Two Plots to Take Over & Unify California (Bompensiero)

[davidf1989]

Some more background that may shed light on why Bonanno reached out to Bompensiero and Fratianno in the early 1960s, as well as Bompensiero's motivation to inform.

- Both Bompensiero and Fratianno were demoted from their captain positions in prison and when Fratianno was released, the leadership under Desimone and Licata tried to put a murder contract on his head. Bompensiero was able to talk them out of the contract but Fratianno and Bompensiero both remained extremely bitter toward the organization. Fratianno arranged a transfer to Chicago, as is well-known, which was later unrecognized and some of us suspect that Fratianno provided info to the FBI by the late-1960s. One of Bompensiero's motivations for cooperation was specifically to remove Desimone and Licata from power.

- In 1965, an LA member source (Piscopo) was told by Bompensiero that he (Bompensiero) had to ask Desimone's permission in matters because of protocol, but in reality the only person's permission he needs is John Roselli, who by this time had transferred to Chicago. Bompensiero said that Desimone also consults with Roselli himself and always follows Roselli's suggestions, making Roselli in Bompensiero's own words "the real boss."

- During the above conversation, Bompensiero told the source that Detroit boss Joe Zerilli had personally contacted Bompensiero asking for a favor. This was a violation of protocol and Bompensiero insisted that he was "just" a soldier, but Zerilli implied he didn't want to go through boss Desimone and Bompensiero's capodecina Adamo, which was a source of pride to Bompensiero. Roselli may have been connected to the Zerilli interaction, or he was at least consulted by Bompensiero. In another conversation about the same topic, Bomp did say that Zerilli made contact with him through an associate in El Centro, CA who then contacted Bomp's captain Adamo and passed along the message to call Zerilli. However, in this second telling of the story he again says that Adamo was left out of the loop regarding the actual matter Zerilli wanted to discuss and when Bompensiero insisted on including his superiors Zerilli shot it down.

- Up until late 1965, Bompensiero, Fratianno, and Roselli arranged meetings at the Brown Derby in Beverly Hills. These meetings are implied to be secretive and LE pressure led them to consider another meeting place.

- An early 1966 meeting between the member informant (Piscopo), Fratianno, and Bompensiero shed some light on the roots of their bitterness. Fratianno and Bomp discussed their disdain for soldier Louis Dragna and his father Tom Dragna. Fratianno in particular was particularly bitter and discussed how his and Bompensiero's decinas had been the most active crews in the family before their demotion and how they enjoyed a close relationship with boss Jack Dragna.

- Fratianno discussed how during the time he was a captain, he got a cut from gambling and bookmaking figures in the LA area and he had branched into the garment industry. Despite his closeness to Jack Dragna and assurances that money would go to his wife while in prison, Fratianno said his wife received little money from Dragna. Following Fratianno's release from prison, Louis Dragna had gotten into the garment industry and Fratianno felt the Dragnas and associate Happy Metzer usurped his place in the business.

- In the above discussion, Bompensiero noted that he had lucrative operations in San Diego that were allowed to "disintegrate" when he was in prison and that he had been "let down" by the organization.

- During this 1966 conversation, it becomes clear that Bompensiero and Fratianno were conducting an investigation into the operations of the living Dragnas and Happy Metzer and reporting back to John Roselli. They were at this time not yet ready to make a "move" because they needed more info on Metzer's operations. Their intention, they told Piscopo, was to bring the issue to boss Frank Desimone and arrange a sitdown with the Dragnas. Fratianno also wanted to address the poor treatment of his wife by Metzer while he was in prison.

- Bomp and Fratianno asked Piscopo to report anything he learns about the Dragna / Metzer operation to them, and to do so secretly. Piscopo was included in the matter because the other two men claimed to no longer have strong enough ties in the Los Angeles area. Piscopo of course was the top man of John Roselli which would explain why he was trusted in this.

