Genovese crime family
In	New York City
Founded by	Charles Luciano
Years active	1931-present
Territory	Various neighborhoods over NYC
Ethnicity	Italian, Italian-American
Membership	200 - 250 made members, 600 associates approx
Criminal activities	Racketeering,conspiracy,loansharking, money laundering, murder,narcotics,extortion,pornography, and gambling
Allies	Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, and Lucchese Crime Families
Rivals	Various gangs over NYC including their allies

The Genovese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime. They are rivaled in size by only the Gambino crime family and in terms of power only the Gambino crime family and the Chicago Outfit match them. They have generally maintained a varying degree of influence over many of the smaller mob families outside of New York, including ties with the Patriarca, the Buffalo and the Philadelphia crime families. The Genovese family manipulated members of the Philadelphia crime family into murdering one time Boss Angelo Bruno so that they could gain control of their territory in Atlantic City. Although the leadership of the family seems to have been in limbo the last few years, specifically since the death of Boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante, the family stills appears to be more organized than most of the other crime families and has remained powerful. [1] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Charles Luciano (11 November 1896_ 26 January 1962), better known as Lucky Luciano, was a legendary mobster with a long criminal history. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... New York, New York redirects here. ... Languages Italian, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Corsican, Sardinian, Emiliano-Romagnolo, Ligurian, Lombard, Piedmontese, Venetian, Ladin, Friulian Religions predominantly Roman Catholic      The Italians are a Southern European ethnic group found primarily in Italy and in a wide-ranging diaspora throughout Western Europe, the Americas and Australia. ... An Italian American is an American of Italian descent and/or dual citizenship. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between natural persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement. ... Usury (from the Latin usus meaning used) was defined originally as charging a fee for the use of money. ... Money laundering is the practice of engaging in financial transactions in order to conceal the identity, source and destination of the money in question. ... The term narcotic, derived from the Greek word for stupor, originally referred to a variety of substances that induced sleep (such state is narcosis). ... Extortion is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person either obtains money, property or services from another through coercion or intimidation or threatens one with physical harm unless they are paid money or property. ... Porn redirects here. ... Gamble redirects here. ... John Gotti, The Dapper Don The Gambino Crime Family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities based in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... The Bonanno crime family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... The Colombo crime family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... The Lucchese crime family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... A gang is a group of individuals who share a common identity and, in current usage, engage in illegal activities. ... The Five Families are the major crime families of the Italian-American Mafia based in New York City which have dominated traditional organized crime in New York. ... Organized crime or criminal organizations are groups or operations run by criminals, most commonly for the purpose of generating a monetary profit. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Charles Lucky Luciano, one of the most famous American bosses (La) Cosa Nostra (our thing or this thing of ours in Italian) is a worldwide alliance of criminals, linked through both familial and conspiratorial ties, that is dedicated to pursuing crime and protecting its members. ... John Gotti, The Dapper Don The Gambino Crime Family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities based in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Outfit is a crime syndicate that has a long and extensive history dating back to long before Prohibition and part of the U.S. phenomenon known as the Mafia. ... The Patriarca crime family is a criminal organization based in the region of New England, specifically Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, that is part of a nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia or La Cosa Nostra. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Philadelphia crime family is an Italian criminal organization based in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Angelo Bruno (1911 - March 12, 1980) was a member of the US Mafia who ran the Mafias faction in Philadelphia. ... Alternate meanings: See Atlantic City (disambiguation) Atlantic City is a city located in USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 40,517. ... Vincent The Chin Gigante (March 29, 1928 – December 19, 2005) was a New York mobster who headed the Genovese crime family. ...

