Visiting New Orleans

[B.]

So, I don't want to read too much into things and assume that the connections went a lot deeper than just Leoluca and his brother, unless we can find info that states otherwise. And if the connections did run deep, they may have also been severed when Liggio took power in '61.

You're talking about Corleone, my friend. In this case it's safer to assume the connections are deeper than we even know. Morello had strong ties to New Orleans when he was boss, just not sure the extent of them by Trombatore's time as NO boss since for whatever reason the Corleone network seems to have weakened in the US despite being one of the strongest sub-networks early on. No doubt he was at least a product of that network.

Good info.

[cavita]

So, I don't want to read too much into things and assume that the connections went a lot deeper than just Leoluca and his brother, unless we can find info that states otherwise. And if the connections did run deep, they may have also been severed when Liggio took power in '61.

You're talking about Corleone, my friend. In this case it's safer to assume the connections are deeper than we even know. Morello had strong ties to New Orleans when he was boss, just not sure the extent of them by Trombatore's time as NO boss since for whatever reason the Corleone network seems to have weakened in the US despite being one of the strongest sub-networks early on. No doubt he was at least a product of that network.

Good info.

Not to muddle things any further, but I found many Trombatores living in Rockford in the 1920s and 1930s- especially noteworthy was Leoluca Trombatore who in March 1926 the Rockford Register Republic wrote that Tony LoMonaco was to open a new fruit and vegetable stand at 107 E. State with Trombatore. LoMonaco had business dealings in Madison with Tony Musso and may have been an early consigliere, This Leoluca Trombatore had a brother Stefano and both men were deported in 1938 in a morals drive in Rockford. The newspapers reported of these Trombatores that they had connections to Chicago.

[B.]

Great one, especially with Musso's NO connection. Leoluca is almost exclusively found in Corleone, so if this isn't the NO one it could be a first cousin.

[cavita]

Great one, especially with Musso's NO connection. Leoluca is almost exclusively found in Corleone, so if this isn't the NO one it could be a first cousin.

Likely, yes. There was also a Carlo or Carmelo Trombatore in Rockford in 1929 who was 72 years old at the time. Also a Michelangelo or Angelo as well as Anna and a Lucy who appears to be Stefano's wife.

[PolackTony]

Great one, especially with Musso's NO connection. Leoluca is almost exclusively found in Corleone, so if this isn't the NO one it could be a first cousin.

Likely, yes. There was also a Carlo or Carmelo Trombatore in Rockford in 1929 who was 72 years old at the time. Also a Michelangelo or Angelo as well as Anna and a Lucy who appears to be Stefano's wife.

This could also explain why Sam Olivieri wound up in Rockford, after having apparently fled first Chicago and then the Bronx.

In 1929, a Trombatore was also arrested in a raid in a distillery on the Northside of Chicago.

Chicago seems to have had a contingent of Corelonesi in the mafia from well before the turn of the 20th century. Good bet that they were part of the very early mix in Rockford as well.

[B.]

Ah yeah, the Oliveri connection. He fled to the Bronx where the Corleonesi were strong so it would fit that he had family or paesans in Rockford.

According to Cascio's research, Leoluca Trombatore of the New Orleans Family and Sam Oliveri were second cousins, therefore he was also an extended marital relative of Tom Reina (married to Oliveri's first cousin).

[PolackTony]

Ah yeah, the Oliveri connection. He fled to the Bronx where the Corleonesi were strong so it would fit that he had family or paesans in Rockford.

According to Cascio's research, Leoluca Trombatore of the New Orleans Family and Sam Oliveri were second cousins, therefore he was also an extended marital relative of Tom Reina (married to Oliveri's first cousin).

Yes, these are important connections.

The papers reported that L Trombatore (presumably Leoluca) was the uncle of Carlo Trombatore of Chicago, busted for car theft in Rockford. There were several probably interrelated Trombatore families from Corleone in Chicago. One Betty Trombatore, born in Chicago, married a James Buscemi, who was Aragonese and who was from Ladd, Bureau County (Joe Corso’s HQ town). Her family (father Salvatore Trombatore) was also closely linked to Los Angeles and the Rockford/Belvidere area.

