Maxie's Lucchese Profiles

[Super]

Love to know more about joe Brown's crew great read on Jimmy Jones never heard of him ten out of ten as usual max.

[Manhattan_]

Max , can you write up lower Manhattan Lucchese Dynamo Frank (Chick Wilson ) Cintrano ? Hard man to find much info on, believed to have been involved with LIlo Galante in the murder of Carlo Tresca.

[maxiestern11]

FRANCESCO (FRANKIE BELL) CAMPANELLO - born 1906 and raised in the Corona section (103-18 Corona Ave) and later (111-01 39th Ave) of Queens. A lifelong Queens resident and notorious gambler (KG). Over the years he would reside variously in Corona (49-07 104th St), Maspeth, Woodside, College Point (141-60 11th Ave), but Corona was always his base.
FBI # 62-228, NYCPD # B-64575.
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Campanello’s criminal record started in 1926 and included: armed robbery, assault, disorderly conduct (twice), consorting, bookmaking (seven times), vagrancy (four times).
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In 1926, as a young twenty year old man, he was arrested for an armed robbery in Corona. He was convicted and sentenced to a 5-10 year prison term in upstate NY (Sing Sing Prison)...... He was paroled after serving four years, and would never again see the inside of a jail!

Note: [although arrested early on for this robbery, Campanello was not a violent man, and the arrest would not be indicative of his lifestyle. He was a gambler “cut and dried”!.... all his life]
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Activity: bookmaking and gambling rackets “overseer”, police-bribery (supervising the “pad).

Note: [although this network handled both bookmaking, policy, as well as, floating dice and card games. Campanello confined his specialty to “bookmaking” per se....not policy. Although he did sometimes take an interest in several dice games over the years]
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Frank “Frankie Bell” Campanello, was a top gambling operative serving in the regime of Joseph Lucchese for many decades. During the 1940’s and 1950’s, he was arguably “the key” operative and overseer for Lucchese gambling interests (primarily bookmaking operations) in the county of Queens under the control and domination of the “two Joey’s” - Joseph (Joe Brown) Lucchese and Joseph (Joey Narrow) Laratro, twin “Capo di decina’s and partners in the control of all Queens gambling operations for that family on behalf of Gaetano Lucchese himself.

Note: [although active elsewhere in Queens and other borough’s, their dominant influence was in the northern Queens section of:
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Corona (always their base of operations)
Jackson Heights
Elmhurst
Forest Hills
Rego Park
Woodside
Sunnyside
Ridgewood
Maspeth
Flushing
College Point
Bayside
Whitestone
Malba
............and other sections of the borough.
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This sprawling gambling “network”, which specialized in a huge policy (numbers) lottery and bookmaking (horses-sports) empire grossing appx *$15,000,000. a year, employed literally hundreds of policy runners, independent bookmakers, sheet writers, fifty-fifty runners and various gambling partnerships..... but they all came under the domination of the Lucchese Family, and Campanello was one of a highly-trusted few who oversaw this operation and reported back to the “Joe Brown-Joey Narrow” Corona regime.
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Note: [* these are legitimate 1950-60’s estimates - and NOT an overstatement by LE to enhance their arrest figures. This gambling network actually grossed those figures and better in its heyday. Remember it encompassed much of Queens]
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“Frankie Bell” also helped control “the pad” for this operation, collecting monthly “fees” from not only their people, but also various independent bookmakers who were friendly with this network and “paid off” so as not to be arrested by Queens police gambling squads.

Note: [key members in the local 110th and 112th Precinct, the Division, The Boro, and Commissioners Confidential Squad were among cops paid off in those days. And although not everyone had their hand out, many worked with local mob guys in general and this network in particular in that area]
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Known associates over the years:
Joseph Lucchese
Joseph Laratro
Donato Laratro
Anthony Lucchese
Eugene Giannone
Frank La Pollo
Joseph Brocchini
Ralph Serpico
Frank Serpico
Aniello Migliore
Michael Struzzieri
William Struzzieri
Donato Laietta
Hugh Mulligan
Carmine Tramunti
Joseph, Charlie and Willy Fello
Frank Arra
Charles Villella

....... among many others. A virtual “who’s who” in the Queens gambling underworld.