History of the Genovese Crime Family

The Origins

The Genovese crime family is believed to have been developed in the early 1900s by members of several Sicilian-American street-gangs, who together founded the Morello crime family and the early origins of the organization of what would be the Genovese crime family. Established by brothers Antonio, Nicolo, and Giuseppe Morello, and half brothers Vincenzo "Vincent" Terranova and Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova following their arrival from Corleone, Sicily in 1892, the crime family became involved with extortion and bootlegging activities during the early 1910s, and reportedly mentored several young children of Italian immigrants into joining their crew in the East Harlem faction of Manhattan. But as this family grew power and influence in the Manhattan area, the rival Brooklyn based Neapolitan Camorra and their prominent leaders Pellegrino Morano and Salvatore "Toto" D'Aquila claimed a long and bloody war between the criminal factions, which reportedly went on for a decade. But as prominent Don Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria seized power of the Morello crime family in the early 1920s, Masseria was seen as the most powerful criminal in the entire New York area, as he gained strength of both the Brooklyn Camorra and the Morellos. [2] Sicilian Americans are a subset of Italian Americans from Sicily. ... The Morello Crime Family was one of the earliest crime families to be established in the United States. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Nicholas Morello (1855/1866-September 7/November 6, 1916) was one of the first New York organized crime figures founding the Morello crime family and was later one of the participants in the Mafia-Camorra War of 1916. ... Peter The Clutching Hand Morello (1880-August 1930), also known as The Old Fox, was a prominent member of the Morello crime family and advisor to Joe Masseria. ... The Morello crime family was one of the earliest crime families to be established in the United States. ... Ciro The Artichoke King Terranova (1889-February 20, 1938) was a New York City gangster and one time leader of the Morello crime family. ... Corleone is a small town of approximately 12,000 inhabitants in the province of Palermo in Sicily, Italy. ... Extortion is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person either obtains money, property or services from another through coercion or intimidation or threatens one with physical harm unless they are paid money or property. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Spanish Harlem, also known as East Harlem or El Barrio, is a neighborhood in northeastern part of the borough of Manhattan, one of the largest predominantly Hispanic communities in New York City. ... This article is about the borough of New York City. ... This article is about the New York City borough, or Kings County, New York. ... The camorra is a mafia-like criminal organization, or secret society, in the region of Campania and the city of Naples in Italy. ... JohnRDaily 03:24, 10 February 2006 (UTC) Category: ... JohnRDaily 03:34, 10 February 2006 (UTC) Category: ... Joe The Boss Masseria Giuseppe Joe The Boss Masseria (1879–April 15, 1931) was an early Mafia don in the United States. ...

The Castellammarese Era

As Masseria gained power in the early 1920s, he recruited new and young blood into his family, like mobsters Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Frank Costello, Joseph "Joey A" Adonis, Vito Genovese, Albert Anastasia and Carlo Gambino who all joined Masseria into bootlegging, smuggling of alcohol and liquor, extortion, loansharking and gambling rackets. But as another powerful mobster named Salvatore Maranzano gained support in the Brooklyn section, he became the leader of the Castellammare del Golfo, the prominent organization that dominated the power in Brooklyn and included members such as Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, Joseph Profaci, and Stefano Magaddino. By the year of 1928, during the Prohibition, an all-out war had been leashed upon the two factions, who desperately tried to gain the complete power of New York and all of its lucrative rackets. The war is reportedly named the Castellammarese War, since it was Neapolitan on one side and the Sicilian on the other, however, reportedly more than 60 mobsters on both sides of the families were murdered during the war of the late 1920s. [3] Charles Lucky Luciano (born Salvatore Lucania) (November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962) was a Sicilian-American mobster. ... Frank Costello, born Francesco Castiglia, or Castilla (January 26, 1891 - February 18, 1973) was an American gangster who rose to the top of Americas underworld, controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and had political influence like no other La Cosa Nostra boss. ... Vito Don Brandon Genovese (November 27, 1897 – February 14, 1969) was a mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. ... Albert Anastasia (born Umberto Anastasio) (September 26, 1902 – October 25, 1957), aka the Mad Hatter and Lord High Executioner, was a New York Cosa Nostra boss remembered for his brutality and his role in running the contract killing gang known as Murder, Inc. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Spirits redirects here. ... Usury (from the Latin usus meaning used) was defined originally as charging a fee for the use of money. ... Gamble redirects here. ... Salvatore Maranzano (1868-September 10, 1931) was an organized crime figure from the town of Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, and an early Mafia boss in the United States. ... Giuseppe Joseph/Joe Bonanno (January 18, 1905 – May 12, 2002) was a Sicilian-born American Mafioso who became the boss of one of the infamous five families crime families of New York City. ... Joe Profaci (1896 - 1962) was a New York Mafia boss who was the head of the Columbo Family for over three decades. ... Stefano Magaddino (October 10, 1891 – July 19, 1974) was an American mafia boss in the Buffalo, New York area. ... The term Prohibition, also known as A Dry Law, refers to a law in a certain country by which the manufacture, transportation, import, export, and sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or illegal. ... The Castellammarese War is the name given to a bloody internal power struggle between two factions of Italian-American mafia figures that took place in 1930 and 1931. ... Neapolitan may refer to: Neapolitan, a resident of Naples, Italy Neapolitan language, a language of Naples and environs in southern Italy Neapolitan ice cream, a mixture of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream side-by-side in the same container Neapolitan chord, in music, is the first inversion of a... Sicilian (Lu Sicilianu, Lingua Siciliana) is the Romance language spoken in Sicily, Italy. ...