- Piscopo felt that Bompensiero and Fratianno's true intention with the Dragna matter was to cause a shift in leadership and bring themselves back to influence. During the conversation they were particularly critical of captains Joe Adamo and Angelo Polizzi, as well as underboss Nick Licata. Though it isn't said specifically, in Piscopo's earlier meeting with Bompensiero as well as the later meeting with both Fratianno/Bompensiero, it sounds like they saw Desimone as someone they could influence or manipulate at this point.

- In 1967 Bompensiero became aware of a murder being planned for a victim in the Los Angeles area. Bompensiero's captain Joe Adamo was supervising the murder and had two unspecified men participating in the murder who would be inducted if they carried it out. Bompensiero told the FBI that if his captain Adamo recruited him in the conspiracy he would arrange with the FBI to have the killers caught in the act and would then use this to try and depose Desimone and Licata. Note that he clearly stated his intention to the FBI to "depose" the leadership, not simply lock them up.

- Jimmy Fratianno (who Bonanno had once contacted about taking over the LA family in the early 1960s) had met with San Francisco boss Anthony Lima after his release from prison about operating in the San Francisco area and promised not to bring "pressure" on the local family. An informant stated that Lima was "fond" of Fratianno and felt Lima may name Fratianno as successor in San Francisco if he (Lima) were to step down. At this time Joe Cerrito, boss of San Jose, was also described as in an unfavorable position with the membership and the informant felt he wouldn't stand in anyone's way if they tried to replace him. In 1971, an informant described how SF boss Anthony Lima met with a San Jose member and asked why this member didn't ask Joe Cerrito to step down as boss of San Jose in order for this member to replace him.

- In 1970, Bompensiero was told by Chicago figure Frank LaPorte that John Roselli had lost considerable influence after Giancana lost power and the Chicago organization wasn't going to help Roselli with legal expenses. I don't know enough about Roselli to know if he retained influence in the LA family into the 1970s until his death, but Bompensiero and Fratianno would continue to be involved and in high-level controversies within the LA family until Bomp's murder and Fratianno turning witness.

--

Information from various west coast informants makes it clear that another familiar name couldn't let go of his California takeover fantasies, either. Here is some info on Joe Bonanno's dreams and aspirations during the 1970s:

- An FBI report from the early 1970s identifies Joe Bonanno as running his own loose knit "family" in Arizona but states that no replacement has been instated following the death of Vito Mule, who it says "operated in a consigliere fashion." Another report says Mule was a "patriarch", which was "a position comparable to that of consigliere in other LCN families." It states that there is no underboss in the Arizona group and that both of its "caporegime" are incarcerated, which are identified as Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno and Charles Battaglia Jr.

- In 1974, the FBI believed Joe Bonanno may have again been trying to set up a "family" of his loyalists in Southern California. At this time Bonanno capodecina Michael Zaffarano was rumored to be moving to Los Angeles due to his importance in the pornography business and the FBI suspected Zaffarano's move could connect with the rumors of Bonanno setting something up in California.

- During the period Bill Bonanno was in prison, Joe Bonanno was described as having eighteen members under his direction in Arizona and California, including six in San Jose, all of their names redacted. The report claims Bonanno was waiting for the release of Bill Bonanno so that Bill could lead these men. In the months prior to this report, Joe Bonanno was said to be contacting "LCN bosses" in California, "demanding recognition as an LCN boss" and advising them of his "presence and plans" to operate in San Jose and Arizona.

- Bonanno complained to a source that Carlo Gambino and Stefano Magaddino had kept LCN leaders in the western part of the US "in the dark" and said the current "Commissione" was illegitimate, which as a result, meant that there was "nothing wrong" with Bonanno starting his own new family without approval from the "Commissione."

