Genovese crime family

Genovese crime family

The family is named after Vito Genovese, who was boss from 1957–1969.
Founded by Giuseppe Morello
Founding location New York City, New York
Years active c. 1890s–present
Territory New York City, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Florida, Las Vegas.
Ethnicity Made men (full members) are Italians or Italian-Americans. Criminals of other ethnicities are employed as "associates."
Membership (est.) 250–300 made members,[1][2] over 3,000 criminal associates[1]
Criminal activities loansharking, money laundering, bookmaking, bribery, illegal gambling, counterfeiting, and smuggling extorion, murder, tax evasion
Allies Gambino, Colombo, Bonanno, Lucchese, DeCavalcante, Trafficante, Patriarca, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Philadelphia and Los Angeles crime families
Rivals The Westies and various other gangs in New York City, including their allies

The Genovese crime family (pronounced [dʒenoˈveːze]) is one of the "Five Families" that dominate organized crime activities in New York City as part of 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 only by the Gambino crime family and are unmatched in terms of power. They have generally maintained a varying degree of influence over many of the smaller mob families outside New York, including ties with the Patriarca, Buffalo and Philadelphia crime families.

The Genovese crime family is the most intelligent, sophisticated, crafty, logical, and the largest, of the "five families". Finding new ways to make money in the 21st century, the Genovese family took advantage of lax due diligence by banks during the housing spike with a wave of mortgage frauds. Prosecutors say loan shark victims obtained home equity loans to pay off debts to their mob bankers. The family found ways to use new technology to improve on illegal gambling, with customers placing bets through offshore sites via the Internet.

The current "family" was founded by Lucky Luciano, but in 1957 it was renamed after boss Vito Genovese (from 1931 to 1957, it went by the "Luciano crime family"). Originally in control of the waterfront on the West Side of Manhattan and the Fulton Fish Market, the family was run for years by "the Oddfather", Vincent "the Chin" Gigante, who feigned insanity by shuffling unshaven through New York's Greenwich Village wearing a tattered bath robe and muttering to himself incoherently.

Although the leadership of the Genovese family seemed to have been in limbo after the death of Gigante in 2005, they appear to be the most organized family and remain powerful.[3] Unique in today's Mafia, the family has benefited greatly from members following the code of Omertà. While many mobsters from across the country have testified against their crime families since the 1980s, the Genovese family has only had six members turn state's evidence in its history.[4]

History

Origins

Giuseppe Morello

The Genovese crime family originated from the Morello gang of East Harlem, the first Mafia family in New York City.[5] In 1892, Giuseppe Morello arrived in New York from the village of Corleone, Sicily, when only a few thousand Italians lived in New York. Morello's half brothers Nicholas, Vincenzo, Ciro and the rest of his family joined him in New York the following year. The Morello brothers formed the 107th Street Mob and began dominating the Italian neighborhood of East Harlem, parts of Manhattan, and the Bronx.

One of Giuseppe Morello's strongest allies was Ignazio "the Wolf" Lupo, a mobster who controlled Little Italy, Manhattan. In 1903, Lupo married Morello's half sister, uniting both organizations. The Morello-Lupo alliance continued to prosper in 1903, when the group began a major counterfeiting ring with powerful Sicilian Mafioso Don Vito Cascio Ferro, printing $5 bills in Sicily and smuggling them into the United States. New York City Police detective Joseph Petrosino began investigating the Morello family's counterfeiting operation, the barrel murders and the black hand extortion letters. On November 15, 1909 Giuseppe Morello, Ignazio Lupo and others were arrested on counterfeiting charges. In February 1910, Morello and Lupo were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Mafia-Camorra War

As the Morello family increased in power and influence, bloody territorial conflicts arose with other Italian criminal gangs in New York. The Morellos had an alliance with Giosue Gallucci, a prominent East Harlem businessman and Camorrista with local political connections. On May 17, 1915 Gallucci was murdered in a power struggle between the Morellos and the Neapolitan Camorra organization, which consisted of two Brooklyn gangs run by Pellegrino Morano and Alessandro Vollero. The fight over Gallucci's rackets became known as the Mafia-Camorra War. After months of fighting, Camorra boss Morano offered a truce to end the fighting. A meeting was arranged at a Navy Street cafe owned by Alessandro Vollero. On September 7, 1916 upon arriving, Nicholas "Nick" Morello and his bodyguard Charles Ubriaco were ambushed by five members of the Brooklyn Camorra group and killed.[6] In 1917, Morano was charged with Morello's murder after Camorrista Ralph Daniello implicated him in the murder. By 1918, law enforcement had sent many Camorra gang members to prison, decimating the Camorra in New York and ending the war. Many of the remaining Brooklyn Camorra gang members joined the Morello family.

