The role of "il messaggero" (messenger) isn't uncommon in discussions of the Genovese family but like many other details related to Genovese inner-workings, I haven't seen a lot of concrete info on it.
From Al D'Arco's testimony:
- It shouldn't be thought of as a formal rank or official title in the family, but a designated point of contact. Because we lack concrete examples and an in-depth explanation of the role, it could very well be held by a member of any rank within the organization.The Genovese Family has always had an extremely close relationship with the Chicago Family. The Genovese Family is the only LCN family I have ever known to have a member designated as "il messaggero," a messenger between the Genovese and Chicago Families.
- D'Arco thinking this was unique to Genovese/Chicago might have more to do with the time he was active, as fewer national relationships were intact by the early 1990s. There is plenty of evidence other families had similar arrangements around the country before and even during D'Arco's time but he doesn't appear to have known.
- Al D'Arco was close to Genovese members going back decades, but was particularly close to captain/consig Jimmy Ida in the years before he flipped. He was very specific about the term "il messaggero" and its purpose between Chicago/Genovese but unfortunately didn't name anyone in that position.
- An NYC Lucchese member told the FBI how Willie Moretti was the "Eastern representative of the Ricca family" who met with Johnny Roselli, possibly in this context.
- Antiliar and Villain pointed out Genovese member Tony "Goebbels" Ricci served in a similar capacity between the Genovese and Chicago for decades. Reports describe him carrying messages and attending meetings between members of these families.
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Other possibilities:
- Saverio Pollaccia could have been an early one. Traveled to Chicago multiple times in the 1920s and became Masseria's consigliere. Killed on a trip to Chicago with Vito Genovese in 1932. High-ranking member with an ongoing relationship to Chicago makes him a candidate.
- Al Capone was a Genovese capodecina living in Chicago before he became boss, so he could have served as a designated liaison between the two families around 1928-1931. Frankie Yale also had ongoing contact with Chicago before that.
- Michael Genovese is listed as "messenger" under his brother Vito on the Valachi chart. It's the English version of "messaggero" but could just be a reference to helping his jailed brother send messages. A 1964 FBI report notes that Mike Genovese took a trip to Kansas City and they were trying to determine if he was also visiting Chicago but the FBI couldn't verify he made any reservations in Chicago. Interesting either way that he was a "messenger" who traveled to KC, a city closely connected to Chicago.
- Pussy Russo was moved from the Boiardo crew and placed direct with Vito Genovese by the 1950s. As Genovese's aide, Russo was named the Genovese family's designated liaison to a number of US families and he continued in this capacity until his murder in 1979. One family of note was New England, whose relationship to the Genovese went deep. No indication he held this role with Chicago but he was recorded in the 1960s saying Paul Ricca was boss "behind the scenes" and discussing how unlike his national peers Ricca was not Sicilian, showing he was familiar with the Chicago landscape. Russo's mentor Richie Boiardo was raised in Chicago and had contact with alleged Capone associates in NJ.
- Dominick Cirillo's name was thrown around online years ago as the "messaggero" when Gigante was on the street but I don't know what the basis is or if it's just Wiki nonsense. He came up around the Paganos under Tommy Eboli whose son Louis was with the Chicago family.
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Some of the Genovese/Chicago relationships are no doubt simple friendship and general association, not necessarily evidence of a "messaggero" relationship. There are plenty of connections between them, though, and we can't rule out a "messaggero" arrangement either.
Given we still struggle to accurately identify the official admin ranks in the Genovese family and Chicago during certain years, identifying a designated messenger between the families is that much more difficult. Someone carrying messages between the secretive leadership of the Genovese and Chicago families is the epitome of "need to know".
I'm hoping some guys like Eboli, HairyKnuckles, and Wiseguy can add to this as they've looked into the Genovese family much deeper.
