Ravenite Social Club Origins

[Raven]

Was he on Rava's crew?

[Antiliar]

I found a New York Post article from 1956 and the club at that time was called the Ravenite and it was run by Dellacroce. Back in 1909 that address was an undertaking establishment.

[bronx]

hello Raven, not sure who he was with when made..great question.

[Raven]

Antiliar is correct. I looked more and while I wasn't able to find the article he references I found one in the Sept 1 1956 New York Times calling the club the Ravenite. I had read on a few blogs and mafia websites that it wasn't called the Raven Knights Social club until the 1970's but they are mistaken then.

I had gotten LaForte Sr. and Jr. mixed up. I actually forget there was a Sr. & Jr. Joe Laforte. Were both nicknamed "the Cat". I saw somewhere (probably on here) that Jr. was "made" in the 1970's?

Thanks for the feedback on this topic guys. You guys on here are way more knowledgeable than on most mafia blogs and websites where I had previously gotten information.

[Manf]

LaForte Jr was known as Buddy.

[B.]

Yeah I believe Cirelli owned the apartment above where the dumbass Gotti spilled his guts.


Pogo

Ahh, that's what I was thinking.

[Laurentian]

Here is an interesting account of the origins of the Ravenite Social Club

http://bedfordandbowery.com/2016/12/all ... s-address/

[HairyKnuckles]

Was he on Rava's crew?

LaForte Sr was under Lombardozzi. That was a huge crew, perhaps 35 made members. When it was split, Sr was under Gennaro, then Corrao and then Mike Caiazza. When Dellacroce died, Sr was put under Tommy Bilotti. His son Buddy was made in 1976 into Caiazza´s crew. Briefly in 1985, Buddy was acting for Caiazza but demoted by Dellacroce. Caiazza´s crew was one of two or three Dellacroce had full control over. According to tape transcripts, Caiazza had not consulted Dellacroce about the move, but directly with Castellano. The move put Caiazza on the shelf.

[Antiliar]

Here is an interesting account of the origins of the Ravenite Social Club

http://bedfordandbowery.com/2016/12/all ... s-address/

Good article, but articles from the New York Post and New York Times show that it was already called the Ravenite in 1956, and run by Dellacroce back then.

[Pogo The Clown]

LaForte Sr was under Lombardozzi. That was a huge crew, perhaps 35 made members. When it was split, Sr was under Gennaro, then Corrao and then Mike Caiazza. When Dellacroce died, Sr was put under Tommy Bilotti. His son Buddy was made in 1976 into Caiazza´s crew. Briefly in 1985, Buddy was acting for Caiazza but demoted by Dellacroce. Caiazza´s crew was one of two or three Dellacroce had full control over. According to tape transcripts, Caiazza had not consulted Dellacroce about the move, but directly with Castellano. The move put Caiazza on the shelf.

I thought LaForte Sr. took over for Caiazza? So did he take over for Bilotti instead? Thanks.


Pogo

[HairyKnuckles]

LaForte Sr was under Lombardozzi. That was a huge crew, perhaps 35 made members. When it was split, Sr was under Gennaro, then Corrao and then Mike Caiazza. When Dellacroce died, Sr was put under Tommy Bilotti. His son Buddy was made in 1976 into Caiazza´s crew. Briefly in 1985, Buddy was acting for Caiazza but demoted by Dellacroce. Caiazza´s crew was one of two or three Dellacroce had full control over. According to tape transcripts, Caiazza had not consulted Dellacroce about the move, but directly with Castellano. The move put Caiazza on the shelf.

I thought LaForte Sr. took over for Caiazza? So did he take over for Bilotti instead? Thanks.


Pogo

Frank DeCicco took over from Bilotti. I´m not sure about LaForte Sr but it appears he was made acting captain of Caiazza´s crew sometime after his son was demoted. There´s a lack of info on LaForte Sr´s status after Gotti took over the Family but I assume he too was demoted and Caiazza´s crew disbanded.

[Pogo The Clown]

Do you mean that Bilotti's Crew was merged with the DeCicco Crew? Thanks.


Pogo

[HairyKnuckles]

Do you mean that Bilotti's Crew was merged with the DeCicco Crew? Thanks.


Pogo

One and same crew. DeCicco was put under Bilotti when he was made a captain. They had both been under Failla in the late 1970s, Bilotti broke off from Failla in the early 1980s.

[Pogo The Clown]

I thought DeCicco was already a Capo before late 1985? I remember JD saying that DeCicco took over for John Riccobono in 1982/3.


Pogo

[HairyKnuckles]

I thought DeCicco was already a Capo before late 1985? I remember JD saying that DeCicco took over for John Riccobono in 1982/3.


Pogo

When Riccobono died in 1984, his crew was also put under Bilotti. Perhaps JD can confirm this but that´s the info I´ve got. And I think it came from him.