Visiting Dallas 1963

[B.]

This should be a fairly easy one. They were always a very small Family and went huge lengths of time without inducting anyone.

Boss - Joseph Civello (d. 1970) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Underboss - ?

Former boss - Carlo Piranio (d. 1930) - Corleone, Palermo
Former boss / underboss - Joseph Piranio (became boss 1930; d. 1956, suicide) - Corleone, Palermo

Members:
Carlo Campisi (d. 1964) - Roccamena, Palermo
Rosario "Ross" Musso (d. 1975) - Salaparuta, Trapani

Deceased members:
Filippo Civello (father of Joseph; d. 1959) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Peter Duca (d. 1949) - Calabria
?-Michelangelo Gennaro (d. 1933) - Corleone, Palermo
?-Lorenzo Gennaro (d. 1932) - Corleone, Palermo
Frank Ianni (d. 1958) - Calabria
Rosario "Ross" Interrante (d. 1953) - Santa Ninfa, Trapani
Ralph Patrono (d. 1955) - ?
?-Vincent Vallone (murdered 1949; likely a Camorrista who may have been a Houston-based member) - Calabria

- Not sure about the Galveston faction under the Maceo brothers Sam, Rosario, and Vincent. They had Palermitano heritage and were all dead by this time but I've never seen definitive info they were members. Seems likely at least Sam was.

- Civello requested permission to induct new members when he became boss in the 1950s as the Family had very few people left. This was denied by the Commission but by the mid-1960s they had performed new inductions. It's not clear if this had taken place by 1963, though.

Confirmed made by the mid-1960s:
- Joseph Ianni (son of Frank, possible underboss)
- John Patrono

Suspected members by mid-1960s:
Philip Bosco (brother-in-law of Joe Ianni)
Joe Campisi
Sam Campisi
Charles Civello (brother of Joseph)
Joseph Colletta
Peter Interrante
Sam LoMonaco Sr.

- Biagio Angelica was an alleged Genovese member living in Texas. The Pellegrinos of the Genovese Family were said to be cousins of the Iannis and were partnered with the Dallas Family in gambling operations. One source said the Dallas Family reported to Albert Anastasia and then after his death were under the direction of Michelino Clemente of the Genovese.

- If the Family existed in the late 1800s, Giuseppe Morello and his stepfather Bernardo Terranova may have been early members as they were already made in Corleone and could have transferred to a local group. Interesting the Family had longstanding ties to the Genovese with this in mind, however by later years it seems to have been through their Calabrian connections.

- Joe Civello was a cousin of LA boss Frank Desimone and consigliere Tommy Palermo. The Commission used Desimone as a messenger/liaison to Civello, with Desimone observed traveling to Texas after visiting New York presumably to update Civello on national matters. Civello and Desimone went to Apalachin together.

[cavita]

This should be a fairly easy one. They were always a very small Family and went huge lengths of time without inducting anyone.

Boss - Joseph Civello (d. 1970) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Underboss - ?

Former boss - Carlo Piranio (d. 1930) - Corleone, Palermo
Former boss / underboss - Joseph Piranio (became boss 1930; d. 1956, suicide) - Corleone, Palermo

Members:
Carlo Campisi (d. 1964) - Roccamena, Palermo
Rosario "Ross" Musso (d. 1975) - Salaparuta, Trapani

Deceased members:
Filippo Civello (father of Joseph; d. 1959) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Peter Duca (d. 1949) - Calabria
?-Michelangelo Gennaro (d. 1933) - Corleone, Palermo
?-Lorenzo Gennaro (d. 1932) - Corleone, Palermo
Frank Ianni (d. 1958) - Calabria
Rosario "Ross" Interrante (d. 1953) - Santa Ninfa, Trapani
Ralph Patrono (d. 1955) - ?
?-Vincent Vallone (murdered 1949; likely a Camorrista who may have been a Houston-based member) - Calabria

- Not sure about the Galveston faction under the Maceo brothers Sam, Rosario, and Vincent. They had Palermitano heritage and were all dead by this time but I've never seen definitive info they were members. Seems likely at least Sam was.

