Harlem 1930s-1970s

[Wiseguy]

Ive generallly concluded they have two crews traditionally in jersey. Modern day “waterfront” crew potentially led by depiro or Coppola and then the “Newark” crew, maybe led by palombo today would be my guess. I don’t have any good documented research into that but just my general conclusions from reading around

In his last indictment, the feds stated Palumbo was an acting captain for a Brooklyn based crew, most likely the one run by Barry Nichilo. But Palumbo did have operations in New Jersey

[Brovelli]

That would make sense also as those brothers linked to him around 2010 were all Brooklyn/Queens based. I think Palumbo was alleged to have some link to Andy Gerardo which was why I assumed him with that crew but I have no good info related to that.

[JoelTurner]

Two of the three current NJ crews have their roots in the original Moretti one; Boiardo & Catena were in his crew from 1943 to approximately’47

1) Silvio DeVita - Clear line of succession that goes Boiardo -> Gerardo -> DeVita

2) Steve DePiro - Succession is confusing after LaPlaca passed in Dec 1979. However, I don’t think that this crew ever split.

My read is that the Gatto group (Bergen/Passaic) & the Fiumara group (Newark) were always factions in the same crew. This would be a similar setup as the ‘70s with LaPlaca & Pecora.

——-

3) Old Dentico crew - I don’t know who’s the current captain post-Bruschi but I’d guess John "Blue" Defroscia

Rather than stemming from Moretti, this one came from the Hudson County faction in the Greenwich Village crew. Even Bruschi was from Union City before moving to the Shore.

The NJ part of the NYC-based old Prisco crew also has its roots in this group.

[Don_Peppino]

Boxing results from 1946/47 from Harlem. Small world after all. Brother of Chin Gigante, Ralph Gigante on the same bill as Fred Walker, who would a year later become bodyguard and driver for Bumpy Johnson. He'd later going to become an informant and noone knows what happened to him after that.

What became of Ralph Gigante? Was he a confirmed member? Also there's a Nick Arcuri from Union City, Nj. We know Arcuri is a surname heavy in Jersey, was he connected?

[Don_Peppino]

Gambino Family:
Leo's East Harlem Crew:
1. Arthur Leo (1957?-1965);
2. Anthony Napolitano (1965-1987);
3. Ralph Mosca (ft. 1980-1987, acting);
4. Ralph Mosca (1987-1999);

Did Arthur Leo take over the Squillante crew?

[quadtree]

Gambino Family:
Leo's East Harlem Crew:
1. Arthur Leo (1957?-1965);
2. Anthony Napolitano (1965-1987);
3. Ralph Mosca (ft. 1980-1987, acting);
4. Ralph Mosca (1987-1999);

Did Arthur Leo take over the Squillante crew?

After Squillante's murder in 1960, his crew was divided between Anthony Sedotto, Rocco Mazzie and Joseph Zingaro. Arthur Leo most likely inherited Frank Scalici's former crew.

[Don_Peppino]

Gambino Family:
Leo's East Harlem Crew:
1. Arthur Leo (1957?-1965);
2. Anthony Napolitano (1965-1987);
3. Ralph Mosca (ft. 1980-1987, acting);
4. Ralph Mosca (1987-1999);

Did Arthur Leo take over the Squillante crew?

After Squillante's murder in 1960, his crew was divided between Anthony Sedotto, Rocco Mazzie and Joseph Zingaro. Arthur Leo most likely inherited Frank Scalici's former crew.

Thanks for that clarification. I read in an article Bumpy Johnson admitted to knowing Squillante and Rocco Mazzie , which I thought was interesting because I never heard that before but Mazzie makes sense being a heroin guy.

In Harlem Godfather, the author, Bumpy's widow, claimed that when Albert Anastasia died, the FBI came to her home to question why Bumpy's contact info was in Anastasia's address book. It's not dubious a claim. Johnson's 1951 drug case, had some Gambinos tied to it so obviously, there is a bigger association there than what is histotically discussed.

And it makes more sense that Leo took over for Scalise, I was drawimg a blank on exactly when Squillante died.
Wasn't Arthur Leo killed as well?

[quadtree]

Gambino Family:
Leo's East Harlem Crew:
1. Arthur Leo (1957?-1965);
2. Anthony Napolitano (1965-1987);
3. Ralph Mosca (ft. 1980-1987, acting);
4. Ralph Mosca (1987-1999);

Did Arthur Leo take over the Squillante crew?

After Squillante's murder in 1960, his crew was divided between Anthony Sedotto, Rocco Mazzie and Joseph Zingaro. Arthur Leo most likely inherited Frank Scalici's former crew.

Thanks for that clarification. I read in an article Bumpy Johnson admitted to knowing Squillante and Rocco Mazzie , which I thought was interesting because I never heard that before but Mazzie makes sense being a heroin guy.

In Harlem Godfather, the author, Bumpy's widow, claimed that when Albert Anastasia died, the FBI came to her home to question why Bumpy's contact info was in Anastasia's address book. It's not dubious a claim. Johnson's 1951 drug case, had some Gambinos tied to it so obviously, there is a bigger association there than what is histotically discussed.

And it makes more sense that Leo took over for Scalise, I was drawimg a blank on exactly when Squillante died.
Wasn't Arthur Leo killed as well?

Arthur Leo died in 1965. He wasn't killed. He died at the rather young age of 41. It had a large crew of 30 people, the new captain over the crew will be Anthony Napolitano.

Mazzie's crew included drug dealers who had previously been on Squillante's crew. So his crew specialized in drugs. Subsequently, Mazzie's crew was disbanded, and his soldiers transferred to the crew of Joseph Zingaro.

[JoelTurner]

Did Mike Coppola really have ~60 men in his crew?

Valachi estimated them at 60 and George Barone had them at ~50 which would match.

On the Westside 1963 thread, there are roughly 30 members identified and that’s including ones who aren’t really on lists like Bellomo’s father & grandfather.

Were there really another 30 guys, basically the size of even large crews like Greenwich Village or Catena’s, that weren’t identified? Does anyone have any guesses as to who they could have been?

[Brovelli]

OC Shortz said Angelo prisco was first cousins with the meldish brothers, was that known? I never knew

[sdeitche]

OC Shortz said Angelo prisco was first cousins with the meldish brothers, was that known? I never knew

Yes, that's true. I confirmed it with a Prisco family member.

[Brovelli]

OC Shortz said Angelo prisco was first cousins with the meldish brothers, was that known? I never knew

Yes, that's true. I confirmed it with a Prisco family member.

Very interesting as well considering prisco was still alive when Michael was murdered. I scanned the forums and did see there was some mention before of family relation through one of the mothers

[Don_Peppino]

Did Mike Coppola really have ~60 men in his crew?

Valachi estimated them at 60 and George Barone had them at ~50 which would match.

On the Westside 1963 thread, there are roughly 30 members identified and that’s including ones who aren’t really on lists like Bellomo’s father & grandfather.

Were there really another 30 guys, basically the size of even large crews like Greenwich Village or Catena’s, that weren’t identified? Does anyone have any guesses as to who they could have been?

I was under the impression that this was a large crew in the 30's when Coppola took over from Terranova. The number of members has always been suggested to be around 50 guys. This probably would include some Florida guys. That might be where some of the "missing" crew members come in. Thats just my guess.