But in 1931, it became clear that none of the old Mustache Petes were going to win the war, as the young and brilliant Charlie "Lucky" Luciano decided to play both sides of the war and in the end let them kill each other. On April 15, 1931, Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria was murdered on a Coney Island restaurant, reportedly by members of Luciano's crew. (Luciano had allegedly been eating dinner with Masseria, but then excused himself to the bathroom, before his entourage came in) Although Salvatore Maranzano claimed victory later that year and organized the powerful Five Families of New York, Luciano, now Maranzano's second-in-command, had Maranzano stabbed and shot to death in his Manhattan office about six months later by Jewish gangsters loaned for the use from Meyer Lansky, after he was 'fingered' by Luciano ally and Maranzano trustee, Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese. Luciano was now the most powerful mobster in the US.[4] Mustache Petes were the members of the Sicilian Mafia who had come to New York as adults in the early 1900s. ... Meyer Lansky (born Majer SuchowliÅ„ski, July 4, 1902 – January 15, 1983) was an American gangster who, with Charles Lucky Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States. ... Gaetano Tommy Lucchese aka Three-Finger Brown or Three Fingers and Tommy Brown (December 1, 1899 - July 13, 1967) was a New York mobster who was a key ally of Charles Lucky Luciano during the 1920s and later a founder of the New York Lucchese crime family. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...

Luciano and Establishing the Commission

With Luciano as the new leader of organized crime, he and his cooperator Meyer Lansky together created the modern Cosa Nostra and divided areas into several crime families all over the United States. He founded the Commission, consisting of the Five Families, the Chicago Outfit and the Buffalo crime family of Upstate, New York, representing all the power and influence. The name Cosa Nostra, means "Our Thing", was created and thousands of Italian-American mobsters were allowed to join the crime families and become made men. But as Luciano set up rules everyone had to follow to keep the organization alive, the hit-squad Murder Inc., headed by Albert Anastasia under the control of the Commission, went on to eliminate everyone who broke the rules as the Luciano crime family kept pulling the strings. Luciano made Vito Genovese the family Underboss, and Frank Costello as Consigliere. But in 1935, Luciano was indicted on pandering charges, and sentenced to 30-50 years in prison. Genovese was to take over the Luciano family and run the day-to-day activities, however, Genovese escaped a murder charge and ran off to Italy, leaving Frank Costello as the new Acting boss of the Luciano crime family. Luciano was later deported in 1946 after serving ten years in prison. [5] [6] The Commission is alleged to be the governing body of the mafia in the United States. ... An Italian American is an American of Italian descent and/or dual citizenship. ... For the 2006 computer game, see Made Man (computer game). ... Murder, Inc. ... ... ...

The Prime Minister

During the reign of Frank Costello, the Luciano family controlled much of the bookmaking, loansharking, illegal gambling and the labor racketeering in New York City. Costello was heavily fond of the financial sides of the Lucianos, and reportedly didn't have much to do with the family "muscle". Nicknamed "The Prime Minister of the Underworld", Costello also controlled much of the docks in New York and was said to have so many political and judicial contacts that no state judge could be appointed in any case without his consent. Costello believed in diplomacy and discipline, and also started the Family's interests in Las Vegas during the early 1940s, by allowing his friends Meyer Lansky and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel build the casinos there, however, later Luciano allegedly sanctioned Siegel's murder. Costello ruled for 20 peaceful years until his Underboss, Vito Genovese, returned from Italy and was acquited in his murder trial. [7] Frank Costello, born Francesco Castiglia, or Castilla (January 26, 1891 - February 18, 1973) was an American gangster who rose to the top of Americas underworld, controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and had political influence like no other La Cosa Nostra boss. ... A bookmaker, or a bookie, is an organisation or a person that takes bets and may pay winnings depending upon results and, depending on the nature of the bet, the United States, with Singapore and Canada, the only legal bookmaker is state_owned and operated. ... Gaming law can be described as the set of rules and regulations that apply to the gaming or gambling industry. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... The south end of The Strip; approximately one third of the entire Strip is represented here. ... Benjamin Bugsy Siegel (Bairush HaLevi Bar Mordechai Dov HaLevi) (February 28, 1906 – June 20, 1947) was an American gangster, who was behind large-scale development of Las Vegas. ...