The Trombatore busted for operating a still in Chicago in 1929 was actually a woman, Louise Trombatore, who was born in Louisiana. Her still was said to have been a major supplier of alcohol in the Uptown neighborhood on the Northside.

There was also a Leoluca Trombatore, born in Corleone in 1891, who lived in Chicago and died there in 1979.

We’re only beginning to search the surface here with these Corleonesi. Among the many Corleonesi in Chicago worth looking further into include high suspicion early names in Chicago such as Raia, Governale, Provenzano, Liggio, LoBue.

Leandro Catinella, who seems to have been an important mafioso in correspondence with Morello and who died in 1903, was already in Chicago by 1883, suggesting that the Corelonesi were part of the very early foundation of the mafia in Chicago. Leandro had two brothers in Chicago, Domenico and Gaetano, who outlived him. The Catinellas were based on the Near Southside at 18th and Clark, in the immediate center of Jim Colosimo’s vice district. This was also the same block that Michele Merlo and his father arrived to when they came from Louisiana, likely not incidental. Additionally, Gaetano Catinella’s wife seems to have been from Monreale. To bring things back to the main theme here, both Corleone and Monreale seem to have been core paesani groups in the NOLA mafia, so not surprising to see that those connections seem to have existed back in Sicily as well.

[B.]

Can't remember if I've posted this, but the redacted name in this 1996 report is likely Tampa capodecina Stefano Raffa and it says he was in contact with the New Orleans Family:



Should be noted Raffa was from Agrigento like the heritage of some of the remaining NO guys, i.e. Gaglianos.

[sdeitche]

Can't remember if I've posted this, but the redacted name in this 1996 report is likely Tampa capodecina Stefano Raffa and it says he was in contact with the New Orleans Family:



Should be noted Raffa was from Agrigento like the heritage of some of the remaining NO guys, i.e. Gaglianos.

Could be either Raffa or LoScalzo.
Can you send me the report? Curious about the Tampa aspect.

[B.]

Can't remember if I've posted this, but the redacted name in this 1996 report is likely Tampa capodecina Stefano Raffa and it says he was in contact with the New Orleans Family:



Should be noted Raffa was from Agrigento like the heritage of some of the remaining NO guys, i.e. Gaglianos.

Could be either Raffa or LoScalzo.
Can you send me the report? Curious about the Tampa aspect.

When I find it again sure thing -- I was going through old clippings I made from files so I'd have to find which one it's from.

What made me think it's Raffa is the second time the name is redacted the length and way it's broken would fit his name the best.

[sdeitche]

Can't remember if I've posted this, but the redacted name in this 1996 report is likely Tampa capodecina Stefano Raffa and it says he was in contact with the New Orleans Family:



Should be noted Raffa was from Agrigento like the heritage of some of the remaining NO guys, i.e. Gaglianos.

Could be either Raffa or LoScalzo.
Can you send me the report? Curious about the Tampa aspect.

When I find it again sure thing -- I was going through old clippings I made from files so I'd have to find which one it's from.

What made me think it's Raffa is the second time the name is redacted the length and way it's broken would fit his name the best.

Great- thanks!

Yeah, I can see that on the redacted portion regarding Raffa. Recall he and LoScalzo were unindicted co-conspirators in the mid-90s Bally gaming case out of NOLA.

[cavita]

Has anyone heard of a possible early New Orleans member named Ciro Lampo originally from Corleone?

[JoelTurner]

In Oct 1902, Andrea Todaro traveled from San Cipirello to New Orleans heading to a cousin Vincenzo Pardo. He was accompanied by his brother Salvatore Todaro.

(https://www.familysearch.org/tree/perso ... s/G257-SZ9)

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

Andrea Todaro was born Aug 27 1878 in San Cipirello to Calogero Todaro and Domenica Badolato.

On Sep 3 1914, he immigrated to NYC, but settled in Newark, NJ with his wife Filippina Roppolo. His son Vincenzo was a Gambino member who started out as a part of Sam Accardi's liquor ring before becoming a narcotics importer in Virginia & his daughter Dominica was married to Newark member Charles Matranga. Additionally, his naturalization was witnessed by Benjamin Grippi, son of Bonanno member Salvatore Grippi and boss Nichola Schiro’s nephew.

