Bonanno Family Lineage Chart

[Antiliar]

Please let me know of corrections or suggestions.

Bonanno Family Lineage Chart

A. Castellammare del Golfo;

Boss: Francesco Plescia (c1883)
Sostituto: Paolo Valenti AKA Naschino? ["there for the 'invisible' head Francesco Plescia"]
Men of Importance: Giuseppe Bonanno AKA Naschino
Boss: Giuseppe Ingaglia? (1890s)
Sostituto: Salvatore Ingaglia
Men of importance: Girolamo Asaro, Giovanni Buccellato, Martino Buccellato, Salvatore Buccellato, Francesco and Giuseppe Castiglione, Vincenzo Giallo, Vito Giallo, Stefano Magaddino, Vincenzo Milano, Pietro Rondello, Antonino Tagliaria.
Boss: Felice Buccellato (k. 1913)
Boss: Salvatore Maranzano? (early 1920s) [Was capoprovincia of Trapani in early 1920s]
Boss: Liborio Munna (after WWII)
Boss: Gaspare Magaddino (early 1960s)
Boss: Nicola “Cola” Buccellato (K 1981)
Sottocapo: Gioacchino Calabro?
[“Aggregated” to Alcamo by order of Salvatore Riina in 1983]
[Castellammare “reconstituted” in 1993]
Boss: Natale Evola (K 1993)
Boss: Gioacchino Calabro (1993-?)
Boss: Salvatore Mercadante?
Boss: Francesco Domingo (?-Present)
Sottocapo: Giuseppe Valenti?


B. New York City:

1897/1898?-1903?:
Boss: Antonino Governale? (1897/1898?-1903?) [Uncertain if he was a boss]

1903?-1909:
Boss: Paolo Orlando (1903?-1909, stepped down) [Possibly the first boss, formerly boss of Tunis; originally from Camporeale)
Early men of importance: Girolamo Asaro, Salvatore Bonanno, Giuseppe Bonventre, Vito Bonventre, Carlo Costantino?, Antonio Passanante?, Salvatore Saracena (AKA Giuseppe Palermo)

1909-1912:
Boss: Sebastiano DiGaetano (1909-1912, stepped down) [From Castellammare del Golfo; temporary Capo dei Capi, 1910-1912]

1912-1930:
Boss: Nicola Schiro (1912-1930, fled to New Jersey)
Men of importance: Vito Bonventre, Benjamin Gallo
Left to become bosses of other Families: Leonardo Cipolla (New Orleans), Francesco Lanza (San Francisco), Stefano Magaddino (Buffalo), Gaspare Messina (Boston), Gaspare Milazzo (Detroit), Salvatore Sabella (Philadelphia)

1930-1931:
Boss: Joseph Parrino (1930-1931, murdered) [Installed by Joseph Masseria; it is not known if he actually took control or was recognized by the Bonanno Family]

1930-1931:
Boss: Salvatore Maranzano (1930 or Jan 1931-Sep 1931) [Former capoprovincia of Trapani; possibly a faction boss before taking control of borgata; last capo dei capi]
Underboss: Angelo Caruso

1931:
Acting boss: Angelo Caruso (1931)

1931-1964:
Boss: Joseph Bonanno (1931-1964; factional boss, 1964-1968; headed unrecognized borgata in Tucson)
Underboss: Angelo Caruso (1931-1932, stepped down to become caporegime)
Underboss: Frank Carofalo (1932-1956, retired to Italy)
Underboss: John Morales (1957-1965)
Consigliere: Frank Italiano (?-1932; k. 1935)
Consigliere: Filippo Rappa (1932-1939; k. 1944)
Consigliere: John Tartamella (1940-1964)

1964, Spring:
Boss: Joseph Bonanno [CI claimed Bonanno retired and made LaBruzzo boss; Bill Bonanno claims his father remained boss until 1968]
-Acting Boss: Frank LaBruzzo
Underboss: John "Johnny Burns" Morale
Consigliere: Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno

Dec 1965-Late 1966:
Boss: Gaspare DiGregorio
Underboss: Peter "Skinny Pete" Crociata
Consiglieri: Paul Sciacca

1966 (Bonanno Splinter Group):
Boss: Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno
Underboss: Vito DeFilippo
Consiglieri: Joseph Notaro (D. 1966)

1967, Feb:
Boss: Joseph Zicarelli
Underboss: Angelo Caruso
Consigliere: Salvatore Bonanno

