What Price Providence?

[JakeTheSnake630]

Anyone read Gerard Ouimette's book? Pretty decent read with some info I hadn't known before. He def toots his own horn a bit and gets somethings confused, but its got to be one of the better books about RI LCN. One of the things mentioned was that after Billy Grasso got out of prison where he was cellmates with Ray Sr, Ray got him transfered from the Colombos to the Patriarcas. I didnt realize Grasso was a Colombo. Did they at one time have a big presence in New Haven or CT? Also there aren't many guys who wrote books who are not considered rats. Pat Nee and Jerry Tillinghast might be the only other guys I can think of who wrote a book but is a stand up guy. Are there any NY guys that meet this criteria? Would love to hear who has read this book and what their thoughts were. I will also add info I wasn't aware of, or found interesting to this post as I continue to finish the book. What Price Providence by Gerard Ouimette.

[JakeTheSnake630]

The Orena faction of the Colombos helped engineer a move that got Ray Jr deposed as boss. Vinny Aloi then got Nicky Bianco installed as boss, however when everything came to light about the scheme, Vinny Aloi told Nicky the cat was out of the bag and Nicky relinquished his position.

I have never heard this, I thought Bianco getting locked up is what caused him to lose his spot as boss. Anyone know if this true?

Also the book says it was Chin's guys who killed Billy Grasso. I always assumed it was renegade faction guys like Russo Ferrara Corozzo etc.

[Pogo The Clown]

The Colombos were active in Connecticut at one time. Soldier Ralph "Whitey" Tropiano was their man there. He died in 1980.


Pogo

[PolackTony]

Not a NY guy, but Chicago associate and crooked cop Fred Pascente wrote a book and was not a rat (so far as I know).

[Browniety86]

The Orena faction of the Colombos helped engineer a move that got Ray Jr deposed as boss. Vinny Aloi then got Nicky Bianco installed as boss, however when everything came to light about the scheme, Vinny Aloi told Nicky the cat was out of the bag and Nicky relinquished his position.

I have never heard this, I thought Bianco getting locked up is what caused him to lose his spot as boss. Anyone know if this true?

Also the book says it was Chin's guys who killed Billy Grasso. I always assumed it was renegade faction guys like Russo Ferrara Corozzo etc.

See I posted in the inter family hits post about the Genovese hitting Billy Grasso and was met with dispute. I've always heard it was Chin's people...

[outfit guy]

I read the book and excellent. Don't remember the detail regarding Grasso. The big question is, how can he walk into an obvious set-up that landed him back in prison for life. True tough guy. Talks of the killings direct from Ray. Was on the hunt to kill Whitey after Bulger lured the one victim to a house and had him call his wife to be robbed.

[MightyDR]

I've been looking for a good Patriarca related book. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Pmac2]

The shooter was a soldier in the patriarca family. He was spencers in by grasso. Can't think of his first name. Hes out today milani. He was a springfield guy. Grasso pisses of the Springfield crew cause he took over Hartford then inducted a guy in Springfield. Ray jr was boss but grasso was more powerful. They decided Vincent ferrera wasn't gonna become a informant for whatever reason and decided to kill him. He caught wind of it or jr Russo did and they hit them first. The genovese crew led grasso into the trap. He thought he was going to Worcester to meet carlo m and the guys the pugs brother were also genovese guys were driving the van but the shooter was a new england member. There's no way these guys would have done it without chin gigante oking it in 88 89 the height of his power

[Browniety86]

The shooter was a soldier in the patriarca family. He was spencers in by grasso. Can't think of his first name. Hes out today milani. He was a springfield guy. Grasso pisses of the Springfield crew cause he took over Hartford then inducted a guy in Springfield. Ray jr was boss but grasso was more powerful. They decided Vincent ferrera wasn't gonna become a informant for whatever reason and decided to kill him. He caught wind of it or jr Russo did and they hit them first. The genovese crew led grasso into the trap. He thought he was going to Worcester to meet carlo m and the guys the pugs brother were also genovese guys were driving the van but the shooter was a new england member. There's no way these guys would have done it without chin gigante oking it in 88 89 the height of his power

That's exactly what I've always heard. I can see though where there is confusion where actually there was inter family cooperation in carrying the hit out.

[JakeTheSnake630]

I read the book and excellent. Don't remember the detail regarding Grasso. The big question is, how can he walk into an obvious set-up that landed him back in prison for life. True tough guy. Talks of the killings direct from Ray. Was on the hunt to kill Whitey after Bulger lured the one victim to a house and had him call his wife to be robbed.

Haven't gotten that far yet. Whitey had Bucky Barrett call his wife for money. Bucky was plugged in with burglars all over NE and had some RI friends for sure. Tony Fiore being one. They talk about it in Crimetown season 1. If anyone hasn't listened to that i highly recommend it.

[JakeTheSnake630]

The book says Ray Sr was indicted with Trafficante and Accardo regarding this dental scheme. I don't think I have ever heard about that. Seems like a huge indictment given you had bosses from different areas of the country so I am surprised it isn't talked about more. Has anyone ever seen any paperwork on this?

[JakeTheSnake630]

Henry Tamelo allegedly had a chance to get out of jail for the Deagan murder he didn't commit, but he needed 150k to pay some gov't official. Zannino and Anguilo refused to chip in because he was a RI guy and not a Boston guy. Tamelo died in jail. I heard he had dementia too but that isn't mentioned. Thats pretty shitty though, especially when had he lived he would have eventually been released.

[mike68]

Gaetano Milano was the triggerman in the Grasso hit from what I recall.

[Extortion]

I would like to know what happened to Salvatore Michael Caruana..Kind of an interesting story within the Pats.

[Pmac2]

Grasso killed him if I remember correct. He was a huge weed guy. Forgot the reason but those 2 turncoats from Hartford jackie John an son dug the hole. No one was ever charged