Revisiting Troutman

[thekiduknow]

Any history of the Bonanno Crime Family will undoubtedly include the shooting on Troutman street. Well known through its inclusion in not only both Joseph and Bill Bonanno’s memoirs, but in Gay Talse’s book “Honor Thy Father”, the first book in a series of books and television movies about the Bonanno family itself. The story goes that,either on their way to or from a peace meeting, Bill and his group of loyal followers were ambushed. After returning fire, the group fled the scene, miracuously unjuried. Until recently, the only narrative available has been in the aforementioned books, with each offering a slightly different take on the events. By digging into some FBI files from that period, and piecing together information given by two informants, NY 4336-C-TE and Bill Bonanno himself, I’ve come up with a detailed account of what led to the shooting, the shooting itself, and the aftermath.

Note: Thanks to the un-redacted files on Mary Ferrell, I was able to separate information in redacted files by an informant. For example, if I see on MF that NY 4336 reported that Bill was seen at the Park View Bar, and that information shows up in Bill Bonanno’s file as being given by NY T-3, then it follows that other information given by NY T-3 was given by NY 4336, and so on and so forth. It took a long time to piece together, but hopefully this trick, if not already known, helps others with their research.

I won’t go into how, or why, the borgata split, Joseph’s “kidnapping”, or DiGregrio’s ascension to boss as me and motorfab covered it here:

https://unehistoiredecrimeorganise.blog ... e-des.html

Pre Shooting

I will start in July of 1965. At this point, DiGregorio was solidifying his position as boss. Against him were a group who were still loyal to Joseph Bonanno, led by his son Bill. This group included Joseph Notaro, John Morales and his brother Rosario, Frank LaBruzzo, and Charles Battaglia in Arizona. At the time, Bill had recently been released from prison, and NY 4336, a Bonanno member based on the Lower East Side , reported that he was in hiding for fear of being killed.

He had reason to be, as the informant also reported that Stefano Magaddino “put out the word” that Joe and Bill Bonanno, Joe Notaro, John Morales, and Frank LaBruzzo were to be “hit”. If anyone was in their company when they were hit, they would be taken out as well. Notaro, Morales, and LaBruzzo had been summoned to meet with the new leaders of the DiGregorio family, but refused to show due to the likelihood of them being killed. Morales, however, had agreed to meet with them, as long as it was in a public place he chose. There isn’t any indication they actually met.

The informant felt that if Joe Bonanno and his followers were killed, their bodies would turn up as it would take the “heat” off the other “syndicate” members. If Joe Bonanno was not found and killed, but his followers were, the informant thought it was probable that it would “save Bonannos life”. Magaddino believed that Joe Bonanno was directly responsible for the heat brought down on members throughout the country, and the “sooner these guys are done away with, the better off the syndicate will be”.

On August 4th, the LES informant reported that the Bonannos and their usual followers had no status or rank at the time, and were still being set up to be killed. He stated that Angelo “Little Moe” Prisinzano had the contract on a redacted name(I’d guess John Morales), and Bill Bonanno, but did not know who had the contracts on the other members. He later reported that the contract was passed onto Frank Mari. Later, the informant would clarify that Michael Consolo had the original contract, but passed it onto Mari who organized the Troutman Street shooting. Not clear if he passed on the contracts to both Prisinzano and Mari, or Prisinzano and then Mari.

On August 18th, he reported that DiGregorio had rescinded the order to have Bonanno loyalists killed, but did not know the reason why. He reiterated in early September that the hits were definitely called off. Joe Bonanno must have “exerted pressure where it really counted”. He believed that the reason they were called off was because Joe Bonanno had too many relatives in the syndicate.

The actual hits were to take place in a garage in Brooklyn that had been cased by the members with the contracts. However, they never could get the intended targets together at one time. The ones with the contracts specifically had sidearms and carbine rifles.

By October, the LES informant reported that Bill had been in the NYC area with a group of guys from Texas and Arizona, and that they had visited the Park View Tavern. The Park View was the hangout of LES Bonanno members, and a group that Bill would later say he expected trouble from.

While in NYC, Bill was reportedly “acting up” and “causing trouble with other ‘crews’ of the syndicate”. It was clear to the informant that Bonanno did not intend to “back off gently”, and that his behavior/movements were directed by his father.

