Jersey, geography, trends, etc.

[Rocco]

Also seems the Gambino's have focused on expanding more in Long Island then NJ. There is Merola and a few of his associates in NJ . And I have to believe that he was reporting to a NY based Capo when he was busted. Same for Buddy Musk..I think they reported to NY when they got picked up in 2007. The NJ luchese family has allot of associates..mostly bookies and guys that run floating casino's all over Morris County and around bloomfield ave section of North Newark to Bloomfield. But the don't have allot of made guys in the state anymore. Once the older guys die off you will have just John, Lil Joe and Big Joe as made guys and that's it.

[TommyNoto]

Also seems the Gambino's have focused on expanding more in Long Island then NJ. There is Merola and a few of his associates in NJ . And I have to believe that he was reporting to a NY based Capo when he was busted. Same for Buddy Musk..I think they reported to NY when they got picked up in 2007. The NJ luchese family has allot of associates..mostly bookies and guys that run floating casino's all over Morris County and around bloomfield ave section of North Newark to Bloomfield. But the don't have allot of made guys in the state anymore. Once the older guys die off you will have just John, Lil Joe and Big Joe as made guys and that's it.

Makes sense as NJ basically belongs to Westside at this point . My guess is LI is more wide open

Carlo Tacetta is made but I’m not sure of his status after that weed bust .

I here what you are saying but I don’t see them ever letting NJ attrition out , it’s a cash cow for the family . I wonder if Mike Perna was captain before he died ? You have to think Ralph is the captain today

[TallGuy19]

Also seems the Gambino's have focused on expanding more in Long Island then NJ. There is Merola and a few of his associates in NJ . And I have to believe that he was reporting to a NY based Capo when he was busted. Same for Buddy Musk..I think they reported to NY when they got picked up in 2007. The NJ luchese family has allot of associates..mostly bookies and guys that run floating casino's all over Morris County and around bloomfield ave section of North Newark to Bloomfield. But the don't have allot of made guys in the state anymore. Once the older guys die off you will have just John, Lil Joe and Big Joe as made guys and that's it.

I'm not sure what other rackets the Luccheses have in New Jersey, but the sports book that the Jersey faction operates is enough by itself to justify bringing in new members as the old ones die off.

[HairyKnuckles]

Trying to figure out the Genovese crews in Jersey over the past 20 or 30 years has been frustrating to say the least. Ironically, I think part of the confusion came from the 1989 and 2004 reports from the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation.

The 1989 report listed as follows:

1. Manna
2. Digilio
3. Gatto (Streaky)
4. Gerardo

The 2004 report listed as follows:

1. Fiumara
2. Prisco
3. Gatto (Joseph)
4. DeVita
5. Bruschi

Here's what I've been able to gather. Anyone feel free to weigh in, agree, disagree, whatever.

Digilio was only a solider, albeit an influential one on the waterfront before he was killed. The Prisco (later LaScala) crew was given oversight of his interests on the waterfront. But the Prisco/LaScala crew was always New York-based and so never should have been included as one of the New Jersey-based crews. The 2012 indictment of LaScala was in New Jersey but he was the only made guy in it. The rest were associates. Anyway, that crew seems to be finished.

While it's true that Joseph Gatto inherited much of his father's interests, there seems to have been some discrepancy in law enforcement whether he was ever actually a captain. Some officials said, while he was considered a high level operative, he was only a soldier. Either way, the Gatto crew and the Fiumara crew seem to have been essentially the same crew. Gatto, Firumara, Coppola, Borelli, DePiro - all the same crew.

DeVita took over the Gerardo crew. Doesn't seem to be too much mystery there aside from DeVita's ability to avoid significant law enforcement scrutiny for so many years now despite being an identified captain.

That leaves Manna from the 1989 report and Bruschi from the 2004 report. It seems Bruschi was in the same crew as Dentico (who came from New York) and Manna's interests fell to them. Bruschi was indicted as a captain in 2003 but, strangely, was identified as only being "associated with the Genovese family" when he and Dentico (identified as captain) were indicted together in 2005.

