Ed Reid's 'Big Shots' List from 1952

[nash143]

Hi Gents,

Below is a list of the ‘big shots’ as of Ed Reid’s book ‘Mafia’ published in 1952. I’ve typed them up as they are written i.e. some are misspelt etc. There are many interesting parts to the list starting with the ‘Grand Council’ and the ‘Plenipotentiary’. It should be said the list is the Author’s and is based on his research.

. . . . .

...So here, in the order of their importance, is a lineup of the big shots in the organization. By the time this book comes out some of them may be dead. There have been a lot of deaths in the wake of the Kefauver investigation of men who said too much to the probers, or were thought to have said too much.

1. Vito Genovese, Brooklyn and New Jersey
2. Vincent Mangano, Brooklyn
3. Joseph Profaci, Brooklyn
4. Frank Milano, Akron, Ohio
5. Paul DeLucia, Chicago, Illinois (Paul "The Waiter" Ricca)
6. Vincenzo Traina, Brooklyn
7. Stephano Margardino, Niagara Falls
8. Anthony De Janero, Warren, Ohio (Barney Jennings)
9. Antonio Rizzotti, Los Angeles, California (Jack Dragna)

(The foregoing constitute the so-called Grand Council of the
Mafia, known variously as The Syndicate and The Outfit.)

10. Gaetano Leonardo Ricci, Brooklyn

(This man, a giant of six feet, four inches who weighs about 280 pounds, is the "Plenipotentiary" of the Grand Council and is chief liaison officer whose duty is to see that all directors of the secret society are apprised of events throughout the country and that the council's orders are carried out. He travels extensively, never uses the telephone, never puts anything in writing, but delivers orders verbally.)

11. Charles (Lucky) Luciano, now in Naples and in charge of Europe.
12. Francesco Seriglia, New York (Frank Costello)
13. Tony Accardo, Chicago (Joe Batters)
14. Joseph Doto, New York and New Jersey (Joe Adonis)
15. Antonio Carfano, New York and Miami (Little Augie Pisano)
16. James De Janero, Mahoning County, Ohio (James Jennings)
17. Michael Limandri, New York and California
18. Carlos Minacora, New Orleans and Gretna, Louisiana (Carlos Marcello)
19. Peter Minacora, New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee (Peter Marcello)
20. Victor Trapani, New Orleans and Dallas
21. Joseph Massei, Detroit and Miami (Joe Massey)
22. Joseph DeLuca, Kansas City and Houston
23. James Balestrere, Kansas City
24. Angelico Biaggio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Galveston and El Paso
25. Sam Maceo, Galveston and Dallas (deceased)
26. Frank Bompenserio, San Diego
27. John Vitullo, Mahoning County, Ohio
28. Joseph DiGiovanni, Kansas City and Brooklyn (Joe Church)
29. Charles Baran, Chicago and Miami Beach
30. Rocco Fischetti, Chicago
31. Anthony Strollo, New York and New Jersey (Tony Bender)
32. Joseph Bommarito, Detroit and Cleveland
33. Pete Licavoli, Detroit and Tucson
34. Louis Campagna, Chicago and Los Angeles (Little New York)
35. Philip D'Andrea, Chicago
36. Charles Gioe, Chicago and Los Angeles
37. Rocco de Grazio, Chicago and Las Vegas (Gramps)
38. Anthony Capezio, Chicago and Florida (Tough Tony)
39. Nick Cascia, Dallas and Tulsa
40. Fred Poggiarelli, New York and New Jersey (Pogi)
42. Joseph Bolziano, New England and California
43. Sam Gincano, Chicago and Florida
44. Ray Scalise, Youngstown and Florida
45. Nick Nitta, Cleveland
46. John Torrio, Florida (Retired)
47. Leonardo Suzio, Florida (Retired)
48. Frank Caruso, Arizona (Retired)
49. Leo H. Tomasetti, California (Retired)
50. Stephano Tomaras, Chicago and Denver
51. Ray Patriarca, Providence and New Haven
52. Eugene Smaldone, Denver and Tucson
53. Frank Tacone, Worcester and Springfield, Mass.
54. John Rosselli, Los Angeles
55. Joseph Sica, Los Angeles and Denver
56. Fred Sica, Los Angeles and San Diego
57. Nick Vitali, Cleveland and Las Vegas
58. Rocco Fiorito, California and Nevada
59. Carl Fiorito, California and Nevada
60. Ralph Capone, Chicago and Florida (Bottles)
61. Sylvester Carrolla, New Orleans and Memphis
62. Tony Gizzo, Kansas City, St. Louis and Memphis
63. Dominic Nuccio, Chicago and Florida
64. Joseph Fusco, Chicago and St. Louis
65. Sam Termini, San Mateo County, California (Sam Murray)
66. Emilio Georgetti, San Mateo County, California
67. Joseph Di Carlo, Youngstown, Ohio (The Wolf)
68. Victor Aiello, Youngstown, Ohio (Fats)
69. Frank Cammaratta, Detroit and Youngstown, Ohio
70. Ralph Palente, Mahoning County, Ohio
71. Anthony Guarini, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey (Tony Greene)
72. Arthur Longano, Englewood, New Jersey, and Florida
73. Frank Redisi, Chicago and Houston
74. Jack Passarella, Chicago and Houston
75. Pat Manno, Chicago and Detroit (Pat Manning)
76. Charles De George, Chicago and Detroit
77. Rocco Mustant.e, Georgia (Retired)
78. Nick Kisane, Georgia (Retired)
79. Leonardo de Vinci Petrucelli, Nevada (Retired)
80. Rocco Ponzillo, California (Retired)
81. Vincenzo St. George, California (Retired)
82. Tomaso Angelica, California (Retired)
83. Papa John Priziola, Detroit