While serving as the prominent Boss of the Genovese crime family, Costello also, amazingly, saw a psychiatrist due to his depression and panic attacks during the 1950s, and was told to distance himself from all of his old associates, like Vito Genovese, and rather spend time with politicians than gangsters. However, it was around this time that Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee began investigating organized crime in New York, and set up trials known as the Kefauver hearings. Costello agreed to testify at the hearings and not take the Fifth Amendment, in contrast to all the previous underworld figures to take the stand. The Special Committee and the TV networks had agreed not to broadcast Frank Costello's face, only his hands. During the questioning, Costello nervously refused to answer certain questions and skirted around others. When asked by the committee, "What have you done for your country Mr. Costello?", his reply was, "Paid my tax!" Costello eventually walked out of the hearings. For other uses, see Psychiatrist (disambiguation). ... On the Threshold of Eternity. ... Panic attacks are sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, fear and discomfort that are associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms[1]. The onset of these episodes is typically abrupt, and may have no obvious trigger. ... The issue of Time Magazine in which Kefauvers victory in the New Hampshire primary was reported. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

With the murder of Mangano crime family boss Albert Anastasia in early 1957, Costello lost his most powerful ally into keeping Genovese in line. However, with Anastasia's death, Carlo Gambino seized the control of the Mangano family, and Genovese realized that he was still only the Underboss and attempted to have Costello assassinated in 1957, but as he was hit in the side of the head, Costello still survived. (the trigger-man was allegedly Vincente "Chin" Gigante, future boss of the family) However, after the shooting, Costello quietly retired and let the Luciano family to Genovese. [8] John Gotti, The Dapper Don The Gambino Crime Family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities based in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... Albert Anastasia (born Umberto Anastasio) (September 26, 1902 – October 25, 1957), aka the Mad Hatter and Lord High Executioner, was a New York Cosa Nostra boss remembered for his brutality and his role in running the contract killing gang known as Murder, Inc. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Vincent The Chin Gigante (March 29, 1928 – December 19, 2005) was a New York mobster who headed the Genovese crime family. ...

Genovese in Control

Vito "Don Vito" Genovese reportedly seized the control of the family, which he re-christened with his own name, which it holds to this day, as well as attempting to gain control over the Commission in 1957, same year he reportedly organized and attended the infamous (and, for Cosa Nostra, devastating) Apalachin Meeting, a convention with over 100 powerful Mafia bosses from every corner of the United States. However, the meeting was raided by New York State Police and Genovese and others ducked into the woods and escaped. Many of the attendees who attempted flight were arrested. They were indicted a few days later. Genovese, who was a fond of the "old school" gangster approach, as well aa using great "muscle" to achieve his ends, reportedly went on to eliminate everyone who he saw as rivals, and concentrated much of the narcotics and the drug trafficking activities in New York as one of his family's main sources of income. This became his downfall, as he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for narcotics charges in 1959. These charges, and Genovese's subsequent prison sentence, were long rumored to have been arranged by rivals in the Mafia, most often attributed to Tommy Lucchese and Carlo Gambino, who saw Genovese as a threat. Genovese's conviction was based heavily on the presumably paid-for and falsified testimony of a low level Puerto Rican drug dealer named Nelson Cantellops. Cantellops was later murdered in a knife fight. Genovese, who saw himself as the most powerful Don in New York, had been effectively eliminated as a rival by Gambino crime family boss Carlo Gambino, who, after Genovese's conviction and imprisonment, was now the most powerful member of the Commission and reputed "Commission Chairman". Genovese had reportedly been lured in a conspiracy involving Gambino, Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Tommy Lucchese and Frank Costello, in order to prevent any further attempts by Genovese to seize control of the Commission. [9] [10] Vito Don Brandon Genovese (November 27, 1897 – February 14, 1969) was a mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. ... The Apalachin Meeting was a historic summit of the American mafia held on November 14, 1957 at the home of mobster Joseph Joe the Barber Barbara in Apalachin, New York. ... The term narcotic, derived from the Greek word for stupor, originally referred to a variety of substances that induced sleep (such state is narcosis). ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... Gaetano Tommy Lucchese aka Three-Finger Brown or Three Fingers and Tommy Brown (December 1, 1899 - July 13, 1967) was a New York mobster who was a key ally of Charles Lucky Luciano during the 1920s and later a founder of the New York Lucchese crime family. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Gotti, The Dapper Don The Gambino Crime Family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities based in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between natural persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement. ...

