luxury of being direct with the boss? Or did he actually break protocol and should have reported the transgression to his official captain? Chin seemed like such a stickler for Cosa Nostra rules...

Palumbo was reported to have been a Gigante loyalist. Very close with Cirillo and Pagano, who were direct with Chin and were important pieces of his power base.

The more and more I read, I've really underestimated how much of a power Danny Pagano is in that family...he was relation to Andy Gerardo if I remember correctly

I thought it was Palumbo that was related to Andy Gerard? His nephew IIRC?

Is Palumbo out? I'm guessing he's been out for a minute, because he was sentenced a little over 10 years ago to...10 years. Talk about a fuckin sweetheart deal. Plead guilty to one murder conspiracy and a part of the deal was that the Feds wouldn't pursue charges against him in the other (Sangiuolo) murder. Those Genovese guys really know how to work the courts.

An article from the NY Post about his sentencing lays out this (probably bullshit) dramatized scenario:

"After the murder, Palumbo hugged and kissed admitted triggerman John “Johnny Balls” Leto, then celebrated Sangiuolo’s death by dancing, drinking and eating caviar at Zilber’s Rasputin nightclub in Brighton Beach, Weitzman said."

Picturing Palumbo wearing that black and white striped polo he was photograpphed in, looking like a Foot Locker employee, dancing to some Russian folk tunes and eating caviar is kind of hilarious...

I believe Alite has mentioned Johnny Balls Leto a couple of times on his podcast. I'm like 99% sure he has said that Leto lives in Freehold NJ area and runs a construction company and makes a lot of money.

Also, DiLorenzo sounds like he would have been pegged for the Admin at one point in time. The guy had a lot going on and went back in the family a ridiculously long time. D'Arco claims that he lost his mind and started talking reckless, and that's why he was clipped, but I'm guessing and speculating that it was probably much deeper than that. Just speculation but I'm wondering if DiLorenzo was trying to get something going. You never ever really heard about any sort of power struggles / cold wars with the Genovese but surely Gigante had to have his personal rivals?

It was Palumbo that was Andy Gerardo's nephew...I was trying to remember off the top of my head and got mixed up with Danny Pagano...

[HairyKnuckles]

With Tony D being an acting capo, he had the luxury of being direct with the boss? Or did he actually break protocol and should have reported the transgression to his official captain? Chin seemed like such a stickler for Cosa Nostra rules...

Palumbo was reported to have been a Gigante loyalist. Very close with Cirillo and Pagano, who were direct with Chin and were important pieces of his power base.

The more and more I read, I've really underestimated how much of a power Danny Pagano is in that family...he was relation to Andy Gerardo if I remember correctly

I thought it was Palumbo that was related to Andy Gerard? His nephew IIRC?

Is Palumbo out? I'm guessing he's been out for a minute, because he was sentenced a little over 10 years ago to...10 years. Talk about a fuckin sweetheart deal. Plead guilty to one murder conspiracy and a part of the deal was that the Feds wouldn't pursue charges against him in the other (Sangiuolo) murder. Those Genovese guys really know how to work the courts.

An article from the NY Post about his sentencing lays out this (probably bullshit) dramatized scenario:

"After the murder, Palumbo hugged and kissed admitted triggerman John “Johnny Balls” Leto, then celebrated Sangiuolo’s death by dancing, drinking and eating caviar at Zilber’s Rasputin nightclub in Brighton Beach, Weitzman said."

Picturing Palumbo wearing that black and white striped polo he was photograpphed in, looking like a Foot Locker employee, dancing to some Russian folk tunes and eating caviar is kind of hilarious...

I believe Alite has mentioned Johnny Balls Leto a couple of times on his podcast. I'm like 99% sure he has said that Leto lives in Freehold NJ area and runs a construction company and makes a lot of money.

Also, DiLorenzo sounds like he would have been pegged for the Admin at one point in time. The guy had a lot going on and went back in the family a ridiculously long time. D'Arco claims that he lost his mind and started talking reckless, and that's why he was clipped, but I'm guessing and speculating that it was probably much deeper than that. Just speculation but I'm wondering if DiLorenzo was trying to get something going. You never ever really heard about any sort of power struggles / cold wars with the Genovese but surely Gigante had to have his personal rivals?

It was Palumbo that was Andy Gerardo's nephew...I was trying to remember off the top of my head and got mixed up with Danny Pagano...

