Cherry Hill Gambinos Question

[baldo]

I'm about halfway through reading "The Octopus" (highly recommended if you're interested in the Sicilian drug connection.) One thing I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around is how the Cherry Hill group seemed to be such heavy players with so many international connections (John Gambino was personally escorting MIchele Sindona around Sicily when he was "kidnapped") yet they were subservient to Gotti, who for lack of a better word, was nowhere near as sophisticated or connected as these guys. I know there has been some disagreement on here between very well respected posters as to the relationship between the Cherry Hill group and Gotti but what did they get out of being made members here. I know Rosario was made in Sicily and not in the Gambino family IIRC. It just seems that the Cherry Hill group was much more powerful and connected than someone like Gotti (or anyone else in that family). Hoping you guys can shed some light (looking right at you Felice and Bronx LOL). Thanks.

[Snakes]

They probably figured they'd have more to gain by being a part of a family than operating independently. They may have plenty of connections in Italy but when you're in the States you have to fall in line with one of the Five Families or you'll have problems. I assume they didn't want any trouble, plus they were related to Carlo which I'm sure made the transition easier. Remember also that they inherited Gotti.

[Frank]

Has it ever come out why the father and his sons, one made, came to the US.

[CabriniGreen]

They probably figured they'd have more to gain by being a part of a family than operating independently. They may have plenty of connections in Italy but when you're in the States you have to fall in line with one of the Five Families or you'll have problems. I assume they didn't want any trouble, plus they were related to Carlo which I'm sure made the transition easier. Remember also that they inherited Gotti.

I think it actually was timing... they had more to gain, ie " staying alive" in New York under the Gambinos, then in Sicily under the regime change that was Riina and the Corleonesi.... it was part of the deal..... they could join NY and stay alive....

[CabriniGreen]

Example, John Gambino was convicted of heroin trafficking in Palermo, in Abstentia, or what ever the term is....

I've never heard of a Brooklyn, or Queens, or Jersey guy getting convicted in Palermo, any more than I've heard of a Palermo boss convicted in a NY court...

[CabriniGreen]

I'm about halfway through reading "The Octopus" (highly recommended if you're interested in the Sicilian drug connection.) One thing I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around is how the Cherry Hill group seemed to be such heavy players with so many international connections (John Gambino was personally escorting MIchele Sindona around Sicily when he was "kidnapped") yet they were subservient to Gotti, who for lack of a better word, was nowhere near as sophisticated or connected as these guys. I know there has been some disagreement on here between very well respected posters as to the relationship between the Cherry Hill group and Gotti but what did they get out of being made members here. I know Rosario was made in Sicily and not in the Gambino family IIRC. It just seems that the Cherry Hill group was much more powerful and connected than someone like Gotti (or anyone else in that family). Hoping you guys can shed some light (looking right at you Felice and Bronx LOL). Thanks.

felices files, which came from the Italian side of Iron Tower, said John in fact acted highly independent, he kinda, to me, acted like Sciascia.....

[CabriniGreen]

Some info on the Gambinos, check the thread out....

[CabriniGreen]

I think between his indictments in Palermo, and the Corleones homicidal campaign, he wasnt REALLY TRYING to go back to Sicily in 1980, like after that.....

[SonnyBlackstein]

felices files, which came from the Italian side of Iron Tower, said John in fact acted highly independent, he kinda, to me, acted like Sciascia.....

Good analogy.

Agree.

[CabriniGreen]

I think its important to remember, Falcone was on the Gambinos heels as well.....

I think they went along with a plan to kill him, or to try to kill him I believe.... or was it Giuliani? Might have been both, I think Naimo nixed it....

[Frank]

I believe they came over in 1964. Was there a mafia war over there in that time period? Maybe it was a case of them originally comming over here to stay alive, and Carlo helping his family. I don't know, but they were related to one of the top LCN bosses of that time. Did they come over here with alot of money? Or did Carlo set them up moneywise? The answer to the original question could go all the way back to when they first came here. I wonder if the Gambino Bros dad was made, and if he was successful in the drug trade?

[Cacuzza]

They set up the pizzeria network that enabled them to fill the pizzerias with undocumented men who served as employees by day, and anything else when called upon at anytime, who were completely unknown to law enforcement in this country; while also establishing the distribution network under the guise of the pizzerias. What was uncovered in the Pizza Connection took time to put in place and have up and running in any form that was sustainable for as long as it lasted. In 1964 Buscetta was still around. He came to the U.S. in 1963 with the blessing of Gambino and became involved in the pizza business.

[Frank]

What's funny is that Gotti was basically in a kill or be killed situation over drugs, while at the same time the Gambino Bros were some major players in the drug trade. Gotti bumped up John Gambino to Capo, then demoted later on because he found out how much money Gambino was making, and felt he had not kicked up enough. Other interesting points was Carlo's son Tommy started meeting with the Cherry Hill Gambinos after the Big Paulie hit and John Gambino's rise in stature in the Gambino Family after his release from prison.

[nowandlater]

In Sicily what is now known as the First Mafia War began in December 1962 followed by what became known as the Ciaculli massacre in June 1963. At the time and especially after the massacre Buscetta and many others came to the U.S. as well as South America. At the time the migration appeared to be to avoid apprehension by the local authorities. The reason for the migration at that time was different from what motivated a subsequent migration in the early 1980's as a result of the Corleonesi and what is now known as the Second Mafia War.

[Eline2015]

I'm about halfway through reading "The Octopus" (highly recommended if you're interested in the Sicilian drug connection.) One thing I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around is how the Cherry Hill group seemed to be such heavy players with so many international connections (John Gambino was personally escorting MIchele Sindona around Sicily when he was "kidnapped") yet they were subservient to Gotti, who for lack of a better word, was nowhere near as sophisticated or connected as these guys. I know there has been some disagreement on here between very well respected posters as to the relationship between the Cherry Hill group and Gotti but what did they get out of being made members here. I know Rosario was made in Sicily and not in the Gambino family IIRC. It just seems that the Cherry Hill group was much more powerful and connected than someone like Gotti (or anyone else in that family). Hoping you guys can shed some light (looking right at you Felice and Bronx LOL). Thanks.

Is that some kind of book or federal report?