While incarcerated, Genovese and family "soldier", as well as his former driver, Joseph "Joe Cargo" Valachi began a dispute which eventually exposed the entire Cosa Nostra to the public authorities. Accordingly, Genovese was worried that Valachi would betray him to the authorities in exchange for a lighter sentence, and put out a 'contract' on his life in early 1962. Genovese, who apparently was an 'old school' Sicilian, once gave Valachi the infamous "kiss of death" (meaning to be the last kiss before the person is murdered), which Valachi obviesly understood and made him freak out, as he on June 22, 1962, brutally murdered Joseph DiPalermo with a pipe, whom he mistook for another Mafia member who had come to kill him on the orders of Genovese, who announced the reward of $100,000 dollars to whoever killed Valachi. In order to be safe, Valachi became the first member of the Genovese crime family, as well as the Mafia, to announce their existence and influence over various legal enterprises in aid of racketeering and other criminal activities to make huge profit. Valachi also made the name "Cosa Nostra", a household name. [11] [12] Joseph Joe Cargo Valachi (September 22, 1903 – April 3, 1971) {also aka Charles Chanbano/Anthony Sorge} was the first Mafia member to publicly acknowledge the existence of the Mafia. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Front Bosses and the Panel

After Genovese was sent to prison in 1959, a "Ruling Panel" that included Acting boss Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli, Underboss Gerardo "Jerry" Catena and his protege Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo, was set up to rule the Genovese family with complete secrecy. When Genovese died in prison in 1969, various "Front Bosses" were also established for the purpose of distracting US law enforcement and confuse other powerful Mob bossses like Carlo Gambino, who manipulated Eboli to take over the Genovese family completely in the late 1960s, however, when Eboli's $4 million dollar drug debt to Gambino wasn't repayed, Eboli was murdered in 1972, leaving a Genovese captain and Gambino ally, Frank "Funzi" Tieri to become the new official boss, when in reality, the "Panel", consisting of Gerardo "Jerry" Catena, Michele "Big Mike" Miranda and Philip Lombardo made all the family's decisions. [13] This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... Philip Benny Squint Lombardo (1911-?) was a New York City mob boss to the Genovese crime family in 1981. ... Frank Tieri (1904 - March 31, 1981) was a high-ranking member of the New York Mafia. ... Michele Miranda (1896-1973) was a high ranking member and later acting head of the Lucchese crime family (although other sources claim the Genovese crime family) during the 1950s and 60s. ...

With the 1980 murder of Philadelphia crime family boss Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno, the Genovese crime family members Vincent Gigante and Philip Lombardo began manipulating the rival factions of the war-angered Philadelphia family, and in end supported Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, who in return gave them permission to operate in the Atlantic City faction of the Philadelphia crime family, in 1982. [14] The Philadelphia crime family is an Italian criminal organization based in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Angelo Bruno (1911 - March 12, 1980) was a member of the US Mafia who ran the Mafias faction in Philadelphia. ... Nicodemo Domenico Scarfo (born March 8, 1929) was an American mafioso, member of the U.S. Cosa Nostra, and head of the Scarfo Crime Family which controlled organized crime as far as southern New Jersey. ...

This tactic had great success in fooling law enforcement. Tieri was eventually captured by the authorities and the first Mob boss to be sentenced under the RICO act in 1981, when caporegime of the Manhattan faction, Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno, was made new front boss with Tieri's imprisonment, when Philip Lombardo continued as the defacto boss. In 1985 front boss Salerno was convicted of being the Genovese crime family boss in the Mafia Commission Trial and sentenced to 100 years in federal prison. Lombardo, who had retired, left the Genovese family to Vincent "Chin" Gigante sometime in the mid 1980s. [15] The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (commonly referred to as RICO Act or RICO) is a United States federal law that provides for extended penalties for criminal acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. ... Anthony Salerno (1911 - July 27, 1992) was a member of the US Mafia and headed the Genovese family during the 1980s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Vincent The Chin Gigante (March 29, 1928 – December 19, 2005) was a New York mobster who headed the Genovese crime family. ...