- Civello requested permission to induct new members when he became boss in the 1950s as the Family had very few people left. This was denied by the Commission but by the mid-1960s they had performed new inductions. It's not clear if this had taken place by 1963, though.

Confirmed made by the mid-1960s:
- Joseph Ianni (son of Frank, possible underboss)
- John Patrono

Suspected members by mid-1960s:
Philip Bosco (brother-in-law of Joe Ianni)
Joe Campisi
Sam Campisi
Charles Civello (brother of Joseph)
Joseph Colletta
Peter Interrante
Sam LoMonaco Sr.

- Biagio Angelica was an alleged Genovese member living in Texas. The Pellegrinos of the Genovese Family were said to be cousins of the Iannis and were partnered with the Dallas Family in gambling operations. One source said the Dallas Family reported to Albert Anastasia and then after his death were under the direction of Michelino Clemente of the Genovese.

- If the Family existed in the late 1800s, Giuseppe Morello and his stepfather Bernardo Terranova may have been early members as they were already made in Corleone and could have transferred to a local group. Interesting the Family had longstanding ties to the Genovese with this in mind, however by later years it seems to have been through their Calabrian connections.

- Joe Civello was a cousin of LA boss Frank Desimone and consigliere Tommy Palermo. The Commission used Desimone as a messenger/liaison to Civello, with Desimone observed traveling to Texas after visiting New York presumably to update Civello on national matters. Civello and Desimone went to Apalachin together.

Dallas LCN boss Joe Civello’s sister was Phyllis, who married Sam Ginestra of Rockford in Dallas in April 1932. Frank Ingrassia of Rockford was best man at the wedding and other attendants were Frank Parrino, Joe Ianni, Dean Parrino, Joe Danna, Charles Civello, Vincent Zaby, Joe Parrino, Joe Civello, Ross Musso, Vince Parrino and Ted Parrino. Sam Ginestra was close to Rockford LCN boss Tony Musso and was co-owners with him in the Hi-Grade Fuel Company in the 1930s. The Ginestras were very involved with the Rockford LCN especially in the liquor business.

Joe Civello himself married Mary Tominelli in Rockford on November 24, 1929.

Mentioned in Joe Civello’s FBI files was a Joseph Cascio from Rockford. Cascio was born in Brooklyn to Biagio Cascio and Giuseppa Interrante, both of Sambuca, Sicily. Cascio married Elisabetta “Rose” Tominelli. Cascio’s cousins were the Interrantes of Dallas as his mother had siblings who settled there.

Frank Maragi of Rockford was a gambling expert and his car was spotted in the garage of Joe Civello in the 1960s on a number of occasions. Maragi was also connected to Civello through marriage and the Zacharia family.

[B.]

Great info, Cavita.

Civello's in-law Ross Musso was a Dallas member but I'm guessing it's just a coincidence this crowd was also close to Tony Musso. Ross's family was from Salaparuta not Partinico like Tony.

[cavita]

Great info, Cavita.

Civello's in-law Ross Musso was a Dallas member but I'm guessing it's just a coincidence this crowd was also close to Tony Musso. Ross's family was from Salaparuta not Partinico like Tony.

Definitely. No familial connection to Musso.

[Angelo Santino]

Can't find his arrival into New Orleans, this is the closest. Notice this Corleonese is going to Bryan, TX where there was a Corleone colony since the 1870's.

Was talking to Rick about Bryan the other night.

Michelangelo Gennaro seems to have been an early mafia figure (leader?) in that area of Texas by the 1890s. His first cousin of the same name was identified as the boss of Corleone later on. Gennaro's son and grandson associated with the Piranios (Corleonese brothers who each led the Dallas Family) and his granddaughter married Joe Alioto, San Francisco mayor whose own father was an early SF member.

Bompensiero thought Alioto's father-in-law Lorenzo Gennaro (son of Michelangelo) was a Cosa Nostra member in Texas who was murdered, but it turns out he died of natural causes. Still possible/likely he was a member.

Justin Cascio has Michelangelo Gennaro's godmother in Corleone being a Cascio and his wife was a Pomilla/Rao (big Lucchese Corleonese names). Makes sense John Cascio of LA spent time in that area and shows the LA Family had strong ties to Texas given Frank Desimone and Tommy Palermo were cousins of Dallas boss Joe Civello.