The first report that can be tied to Bill Bonanno since his candid FBI interview in January 1965, is in December of that year. He was contacted on the 2nd, and confirmed what the LES informant said previously. Bill reported that he had been moving around freely, accompanied by his bodyguard Carl Simari. He stated that he had contacted caporegimes Mike Consolo, and Angelo Caruso. If anyone wanted him killed, Bill claimed, he thought it would be Consolo and Angelo Prisinzano, as they had “rebelled” against a contract he had given when he was the consigliere.

According to Bill, he was still “handling some action” during this time, particularly in the garment district.

On January 8th, he reported that he had “approximately 50 trusted people” in his “splinter group'', and was focusing on aligning himself with younger men, Samuel “Hank” Perrone and Angelo Lapi undoubtedly among them. There were also members of the Bonanno family that were still loyal to his father that could only help financially. He specifically named Joseph Spadaro as one of them.

When his father was again on the street, Bill claimed that he would not be the head of the family, but would be in an “advisory position”, and Bill would “continue as ‘boss’”. Later that same month, he would outline his group’s administration, with Bill as boss, Vito DeFilippo as underboss, and Joseph Notaro as consigliere.

Sometime prior to the 8th of January,DiGregorio and Bill met on the corner of Myrtle and Wyckoff Ave in Brooklyn. DiGregorio wanted to speak to Bill privately, and said he would send a messenger. Bill received two summons, but ignored both of them.

Paul Sciacca, the consigliere, and recently promoted caporegime Sereno Tartamella were the “brains” behind DiGregorio, and Bill believed that if he was removed as boss, one of them would take over.

He was contacted again on the 26th, and reported that he had been summoned to appear before the Commission, but refused to go. He did, however, meet with unnamed representatives of the Commission, and was given the ok to “operate if he remained in his territory”. Bill stated again that he was moving around the city “without apparent fear of his life”, but expected trouble from the members who hung around the Parkview Bar: Tony Lisi, Patsy Giganti, Angelo Prisinzano, Michael Consolo, Armando Pollastrino, and Frank Mari.

Angelo Caruso had also summoned Bill, and they planned to meet shortly, apparently to talk peace. Bill claimed that Caruso wanted no trouble with the Bonanno group.

The Shooting

The shooting took place two days later, on January 28. The next day, the police found seven gones total: three 38 caliber revolvers, two 45 caliber revolvers, a 12 gauge shotgun, and a 45 caliber semi automatic rifle.

Bill was contacted on February 3rd, and recounted the events leading up to and including the shooting. Bonanno contacted Gaspare DiGregorio during the week of January 24th, regarding territory that belonged to Bill. There were two meetings scheduled before the one at Troutman, but they had been called off at the last minute by DiGregorio.

DiGregorio then told Bill that Sereno Tartamella would contact Bill for a sit-down. Bonanno was contacted by Tartamella, likely through soldier and Sereno’s brother-in-law Anthony Lucido, who Bill claimed was the “contact man” for DiGregorio”, and Bill set the meeting for 10:30pm in the basement of Vito Bonventre at 279 Troutman Street. Bonventre is described as a long time trusted soldier.

Accompanying Bonanno was Carl Simari, Frank LaBruzzo and Joseph Notaro. They were to meet Tartamella, and Peter Crociata, DiGregorio’s underboss. He said all carried guns with them, and arrived at 9:15pm. Bonventre was not with them, but upstairs in the home.

At approximately 10:15pm, Bonventre told Bill that he got a call from an unknown male for him. Bill took the call and it was Sereno Tartamella, who told him that he and another individual, who was not named, were under close surveillance by the FBI and could not make the meeting unless they shook the surveillance. Tartamella said that if they did not arrive in 30 minutes, Bill and his group were to go to a restaurant in Ridgewood for the meet. The FBI noted that they were not surveilling Tartamella that night.

Bill and the others waited the 30 minutes, and then decided to head for the restaurant. Bill left the house first, followed by Carl Simari. When Bill reached the sidewalk, he headed toward Knickerbocker Ave, pausing to let Simari catch up.

When Simari reached the sidewalk, he noticed a door was slightly opened and saw a figure with a gun pointed at Bill. The individual did not fire, but Simari fired two shots at the doorway and the figure disappeared. Bill was shot at from another doorway, and this time Bill returned fire. Simari yelled at Bill that there were three more individuals in the street with guns, and they began firing at Bonanno and Simari, and they returned fire.

Bonanno ran toward Knickerbocker Ave, where they had parked their car. Bonanno fired at an unknown man sitting in a car, who he thought might be a lookout. The man ducked and was not hit. Bill then waited for Simari to catch up, and they left the area around 11pm.