Vincenzo Pardo (if I have the right one) was born Apr 12 1875 in San Cipirello to Giovanni Pardo and Giovanna Martello. On Apr 5 1922, in New Orleans, he married Antonina Rocaforte, daughter of Antonino Rocaforte and Maria Lupo. He passed away there on Mar 31 1963

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

I know that boss Frank Todaro was also from San Cipirello, I was wondering if there could have been a connection.

[B.]

Great leads.

Should note that two successive bosses of San Cipirello in the early 1920s were Vito Todaro and Domenico Pardo. Todaro survived a murder attempt in 1921 and came to NYC the following year where his arrival contact was Morello Family leader Giovanni Pecoraro (from Piana dei Greci and San Cipirello). On the same ship with Todaro was Resuttana boss Antonino Grillo (bro-in-law of Manfredi Mineo) and Ignazio Lupo, the latter returning after petitioning the Sicilian mafia for help lifting his death sentence.

Pardo came to the US in the 1920s as well and was involved with the Rockford Family. Cavita has shared info about that.

I've wondered myself if Vito Todaro was related to Francesco Todaro of New Orleans so this adds some other possible connections to the mix.

The early Bonanno Family connection via Grippi is interesting too as they had ties to San Cipirello. Gioacchino DiMartino of San Cipirello attended Cascio Ferro's 1901 NYC welcome banquet and in addition to living in Williamsburg, DiMartino arrived to Nicolo Schiro after one overseas trip. On a later trip DiMartino was arriving to his "cousin" Giovanni Pecoraro though Pecoraro had been killed during the voyage.

Pietro Licata was of course from San Cipirello too and active with the local Family before coming to the US and joining the Bonannos. Lot of ties between the Bonannos and adjacent San Giuseppe Jato as well. The Families in those towns are and were closely involved with the mafia in Camporeale and Partinico where the early Bonanno leadership was from. San Giuseppe, San Cipirello, and Camporeale all evidently played a role in the Newark Family too. This connects back to New Orleans as Schiro's friend Leonardo Cipolla was likely the NO boss in the late 1910s after leaving Williamsburg and was later linked to the Troia murder in Newark.

[cavita]

Great leads.

Should note that two successive bosses of San Cipirello in the early 1920s were Vito Todaro and Domenico Pardo. Todaro survived a murder attempt in 1921 and came to NYC the following year where his arrival contact was Morello Family leader Giovanni Pecoraro (from Piana dei Greci and San Cipirello). On the same ship with Todaro was Resuttana boss Antonino Grillo (bro-in-law of Manfredi Mineo) and Ignazio Lupo, the latter returning after petitioning the Sicilian mafia for help lifting his death sentence.

Pardo came to the US in the 1920s as well and was involved with the Rockford Family. Cavita has shared info about that.

I've wondered myself if Vito Todaro was related to Francesco Todaro of New Orleans so this adds some other possible connections to the mix.

The early Bonanno Family connection via Grippi is interesting too as they had ties to San Cipirello. Gioacchino DiMartino of San Cipirello attended Cascio Ferro's 1901 NYC welcome banquet and in addition to living in Williamsburg, DiMartino arrived to Nicolo Schiro after one overseas trip. On a later trip DiMartino was arriving to his "cousin" Giovanni Pecoraro though Pecoraro had been killed during the voyage.

Pietro Licata was of course from San Cipirello too and active with the local Family before coming to the US and joining the Bonannos. Lot of ties between the Bonannos and adjacent San Giuseppe Jato as well. The Families in those towns are and were closely involved with the mafia in Camporeale and Partinico where the early Bonanno leadership was from. San Giuseppe, San Cipirello, and Camporeale all evidently played a role in the Newark Family too. This connects back to New Orleans as Schiro's paesan Leonardo Cipolla was likely the NO boss in the late 1910s after leaving Williamsburg and was later linked to the Troia murder in Newark.

In addition to Domenico Pardo who had an early history in Rockford, there was a Frank "Tex" Todaro in Rockford involved with the early Rockford LCN in bootlegging and gambling but I have been unable to trace his ancestry as he was born in Melville, Louisiana in 1905. His parents were Vincenzo "Charles" and Anna Todaro. I've been unable to find out more about his father Vincenzo other than he was born in Italy around 1884.