Note: [most I named, and many others I did not, lived within a 3-5 mile radius of each other in the same northern Queens areas. This made for a extremely cohesive and smooth operation of not only the Corona “regime”, but for the family in general....... a well-run Family!]
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In 1932, as a young man (26), he was arrested by policemen of the Newtown precinct for assaulting Maurice Melita (uncle or father of future hoodlum Joseph Melita - a Vincent Potenza associate) on a Corona street corner. Campanello allegedly struck Melita in the face at Alstyne Street and Corona Avenue.

The charge was dismissed.
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In 1935, he and pal Charles Villella were arrested for vagrancy and unlicensed driver after being questioned by a policeman who viewed them with suspicion, pulling them from a parked auto at 2am on a darkened street in College Point, Queens.
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In 1936, during a city-wide drive against over 200 known criminals, he and boyhood chum Ralph Serpico (Farby’s brother) were arrested in a Flushing bowling alley for vagrancy and consorting with known criminals (each other).... Lol

They later paid a small fine!
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In 1938, he was arrested in front of a Woodside luncheonette for bookmaking. The charges were later dismissed for “lack of evidence” in Ridgewood felony court.
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In 1940, he was among six gamblers arrested on bookmaking charges after he, Albert Bobson and Andrew Barron of the Bronx were nabbed by Queens detectives of the confidential squad.

The charges were “surprisingly” dismissed! Lol
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In 1944, he was one of three men charged with bookmaking and gambling conspiracy, after police arrested him, Israel Tan, a Queens (KG) and John Dantuono in a Corona wire-room. They had been put under surveillance and their phones tapped (at three houses used as wire rooms) over four days before the “confidential squad” pounced on them. Campanello was said to be the boss of the operation.

They later pled out to a $200. fine.
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In 1946, he was charged with gun possession after Queens gambling squad detectives raided a barber shop at 38th Avenue and Junction Blvd., in Corona, trying to nab him for taking bets. All they found were two “toy cap-pistols” but arrested him anyway.

After pleading not guilty, explaining the toys were for his sons (he bought them at a recent rodeo), the judge in the case could clearly see that the arrest was just harassment of Campanello and dismissed all charges.
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In 1948, he was one of several nabbed for bookmaking in a raid on a Jackson Heights wire room. Frank (Yippy) La Pollo - a boyhood buddy was among the arrested.

The charges were again “surprisingly” dismissed.... Lol
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In 1963, Campanello was one of 32 Queens “top hoodlums” named by the Queens D.A.’s office and put under a special intense scrutiny.
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This was shortly after Joseph Valachi named him as among the Lucchese Family “button men” of that family during his Senate Hearing testimony that year.
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In closing, let me say that “Frankie Bell” was a class guy! Well-liked by all who knew him. Soft-spoken, well mannered, and an all-around gentleman to all who dealt with him.

Never loud or brash, he seamlessly operated over many decades with little fanfare. And although having been arrested many times over his “career”, he served only that one prison term for a youthful mistake in judgement!
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Frank Campanello unfortunately died young, at the age of 62, in 1969..... RIP “Frankie Bell”
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[maxiestern11]

Love to know more about joe Brown's crew great read on Jimmy Jones never heard of him ten out of ten as usual max.

Glad you enjoyed Jimmy Jones. He was a wild man in his day! Lol
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Here you go Super! You wanted to read about the Joe Brown crew?.... I don’t think it gets much better then what I just posted.

Hope you enjoy Frankie Bell..... he was said to have been a good guy! (beside a good fellow) lol

[maxiestern11]

Max , can you write up lower Manhattan Lucchese Dynamo Frank (Chick Wilson ) Cintrano ? Hard man to find much info on, believed to have been involved with LIlo Galante in the murder of Carlo Tresca.

I’ll see what I can put together ok Manhattan. But I agree, Citrano May be a tough call. We’ll see ok! I’ll def try

[Manhattan_]

Thank You and Keep ‘em coming !