The Oddfather

A more elaborate family "Administration" was introduced upon Vincent Gigante's take-over of the Genovese crime family, which involved the creation of a fourth messagario (messenger) and fifth position, "Street Boss", in the family. Since Gigante rarely spoke only with a few close associates and through his sons, Vincent Esposito and Andrew Gigante, these positions were set up with the intention of insulating the Boss further from law enforcement investigations. As Gigante also found a way to lure US law enforcement, as well as everybody else in believing he was legally insane, Gigante ducked prosecution after prosecution, and always convinced several pshyciatrists that his mental illness turned worse. To make everything look more credible, Gigante always wore a robe and mummled totally innapropriate words when facing an arrest, indictment or just walking on the sidewalk in New York City. By then, he was nicknamed "The Oddfather". [16] Inmates at Bedlam Asylum, as portrayed by William Hogarth Insanity, or madness, is a semi-permanent, severe mental disorder typically stemming from a form of mental illness. ...

While Gigante reportedly operated out of the Triangle Social Club in Greenwich Village on Manhattan, as well as allegedly feigning his insanity, most of the day-to-day operations were taken care of by him, his Underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano who operated out of Brooklyn and ran the family's Windows Case rackets, and Gigante's Consigliere, Louis "Bobby" Manna, who operated out of the New Jersey faction of the family, as well as supervising four captains around that area during the 1980s. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Washington Square Arch Greenwich Village (IPA pronunciation: ), also called simply the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern) Manhattan in New York City named after Greenwich, London. ... Venero Frank Mangano (September 7, 1921-) is a high ranking member of the Genovese crime family. ... Louis Manna (b. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... A caporegime (sometimes shortened to capo) is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking member of a crime family who heads a crew (or group) of soldiers. ...

However, Gigante was in full charge of the Genovese crime family, as he conspired to murder Gambino crime family boss John Gotti in 1986, after Gotti had murdered his former boss Paul Castellano in 1985 without the approval of the Commission. A bomb plot to kill Gotti, hatched by Gigante and Lucchese crime family leaders Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, instead killed Gotti's Underboss Frank DeCicco on April 13, 1986, leaving a large power-vacuum left between three of the Five Families of New York. [17] For other persons named John Gotti, see John Gotti (disambiguation). ... Constantino Paul Castellano (June 26, 1915 – December 16, 1985), better known as Paul Castellano (or PC to his family), was a mafia boss in New York. ... The Lucchese crime family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... Victor Amuso in a 1980s FBI mugshot. ... Anthony Gaspipe Casso. ... Frank DeCicco (1935 - April 13, 1986) was a New York mobster and member of the Gambino crime family. ...

As a longtime "tension" between broke out between these families in the late 1980s, and early 1990s, Gigante kept running the Genovese crime family behind his alleged insanity. During the years of the early 1990s, Gigante reportedly controlled his family with iron fists, and ordered the murders of several Gambino crime family mobsters, before Gotti's Underboss, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, decided to confess to 19 murders and testify against Gotti and Consigliere Frank LoCascio in 1992. However, Gravano also began to testify against Gigante, as well as Philadelphia crime family Underboss Phil Leonetti decided to become an informant as well, and testify that Gigante had ordered the murders of several of his earlier associates during the 1980s. Additionally, Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, former Underboss turned informant of the Lucchese crime family, implicated Gigante in the 1986 plan to kill new Gambino leaders John Gotti, Frank DeCicco and Eugene "Gene" Gotti. In 1997, Gigante was convicted on several racketeering and conspiracy charges and sentenced to 12 years in a federal prison. Gigante died from heart disease on December 19, 2005. He was 77 years of age. At his time of death, he was incarcerated at the federal prison in Springfield, MO. [18] [19] Salvatore Sammy the Bull Gravano (born March 12, 1945) was the Mafia underboss of the Gambino crime family in the 1980s under John Gotti. ... John Gotti John Gotti (October 27, 1940 – June 10, 2002) (also known as The Dapper Don and The Teflon Don) was the boss of the Gambino family, New Yorks largest mafia family, and one of the most feared. ... Phillip Leonetti Date of birth: March 27,1953 Height: 5 ft 7 in Weight: 150 lb. ... Anthony Gaspipe Casso. ... For other persons named John Gotti, see John Gotti (disambiguation). ... Frank DeCicco (1935 - April 13, 1986) was a New York mobster and member of the Gambino crime family. ... Gene Gotti Gene Gotti is a member of the American Mafias Gambino crime family. ...

