Sicilian Gambino / knickerbocker pizza connection

[JeremyTheJew]

I was listening to OG podcast and Scott and Jimmy interviewed Frank Panessa who as we know went undercover before brasco and really worked into the Sicilian mob and there web

Anyways… while describing the whole pizza connection knickerbocker Avenue situation with Cesar bonventre eventually becoming a self proclaimed boss like galante had so they hit him

Panessa made a comment saying that it all ran through John Gambino / Cherry hill Gambinos…

Sooo is this a direct connection of the Gambino and Bonanno zips working together?

[CabriniGreen]

I was listening to OG podcast and Scott and Jimmy interviewed Frank Panessa who as we know went undercover before brasco and really worked into the Sicilian mob and there web

Anyways… while describing the whole pizza connection knickerbocker Avenue situation with Cesar bonventre eventually becoming a self proclaimed boss like galante had so they hit him

Panessa made a comment saying that it all ran through John Gambino / Cherry hill Gambinos…

Sooo is this a direct connection of the Gambino and Bonanno zips working together?

Which pod is this again? It was good info?

[OcSleeper]

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lyPDa ... =copy-link

[JeremyTheJew]

I was listening to OG podcast and Scott and Jimmy interviewed Frank Panessa who as we know went undercover before brasco and really worked into the Sicilian mob and there web

Anyways… while describing the whole pizza connection knickerbocker Avenue situation with Cesar bonventre eventually becoming a self proclaimed boss like galante had so they hit him

Panessa made a comment saying that it all ran through John Gambino / Cherry hill Gambinos…

Sooo is this a direct connection of the Gambino and Bonanno zips working together?

Which pod is this again? It was good info?

I’m big into the podcasts bc I listen to them at work and omw etc.

So ya I love it. It’s Scott and jimmy buccellattos podcast Original Gangsters . And that episode is there latest with Frank Panessa. They had a earlier episode about him but this one I thought was better.


No one with info on how the 2 separate zip crews ran together?

[jimmyb]

hey Jeremy thank you for the kinds words about the podcast. Btw: Dm me. I'm back in Detroit and back on the Black Hand, obviously.

Anyhow, I think this was a political situation. Bonventre had his own base of power and wealth, and was not a Massino loyalist. I don't think Bonventre was plotting or anything, it was just Massino's paranoid hubris. He did not like one of his top captains having independent stature, in other words. Massino viewed the Zips as a potential threat.

[CabriniGreen]

I was listening to OG podcast and Scott and Jimmy interviewed Frank Panessa who as we know went undercover before brasco and really worked into the Sicilian mob and there web

Anyways… while describing the whole pizza connection knickerbocker Avenue situation with Cesar bonventre eventually becoming a self proclaimed boss like galante had so they hit him

Panessa made a comment saying that it all ran through John Gambino / Cherry hill Gambinos…

Sooo is this a direct connection of the Gambino and Bonanno zips working together?

Which pod is this again? It was good info?

I’m big into the podcasts bc I listen to them at work and omw etc.

So ya I love it. It’s Scott and jimmy buccellattos podcast Original Gangsters . And that episode is there latest with Frank Panessa. They had a earlier episode about him but this one I thought was better.


No one with info on how the 2 separate zip crews ran together?

What's good Jeremy.... how goes business? The shows? Busy? You gotta DM me some of your stuff, music, pods, I'll check out anything you got going...

On the Sicilians......

I actually find it pretty political. I too, see John Gambino as the converging point in the US for the heroin shipments. He was running point, and at the top as far as supply.

The Gambinos, and Inzerillos had a presence in the source countries, mainly Venezuela. The Gambinos had American contacts, family within the NY families. This gave them the upper hand. The significance being that, they seemed to almost be granted permission to establish a NY decina, even if unofficially. This is basically confirmed by the New Connection indictment, that the Inzerillos operate as some kinda sovereign entity in exile....

The Caruanas- Cuntreras were also present in Venezuela, but didnt have the extensive NY ties that the Gambino- Inzerillo group did. So they end up in Canada, but were never really creatures of the American mafia, they were more like the progenitors of modern day, what I'll call, " Corporatized Mafia", less reliance on territory as far as extortions, and more focused on contraband, and the establishment of criminal colonies. Their link to the streets, the manifestation of their power in the in Canada seems to have been by proxy through the Rizzutos. Which was facilitated by Galante. They seemed to be a conduit of supply for the NY Sicilians led by Catalano.

