Mafia presence in Los Angeles

[Wiseguy]

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone is aware of any LCN activity in the Los Angeles area. I know that the Colombos have a presence with Donnie Montemarano, and that the son of enforcer Luca Brasi himself, Lenny Montana Jr. is still around, but do any of the other families maintain a presence? Is there anyone from the LA Family still left/active?

Thanks.

Outside of sports betting networks that still extend to a few western states, there's little to no LCN presence or activity there. You can see a guy here or there from one East Coast family or another living in the West but it's a stretch to say that represents the family having a presence there. Most of these guys are at least semi-retired.

There is one of the Cherry Hill Gambinos sons I think it Rosarios son

That would be Thomaso "Tommy" Gambino, who is a member of the LA family. But that family is defunct. There are only around a half-dozen members still alive and half of those don't even live in California anymore.

Are the former LA family members shelved?

They are still technically members even though there's no family left. None of them have been shelved as far as I'm aware. Though the end effect is the same, I suppose, since those left are inactive, retired, etc.

[thekiduknow]

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone is aware of any LCN activity in the Los Angeles area. I know that the Colombos have a presence with Donnie Montemarano, and that the son of enforcer Luca Brasi himself, Lenny Montana Jr. is still around, but do any of the other families maintain a presence? Is there anyone from the LA Family still left/active?

Thanks.

Outside of sports betting networks that still extend to a few western states, there's little to no LCN presence or activity there. You can see a guy here or there from one East Coast family or another living in the West but it's a stretch to say that represents the family having a presence there. Most of these guys are at least semi-retired.

There is one of the Cherry Hill Gambinos sons I think it Rosarios son

That would be Thomaso "Tommy" Gambino, who is a member of the LA family. But that family is defunct. There are only around a half-dozen members still alive and half of those don't even live in California anymore.

Are the former LA family members shelved?

They are still technically members even though there's no family left. None of them have been shelved as far as I'm aware. Though the end effect is the same, I suppose, since those left are inactive, retired, etc.

I do wonder, if they are still "active", I wonder if they have to kick up and to whom. If there's no family/administration, would they then be free agents? Or would they have to take orders from NY. I doubt anyone knows, just food for thought I guess

[gohnjotti]

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone is aware of any LCN activity in the Los Angeles area. I know that the Colombos have a presence with Donnie Montemarano, and that the son of enforcer Luca Brasi himself, Lenny Montana Jr. is still around, but do any of the other families maintain a presence? Is there anyone from the LA Family still left/active?

Thanks.

Outside of sports betting networks that still extend to a few western states, there's little to no LCN presence or activity there. You can see a guy here or there from one East Coast family or another living in the West but it's a stretch to say that represents the family having a presence there. Most of these guys are at least semi-retired.

There is one of the Cherry Hill Gambinos sons I think it Rosarios son

That would be Thomaso "Tommy" Gambino, who is a member of the LA family. But that family is defunct. There are only around a half-dozen members still alive and half of those don't even live in California anymore.

Are the former LA family members shelved?

They are still technically members even though there's no family left. None of them have been shelved as far as I'm aware. Though the end effect is the same, I suppose, since those left are inactive, retired, etc.

I do wonder, if they are still "active", I wonder if they have to kick up and to whom. If there's no family/administration, would they then be free agents? Or would they have to take orders from NY. I doubt anyone knows, just food for thought I guess

If by "active," you mean involved in crime, then there might be certain members still active in bookmaking or loansharking or something. But there is no overarching family structure. There are no titles (or if there are, they don't mean anything). Because of this, they don't have to kick up to anybody. Free agents.
If Kenny Gallo's book is a point of reference, as well as other general knowledge about families outside of New York, there was probably little, if any, formal contact between New York and L.A. through the 1990s/2000s. I doubt the New York families had to get permission from L.A. to run rackets in the city, and I doubt there was any overlap or conflicts of interest like there are between NY/NJ families. So in a nutshell, it's incredibly unlikely that anybody left in L.A. has to "kick up" to New York, unless they were already involved in rackets with mobsters from NY.

[Wiseguy]

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone is aware of any LCN activity in the Los Angeles area. I know that the Colombos have a presence with Donnie Montemarano, and that the son of enforcer Luca Brasi himself, Lenny Montana Jr. is still around, but do any of the other families maintain a presence? Is there anyone from the LA Family still left/active?

Thanks.

Outside of sports betting networks that still extend to a few western states, there's little to no LCN presence or activity there. You can see a guy here or there from one East Coast family or another living in the West but it's a stretch to say that represents the family having a presence there. Most of these guys are at least semi-retired.

There is one of the Cherry Hill Gambinos sons I think it Rosarios son

That would be Thomaso "Tommy" Gambino, who is a member of the LA family. But that family is defunct. There are only around a half-dozen members still alive and half of those don't even live in California anymore.

Are the former LA family members shelved?

They are still technically members even though there's no family left. None of them have been shelved as far as I'm aware. Though the end effect is the same, I suppose, since those left are inactive, retired, etc.

