Tommy Lucchese the most underrated LCN boss?

[B.]

Joe Bonanno's book goes on and on about Lucchese's influence. He said Lucchese was the power behind Carlo Gambino and when Lucchese got sick Gambino heavily dialed back his influence over politics.

I've never known Lucchese to be particularly overlooked or "underrated". If it applies to anyone, it's Tom Gagliano. He was an enigma when you consider he was a business partner of Giuseppe Morello, main player in the 1930-1931 war, and boss for two decades.

One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.

Another Lucchese power who is mostly overlooked is Steve Rannelli. He was killed early on but Joe Bonanno named him as one of the top three leaders in the Family along with Gagliano and Lucchese.

[InCamelot]

One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.

They didn't have to clear who they were making with the Commission first?
And was there indication that the family actually functioned that way? Surprised the Genovese didn't do this.

[B.]

One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.

They didn't have to clear who they were making with the Commission first?
And was there indication that the family actually functioned that way? Surprised the Genovese didn't do this.

They would have passed the list, but he meant formal introductions (i.e. "this is Carmine, Amico Nostra"). Not that they never did it, only that they avoided doing it if it wasn't necessary.

The lists would be more secure since they were passed between captains.

[InCamelot]

One of the interesting aspects of the Luccheses is their secrecy. Taglialatela said the Lucchese Family had a guideline about not introducing its members to the other Families (so did the DeCavalcantes according to LaRasso). Interesting they kept this up even though they didn't care about sticking to their Sicilian/Corleonesi roots.

They didn't have to clear who they were making with the Commission first?
And was there indication that the family actually functioned that way? Surprised the Genovese didn't do this.

They would have passed the list, but he meant formal introductions (i.e. "this is Carmine, Amico Nostra"). Not that they never did it, only that they avoided doing it if it wasn't necessary.

The lists would be more secure since they were passed between captains.

Fascinating. Any idea when this Lucchese practice might've ended? If at all?

[B.]

Nobody else has mentioned it so no idea but it makes sense given not many members were well-known to other informants.

[aleksandrored]

I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.

[Grouchy Sinatra]

Tangential question. What exactly was the relation between Vicent Rao and the Raos from the restaurant? Was there a direct and substantial relation or were they just cousins of some sort going back to Corleone? Additionally, was it actually the case that Joe Rao of the Genovese fam was Vincent Rao's brother?

According to the restaurant's website the family is from Polla, which is about 90 miles from Naples. I would guess Rao is just a popular name all over Italy, and it's just coincidence.

[PolackTony]

Tangential question. What exactly was the relation between Vicent Rao and the Raos from the restaurant? Was there a direct and substantial relation or were they just cousins of some sort going back to Corleone? Additionally, was it actually the case that Joe Rao of the Genovese fam was Vincent Rao's brother?

According to the restaurant's website the family is from Polla, which is about 90 miles from Naples. I would guess Rao is just a popular name all over Italy, and it's just coincidence.

Good catch. Rao is not common all over Italy, just in the south, and it’s more common in Sicily than Campania, though it is present in the latter. I know the family of an old guy from the neighborhood who was close friends with the Rao family, and he was Napolitan’, so that would make sense.

[PolackTony]

I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.

I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?

[CabriniGreen]

I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.

I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?

I've always thought it was Detroit.... also..Luchesse might have smuggled opium from Mexico, and created a heroin refinery... read it in a book about the FBN....

[bababooey]

I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.

I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?

Joseph Abate one of the original bosses of NJ for the Lucchese family was an enforcer for Al Capone in the 1920s. So id love to see what connections they have to the city if any.

[InCamelot]

Nobody else has mentioned it so no idea but it makes sense given not many members were well-known to other informants.

By the way, was it just legend or actually suggested by FBI intelligence that New Orleans didn't have to clear their proposed members with The Commission first?

[InCamelot]

I think the Lucchese are underrated, I see more people talking about the other families, with guys like Luciano, Costello, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, Galante, Persico and etc... I think the Lucchese are very discreet and less known in general. Until the 90's with Amuso and Casso.

I feel like most discussion of the Luccheses, apart from some attention to the Vario crew and the NJ faction, I see is focused on the Vic and Gas era forward. I just haven’t seen as much of the deep dives with them as I’ve seen with the other NY fams and I find them one of the more interesting, especially for those earlier decades.

One thing that I would personally love to know more about was their narcotics links with Chicago. I believe that Frank Rappa, a Sicilian guy who was a major narcotics trafficker for Chicago and liaison to the Sicilian/Italian mafia, was connected to the Luccheses? Maybe their zip faction?

Was Jimmy Lapietra also connected to the Luccheses?

I'd also love to know more about Tommy Brown's history and connection to California, especially if he intersected with any Outfit members since Chicago was heavily present out there. More than anything I guess I'd like to figure out how Lucchese's California connections withered away when Corallo took the throne.