HairyKnuckles wrote:Cafaro said Tieri was front boss. That´s the exact term he used. He didn´t say underboss/acting boss but used the specific term "front boss".
Below is an excerpt from Cafaro's affidavit found in the "25 Years After Valachi" report. True, Cafaro referred to Tieri as "front boss" but that had more to do with the role he was supposed to play. As we can see below, his formal position or rank was official underboss/acting boss.
Senator Nunn: I believe in your affidavit, let me read that and see if this is correct, you say, reading, that in April 1980-this is page four, for counsel, page four of the affidavit. I am sorry, page 12 and 13 of the affidavit. Let me read this to you and see where it is in error, if in error, or whether it is accurate if it is accurate. You say, "In April 1980, 'Tony Bananas' visited Tony Salerno, at the Palma Boys Social Club. After this visit, Tony told me that he had advised 'Tony Bananas' to go see 'The Chin,' because he did not want to get involved in Philadelphia's problems. Fat Tony thought that the matter was a Philadelphia problem, and passed the problem off to 'The Chin.' At the time, the acting boss was (underboss) Funzi Tieri, with Lombardo, the real power behind the scene, and Manna, the consigliere. A short time later 'Tony Bananas' and another guy were found murdered in the Bronx. In mid April,1980, Salerno told me, 'It's is a good thing that I did not get involved with this Tony Bananas thing and I sent him to see the Chin. He had an appointment with the Chin, Baldy Dom (Dominick) Cantarino picked him up and the other guy, at the Diamond Exchange on 47th Street or 48th Street (New York, New York), and they banged him out.' " Is that correct?
Mr. Cafaro: Yes, Senator.
Anyway, this thread is about the Genovese Family leadership´s control of the Philly Family. Perhaps we can discuss the Genovese Family leadership some other time, in some other thread.
After rereading the thread a few times, the FBI reports, and the other related newspaper articles online that I have been able to find on the topic, I can see why there is so much confusion around the Genovese leadership, their influence over Philly and why many of you are suspicious of what is printed in the papers.
Obama's a pimp he coulda never outfought Trump, but I didn't know it till this day that it was Putin all along.
Can any of you guys shed more light on the period from 1989-1992, especially Bellomo's official role with the family during that time and any influence he may have had over Philly? From what I have been able to find Bellomo moved into an administrative position during this period however his title or role seems to unclear and referenced differently by different sources.
Obama's a pimp he coulda never outfought Trump, but I didn't know it till this day that it was Putin all along.
willychichi wrote:Can any of you guys shed more light on the period from 1989-1992, especially Bellomo's official role with the family during that time and any influence he may have had over Philly? From what I have been able to find Bellomo moved into an administrative position during this period however his title or role seems to unclear and referenced differently by different sources.
According to his indictment he became Acting Boss in 1992 (he had been a Capo since the mid/late 80s). This followed the indicted of Gigante and his UnderBoss Benny Eggs Mangano in 1990 for the Windows case. Gigante of course managed to stay on the sreeet due to his crazy act. Mickey Generoso became the Acting UnderBoss during this period as well. In 1989 Consiglieri bobby Manna was busted at which time Jimmy Ida became Acting Consiglieri. After Manna got life in 1990 (I think) Ida became Official Cosnsiglieri. By the time Bellomo bcame Acting Boss Philly was being run by Stanfa whose ties were with the Gambinos.
Pogo
It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
willychichi wrote:Can any of you guys shed more light on the period from 1989-1992, especially Bellomo's official role with the family during that time and any influence he may have had over Philly? From what I have been able to find Bellomo moved into an administrative position during this period however his title or role seems to unclear and referenced differently by different sources.
According to his indictment he became Acting Boss in 1992 (he had been a Capo since the mid/late 80s). This followed the indicted of Gigante and his UnderBoss Benny Eggs Mangano in 1990 for the Windows case. Gigante of course managed to stay on the sreeet due to his crazy act. Mickey Generoso became the Acting UnderBoss during this period as well. In 1989 Consiglieri bobby Manna was busted at which time Jimmy Ida became Acting Consiglieri. After Manna got life in 1990 (I think) Ida became Official Cosnsiglieri. By the time Bellomo bcame Acting Boss Philly was being run by Stanfa whose ties were with the Gambinos.
Pogo
Thanks Pogo, much obliged
Obama's a pimp he coulda never outfought Trump, but I didn't know it till this day that it was Putin all along.
Philly taking direction from the Genovese was really just a blip in their history because of Scarfo's close ties to various Genovese members (which were strengthened by his prison time with Manna and others).
- Toto Sabella is made boss by Joe Traina (no doubt under the direction of D'Aquila) around ~1920, possibly bringing together several different "mafia" groups operating in the area.
- Joe Bruno seems to have had social ties to the Genovese during his reign as boss from the mid-30s through mid-40s, but there is nothing to suggest the were under Genovese direction. In the early 1950s member Rocco Scafidi narrowly avoids being murdered thanks to the mediation of Traina and the Gambinos (the situation had strong political implications given that Scafidi's relatives were leaders in the Sicilian faction).
- Joe Traina continues to act as a mediator and point of contact for the Philly family through the 1960s. Angelo Bruno and Carlo Gambino have a strong alliance and Bruno follows the direction of Gambino.
- By the mid-1970s, Joe Traina and Carlo Gambino are gone and the up-and-coming leaders of the Philly family are building strong ties to the Genovese.