[maxiestern11]

Paul (Paulie Ham) Correale, born 1911 in East Harlem. By the late 1950’s had moved to 38 Olive St., Lake Success, LI. Top “Capo di decina” in the old Lucchese Family.
He was arguably one of the most important capo’s, a Lucchese favorite. Reputedly in line to have succeeded Lucchese, but Paulie died very young. Passed away suddenly while on a trip to Florida appx 1962, in his early 50’s. A very astute underworld power. Very well liked by the membership. He ran a private social club for many years on 112th Street as his base. Heavily engaged in the policy racket (numbers), controlling multi-million dollar volume in Harlem. Also, ran floating dice games (The so-called Harlem game). Close associates included Vincent Rao, Joey Rao, Pasquale Zaccaro, Carmine (Gribbs) Tramunti (a childhood friend and life long partner), Gaetano Lucchese, Louis (Louie Beans) Foceri, Joseph (Socks) Lanza, (Trigger Mike) Coppola, (Jimmy Blue Eyes) Alo, among many more of the NYC underworld elite. Arrest record starts 1924 for; truancy, robbery, felonious assault, parole violation. Held interests in the Gay Lady Dress Mfg., Co., Bronx, NY. Suspected of having hidden interest in several midtown Manhattan bars and nightclubs, including The Golden Door (with Vinny “Bruno” Mauro) and The Bazaar Room. Activities listed as:
policy, shylocking, dice games and suspected high-level narcotics trafficking (heroin). Note: his brother Jimmy served a long prison term for a charge murder, and Tommy Lucchese himself got involved to attempt at getting Jimmy parole. (It was said Jimmy had taken the fall for Lucchese himself in the case). Maybe another reason why Paul Correale was favored by Tommy Lucchese. In 1959, narcotics detectives raided a mid-town apartment, thinking it was a drug stash house. It wasn’t!..... but it was the “bank” of Correale’s policy network. They nabbed, a huge amount of policy slips, ribbons, $30,000. cash (a enormous amount in 1959), and what was believed to be shylock records. Alleging a $60,000. a day volume,
several underlings were arrested, Correale was charged by released. He was pulled in a conspiracy count that didn’t hold up (he was not on the scene). Members in his regime were said to include Teddy Orso (his cousin and a convicted narcotics dealer), Louis Forceri, Jacob (Jack Mace) Maislich (a top NYC fence), Joseph (Joe Babes) Bendenelli, James (Pat Patty) Reger, Frank Petrella,
among others.
In 1941, Correale was charged with felony assault (for shooting at a cop to allow a partner to escape), it is said that person was his “compare” Tramunti.
In closing, it was common underworld knowledge that Correale was a big spending, generous and
classy mob figure. A rarity in the mob!.... he died very young of lung cancer. The Lucchese Family might have taken a different historic turn if Correale had lived and succeeded to the boss position.... Note: not much has ever been written about “Paulie Ham”. I thought he deserved a write up!

***Note: among my sources were The FBN Mafia Book, The Daily News archives, MF, and many other sources. Lol.... ok fella’s?

Note: [Jack Mace - the fence, came to public view when Fat Vinny Teresa from Boston became a Rat. He accused and exposed Mace as a major NYC based “fence” who he utilized on several occasions for moving stocks....... Jack was “around” Paulie for many years....... Paulie Ham was partners with “Gribbs” in controlling the “Harlem Game”, probably the biggest crap game in the city in that era.... it was “legendary”! “Louie Beans” a (DG) his whole life, although under Paulie, and a good friend, got banned from the game for abusing the game and himself. He was constantly blowing his balls on credit, and not bringing in the money to pay off his debts. So he was banned for quit awhile - remember that often times, especially with a game that size, there are many “investors” who contribute money to the bankroll and take a piece. Nobody wants to hear that your not paying off yours markers. No matter who you are or think you are!]