- Bonanno told a redacted name that California was at this time a "vacuum" because the old California bosses were either not interested in promoting LCN activities or "incompetent". Bonanno claimed to have access to "six hundred men" in Brooklyn who were "hungry". He said California LCN needed "men" and he could bring them in "small groups" from NYC which would allow him to form small families in San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, which would give him overall power in California. His plan was to start bringing in these small groups of NY men and finding employment for them in California.

- During this time Bonanno also alienated some of his men in Tucson, including Russ Andaloro and at least two redacted names. These members began to meet with Bonanno less and were upset with his "attitude" and habit of "using" people and demanding respect and gratuities.

- Later in 1974, Bonanno was described by four different informants as still thinking about getting "reinstated in the LCN" and moving to Northern California. During this time Bonanno had been visiting his relatives in the San Francisco area and was "in frequent contact" with Thomas Napolitano of Pittsburgh, California, including attending the funeral of Napolitano's son in June 1974.

- Another 1974 report mentions that a redacted LCN member in Denver maintains contact with Joe Bonanno and apparently through this member has been trying to get the support of Denver boss Joseph Spinuzzi to intercede on Bonanno's behalf to help him "regain his former status and influence in the LCN." The informant who provided this info claims that Spinuzzi made no effort to help Bonanno.

- The FBI determined that Bonanno had a PO box in Arizona during the 1970s specifically for receiving mail from Canada and other areas of the US related to his "criminal activities".

- A 1977 report describes that Joe Bonanno maintains telephone contact with "LCN associates" in NYC, including Carmine Galante, as well as telephone contact with "associates in Montreal, Canada, and LCN members in California and Colorado."

- A February 1978 edition of Parade Magazine cited a federal source who stated that Bonanno was trying to import soldiers from New York to the west coast and attempting to launder "large sums" of money. The money laundering was connected to Bonanno and his sons' attempted purchase of Cadillac dealerships in Northern California.

- In July 1978, Vito DeFilippo and a redacted name, almost certainly his son Patrick DeFilippo, were described as "now residing in New York City" and the FBI received information that cars with Arizona plates had been seen in connection with them. The DeFilippos had previously lived in Las Vegas following the Bonanno war and were believed to have stayed close to Joe Bonanno on the west coast. As of late 1978, Vito DeFilippo and Carmine Galante were still being investigated in connection to their relationship to Joe Bonanno. Naturally both DeFilippo and Galante had been uncooperative when approached by authorities.

- Bonanno and Carmine Galante were in contact as recent as March 1979, months before Galante's death. The two had been in "recent contact" as of March and Bonanno had sent "a message" to Galante. Bonanno used the nickname "Cigaro" to refer to Galante. Later that same month, the FBI contacted Galante's attorney to determine whether Galante had knowledge of Joe Bonanno's influence in the cheese industry, including Saputo Cheese of Montreal. Galante's lawyer denied that Galante had any knowledge of Saputo Cheese or Bonanno's influence.

- At this time the FBI had information that as of 1979, Joe Bonanno continued to associate with "LCN members" from various parts of the country and had "certain individuals working under his aegis throughout the country and Canada." The FBI stated the latter was especially true in New York, Denver, California, Miami, and Canada.

- It could be reasoned that Bonanno intended to import men from NY to California with assistance from Carmine Galante and other former Bonanno loyalists who had regained. I must emphasize "intended", though, as by this point it's clear that Joe Bonanno was unrecognized by most of the national LCN and his ongoing California plans sound like a pipe dream.

Thanks for this interesting information and did Bompensiero and possibly Fratianno want to become the boss of the family by deposing the current leadership?

[davidf1989]

Was Bonnano trying to control the west coast with his sons?

[Coloboy]

Interesting to read all of this in the context of Accardo's conversation with Giancana after the commission meeting right around this time. Accardo expressed concern that Bonnano was going to try to "plant his flag out there"...meaning out west. Looks like the old man was certainly right.

[Antiliar]

Was Bonnano trying to control the west coast with his sons?