Current Position and Leadership

Since the 1990s, infamous mobsters in top positions of all Five Families have become informants and testified against as many as they can name, putting the Boss, Capos and Soldiers away on various criminal charges. This included Bonanno crime family Boss Joseph "Big Joe" Massino, who defected in 2005. Several top Genovese crime family figures like Underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano, Consigliere Louis "Bobby" Manna, capo James "Little Jimmy" Ida and Street boss Liborio "Barney" Bellomo received lengthy prison sentences on murder, racketeering and conspiracy convictions. During the last decades, US law enforcement systematically broke down the Genovese crime family, as well as other mafia families, and it is believed that the entire Commission will be disabled within the next decades. [20] The Bonanno crime family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... Joseph C. Big Joey Massino (January 10, 1943) known in the media as The Last Don, was a Queens, New York restaurateur and former head of the Bonanno crime family. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: Lack of notability, no ghits for gangster with this name If you can address this concern by improving, copyediting, sourcing, renaming or merging the page, please edit this page and do so. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Commission is alleged to be the governing body of the mafia in the United States. ...

Since late 2004, a series of prosecutions against high-ranking Genovese family capos has weakened the family even more. Liborio "Barney" Bellomo (street boss), already incarcerated for racketeering, was hit with murder charges and will not be released for a long time. Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo, Lawrence Dentico and Mario Gigante, one Consigliere plus senior capos, have also been indicted on broad RICO enterprise charges and put behind bars. Vincent Gigante died in 2005 and the leadership expectedly went to reputed Genovese capo turned Acting boss, Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo, and with the 2006 release of Gigante's prominent Underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano and the promotion of incarcerated Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo, the Genovese family administration was believed to be whole again during 2008. [21] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Lawrence Dentico (b. ... Mario Gigante (b. ... ... Vincent The Chin Gigante (March 29, 1928 – December 19, 2005) was a New York mobster who headed the Genovese crime family. ... Daniel Leo (c. ... Venero Frank Mangano (September 7, 1921-) is a high ranking member of the Genovese crime family. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

However, in March 2008, Acting boss Daniel Leo was sentenced to 5 years in prison for loansharking and extortion. [22] Underboss Venero Mangano is reportedly heading the Brooklyn faction of the Genovese crime family, and acting consigliere, Lawrence "Little Larry" Dentico, operated the New Jersey faction of the family until convicted of racketeering, loansharking and extortion charges. He will not be released until 2009. Rumor has it that {capo?} Paul "Paulie Stripes" DiMarco is heading up day-to-day activities, but further information can not be confirmed. Although the much weakened Genovese family is heavily under pressure, it still succeeds much power and influence in several areas of New York, New Jersey, Atlantic City and Florida. It is being recognized as the most powerful Mafia family in the United States. [23] Daniel Leo (c. ... Venero Frank Mangano (September 7, 1921-) is a high ranking member of the Genovese crime family. ... Lawrence Dentico (b. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Bosses of the Genovese crime family