I do wonder, if they are still "active", I wonder if they have to kick up and to whom. If there's no family/administration, would they then be free agents? Or would they have to take orders from NY. I doubt anyone knows, just food for thought I guess

If by "active," you mean involved in crime, then there might be certain members still active in bookmaking or loansharking or something. But there is no overarching family structure. There are no titles (or if there are, they don't mean anything). Because of this, they don't have to kick up to anybody. Free agents.
If Kenny Gallo's book is a point of reference, as well as other general knowledge about families outside of New York, there was probably little, if any, formal contact between New York and L.A. through the 1990s/2000s. I doubt the New York families had to get permission from L.A. to run rackets in the city, and I doubt there was any overlap or conflicts of interest like there are between NY/NJ families. So in a nutshell, it's incredibly unlikely that anybody left in L.A. has to "kick up" to New York, unless they were already involved in rackets with mobsters from NY.

And, as I said, there's very few mob guys from New York or anywhere else in California today. So not much chance for interaction in the first place. Best not to over think this.

[Frank]

Well I guess it's possible that guys like Donnie Monteranno or the Gambino son could be kicking up some. It sounds like the associates of Philadelphia we're kicking up to Joey Merlino. I'm sure with California being open territory alot of Families could have a little action going on there. But like Wiseguy stated alot of guys retire and move out West, just like Florida. I guess you would just keep an eye out for any indictments coming out of California.

[Frank]

Also I haven't ever heard anything about the current surviving Families taxing or receiving tribute from the members that are remnants of the now defunct Families.

[FriendofFamily]

Jimmy "The Weasel" Fratianno moved to Los Angeles years ago from Cleveland. He used to be friends with Childhood Friend Tony DelSanter the Consigliere of Cleveland. They use to stick up places in Cleveland together and get a lot of money that way. Jimmy died twenty five years ago in 1993.

Here is a piece for light reading:

https://themobmuseum.org/blog/jimmy-wea ... ob-family/

[ChicagoOutfit]

Today there is probably very little to no activity from American Cosa Nostra in LA...with that said, I've always heard about a Gambino crew in LA but idk if any members are known or if it's the "Sicilian Faction" that runs it.

According to the mafia maps thread there is a Gambino presence in LA but again idk how dated the info is:

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3943&hilit=Map


Now, we all know there's organized crime in LA and surrounding areas but if there's any mafia (Italian, not American) presence I'm going to assume it's the mafia from Sicily, Ndrangheta and Camorra...I'm assuming they're in LA doing wholesale drug distribution and brokering deals, counterfeit goods, and distribution involving imports/exports.

I'm under the impression that while the American Cosa Nostra is of course in decline, that the int'l mafias (Albanians, Camorra, Ndrangheta, Sicilian Mafia, etc.) are on the rise on the low in places in the US. There are obviously no indictments that I can speak to, but that's just the way it seems to me being that these organizations are not based in the US, they're more fluid, more clan-like/familial and harder for LE to target.

Hypothetically speaking, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that there's a small Camorra clan in Chicago operating at the docks/importation or distribution or wholesale drugs, investing in real estate developments, etc. And I'm estimating that these organizations are only involved with dealing with the Americans as minimally as possible and only when it's completely necessary. They're fluid to do as they wish without interference from The Outfit or whatever Americans would be around (NYC would be obvious exception and possibly Philly).

Just my $0.02

[tonyei31]

Isn't Joe Isgro in LA and connected to one of the families?

[Pogo The Clown]

Isn't Joe Isgro in LA and connected to one of the families?

He is a Gambino Soldier.


Pogo

[JeremyTheJew]

Isn't Joe Isgro in LA and connected to one of the families?

He is a Gambino Soldier.


Pogo

Was there a "sicilian connection" with Rosario Gambinos son being there?

Any reason why he went to LA???

[Pogo The Clown]

Doubt it. Don't recall the exact reason he went there. I believe it was after his relatives were busted.


Pogo

[Manhattan_]

Joseph Grosso was convicted alomg with Mike Rizzitello in the shooting of Billy Carroll of the Mustang club. Did Grosso rat on Mike Rizzi ? As of April of 2018 Grosso was still incarcerated in California. Rizzi was convicted of attempted murder of Carroll in 1990. If Grosso did rat on Rizzi what was his reasoning ? Grosso has served at least 28 years straight so it was not for a reduced sentence ? Both Grosso and Rizzi are former NY guys , do not know if they knew each other prior to going west. I have read accounts that Grosso did rat on Rizzi but what was the purpose ?

[Pete]

Isn't Joe Isgro in LA and connected to one of the families?

He is a Gambino Soldier.


Pogo

He was just indicted a few years back so there’s obviously activity going on out there to some extent

[Wiseguy]

Isn't Joe Isgro in LA and connected to one of the families?

He is a Gambino Soldier.


Pogo

He was just indicted a few years back so there’s obviously activity going on out there to some extent

That indictment was out of New York, specifically Manhattan.