1967-1968:
Boss: Frank Mari
Underboss: Mike Adamo

1969, Sept:
Boss: Frank Mari (disappeared, Sep 18, 1969)
Underboss: Philip Rastelli
Consigliere: Mike Adamo (disappeared, Sep 18, 1969)

1969, Sep 18-Nov:
Boss: Paul Sciacca
Underboss: Philip Rastelli
Consigliere: Joseph DiFilippi

1969, Nov-Aug 1973:
Boss: Natale Evola
Underboss: Philip Rastelli
Consigliere: Joseph DiFilippi (1969-Feb 1972)
Consigliere: Nicholas Marangello (1972?-1973, promoted to underboss)

1973-1991:
Boss: Philip Rastelli (Acting, Aug 1973-Feb 1974; Boss, Feb 1974-Jun 21, 1991; in prison Aug 1976-Apr 1983, Aug 1984-Jun 4, 1991)
-Acting Boss: Carmine Galante (c1975-Jul 1979, killed; one report says Galante became boss after Rastelli's stepson was killed in March 1974, other sources say he became boss when Rastelli went to prison in 1976; Galante was in prison for a parole violation Mar 1978-Feb 1979)
[Ruling Panel: Nicholas Marangello, Mickey Zaffarano, Stefano “Stevie Beefs” Cannone (1977)]
-Acting Boss: Salvatore “Sally Fruits” Farrugia (1979-1983)
-Acting Boss: Anthony Spero (1987-1993)
Underboss: Nicholas Marangello (1973-1979)
Underboss: Joseph Massino (1981-1991)
-Acting Underboss: Louis “Louie Ha Ha” Attanasio (1984-1991)
Consigliere: Joseph Buccellato (1973-1976)
Consigliere: Stefano Cannone (1976-1984)
Consigliere: Anthony Spero (1984-2001)

1991-2004:
Boss: Joseph Massino (1991-2004, turned government witness)
-Acting Boss: Anthony Spero (1987-1993)
-Acting Boss: Anthony Urso (2003-2004)
-Acting Boss: Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano (2004)
Underboss: Salvatore Vitale (1991-2003, became government witness)
-Acting Underboss: Richard “Shellackhead” Cantarella (2001-2002, became government witness)
-Acting Underboss: Joseph Cammarano Sr (2003-2004)
-Acting Underboss: Michael Mancuso (2004)
Consigliere: Anthony Spero (1984-2001)
-Acting Consigliere: Anthony Graziano (1999-2001)
Consigliere: Anthony Graziano (2001-2010)
-Acting Consigliere: Anthony Urso (2001-2003)

2004-2011:
Boss: Vincent “Vinnie Gorgeous” Basciano (2004-2011; in prison since 2004)
-Acting Boss: Michael Mancuso (2004-2006, to prison)
-Acting Boss: Salvatore Montagna (2006-2009, deported to Canada)
-Acting Boss: Vincent “Vinny T.V.” Badalamenti (2010-2012, to prison)
Underboss: Nicholas Santora (2004-2007)
Consigliere: Anthony Graziano (2001-2010)
-Acting Consigliere: Anthony Rabito (2004-2007)

2012:
Ruling Panel: Vincent Asaro, Anthony Rabito, Thomas DiFiore

2013-Present
Boss: Michael “The Nose” Mancuso (2013-Present)
-Acting Boss: Thomas DiFiore (2013-2014)
-Acting Boss: John Palazzolo (2014-2015)
-Acting Boss: Joseph “Joe Saunders” Cammarano Jr. (2015-2019)
Underboss: Thomas DiFiore (2013-2015)
Underboss: Joseph Cammarano Jr (2015-Present)
-Acting Underboss: Joseph Cammarano Jr (2015)
Consigliere: Anthony Rabito (2010-2015)
-Acting Consigliere: Ernest Aiello (2012-2013)
-Acting Consigliere: Vincent Badalamenti (2013-2014)
-Acting Consigliere: Simone Esposito (2014-2015)
Consigliere: Simone Esposito (2015-2016)
Consigliere: John Zancocchio (2016-Present)

[chin_gigante]

Some corrections on the post-Galante stuff:

- Massino testified that after the Galante murder the Family was run by a panel that included Captains Michael Zaffarano, Santo Giordano, and Alphonse Indelicato

- Underboss Nicholas Marangello was taken down and the position was left vacant for several years

- By September 1980, this panel consisted of Consigliere Stefano Cannone, and Captains Philip Giaccone and Alphonse Indelicato

- The panel was then taken down and Salvatore Catalano served as Acting Boss from September 1980 to March 1981

