DeCavalcante Info Thread (Cont'd)

[LcnBios]

Continuation of the first thread.

DeCav Inductions (1970s):

c. 1976
- Virgil Alessi (44y)
- Blackie DiAugusta (ph) [Poss. Mickey DePietro]
- Rudolph Farone (48y)
- Girolamo 'Jimmy' Palermo (38y)
- Vincent Rotondo (46y)
- Louis Telese (50y)

Fall 1976
- Joseph Colletti (46y) [Sponsored by G. Colletti]
- Joseph LaSala (46y) [Sponsored by S. Caterinicchi]
- Robert 'Bobby Basile' Occhipinti (56y) [Sponsored by J. Riggi]

c. 1977
- Joseph 'Joe C.' Caruano (46y)
- John D'Amato (35y)

c. 1977
- Vincent Palermo (31y) [Sponsored by R. Occhipinti]

c. Fall 1977
- Jake Amari (32y)
- Simone Palermo (44y) [Sponsored by J. Riggi]

c. October 1977
- Joseph 'Jo Jo' Ferrara (39y) [Sponsored by J. Riggi]
- Joseph Ippolito (56y)
- Emanuel 'Manny' Riggi (30y)

c. Late 1970s
- Philip Abramo (30y)
- Daniel Annunziata (40y)
- John D'Amato (35y)
- Giuseppe 'Pino' Schifilliti (40y)

- Charles Majuri, Joseph Caruano and Joseph Ferrara had all been proposed right after the books opened, but all three were initially knocked down for unspecified reasons. Majuri was probably made around the same time as the other two circa 1977.

- On December 5, 1976 John Riggi was formally announced as Sam DeCavalcante's Acting Boss. Meetings for this purpose were held inside an apartment located across from the Ribera Club at 3rd Ave and John St in Elizabeth, NJ. Most if not all members from each area (NJ-NY-CT) were present and taken to the apartment in small groups throughout the afternoon. This was done to avoid having one large gathering at the location.

- DeCav Consigliere: Stefano Vitabile began serving as the Family's Acting Consigliere around the mid-1970s. Rotondo claimed Vitabile replaced Joseph LaSelva who died. This doesn't match up as LaSelva was alive until 1983. There was a lot of talk about LaSelva's health by the 1970s though, so it's possible Rotondo got the specifics wrong and what happened was LaSelva stepped back due to health and Vitabile was made Acting for him. Vitabile was made the official Consigliere circa 1980. Interested to see what others think of this, Joseph LaSelva was originally DeCavalcante's Underboss, or one of them anyway, as of the 1960s so maybe he was made the Consigliere at some point afterwards. Should be noted Frank Majuri is not mentioned in relation to the Consigliere role at all.

- By the early 1980s there was a push to have Sam DeCavalcante taken down as Boss, not just by the DeCavs themselves but from New York. Main reason was DeCavalcante resided in Florida and wasn't hands-on enough. Around September 1982 a group of three acting as Family spokesmen traveled to Florida to ask for DeCavalcante's resignation which he gave. John Riggi was then appointed official Boss. The Underboss position remained vacant for over a year at which point Girolamo Palermo was upped direct from Soldier.

- More to be added.

EDIT1: Added Alessi/D'Amato to 1970s inductions.

[LcnBios]

Murder of Charles Novello

- Charles Novello (26y), Elizabeth resident, involved with unspecified female relative of Joseph 'Joe C.' Caruano. Relative was also the girlfriend of someone else linked to the DeCavs not specified. After an argument Novello made threatening remarks; summoned to meet with DeCav higher ups and given warning.

- On August 19, 1976 St. Rocco's Festival held in Elizabeth. Attendees included John Riggi, Louis LaRasso and two LaSelva associates from Connecticut, Dominic Constantino and Martin DiTota. Novello also present and got involved in another dispute re Caruano relative. Novello brought before Riggi and LaRasso and warned again at which point Novello called LaRasso a nobody and said he couldn't be ordered around. Following day Novello found shot to death on Staten Island side of Goethals Bridge.


Vincent Palermo Induction Ceremony (c. Early-Mid 1977)

Drove with father-in-law Robert Occhipinti, a DeCavalcante Captain, to Pinocchio's restaurant in Elizabeth. From there followed another car to neighborhood located nearby. Group parked and walked a few blocks to residence where entered basement.

Those present included:

- Sam DeCavalcante (Boss)
- John Riggi (Underboss)
- Stefano Vitabile (Consigliere) [taking other info into account Vitabile possibly Acting Consigliere at the time]

- Louis LaRasso (Captain)
- Larry Schiro (Captain)

- Joseph Giacobbe (Soldier)
- Girolamo Palermo (Soldier)
- Unnamed 'Old Timers'

DeCavalcante asked Palermo if he knew everyone in the room, what he thought about them and if he wanted to the spend the rest of his life with them. Palermo agreed and was told by DeCavalcante, 'Now you're in the Family'. Followed by rules typically given at ceremonies re wives, no drugs, etc. Gun and knife present on table but no finger pricking or saint card. Palermo then formally introduced to everyone present. Quick rundown given of NY Families and DeCavalcante clarified their Family had no seat on the Commission. Ceremony then concluded and food brought out.

Although sponsored for membership by Occhipinti, Palermo was placed in the crew of Vincent 'Jimmy' Rotondo. Supposed reason was a member can't be with a relative, but other examples in the DeCavs, the Rotondos included, go against that idea. Rotondo would be in charge of introducing Palermo to members of other Families in New York.

[AlexfromSouth]

Very nice JD, so glad you are back!