Like the Prisco/LaScala crew, several New York-based Genovese crews have had operations in New Jersey. The Tuzzo crew was another example. But it seems there may have been only three (or so) crews based there all along. Not unlike years before when it was Catena, Boiardo and DeCarlo. Catena you can trace down the line to Fiumara, etc. Boiardo you can trace down to DeVita. The DeCarlo crew, of course, was merged with the New York-based Tieri crew at one point. So that leaves Dentico/Bruschi. At least in the past. If we are only looking at fairly recent history, like the last decade or so, it's only been two crews - Coppola/DePiro (formerly Fiumara) and DeVita, that have had indictments or we've at least had news about.

In a way, this seems to coincide with general trends in New Jersey. From what I can tell, only the Genovese and Lucchese families have crews based in the state now. In 2019, a report USA Today did on the Waterfront Commission quoted authorities as saying two of the five NY families - Genovese and Luccheses - operated in the state; although the Gambinos and Bonannos still had ties to it. The Lucchese crew there seems to be slowly dwindling. The last Gambino captain in the state was Nicky Mitarotonda in the early-mid 2000's. He was indicted in 2006 and not much of any news since. The last big Gambino bust in the state was in 2007 and Merola and Muccigrosso (both soldiers) were the only Gambino members indicted. As for the Bonannos, Sammartino was indicted as a captain in 2009. Civello was identified as a soldier by New Jersey officials in 2015. Both families have activity in the state but it seems to be from New York-based crews. Of course the Colombos haven't really had a presence in the state for 20 years now.

In a larger sense, I'm starting to think that the New Jersey-based crews from the Genovese and Luccheses are the only ones now based outside New York from the five families. A constricting of geographical scope, so to speak.

For the Genovese, all crews seem to be New York-based except for the ones based in New Jersey. They still have activity in Westchester, the North Suburbs (Rockland County, etc.), and Connecticut but it's from New York-based crews. They also have activity in Florida but their last crew based there was taken out in 2006. They still have activity in Massachusetts but the what's left in Springfield (one known member and some associates) is now overseen from the Ianniello/O'Nofrio crew in New York.

For the Gambinos, all crews seem to be New York-based. They still have activity in Westchester. They still have activity in Connecticut but it has been overseen by the New York-based crew (now run by Sciandra) since the 1980's. And they have activity in Florida but their last crew based there was taken out in 2008.

For the Luccheses, all crews seem to be New York-based except for their one crew in New Jersey. They also have activity in Westchester.

For the Colombos, all crews seem to be New York-based. They also have activity in Florida but their last crew based there was taken out around 2011 or so.

For the Bonannos, all crews seem to be New York-based. They still have activity in New Jersey and Florida but from New York-based crews. Of course, their Montreal crew broke off in the late 1990's.

Maybe new info will come forth in the future that will enhance or correct what I posted above but that's the way things look to me at present.

I believe there are errors in the reports. For those who are interested, I copied and pasted the info on the NJ based Genovese crews found in the 2004 report.

"Another key family leader is Tino R. Fiumara, a high-ranking caporegime and
one of New Jersey’s most feared mob figures. Fiumara, formerly of Spring Lake, enjoys
enhanced status because of his reputation for violence and links to key portions of the
organization’s racketeering interests in and around the Port of New York and New Jersey
– traditionally a major Genovese revenue-producer. Whether Fiumara will actually be
able to fulfill his leadership ambitions, however, remains to be seen. He was released
from federal prison and placed on probation after serving 15 years of a 25-year
racketeering sentence. In 1999, federal authorities ordered Fiumara back to prison for
violating the terms of his probation by leaving the New Jersey without permission,
associating with known felons and involvement in a continuing criminal enterprise.
During his time on the street, Fiumara served as head of the New Jersey faction of the
Genovese organization. In April 2002, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New
Jersey obtained an indictment against Fiumara for conspiring to assist fugitive Michael
Coppola in Coppola’s flight to avoid apprehension and prosecution. While awaiting trial,
Fiumara was released from federal prison in June 2002. In March 2003, he pled guilty to
conspiring to conceal and failing to report that he had been in contact with Coppola. In
November, a federal judge ordered Fiumara back to prison for eight months for
concealing Coppola’s whereabouts.
While Fiumara was imprisoned in the 1980s and 1990s, Coppola supervised
Fiumara’s crew. Himself a fugitive since 1996, Coppola is wanted for his role as the
suspected triggerman in the 1977 murder of John “Johnny Coca-Cola” Lardiere, who at
the time he was shot to death was on temporary furlough from imprisonment for
contempt, having refused to testify before the SCI. The Fiumara/Coppola crew is one of
the largest and most resourceful Genovese crews operating in New Jersey, with key
influence in the Newark/Elizabeth Seaport. Its area of operation is primarily Union,
Essex and Bergen Counties. Ranking members Michael A. Borelli and Lawrence A.
Ricci have been supervising this crew for Coppola and Fiumara. Ricci mainly oversees
solid waste removal, trucking and waterfront industry activities, while Borelli oversees
the crew’s illegal gambling operations. Borelli also has strong influence in the
Teamster’s Union, and has been involved in the infiltration of the health-care and
construction industries."