Yes, Bonanno was trying to control the West Coast, but primarily with his son Bill. There was also discussion of making John Rosselli the boss of Los Angeles. Bomp and Fratianno supported him.

[davidf1989]

Was Bonnano trying to control the west coast with his sons?

Yes, Bonanno was trying to control the West Coast, but primarily with his son Bill. There was also discussion of making John Rosselli the boss of Los Angeles. Bomp and Fratianno supported him.

Thanks and why was Rosselli so influential in the Mafia?

[B.]

An unidentified Lucchese member who served as an FBI informant did time with Roselli and said Roselli had been underboss of the LA Family. He was very close to Roselli and continued to be friends with him after prison but that info isn't corroborated by any other sources and I'm not sure how much is known about the timeline/succession of LA underboss. You'd think Fratianno, Piscopo, or Bomp would have mentioned it and the impression they give is Roselli was always a powerful "soldier" who greatly influenced the LA Family even after he transferred to Chicago.

Maybe Roselli did hold the underboss spot for a time before Adamo or the informant was just mistaken. Antiliar would be the guy to weigh in.

[Antiliar]

Thanks and why was Rosselli so influential in the Mafia?

Rosselli was influential with Los Angeles, less so with Chicago. He was firmly entrenched in the Hollywood movie industry, so could bring a sense of legitimacy to the L.A. brugad similar to made politicians in other LCN Families. His connections could also bring in money from legitimate sources. He thought like a businessman and a diplomat, plus he was handsome and debonair. He was in Hollywood's social circuit, and had a fleet of pretty actress girlfriends. As such he was close to Jack Dragna, so it's understandable that some wrongly thought he was an underboss. He was never above the rank of soldier.

After Dragna died he transferred to the Chicago brugad and may have initially been direct to Sam Giancana. Even when Giancana was still around Rosselli maintained an independent streak that foresaw future division. Later he was reported to be under Frank LaPorte of the Chicago Heights crew. Rosselli operated in Nevada and California, but struggled to find an income with his prison record haunting him. He got caught cheating at a high stakes card game in the late 1960s with one of the Marx brothers, among others. He ended up falling out with LaPorte, Accardo and Ricca; LaPorte washed his hands of him. After Rosselli left prison he depended on his sister (if I recall correctly) and bad-mouthed the new regime of Aiuppa and Cerone, which led to his death sentence. He did testify about the Bay of Pigs invasion, but the substance of his testimony wasn't substantially different than others who testified before him. Jack Dragna, Paul Ricca, Ralph Capone, Louis Campagna, and others all gave extensive testimony before the Kefauver Committee in 1950-51, and Ricca's testimony in the 1960s sent Jack Cerone to prison.

[jimmyb]

Salvatore "Toto" Vitale was last seen going to a meeting with Jack and Tony Tocco in Windsor, Canada, right outside of Detroit, the day he disappeared - I believe I read that in an FBI document. It could have just said "Black Bill Tocco's son" or "Black Bill Tocco's sons," I've got to check.

Scott

Yeah i think it was an FBI doc from the Priziola files. Police surveyed Vitale in Windsor with "one of Black Bill Tocco's sons." I think that's what it said. Vitale was sotocapo of Partinico. Did not get along with Tre Ditti Coppola. Priziola and Jimmy Q had Vitale whacked. Zerilli even had a sitdown with Vitale in SD but they couldn't resolve it. Adding to the complications, I believe Vitale was married to a Matranga. I think she was sister to the Mafia Matrangas in SD. Someone fact
check me on that please. But i believe so..

[jimmyb]

Also Tre Ditti Coppola had hair until the end..You can find pics of him later in life. He was not a bald dude.

[jimmyb]

Salvatore "Toto" Vitale was last seen going to a meeting with Jack and Tony Tocco in Windsor, Canada, right outside of Detroit, the day he disappeared - I believe I read that in an FBI document. It could have just said "Black Bill Tocco's son" or "Black Bill Tocco's sons," I've got to check.

