How Cosa Nostra is making money in 2018

[gohnjotti]

http://abc7chicago.com/archive/6311572/

And the mob's illegal video poker racket ?

The video-gambling/Joker-Poker rackets are still very lucrative, from what I hear.

More information (Bonanno family):

Early 2000s - Anthony Graziano's powerful S.I. crew maintained a "vast stock" of Joker-Poker machines.

Early 2000s - Vito Grimaldi and his Ridgewood crew are very active in Joker-Poker machines. Joe Massino testified that Vito himself kicked up $8000 a month from his stock of machines. Some of Vito's associates that are/were involved in the video-gaming rackets are the Navarra Bros. and Sandro Aiosa.

Early 2000s - In the 1990s, the Bronx crew under Patty DeFilippo owned an enormous stock of machines in the gambling territories he ran which generated an average of $500 a day each, and Patty DeFilippo was taped talking about a machine that earned around $800 a day. A 2003 gambling bust found eleven machines, also feds predicted there were probably more. After the Bronx crew was decimated in the early 2000s, it's unknown how big the racket is today.

2007 - Brooklyn capo Little Anthony Pipitone has a history with Joker-Poker machines and in 2007, the same year he was promoted to capo, he financed a joker-poker operation.

2009 - In the 2009 raid of acting consigliere Vincent 'Vinny TV' Badalamenti's "Banner Social Club," police found an illegal Joker-Poker machine, implying that they are still a staple for many mob guys.

1994-2017 - Long Island capo Johnny Sciremammano has been arrested twice of crimes relating to Joker-Poker machines (1994 and 2004). In 2004, he ran a big bookmaking operation from the Skybox Lounge where people could access a room filled with machines. Long Island soldier Frank 'Frankie Boy' Salerno, who was inducted in 2015, worked with Gambino acting capo John 'Johnny Boy' Ambrosio, an old friend of John Gotti, until Nov. 2017 in an illegal joker-poker operation.

These are the instances that come to mind in the 21st century. These are only examples for the Bonannos but other families are definitely very involved as well.

[Wiseguy]

http://abc7chicago.com/archive/6311572/

And the mob's illegal video poker racket ?

The video-gambling/Joker-Poker rackets are still very lucrative, from what I hear.

More information (Bonanno family):

Early 2000s - Anthony Graziano's powerful S.I. crew maintained a "vast stock" of Joker-Poker machines.

Early 2000s - Vito Grimaldi and his Ridgewood crew are very active in Joker-Poker machines. Joe Massino testified that Vito himself kicked up $8000 a month from his stock of machines. Some of Vito's associates that are/were involved in the video-gaming rackets are the Navarra Bros. and Sandro Aiosa.

Early 2000s - In the 1990s, the Bronx crew under Patty DeFilippo owned an enormous stock of machines in the gambling territories he ran which generated an average of $500 a day each, and Patty DeFilippo was taped talking about a machine that earned around $800 a day. A 2003 gambling bust found eleven machines, also feds predicted there were probably more. After the Bronx crew was decimated in the early 2000s, it's unknown how big the racket is today.

2007 - Brooklyn capo Little Anthony Pipitone has a history with Joker-Poker machines and in 2007, the same year he was promoted to capo, he financed a joker-poker operation.

2009 - In the 2009 raid of acting consigliere Vincent 'Vinny TV' Badalamenti's "Banner Social Club," police found an illegal Joker-Poker machine, implying that they are still a staple for many mob guys.

1994-2017 - Long Island capo Johnny Sciremammano has been arrested twice of crimes relating to Joker-Poker machines (1994 and 2004). In 2004, he ran a big bookmaking operation from the Skybox Lounge where people could access a room filled with machines. Long Island soldier Frank 'Frankie Boy' Salerno, who was inducted in 2015, worked with Gambino acting capo John 'Johnny Boy' Ambrosio, an old friend of John Gotti, until Nov. 2017 in an illegal joker-poker operation.

These are the instances that come to mind in the 21st century. These are only examples for the Bonannos but other families are definitely very involved as well.

Some others...


In 2001, Albert "Baba" Scibelli and others (part of the Genovese Springfield crew) were charged with distributing over 100 video gambling machines.

In 2002, video gambling was among the big Gambino bust that got Peter Gotti, Anthony Ciccone, and others.

In 2005, 11 people including Genovese soldier Nicholas Gruttadauria were charged onwith distributing video gambling machines on Long Island.

In 2008, video gambling was among the charges of the big Gambino bust that got Jackie D'Amico, the Corozzos, and others.

In 2009, video gambling was among the charges of the Bonanno bust that got captains Joseph Sammartino, Anthony Sclafani, and others.