- In March 1981, the Commission took Catalano down at Cannone's urging and the Captains elected Salvatore Ferrugia as the new Acting Boss

- Ferrugia served until Rastelli was released from prison

- After the three Captains' murders, Ferrugia was assisted in running the Family by a panel consisting of Captains Joseph Massino and Gerlando Sciascia

- At some point, Sciascia goes back to Canada and Massino goes on the lam

- Gabriel Infanti is put on the panel once Massino becomes a fugitive

- Cesare Bonventre also serves on the panel during this period before his murder (presumably replacing Sciascia)

- Massino is promoted to Underboss in 1984 while on the lam

- Cannone dies in 1984 but I think Anthony Spero isn't promoted to Consigliere until 1986 or 1987

- When Rastelli and Massino are incarcerated in 1987, a panel is left in charge consisting of Consigliere Spero and Captains Louis Attanasio and Salvatore Vitale

- Attanasio is later incarcerated, leaving Spero and Vitale in charge (it seems despite both men being identified as Acting Bosses during this time, neither actually held the position)

- Massino is elected Boss in 1991 after Rastelli dies

- Massino comes home in 1992 and makes Vitale the official Underboss

- Spero is jailed in 1994 and to replace him in the administration, another panel of one or two Captains is set up to assist Vitale

- Despite being released from prison briefly in the 1990s, Spero's parole restrictions and return to prison effectively end his participation in the administration

- Captains Louis Attanasio and James Tartaglione first serve on the panel with Vitale

- Sciascia replaces Attanasio when he is incarcerated; Tartaglione is later incarcerated himself

- Captains Frank Coppa, Anthony Graziano, and Anthony Urso end up on the panel at different points in the late-1990s

- Sciascia is murdered in 1999

- By 2002, Vitale has been taken off the panel because of his house arrest and the panel now consists of Captains Joseph Cammarano, Sr., Richard Cantarella, and Anthony Urso

- Cantarella is arreted 2002 and flips

- Knowing he will be arrested, Massino leaves Cammarano, Urso, and Peter Calabrese as the panel

- Calabrese is later taken down in 2003

- Urso also serves as Acting Consigliere and Cammarano as Acting Underboss

- Urso may also have been Acting Boss, though Massino denied ever putting him in that position

- In 2004, Urso and Cammarano are arrested

- Vincent Basciano makes himself Acting Boss and appoints Michael Mancuso Acting Underboss and Anthony Rabito Acting Consigliere

- Basciano is arrested later in 2004 and leaves Mancuso as Acting Boss

- In January 2005, Nicholas Santora and another Captain begin running the Family for Mancuso

- Mancuso is arrested 2006 and Salvatore Montagna takes over as Acting Boss

- At some point by February 2007, Santora is promoted to Acting Underboss

- Santora and Rabito are arrested 2007, and Mancuso is still in charge of the Family despite his incarceration

- Mancuso is probably elevated to official Boss around this time as he was well established in the position by 2011

- Spero dies in prison 2008

- Montagna is deported 2009 and replaced as Acting Boss by Giuseppe Bosco

- By 2009, Vincent Badalamenti is the Consigliere

- Recent information as of October 2009 indicates Captain Joseph Sammartino is part of the administration

- In January 2010, Jerry Capeci reports that Santora and Rabito are running the Family as Captains

- In late 2011, Peter Lovaglio is released from prison and told Mancuso is the official Boss, Bosco is the Acting Boss, and Badalamenti the Consigliere

- In 2012, Badalamenti is arrested

- At some point after Badalamenti's arrest, Lovaglio is told that he was not the real Consigliere and Rabito holds the position

- In August 2012, Vincent Asaro is caught on tape saying Thomas DiFiore has been made the new Acting Boss

- Asaro was offered the position of Consigliere but turned it down

- Instead, Asaro was made Captain without a crew and put on the panel to assist DiFiore

- Capeci reports that Rabito is also on the panel

- Captain Ernest Aiello is briefly Acting Consigliere in 2012

- By 2013, Simone Esposito is Consigliere (possibly acting), and John Spirito Jr is either Street Boss or Acting Underboss

- In 2014, DiFiore and Asaro are arrested

- John Palazzolo becomes Acting Boss

- In 2015, Esposito and Spirito are shelved

- In March 2015, a meeting is called to elect Joseph Cammarano, Jr. as Acting Boss

- Consigliere Rabito attends the vote

- After the vote, Mancuso also gives Cammarano the rank of official Underboss

- By late 2015/ early 2016, Cammarano is being assisted by a panel of Captains John Zancocchio and Joseph Sabella

