Pittsburgh Illegal Gambling Bust

[JCB1977]

Michael held Chucky in the highest regard. It was his most trusted underling by 1987 (besides Charlie). Chucky made Michael millions. Chucky was very respected by associates because he was Michael’s guy but I’m positive he left a bad taste in a few members mouths. Sonny Amato was one of them. Michael made Sonny directly report to Chucky...keep in mind that Sonny’s Dad Frank Amato Sr was one of the earliest members, longtime Boss and most respected around the country. Michael answered to him. Sonny was also the brother in law to Kelly Mannarino (son in law to Frank Sr)...he was pissed to no end when he had to answer to Chucky. John Bazzano Jr as well.

Chucky was a family man first. His own family. He was very active in his kids lives and All turned out successful. His youngest, Tiffany, was had out of wedlock and he took her in and raised her with his 2nd wife Joy. The FBI knew he couldn’t handle being away from his kids and wife for too long. He was the perfect target.

Chucky was very close to Chicago, D’Elia from the Bufalinos, Joe Todaro in Buffalo and John Stanfa in Philly. Big John LaRocca would send Chucky to Florida to meet at Joe Sonken’s joint with representatives of these families back in the late 1970’s. Big John was grooming him and Michael was extremely loyal to Mr. LaRocca. Chuck’s uncles/Grandpa were Gialanella’s, they had the 2nd largest numbers bank for decades in the Pittsburgh area, they got along great with Big John. Chucky was charismatic, people genuinely enjoyed being around him. His downfall was his roots with Eugene Gesuale, major narcotics trafficker/pimp/hitman for hire. He brought all the heat in Pittsburgh, the FBI wanted him badly.

[BillyBrizzi]

Very interesting stuff, thanks guys!!

[FriendofHenry]

Out of respect for you and any others that may have thought that I was acting like the little kid that didn't get his way or interest and was going to take his ball and go home...That ain't me! I'm just disappointed in the fact that there isn't more interest in these smaller families where some of our members actually interacted with them on a one on one basis. Hell, at least one of us did straight up business with a "real' guy.

You can Wikipedia and Google all kinds of stuff about your favorite guys, but there's really something different about being with them in person. They really are people much like us with families and a job. Maybe a little different than us, but just a job for them. They just grew up in a different time and place and were more business like and intelligent than most give them credit for. Believe me I'm not being "charitable" as it's my pleasure to answer any questions that I may have the answer to.

[FriendofFamily]

I get the small town Mob is no NYC - it is just like the weather reporting in the US.

Cleveland and Pittsburgh can get two feet of snow and it is barely mentioned.

Buffalo might get a mention if it's five feet of snow.

But NYC gets TWO INCHES OF SNOW and we have to call the Emergency Management to handle it.

It's all over the National News.

[FriendofHenry]

I get the small town Mob is no NYC - it is just like the weather reporting in the US.

Cleveland and Pittsburgh can get two feet of snow and it is barely mentioned.

Buffalo might get a mention if it's five feet of snow.

But NYC gets TWO INCHES OF SNOW and we have to call the Emergency Management to handle it.

It's all over the National News.

Sad but all too true

[BillyBrizzi]

To me personally, the smaller families are just as interesting as the Five Families or the Outfit.. Sometimes even more, because they're more obscure and info isn't as easy to come by..

[JeremyTheJew]

Michael held Chucky in the highest regard. It was his most trusted underling by 1987 (besides Charlie). Chucky made Michael millions. Chucky was very respected by associates because he was Michael’s guy but I’m positive he left a bad taste in a few members mouths. Sonny Amato was one of them. Michael made Sonny directly report to Chucky...keep in mind that Sonny’s Dad Frank Amato Sr was one of the earliest members, longtime Boss and most respected around the country. Michael answered to him. Sonny was also the brother in law to Kelly Mannarino (son in law to Frank Sr)...he was pissed to no end when he had to answer to Chucky. John Bazzano Jr as well.

Chucky was a family man first. His own family. He was very active in his kids lives and All turned out successful. His youngest, Tiffany, was had out of wedlock and he took her in and raised her with his 2nd wife Joy. The FBI knew he couldn’t handle being away from his kids and wife for too long. He was the perfect target.

Chucky was very close to Chicago, D’Elia from the Bufalinos, Joe Todaro in Buffalo and John Stanfa in Philly. Big John LaRocca would send Chucky to Florida to meet at Joe Sonken’s joint with representatives of these families back in the late 1970’s. Big John was grooming him and Michael was extremely loyal to Mr. LaRocca. Chuck’s uncles/Grandpa were Gialanella’s, they had the 2nd largest numbers bank for decades in the Pittsburgh area, they got along great with Big John. Chucky was charismatic, people genuinely enjoyed being around him. His downfall was his roots with Eugene Gesuale, major narcotics trafficker/pimp/hitman for hire. He brought all the heat in Pittsburgh, the FBI wanted him badly.

so John LaRocca sounds like wanted Chucky to become boss? What happened for Mike Genovese to get the spot instead?

did Genovese have the same contacts as Chucky when it came to other cities?