The Morellos now faced stronger rivals than the Camorra. With the passage of Prohibition in 1919 and the outlawing of alcohol sales, the Morello family regrouped and built a lucrative bootlegging operation in Manhattan. In 1920, both Giuseppe Morello and Ignazio Lupo were released from prison and Brooklyn Mafia boss Salvatore D'Aquila ordered their murders. This is when Joseph Masseria and Rocco Valenti, a former Brooklyn Camorra began to fight for control of the Morello family.[7] On December 29, 1920 Masseria's men murdered Valenti's ally, Salvatore Mauro. Then on May 8, 1922, the Valenti gang murdered Vincenzo Terranova. Masseria's gang retaliated killing Silva Tagliagamba (a member of the Morello family). On August 11, 1922, Masseria's men murdered Valenti ending the conflict. Masseria won and essentially took over the Morello family.[8]

The Castellammarese era

Joe Masseria

During the mid-1920s, Masseria continued to expand his bootlegging, extortion, loansharking, and illegal gambling rackets throughout New York. To operate and protect these rackets, Massaria recruited many ambitious young mobsters. These mobsters included future Cosa Nostra powers Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Frank Costello, Joseph "Joey A" Adonis, Vito Genovese, and Albert Anastasia. Masseria was willing to take all Italian-American recruits, no matter where they had originated in Italy.

Masseria's strongest rival in New York was Salvatore Maranzano, leader of the Castellammare del Golfo Sicilian organization in Brooklyn. A recent arrival from Sicily, Maranzano had strong support from elements of the Sicilian Mafia and was a traditionalist mafiosi. He recruited Sicilian mobsters only, preferably from the Castellammarese clan. Maranzano's top lieutenants included future family bosses Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, Joseph Profaci, and Stefano Magaddino. By 1928, the Castellammarese War between Masseria and Maranzano had begun. By the late 1920s, more than 60 mobsters on both sides had been murdered.[8] On April 15, 1931, Masseria was murdered in a Coney Island, Brooklyn, restaurant, reportedly by members of Luciano's crew. Angry over broken promises from Masseria, Luciano had secretly conspired with Maranzano to plot Masseria's assassination. On the day of the murder, Luciano was allegedly eating dinner with Masseria at a restaurant. After Luciano went to the restroom, his hitmen arrived and murdered Masseria. With Masseria's death, the Castellamarese War had ended.

Now in control of New York, Maranzano took several important steps to solidify his victory. He reorganized the Italian-American gangs of New York into five new families, structured after the hierarchical and highly disciplined Mafia families of Sicily. Maranzano's second big change was to appoint himself as the boss of all the families. As part of this reorganization, Maranzano designated Luciano as boss of the old Morello/Masseria family. However, Luciano and other mob leaders privately objected to Maranzano's dictatorial role. Maranzano soon found out about Luciano's discontent and ordered his assassination. Discovering that he was in danger, Luciano plotted Maranzano's assassination with Maranzano trustee Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese. On September 10, 1931, Jewish gangsters provided by Luciano ally Meyer Lansky shot and stabbed Maranzano to death in his Manhattan office. Luciano was now the most powerful mobster in the United States.[9]

Luciano and the Commission

"Lucky" Luciano's mugshot.

After Maranzano's murder, Luciano created a new governing body for the Cosa Nostra families, the Commission. The Commission consisted of representatives from each of the Five Families, the Chicago Outfit and the Magaddino crime family of Buffalo, New York. Luciano wanted the Commission to mediate disputes between the families and prevent future gang wars. Although nominally a democratic body, Luciano and his allies actually controlled the Commission throughout the 1930s. As head of the new Luciano family, Luciano appointed Vito Genovese as his underboss, or second in command, and Frank Costello as his consigliere, or advisor. With the new structure in place, the five New York families would enjoy several decades of peace and growth.

In 1935, Luciano was indicted on pandering charges by New York district attorney Thomas Dewey. He was accused of being one of the ringleaders of "the Combination," a major prostitution ring. During the trial, Luciano made a tactical mistake in taking the witness stand, where the prosecutor interrogated him for five hours about how he made his living. In 1936, Luciano was convicted and sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison. Many observers believed that Luciano would never have directly involved himself with prostitutes, and that the case was fraudulent. Given Luciano's strong belief in secrecy, it would have been significantly out of character for him to be directly involved in any criminal operation, let alone a prostitution ring. Indeed, at least two of Luciano's contemporaries denied that he was ever involved. In her memoirs, New York society madam Polly Adler wrote that she would have known if Luciano was involved with "the Combination." Likewise, Bonnano—the last surviving contemporary of Luciano who wasn't in prison—denied Luciano was involved in the scheme in his book, A Man Of Honor.