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CHRISTOPHER (CHRISTY TICKER) FURNARI - born in Brooklyn in 1926. Long time member of the Lucchese Family’s Brooklyn faction, operating for decades out of his bar, “The 19th Hole”, a base of operations for that faction. Up until the mid-1980’s, a virtual unknown to the general public. Furnari operated a large crew, which included such future mob bosses as Victor (Little Vic) Amuso and Anthony (Gaspipe) Casso, among many others. This crew was active in virtually all mob rackets, including; gambling, shylocking, extortion, narcotics trafficking, hijacking and cargo thefts. Close to many members of the Colombo family, at the height of the Gallo-Profaci conflict, Furnari was found by police to be carrying a bible that held photos of the entire Gallo gang. When questioned about it, Furnari stated he intended to sell life insurance to the Gallo’s. During the mid-1970’s, was Furnari reputed to have risen to “Capo” status, and by the late 1970’s to have become the consigliere of the entire family. Arrest record includes assault and robbery, sodomy, rape and assault (15-30 years in jail), wayward minor, parole violation, Rico charges (100 years in prison). In 1985, Furnari was indicted in the famed “Commission Case” (Anthony Salerno, Anthony Corallo, Carmine Persico and the entire hierarchy of NY’s five families were his co-defendents). He was convicted, as were all, and received a 100 year sentence. Furnari served appx 28 years before being granted a parole that many thought would never happen in 2014. Furnari died several years later in 2018 (possibly living in California where he had relocated).

Note: [Ticker had a son, same name - a Jr., I think he went by the nickname of Jumbo. Started hanging around by the early 80’s, then fell off the radar...... never heard from again. Dont’t Know whatever happened to him. Alive? Dead?.... ran away?]......Anybody ever hear of this guy?

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SALVATORE (BLACKIE) GRAFFAGNINO - born 1912 in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn (2334 85th Street). NYCPD # B-85449. Resided for many years in the Howard Beach section of Queens (163-15 86th Street).
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Identified by the FBI and in the 1983 U.S. Senate Hearings as a documented “soldier” in the Lucchese Family. By the time he was 26 years old he had been arrested eleven times for: assault, robbery , armed robbery, grand larceny, gun possession, bank robbery (10-20 years-prison).
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In 1938, a drycleaner’s mark in a topcoat left at a gangs hideout found by detectives in Laurel LI, led to the arrest of Graffagnino. He was one of five men who staged the armed robbery of $6,300. at the Mattituck National Bank & Trust Co., on Long Island (Riverhead). All five were caught, pled guilty, and sentenced to long prison terms at Sing Sing Prison - (Lawrence Taylor, Joseph Fulton, Graffagnino, Charles Rickleef and Billy Hokenski). Brooklyn detectives nabbed him as he pulled up to the curb of his home in a brand new $1,300. car. He later admitted the robbery and stated he bought the automobile with his robbery proceeds.
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In 1972, he was brought before a Kings County grand jury as part of D.A. Eugene Gold’s probe of hundreds of mob figures and policemen who visited a trailer office and mob headquarters of Capo Paul Vario in a Canarsie junk yard, which had been “bugged” by the authorities.... called the “Gold Bug” after the DA. Subpoenas were sent out for 677 mobsters who had either visited the trailer or were mentioned in the bug.
It was learned that among the mobsters who visited the trailer were Salvatore Ferrugia and Anthony Leone of the Bonanno Family, Salvatore Graffagnino, a soldier in the Lucchese mob, and Anthony Ruggiano of the Gambino’s.
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In later years, “Blackie” Graffagnino had kept a very low profile. Nothing more was heard from him. He probably served in the regime of either Vario or Christopher Furnari, both Brooklyn capo’s.
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He died in 1990 at age 77.
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Note: [“The Gold Bug”, was the culmination of at least 7-8 years of very intensive probes of Paulie Vario. He eventually ruined himself because of all the attention he was grabbing. Then of course came the Lufthansa heist in 77’ I think it was. He had so many criminal cases brought against him in those years that I can hardly count em (probably at least 8-9 indictments). That he had to fall Big time!.... which of course he did, dying in prison. A shame because he had s huge crew and was earning like crazy without all the bullshit]

[pharion]

Love to know more about joe Brown's crew great read on Jimmy Jones never heard of him ten out of ten as usual max.