I believe the Bonnanos were the trusted NY distributors, but I also think its important to keep in mind the Bonnanos had no direct affiliates in the source countries like the Gambinos do.

Now, this is a complex, and kinda controversial statement, because the Rizzutos were in Venezuela too. And they were technically Bonnanos, even if they had disputes, like consulting Buscetta about their affiliation. I've come to see them as the junior partners in the arrangement. I dont believe they ever really controlled the contacts, I think the Caruanas allowed them access to them. Think Frank Cali arranging contacts and coke shipments for Nicci and Mandala on behalf of the reconstituted Cupola. How? He was never in Venezuela, right? But his relatives were, I believe he was allowed access to the Inzerillos contacts. I think this was the same for Niccolo and the Caruanas- Cuntreras. Difference being, the Inzerillos never lost a huge load of coke they, possibly, didnt pay back. I've always found it interesting that at one time, Ndranghetas Cosa Nostra contact was a Spatola.


Now, why do I think this? Because after 1994, and the Caruanas take that huge loss on the coke shipment, it's like the seminal event in the rise of the Ndrangheta, and mark's their immediate decline. By the early 2000s, the Rizzutos seem to be marginalized in thier ability to source coke, and started getting in bed with the Colluccios, and others. Doing business, through another party, via the Mexicans when you had a direct line to South America is a step DOWN in the drug world. It was a clear decline, in my opinion.

I'm really scrating the surface, it's so much shit going on here... I'd love to hear any thoughts...

[JeremyTheJew]

I was listening to OG podcast and Scott and Jimmy interviewed Frank Panessa who as we know went undercover before brasco and really worked into the Sicilian mob and there web

Anyways… while describing the whole pizza connection knickerbocker Avenue situation with Cesar bonventre eventually becoming a self proclaimed boss like galante had so they hit him

Panessa made a comment saying that it all ran through John Gambino / Cherry hill Gambinos…

Sooo is this a direct connection of the Gambino and Bonanno zips working together?

Which pod is this again? It was good info?

I’m big into the podcasts bc I listen to them at work and omw etc.

So ya I love it. It’s Scott and jimmy buccellattos podcast Original Gangsters . And that episode is there latest with Frank Panessa. They had a earlier episode about him but this one I thought was better.


No one with info on how the 2 separate zip crews ran together?

What's good Jeremy.... how goes business? The shows? Busy? You gotta DM me some of your stuff, music, pods, I'll check out anything you got going...

On the Sicilians......

I actually find it pretty political. I too, see John Gambino as the converging point in the US for the heroin shipments. He was running point, and at the top as far as supply.

The Gambinos, and Inzerillos had a presence in the source countries, mainly Venezuela. The Gambinos had American contacts, family within the NY families. This gave them the upper hand. The significance being that, they seemed to almost be granted permission to establish a NY decina, even if unofficially. This is basically confirmed by the New Connection indictment, that the Inzerillos operate as some kinda sovereign entity in exile....

The Caruanas- Cuntreras were also present in Venezuela, but didnt have the extensive NY ties that the Gambino- Inzerillo group did. So they end up in Canada, but were never really creatures of the American mafia, they were more like the progenitors of modern day, what I'll call, " Corporatized Mafia", less reliance on territory as far as extortions, and more focused on contraband, and the establishment of criminal colonies. Their link to the streets, the manifestation of their power in the in Canada seems to have been by proxy through the Rizzutos. Which was facilitated by Galante. They seemed to be a conduit of supply for the NY Sicilians led by Catalano.

I believe the Bonnanos were the trusted NY distributors, but I also think its important to keep in mind the Bonnanos had no direct affiliates in the source countries like the Gambinos do.

Now, this is a complex, and kinda controversial statement, because the Rizzutos were in Venezuela too. And they were technically Bonnanos, even if they had disputes, like consulting Buscetta about their affiliation. I've come to see them as the junior partners in the arrangement. I dont believe they ever really controlled the contacts, I think the Caruanas allowed them access to them. Think Frank Cali arranging contacts and coke shipments for Nicci and Mandala on behalf of the reconstituted Cupola. How? He was never in Venezuela, right? But his relatives were, I believe he was allowed access to the Inzerillos contacts. I think this was the same for Niccolo and the Caruanas- Cuntreras. Difference being, the Inzerillos never lost a huge load of coke they, possibly, didnt pay back. I've always found it interesting that at one time, Ndranghetas Cosa Nostra contact was a Spatola.