• 1922–1931 — Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria (Boss, murdered in 1931 during the Castellammarese War)
• 1931–1946 — Salvatore 'Charlie "Lucky" Luciano' Lucania (Boss, jailed in 1936)
• 1936–1946 — Frank "Frankie the Prime Minister" Costello (acting boss)
• 1946–1957 — Frank "Frankie the Prime Minister" Costello (Boss, retired)
• 1957–1969 — Vito "Don Vito" Genovese (Boss, jailed 1959, died in prison in 1969)
• Circa 1959–1972 — Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli (acting boss, turned front boss sometime in the mid 1960s, murdered 1972)
• Circa 1965–1972 — Gerardo "Jerry" Catena (jailed 1970-72, retired 1973, died 2000 at age 98)
• Circa 1965–1981 — Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo (retired)
• 1972–1981 — Frank "Funzi" Tieri (acting boss, turned front boss sometime in the early 1970s by the family)
• 1981–1987 — Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno (front boss for Vincent Gigante, jailed 1987, died in prison)
• 1981–2005 — Vincent "Chin" Gigante (Boss, jailed 1997, died in prison of heart failure on December 19, 2005)
• 1990–1996 — Liborio "Barney" Bellomo (street boss, jailed)
• 1996–1998 — Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (street boss, steps down)
• 1997–2003 — Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello (acting boss, jailed)
• 2003–2005 — Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (acting boss, jailed)
• 2005–2006 — Mario Gigante (acting boss, possible in retirement after the death of his brother in 2005)
• 2006–2007 — Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo (acting boss) (indicted May 31, 2007, remanded without bail before being sentenced to 5 years in prison in early 2008), Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano (underboss) (released from prison December, 2006 after serving 15 years), Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (consigliere) (Sentenced to 46 months on March 3, 2006), Lawrence "Little Larry" Dentico (acting consigliere) (promoted prior to coping a plea and being sentenced to 4 1/2 years in early 2006)
• 2007–present — Paul "Paulie Stripes" DiMarco (Alleged acting boss?), Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano (underboss), Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (consigliere) (imprisoned)

Note: Paul DiMarco is only speculated to be the new acting boss following Daniel Leo's imprisonment, only time will tell if he really is running things REDIRCT:Joe Masseria ... Charles Luciano (11 November 1896- 26 January 1962), better known as Lucky Luciano, was a legendary mobster with a long criminal history. ... Frank Costello, born Francesco Castiglia, or Castilla (January 26, 1891 - February 18, 1973) was an American gangster who rose to the top of Americas underworld, controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and had political influence like no other La Cosa Nostra boss. ... Frank Costello, born Francesco Castiglia, or Castilla (January 26, 1891 - February 18, 1973) was an American gangster who rose to the top of Americas underworld, controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and had political influence like no other La Cosa Nostra boss. ... Vito Don Brandon Genovese (November 27, 1897 – February 14, 1969) was a mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... Philip Benny Squint Lombardo (1911-?) was a New York City mob boss to the Genovese crime family in 1981. ... Frank Tieri (1904 - March 31, 1981) was a high-ranking member of the New York Mafia. ... Anthony Salerno (1911 - July 27, 1992) was a member of the US Mafia and headed the Genovese family during the 1980s. ... Vincent The Chin Gigante (March 29, 1928 – December 19, 2005) was a New York mobster who headed the Genovese crime family. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Matthew Matty the Horse Ianniello (b. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Mario Gigante (b. ... Daniel Leo (c. ... Venero Frank Mangano (September 7, 1921-) is a high ranking member of the Genovese crime family. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Lawrence Dentico (b. ... Venero Frank Mangano (September 7, 1921-) is a high ranking member of the Genovese crime family. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Current Family Leaders

• Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo - Current Acting Boss of the Genovese crime family. A former member of the Purple Gang in the 1970s, Leo became one of the closest in the circle of Vincent Gigante, Matthew Ianniello and Dominick Cirillo in the late 1990s. Currently imprisoned due to his involvement with loansharking. In early 2008, Leo was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

• Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano - Underboss of the Genoveses since the 1980s under Vincent Gigante. Due to active involvement in the 1991 Windows Case where he was convicted of extortion and attempting to manipulate the bidding process of window replacement for public housing, Mangano was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Released in 2006, reportedly a Brooklyn faction leader.

• Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo - Official Consigliere of the Genovese family since late 1990s, Cirillo was in the closest circle with Mangano and Vincent Gigante during the 1980s. Served as the former Acting Boss sometime during the 1990s, he is currently imprisoned due to loansharking charges. Cirillo's projected release-date is August 22, 2008.

• Lawrence "Little Larry" Dentico - Capo in the New Jersey faction, Dentico was promoted to Acting Consigliere with the imprisonment of Cirillo. Currently imprisoned on extortion, loansharking and racketeering charges. Projected release-date is May 5, 2009.

Daniel Leo (c. ... The East Harlem based Purple Gang was a loosely connected group of at least 127 Italian-American drug dealers from Pleasant Avenue in Italian Harlem, and the Bronx, during the 1970s. ... Venero Frank Mangano (September 7, 1921-) is a high ranking member of the Genovese crime family. ... Capo Bastone or Beat Head, known as the Underboss is second in command to the Capo Crimini. ... For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... ... Lawrence Dentico (b. ...

External links

• http://www.nysun.com/article/44363?page_no=2