- In 2016, Zancocchio is elected as Consigliere to replace Rabito

- However, Lovaglio testifies Rabito was given the "title" of Consigliere for life and Zancocchio was elected to the "position"

- In September 2017, Cammarano holds a vote to elect himself official Boss

- In December 2018, Badalamenti "banishes" Cammarano and Zancocchio from the Family

- Mancuso re-appoints Palazzolo as Acting Boss and assigns a panel to assist him

===

My timeline for this post-Galante period:

Boss

Philip Rastelli (1974-1991)
- Acting: Salvatore Catalano (1980-1981)
- Acting: Salvatore Ferrugia (1981-1983)
Joseph Massino (1991-2005)
- Acting: Anthony Urso (2003-2004) ?
- Acting: Vincent Basciano (2004)
- Acting: Michael Mancuso (2004-2006)
Michael Mancuso (c.2007-Present)
- Acting: Salvatore Montagna (2006-2009)
- Acting: Giuseppe Bosco (2009-2012)
- Acting: Thomas DiFiore (2012-2014)
- Acting: John Palazzolo (2014-2015)
- Acting: Joseph Cammarano, Jr. (2015-2018)
- Acting: John Palazzolo (2018-Present)

Underboss

Joseph Massino (1984-1991)
Salvatore Vitale (1992-2003)
- Acting: Joseph Cammarano, Sr. (2003-2004)
- Acting: Michael Mancuso (2004)
- Acting: Nicholas Santora (c.2006-2007)
- Acting: John Spirito, Jr. (c.2013-2015)
Joseph Cammarano, Jr. (2015-2018)

Consigliere

Stefano Cannone (1976-1984)
Anthony Spero (1987-2008)
- Acting: Anthony Urso (2003-2004)
- Acting: Anthony Rabito (2004-2007)
Vincent Badalamenti (c.2009-2012)
- Acting: Ernest Aiello (2012)
Simone Esposito (c.2013-2015) acting?
Anthony Rabito (2012/2015-2016) "title"
John Zancocchio (2016-2018) "position"

[johnny_scootch]

Great work fellas.

[chin_gigante]

My best guess at a timeline for the panel during the 1979-Present period:

1979-1980:
Santo Giordano (Captain)
Alphonse Indelicato (Captain)
Michael Zaffarano (Captain)

1980:
Stefano Cannone (Consigliere)
Philip Giaccone (Captain)
Alphonse Indelicato (Captain)

1981-1982:
Salvatore Ferrugia (Acting Boss)
Joseph Massino (Captain)
Gerlando Sciascia (Captain)

1982-1983:
Salvatore Ferrugia (Acting Boss)
Gabriel Infanti (Captain)
Joseph Massino (Captain) fugitive
Gerlando Sciascia (Captain)

1983-1984:
Cesare Bonventre (Captain)
Gabriel Infanti (Captain)
Joseph Massino (Captain) fugitive

1987-1988:
Anthony Spero (Consigliere)
Louis Attanasio (Captain)
Salvatore Vitale (Captain)

1988-1992:
Anthony Spero (Consigliere)
Salvatore Vitale (Captain)

1994-1996:
Salvatore Vitale (Underboss)
Louis Attanasio (Captain)
James Tartaglione (Captain)

1996-1998:
Salvatore Vitale (Underboss)
Gerlando Sciascia (Captain)
James Tartaglione (Captain)

1998-1999:
Salvatore Vitale (Underboss)
Gerlando Sciascia (Captain)

Gets a bit confusing here. Frank Coppa was on the panel sometime between 1998 and 2002. Anthony Urso was definitely on it by 2000 and probably was on it in 1999. Graziano appears to have been appointed to it in 2001.

2001-2002:
Salvatore Vitale (Underboss)
Anthony Graziano (Captain)
Anthony Urso (Captain)

2002:
Joseph Cammarano, Sr. (Captain)
Richard Cantarella (Captain)
Anthony Urso (Captain)

2002-2003:
Peter Calabrese (Captain)
Joseph Cammarano, Sr. (Captain)
Anthony Urso (Captain)

2005-c.2006:
Nicholas Santora (Captain)
[Another Captain]

2009:
Joseph Sammartino (Captain)

2010:
Anthony Rabito (Captain)
Nicholas Santora (Captain)

2012-2014:
Thomas DiFiore (Acting Boss/ Captain)
Vincent Asaro (Captain)
Anthony Rabito (possibly Consigliere)

2015-2016:
Joseph Sabella (Captain)
John Zancocchio (Captain)

2018-Present:
Unknown panel members assisting Palazzolo

[thekiduknow]

Great work Antiliar and Chin!

