Bonanno Info (1980s - 2000s)

[SonnyBlackstein]

Formal commission meetings were a thing of the past, not necessarily the commission itself.

A Daily news article states the commission still had to approve major changes etc. and held 'mini meetings'.
(http://www.nydailynews.com/boss-rat-jos ... e-1.114750)
So the families still had to obtain consensus, or majority rule, for certain decisions and although no 'formal' commission meeting took place post Castellano, several de facto meetings did (Gotti, Gigante, Casso in 88, Peter Gotti, Joel Waverely, Louie Bagels and Massino at Casablanca early 00's).

[Hailbritain]

Formal commission meetings were a thing of the past, not necessarily the commission itself.

A Daily news article states the commission still had to approve major changes etc. and held 'mini meetings'.
(http://www.nydailynews.com/boss-rat-jos ... e-1.114750)
So the families still had to obtain consensus, or majority rule, for certain decisions and although no 'formal' commission meeting took place post Castellano, several de facto meetings did (Gotti, Gigante, Casso in 88, Peter Gotti, Joel Waverely, Louie Bagels and Massino at Casablanca early 00's).

Larry dentico represented the genovese family in that 2000 meeting

[OlBlueEyesClub]

Even after Castellano was murdered the "Commission" of NY was still in existence. It wasn't the "Commission" of old , but we have testimony from Gravano, Al D'Arco and others that Commission meetings were still being held. At least between the Luke's, Gambinos and Genovese. And we have testimonies and other things like books (all of which aren't reliable) that say the Bonannos weren't apart of these "mini-Commission" meetings and that Gotti proposed bringing them back on board but that it was ultimately shot down. We also have claims from Gravano that during the planning of Castellano's murder and even after it was carried out, that Gotti himself would still mention "The Commission" and telling said "Commission" that they, the Gambinos, were themselves looking into the murders of Castellano and Bilotti. And that Gotti was worried over violating a "Commission" rule.

No one is denying that the Commission as a whole , or what it used to be in LCN's heyday was long gone. But there still was a Commission of the NY families, and the Bonannos, at least up until Gigante was convicted, were still excluded from these meets.

[B.]

It's mostly a semantics thing, yeah, but there has been a lot of talk over the years about Massino being put on the Commission. Being put on the Commission was a very specific process and following Castellano's death / the Commission trial it's clear (according to Massino himself) that nobody was elected to the Commission again, it was just New York bosses discussing/influencing policy based on who was available on the street at the time.

So in that sense it's sort of pointless to say that anyone appointed Massino to the Commission. The Colombos were in terrible shape after the war, Gambino and Lucchese administration members had become CWs, many other leaders were in prison, while the Bonannos had recovered from their down years which allowed Massino to step up and have some influence. Whether other families encouraged him to take more influence would have helped with all of that I'm sure, but that's how I see it based on what's available.

Also I'm not sure where the idea originally came from that Gotti and Massino were close personal friends. I'm not saying it isn't true, as they were both up and coming Queens guys from the same generation involved in hi-jacking, and they did collaborate in important events in the 70s and 80s, but I would be curious where the info originally comes from that there was some kind of deep loyalty between them.

[OlBlueEyesClub]

I hear you . And I agree , there really isnt much to support the theory of Gotti & Massino being close allies , other than the fact that they came up around the same time , undoubtedly collaborated with some hi-jackings from JFK , and used crews from each others families when it came to a murder or two. But there can be many other factors that played into the exchanging of guys for those three capo murders, than Gotti & Massino being close friends. I just think its fantasy on somes part , I'm sure a couple of people would like to believe that Gotti & Massino collaborated all the time and came to one anothers aide whenever needed .

[B.]

Dellacroce had an active role in both the Galante and three captains murders, as he seems to have been the point of contact with the Commission for the Galante hit and then Frank Link testified that after he survived the three captains hit he was taken to meet with Dellacroce who assured him that he hadn't been a target in that hit, which indicates Dellacroce was part of the planning process. Dellacroce seems to have been the one who authorized the Gotti crew to dispose of the three captains, who I should also mention were killed in a Gambino club.

The way mob protocol works wouldn't allow the Bonannos to randomly approach the Gotti crew for help with a high-level murder because of "friendship" or any other reason, and I doubt they would have used a Gambino club without higher approval either. Paul Castellano allegedly told the Rastelli faction to defend themselves against the three captains, then Castellano's underboss helped facilitate the hit by providing the clean-up crew and I have to assume he arranged the venue for the hit as well.

Another myth is that Massino ordered all of these murders (three captains, Napolitano, Mirra, Bonventre) himself. There is this idea that he was calling all of the shots in the family by the early 1980s even though he was still a captain, and that the elder leaders like Ferrugia and Cannone took a backseat. From what JD's shared and other info that has come out, it's clear that these murders were issued by the elder leaders mostly for reasons independent of Massino.

[Doobeez]

Great info, B.

[OlBlueEyesClub]

Dunno how true it is , but theres a story in King Of Godfathers that says Angelo Ruggiero & Gene Gotti were on the expressway and they thought they saw what they thought was a police car following them . The car pulled up and it was Bruno Indelicato in the drivers seat and another unnamed man in the passenger with a gun pointed out the window at Ruggierio and Gotti. This was after the murder of Sonny Red , Phillip Giaccone and Dom Trinchera. This was supposedly in response to Bruno hearing that Dellacroce had signed off on the murders of his father and the other two , so Bruno was essentially targeting Gambinos. This supposedly caused John Gotti to get super cautious and protective of his crew and Neil. And that this is what joined Massino & Gotti together in an effort to find and kill Bruno Indelicato.

[SonnyBlackstein]

So what happened? Did they shoot?

[OlBlueEyesClub]

So what happened? Did they shoot?

Nah , it says in King Of Godfathers that Gene & Angelo managed to get off on one of the exits. Thats what makes me wonder if said story really happened, if they really followed them all throughout the expressway, I dont see what would've kept Bruno and the unnamed guy from following them off the exit as well. Though, seeing the traffic LIE gets , that could explain it.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Cheers.

Does seem like an odd story.

[B.]

Random Bonanno info, some of this already known some of it maybe not:

- Joseph Savarese, made February 22, 1986 with several other unknown individuals.

- Joe Chilli III (son of Joe "Junior") made in April/May of 1986.

- Following the incarceration of Joe Massino, the family was said to be run by Anthony Spero and Louis Attanasio in early 1987. No mention of Vitale.

- Anthony Spero promoted to consigliere April 1987, replaced as captain by Joseph "Junior" Chilli.

- Anthony Graziano promoted to captain July/August 1987.

[OlBlueEyesClub]

Thanks B. Appreciate this info you're sharing.

[Pogo The Clown]

Following the incarceration of Joe Massino, the family was said to be run by Anthony Spero and Louis Attanasio in early 1987. No mention of Vitale.

Thanks. This confirms a report from the late 80s that list Attanasio as the Acting UnderBoss.


Pogo

[SonnyBlackstein]

Is there a list of captains late 80's/early 90's when Massino assumed the throne (91-ish)?