Scott

Yeah i think it was an FBI doc from the Priziola files. Police surveyed Vitale in Windsor with "one of Black Bill Tocco's sons." I think that's what it said. Vitale was sotocapo of Partinico. Did not get along with Tre Ditti Coppola. Priziola and Jimmy Q had Vitale whacked. Zerilli even had a sitdown with Vitale in SD but they couldn't resolve it. Adding to the complications, I believe Vitale was married to a Matranga. I think she was sister to the Mafia Matrangas in SD. Someone fact
check me on that please. But i believe so..

I'm looking at the chapter I co-wrote with Scott in Detroit True Crime Chronicles. Sal Vitale was married to a Matranga. Joe Matranga was trying to mediate between Detroit and Vitale. He was Priziola's son in law and Vitale's brother in law. The Priziola files say Vitale was last seen in Windsor with one of Bill Tocco's sons and Peter Di Lorenzo.

Pure speculation on my part but Tony Tocco had a reputation as a hitter. It wouldn't surprise me if he was part of the Vitale disposal team.

[B.]

Jimmy -- any idea who the Partinico boss was while Vitale was underboss? Rick has Gaspare Centineo taking over in 1949 so seems it could be him.

Rick made some great threads trying to catalogue the historic Sicilian bosses you might be interested in.

Palermo - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7460

Trapani - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7523

Agrigento - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7577

Caltanissetta / Enna / Catania - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... 2&p=192555

[jimmyb]

Jimmy -- any idea who the Partinico boss was while Vitale was underboss? Rick has Gaspare Centineo taking over in 1949 so seems it could be him.

Rick made some great threads trying to catalogue the historic Sicilian bosses you might be interested in.

Palermo - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7460

Trapani - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7523

Agrigento - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7577

Caltanissetta / Enna / Catania - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... 2&p=192555

That's correct. And Santo Flores was boss before Centineo. I think Coppola was behind the assasination of Flores, but I'll have to double check. Coppola basically handpicked Centineo if i recall. Flores was killed in 48 or 49 i think.

[jimmyb]

Jimmy -- any idea who the Partinico boss was while Vitale was underboss? Rick has Gaspare Centineo taking over in 1949 so seems it could be him.

Rick made some great threads trying to catalogue the historic Sicilian bosses you might be interested in.

Palermo - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7460

Trapani - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7523

Agrigento - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... =29&t=7577

Caltanissetta / Enna / Catania - https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... 2&p=192555

That's correct. And Santo Flores was boss before Centineo. I think Coppola was behind the assasination of Flores, but I'll have to double check. Coppola basically handpicked Centineo if i recall. Flores was killed in 48 or 49 i think.

[Angelo Santino]

Do we have a list of this "loose-knit Arizona Family?"

Boss - Joe Bonanno
No Under
Consig/Patriarch, deceased, no replacement - Vito Mule
Capodecina- Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno and Charles Battaglia Jr.

Members
1 Russ Andaloro
2-18 ?

[thekiduknow]

Do we have a list of this "loose-knit Arizona Family?"

Boss - Joe Bonanno
No Under
Consig/Patriarch, deceased, no replacement - Vito Mule
Capodecina- Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno and Charles Battaglia Jr.

Members
1 Russ Andaloro
2-18 ?

Here is what Nash put together for them in 1971:

https://theblackhand.club/forum/viewtop ... 71#p165971

It would be great if we figure out their 6 San Jose members.

One I discovered was Vincent DiGirolamo(1932-1994, father from CDG0, who's described as a Bonanno member in 1991, but I think he was made well before then. Bill worked for him when he was released from prison, and he had contacts with Frank Bomenpsiero and other LA members in the 1970s.

He reportedly hid Gaspare Magaddino when he was being sought in connection to the Smitty/James D'Angelo, Frank Telleri murders.