- My opinion regarding Fiuamara´s crew is that it is a direct extension of the former Gatto crew.
This is testimony from Justin Dentino (NJ State law enforcement officer):

Fiumara LaPlaca.png

Fiumara gatto palmieri.png

Fiumara palmieri.png

So it went from LaPlaca to Fiumarra (possibly only acting captain when LaPlaca was on his deathbed in the late 1970s) to Gatto to Fiumara. One of the errors could be that the report listed Gatto´s son as official captain. I think it´s possible that the son was only acting captain while Fiumara was in prison and Coppola on the lam.

The report continues:

"Angelo M. Prisco, a capo from Yonkers, N.Y., heads a crew with powerful
influence in northern New Jersey. Prisco, who was sentenced to a 12-year prison term
for arson and conspiracy, was paroled early from state prison in August 2002, allegedly
in violation of New Jersey Parole Board protocols. Prisco’s name appears on the New
Jersey Casino Control Commission’s Exclusion List. Prisco now resides in Atlantic
County and is believed to have resumed control of his crew. The crew’s primary activity
takes place in Hudson County, along the Bayonne/Jersey City Waterfront, but it also
operates in Monmouth County and Florida. While Prisco was incarcerated, Genovese
member Joseph N. LaScala supervised his crew. In March 2002, several members and
associates of this crew were charged with shaking down International Longshoremen’s
Association (ILA) dockworkers at various Hudson County waterfront shipping terminals.
In December 2001, another soldier in this crew was convicted on federal charges of
embezzling funds from ILA Local 1588 in Bayonne."

- Was Dentico named the official consigliere of the Genovese Family (after Ida) or has this been debunked? (I can´t remember.) Both Dentico and Prisco were from Gigante´s old crew and Dentico was made captain when Gigante put his loyal men (members of his old crew) as captains. It could be that Prisco was put with Dentico (which makes sense especially when both of them goes way back originally being part of same crew (Gigante´s old crew) and then himself upped when Dentico was made consiglieri.

The report continues:

"Another Genovese family crew is based out of Passaic County and commanded
by Joseph Gatto, a capo who was released from federal prison in October 2003 after
serving 61 months for running a highly lucrative gambling and loan sharking operation.
The Gatto crew is most active in Bergen and Passaic Counties. Members of this crew
have been involved in racketeering in the solid waste industry, infiltration of the health
care industry, illegal video gambling, bookmaking and loan-sharking."

- I tend to believe that Joseph Gatto was in his father´s crew. Unless he was given his own crew at some point, or broke off from Fiumara´s crew, this is an error in the report.

Report continues:

"A fourth Genovese family crew is based out of Essex County and headed by capo
Silvio P. DeVita. His name appears on the Casino Control Commission’s Exclusion List.
The DeVita crew specializes in construction industry and labor racketeering, the
infiltration of legitimate businesses, insurance fraud, gambling and loan-sharking.
Andrew N. Gerardo, who reportedly retired from head of this crew in the early 1990s and
moved to Florida, routinely returns to New Jersey to receive a share of the profits and
assert his authority when key decisions need to be made."

- I have no objection to this. But if Gerardo routinely returned to NJ to receive share of the profits, that would suggest Gerardo was in semi retirement and used DeVita as his acting captain.

