Can we talk about ‘Richie the Boot’?

[Luca]

I never paid much attention to the New Jersey faction of the Genovese family until I came across some interesting transcripts of a wire tap between Angelo Decarlo and Little Pussy I believe. At that time in the 60s wiretaps were illegal and could not be used in court. They talk about how many people Richie the Boot and others, including his son had murdered at his own home, his mansion in New Jersey. And he actually disposed of the bodies on his property in an incinerator. This would make him one of the most sadistic killers in the history of the mafia. You could put him up there with Casso, Demeo, and the like. There were other discussions about heinous murders they committed and also some interesting discussions about government and police officials they controlled. Look at the last arrest picture of Richie the Boot, he is like 88 years old or something but looks absolutely terrifying.

[cavita]

I never paid much attention to the New Jersey faction of the Genovese family until I came across some interesting transcripts of a wire tap between Angelo Decarlo and Little Pussy I believe. At that time in the 60s wiretaps were illegal and could not be used in court. They talk about how many people Richie the Boot and others, including his son had murdered at his own home, his mansion in New Jersey. And he actually disposed of the bodies on his property in an incinerator. This would make him one of the most sadistic killers in the history of the mafia. You could put him up there with Casso, Demeo, and the like. There were other discussions about heinous murders they committed and also some interesting discussions about government and police officials they controlled. Look at the last arrest picture of Richie the Boot, he is like 88 years old or something but looks absolutely terrifying.

I believe Life magazine did an article on the Mafia specifically focusing on Boiardo and his mansion. I have the copy somewhere with some really good photos.

[Wiseguy]

I never paid much attention to the New Jersey faction of the Genovese family until I came across some interesting transcripts of a wire tap between Angelo Decarlo and Little Pussy I believe. At that time in the 60s wiretaps were illegal and could not be used in court. They talk about how many people Richie the Boot and others, including his son had murdered at his own home, his mansion in New Jersey. And he actually disposed of the bodies on his property in an incinerator. This would make him one of the most sadistic killers in the history of the mafia. You could put him up there with Casso, Demeo, and the like. There were other discussions about heinous murders they committed and also some interesting discussions about government and police officials they controlled. Look at the last arrest picture of Richie the Boot, he is like 88 years old or something but looks absolutely terrifying.

I believe Life magazine did an article on the Mafia specifically focusing on Boiardo and his mansion. I have the copy somewhere with some really good photos.

Those statues in his yard were downright creepy.

[Camo]

Wasn't Boiardo a major bootlegger who fought against people who would later be fellow NJ Genovese?

[B.]

Wasn't Boiardo a major bootlegger who fought against people who would later be fellow NJ Genovese?

He was a Camorrista who did fight against NJ mafia members. Willie Moretti, who was a former Camorrista himself but already a mafia member, attempted to mediate but Boiardo resisted. He wasn't made into the Genovese until the 1940s and by then many of his former underlings had been recruited by the Genovese Family.

Here's an old thread I made dealing with Pussy Russo that also goes into a lot of historic detail about Boiardo:

viewtopic.php?p=100254

I also recommend Joel Turner's posts as he's shared good stuff on Boiardo and that cluster of guys.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Boiardo was a Capo from when to when please?

[Camo]

Boiardo was a Capo from when to when please?

Pogo has him as 57-84:

Moretti-Catena-Boiardo Crew:
Quarico "Willie Moore" Moretti (Mid 1930s-1951) Killed.
-John “Padre/Duke” DeNoia (Late 1940s-Early 1950s)
Gerardo "Jerry" Catena (1951-1957) Became UnderBoss.
Ruggiero "Richie the Boot" Bioardo (1957-1984) Died.
-In the 60s the Crew was split between Bioardo, Angelo "Gyp" DeCarlo and Eugene “Gene” Catena.
-Anthony “Tony Boy” Boiardo (1960s-1978) Died.
-Andrew “Andy Gerard” Gerardo (1978-1984) Became Official Capo
Andrew “Andy Gerard” Gerardo (1984-1990s) Stepped Down.
-Thomas “Pee Wee” DePhillips (1987-1990s) Became Official Capo.
Thomas “Pee Wee” DePhillips (1990s) Stepped Down.
Andrew “Andy Gerard” Gerardo (1990s-2000s) Retired.
-Silvio DeVita (1990s-2000s) Became Official Capo.
Silvio DeVita (2000s-Present)

Thanks B!