I think it’s possible that Frank Italiano was consigliere under Maranzano.

According to a CI, Angelo Caruso was acting boss then went down to soldier after Bonanno was elected. LCNBios has him in a crew headed by Joseph Colletti. Caruso became caporegime after he died in 1957.

Some changes to the 1960s:

Morales was acting underboss after Garofalo went to Italy. According to Bill, he was promoted to official underboss in early 1964 at the same time Bill was promoted to official consigliere. Morales was also acting boss during the early 1960s, being replaced by LaBruzzo in December 1963.

Then from December 1963 until the September of 1964, you have the set up you have circa Spring 1964.

DiGregorio’s admin was installed earlier than December. Crociata was said to be underboss on the DeCavlancate tapes in June 1965.

Pietro Crociata was reportedly dropped as underboss in April 1966. In July, Joseph Zicarelli told a CI that he had become the underboss, with Angelo Caruso as his advisor.

Sometime during the split, at least by mid 1966, there was a six man panel/“council” helping DiGregorio run the family. Two of them were Joseph Zicarelli and Angelo Caruso.

In June 1967, Paul Sciacca was tapped to be an interim boss, and became official boss in October 1967, with Frank Mari as his underboss and Thomas D’Angelo as consigliere. After D’Angelo’s murder, Peter Crociata was reportedly the consigliere at the time he was shot in March of 1968. He must have been taken down because it was reportedly vacant toward the end of the year, and Rusty Rastelli was reportedly a contender for the position. However, Michael Adamo was first reported as the consigliere in January, 1969.

Joseph Buccellato was reported to be acting consigliere around 1973, likely after DiFilippi’s death.

[motorfab]

Excellent breakdown gentlemen.

Antiliar, just a question, in this topic viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7523 you noted Michele Mercadante as a possible boss in a ruling panel. Salvatore is a relative to Michele? I ask because I knew Michele but not Salvatore.

And for those interested I posted a picture of Michele here last week viewtopic.php?f=31&t=6785&start=135

[thekiduknow]

Great work Antiliar and Chin!

I think it’s possible that Frank Italiano was consigliere under Maranzano.

According to a CI, Angelo Caruso was acting boss then went down to soldier after Bonanno was elected. LCNBios has him in a crew headed by Joseph Colletti. Caruso became caporegime after he died in 1957.

Some changes to the 1960s:

Morales was acting underboss after Garofalo went to Italy. According to Bill, he was promoted to official underboss in early 1964 at the same time Bill was promoted to official consigliere. Morales was also acting boss during the early 1960s, being replaced by LaBruzzo in December 1963.

Then from December 1963 until the September of 1964, you have the set up you have circa Spring 1964.

DiGregorio’s admin was installed earlier than December. Crociata was said to be underboss on the DeCavlancate tapes in June 1965.

Pietro Crociata was reportedly dropped as underboss in April 1966. In July, Joseph Zicarelli told a CI that he had become the underboss, with Angelo Caruso as his advisor.

Sometime during the split, at least by mid 1966, there was a six man panel/“council” helping DiGregorio run the family. Two of them were Joseph Zicarelli and Angelo Caruso.

In June 1967, Paul Sciacca was tapped to be an interim boss, and became official boss in October 1967, with Frank Mari as his underboss and Thomas D’Angelo as consigliere. After D’Angelo’s murder, Peter Crociata was reportedly the consigliere at the time he was shot in March of 1968. He must have been taken down because it was reportedly vacant toward the end of the year, and Rusty Rastelli was reportedly a contender for the position. However, Michael Adamo was first reported as the consigliere in January, 1969.

Joseph Buccellato was reported to be acting consigliere around 1973, likely after DiFilippi’s death.

I put this together, this is what I have for late 1950s through late 1960s:

1957 to December 1963
Boss: Joseph Bonanno
-Acting Boss: John “Johnny Burns” Morales
Underboss: Vacant
-Acting Underboss: John “Johnny Burns” Morales
Consigliere: John Tartamella
-Acting Consigliere: Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno(He starts acting sometime in 1963, I can’t remember if he gives an exact timeframe)

December 1963 to March 1964
Boss: Joseph Bonanno
-Acting Boss: Frank LaBruzzo
Underboss: Vacant
-John “Johnny Burns” Morales
Consigliere: John Tartamella
-Acting Consigliere: Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno

Tartamella taken down around March, Bill and Morales promoted to Consigliere and official Underboss. Bill’s crew passes to Charles Battaglia, and Morales’ to Smitty D’Angelo

March 1964 to September 1964:
Boss: Joseph Bonanno
-Acting Boss Frank LaBruzzo
Underboss: John “Johnny Burns” Morales
Consigliere: Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno

Bonanno was reported to be planning his retirement around this time, and announces to the family that LaBruzzo will take over. LaBruzzo meets with the family’s caporegimes in April, trying to gain support.

