Bosses who were promoted in prison / "confirmation meetings"

[B.]

What examples do we know of where a member was confirmed as the new boss while he was in prison? I believe Massino was voted in officially as the new boss before he was released, and that must be the case with Mancuso as well.

I was thinking, though, how over the years I've seen a lot of info that talks about meetings where a new boss is formally introduced to other family leaders (off the top of my head, the Colombos and Philly did this and I'm sure virtually all other families at some point) and it seems like this was originally a more important part of the succession process, even with the acting boss position (JD mentioned the DeCavs meeting when Riggi was appointed, then there was a formal meeting of captains when Andy Russo of the Colombos was made acting boss not many years back, plus the Paul Castellano one in 1967... side note, but a similar meeting was held for Joe Colombo when he became official boss). Based on the Colombos example, this hasn't gone away completely, but I would guess the formality of this has been lost over the years. Just like a member needing a third party to introduce someone to another member, a number of people over the years have mentioned how they're supposed to use a third party to inform someone of a promotion, too (which would initially have to be someone who was at the confirmation meeting). I would guess this has been one of the most "abused" rules, if it even is an actual rule.

The reason I bring this up is because a member who is made boss in prison would have no way to be formally introduced to anyone as boss, and I have to wonder if this is the reason why Antonio Corallo wasn't officially appointed until he was out of prison, same with Carmine Persico, Bellomo, and maybe others. If this was a rule (there are enough indications it was one at some point), it would inevitably be one of the first to fade out over the years but maybe it has played a role in some of the examples I've mentioned.

[Pogo The Clown]

Joey Merlino would technically be another one.


Pogo

[cavita]

I know there's been talk that the original "naming of bosses" across the U.S. started around September 1931 if I'm not mistaken? If so, the following may be another unique situation:
It is accepted that the first boss of the Rockford LCN was Antonino "Tony" Musso. He was solidifying his grip on the Rockford area in the late 1920s and was convicted February 2, 1931 in a sweeping liquor conspiracy that sent dozens of area men to Leavenworth prison. On February 21, 1931 Musso left for Leavenworth to start his term and wasn't released until September 10, 1932. I have an FBI file that states Filippo "Phil" Caltagerone was named acting boss while Musso was away in prison. The only time Musso ever spent in prison was this time in Leavenworth.
Now, interestingly, years ago I spoke with a gentleman I'll call Vince from the Rockford area who said his father was a contemporary with Musso at the time and was "involved in the rackets" as he put it. He stated that when he was about a year old, Al Capone came to his home to speak with his father and some other men. Capone took a liking to this Vince and held him on his lap while the men met in the living room. After the meeting Capone gave each man there a .32 pistol which remains in Vince's family to this day. This meeting would have occurred around August/September 1931 and the thought is interesting if this was the occasion where Capone named Musso as the boss of the Rockford LCN. Since Musso was in Leavenworth at the time, this could be a unique situation where an acting boss (Caltagerone) was named while the real boss was in prison.

[Teddy Persico]

Joey Merlino would technically be another one.


Pogo

What do you mean?

[Pogo The Clown]

He was in prison when Natale flipped. So he was promoted to official Boss in prison but it was a moot point since he was Boss in all but name by that point. I doubt they even had a confirmation meeting.


Pogo

[Doobeez]

Rastelli?

[Teddy Persico]

He was in prison when Natale flipped. So he was promoted to official Boss in prison but it was a moot point since he was Boss in all but name by that point. I doubt they even had a confirmation meeting.


Pogo

I was about to refute your post, but upon further research you're right. Merlino was arrested on June 30, 1999. Natale was indicted on drug charges earlier that month and agreed to a deal with the FBI in August. Merlino missed it by a couple days.

[Teddy Persico]

Rastelli?

According to "Iced: The Story of Organized Crime in Canada" Rastelli was elected boss at a hotel in 1974. He was free at the time.

[Teddy Persico]

Michael Mancuso