What do We Know about Willie Moretti?

[B.]

Nice job deducing who it likely was.

Another one we can add to the "Eastern Palermo" Genovese list: viewtopic.php?p=278571

His age and previous residence in NYC would suggest he may have been an early NYC-based member under Masseria and maybe the Morello Family before that.

Also another Sicilian under the Catenas. That crew seems to be where the majority of NJ-based Sicilians in the Genovese Family ended up.

[Antiliar]

I wonder if some of these early Lercara Friddi guys may have been in Lucky's crew before he became the boss.

[JoelTurner]

He almost certainly would have known Masseria & Luciano. Patsy lived for years in the East Village at 441 E 12th St, NYC, NY. Genovese member Pietro Dolcemascolo lived a stone’s throw away at 437 E 13th St, NYC, NY

He also lived in Brooklyn (1655 75th St, Brooklyn, NY) for a short time, between the WW1 draft & his daughter’s birth in NJ on Aug 24 1922

[JoelTurner]

Listed as a deceased captain by 1963, John “Duke” Denoia was a member of Willie Moretti’s crew. Here’s a better look at him:

Born in NYC, NY Oct 20 1899 to Antonio DeNoia & Irena Spera, Denoia grew up in East Harlem at 3466 E 112th St, NYC, NY. In 1930, he was married to Lillian Ward, living at 2046 3rd Ave, NYC, NY

By Feb 8 1933, he was in North Jersey as he was pinched for liquor there. He was operating out of 783 Palisades Ave, Cliffside Park, NJ; this was where his infamous Duke’s Restaurant would be located.

It isn’t clear when exactly he served as a captain. I’d speculate that he could have stepped up during Moretti’s long trips to California in the ‘40s.

Post-Moretti, Denoia worked as a night boss at the Jersey City docks. He passed away on Dec 3 1959.

——————-

His brother Carmine “Jardine” Denoia knew Damon Runyon and was the inspiration for Nicely-Nicely, a character from Guys and Dolls.

Two of Carmine’s sons were with the Genovese family. John “JJ” Denoia (1927-1991) was a member in Florida and Carmine “Wassel” Denoia (1925-2015) was an associate involved in the music industry.

[Brovelli]

Wasn’t there a Phil denoia around Andy Gerardo too? May be no relation to these guys

[B.]

I've wondered too if Denoia was a captain (acting or otherwise) given Moretti was an acting part of the administration on a seemingly recurring basis for many years.

In addition to listing him as a capodecina, Valachi identified Denoia as being under Richie Boiardo in an FBI interview although we know there are many issues with some of Valachi's apparent Boiardo crew identifications.

[bronx]

wassel was also selling jewelry

[JoelTurner]

Wasn’t there a Phil denoia around Andy Gerardo too? May be no relation to these guys

He doesn’t appear to be related

[JoelTurner]

I've wondered too if Denoia was a captain (acting or otherwise) given Moretti was an acting part of the administration on a seemingly recurring basis for many years.

Did captains who were holding an acting position usually do that?

[Brovelli]

Wasn’t there a Phil denoia around Andy Gerardo too? May be no relation to these guys

He doesn’t appear to be related

Thanks

[JoelTurner]

On the 1963 Genovese family chart, Michael Spinella is listed as a member of Miranda crew who was deported to Italy. This may not have been accurate, here’s a better look at him:

Born Mar 3 1894 in Marineo, Palermo, Sicily to Matteo Spinella & Rosa Tripoli, he moved to NJ as a toddler. By the start of the ‘20s, he was a well-known criminal in Paterson, NJ; involved in bootlegging, holdups, and gambling.

On Jan 21 1927, members of Anthony “Sparky” Wilda’s holdup gang, brothers Harry “Swchwabbles” & Richard Joachim, attempted to sell him liquor that they had stolen from him earlier. Initially refusing, he seemingly agreed after they tore up his bar The Lincoln Inn (937 Market St, Paterson, NJ). The next night, on Jan 22 1927, when they came to collect, he was waiting with Jim Profita, Frank Failla, and Frank Logioco. The ambush left Harry dead and Richard injured.

Facing a murder charge, Spinella went on the run. On Dec 15 1933, he resurfaced in Detroit using the alias Martin Steel:



Joe & Peter Bommarito, James Licavoli, and Tony Abati were Detroit members. I haven’t heard of the others.

A few years after beating the murder charge, he moved to Miami but remain in the NJ rackets as he was charged with operating a brother in Paramus, NJ in 1951. This led to him being deported to Capri 1953.

————————————-

Spinella killing Joachim kicked of a violent war, that lasted from 1927-31, between the NJ Genovese & the Wilda gang.

Nothing about Spinella’s activities nor the people that he was with point to him being in Miranda’s crew. Rather, he was likely a member of Moretti’s crew like the rest of the Jersey guys.

[Antiliar]

On the 1963 Genovese family chart, Michael Spinella is listed as a member of Miranda crew who was deported to Italy. This may not have been accurate, here’s a better look at him:

Born Mar 3 1894 in Marineo, Palermo, Sicily to Matteo Spinella & Rosa Tripoli, he moved to NJ as a toddler. By the start of the ‘20s, he was a well-known criminal in Paterson, NJ; involved in bootlegging, holdups, and gambling.

On Jan 21 1927, members of Anthony “Sparky” Wilda’s holdup gang, brothers Harry “Swchwabbles” & Richard Joachim, attempted to sell him liquor that they had stolen from him earlier. Initially refusing, he seemingly agreed after they tore up his bar The Lincoln Inn (937 Market St, Paterson, NJ). The next night, on Jan 22 1927, when they came to collect, he was waiting with Jim Profita, Frank Failla, and Frank Logioco. The ambush left Harry dead and Richard injured.

Facing a murder charge, Spinella went on the run. On Dec 15 1933, he resurfaced in Detroit using the alias Martin Steel:



Joe & Peter Bommarito, James Licavoli, and Tony Abati were Detroit members. I haven’t heard of the others.

A few years after beating the murder charge, he moved to Miami but remain in the NJ rackets as he was charged with operating a brother in Paramus, NJ in 1951. This led to him being deported to Capri 1953.

————————————-

Spinella killing Joachim kicked of a violent war, that lasted from 1927-31, between the NJ Genovese & the Wilda gang.

Nothing about Spinella’s activities nor the people that he was with point to him being in Miranda’s crew. Rather, he was likely a member of Moretti’s crew like the rest of the Jersey guys.

Frank Knapp could have been an alias for Napoli or Nappi or something similar. The others may have members of the Jewish Purple gang.