Bonanno, Morales, and Bill are all removed from leadership by the Commission in September, 1964. A large panel takes it place, upwards of 9 members. Bonanno officially resigns in December, with Notaro becoming “Chairman” of the Bonanno group.

DiGregorio officially selected in January of 1965. A heart attack in February leads to Micheal Sabella briefly being acting boss.

Circa June 1965 to April 1966:
Boss: Gaspare DiGregorio
Underboss: Pietro “Skinny Pete” Crociata
Consigliere: Paul Sciacca

April 1966 to Winter 1966.
Boss: Gaspare DiGregorio
Underboss: Joseph Zicarelli
Consigliere: Paul Sciacca.
—In August, a Bonanno member informant advised that there was a six member “Council” to help run the family. Joseph Zicarelli and Angelo Caruso were two members.

DiGregorio was reported to have stepped down sometime before January 1967. There is a brief push by the Bonanno faction to install Zicarelli/Caruso, Caruso being brought over to the Bonanno side in October 1966.

Early to June 1967 there was a big push by the Bonanno group to regain control, mainly through Joseph Zicarelli and Angelo Caruso. They briefly succeeded.

February 1967:
Boss Joseph Zicarelli
Underboss: Angelo Caruso
Consigliere: Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno

Zicarelli was reportedly not interested in the boss position, being forced into it by Bonanno. Possibly due to his reluctance, in May the set up was changed again:

May 1967:
Boss: Paul Sciacca
Underboss: Joseph Zicarelli
Consigliere Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno.

June 1967 is a big mess. It was reported that the family was split between three factions: Joseph Zicarelli, with approximately 45 members under Paul Sciacca, 65 members under Joseph Zicarelli, and 65 under Bill Bonanno.

By late June, Paul Sciacca was reported to be serving as an interim boss.

October to November 1967:
Boss: Paul Sciacca
Underboss: Frank Mari
Consigliere: Thomas “Smitty” D’Angelo(Killed November 10)

November 1967-December 1968:
Boss: Paul Sciacca
Underboss: Frank Mari
Consigliere: Possibly Peter Crociata.

January-August 1969:
Boss: Paul Sciacca
Underboss: Frank Mari
Consigliere: Michael Adamo

August -September 1969:
Boss: Frank Mari(Killed September 18th)
Underboss: Philip “Rusty” Rastelli
Consigliere: Michael Adamo(Killed September 18th)

[Antiliar]

Thanks chin_gigante and thekiduknow. Appreciate all the work you two put in to this. Looks like we've got it covered.

Excellent breakdown gentlemen.

Antiliar, just a question, in this topic viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7523 you noted Michele Mercadante as a possible boss in a ruling panel. Salvatore is a relative to Michele? I ask because I knew Michele but not Salvatore.

And for those interested I posted a picture of Michele here last week viewtopic.php?f=31&t=6785&start=135

I was reading something where he said his father (Michele) was a boss (don't recall if it was Salvatore or another Mercadante who said this). No dates were given, so hopefully jimmyb or someone can help clarify the CDG succession.

[jimmyb]

Great stuff guys. Thanks for sharing. .

Here's what I'd add to the CDG portion.

Don Felice Buccellato was killed in 1921. (he was Giovanni's son, Salvatore's nehphew)

Nino Buccellato was the CDG boss killed in 1981. Cola Buccellato was his primo cugino. But Nino was the boss.

In terms of the 90s and 2000s, Agostino Lentini was Calabro's right hand man. Idk for sure if he was sotocapo, but I suspect so. Meanwhile, Gio's cousin Alberto Calabro was identified as a capodecina.

I think I was way off with Giuseppe Valenti. I apologize for the confusion. Maybe I have him mixed up someone else. He was identified as part of the CDG corruption scandal, but I don't seem his name elsewhere. If that changes I'll retract my retraction, lol.

Everything else looks good.

[Antiliar]

Thanks, jimmyb

[B.]

- Governale was at least a "padrone" figure to the Orlando-Schiro network, you found plenty of evidence for that. Often that corresponds with being boss or someone of significance given these guys were all neck-deep in mafia. I think you're on the money to include him as a possible early (founding?) boss.