Further the report says:

"Ludwig A. Bruschi heads a fifth crew. Although he managed to stay under law
enforcement’s radar for several years, in June of 2003 he was charged with racketeering,
leading a criminal enterprise, loan sharking and promoting gambling. Eighteen of his
subordinates also were charged in the case. Authorities say that Bruschi oversaw one of
the largest illegal gambling and loan-sharking operations in New Jersey, covering
portions of Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hudson, Essex, Passaic and Union counties.
The operation is alleged to have booked around $500,000 a week in sports bets and had at
least $1 million in illegal loans on the street at any given time, generating hundreds of
thousands in interest payment profits. Bruschi is presently out on bail."

- I tend to believe this is an extension of the old DeCarlo crew. We know that the DeCarlo crew was merged with Tommy Lombardi after DeCarlo´s death, making Funzi Tieri stronger (Lombardi was Tieri´s guy). Could be that Gigante decided to split up Lombardi´s crew, after Lombardi´s death, and made a new crew of what was left of it´s NJ interests and put Bruschi in command.

[Pogo The Clown]

- Was Dentico named the official consigliere of the Genovese Family (after Ida) or has this been debunked? (I can´t remember.) Both Dentico and Prisco were from Gigante´s old crew and Dentico was made captain when Gigante put his loyal men (members of his old crew) as captains. It could be that Prisco was put with Dentico (which makes sense especially when both of them goes way back originally being part of same crew (Gigante´s old crew) and then himself upped when Dentico was made consiglieri.

Dentico was twice indicted as a Capo on the ruling panel in 2005. I think the confusion stems from the Genovese family referring to their ruling panel as the administration.


https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/ny ... apr05.html

As set forth in the indictment and in a detention letter filed by the government today, after Gigante was incarcerated in 1997, the leadership of the Genovese family passed to a committee known as the "administration." CIRILLO and DENTICO were allegedly members of the administration, and in that capacity represented the Genovese family in its dealings with other LCN families. In 2000, DENTICO personally represented the Genovese family at a commission meeting of all five New York families of LCN. In addition, in 2000, CIRILLO empaneled a committee of Genovese family leaders, including DENTICO, BARBATO and previously convicted Genovese family captain Alan Longo, to determine whether to commit murder in the name of the criminal enterprise.

http://www.mafianj.com/denticoindictment.shtml

Defendant LAWRENCE DENTICO, also known as the “Little Guy” and “Little Larry,” was a captain or soldier within the Genovese Crime Family and a member of the Genovese Crime Family Administration. In that capacity, LAWRENCE DENTICO shared ultimate authority concerning the management and supervision of the Genovese Crime Family’s criminal activities, including illegal gambling, loansharking, and extortion.
b.

[West Coast1]

Back in the day all the big guys were in seaside during the summer, even if it was just for a weekend. It's amazing to think how the shore had so many guys there at the same time. You might think that it was some kind of criminal hang out or dangerous. To be honest that was the last time you could go to seaside and let your kids run free. It was so safe, you couldn't imagine. Now, I wouldn't even take my kid never mind let them run around there unsupervised.

[B.]

Good thread, Wiseguy.

Manna's trajectory is worth looking into more. He and Dentico were made into the Strollo-Eboli crew and Manna's father was a key associate of Strollo going back to at least the 1940s. Given the Genovese family maintained such a large membership and many early members are still unidentified, the elder Manna is a good candidate for membership. The Mannas are Neapolitan, too, like many Strollo crew members.

Never came across any reports of Manna being a captain before his elevation to consigliere. Phil Leonetti and Fish Cafaro both have Manna as consigliere by 1980, so he may have become consigliere before Gigante was official boss (though we know Gigante was helping the administration since the mid-late 1970s and probably had influence on the promotion).

Interestingly, earlier consigliere Alessandro Pandalfo was also a Neapolitan from the Strollo crew, so there is precedent for a soldier from that crew serving as consigliere.

Makes me curious about other NJ-based members of the Strollo crew given they had at least two or three. The Strollo crew was the main crew in the Genovese faction and Vito was a Neapolitan living in NJ. The Boiardo crew (Neapolitan, again) were particularly close to Genovese, with Pussy Russo serving as Genovese's driver and a liaison to other US families.

