Number of Families according to Bill Bonanno

[BeatiPaoli]

To Everyone: Just finished reading Bill Bonanno's second book, "The Last Testament of Bill Bonanno." In the book, he states, "By the mid-1930s, 2 of the 26 Families (Birmingham, Al, and Newark, NJ) were disbanded, reducing the total number of Families in the U.S. to 24."

This statement got me thinking about the math. Alan May (and others) have stated at Cosa Nostra's peak during the 60's, the total number of U.S. Families were 28. (Tucson has never been included on that list, as it was never a legitimate or recognized Family) Now, Bonanno never specifically lists the 26 Families in his book outright, but does a fair job at an "overview" (my term) at the very beginning of Chapter 3, "The Beginning of the American Mafia."

So the question I am posing to everyone on this Forum is: what were the 4 Families that evolved after the "mid-1930s"?

Rochester, NY was certainly one of them. That leaves 3 to be determined. Springfield, IL, was not mentioned by Bonanno in his "overview", although Rockford, IL, was mentioned. Elizabeth, NJ, was also mentioned in his "overview" intimating that it was created from the remnants of Newark (which I believe is not true). Plus, wasn't Springfield, Il, and Elizabeth, NJ, in existence prior to 1931? He mentions Madison, WI, so that is not one of the missing 4.

To close, I would like to "put the question out there", what were the 4 Families "created" after the mid-1930s that were not in existence then (according to Bonanno)????

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

P.S. My apologies if this topic/issue has already been discussed elsewhere on this Forum.

[Angelo Santino]

To the best of my knowledge, Rochester is the only group created after 1930. Newark was broken up in the 1930's and there was an expansion for NY and Philadelphia.
Elizabeth is questionable, all indicators are that it began no later than 1928(?), (And then you have D'Arco, Rotondo and Stango claiming it's the oldest group in the USA. Buscetta also said the AM was formed by members from Agrigento.)
Pueblo and Denver have been listed sometimes as separate families- they weren't.
San Jose was said to be formed in the 1940's, Antiliar would probably have the answer. But if so, that would bring the total to 2 post '30.

I think minus these alleged Families, it brings the number down to 26.
1 Rockford used to be listed as its own entity, the thinking on that appears to have changed.
2 Madison has also been a questionable "one man crime family," has it not?

[johnny_scootch]

Now, Bonanno never specifically lists the 26 Families in his book outright,

Check out that chapter again....there isn't a list but he does mention all the cities where families existed

1. New Orleans
2. Tampa
3. St. Louis
4. Kansas City
5. New York
10. Philly
11. Chicago
12. Boston
13. Pittsburgh
14. Buffalo
15. Detroit
16. Cleveland
17. Newark (Later Elizabeth)
18. Providence
19. Scranton
20. Birmingham
21. Rockford
22. Milwaukee
23. Madison
24. San Diego
25. Los Angeles
26. San Fransisco / San Jose
27. Denver
28. Dallas

Providence/Boston you can count as one and San Fran/San Jose is two so that's a wash. San Diego was never it's own family to my knowledge and Birmingham disbanded so that leaves 26.

[B.]

The Sciortinos who ran San Jose early on were said to be with San Francisco (though they lived in San Jose) during D'Aquila's reign, so the SJ family was probably created post-1928, give or take, though I can't remember the exact years they were said to be D'Aquila "agents" in the SF family.

[johnny_scootch]

(And then you have D'Arco, Rotondo and Stango claiming it's the oldest group in the USA. )

Chris, I can recall what D'Arco & Stango said but not Rotondo. Do you remember what he said or where I can find it?

[BeatiPaoli]

Gentlemen: Thank you for all your replies.

