Salvatore Profaci Jr.

[B.]

- Full name Salvatore Lorenzo (Lawrence) Profaci Jr. Known as "Sam" and "Fat Sal". Like many sons of mafioso, attended military school. Born 1935 and died 1978 of natural causes.

- Son of Salvatore Lorenzo Profaci Sr., who was the brother of boss Joe Profaci and soldier Frank Profaci. His mother was a D'Agati, a known mafia family from Villabate. Profaci Sr., who died in an accident in 1954, is described by most sources as an incredibly influential member under his brother Joe Profaci, sometimes described as consigliere though likely a capodecina.

- Sal Profaci Jr., nicknamed "Fat Sal", married the daughter of suspected DeCavalcante member/associate Joseph "Whitey" Danzo. Profaci Jr.'s sister Rosalie would famously marry Bill Bonanno.

- One of three Salvatore Profacis of his generation to be involved with the Colombo family. He is sometimes confused with Salvatore J. Profaci, son of Joe and also a member who would later be captain of the family's New Jersey crew. Another cousin Salvatore "Sally Curtis" Profaci, son of Frank Profaci, was not made but was an associate suspected of being in the narcotics business and lived in New Jersey like his cousins. A fourth Salvatore Profaci in this age group moved to the US from Villabate in the 1940s and was likely a second cousin; he later settled in New Jersey as well though he had no known criminal involvement.

- Made member by 1957 at age 22. Following Joe Colombo's elevation to boss in 1964, Profaci Jr. was in the decina that reported directly to Colombo. By 1966, Profaci Jr., his cousin Sal J. Profaci, and uncle Frank Profaci were moved to the crew of Salvatore Musacchio. By 1968, Profaci Jr. was in the crew of Joe Yacovelli.

- Like most Profacis, he lived in Brooklyn while Joe Profaci was boss, with Profaci Jr. himself living in Bath Beach. By 1966, Profaci Jr. had moved to Monroe Township, New Jersey. Along with the Profaci mafia group having strong ties to Villabatesi paesans in the early Newark family, Joe Profaci himself had a farm in New Jersey where his various relatives spent a lot of time. Sal Profaci Jr., seemingly the first to move to NJ full-time, moved to Monmouth County, the same general area where his uncle's farm was located.

- While San Jose boss Joseph Cerrito was visiting NYC in 1964, one of his points of contact was Profaci Jr. Cerrito was observed meeting with Profaci Jr. several times, as well as meeting with Colombo soldier Salvatore Perritore and Bill Bonanno.

- While still in his early 20s as a newly made member was president of the PLS Coat and Suit Company, formerly owned by his deceased father. PLS was burglarized in 1957 by a gang, who were later caught, though it's unclear if Profaci Jr. reported the burglarly and/or cooperated in the investigation himself. Later Profaci Jr.'s legitimate occupation was real estate agent and it's unclear what his racketeering interests were, if any. He was the owner of a Hightown, NJ Chinese restaurant believed to have a prostitution operation running upstairs. In 1968, he was arrested in NJ for berating a police officer and using profane language after being pulled over and having his license scrutinized.

- In early 1968, a meeting was held between Sonny Franzese and Profaci Jr.'s father-in-law Whitey Danzo where Franzese asked Danzo where Profaci Jr. stood in the Bonanno dispute and felt out how Danzo would feel if something happened to Profaci. Franzese was the godfather to some of Danzo's children, though it's not clear if this included Danzo's daughter who married Profaci. Danzo told Franzese he would be fine if something happened to Profaci as long as his daughter and grandchildren were provided for. Profaci obviously survived the Bonanno war.

- Side note, but there is extensive information about Whitey Danzo's activities through the mid- to late-1960s available, including summaries of meetings he attended. Sometimes this is an indication that an individual, or someone close to them, was providing information. We know Danzo was in poor standing with the DeCavalcante leadership and accused of lying and stealing by other members, with this coming to a head in 1967.

- Supposedly Profaci Jr.'s relationship with Bill Bonanno first became strained because the younger generation of Profaci relatives hadn't sufficiently supported Magliocco in Bonanno's eyes. Bill Bonanno had lived with Joe Magliocco and both Joe and Bill Bonanno supported Magliocco as boss, though Magliocco was only acting boss and never confirmed by the Commission. At one point Bonanno even allegedly threatened Profaci Jr. with a gun, according to Rosalie. Profaci Jr.'s relationship with Bonanno would become even more strained due to Bonanno's poor treatment of Profaci Jr.'s sister Rosalie, which included flagrant infidelity.

- Also in 1968, Profaci Jr. was allegedly caught digging a grave by state police in his town of residence, Millstone Township. It's not clear what the context, if any, there was to the state police's discovery or the grave itself.

- Died shortly after his 42nd birthday in 1978 of a heart attack. Given his nickname "Fat Sal", this could have been a result of his weight. It's unknown to me which decina he was in throughout the 1970s, though it's possible given his previous membership in the Yacovelli decina, residence in NJ, and his cousin's transfer to and eventual promotion over the family's New Jersey crew that he was also with that decina.

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Anything else known about him?

[Hailbritain]

Great post B , here’s a photo

[Pogo The Clown]

Great info B. His father Sal Sr was a Capo when he died according to Bill Bonanno.


Pogo

[B.]

Great post B , here’s a photo

Thanks -- I was the one to originally post that photo many years ago on the Real Deal, but it's not Sal Profaci Jr., who died in 1978. That is a photo taken much later of his cousin, associate "Sal Curtis" Profaci, son of Frank.

Great info B. His father Sal Sr was a Capo when he died according to Bill Bonanno.


Pogo

Yeah, that makes the most sense. Not sure where the idea comes from that he was in the administration. Rosalie talks about a cousin of hers coming over from Sicily and telling her that her father was the real power behind his brother Joe, but that doesn't mean much.