Although in prison, Luciano continued to run his crime family. His underboss Genovese now supervised the day-to-day family activities. In 1937, Genovese was indicted on murder charges and fled the country to Italy. After Genovese's departure, Costello became the new acting boss of the Luciano family.

During World War II, federal agents asked Luciano for help in preventing enemy sabotage on the New York waterfront and other activities. Luciano agreed to help, but in reality provided insignificant assistance to the allied cause. After the end of the war, the arrangement with Luciano became public knowledge. To prevent further embarrassment, the government agreed to deport Luciano on condition that he never return to the United States. In 1946, Luciano was taken from prison and deported to Italy, never to return to the United States. Costello became the effective boss of the Luciano family.

The Prime Minister

Frank Costello at the Kefauver hearings.

During the reign of Frank Costello, the Luciano family controlled much of the bookmaking, loansharking, illegal gambling and labor racketeering activities in New York City. Costello wanted to increase the family involvement in lucrative financial schemes; he was less interested in low grossing criminal activities that relied on brutality and intimidation. Costello believed in diplomacy and discipline, and in diversifying family interests. Nicknamed "The Prime Minister of the Underworld", Costello controlled much of the New York waterfront and had tremendous political connections. It was said that no state judge could be appointed in any case without Costello's consent. During the 1940s, Costello allowed Luciano associates Meyer Lansky and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel to expand the family business in Southern California and build the first modern casino resort in Las Vegas. When Siegel failed to open the resort on time, his mob investors allegedly sanctioned his murder.

While serving as boss of the Luciano family in the 1950s, Costello suffered from depression and panic attacks. During this period Costello sought help from a psychiatrist, who advised him to distance himself from old associates such as Genovese and spend more time with politicians. In the early 1950s, U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee began investigating organized crime in New York in the Kefauver hearings. The Committee summoned numerous mobsters to testify, but they refused to answer questions at the hearings. The mobsters uniformly cited the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, a legal protection against self-incrimination. However, when Costello was summoned, he agreed to answer questions at the hearings and not take the Fifth Amendment. As part of the agreement to testify, the Special Committee and the U.S. television networks agreed not to broadcast Costello's face. During the questioning, Costello nervously refused to answer certain questions and skirted around others. When the Committee asked Costello, "What have you done for your country Mr. Costello?", he famously replied, "Paid my tax!". The TV cameras, unable to show Costello's face, instead focused on his hands, which Costello wrung nervously while answering questions. Costello eventually walked out of the hearings.

The return of Genovese

Costello ruled for 20 peaceful years, but that quiet reign ended when Genovese was extradited from Italy to New York. During his absence, Costello demoted Genovese from underboss to capo and Genovese determined to take control of the family. Soon after his arrival in the United States, Genovese was acquitted of the 1936 murder charge that had driven him into exile.[10] Free of legal entanglements, Genovese started plotting against Costello with the assistance of Mangano crime family underboss Carlo Gambino. On May 2, 1957, Luciano family mobster Vincent "Chin" Gigante shot Costello in the side of the head on a public street; however, Costello survived the attack. Months later, Mangano family boss Albert Anastasia, a powerful ally of Costello, was murdered by Gambino's gunmen. With Anastasia's death, Gambino seized control of the Mangano family. Feeling afraid and isolated after the shootings, Costello quietly retired and surrendered control of the Luciano family to Genovese.[11]

Vito Genovese's mugshot.

Having taken control of what was now the Genovese crime family in 1957, Vito Genovese decided to organize a Cosa Nostra conference to legitimize his new position. Held on mobster Joseph Barbara's farm in Apalachin, New York, the Apalachin Meeting attracted over 100 Cosa Nostra mobsters from around the nation. However, local law enforcement discovered the meeting by chance and quickly surrounded the farm. As the meeting broke up, Genovese escaped capture by running through the woods. However, many other high-ranking mobsters were arrested. Cosa Nostra leaders were chagrined by the public exposure and bad publicity from the Apalachin meeting, and generally blamed Genovese for the fiasco. Wary of Genovese gaining more power in the Mafia Commission, Gambino used the abortive Apalachin Meeting as an excuse to move against his former ally. Gambino, former Genovese bosses Lucky Luciano and Frank Costello, and Lucchese crime family boss Tommy Lucchese allegedly lured Genovese into a drug distribution scheme that ultimately resulted in his conspiracy indictment and conviction. In 1959, Genovese was sentenced to 15 years in prison on narcotics charges. Genovese, who was the most powerful boss in New York, had been effectively eliminated as a rival by Gambino.[12] Genovese would later die in prison.

The Valachi Hearings

Joseph Valachi during the McClellan Hearings 1963.