To further the discussion, I am going to list the 28 Families as I understand them to be in existence during the peak 60s:

Genovese
Gambino
Lucchese
Bonanno
Profaci/Colombo
Magaddino (Buffalo)
Russotti (Rochester)
Accardo (Chicago)
Patriarca (Providence/Boston/NE)
DeCavalcante (NJ)
Scalish (Cleveland)
Zerilli (Detroit)
Marcello (New Orleans)
Trafficante (Tampa)
LaRocca (Pittsburgh)
Buffalino (Scranton/Eric/Wilke-Barre/ NE Penn).
Bruno (Philadelphia)
Civello (Dallas)
Civella (KC)
Giordano (St.Louis)
Smaldone (Denver/Pueblo)
Dragna/Brooklier (LA)
Lanza (San Francisco)
Cerrito (San Jose)
Zito (Springfield, IL)
Zammuto (Rockford, Il)
Balistrieri (Milwaukee)
Caputo (Madison---confirmed as the smallest Family by the FBI, having about a dozen members; plenty of info on Mary Farrell site)

The name next to the Family may not be the correct one for that time period, but those are the correct geographical locations.

I am still puzzled by the math...................

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

[cavita]

One could make a case for a "family" in Iowa albeit for a brief time.

[Wiseguy]

Valachi (1963)
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
New York (5)
New Orleans
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Tampa
Utica, NY


Fratianno (1980)
Buffalo
Chicago
Cleveland
Connecticut (unnamed city)
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
New York (5)
New Orleans
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Pittston, PA
Providence
San Francisco
San Jose
St. Louis
Steubenville, OH
Tampa


FBI (1980)
Boston-Providence
Buffalo
Chicago
Cleveland
Denver-Pueblo
Detroit
Elizabeth-Newark, NJ
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Madison, WI
New York (5)
New Orleans
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Pittston-Scranton-Wilkes-Barre
Rockford, IL
San Jose
San Francisco
Springfield, IL
St. Louis
Tampa
Tucson

[SonnyBlackstein]

Rare footage of Scranton-Wilkes-Barre LCN boss Michael Scott(early 2000's):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIWrFNDKQ6o

[Wiseguy]

Rare footage of Scranton-Wilkes-Barre LCN boss Michael Scott(early 2000's):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIWrFNDKQ6o

Controlled the paper and office supply racket in the region for years...

[SonnyBlackstein]

Rare footage of Scranton-Wilkes-Barre LCN boss Michael Scott(early 2000's):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIWrFNDKQ6o

Controlled the paper and office supply racket in the region for years...

Thats what she said?

[SILENT PARTNERZ]

Rare footage of Scranton-Wilkes-Barre LCN boss Michael Scott(early 2000's):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIWrFNDKQ6o

Controlled the paper and office supply racket in the region for years...

Thats what she said?

I'll confess, I actually looked at the YOUTube video expecting to see some
unknown (to me) Irish crime boss. I needed that laugh, thanks SonnyB & WG!!!

[JeremyTheJew]

Valachi (1963)
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
New York (5)
New Orleans
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Tampa
Utica, NY


Fratianno (1980)
Buffalo
Chicago
Cleveland
Connecticut (unnamed city)
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
New York (5)
New Orleans
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Pittston, PA
Providence
San Francisco
San Jose
St. Louis
Steubenville, OH
Tampa


FBI (1980)
Boston-Providence
Buffalo
Chicago
Cleveland
Denver-Pueblo
Detroit
Elizabeth-Newark, NJ
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Madison, WI
New York (5)
New Orleans
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Pittston-Scranton-Wilkes-Barre
Rockford, IL
San Jose
San Francisco
Springfield, IL
St. Louis
Tampa
Tucson

interesting Frattiano was the only one to name Dallas. I was under impression it was a imported crew.

did San Fran, San Jose have a full admin?

For some of the smaller Families Id imagine the UB and Consig would also act as capos

[JeremyTheJew]

Pittston, PA would also be under Pittsburgh ?

[Confederate]

Tucson was the Bonnanos, not a seperate Family. Don't believe Madison was a separate Family. They were more like a Crew connected to Milwaukee like Pueblo was connected to Denver or San Diego connected to L.A.