They were not related at all. Andy Gerardo´s nephew is Anthony Palomba who resides in Clifton, New Jersey (originally from Newark) wife´s name is Stephanie. To my knowledge, Anthony Palumbo (the Genovese captain) never lived in Newark, NJ. He´s a Bronx guy. Not sure where Palumbo being Gerardo´s nephew originally comes from?

[eboli]

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/ap ... 80/596920/
Could be wrong, but I interpreted "Could you get us the minutes?" as meaning could Baratta provide the Genovese people with the minutes from the trial where DeSimone was a witness. Since Baratta said he could, it convinced them to hit DeSimone.

In an affidavit D'Arco elaborated that the Genovese guys were ready to go into a 'huddle' before Generoso made the ruling on the spot, but considering what we know, your read on the situation makes sense.

[Browniety86]

With Tony D being an acting capo, he had the luxury of being direct with the boss? Or did he actually break protocol and should have reported the transgression to his official captain? Chin seemed like such a stickler for Cosa Nostra rules...

Palumbo was reported to have been a Gigante loyalist. Very close with Cirillo and Pagano, who were direct with Chin and were important pieces of his power base.

The more and more I read, I've really underestimated how much of a power Danny Pagano is in that family...he was relation to Andy Gerardo if I remember correctly

I thought it was Palumbo that was related to Andy Gerard? His nephew IIRC?

Is Palumbo out? I'm guessing he's been out for a minute, because he was sentenced a little over 10 years ago to...10 years. Talk about a fuckin sweetheart deal. Plead guilty to one murder conspiracy and a part of the deal was that the Feds wouldn't pursue charges against him in the other (Sangiuolo) murder. Those Genovese guys really know how to work the courts.

An article from the NY Post about his sentencing lays out this (probably bullshit) dramatized scenario:

"After the murder, Palumbo hugged and kissed admitted triggerman John “Johnny Balls” Leto, then celebrated Sangiuolo’s death by dancing, drinking and eating caviar at Zilber’s Rasputin nightclub in Brighton Beach, Weitzman said."

Picturing Palumbo wearing that black and white striped polo he was photograpphed in, looking like a Foot Locker employee, dancing to some Russian folk tunes and eating caviar is kind of hilarious...

I believe Alite has mentioned Johnny Balls Leto a couple of times on his podcast. I'm like 99% sure he has said that Leto lives in Freehold NJ area and runs a construction company and makes a lot of money.

Also, DiLorenzo sounds like he would have been pegged for the Admin at one point in time. The guy had a lot going on and went back in the family a ridiculously long time. D'Arco claims that he lost his mind and started talking reckless, and that's why he was clipped, but I'm guessing and speculating that it was probably much deeper than that. Just speculation but I'm wondering if DiLorenzo was trying to get something going. You never ever really heard about any sort of power struggles / cold wars with the Genovese but surely Gigante had to have his personal rivals?

It was Palumbo that was Andy Gerardo's nephew...I was trying to remember off the top of my head and got mixed up with Danny Pagano...

They were not related at all. Andy Gerardo´s nephew is Anthony Palomba who resides in Clifton, New Jersey (originally from Newark) wife´s name is Stephanie. To my knowledge, Anthony Palumbo (the Genovese captain) never lived in Newark, NJ. He´s a Bronx guy. Not sure where Palumbo being Gerardo´s nephew originally comes from?

I thought I had read it somewhere before. I very well could be mistaken.

[HairyKnuckles]

With Tony D being an acting capo, he had the luxury of being direct with the boss? Or did he actually break protocol and should have reported the transgression to his official captain? Chin seemed like such a stickler for Cosa Nostra rules...

Palumbo was reported to have been a Gigante loyalist. Very close with Cirillo and Pagano, who were direct with Chin and were important pieces of his power base.

The more and more I read, I've really underestimated how much of a power Danny Pagano is in that family...he was relation to Andy Gerardo if I remember correctly

I thought it was Palumbo that was related to Andy Gerard? His nephew IIRC?

Is Palumbo out? I'm guessing he's been out for a minute, because he was sentenced a little over 10 years ago to...10 years. Talk about a fuckin sweetheart deal. Plead guilty to one murder conspiracy and a part of the deal was that the Feds wouldn't pursue charges against him in the other (Sangiuolo) murder. Those Genovese guys really know how to work the courts.

An article from the NY Post about his sentencing lays out this (probably bullshit) dramatized scenario:

"After the murder, Palumbo hugged and kissed admitted triggerman John “Johnny Balls” Leto, then celebrated Sangiuolo’s death by dancing, drinking and eating caviar at Zilber’s Rasputin nightclub in Brighton Beach, Weitzman said."