I think JD or someone said Anthony LaSorsa was with joe brown. younger brother Nicky was a Gambino with Ricco and Depalma.

[maxiestern11]

Love to know more about joe Brown's crew great read on Jimmy Jones never heard of him ten out of ten as usual max.

I think JD or someone said Anthony LaSorsa was with joe brown. younger brother Nicky was a Gambino with Ricco and Depalma.

That I’m not familiar with. The LaSorsa brothers

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THOMAS (MOE) LENTINI - born 1935, in the East Harlem section of Manhattan (323 Pleasant Avenue). Lentini was a lifelong resident and “fixture” of East Harlem, specifically the “Pleasant Avenue” section.

Moe was a “dyed in the wool” East Harlem kid, and very loyal to his friends and neighborhood. Lentini was a well-liked, but hard luck guy.
He was in the thick of things for years, and although handled, never really made or retained any big money.

He ran numbers as a kid in the neighborhood, until getting involved with other Pleasant Avenue guys in the drug trade (who’s popularity exploded by the late-1960’s in New York in general and Harlem specifically was ground-zero)
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Hangouts and places frequented (all of which were key locations for receiving/distributing narcotics):
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Pleasant Avenue Tavern - Pleasant Ave., Harlem

Barone’s Bar - Pleasant Ave., East Harlem

Lizzie’s Lucheonette - First Ave., Harlem

The Pleasant Barber Shop - East Harlem

Beach Rose Social Club - Westchester Ave., Bronx

Lo Piccolo Expresso Cafe - Bronx

Bon Soir Teardrop Nightclub - Bronx

The Pine Tree Inn - Bronx Restaurant
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Affiliation: in the late 1960’s he was identified as an “associate” of the Lucchese Family’s uptown crew, and close to Carmine Tramunti.

Later re-identified as a close figure in the Genovese Family. Moe was actually very close to both organizations, having been raised his whole life with numerous boyhood friends of both.
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Activities: wholesale-narcotics (heroin and cocaine) trafficker and “key” Tramunti aide, policy, construction rackets.
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Legitimate interests: Moe never was a businessman or known to hold solid employment, but after getting out of prison, for his loyalty, he was put into the Jacob Javits Convention Center in a construction union-local. It was a nice “cushy” job that paid well. He was getting older and needed a good base. He served as “eyes and ears” for Genovese higher-ups in the facilitation of mob operations at that key site.
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Criminal Associates - most Harlem based hoodlums (and mostly narcotics dealers):
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Carmine (Gribbs) Tramunti - longtime capo and onetime acting boss - Lucchese Family (financier of large heroin loads to the various sub-crews for distribution)
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Gennaro (Jerry Z) Zanfardino - a little known, highly trusted “key manager” of the Harlem narcotics networks (initial receiver of multi-kilo lots for diluting-repackaging for distribution)
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Joseph (Joe D) Di Napoli - important member of Lucchese Family (key “lieutenant” of Tramunti overseeing purchase and distribution)