In 2010, Lucchese soldier Marco Minuto, Genovese associate Frank Fea, and others were charged with distributing video gambling machines in Rockland, NY.

In 2011, video gambling machines were among the charges of the big Colombo bust that got Andy Russo, Benjamin Castellazo, Teddy Persico, and others.

Also in 2011, video gambling machines were among the charges of the big Gambino bust that got Bobby Vernace, Joseph Corozzo, Alphonse Trucchio, and others.

In 2016, video gambling machines were among the charges of the big multi-family "East Coast Enterprise" bust.

In 2017, video gambling machines were among the charges of the big Lucchese bust that got Matthew Madonna, Steve Crea, Joseph DiNapoli, and others.

Also in 2017, video gambling machines were among the charges in the bust that got Gambino acting captain John “Johnny Boy” Ambrosio, Bonanno soldier Frank “Frankie Boy” Salerno, and others.

[aleksandrored]

Is there any recent information on which Strip Clubs the Mob is involved in?

What did you say applies to New York families or does that also fit the Chicago Outfit?

The recent Bonanno bust last month included a raid on the Xcess gentleman's club on Staten Island. In 2011, both the Gambino and Bonanno families were charged, along with Russian OC figures, of bringing women into the country to work at or extorting several strip clubs in Manhattan and Long Island. That same year, Patriarca family figures were charged with extorting strip clubs in Providence. You can go back further and find a lot of other examples.

If you're talking about mob involvement in the sex trade, it would apply to all the families.

In Andrew DiDonato's book it went into detail about how the mob made money through gambling. For card games he said that whoever was running the game would take a 5% cut off every hand dealt.

He also talks about craps games and players betting against the house but if they wanted they could bet directly with each other but I assume he is talking about table craps.

My question is do the families still run old fashioned street craps games (not table craps) and if the players are betting directly against each other how does the operator get a cut? Do they just charge like a door/entry fee to the players and let them gamble however much they want?

Just curious how this works

Though it's from the 1980s and 1990s, DiDonato's breakdown is still one of the best descriptions of mob-run gambling.

The big "East Coast Enterprise" bust included charges of running a gambling club that had gambling on poker and dice games, as well as horse racing. Not sure specifically what form of dice games but for nearly 20 years now only the NY families have had cases involving this. And even there it's fairly rare compared to the sports betting cases.

If I had to break it down it would look like this in terms of cases from 2000 to the present...

NY families - mainly bookmaking, still involved in video poker machines, numbers cases starting to become more rare, occasional busts involving card and dice games

New Jersey - basically bookmaking, only one case of an associate who was involved in a "pick 6" lottery

New England - mainly bookmaking, a few cases involving video poker machines, only one case that involved some associates run a lottery and card games

Philadelphia - mainly bookmaking, some video gambling, that recent numbers bust involved a non-LCN operation (Creagh family) that paid street tax back in the Scarfo era

Chicago - the one area where the video gambling cases have occurred as often as bookmaking cases

Thanks again, it's interesting that even after a decline in the sex market, a Mafia can still get involved and make a big profit out of it.

[Wiseguy]

Thanks again, it's interesting that even after a decline in the sex market, a Mafia can still get involved and make a big profit out of it.

As to your original question, this is a list of strip clubs run by, extorted by, or otherwise connected to mob families in cases going back to 2000. Some are still in business, some are not. I'm probably missing some.


Hustler (Manhattan)
Penthouse (Manhattan)
Cheetah's (Manhattan)
Lorrie's Lounge & Bikini Bar (Brooklyn)
Perfections (Queens)
Rouge (Queens)
Wiggles (Queens)
Touch (Staten Island)
Xcess (Staten Island)
Forbidden Fruit (Long Island)
Sindarellas (Long Island)
Gallaghers (Long Island)
Satin Dolls (New Jersey)
Harry O's (Connecticut)
Mardi Gras (Connecticut)
Lace (Connecticut)
Fifth Alarm (Connecticut)
Center Stage (Connecticut)
Hustlers (Connecticut)
Cadillac Lounge (Providence)
The Satin Doll (Providence)
Desire (Providence)
Cheaters (Providence)
Foxy Lady (Providence)
Anthony's Dance Club (Massachusetts)
Gold Club (Atlanta)
Goldfinger (Florida)
Club Diamonds/Double D (Florida)
Arnie's Idle Hour (Chicago)
Admiral Theater (Chicago)
Polekatz (Chicago)
All Stars (Chicago)
Crazy Horse Too (Nevada)

[gohnjotti]

Thanks again, it's interesting that even after a decline in the sex market, a Mafia can still get involved and make a big profit out of it.

As to your original question, this is a list of strip clubs run by, extorted by, or otherwise connected to mob families im cases going back to 2000. Some are still in business, some are not. I'm probably missing some.