Picturing Palumbo wearing that black and white striped polo he was photograpphed in, looking like a Foot Locker employee, dancing to some Russian folk tunes and eating caviar is kind of hilarious...

I believe Alite has mentioned Johnny Balls Leto a couple of times on his podcast. I'm like 99% sure he has said that Leto lives in Freehold NJ area and runs a construction company and makes a lot of money.

Also, DiLorenzo sounds like he would have been pegged for the Admin at one point in time. The guy had a lot going on and went back in the family a ridiculously long time. D'Arco claims that he lost his mind and started talking reckless, and that's why he was clipped, but I'm guessing and speculating that it was probably much deeper than that. Just speculation but I'm wondering if DiLorenzo was trying to get something going. You never ever really heard about any sort of power struggles / cold wars with the Genovese but surely Gigante had to have his personal rivals?

It was Palumbo that was Andy Gerardo's nephew...I was trying to remember off the top of my head and got mixed up with Danny Pagano...

They were not related at all. Andy Gerardo´s nephew is Anthony Palomba who resides in Clifton, New Jersey (originally from Newark) wife´s name is Stephanie. To my knowledge, Anthony Palumbo (the Genovese captain) never lived in Newark, NJ. He´s a Bronx guy. Not sure where Palumbo being Gerardo´s nephew originally comes from?

I thought I had read it somewhere before. I very well could be mistaken.

I did some digging and found an article where it says that Palumbo is Gerardo´s nephew. So possibly I could have been wrong. I find it weird though.

"Gerardo, who splits his time between New Jersey and Florida, denied his house was used for illegal activity. The 78-year-old said did not even know the defendants, except for Palumbo, who is his nephew."

https://www.nj.com/news/2009/02/3_nj_me ... ed_in.html

The question is did Gerardo say Palumbo is his nephew, or was it just something the reporter thought at the time?

In Andy Gerardo´s obituary, it clearly says nephew Anthony Palomba.

"ndrew "Andy" Gerardo, 81, passed away at his home in Aventura, Fla., on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012. Funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday from the LaMonica Memorial Home, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, N.J. Mass is at 11 a.m. at St. Lucy's Church, Newark, N.J. Entombment will be in Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum, East Hanover, N.J. Visitation was on Wednesday and will be on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Born in Newark to the late Nicholas and Josephine (nee Mauriello), Mr. Gerardo had lived between Florida and New Jersey for the past 20 years. He owned and operated several businesses, Antone Fashions, Lectricians, and TNT Contracting and Trucking Company. Mr. Gerardo is survived by his daughter, Nicole Gerardo-Benevento, and her husband, Nick, and sister, Marie Gerardo-Iannacone and her husband, Angelo. He was a dear uncle to JoAnne Polonsky, Anthony Palomba and his wife, Stephanie, Nicholas Gerardo, and Mary Agnes Rossi and her husband, Jerry, and a great-uncle of Antonio Gerardo Palomba, Peter and Kaity Rossi. He was stepfather to Steven Frankel and Michelle Savy, and dearly beloved by a special group of men who were the most loyal of friends. He was predeceased by his sisters, Rose L. Gerardo and Angie Palomba, and brothers, Carmine and Jerry Gerardo. Mr. Gerardo naturally exuded elegance and grace, evident to all who knew him. Donations in memory of Mr. Gerardo may be made to St. Gerard, c/o St. Lucy's Church, 118 Seventh Ave., Newark, N.J. 07104."

Published by The Star-Ledger from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2012.

[richard_belding]

Interesting is Joe Ida's seemingly clear role in the Dilorenzo murder yet never being charged.

FBI documents have him taking part in the killing on his brothers orders, with more physical evidence linking him to the crime than Jimmy of course- who was sentenced to life for the murder and other crimes. After the DiLorenzo hit, Joey lost his hat as he ran through a concrete birdbath and scaled a fence to get away, to find that his getaway driver had left. He then made four collect calls to brother Jimmy's home, the last one within miles from the murder scene. Eventually Joey got in touch with associate Philip LaPorta, who was in on the planning but not the killing. LaPorta drove to New Jersey, picked up Joey and drove him home (FBI affidavit). During the ride, Joey, who was "covered with blood," told LaPorta he had "strangled and pistol whipped DiLorenzo and shot him once in the face." (LaPorta began cooperating in the early 1990's) The feds took blood and hair samples from Joey but failed to come up with enough evidence to charge him without having to use LaPorta, who apparently "had too much baggage to be used as a witness."