Bonanno noted that neither Notaro or LaBruzzo were involved in the shooting. They waited for about five minutes before leaving on foot. The shooting, according to Bill, lasted about two or three minutes.

Post-Shooting:

Contacted on the 14th, Bill advised that the word of the shooting was on the street, and many factions within LCN were “extremely distrubed” by it. He heard that even some of the Commission members were looking into it, as they did not sanction it.

Even some DiGregorio’s people were not happy with the shooting, Michael Consolo being a prime example. Bill reported that Consolo didn’t think the hit should have happened, not because he liked Bill, but that when a sit down is called, there should be no “double cross”.

Bill was trying to contact DiGregorio since the attempted hit, but both he and Sereno Tartamella went underground. When asked who ordered the hit, Bill claimed it was Steve Magaddino, as DiGregorio did not have the “nerve or backbone” to attempt a hit on the Bonanno group.

Two days later, the LES informant reiterated the story that Bill tells, and reported that the hitmen had shotguns, an Army carbine, and .38 pistols. He confirmed what Bill believed, that DiGregorio did not order the hit. The informant believed that Luchese and Gambino were behind it, as Joe Bonanno once had contracts out on them.

There was fear of a possible “all out war” between the Bonanno group, and the other recognized
“families”. He stated that all the local wiseguys were laying low, and not hanging around their usual spots because of the shooting, and they feared they would be subpoenaed. The informant was told by Patsy Giganti to stay away from the Park View Tavern, and Frank Mari’s place, Club 87, because “the lead can fly at any time”.

He also reported that Bill had about 30 to 50 guys with him, a good amount of which were young Irish guys. He thought that Bonanno would have no trouble bringing in more DiGregorio members if he “made a show of wealth”, possibly by giving out money to members in need.He noted that Patsy Giganti, and other redacted members, were all broke and would go with Bonanno for a “little dough”.

On February 24th, the informant stated that, to his understanding, Bill Bonanno had no immediate plans for retaliation. He reported that the general consensus among the local east side guys was that the Bonannos had nothing to gain by hitting the “small guys”, like Patsy Giganti and other redacted names. Instead, he should take out the top guys one at a time in order to take over the former Bonanno family.

By now, Giganti and the others were not armed, and not expecting any trouble. Since the last report, Giganti had been at the Park View daily, and stated he doubted the “lead” is going to fly.

In March, Bill was again around the NYC area, according to the LES informant.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Bill was inducting new members, but knew they were not approved by the Commission. He stated that “when the ‘lead’ starts flying, it would make no difference if they were ‘Commission’ sanctioned or not”. He also confirmed that he had some Irish guys, and some Jewish guys with him who he could depend on, but that only the “Italian kids were ‘made’”.

While I can’t confirm this report comes from Bill, it almost certainly came from him.

In May, an informant told the FBI that Sereno Tartamella had told him that not only was actually present at the shooting, but actively took part. Tartamella also stated that the contract is still out on Bill, and that Steve Magaddino wanted him out of the way.

When Joe Bonanno reappeared, the LES informant reported that a truce was decaled among the other families, and that Bonanno’s status would be decided by the Commission.

On July 14th, Frank Mari was shot and wounded lightly. The attempted hit was, according to the informant, a “personal matter” between Bill Bonanno and Mari, as Bill believed that Mari was the one who held the contract on him. According to the informant, Mari was shot while getting into his car with his associate George Guarino by a car speeding by. Mari was lightly wounded, and Guarino fired back and reportedly hit the gunmen twice, once in the head.(Other reports say that Angelo Lapi, Hank Perrone, and a “Lou” LNU were in the car, and no mention is made of any of the gunmen getting hit).

Since the shooting of Mari, the LES informant advised that it was “open season”, and that Joe Bonanno was attempting to ignite a war “like in the old days”. Mari “positively” knew who was behind it, and he would attempt to retaliate with some of his ‘young bucks’”.

The informant, who I’m sure is Bill but can’t confirm, indicated the Bonanno group was responsible, and that if the opportunity arose they would strike against Mari again.

In September, the LES informant reported that Mari had twenty one men with him, but couldn’t make any moves. Mari told the informant that Bayonne Joe Zicarelli was “calling the shots” regarding any hits, and refused to give the ok. Mari did not trust Zicarelli, as he believed he was on Bonanno’s side. At this time, the informant reported that Zicarelli and Angelo Caruso were two of a six man council running the family.

Tensions remained high, but through the summer and into the fall, multiple Bonanno members were sentenced to 30 days for refusing to testify in front of a grand jury investigating the shooting. It won’t be until October the following year, the split would again erupt into violence.