EDIT: An associate of the Philly Down Neck crew cooperated and claimed Alfred Salerno represented him (the associate) in a sitdown with Bobby Manna. Salerno sat direct with Manna and was not represented by John Simone or Caponigro, which tells me Manna was still a soldier at the time (I believe this was after Manna was released from Yardville but don't have a specific year).

[HairyKnuckles]

- Was Dentico named the official consigliere of the Genovese Family (after Ida) or has this been debunked? (I can´t remember.) Both Dentico and Prisco were from Gigante´s old crew and Dentico was made captain when Gigante put his loyal men (members of his old crew) as captains. It could be that Prisco was put with Dentico (which makes sense especially when both of them goes way back originally being part of same crew (Gigante´s old crew) and then himself upped when Dentico was made consiglieri.

Dentico was twice indicted as a Capo on the ruling panel in 2005. I think the confusion stems from the Genovese family referring to their ruling panel as the administration.


https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/ny ... apr05.html

As set forth in the indictment and in a detention letter filed by the government today, after Gigante was incarcerated in 1997, the leadership of the Genovese family passed to a committee known as the "administration." CIRILLO and DENTICO were allegedly members of the administration, and in that capacity represented the Genovese family in its dealings with other LCN families. In 2000, DENTICO personally represented the Genovese family at a commission meeting of all five New York families of LCN. In addition, in 2000, CIRILLO empaneled a committee of Genovese family leaders, including DENTICO, BARBATO and previously convicted Genovese family captain Alan Longo, to determine whether to commit murder in the name of the criminal enterprise.

http://www.mafianj.com/denticoindictment.shtml

Defendant LAWRENCE DENTICO, also known as the “Little Guy” and “Little Larry,” was a captain or soldier within the Genovese Crime Family and a member of the Genovese Crime Family Administration. In that capacity, LAWRENCE DENTICO shared ultimate authority concerning the management and supervision of the Genovese Crime Family’s criminal activities, including illegal gambling, loansharking, and extortion.
b.

Thanks Pogo.

[HairyKnuckles]

According to this article dated December 2004, the Genovese Family had only three NJ based crews, No mention of Dentico at all.

https://eu.northjersey.com/story/news/b ... /95019340/

"In May, the State Commission of Investigation claimed he filled the captain's role vacated by his deceased father, who had been in prison, and reported directly to family leaders in New York. The FBI also named him a captain in a 1998 federal racketeering indictment.

But law enforcement officials on Wednesday said Gatto controls much of his father's old numbers rackets but isn't one of the Genovese family's three New Jersey captains. Gatto, released from federal prison last year after serving a 61-month term, remains a soldier, said state police Detective Mark Doyle.

In any case, "Joe Gatto is one of the higher operatives for the Genovese crime family," Doyle said.

"Streaky" Gatto, who controlled a multimillion-dollar gambling empire until he was sent to prison for 65 years in 1991 for racketeering and murder conspiracy, was a favorite of imprisoned Genovese boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante. Gatto died of cancer in 2002.

State authorities said three captains control New Jersey for the Genovese family: Angelo M. Prisco runs the Jersey City and Bayonne waterfront; Ocean County resident Ludwig "Ninny" Bruschi, who awaits trial on a 2003 racketeering charge, controls Northern New Jersey and Silvio DeVita controls the Newark area."

[outfit guy]

Everyone is making millions: ha! But yet 50K was a good - now great - year for a knockaround guy.

[Wiseguy]

According to this article dated December 2004, the Genovese Family had only three NJ based crews, No mention of Dentico at all.

https://eu.northjersey.com/story/news/b ... /95019340/

"In May, the State Commission of Investigation claimed he filled the captain's role vacated by his deceased father, who had been in prison, and reported directly to family leaders in New York. The FBI also named him a captain in a 1998 federal racketeering indictment.

But law enforcement officials on Wednesday said Gatto controls much of his father's old numbers rackets but isn't one of the Genovese family's three New Jersey captains. Gatto, released from federal prison last year after serving a 61-month term, remains a soldier, said state police Detective Mark Doyle.

In any case, "Joe Gatto is one of the higher operatives for the Genovese crime family," Doyle said.