Now, why do I think this? Because after 1994, and the Caruanas take that huge loss on the coke shipment, it's like the seminal event in the rise of the Ndrangheta, and mark's their immediate decline. By the early 2000s, the Rizzutos seem to be marginalized in thier ability to source coke, and started getting in bed with the Colluccios, and others. Doing business, through another party, via the Mexicans when you had a direct line to South America is a step DOWN in the drug world. It was a clear decline, in my opinion.

I'm really scrating the surface, it's so much shit going on here... I'd love to hear any thoughts...

Music scene is great. Been touring and doing too shows.


So I would agree with most of what your saying…
But one thing id like to point out is that most of what you broke down was post pizza connection case

But I’m actually wondering more about DURING the pizza connection days….

Was there separate pipeline???
The bonannos went threw Badalamenti for there connect

But like I said Frank Panessa said JOHN GAMBINO was over seer of the PIZZA CONNECTION

this is a huge connection if you ask me bc he is obviously in the Gambinos and this also goes back to the claim that PATSY CONTE got a cut of everything also

Basically the Gambinos were secretly running everything when it comes to dope while setting the rules for everyone else not to do it!!

[jimmyb]

Hey, Jeremy

It definitely seems John Gambino was the most significant Mafioso facilitating traffic across the Atlantic. Nevertheless, I believe the Bonannos were buying from Gambino AND had their own supply sources. We know there was a morphine lap in Alcamo run by the Rimi clan. Meanwhile, Nino Buccellato owned a cannery, and they were sending cans of tomato sauce to the Bonannos. Nino Buccellato was related to the Rimis. Buccellato was killed in 81 and Leonardo Rimi was killed in 84 (i believe). Eventually the Corleonesi took over the entire pipeline. They were still supplying Gambino, but I'm not sure what that meant for the Bonannos.

[stubbs]

John Gambino was related to the powerful Palermo mafia families who, at the time, were the most powerful leaders of the Sicilian Mafia. Like, wasn’t he related to Bontade and Inzerillo by blood? So, I wouldn’t be shocked that Sal Catalano ran things for the Bonannos, but still had to go through John Gambino for things as he was related to the bosses in Sicily.

And even if Catalano was close to Tano Badalamenti, who himself was on the cupola, wasn’t Badalamenti not as powerful as Bontade? Or, is my history mixed up?

[jimmyb]

John Gambino was related to the powerful Palermo mafia families who, at the time, were the most powerful leaders of the Sicilian Mafia. Like, wasn’t he related to Bontade and Inzerillo by blood? So, I wouldn’t be shocked that Sal Catalano ran things for the Bonannos, but still had to go through John Gambino for things as he was related to the bosses in Sicily.

And even if Catalano was close to Tano Badalamenti, who himself was on the cupola, wasn’t Badalamenti not as powerful as Bontade? Or, is my history mixed up?

Right, John Gambino was related to the Inzerillo family. It's significant to point out John was protected by Paul Castellano and the American LCN Gambino Family. The Corleonesi and their allies were whacking everyone out. Because he was backed by Castellano, John was able to negotiate the safe passage of some Inzerillo family members. Otherwise they might have been killed too.

Seems to me Badalamenti, Inzerillo, and Bontade were equals. Badalamenti had a leadership position, in terms of the Cupola, but Inzerillo and Bontade were also major players in the Sicilian underworld.

[B.]

Some great stuff on this came out in one of the Italian investigations. If I remember right the info came from Rosario Naimo.

- Totuccio Inzerillo's father and uncles were living in the US at the time and his uncle Antonino Inzerillo was a Gambino captain. Giuseppe Inzerillo (Totuccio's father) was still a Sicilian mafia member living in NJ.

- Partanna Mondello boss Rosario Riccobono was one of the liaisons to the US mafia and called Totuccio's father Giuseppe in NJ and quizzed him about Buscetta's whereabouts -- if Giuseppe Inzerillo told him where Buscetta was they would spare the US Inzerillos but Giuseppe said he didn't know and they were marked for death.

- Giuseppe wasn't killed but Castellano sanctioned his brother Antonino Inzerillo's murder per Toto Riina's request, which John Gambino and other relatives carried out along with Frank DeCicco.

- John Gambino had earlier visited Sicily where he agreed not to intervene in what was happening in Palermo. Antonino Inzerillo tried to get involved which sealed his fate and John Gambino gave himself more security by helping with the murder.

- The Gambino brothers were also involved in the murder of Pietro Inzerillo but I'm not sure the reason he was killed, I think Felice said it was a personal issue within the Gambino zips, maybe involving money.