We all are familiar with Gaetano Russo, arguably one of the most important members in America in the 19th century. Look at who/where he wrote. (DiCarlo of NO isn't the same one as Buffalo unfortunately).

SAM_7375.JPG

[Angelo Santino]

There was an Ernest Amato in Galveston, TX who served time in Atlanta, he wrote to a "G. Lo Bello" in NYC which was Giuseppe Morello's alias used when people wrote him. He also wrote an uncle in Brooklyn- Pasquale Russo and other Amatos in El Paso. Wonder if Pasquale is any relation to Gaetano Russo.

There's something that was going on in early Texas at the turn of the century. Maybe not a "crime family" as we today understand it but The Network was there across multiple cities.

SAM_8984.JPG

[PolackTony]

Can't find his arrival into New Orleans, this is the closest. Notice this Corleonese is going to Bryan, TX where there was a Corleone colony since the 1870's.

Was talking to Rick about Bryan the other night.

Michelangelo Gennaro seems to have been an early mafia figure (leader?) in that area of Texas by the 1890s. His first cousin of the same name was identified as the boss of Corleone later on. Gennaro's son and grandson associated with the Piranios (Corleonese brothers who each led the Dallas Family) and his granddaughter married Joe Alioto, San Francisco mayor whose own father was an early SF member.

Bompensiero thought Alioto's father-in-law Lorenzo Gennaro (son of Michelangelo) was a Cosa Nostra member in Texas who was murdered, but it turns out he died of natural causes. Still possible/likely he was a member.

Justin Cascio has Michelangelo Gennaro's godmother in Corleone being a Cascio and his wife was a Pomilla/Rao (big Lucchese Corleonese names). Makes sense John Cascio of LA spent time in that area and shows the LA Family had strong ties to Texas given Frank Desimone and Tommy Palermo were cousins of Dallas boss Joe Civello.

We all are familiar with Gaetano Russo, arguably one of the most important members in America in the 19th century. Look at who/where he wrote. (DiCarlo of NO isn't the same one as Buffalo unfortunately).
SAM_7375.JPG

Oh wow. Haven’t ever seen El Paso as part of the network before. I note that Russo wrote a “LoSicco” in Tampico, Mexico, as well as another in El Paso.

[Angelo Santino]

This should be a fairly easy one. They were always a very small Family and went huge lengths of time without inducting anyone.

Boss - Joseph Civello (d. 1970) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Underboss - ?

Former boss - Carlo Piranio (d. 1930) - Corleone, Palermo
Former boss / underboss - Joseph Piranio (became boss 1930; d. 1956, suicide) - Corleone, Palermo

Members:
Carlo Campisi (d. 1964) - Roccamena, Palermo
Rosario "Ross" Musso (d. 1975) - Salaparuta, Trapani

Deceased members:
Filippo Civello (father of Joseph; d. 1959) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Peter Duca (d. 1949) - Calabria
?-Michelangelo Gennaro (d. 1933) - Corleone, Palermo
?-Lorenzo Gennaro (d. 1932) - Corleone, Palermo
Frank Ianni (d. 1958) - Calabria
Rosario "Ross" Interrante (d. 1953) - Santa Ninfa, Trapani
Ralph Patrono (d. 1955) - ?
?-Vincent Vallone (murdered 1949; likely a Camorrista who may have been a Houston-based member) - Calabria

- Not sure about the Galveston faction under the Maceo brothers Sam, Rosario, and Vincent. They had Palermitano heritage and were all dead by this time but I've never seen definitive info they were members. Seems likely at least Sam was.

- Civello requested permission to induct new members when he became boss in the 1950s as the Family had very few people left. This was denied by the Commission but by the mid-1960s they had performed new inductions. It's not clear if this had taken place by 1963, though.

Confirmed made by the mid-1960s:
- Joseph Ianni (son of Frank, possible underboss)
- John Patrono

Suspected members by mid-1960s:
Philip Bosco (brother-in-law of Joe Ianni)
Joe Campisi
Sam Campisi
Charles Civello (brother of Joseph)
Joseph Colletta
Peter Interrante
Sam LoMonaco Sr.