"Streaky" Gatto, who controlled a multimillion-dollar gambling empire until he was sent to prison for 65 years in 1991 for racketeering and murder conspiracy, was a favorite of imprisoned Genovese boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante. Gatto died of cancer in 2002.

State authorities said three captains control New Jersey for the Genovese family: Angelo M. Prisco runs the Jersey City and Bayonne waterfront; Ocean County resident Ludwig "Ninny" Bruschi, who awaits trial on a 2003 racketeering charge, controls Northern New Jersey and Silvio DeVita controls the Newark area."

My only question with this article is, even if we count Prisco though he was New York-based, where would that leave Gatto/Fiumara?

By the way, good finds on your post above, HK.

[Charlie]

Report continues:

"A fourth Genovese family crew is based out of Essex County and headed by capo
Silvio P. DeVita. His name appears on the Casino Control Commission’s Exclusion List.
The DeVita crew specializes in construction industry and labor racketeering, the
infiltration of legitimate businesses, insurance fraud, gambling and loan-sharking.
Andrew N. Gerardo, who reportedly retired from head of this crew in the early 1990s and
moved to Florida, routinely returns to New Jersey to receive a share of the profits and
assert his authority when key decisions need to be made."

- I have no objection to this. But if Gerardo routinely returned to NJ to receive share of the profits, that would suggest Gerardo was in semi retirement and used DeVita as his acting captain.

Pretty interesting. I thought the accepted theory was that Gerardo had stepped down or been demoted at some point after going to jail and Pee Wee DePhilips had taken over the crew. If I'm not mistaken DePhilips was indicted in the mid 90's as a captain by the feds. Didn't think it had gone straight to DeVita.

[Charlie]

Below is an excerpt from a Star Ledger article at the time of his arrest

The man described as acting boss of one of New Jersey's most powerful organized crime factions was arrested by the FBI early yesterday on sweeping racketeering charges. The arrest, federal authorities said, should decimate the already hard-hit operations of the Genovese crime family in the state. Thomas ''Pee Wee'' DePhillips, 68, who authorities say took the reins of Genovese operations once controlled by legendary godfather Ruggiero ''Richie the Boot'' Boiardo, was taken into custody at his Belleville home.

In a series of related raids, FBI agents arrested five alleged associates, including two identified as made members of the Genovese family. One of the five was identified as a former Newark police officer. The six were charged with taking part in a violent multimillion-dollar gambling and loansharking operation with tentacles in both New Jersey and New York. U.S. Attorney Faith Hochberg said DePhillips stepped in to take over the operation for one-time Boiardo associate Andrew Gerardo, who has been portrayed as heir to the Boiardo crime empire. Gerardo is in failing health and has been living in semi-retirement in Florida. DePhillips, authorities charged, took over day-to-day operations in 1992, following his release from prison on state charges. Although assuming the mantle of leader, he remained answerable to Gerardo, they said

I stand corrected. Seems the feds still carried Gerardo as the official head of the crew, with DePhilips as his acting capo.

[HairyKnuckles]

I stand corrected. Seems the feds still carried Gerardo as the official head of the crew, with DePhilips as his acting capo.

Yeah, it looks like DePhillips was only acting skipper. And later, Gerardo put DeVita in same postition. If my memory is correct, DeVita was made pretty late...mid or late 1990s.

[Rocco]

Also seems the Gambino's have focused on expanding more in Long Island then NJ. There is Merola and a few of his associates in NJ . And I have to believe that he was reporting to a NY based Capo when he was busted. Same for Buddy Musk..I think they reported to NY when they got picked up in 2007. The NJ luchese family has allot of associates..mostly bookies and guys that run floating casino's all over Morris County and around bloomfield ave section of North Newark to Bloomfield. But the don't have allot of made guys in the state anymore. Once the older guys die off you will have just John, Lil Joe and Big Joe as made guys and that's it.

I'm not sure what other rackets the Luccheses have in New Jersey, but the sports book that the Jersey faction operates is enough by itself to justify bringing in new members as the old ones die off.

Its more about just building a vast network of bookies then made guys. etc. The Westside has allot of non made guys get busted running sports books etc