LCNBios has a great post about how Antonino Inzerillo's crew was shelved by Castellano and then reinstated when Gotti promoted John Gambino to captain in 1986. At least one of the members was Totuccio's uncle Pietro (not the murdered one), maybe another uncle too.

[Eline2015]

It’s interesting, that Corleonese vanished inzerillos on Sicily and US, and, as you said, John Gambino also was marked, but why corleonese don’t hurt Gambinos in Torreta, relatives of Inzerillos and CH Gambinos and members their mandamenti?

[B.]

Here is the Italian testimony translated to English:

"In this regard, I personally experienced a specific episode. After the murder of INZERILLO, GAMBINO JOHN came to Palermo and, accompanied by NAIMO ROSARIO, a man of honor of Cardillo's family who, however, lived in the USA, presented himself to RICCOBONO ROSARIO in the cottage on the mountain of Mondello of which I have already spoken. GAMBINO reported, in fact, that he was sent by CASTELLANO PAUL, then head of his family, because CASTELLANO was worried and wanted directives. Then RICCOBONO, accompanied by me personally, went to Favarella to refer this request to GRECO MICHELE. He told SARO to wait one day and come back the next day. Meanwhile, since GAMBINO had asked RICCOBONO if something could be done at least to save the life of the old father of INZERILLO TOTUCCIO, in the name of GIUSEPPE, RICCOBONO took the initiative to call INZERILLO GIUSEPPE himself in the USA, using a number given to him by the GAMBINO.

For this purpose, RICCOBONO used a telephone that was inside a booth of ENEL, located on the mountain near his cottage. RICCOBONO TO INZERILLO GIUSEPPE he asked about BUSCETTA TOMMASO, since it was known that he was meeting with INZERILLO. The meaning of the request was that, if INZERILLO GIUSEPPE had provided these information, thus facilitating the search for MASINO, would have shown good will and he could have saved himself and his children. During this phone call, GIUSEPPE INZERILLO confirmed that he was meeting sometimes with MASINO, but he added that in recent times the latter had become cautious and he never showed up again. The next evening, RICCOBONO and MICALIZZI TOTUCCIO returned to Favarella and there they had the directives to transmit to GAMBINO JOHN. The order was to kill all "escaped", that is all those who had taken refuge in the USA, already being followers of BONTATE and INZERILLO.

This directive was also respected in the USA, so much so that INZERILLOs killed there were PIETRO, brother of TOTUCCIO, and also an uncle or a cousin of the latter, who was the head of the decina there, as well as other residents there. GAMBINO and NAIMO, after three days in Palermo, returned to the USA, after a lunch that we all ate in a NAIMO villa, located in the district Inserra, made out to a relative of his."

So John Gambino tried to help but followed Paul Castellano's orders to do what Greco/Riccobono asked. John Gambino, Filippo Casamento (compare of the Inzerillos), and Tommaso Inzerillo all participated in the murders of Antonino and Pietro Inzerillo with the approval of Castellano. A good example of three guys putting Cosa Nostra above their own personal interests.

Makes you wonder what would have happened if Giuseppe Inzerillo gave up Buscetta to Riccobono. I'm sure they were treacherous enough to kill some of the Inzerillos anyway but they did spare guys like Gambino, Casamento, and Tommaso Inzerillo who "came in" and did as asked.

[Eline2015]

Here is the Italian testimony translated to English:

"In this regard, I personally experienced a specific episode. After the murder of INZERILLO, GAMBINO JOHN came to Palermo and, accompanied by NAIMO ROSARIO, a man of honor of Cardillo's family who, however, lived in the USA, presented himself to RICCOBONO ROSARIO in the cottage on the mountain of Mondello of which I have already spoken. GAMBINO reported, in fact, that he was sent by CASTELLANO PAUL, then head of his family, because CASTELLANO was worried and wanted directives. Then RICCOBONO, accompanied by me personally, went to Favarella to refer this request to GRECO MICHELE. He told SARO to wait one day and come back the next day. Meanwhile, since GAMBINO had asked RICCOBONO if something could be done at least to save the life of the old father of INZERILLO TOTUCCIO, in the name of GIUSEPPE, RICCOBONO took the initiative to call INZERILLO GIUSEPPE himself in the USA, using a number given to him by the GAMBINO.