[LcnBios]

Anthony Rotondo Ceremony (June 1982)

- On-record with DeCavs following promotion of father Vincent Rotondo to Capodecina circa 1977. Around 1978 on vacation in Florida when contacted by father and told to visit Emanuel Riggi Sr.'s house in Hallandale/Miami. Those present were Rotondo, Riggi, Sam DeCavalcante, Anthony Mannarino and unspecified DeCavalcante associate. DeCavalcante asked Rotondo to go for a walk and briefly spoke with him in vague terms about the Family and how to carry himself. Rotondo considered proposed at that point.

- June 1982: Told by father that morning to be home dressed and ready by 7:00 PM. Ceremony held in basement of Rudolph Farone's residence on East 52nd St in Mill Basin, Brooklyn. Rotondo and the other two inductees, James Gallo and Gaetano 'Corky' Vastola, taken to adjoining room. Minutes later trio called back out to main room and told to sit in specific chairs around large rectangular table.

Those present aside from inductees included:

- John Riggi (Acting Boss/Underboss)
- Stefano Vitabile (Consigliere)

- Rudolph Farone (Captain)
- Vincent Rotondo (Captain)

- Daniel Annunziata (Soldier)
- Blackie DiAugusta (Soldier) [Poss. Mickey DePietro]
- Louis Telese (Soldier)

Vitabile asked inductees if they knew the reason they had been brought there and all answered no. Earlier that evening Rotondo's father had instructed him how to answer. Something unusual, Vitabile wasn't the only one asking that question. Rudy Farone and Louis Telese both did as well, multiple times. Each inductee was asked more than once if they knew why they were there.

Vitabile presided and gave the usual speech re come in alive leave dead, live by gun and knife etc. Vitabile then stated due to 'the way things were' and because the DeCavs were a tight knit Family, they were foregoing the normal ceremony. Trio then told to stand and swore oath. No gun/knife present at table and, as with Vincent Palermo, no finger pricking or saint cards. One tradition followed was the tie-in or tie-up to open and close official business. Typical rules given and formal introductions made all around. Samuel DeCavalcante in Florida but identified as official Boss.

Rotondo assigned to father's crew. Gallo placed with Rudolph Farone (later under Manny Riggi) and Vastola put direct with administration (later under A. Rotondo).

Approximately one week later dinner held at Amber Cafe in Brooklyn. Purpose to congratulate new members and facilitate introductions to DeCav members not at ceremony. Those present included the three new members, Riggi, Joseph Colletti, Paul Farina, Girolamo Palermo, Salvatore Timpani and unnamed members from Brooklyn-Manhattan.

Seems most if not all of the DeCavs made post 1976 were not brought in using the blood and saint method. This would lead to the majority of the Family having to be re-inducted a few years later. Details to be added in future post.

DeCav Family relationship with NY Families

- Prior to 1985, DeCav membership told by their Captains that the DeCavs "answered at that time to the Genovese family." After the Castellano murder this switched to Gambinos. Believed through John Gotti's influence that John D'Amato was appointed Underboss around Fall 1988.

Rudolph Farone

- Got the nickname Tootsie after supposedly carrying out a hit while dressed as a woman. Murder believed to have taken place during Gallo war.

Jerry 'Dracula' LNU

- Member of DeCavalcante Family. Father and brothers 'work for the Bonanno family' in Montreal. Possibly still alive at time of big indictment.

Will update with more eventually.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Great stuff JD.

Appreciated

[Pogo The Clown]

Great stuff as always JD. Thanks for clearing up the Consiglieri situation for the 70s.


Pogo

[BillyBrizzi]

Great stuff as always JD. Thanks for clearing up the Consiglieri situation for the 70s.


Pogo

Why do you always write Consiglieri in stead of Consigliere Pogo?

[Pogo The Clown]

Habit.


Pogo

[Frank]

Does anyone know who the men were he went to Florida to ask DeCalvcante to step down? And I take it Riggi didn't ever know that Charley Majuri said he was gonna kill Riggi.

[Snakes]

Interesting to see some of these ceremonies with no sword and gun or finger pricking. First in the Cantarella testimony and now here. This especially interesting to me since this is supposedly how Chicago made most of their guys.

[Pogo The Clown]

As we know Gotti made a beef about it and made the DeCavalcantes re-do their ceremonies with gun, knife and finger prickng. Really it was just Gotti flexing his muscles on a smaller family.


Pogo

[Frank]

Yes but Gotti seemed very old school about alot of things. Say what you want about Gotti but he never broke omerta. I'm in agreement with most who say the Gotti era was bad for the Gambino's. Even dumb Peter Gotti never broke omerta.

[johnny_scootch]

Interesting to see some of these ceremonies with no sword and gun or finger pricking. First in the Cantarella testimony and now here. This especially interesting to me since this is supposedly how Chicago made most of their guys.

If I remember correctly the Florida family had no ceremony at all. Basically a dinner where they told you you were made.

[B.]

Interesting to see some of these ceremonies with no sword and gun or finger pricking. First in the Cantarella testimony and now here. This especially interesting to me since this is supposedly how Chicago made most of their guys.

Yeah, and it seems like the reasoning was the same for both the DeCavalcantes and Bonannos. I take Vitabile's comment about "the way things are" to mean scrutiny from LE, which was Massino's concern.

A lot of new leads to follow based on what's been posted. Pretty incredible lot of info.

edit: on the Genovese family representing them, I wonder if this was always the case pre-1980s or if they bounced back and forth. Nick Delmore for example was very close to the Genovese leadership, but on the DeCavalcante tapes it seems like Sam is completely subservient to Gambino.

[felice]

JD, according to Rotondo, Dracula's brothers are members of Falcone family in Canada