[PolackTony]

Excellent summary and write-up of the event and surrounding context. I don’t have anything to add, but this was a great read.

Any idea as to who the Irish and Jewish guys that Bill had on his team were? I’d wonder if any of these guys wound up as associates of the Bonanno or another family.

[thekiduknow]

Thanks Tony, appreciate it.

That's a good question. I don't know of any names, but there definitely could be references I've overlooked.

There was a guy named David Hill from Texas who lived with the Bonannos in Arizona in the late 1960s. He wasn't a hood, so I seriously doubt he was around Bill in NYC, but the Texas connection is interesting. I'm pretty sure Bill promised the FBI information on the Dallas family when he was cooperating, so they must have been familiar with the area if Bill is able to pull guys from there.

[B.]

A+++

Dallas boss Joe Civello was the cousin of Frank Desimone and his family came from Salaparuta, Trapani. The Desimones were part of Nicolo Schiro's network of influence, so maybe it extended to the Salaparuta guys in Texas. It extended to New Orleans early on via Cipolla and the Civellos had roots in NO. However we know of Joe Bonanno's problems with Desimone so not sure.

Remember too Joe Bonanno said he had his Buffalo kidnappers take him to Texas. While I'm convinced the kidnapping was a lie, did Joe Bonanno actually go to Texas during that time?

[PolackTony]

A+++

Dallas boss Joe Civello was the cousin of Frank Desimone and his family came from Salaparuta, Trapani. The Desimones were part of Nicolo Schiro's network of influence, so maybe it extended to the Salaparuta guys in Texas. It extended to New Orleans early on via Cipolla and the Civellos had roots in NO. However we know of Joe Bonanno's problems with Desimone so not sure.

Remember too Joe Bonanno said he had his Buffalo kidnappers take him to Texas. While I'm convinced the kidnapping was a lie, did Joe Bonanno actually go to Texas during that time?

The Texas stuff could be a more important part of the Bonanno story in this period than people have realized. Like AZ, Dallas was also an area with a lot of Chicago activity. I’d think that in the 60s this could have also been an arena of tension, like the Western states were. Given Civello’s origins in Salaparuta, I’d guess that apart from NOLA, the families that he connected to were going to be the Bonannos and Chicago (along with LA and probably KC), which seems to be what we see. Do we know who represented Dallas as Avugad on the Commission?

[B.]

A Dallas CI said they reported to Anastasia before his murder then the Genovese but not positive it was formal.

Wouldn't be shocked at all if Bonanno had it in his mind to take over / influence Texas like he was trying to do Califoria, especially with the Desimone connection. Maybe Bonanno thought if he could take the LA Family from Desimone his cousin in Texas would be easy game. Arizona would be a central location if he was hoping to set up an empire between the SW and S.

[Antiliar]

Great write-up. Very interesting narrative that made me curious about the motive. IMO, from other docs I read I don't believe Gambino or Lucchese gave the order, so Magaddino is the most likely suspect. Magaddino must have really hated his cousin and especially his cousin's son to order their killings (assuming that was the case). Joe Bonanno's claim about wanting to operate through the relatively weak DiGregorio may very well be true. I know that I might hold a minority opinion here, but I believe there's a grain of truth in the Bonanno kidnapping by Magaddino and that it may have (perhaps indirectly) led to the Troutman Street shooting. Besides that, we can see through the ELSURs that Magaddino was not only an authoritarian, but whenever possible expected to be the center of attention. So according to my admittedly speculative scenario, Magaddino grew impatient and frustrated with Joe Bonanno. He had a certain amount of respect for him, but none for Bill. Angry that Joe refused to give up the throne, made even worse when he heard that Bill was the boss of the faction and Joe the consigliere, he decided to have them eliminated.

A+++

Dallas boss Joe Civello was the cousin of Frank Desimone and his family came from Salaparuta, Trapani. The Desimones were part of Nicolo Schiro's network of influence, so maybe it extended to the Salaparuta guys in Texas. It extended to New Orleans early on via Cipolla and the Civellos had roots in NO. However we know of Joe Bonanno's problems with Desimone so not sure.

Remember too Joe Bonanno said he had his Buffalo kidnappers take him to Texas. While I'm convinced the kidnapping was a lie, did Joe Bonanno actually go to Texas during that time?