Note: [it was during this probe that he and Papa were caught with $967,000. cash in a suitcase in their car in the Bronx by narcotics officers)..... major front page news of the day!
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Louis (Gigi the Whale) Inglese - primary mover and coordinator of the heroin networks (key “man on the street” for Tramunti in the actual handling of narcotics logistics)
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Vincent Papa Sr. - one of the biggest heroin traffickers in the nation for decades, and a supplier to nearly all NYC based (Italian) wholesale narcotics organizations at one time or another (close associate of DiNapoli)
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Joseph (Joe Crow) Delvecchio - onetime Harlem heroin distributor and prep-guy (mixing heroin with mannite and packaging it)
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Oreste (Ernie Boy) Abbamonte - since a teenager, longtime East Harlem narcotics trafficker. Later became a Gambino soldier
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Stevie Puco - lifelong drug trafficker
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Frank (Butchie) Pugliese - multiple convicted heroin merchant and Lucchese member (wholesaler to several black dealers in West Harlem), and “key” DiNapoli aide.
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Carmine Pugliese - Frank’s brother and trafficker later shot to death as a suspected informer (his brothers helper-conduit to Black distributors)
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John (Johnny Hooks) Capra - top 1960-70’s narcotics wholesaler who later became a Lucchese member
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Joseph (Joe Sparrow) Sparaccio - wholesale-retail distributor and (processor - diluting and packaging)
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Vincent (Vinny Basile) Pacelli - notorious Harlem heroin dealer and later Gambino member (sometime financier)
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John (Johnny Echoes) Campopiano - trusted (wholesale) dealer and strong-arm - and righthand man
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Frank Stasi - experienced “mixer” and drug dealer who later turned informant against Lentini and others
(he originally taught Lentini how to mix and dilute heroin)
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Ralph (The General) Tutino - Lucchese associate and top narcotics wholesaler for decades
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Donato (Finnegan) Christiano - Bronx drug dealer
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Angelo (Butchie) Mamone - dealer
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Joseph (Joe Red) Ceriale - dealer and supplier of cutting-agents (mannite and quinine)
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Dominick (Nicky) Lessa - dealer
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Steven (Beansie) Della Cava - Genovese operative and friend of Lentini. Former policy runner, later became a Jacob Javits “shop stewart”
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Thomas (Tennessee) Dawson - Black interstate heroin dealer (smuggled to Washington DC, Philadelphia, etc) - limited wholesale and small “retail” street sales
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William (Butchie Ware) Alonzo -
Black heroin dealer (retail street sales)
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John (Hank) Springer -
Interstate drug dealer
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In 1973, federal and local authorities (DEA, FBI and NYPD Narcotics agents) brought a massive multi-count narcotics trafficking indictment against 86 reputed top notch dealers spanning the country. 61 of which were NYC based mob-connected (at the highest echelons) mobsters. This included Carmine Tramunti - the sitting Lucchese Family Boss and many of his key operatives, many of whom are listed above. Moe Lentini was a “key” operative and “right hand” man to the top echelons of this narcotics ring.

This network had the capacity to move up to (220 lbs) per week. Some of the biggest names in the drug business, Vincent Papa and Gigi Inglese among them, were connected to this ring.

This network spanned into Maryland, Washington DC, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia..... and beyond!
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In 1973, Lentini and Sparaccio were indicted a second time that year for obstruction of justice, in the attempted bribery of two pivotal undercover narcotics agents relative to the narcotics case. They actually passed $100,000. cash of a promised $250,000. in bribe money, to the agents for their help in subverting key evidence of the indictment; exposing the identify of several informants so they could be silenced (murdered), “losing” evidence, passing sensitive information to the defendants, etc.

Subsequently most defendants were convicted (Tramunti included) after a lengthy trial in the southern district. Lentini was among those sentenced to long federal prison terms. Tramunti actually died in prison while serving time on this conviction.
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After prison, Moe kept his head low, obtained the above mentioned position at the Javits Center from the hierarchy, and lived comfortably until his death. I believe he just passed away recently.
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[Manhattan_]

Moe did a a lot of time for Narcotics, was beaten badly by a black inmate . After Moe healed he was said to have exacted revenge by gutting the black inmate with a shiv.

[maxiestern11]

Moe did a a lot of time for Narcotics, was beaten badly by a black inmate . After Moe healed he was said to have exacted revenge by gutting the black inmate with a shiv.

Interesting guy, that was some huge case. I remember it well. And I think that Jerry Z and Hooks fell earlier, but all their cases were connected. (a very good book about those cases was “The Pleasant Ave Connection” - it spoke of how the whole investigation had started around Wrnie Boy, and how it mushroomed from there..... do you know how much time he served in total?.... that I couldn’t figure out. Also, was it for the one fall with Gribbs? Or did he fall a couple of times? I think it was just the one pinch correct Manhattan.

[Manhattan_]

Excellent read about the Heroin trade back in the day , The PAC had a lot about Ernie boy and Johnny Echoes. Was written by David Dirk and Robin Moore. Great photos of Pleasant Ave and the boys back in the early 70’s . Not sure bout Gribbs .