Gene Catena (Genovese Captain)

[LcnBios]

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[Pogo The Clown]

Great post JD. This Crew looks a little smaller than I figured it would be. I'm sure some members may have died from the late 50s-1965.


Pogo

[HairyKnuckles]

I believe Peter laPlaca´s son Dominick P. also was identified as made (but he died in 1963). Louis Gatto Sr was also most likely member of this crew.

[B.]

I believe this crew controlled Locals 1235, 575, and 863.

Gerry Catena used Gene as a buffer in the 1960s, but from the transcripts and info on Mary Farrell, I got the impression Gene Catena had permission to make a lot of day-to-day decisions on his own and in effect was one of the people running the family.

[HairyKnuckles]

In regards to the succession line of this crew, the credibility of cooperating witness Patrick Kelly is everything. During Tino Fiumara´s presentencing hearing, Kelly claimed that "Fiumara was a captain in the Genovese organized crime Family." If Kelly is to be believed, it means Fiumara took over the crew before LaPlaca died in December 1979. (The hearing was in October, 1979.) However, when Cafaro identified the Family´s captains in 1988, Fiumara was not mentioned but Louie Gatto was as the captain of the crew. Later, in the 1990s LE claimed both Fiumara and Gatto´s son Joe were captains. The general understanding is that the crew was split at one point, but I don´t know when. Or maybe this is a wrong conclusion? JD, or anybody else for that matter, do you have anything that confirms there was a splt of this crew between Fiumara and Joe Gatto?

[willychichi]

Guys, why did Fiumara have Lardiere killed, it doesn't look like Lardiere was going flip? Also what rackets was Fiumara sharing with Anthony Accetturo and the Lucchese's in Newark?

[Rocco]

In regards to the succession line of this crew, the credibility of cooperating witness Patrick Kelly is everything. During Tino Fiumara´s presentencing hearing, Kelly claimed that "Fiumara was a captain in the Genovese organized crime Family." If Kelly is to be believed, it means Fiumara took over the crew before LaPlaca died in December 1979. (The hearing was in October, 1979.) However, when Cafaro identified the Family´s captains in 1988, Fiumara was not mentioned but Louie Gatto was as the captain of the crew. Later, in the 1990s LE claimed both Fiumara and Gatto´s son Joe were captains. The general understanding is that the crew was split at one point, but I don´t know when. Or maybe this is a wrong conclusion? JD, or anybody else for that matter, do you have anything that confirms there was a splt of this crew between Fiumara and Joe Gatto?

Was always two Separate crews. The Gatto crew did not have interests in Down Neck Newark or the port. Gatto were Lodi and allot of guys had rackets in Paterson area. While Tino had spots in Lodi his main Rackets were Down Neck and the Port. I have never heard the Gatto and Fiumara crews being one. I believe Tino was acting capo for LaPlaca for at least 2yrs prior to his death.

[Rocco]

Guys, why did Fiumara have Lardiere killed, it doesn't look like Lardiere was going flip? Also what rackets was Fiumara sharing with Anthony Accetturo and the Lucchese's in Newark?

Lardiere was killed for Disrespecting a Bruno family member in Jail. The order to kill him did not come from Tino but from NY. Bruno member beefed to his boss. Bruno sent word to NY that he had to be killed. This was not an inter-family beef.

[Rocco]

I believe Peter laPlaca´s son Dominick P. also was identified as made (but he died in 1963). Louis Gatto Sr was also most likely member of this crew.

not so sure about that. Streaky Gatto was not a Newark based guy. he was based further north.

[willychichi]

Guys, why did Fiumara have Lardiere killed, it doesn't look like Lardiere was going flip? Also what rackets was Fiumara sharing with Anthony Accetturo and the Lucchese's in Newark?

Lardiere was killed for Disrespecting a Bruno family member in Jail. The order to kill him did not come from Tino but from NY. Bruno member beefed to his boss. Bruno sent word to NY that he had to be killed. This was not an inter-family beef.