Hustler (Manhattan)
Penthouse (Manhattan)
Cheetah's (Manhattan)
Lorrie's Lounge & Bikini Bar (Brooklyn)
Perfections (Queens)
Rouge (Queens)
Wiggles (Queens)
Touch (Staten Island)
Xcess (Staten Island)
Forbidden Fruit (Long Island)
Sindarellas (Long Island)
Gallaghers (Long Island)
Satin Dolls (New Jersey)
Harry O's (Connecticut)
Mardi Gras (Connecticut)
Lace (Connecticut)
Fifth Alarm (Connecticut)
Center Stage (Connecticut)
Hustlers (Connecticut)
Cadillac Lounge (Providence)
The Satin Doll (Providence)
Desire (Providence)
Cheaters (Providence)
Foxy Lady (Providence)
Anthony's Dance Club (Massachusetts)
Gold Club (Atlanta)
Goldfinger (Florida)
Club Diamonds/Double D (Florida)
Arnie's Idle Hour (Chicago)
Admiral Theater (Chicago)
Polekatz (Chicago)
All Stars (Chicago)
Crazy Horse Too (Nevada)

Nice list, Wiseguy. All the places I can think of are there.

[Wiseguy]

Scott B reported a while back that Penthouse club owner Alan Markowitz in Philadelphia had managed to avoid paying the mob there after several extortion attempts. Another club in Philly, Delilah's, paid protection money back during the Stanfa era.

[JCB1977]

Investing in off shore casinos and hotels. Setting up shop in places like the Dominican, Nicaragua etc with online legalized gambling. It’s been going on for a few decades now but has grown.

[aleksandrored]

Thanks again, it's interesting that even after a decline in the sex market, a Mafia can still get involved and make a big profit out of it.

As to your original question, this is a list of strip clubs run by, extorted by, or otherwise connected to mob families in cases going back to 2000. Some are still in business, some are not. I'm probably missing some.


Hustler (Manhattan)
Penthouse (Manhattan)
Cheetah's (Manhattan)
Lorrie's Lounge & Bikini Bar (Brooklyn)
Perfections (Queens)
Rouge (Queens)
Wiggles (Queens)
Touch (Staten Island)
Xcess (Staten Island)
Forbidden Fruit (Long Island)
Sindarellas (Long Island)
Gallaghers (Long Island)
Satin Dolls (New Jersey)
Harry O's (Connecticut)
Mardi Gras (Connecticut)
Lace (Connecticut)
Fifth Alarm (Connecticut)
Center Stage (Connecticut)
Hustlers (Connecticut)
Cadillac Lounge (Providence)
The Satin Doll (Providence)
Desire (Providence)
Cheaters (Providence)
Foxy Lady (Providence)
Anthony's Dance Club (Massachusetts)
Gold Club (Atlanta)
Goldfinger (Florida)
Club Diamonds/Double D (Florida)
Arnie's Idle Hour (Chicago)
Admiral Theater (Chicago)
Polekatz (Chicago)
All Stars (Chicago)
Crazy Horse Too (Nevada)

Thanks for the list, I did not think it was so many clubs like that, it's good to know that the Mafia still has a lot of power in the sex trade.

[AndyHaHa]

Giallanzo from the Bonnanos had a gigantic shy book especially for this day and age

[gohnjotti]

Giallanzo from the Bonnanos had a gigantic shy book especially for this day and age

$3 million on the streets, as well as a home burglary ring, bookmaking biz and a shoe store. Allegedly made $26 million by 2017

[JCB1977]

Giallanzo from the Bonnanos had a gigantic shy book especially for this day and age

$3 million on the streets, as well as a home burglary ring, bookmaking biz and a shoe store. Allegedly made $26 million by 2017

How do you come up with an accurate estimate of somebody’s earnings?

[gohnjotti]

Giallanzo from the Bonnanos had a gigantic shy book especially for this day and age

$3 million on the streets, as well as a home burglary ring, bookmaking biz and a shoe store. Allegedly made $26 million by 2017

How do you come up with an accurate estimate of somebody’s earnings?

It was detailed in his March 2017 indictment.

[SonnyBlackstein]

.... and a shoe store?

A shoe store?

Ha. That’s gold.

[gohnjotti]

.... and a shoe store?

A shoe store?

Ha. That’s gold.

"Sneaker Crazy" at 8223 153rd Avenue. Gotta put your money somewhere I guess...

[SonnyBlackstein]

.... and a shoe store?

A shoe store?

Ha. That’s gold.

"Sneaker Crazy" at 8223 153rd Avenue. Gotta put your money somewhere I guess...

Ghetto.