- Another name like Governale to me is Mariano DiStefano. From Santa Ninfa and uncle to Giuseppe Grimaldi (father of Vito). The Sciaccas from Salemi were also very close to an "M. DiStefano" but not sure it's the same guy, though if it's a different one the surname and Sciacca connection suggests someone from that area. In turn Nick the Battler DiStefano's family came from Salemi. I saw some other people in these circles (not just mafiosi) were tied to Mariano DiStefano as well. Not that I think he was necessarily high-ranking, just worth considering as a possible member and "padrone" figure in his network from the Santa Ninfa / Partanna / Salemi cluster.

- We see with Baldassare "Benny" Gallo some of them had heritage in both Salemi and Santa Ninfa. Like the younger Camporealesi guys related to Schiro, I think we're missing a generation of members from this cluster. Through combined research we've identified even more of them but this faction looks to go back to the origins of the Family and was powerful in Williamsburg and then Bushwick, Middle Village, and Ridgewood. They're still around today and throughout Bonanno history at any given time it seems at least one member from this cluster holds the rank of capodecina or higher -- in recent years there were 5 different guys with heritage in this cluster identified as captains or acting captains.

Historic:
Gaspare Messina (Salemi) [Possible leader over this element; became Boston boss]
Baldassare Gallo (Santa Ninfa / Salemi) [Likely a capodecina; many of his close associates were from Salemi]
Giuseppe DiMaria [Capodecina]
Giuseppe Grimaldi (Santa Ninfa / Carini) [Capodecina]
Paul Sciacca (Salemi) [Boss]
Biagio Restivo (Partanna) [Capodecina]
Louis Restivo (Partanna) [Capodecina]
Nicola DiStefano (Salemi) [Capodecina]

Mid-2010s:
Vito Grimaldi (Santa Ninfa) [Capodecina]
Joseph Grimaldi (Santa Ninfa) [Capodecina]
Natale Mule (Partanna) [Acting Capodecina]
Anthony Fasitta (Partanna) [Capodecina]
?-Damiano Zummo (Gibellina?) [Acting Capodecina]

Not suggesting there's direct continuity between any of these ranks or that it's all by design, it's just an observable trend in Bonanno history and shows that people from this inland Trapani cluster have continued to fill the Bonanno ranks and leadership positions throughout its history and some of them are even direct descendants of previous captains.

- Kiduknow found that Salvatore Bianco was from Partanna and his death was rumored to be linked to the recent murder of consigliere Filippo Rappa. Along with Bianco's other strong Bonanno connections he's worth considering as part of the early generation.

- A former associate on record with Vito Grimaldi confirmed that Grimaldi maintains ties to Sicily and I know his wife was born in his ancestral hometown Santa Ninfa. The same source said the Restivos were active with the Partanna club in Queens. Heritage is not lost on that circle.

[B.]

- The Messina brothers who have been mentioned by Kiduknow are worth mentioning with the Santa Ninfa / Salemi / Partanna guys. They were from Castelvetrano which is near there and associated with that crowd. Interesting too that the Messina Denaros of Castelvetrano have kept the "Messina" part of their name, which I assume is a historic family surname they felt the need to keep in use (like the Orlando Sciortinos of California who were probably first w/ the Bonanno Family). If it's a maternal surname it must go back at least to Francesco Messina Denaro's mother since both he and his son used it. Seems to be a common name in the region since we also see Gaspare Messina from Salemi.

- We know the names of a handful of historic leaders from that inland Trapani cluster but not much about the membership. Be curious how many of these Bonanno guys' families were already involved there. Just to give perspective it's a 9 minute drive from the center of Partanna to the center of Santa Ninfa and 15 minutes from Santa Ninfa to Salemi. Showing the network wasn't limited to New York, Rosario Desimone of Salaparuta (30 mins from Santa Ninfa) could be considered a "House of Schiro" boss.

- Re: Salvatore Mercadante, he came up in the recent investigation. Domingo felt Salvatore was just being targeted by LE because his father Michele Mercadante had been a previous boss. I assume Salvatore got confused with Michele up above.

- For the 1896 stuff, Giuseppe Castiglione and Antonino Tagliaria were both residents of Monte San Giuliano and Custonaci. They were obviously involved with the CDG Family but may have been members of one of the Families further west where they lived. Though the alternative, that the CDG Family had members in MSG and Custonaci is anther interesting idea.