- At the end of the decade, Caponigro, who has long had disputes with the Genovese family in Jersey going back to the 1950s or early 60s, tests the waters with the Genovese family and allegedly contacts Funzi Tieri with the intention of killing Bruno. Tieri allegedly gives him a deliberately vague response and Caponigro interprets it as Commission approval to kill Bruno, who no longer has support in his family and whose ties to the Gambinos are weakened.
- The Genovese family punishes Caponigro and supports the Testa/Scarfo regime to take over. The Genovese also ask that the family support Casella, who supposedly made close ties to the Genovese in prison. They also ask to promote Napoli to North Jersey capodecina as he is also close to the Genovese.
- Phil Testa is killed and again Scarfo uses his Genovese ties to take control of Philly. By this time the Philly family is more or less "officially" under the direction of the Genovese. Scarfo however maintains a relationship to Paul Castellano and then John Gotti, though it does not appear that the Gambino family has much influence over Philly.
- Scarfo and Bobby Manna receive heavy prison sentences by the end of the decade, Scarfo loses power in Philly, and the Genovese leadership takes even more of a step back. Philly's North Jersey crew, the only group of theirs still fully intact, seems to be somewhat at the mercy of the Gambino family around 1989/1990.
- John Stanfa emerges in the early 90s with the Gambino family's backing (he comes from the same town as Carlo Gambino and has close ties to the Gambino zip faction) and becomes boss of the fractured group. The Gambino family is in no position to offer Stanfa anything more than verbal support, however.
- Merlino allegedly has support from the Genovese, but it doesn't seem Merlino a any point forged close ties to NYC, keeping them at arm's length. With Stanfa and his people in prison, Ralph Natale becomes boss with support from Genovese and Colombo members but again it doesn't seem to be anything more than verbal support, as Merlino and his people establish their own dominance in Philly independent of outside influence.
- Merlino goes away and Ligambi steps up on his behalf. It's not clear what his relationship was to the NY leaders, but some independent forces in the Gambino / Genovese try to instigate a coup that does not pan out.
- By the early 2010s, the Philly family is again establishing itself under the Gambinos, as the Stefanelli recording shows that they are depending on the Gambinos to help settle their disputes with Lucchese and DeCavs, though it doesn't appear the Gambinos want to step in despite their alliance with Philly.
- Gambino members have attended weddings and there is a marriage between a Philly member and a daughter of a high-ranking Gambino member (thanks Chucky).
So you can see the Philly family has been more or less with the Gambinos for almost 100 years, with only a short window of time that they were with the Genoveses.
B. wrote:John Stanfa emerges in the early 90s with the Gambino family's backing (he comes from the same town as Carlo Gambino and has close ties to the Gambino zip faction) and becomes boss of the fractured group.
Great post. One thing though: Gambino's family came from Passo di Rigano, a northwestern Palermo suburb, Caccamo is about 30 miles southeast.
B. wrote:John Stanfa emerges in the early 90s with the Gambino family's backing (he comes from the same town as Carlo Gambino and has close ties to the Gambino zip faction) and becomes boss of the fractured group.
Great post. One thing though: Gambino's family came from Passo di Rigano, a northwestern Palermo suburb, Caccamo is about 30 miles southeast.
Oh really? Everything I've ever read has him from Caccamo. I thought it was just the Gambino brothers who were from Passo di Rigano and that they weren't from the same town as Carlo despite some distant relation. I trust you on it, though.
B. wrote:
- Phil Testa is killed and again Scarfo uses his Genovese ties to take control of Philly. By this time the Philly family is more or less "officially" under the direction of the Genovese. Scarfo however maintains a relationship to Paul Castellano and then John Gotti, though it does not appear that the Gambino family has much influence over Philly.
- Merlino allegedly has support from the Genovese, but it doesn't seem Merlino a any point forged close ties to NYC, keeping them at arm's length. With Stanfa and his people in prison, Ralph Natale becomes boss with support from Genovese and Colombo members but again it doesn't seem to be anything more than verbal support, as Merlino and his people establish their own dominance in Philly independent of outside influence.
Can you guys shed more light on the were the Genoveses stood on Scarfo killing everyone he remotely thought was a threat to him. I know that the Genovese gave Scarfo the green light on killing Caponigro and the others involved in Bruno's hit in large part to cover their own tracks but how about the other hits especially Salve Testa and the attention it was bringing the Family.
Since the Philly Family was largely under the control of the Gambinos and briefly the Genovese for over a hundred years including their seat on the commission, why didn't the Genoveses or Gambinos continue to exert their influence over Philly when Merlino took control of the family?
Obama's a pimp he coulda never outfought Trump, but I didn't know it till this day that it was Putin all along.
Actually it was the Commission who whacked Caponigro for the Bruno hit with the Gignte Crew (allegedly) carrying out the murder. Scarfo was responsible for killing those involved in the Phil Testa murder.
I don't believe NY really cared about the hits Scarfo ordered since during that era they too were committing many hits. Scarfo was justified in just about all of them.
Pogo
It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
Pogo The Clown wrote:Actually it was the Commission who whacked Caponigro for the Bruno hit with the Gignte Crew (allegedly) carrying out the murder. Scarfo was responsible for killing those involved in the Phil Testa murder.
I don't believe NY really cared about the hits Scarfo ordered since during that era they too were committing many hits. Scarfo was justified in just about all of them.
Pogo
Thanks Pogo for the clarification on the Bruno and Caponigro hits. That makes sense, there were a large number of killings by the other families during that time frame.
Obama's a pimp he coulda never outfought Trump, but I didn't know it till this day that it was Putin all along.