[CabriniGreen]

Lol, where the hell is Luchesse? And honestly, a whole lots other people...

[CabriniGreen]

Like, Bonnano... for example...

[MichaelGiovanni]

Lol, where the hell is Luchesse? And honestly, a whole lots other people...

I was just about to ask the same question...

And that is the first I've heard Frank Costello's last name as Seriglia? I've always heard is real name was Castiglia.

[Wiseguy]

Reminds me of that "50 Biggest Mafia Bosses" list Michael Franzese was on and how they tried to include someone from every city rather than going by actual power.

[JeremyTheJew]

it is interesting that in 1952 they at least had a idea of the Commision...
why would Dragna be so high on the list!!!

who is Ricci?

[JeremyTheJew]

as well as 2 Ohio members on this "Grand Council"
I'm gonna guess it probably came from the meeting that Profaci as well as few other big guys got caught at in Cleveland.

who is this guy that runs Warren , Ohio?? and would Warren be the County of Youngstown??

Ohio was almost like the Mid Wests "New Jersy" as in w there home grown fam, Pittsburgh, Detroit has Toledo bc its basically Detroit.... and then there close to Chicago but i dont think they had much connection there

[aleksandrored]

This list is a bit strange, there is no Lansky, Bonanno and Lucchese, because of the Kefauver Committee that had at that time, more names should be on the list.

[CabriniGreen]

Anastasia? List is kinda strange....

[MichaelGiovanni]

it is interesting that in 1952 they at least had a idea of the Commision...
why would Dragna be so high on the list!!!

who is Ricci?

Ricci was a Genovese capo based in Brooklyn

[MichaelGiovanni]

it is interesting that in 1952 they at least had a idea of the Commision...
why would Dragna be so high on the list!!!

who is Ricci?

Ricci’s nickname was Tony Goebbels

[Antiliar]

The list comes from the Bureau of Narcotics. They often shared info with Reid. The info on the Grand Council came from Nick Gentile originally, and must have been what he called the Commission.

[JIGGS]

Ed Reid was the Ernie Volkman of his day.

JIGGS

[JIGGS]

Lol, where the hell is Luchesse?

X-ZAC!

And honestly, a whole lots other people...

Trafficante, Ormento, Boiardo, Moretti brothers, Carbo, Erickson, Plumeri, Prio, Zwllman, Biondo, Gambinos, Lascari, McGrath and old man Pellegrino.

[Raven]

Ed Reid co-wrote a very good 4 part series of articles on Luchese in 1952.