Thanks Rocco

[HairyKnuckles]

In regards to the succession line of this crew, the credibility of cooperating witness Patrick Kelly is everything. During Tino Fiumara´s presentencing hearing, Kelly claimed that "Fiumara was a captain in the Genovese organized crime Family." If Kelly is to be believed, it means Fiumara took over the crew before LaPlaca died in December 1979. (The hearing was in October, 1979.) However, when Cafaro identified the Family´s captains in 1988, Fiumara was not mentioned but Louie Gatto was as the captain of the crew. Later, in the 1990s LE claimed both Fiumara and Gatto´s son Joe were captains. The general understanding is that the crew was split at one point, but I don´t know when. Or maybe this is a wrong conclusion? JD, or anybody else for that matter, do you have anything that confirms there was a splt of this crew between Fiumara and Joe Gatto?

Was always two Separate crews. The Gatto crew did not have interests in Down Neck Newark or the port. Gatto were Lodi and allot of guys had rackets in Paterson area. While Tino had spots in Lodi his main Rackets were Down Neck and the Port. I have never heard the Gatto and Fiumara crews being one. I believe Tino was acting capo for LaPlaca for at least 2yrs prior to his death.

Rocco, this is from the Senate report "Organized crime in America". It suggests Fiumara and Gatto was the same crew. What makes you believe it wasn´t? All crew members doesn´t necessarily operate in same area. In the case of Fiumara, he was originally a Philly associate but was transferred to be under LaPlaca after a beef in the early 1970s. So his "Philly rackets" ended up under LaPlaca.

[moneyman]

So Tino becomes co-captain with Gatto in the Laplaca crew... the crew eventually splits then Tino gets locked up and Gatto overseas Tino's crew while he's in jail... I guess we assume that Tino was such a big earner that he earned his own crew and thats why they split... am I reading that right?

[HairyKnuckles]

So Tino becomes co-captain with Gatto in the Laplaca crew... the crew eventually splits then Tino gets locked up and Gatto overseas Tino's crew while he's in jail... I guess we assume that Tino was such a big earner that he earned his own crew and thats why they split... am I reading that right?

Not co-captains but acting captain for LaPlaca sometime prior to LaPlaca´s death. But because his conviction in 1979, LaPlaca´s crew went to Gatto instead. The split must have come later, because Cafaro doesn´t identify Fiumara as a captain in 1988. That´s why Fiumara must have been upped later, probably after his release in 1994.

[moneyman]

Got it thanks HK

[Rocco]

In regards to the succession line of this crew, the credibility of cooperating witness Patrick Kelly is everything. During Tino Fiumara´s presentencing hearing, Kelly claimed that "Fiumara was a captain in the Genovese organized crime Family." If Kelly is to be believed, it means Fiumara took over the crew before LaPlaca died in December 1979. (The hearing was in October, 1979.) However, when Cafaro identified the Family´s captains in 1988, Fiumara was not mentioned but Louie Gatto was as the captain of the crew. Later, in the 1990s LE claimed both Fiumara and Gatto´s son Joe were captains. The general understanding is that the crew was split at one point, but I don´t know when. Or maybe this is a wrong conclusion? JD, or anybody else for that matter, do you have anything that confirms there was a splt of this crew between Fiumara and Joe Gatto?

Was always two Separate crews. The Gatto crew did not have interests in Down Neck Newark or the port. Gatto were Lodi and allot of guys had rackets in Paterson area. While Tino had spots in Lodi his main Rackets were Down Neck and the Port. I have never heard the Gatto and Fiumara crews being one. I believe Tino was acting capo for LaPlaca for at least 2yrs prior to his death.

Rocco, this is from the Senate report "Organized crime in America". It suggests Fiumara and Gatto was the same crew. What makes you believe it wasn´t? All crew members doesn´t necessarily operate in same area. In the case of Fiumara, he was originally a Philly associate but was transferred to be under LaPlaca after a beef in the early 1970s. So his "Philly rackets" ended up under LaPlaca.

I am aware about him being with the Bruno family then going under LaPlaca. Just never thought it was the same crew. It certainly wasn't the same crew later on. Later on where the rackets very much mattered and its why the Gatto crew and Tino's crew were Separate. Gatto Crew and the Fiumara were two separate crews later on with Fiumara becoming Capo of his own crew (where most members of that crew were active in around Newark. And Gatto(streaky) was Capo of his own crew out of Lodi and Patterson. Later Streaky's son taking over as Capo till his death. What happened to that Crew After Joe Gatto's death I don't know.