For this purpose, RICCOBONO used a telephone that was inside a booth of ENEL, located on the mountain near his cottage. RICCOBONO TO INZERILLO GIUSEPPE he asked about BUSCETTA TOMMASO, since it was known that he was meeting with INZERILLO. The meaning of the request was that, if INZERILLO GIUSEPPE had provided these information, thus facilitating the search for MASINO, would have shown good will and he could have saved himself and his children. During this phone call, GIUSEPPE INZERILLO confirmed that he was meeting sometimes with MASINO, but he added that in recent times the latter had become cautious and he never showed up again. The next evening, RICCOBONO and MICALIZZI TOTUCCIO returned to Favarella and there they had the directives to transmit to GAMBINO JOHN. The order was to kill all "escaped", that is all those who had taken refuge in the USA, already being followers of BONTATE and INZERILLO.

This directive was also respected in the USA, so much so that INZERILLOs killed there were PIETRO, brother of TOTUCCIO, and also an uncle or a cousin of the latter, who was the head of the decina there, as well as other residents there. GAMBINO and NAIMO, after three days in Palermo, returned to the USA, after a lunch that we all ate in a NAIMO villa, located in the district Inserra, made out to a relative of his."

So John Gambino tried to help but followed Paul Castellano's orders to do what Greco/Riccobono asked. John Gambino, Filippo Casamento (compare of the Inzerillos), and Tommaso Inzerillo all participated in the murders of Antonino and Pietro Inzerillo with the approval of Castellano. A good example of three guys putting Cosa Nostra above their own personal interests.

Makes you wonder what would have happened if Giuseppe Inzerillo gave up Buscetta to Riccobono. I'm sure they were treacherous enough to kill some of the Inzerillos anyway but they did spare guys like Gambino, Casamento, and Tommaso Inzerillo who "came in" and did as asked.

So you think that Riina doesn’t hurt members in Torreta, because John Gambino did what needs to be done (Antonio and Pieter Inzerillo)?

[jimmyb]

Here is the Italian testimony translated to English:

"In this regard, I personally experienced a specific episode. After the murder of INZERILLO, GAMBINO JOHN came to Palermo and, accompanied by NAIMO ROSARIO, a man of honor of Cardillo's family who, however, lived in the USA, presented himself to RICCOBONO ROSARIO in the cottage on the mountain of Mondello of which I have already spoken. GAMBINO reported, in fact, that he was sent by CASTELLANO PAUL, then head of his family, because CASTELLANO was worried and wanted directives. Then RICCOBONO, accompanied by me personally, went to Favarella to refer this request to GRECO MICHELE. He told SARO to wait one day and come back the next day. Meanwhile, since GAMBINO had asked RICCOBONO if something could be done at least to save the life of the old father of INZERILLO TOTUCCIO, in the name of GIUSEPPE, RICCOBONO took the initiative to call INZERILLO GIUSEPPE himself in the USA, using a number given to him by the GAMBINO.

For this purpose, RICCOBONO used a telephone that was inside a booth of ENEL, located on the mountain near his cottage. RICCOBONO TO INZERILLO GIUSEPPE he asked about BUSCETTA TOMMASO, since it was known that he was meeting with INZERILLO. The meaning of the request was that, if INZERILLO GIUSEPPE had provided these information, thus facilitating the search for MASINO, would have shown good will and he could have saved himself and his children. During this phone call, GIUSEPPE INZERILLO confirmed that he was meeting sometimes with MASINO, but he added that in recent times the latter had become cautious and he never showed up again. The next evening, RICCOBONO and MICALIZZI TOTUCCIO returned to Favarella and there they had the directives to transmit to GAMBINO JOHN. The order was to kill all "escaped", that is all those who had taken refuge in the USA, already being followers of BONTATE and INZERILLO.

This directive was also respected in the USA, so much so that INZERILLOs killed there were PIETRO, brother of TOTUCCIO, and also an uncle or a cousin of the latter, who was the head of the decina there, as well as other residents there. GAMBINO and NAIMO, after three days in Palermo, returned to the USA, after a lunch that we all ate in a NAIMO villa, located in the district Inserra, made out to a relative of his."

So John Gambino tried to help but followed Paul Castellano's orders to do what Greco/Riccobono asked. John Gambino, Filippo Casamento (compare of the Inzerillos), and Tommaso Inzerillo all participated in the murders of Antonino and Pietro Inzerillo with the approval of Castellano. A good example of three guys putting Cosa Nostra above their own personal interests.

Makes you wonder what would have happened if Giuseppe Inzerillo gave up Buscetta to Riccobono. I'm sure they were treacherous enough to kill some of the Inzerillos anyway but they did spare guys like Gambino, Casamento, and Tommaso Inzerillo who "came in" and did as asked.

This is great stuff!! Thanks for posting.