Genovese Family induction ceremony August 11th, 2003

[SonnyBlackstein]

While being a soldier he did seem to have a lot of clout in the family. He was mistaken for being a high ranking captain at times. I believe both Bologna and Arillotta identified him as such.

What makes you say Arillotta was mistaken about DeLuca being a captain? I'd think his proximity to Nigro when he was on the panel would make him a fairly reliable source about DeLuca. IIRC, Arillotta said DeLuca was a captain (or at least acting) even prior to Nigro being put on the panel, and that Nigro leap-frogged over him when everyone expected DeLuca to get Muscarella's spot.

I thought the same. If Bologna and Arillota identified him as a captain.... isn't that proof enough he was a captain?

Bologna interests me. Why was he placed in such a position of 'power' ie conduit/messenger if he wasn't made? Why wasn't he made? Not a young guy. They'd make Arillota but not Bologna? Why?

[Brovelli]

^ If that's the case then I wonder if it was a place linked to Pasquale DeLuca? He had a lot of gambling spots in the Bronx. His presence there isn't unusual though, DeLuca was scheduled to travel to Connecticut with John Ardito later that year to conduct a ceremony. While being a soldier he did seem to have a lot of clout in the family. He was mistaken for being a high ranking captain at times. I believe both Bologna and Arillotta identified him as such.

You probably know this already but de Luca and nigro weee the two at the ceremony so very plausible de Luca organized the location etc

[chin_gigante]

Arillotta identified him as a high ranking captain when he first met him in the late 90s. I don't see how he could've been a high ranking capo when he was under Muscarella then when Muscarella went on the panel and served as acting boss, Patty Falcetti stepped in as Muscarella's acting capo. DeLuca probably did serve as an acting capo at times likely when Nigro was bumped up but most of the FBI affidavits I've read from back then had him listed as a soldier and he was indicted as such in 2005. Also, Louis Moscatiello was identified as acting by around 2003 too.

Did Arillotta say specifically that DeLuca was a captain when he first met him or was he just describing him using the rank he had later?

Leadership of that crew seems to get quite confusing after Falcetti is made acting captain. I don't think Falcetti would have held the position for long because he was on house arrest with electronic monitoring after his indictment in the spring of 2001, which I imagine would hinder him from being able to fulfil his responsibilities effectively.

I'm also wondering if there was a split in the crew around this time. I'm reminded of one of John Bologna's 302s where he told the government that when Nigro was put on the panel, he and DeLuca were both captains.

IMG_4249.jpeg

That 302 was also from 2008 when Bologna started to be more honest with the government and admitted lying about things previously.

I don't know what to make of Bologna saying Leo and Cirillo were on the panel with Nigro when he was upped, since Arillotta said it was Dentico and Gigante. I'd be more inclined to take Arillotta's word on that seeing as he was a member reporting direct to the administration and could be introduced to them formally. In 2004, Bologna told the FBI that Dentico was very sick and Leo was acting for him, so maybe Leo took over from Dentico at some point.

[Tonyd621]

While being a soldier he did seem to have a lot of clout in the family. He was mistaken for being a high ranking captain at times. I believe both Bologna and Arillotta identified him as such.

What makes you say Arillotta was mistaken about DeLuca being a captain? I'd think his proximity to Nigro when he was on the panel would make him a fairly reliable source about DeLuca. IIRC, Arillotta said DeLuca was a captain (or at least acting) even prior to Nigro being put on the panel, and that Nigro leap-frogged over him when everyone expected DeLuca to get Muscarella's spot.

I thought the same. If Bologna and Arillota identified him as a captain.... isn't that proof enough he was a captain?

Bologna interests me. Why was he placed in such a position of 'power' ie conduit/messenger if he wasn't made? Why wasn't he made? Not a young guy. They'd make Arillota but not Bologna? Why?

Bologna was a bullshitter. The feds would not even let him testify he was so bad. So, if you believe Arillota...but how would he know his rank?

[Brovelli]

While being a soldier he did seem to have a lot of clout in the family. He was mistaken for being a high ranking captain at times. I believe both Bologna and Arillotta identified him as such.

What makes you say Arillotta was mistaken about DeLuca being a captain? I'd think his proximity to Nigro when he was on the panel would make him a fairly reliable source about DeLuca. IIRC, Arillotta said DeLuca was a captain (or at least acting) even prior to Nigro being put on the panel, and that Nigro leap-frogged over him when everyone expected DeLuca to get Muscarella's spot.

I thought the same. If Bologna and Arillota identified him as a captain.... isn't that proof enough he was a captain?

Bologna interests me. Why was he placed in such a position of 'power' ie conduit/messenger if he wasn't made? Why wasn't he made? Not a young guy. They'd make Arillota but not Bologna? Why?

I think the power is purely because nigro put bologna with him and was using him, specifically for Connecticut. Not sure he held standing with anyone else in the mob but gained power by association with Nigro’s rise. The whole situation with Nigro just seems very uncharacteristic for the west side

[JohnnyS]

Arillotta identified him as a high ranking captain when he first met him in the late 90s. I don't see how he could've been a high ranking capo when he was under Muscarella then when Muscarella went on the panel and served as acting boss, Patty Falcetti stepped in as Muscarella's acting capo. DeLuca probably did serve as an acting capo at times likely when Nigro was bumped up but most of the FBI affidavits I've read from back then had him listed as a soldier and he was indicted as such in 2005. Also, Louis Moscatiello was identified as acting by around 2003 too.

Did Arillotta say specifically that DeLuca was a captain when he first met him or was he just describing him using the rank he had later?

Leadership of that crew seems to get quite confusing after Falcetti is made acting captain. I don't think Falcetti would have held the position for long because he was on house arrest with electronic monitoring after his indictment in the spring of 2001, which I imagine would hinder him from being able to fulfil his responsibilities effectively.