[quadtree]

Pogo has him as 57-84:

Boiardo became captain in 1947.

[Luca]

Wasn't Boiardo a major bootlegger who fought against people who would later be fellow NJ Genovese?

He was a Camorrista who did fight against NJ mafia members. Willie Moretti, who was a former Camorrista himself but already a mafia member, attempted to mediate but Boiardo resisted. He wasn't made into the Genovese until the 1940s and by then many of his former underlings had been recruited by the Genovese Family.

Here's an old thread I made dealing with Pussy Russo that also goes into a lot of historic detail about Boiardo:

viewtopic.php?p=100254

I also recommend Joel Turner's posts as he's shared good stuff on Boiardo and that cluster of guys.

Thanks! Interesting stuff.

[Camo]

Pogo has him as 57-84:

Boiardo became captain in 1947.

Who did he succeed in 1947 or was he given a new crew?

[quadtree]

Pogo has him as 57-84:

Boiardo became captain in 1947.

Who did he succeed in 1947 or was he given a new crew?

It is not known exactly when Boiardo's crew was created, but we do know that his crew included Anthony Russo, John Russo, Charles Tourine and William Cardinale. Considering that Boiardo was originally in Moretti's crew and the others were also associated with him, it is likely that this crew split from Moretti's crew.

Boiardo became captain sometime between 1943 and 1950, probably by 1947-1948. Around the same time, Jerry Catena received his crew. Moretti was still captain at the time of his murder.

John De Noia is also mentioned as being a captain in New Jersey during this time period, but he may have been acting for Moretti.

[Ivan]

Since we're already talking about the Boot, I just found this amazing clip of him doing a perp walk at the age of 150 (or whatever). I believe that's him where I've linked here, in the all black outfit.

https://youtu.be/Hk9LhGj75kg?t=145

[JoelTurner]

They talk about how many people Richie the Boot and others, including his son had murdered at his own home, his mansion in New Jersey. And he actually disposed of the bodies on his property in an incinerator. This would make him one of the most sadistic killers in the history of the mafia. You could put him up there with Casso, Demeo, and the like.

In terms of numbers, Boiardo & his crew killed at least 40 people. As you mentioned, with the incinerator, there’s definitely some disappearances that we haven’t connected to him.

He was a lot more affable than guys like Casso or Demeo which is probably why he lasted so long and had a good ending. I guess he could compartmentalize or turn off the crazy. The general public seemed to like him. I’ve spoken to people who have fond memories of pool parties at his estate or getting free food from him.

He doesn’t seem to have been a sadist; the burning of bodies was a forensic countermeasure. However, he was an extreme paranoiac. He was seeing betrayals where there was none. Over the years, he killed several people based on the fear that they wouldn’t “stand up” if they were caught even though they had done time previously.

[Juice Terry]

Since we're already talking about the Boot, I just found this amazing clip of him doing a perp walk at the age of 150 (or whatever). I believe that's him where I've linked here, in the all black outfit.

https://youtu.be/Hk9LhGj75kg?t=145

Thats one Skeletor-looking muthafucka!

[Camo]

Pogo has him as 57-84:

Boiardo became captain in 1947.

Who did he succeed in 1947 or was he given a new crew?

It is not known exactly when Boiardo's crew was created, but we do know that his crew included Anthony Russo, John Russo, Charles Tourine and William Cardinale. Considering that Boiardo was originally in Moretti's crew and the others were also associated with him, it is likely that this crew split from Moretti's crew.

Boiardo became captain sometime between 1943 and 1950, probably by 1947-1948. Around the same time, Jerry Catena received his crew. Moretti was still captain at the time of his murder.

John De Noia is also mentioned as being a captain in New Jersey during this time period, but he may have been acting for Moretti.

Interesting, thanks. Do you know what happened with the succession of those three Crews then assuming De Noia didn't have his own? As you can see above Pogo has the Crew being split between Boiardo, Gyp DeCarlo and Gene Catena in the 60s. Obviously Gene most likely succeeded Gerry. Is DeCarlo on the line of succession from Morretti then with probably someone inbetween (possibly De Noia)? Or were these Crews combined and broken up so there's no clean succession?