[BillyBrizzi]

Maybe this is asked and/or talked about ad nauseum but I still don't know for certain why Michael Genovese inducted so few men. Didn't he have enough good candidates or where there other reasons? And did NY really forbid Pittsburgh to induct any more guys after Porter flipped? Could a guy like Ciancutti for instance, to the best of your knowledge, induct anybody today if he had a capable candidate?

[FriendofHenry]

Michael held Chucky in the highest regard. It was his most trusted underling by 1987 (besides Charlie). Chucky made Michael millions. Chucky was very respected by associates because he was Michael’s guy but I’m positive he left a bad taste in a few members mouths. Sonny Amato was one of them. Michael made Sonny directly report to Chucky...keep in mind that Sonny’s Dad Frank Amato Sr was one of the earliest members, longtime Boss and most respected around the country. Michael answered to him. Sonny was also the brother in law to Kelly Mannarino (son in law to Frank Sr)...he was pissed to no end when he had to answer to Chucky. John Bazzano Jr as well.

Chucky was a family man first. His own family. He was very active in his kids lives and All turned out successful. His youngest, Tiffany, was had out of wedlock and he took her in and raised her with his 2nd wife Joy. The FBI knew he couldn’t handle being away from his kids and wife for too long. He was the perfect target.

Chucky was very close to Chicago, D’Elia from the Bufalinos, Joe Todaro in Buffalo and John Stanfa in Philly. Big John LaRocca would send Chucky to Florida to meet at Joe Sonken’s joint with representatives of these families back in the late 1970’s. Big John was grooming him and Michael was extremely loyal to Mr. LaRocca. Chuck’s uncles/Grandpa were Gialanella’s, they had the 2nd largest numbers bank for decades in the Pittsburgh area, they got along great with Big John. Chucky was charismatic, people genuinely enjoyed being around him. His downfall was his roots with Eugene Gesuale, major narcotics trafficker/pimp/hitman for hire. He brought all the heat in Pittsburgh, the FBI wanted him badly.

so John LaRocca sounds like wanted Chucky to become boss? What happened for Mike Genovese to get the spot instead?

did Genovese have the same contacts as Chucky when it came to other cities?

Chuckie was a very likable guy and John liked him. However Michael, Jo Jo and Gabe Mannarino were John's advisors. In fact Michael was John's Under-Boss. When John died Jo Jo had served time in Lexington and Gabe had "checked-out". Thus Michael, already Under-Boss, succeeded John as Boss.Jo Jo was then upped to Under Boss. Chuckie was never a card in the deck.

Michael held all the cards with the "Big Cities".

[FriendofHenry]

Maybe this is asked and/or talked about ad nauseum but I still don't know for certain why Michael Genovese inducted so few men. Didn't he have enough good candidates or where there other reasons? And did NY really forbid Pittsburgh to induct any more guys after Porter flipped? Could a guy like Ciancutti for instance, to the best of your knowledge, induct anybody today if he had a capable candidate?

Maybe JCB has a better answer but there wasn't/isn't much if any family worth making

[BillyBrizzi]

Maybe this is asked and/or talked about ad nauseum but I still don't know for certain why Michael Genovese inducted so few men. Didn't he have enough good candidates or where there other reasons? And did NY really forbid Pittsburgh to induct any more guys after Porter flipped? Could a guy like Ciancutti for instance, to the best of your knowledge, induct anybody today if he had a capable candidate?

Maybe JCB has a better answer but there wasn't/isn't much if any family worth making

Hmm ok.. Transfers from NY where there is an abundance of wiseguys and like Lefty said in Donnie Brasco: all chasing after the same dime, to declining families also was never as common as an outsider like me would expect. I also never really understood why little Al d'Arco didn't accept his uncle's offer to be made in the Pittsburgh family, I reckon he would've made more money with a lot less headache. I can't imagine him not regretting that decision at times..

[Stroccos]

Maybe this is asked and/or talked about ad nauseum but I still don't know for certain why Michael Genovese inducted so few men. Didn't he have enough good candidates or where there other reasons? And did NY really forbid Pittsburgh to induct any more guys after Porter flipped? Could a guy like Ciancutti for instance, to the best of your knowledge, induct anybody today if he had a capable candidate?