[thekiduknow]

Some other inner Trapani connections I've come across recently:

Nicholas DiStefano's mother came from Castelvetrano. He also told the FBI that he attended the funeral of Joseph Sciacca, brother of Paul and likely a member. Joseph married DiStefano's third cousin, Jennie Vanella who was born in Salemi.

Paul Sciacca's wife, Mary Amari, was born in Santa Ninfa. Her first husband was Gaetano Sinacore, also from Santa Ninfa, who died in 1929, a few years before she married Sciacca. The Sinacore name comes up around the Santa Ninfa Bonannos. Giuseppe Grimaldi's brother in law was Joseph Sinacore, who JD has as a suspected member in his 1979 chart. There's Frank Sinacore, also from Santa Ninfa, who a CI identified as a member after he passed away in 1969. I haven't been able to find any link between the Sinacore's yet.

Salvatore Marchese married the daughter of John Clemenza, who Bill Feather has as a Colombo member. Clemenza was from Partanna.

[B.]

Some other leads to explore related to Benny Gallo:

-

The directors of the Meserole Democratic Club of Williamsburg circa 1925 were:

- Benny Gallo
- Peter Petrucello
- Charles Bentivegna
- Saverio Russo
- Giuseppe Adragna

- Giuseppe Adragna is probably the same one born in Alcamo who was a likely Bonanno member in Williamsburg. Two of his sons were with the Pittsburgh Family and one transferred to San Jose. Another son was with San Jose as well. A fourth son, Joseph, stayed in Williamsburg and a San Jose informant said he was a member of a New York Family (Bonanno?).

- Possible match for Charles Bentivegna is from Cattolica Eraclea, Agrigento, which shows up in the Bonanno Family in the Bronx, New Jersey, and Montreal. The Bentivegna name is most common in Sciacca.

Not sure about Petrucello and Russo.

----------------------------------------------------

Counterfeiting associates of Benny Gallo:

- Filippo San Filippo
- Orazio San Filippo (brother of Filippo)
- Sam San Filippo (could be Orazio's nickname)
- Carmelo Lampasono (relative of San Filippos)
- Frank Acquavia
- Vito Bello
- Joe Maggio
- Anthony Ferando
- Charles Lendina
- Jack Marino
- Joseph Peppitone

- The San Filippos and Lampasono lived in Canarsie and were from Salemi like Gallo. Orazio San Filippo came to the US with two women from Salemi named Vanella, which Kiduknow mentioned above is a name related to the Bonanno Sciaccas and DiStefanos from Salemi.

- Bello might be one from Mazara del Vallo who later lived in Ozone Park, which would fit his associates living in Canarsie. Future Bonanno member Willie Dara grew up in Ozone Park and one of his parents was from Mazara. An Antonio Bello is a mystery Bonanno member on the West Coast who returned to NYC to die in the 1960s. The possible match for Vito Bello listed brother "Anthony Bello" as his departure contact in Trapani in 1950.

- If Lendina was Lentini it could be an Agrigento guy.

- Peppitone is probably Pipitone, a name most common in lower Trapani province but it does show up elsewhere. Definitely a Sicilian.

Not sure on the others.

[B.]

Did you guys know Gaspare Messina moved back to New York City? His 1930 naturalization says he and his family moved back to NYC in 1927 and he'd been living there during the preceding three years. Several of his children were listed as born in Boston through the 1910s and all of the family members' names match the Boston Messina. The Messinas were living in Midtown Manhattan from 1927-1930.

His naturalization witnesses were James Alascia of NYC and Francesco Accardi of Williamsburg. Alascia was Salvatore Maranzano's business partner and likely a Bonanno member. Looks like Accardi came from Santa Ninfa and born in 1869, so an old timer from this cluster. Accardi is listed on immigration docs as Gaspare Messina's cousin.

This means too that Messina was living back in NYC when he was acting capo dei capi and picked right back up associating with the Bonannos. Was he still the official Boston rappresentante at this point?

- Filippo San Filippo
- Orazio San Filippo (brother of Filippo)
- Sam San Filippo (could be Orazio's nickname)
- Carmelo Lampasono (relative of San Filippos)
- Frank Acquavia
- Vito Bello
- Joe Maggio
- Anthony Ferando
- Charles Lendina
- Jack Marino
- Joseph Peppitone

^ When Gaspare Messina visited Sicily in 1924 on his return trip there was a San Filippo from Partanna on the ship heading to Brooklyn.
--

Re: Messina Denaro, I've now found Messina Denaros using both names going back to the 1880s. Definitely not something the Francesco/Matteo branch picked up later.