I'm also wondering if there was a split in the crew around this time. I'm reminded of one of John Bologna's 302s where he told the government that when Nigro was put on the panel, he and DeLuca were both captains.

IMG_4249.jpeg

That 302 was also from 2008 when Bologna started to be more honest with the government and admitted lying about things previously.

I don't know what to make of Bologna saying Leo and Cirillo were on the panel with Nigro when he was upped, since Arillotta said it was Dentico and Gigante. I'd be more inclined to take Arillotta's word on that seeing as he was a member reporting direct to the administration and could be introduced to them formally. In 2004, Bologna told the FBI that Dentico was very sick and Leo was acting for him, so maybe Leo took over from Dentico at some point.

1999 was when he first met DeLuca and he said he was a high ranking captain in control of Springfield. I think he did identify DeLuca as a captain again after he was made. Like I said they had him doing ceremonies so whether he was a full captain or not he was still a powerful member. Was involved in a few sit downs too.

It's hard to identify who was on the panels at specific times because it seems it constantly rotated between a number of guys. Nigro apparently was off the panel by 2004, think I've said this previously, he was said to have been involved in a power struggle with Danny Leo. They didn't get along and some of this evidence was going to be used at Nigro's trial but I don't think the government ended up using it.

[Pmac2]

Nigro made alot of mistakes. He made poor decisions. There alot. He gave arillotta or i think the geas brothers permission to beat up felix trangese a made guy. Thats crazy. The whole big john guy. Had arillota and one of the geas brother shoot a union guy for some type of slight I forgot. But he was a bad choice. I forgot i read a few of the capos where surprised he became a capo and street boss for that short time over pat deluca even arillotta was miffed. Or buster ardito

[chin_gigante]

Nigro apparently was off the panel by 2004, think I've said this previously, he was said to have been involved in a power struggle with Danny Leo. They didn't get along and some of this evidence was going to be used at Nigro's trial but I don't think the government ended up using it.

Meant to ask a follow-up about this but forgot, do you have anymore information about this or what file you found it in? I've had a look and I was able to find one mention of it in a response by the Geas brothers to a government motion in limine, but haven't seen the government's evidence itself:

Screenshot 2024-05-26 at 23.33.08.png

How long exactly Nigro spent on the panel is one thing I'm curious about. Arillotta doesn't talk as much in interviews about what the administration looked like in the period after the Bruno murder. I have found other documents as well suggesting that Nigro was still on the panel or at least in a position of authority as late as 2007.

First, Tranghese's sentencing memo saying that Nigro was still an acting boss in 2006 when he ordered Freddy Geas to assault Tranghese:

Screenshot 2024-05-26 at 12.28.09.png

Second, about money from Springfield extortions still being kicked up to Nigro through 2007 (the year he went to prison):

Screenshot 2024-05-26 at 16.00.42.png

[JohnnyS]

Nigro apparently was off the panel by 2004, think I've said this previously, he was said to have been involved in a power struggle with Danny Leo. They didn't get along and some of this evidence was going to be used at Nigro's trial but I don't think the government ended up using it.

Meant to ask a follow-up about this but forgot, do you have anymore information about this or what file you found it in? I've had a look and I was able to find one mention of it in a response by the Geas brothers to a government motion in limine, but haven't seen the government's evidence itself:

Screenshot 2024-05-26 at 23.33.08.png


How long exactly Nigro spent on the panel is one thing I'm curious about. Arillotta doesn't talk as much in interviews about what the administration looked like in the period after the Bruno murder. I have found other documents as well suggesting that Nigro was still on the panel or at least in a position of authority as late as 2007.

First, Tranghese's sentencing memo saying that Nigro was still an acting boss in 2006 when he ordered Freddy Geas to assault Tranghese:

Screenshot 2024-05-26 at 12.28.09.png


Second, about money from Springfield extortions still being kicked up to Nigro through 2007 (the year he went to prison):

Screenshot 2024-05-26 at 16.00.42.png

I'm sure it's one of the pre trial letters from the government or Nigro's attorneys. He may have been taken off the panel but then put back on it when Cirillo, Dentico, Ianniello and Barbato were all indicted in 05/06.

[SonnyBlackstein]

I think Nigro's rep of 'making miatakes'/'why was he a boss' etc is incredibly undeserved.
Basciano, Prisco and Nigro were all very powerful captains who all had key guys in their crew flip and put them away for murder.
Nigrobwas a literal unknown and rose to an acting boss position, in the Westside. Truly an achievement. If Arillotta hadn't flipped its almost certain he'd be free and at the least an incredibly powerful skipper, if not more.

He had Arillota clip a guy, he'd done prison, he clipped Bruno because he had too. I don't see anything outside the playbook, certainly not a litany of mistakes to question his power. He also stood up, which isn't a small thing as hell die in prison.

[Tonyd621]

Artie Nigro is the prime example of the rumors you hear about the Genovese putting guys they don't like on front street because so the fed can arrest them. There is nothing credible about Nigro being liked by anyone except for Bologna. And he doesn't really count because Bologna is full of baloney.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Artie Nigro is the prime example of the rumors you hear about the Genovese putting guys they don't like on front street because so the fed can arrest them. There is nothing credible about Nigro being liked by anyone except for Bologna. And he doesn't really count because Bologna is full of baloney.

You literally dont know your asshole from your earhole.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Nigro rose to acting boss with the Westside.

Tony rose from 'Eh!' to 'Eh?"

[JohnnyS]

The Nick LNU made in this ceremony is possibly Nicholas Gruttadauria. In December 2003, associate Ronald Pecoraro was caught on a wiretap saying that Gruttadauria just got his button.