Maybe JCB has a better answer but there wasn't/isn't much if any family worth making

Hell two of the guys he made flipped lol
And His former consigliere agreed to inform on Lenny strollo, it’s amazif they couldn’t indict Genovese with his underboss and a capo flipping

[JeremyTheJew]

Michael held Chucky in the highest regard. It was his most trusted underling by 1987 (besides Charlie). Chucky made Michael millions. Chucky was very respected by associates because he was Michael’s guy but I’m positive he left a bad taste in a few members mouths. Sonny Amato was one of them. Michael made Sonny directly report to Chucky...keep in mind that Sonny’s Dad Frank Amato Sr was one of the earliest members, longtime Boss and most respected around the country. Michael answered to him. Sonny was also the brother in law to Kelly Mannarino (son in law to Frank Sr)...he was pissed to no end when he had to answer to Chucky. John Bazzano Jr as well.

Chucky was a family man first. His own family. He was very active in his kids lives and All turned out successful. His youngest, Tiffany, was had out of wedlock and he took her in and raised her with his 2nd wife Joy. The FBI knew he couldn’t handle being away from his kids and wife for too long. He was the perfect target.

Chucky was very close to Chicago, D’Elia from the Bufalinos, Joe Todaro in Buffalo and John Stanfa in Philly. Big John LaRocca would send Chucky to Florida to meet at Joe Sonken’s joint with representatives of these families back in the late 1970’s. Big John was grooming him and Michael was extremely loyal to Mr. LaRocca. Chuck’s uncles/Grandpa were Gialanella’s, they had the 2nd largest numbers bank for decades in the Pittsburgh area, they got along great with Big John. Chucky was charismatic, people genuinely enjoyed being around him. His downfall was his roots with Eugene Gesuale, major narcotics trafficker/pimp/hitman for hire. He brought all the heat in Pittsburgh, the FBI wanted him badly.

so John LaRocca sounds like wanted Chucky to become boss? What happened for Mike Genovese to get the spot instead?

did Genovese have the same contacts as Chucky when it came to other cities?

Chuckie was a very likable guy and John liked him. However Michael, Jo Jo and Gabe Mannarino were John's advisors. In fact Michael was John's Under-Boss. When John died Jo Jo had served time in Lexington and Gabe had "checked-out". Thus Michael, already Under-Boss, succeeded John as Boss.Jo Jo was then upped to Under Boss. Chuckie was never a card in the deck.

Michael held all the cards with the "Big Cities".

interesting. Was Porter a capo before and/or after la rocca died?

who stepped to Mannarino spot when he "checked out" and when u say that do u mean retired?

[JeremyTheJew]

as well as what other big cities were involved with Genovese?

where does Joey Naples come in?

[Stroccos]

Michael held Chucky in the highest regard. It was his most trusted underling by 1987 (besides Charlie). Chucky made Michael millions. Chucky was very respected by associates because he was Michael’s guy but I’m positive he left a bad taste in a few members mouths. Sonny Amato was one of them. Michael made Sonny directly report to Chucky...keep in mind that Sonny’s Dad Frank Amato Sr was one of the earliest members, longtime Boss and most respected around the country. Michael answered to him. Sonny was also the brother in law to Kelly Mannarino (son in law to Frank Sr)...he was pissed to no end when he had to answer to Chucky. John Bazzano Jr as well.

Chucky was a family man first. His own family. He was very active in his kids lives and All turned out successful. His youngest, Tiffany, was had out of wedlock and he took her in and raised her with his 2nd wife Joy. The FBI knew he couldn’t handle being away from his kids and wife for too long. He was the perfect target.

Chucky was very close to Chicago, D’Elia from the Bufalinos, Joe Todaro in Buffalo and John Stanfa in Philly. Big John LaRocca would send Chucky to Florida to meet at Joe Sonken’s joint with representatives of these families back in the late 1970’s. Big John was grooming him and Michael was extremely loyal to Mr. LaRocca. Chuck’s uncles/Grandpa were Gialanella’s, they had the 2nd largest numbers bank for decades in the Pittsburgh area, they got along great with Big John. Chucky was charismatic, people genuinely enjoyed being around him. His downfall was his roots with Eugene Gesuale, major narcotics trafficker/pimp/hitman for hire. He brought all the heat in Pittsburgh, the FBI wanted him badly.

so John LaRocca sounds like wanted Chucky to become boss? What happened for Mike Genovese to get the spot instead?

did Genovese have the same contacts as Chucky when it came to other cities?

Chuckie was a very likable guy and John liked him. However Michael, Jo Jo and Gabe Mannarino were John's advisors. In fact Michael was John's Under-Boss. When John died Jo Jo had served time in Lexington and Gabe had "checked-out". Thus Michael, already Under-Boss, succeeded John as Boss.Jo Jo was then upped to Under Boss. Chuckie was never a card in the deck.

Michael held all the cards with the "Big Cities".

interesting. Was Porter a capo before and/or after la rocca died?

who stepped to Mannarino spot when he "checked out" and when u say that do u mean retired?

Porter wasn’t made until after La roccas death