- Biagio Angelica was an alleged Genovese member living in Texas. The Pellegrinos of the Genovese Family were said to be cousins of the Iannis and were partnered with the Dallas Family in gambling operations. One source said the Dallas Family reported to Albert Anastasia and then after his death were under the direction of Michelino Clemente of the Genovese.

- If the Family existed in the late 1800s, Giuseppe Morello and his stepfather Bernardo Terranova may have been early members as they were already made in Corleone and could have transferred to a local group. Interesting the Family had longstanding ties to the Genovese with this in mind, however by later years it seems to have been through their Calabrian connections.

- Joe Civello was a cousin of LA boss Frank Desimone and consigliere Tommy Palermo. The Commission used Desimone as a messenger/liaison to Civello, with Desimone observed traveling to Texas after visiting New York presumably to update Civello on national matters. Civello and Desimone went to Apalachin together.

So this?

Boss - Joseph Civello (d. 1970) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Successor to: Carlo Piranio (d. 1930) - Corleone, Palermo
Former boss / underboss - Joseph Piranio (became boss 1930; d. 1956, suicide) - Corleone, Palermo

Members:
Carlo Campisi (d. 1964) - Roccamena, Palermo
Rosario "Ross" Musso (d. 1975) - Salaparuta, Trapani

Confirmed made by the mid-1960s:
- Joseph Ianni (son of Frank, possible underboss)
- John Patrono

Suspected members by mid-1960s:
Philip Bosco (brother-in-law of Joe Ianni)
Joe Campisi
Sam Campisi
Charles Civello (brother of Joseph)
Joseph Colletta
Peter Interrante
Sam LoMonaco Sr.

Deceased members:
Filippo Civello (father of Joseph; d. 1959) - Salaparuta, Trapani
Peter Duca (d. 1949) - Calabria
?-Michelangelo Gennaro (d. 1933) - Corleone, Palermo
?-Lorenzo Gennaro (d. 1932) - Corleone, Palermo
Frank Ianni (d. 1958) - Calabria
Rosario "Ross" Interrante (d. 1953) - Santa Ninfa, Trapani
Ralph Patrono (d. 1955) - ?
?-Vincent Vallone (murdered 1949; likely a Camorrista who may have been a Houston-based member) - Calabria

Suspected Deceased
Sam, Rosario, and Vincent.
Suspected members:

[B.]

Looks right to me based on what's available.

[Angelo Santino]

These are the last guys I'm having problems with. Duca might have originally been DeLuca.

dallas.PNG

[lennert]

Duca was a rather interesting fellow. Went also by the alias of Angelo DiPeche, under which name he was involved in the 1916 New Orleans shooting death of Jake Gilardi, in which Vito DiGiorgio also figured. He was also alleged to have been involved in the Luzerne County mining wars of 1927-1928, and was identified as one of the killers of Alex Campbell and Peter Reilly who were shot dead in 1928. He was eventually arrested for this double murder in Honolulu in 1932. I am fairly sure I have his birth record somewhere... I will try to find and let you know.

[Angelo Santino]

I'll start the Honolulu Crime Family next.

Interesting stuff, thank you. A few things.
Could Alex Campbell be related to Lewis Campbell of Philly who was Italian but not much luck beyond that.
1916 with DiGiorgio and he's Calabrese? Interesting.

[Antiliar]

I wouldn't say he was with DiGiorgio. He shot DiGiorgio and killed his friend. Duca, under the name Angelo DiPechi (or some variation) had only been in New Orleans for two months. He probably was hired by a rival faction. Another important New Orleans mobster was killed earlier in the morning.

[Angelo Santino]

I wouldn't say he was with DiGiorgio. He shot DiGiorgio and killed his friend. Duca, under the name Angelo DiPechi (or some variation) had only been in New Orleans for two months. He probably was hired by a rival faction. Another important New Orleans mobster was killed earlier in the morning.

Poorly articulated on my part. I was pointing out the early association with a Calabrian involved in the Sicilian world by 1916, whether or not he was a hired gun or a formal associate or an early member.

[B.]

Duca's true name was confirmed by the FBI as Pietro Michele DeLuca.