The Texas stuff could be a more important part of the Bonanno story in this period than people have realized. Like AZ, Dallas was also an area with a lot of Chicago activity. I’d think that in the 60s this could have also been an arena of tension, like the Western states were. Given Civello’s origins in Salaparuta, I’d guess that apart from NOLA, the families that he connected to were going to be the Bonannos and Chicago (along with LA and probably KC), which seems to be what we see. Do we know who represented Dallas as Avugad on the Commission?

I agree with B. I think it was the Genovese Family. FBI files indicate that Rocco Pellegrino was strongly connected to Dallas, so it's possible he could have been the liaison.

[PolackTony]

A Dallas CI said they reported to Anastasia before his murder then the Genovese but not positive it was formal.

That’s right, thanks. The Calabrese Connection (Pellegrino, Ianni, Vallone, etc). In that light, the CI stating that Dallas had previously reported to Anastasia would make perfect sense.

[B.]

Need to be verified but Bill Feather has Texas guys coming from not only Salaparuta but Santa Ninfa and Castelvetrano. Also has the Campisis coming from Roccamena, Schiro's hometown.

[thekiduknow]

Thanks Antiliar, B. and Tony for the kind words.

Great write-up. Very interesting narrative that made me curious about the motive. IMO, from other docs I read I don't believe Gambino or Lucchese gave the order, so Magaddino is the most likely suspect. Magaddino must have really hated his cousin and especially his cousin's son to order their killings (assuming that was the case). Joe Bonanno's claim about wanting to operate through the relatively weak DiGregorio may very well be true. I know that I might hold a minority opinion here, but I believe there's a grain of truth in the Bonanno kidnapping by Magaddino and that it may have (perhaps indirectly) led to the Troutman Street shooting. Besides that, we can see through the ELSURs that Magaddino was not only an authoritarian, but whenever possible expected to be the center of attention. So according to my admittedly speculative scenario, Magaddino grew impatient and frustrated with Joe Bonanno. He had a certain amount of respect for him, but none for Bill. Angry that Joe refused to give up the throne, made even worse when he heard that Bill was the boss of the faction and Joe the consigliere, he decided to have them eliminated.

Good point, there doesn't seem to be a specific motive, at least that was reported. I agree though, it doesn't seem likely to me that Gambino or Lucchese were in on it, although Bill did speculate to the FBI that if the hits were successful they likely wouldn't have made an issue over it(which sounds right to me). Both Bill and the LES seem pretty sure it wasn't DiGregorio, so it was almost definitely Magaddino.

Perhaps worth noting that the meeting was over some territory rights, not overall peace the Bonanno books make it seem like later. That reads to me like tensions had, at least ostensibly cooled somewhat, both Bill and the LES informant mention how Bill was "moving around freely" in the weeks leading up to the shooting. You wonder if Magaddino "pulling" the contracts was a deliberate strategy to get them out in the open, or if DiGregorio was trying to make nice, leading Magaddino to act unilaterally. Personally, I think the latter is more likely.

There's this mention by the informant I think was Frank LaBruzzo that Armand Pollastrino was really close to Magaddino. Since Pollastrino was in the Galante/Notaro crew, and the hit was given to members of that same crew, I can only speculate that he may have been the one to transmit the order if indeed Magaddino did it without DiGregorio.

[B.]

Can see Magaddino authorizing Troutman. The level of hatred he had for Bill on the FBI bug is off the charts.

[chin_gigante]

Excellent write up

[Pogo The Clown]

There's this mention by the informant I think was Frank LaBruzzo that Armand Pollastrino was really close to Magaddino. Since Pollastrino was in the Galante/Notaro crew, and the hit was given to members of that same crew, I can only speculate that he may have been the one to transmit the order if indeed Magaddino did it without DiGregorio.

Interesting since the narrative is that Galante was a hardcore Bonanno loyalist who hated Carlo Gambino and the Commission for forcing out Bonanno.


Pogo

[motorfab]

Great write up kid !

[thekiduknow]

There's this mention by the informant I think was Frank LaBruzzo that Armand Pollastrino was really close to Magaddino. Since Pollastrino was in the Galante/Notaro crew, and the hit was given to members of that same crew, I can only speculate that he may have been the one to transmit the order if indeed Magaddino did it without DiGregorio.

Interesting since the narrative is that Galante was a hardcore Bonanno loyalist who hated Carlo Gambino and the Commission for forcing out Bonanno.


Pogo

Other than Notaro and the DeFilippos, the rest of the Galante/Notaro crew were mostly anti-Bonanno. Paul Sciacca, Rusty Rastelli, and Frank Mari all came from that crew and were firmly on the Commission side.