Gangland news 22nd feb 2018

[SonnyBlackstein]

I think we could be getting off track here about Esposito being in charge or a member of a Jersey crew.

Esposito was found with a list of guys from Jersey.
Considering we dont know the purpos or detail of that list there could be an easy explanation. We know that lists are circulated between families and crews to vet potential members. We also know that Esposito took over Johnny Sausages Barbato's unions. Johnny Sausage's crews are Brooklyn and Staten Island and possibly elsewhere. Now Esposito himself lives in Manhatten.
It could therfor be likely that as Esposito has taken over Barbato's unions, he's taken over his decina as well and the list of Jersey guys was a list circulated between the capo's to vet potential membership. Esposito could even be a Capo of a Manhatten crew with the same scenario a possiblilty.

Another possibility taking into consideration DiLeonardo's comments recently about the consig being a liason with other families is that he could have that list basis holding that position.

A point to hesitate about Esposito holding too high a position in the family is that the Feds usually carpet bomb indictments with the position if they arrest a ranking member. That they havent done so here is cause for interest. Either they dont actually know or he's simply a powerful soldier and they want to leave out the term 'soldier' as 'high ranking/influential member' has much better cache.

[moneyman]

Anthony Palumbo was called the "Acting Boss of NJ" in 2006. As I understand it he was the conduit between the NJ crews and Genovese leadership at the time and was a close associate of Daniel Leo.

I've always wondered about the day to day of the NJ Genovese and their dealings with the administration. The NJ Genovese presence is so large it seems unlikely that one person like Palumbo or Esposito would speak for the entire NJ contingent.

I don't recall the "acting boss of New Jersey" title. However, Palumbo was an acting captain and the 2009 indictment involving both him, Danny Leo, and others said "In 2006, Daniel Leo placed long-time Soldier and Acting Capo Anthony Palumbo in charge of the New Jersey operations of the Genovese Family."

There is/was the question of what exactly this entailed. Was he simply the go-between for the Jersey crews and the leadership in New York? Did he have more oversight and authority than that? That was never specified as far as I can recall.

Sorry I shouldn't have said Acting Boss, I meant to convey that he was in charge of NJ operations.

[moneyman]

"Now Esposito himself lives in Manhattan." @Sonny For what it's worth Palumbo also lived in Manhattan when he was in charge of NJ operations.

[SonnyBlackstein]

"Now Esposito himself lives in Manhattan." @Sonny For what it's worth Palumbo also lived in Manhattan when he was in charge of NJ operations.

Good point MM.

To be clear I wasn't saying living in Manhatten precluded him from being a Jersey Capo, but it does leave it less likely. Or to rephrase, more likely he's a NY skipper than a Jersey one, considering his base. There are of course exceptions.

[Stroccos]

"Now Esposito himself lives in Manhattan." @Sonny For what it's worth Palumbo also lived in Manhattan when he was in charge of NJ operations.

Good point MM.

To be clear I wasn't saying living in Manhatten precluded him from being a Jersey Capo, but it does leave it less likely. Or to rephrase, more likely he's a NY skipper than a Jersey one, considering his base. There are of course exceptions.

Esposito thought he was consigliere ? For what it’s worth a house in Jersey was put up for his 500k bail

[Sonny Black]

thanks for posting

[Wiseguy]

I think we could be getting off track here about Esposito being in charge or a member of a Jersey crew.

Esposito was found with a list of guys from Jersey.
Considering we dont know the purpos or detail of that list there could be an easy explanation. We know that lists are circulated between families and crews to vet potential members. We also know that Esposito took over Johnny Sausages Barbato's unions. Johnny Sausage's crews are Brooklyn and Staten Island and possibly elsewhere. Now Esposito himself lives in Manhatten.
It could therfor be likely that as Esposito has taken over Barbato's unions, he's taken over his decina as well and the list of Jersey guys was a list circulated between the capo's to vet potential membership. Esposito could even be a Capo of a Manhatten crew with the same scenario a possiblilty.

Another possibility taking into consideration DiLeonardo's comments recently about the consig being a liason with other families is that he could have that list basis holding that position.

A point to hesitate about Esposito holding too high a position in the family is that the Feds usually carpet bomb indictments with the position if they arrest a ranking member. That they havent done so here is cause for interest. Either they dont actually know or he's simply a powerful soldier and they want to leave out the term 'soldier' as 'high ranking/influential member' has much better cache.

About a week ago, I read (some report I think, I didn't think to keep it but am trying to find it) that said soldier Frank Giovinco "answered to John Barbato" and had been originally "groomed by Benny Eggs Mangano." Barbato and Mangano both originally came from Vincent Gigante's Greenwich Village crew, if I'm not mistaken. And, of course, Giovinco and Gigante's son Vincent Esposito were involved in the waste hauling rackets before the big bust in the 1990's.

In 2012, you have Genovese soldier John Fazio Sr. and John Fazio Jr., both officials of UFCW Local 348-S, indicted. Evidence included surveillance of regular "face-to-face" meetings between Fazio Jr. and Genovese captain John Barbato.

In 2018, Vincent Esposito (identified as an "influential and high-ranking member") and Giovinco are among several Genovese members and associates charged in an indictment involving UFCW Locals 1D and 2D. Vincent Fyfe, president of Local 2D and grandson of Vincent Gigante and nephew of Esposito, was originally a target of the investigation before cooperating. That year, Gangland News reported Fyfe and John Fazio Jr. were close friends, and both of them were also associates of John Barbato.

Given all the interconnections here, it all seems to have been the Barbato crew. He'll be 88 this year, which is getting up there even for that family. Seems possible Esposito (like Giovinco apparently) is at least a member of that crew; perhaps is/was acting captain. Just my guess.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Given all the interconnections here, it all seems to have been the Barbato crew. He'll be 88 this year, which is getting up there even for that family. Seems possible Esposito (like Giovinco apparently) is at least a member of that crew; perhaps is/was acting captain. Just my guess.

+1

[JohnnyS]

Good post wiseguy. I found this interesting from Esposito's sentencing (I posted the full document in the files section not long ago)

"While other co-defendants can be heard on wiretaps and consensual recordings referring to their need to adhere to directives “above their pay grade” or from the “higher-ups” in the Genovese Crime Family, Esposito appeared to act from a position of relative independence. Indeed, on one May 25, 2016 recording, a co-defendant can be heard explaining the power held by Esposito as a made member of the mafia and an influential decision-maker in contrast to Frank Giovinco, Steven Arena, and the others involved in the offense."

[Wiseguy]

Good post wiseguy. I found this interesting from Esposito's sentencing (I posted the full document in the files section not long ago)

"While other co-defendants can be heard on wiretaps and consensual recordings referring to their need to adhere to directives “above their pay grade” or from the “higher-ups” in the Genovese Crime Family, Esposito appeared to act from a position of relative independence. Indeed, on one May 25, 2016 recording, a co-defendant can be heard explaining the power held by Esposito as a made member of the mafia and an influential decision-maker in contrast to Frank Giovinco, Steven Arena, and the others involved in the offense."

Good find. Good grief, the guy already has millions in property and up until at least 2019 he also has a six-figure no-show job.

Looks like Ironbound Express is owned by Andrew Gigante. It was listed among his assets in a 2002 article:

$200,000 in bank accounts
401(k) plan
$40,000 in stock
3 pieces of property with total equity worth $3.1 million
Home in NJ valued at $2.5 million
Jersey shore home and undeveloped 2 acre parcel of land in NJ valued at $1.1 million
Business expenses: $200,000 to $250,000 payroll for his own businesses, Ironbound Intermodal Industries and Ironbound Express, based in Newark


Reminds me of that Sopranos scene where Johnny Sac's lawyer reads him the government's listing of his assets.

"The vintage Wurlitzer? They go through my fucking sock drawer?"

[jmack]

Good post wiseguy. I found this interesting from Esposito's sentencing (I posted the full document in the files section not long ago)

"While other co-defendants can be heard on wiretaps and consensual recordings referring to their need to adhere to directives “above their pay grade” or from the “higher-ups” in the Genovese Crime Family, Esposito appeared to act from a position of relative independence. Indeed, on one May 25, 2016 recording, a co-defendant can be heard explaining the power held by Esposito as a made member of the mafia and an influential decision-maker in contrast to Frank Giovinco, Steven Arena, and the others involved in the offense."

Good find. Good grief, the guy already has millions in property and up until at least 2019 he also has a six-figure no-show job.

Looks like Ironbound Express is owned by Andrew Gigante. It was listed among his assets in a 2002 article:

$200,000 in bank accounts
401(k) plan
$40,000 in stock
3 pieces of property with total equity worth $3.1 million
Home in NJ valued at $2.5 million
Jersey shore home and undeveloped 2 acre parcel of land in NJ valued at $1.1 million
Business expenses: $200,000 to $250,000 payroll for his own businesses, Ironbound Intermodal Industries and Ironbound Express, based in Newark


Reminds me of that Sopranos scene where Johnny Sac's lawyer reads him the government's listing of his assets.

"The vintage Wurlitzer? They go through my fucking sock drawer?"

Is this all part of your plan, Ron? To make me so depressed that I hang myself?

[SonnyBlackstein]

Looks like Ironbound Express is owned by Andrew Gigante. It was listed among his assets in a 2002 article:

3 pieces of property with total equity worth $3.1 million
Home in NJ valued at $2.5 million
Jersey shore home and undeveloped 2 acre parcel of land in NJ valued at $1.1 million

Imagine what this is worth today.