The Genovese family was soon rocked by a second public embarrassment: the United States Senate McClellan Hearings. While incarcerated at a federal prison in Atlanta, Genovese soldier Joseph "Joe Cargo" Valachi believed he was being targeted for murder by the mob on the suspicion that he was an informer. On June 22, 1962, Valachi brutally murdered another inmate with a pipe. Valachi told investigators that he thought the victim was Joseph "Joe Beck" DiPalermo, a Lucchese soldier coming to kill him.

To avoid a capital murder trial, Valachi agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors against the Genovese family. He thus became the first Cosa Nostra mobster to publicly affirm the organization's existence. With information from prosecutors, the low-level Valachi was able to testify in nationally-televised hearings about the Cosa Nostra's influence over legal enterprises in aid of racketeering and other criminal activities to make huge profit. Valachi also introduced the name "Cosa Nostra" as a household name. Although Valachi's testimony never led to any convictions, it helped law enforcement by identifying many members of the Genovese and other New York families.

Front bosses and the ruling panels

After Genovese was sent to prison in 1959, the family leadership secretly established a "Ruling Panel" to run the family in Genovese's absence. This first panel included acting boss Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli, underboss Gerardo "Jerry" Catena, and Catena's protégé Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo. After Genovese died in 1969, Lombardo was named his successor. However, the family appointed a series of "front bosses" to masquerade as the official family boss. The aim of these deceptions was to protect Lombardo by confusing law enforcement about who was the true leader of the family. In the late 1960s, Gambino boss Carlo Gambino loaned $4 million to Eboli for a drug scheme in an attempt to gain control of the Genovese family. When Eboli failed to pay back his debt, Gambino, with Commission approval, murdered Eboli in 1972.

After Eboli's death, Genovese capo and Gambino ally Frank "Funzi" Tieri was appointed as the new front boss. In reality, the Genovese family created a new ruling panel to run the family. This second panel consisted of Catena, Michele "Big Mike" Miranda, and Lombardo. In 1981, Tieri became the first Cosa Nostra boss to be convicted under the new Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). In 1981, Tieri died in prison.[13] After Tieri went to prison in 1981, the Genovese family reshuffled its leadership. The capo of the Manhattan faction, Anthony Salerno ("Fat Tony"), became the new front boss. Lombardo, the de facto boss of the family, retired and Vincent "Chin" Gigante, the triggerman on the failed Costello hit, took actual control of the family.[14] In 1985, Salerno was convicted in the Mafia Commission Trial and sentenced to 100 years in federal prison. Shortly after the trial, Salerno's longtime right-hand man, Vincent "The Fish" Cafaro, revealed to the FBI that Salerno had never really been the boss, but was merely window dressing for Gigante. He also revealed that the Genoveses had been keeping up this ruse since 1969. However, Salerno had been convicted of specific acts and not merely of being a boss, so this disclosure would not have endangered his conviction. Even if that conviction had been overturned, he had been sentenced to 70 years in prison in a separate RICO case—meaning that he would have died in prison in any event.

After the 1980 murder of Philadelphia crime family boss Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno, Gigante and Lombardo began manipulating the rival factions in the war-torn Philadelphia family. Gigante and Lombardo finally gave their support to Philadelphia mobster Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, who in return gave the Genovese mobsters permission to operate in Atlantic City in 1982.[14]

The Oddfather

FBI mugshot of Vincent Gigante in his bathrobe.

Gigante was even more concerned about keeping law enforcement at bay than Lombardo had been. His best-known tactic to confuse law enforcement was by pretending insanity. Gigante frequently walked down New York streets in a bathrobe, mumbling incoherently. Gigante succeeded in convincing court-appointed psychiatrists that his mental illness was worsening, and avoided several criminal prosecutions. The New York media soon nicknamed Gigante "The Oddfather".[15] Gigante reportedly operated from the Triangle Social Club in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. He never left his house during the day, fearing that the FBI would sneak in and plant a bug. At night, he would sneak away from his house and conduct family business when FBI surveillance was more lax. Even then, he only whispered to keep from being picked up by wiretaps. To avoid incrimination from undercover surveillance, Gigante decreed that any mobster who spoke his name would face severe punishment. In the case of his own family, anyone who spoke his name would be killed on the spot. When necessary, mobsters would either point to their chins or make a "C" with thumb and forefinger when referring to him. In this way, Gigante managed to stay on the streets while the city's other four bosses ended up getting long prison terms.

Another evasive measure Gigante used from 1992 onward was a reformed "administration" structure. Gigante was unnerved by Salerno's conviction and long sentence, and decided he needed greater protection. However, the "front boss" ruse no longer protected him. To solve this problem, Gigante instituted two new posts, the "street boss" and the "messenger." The street boss ran the family's day-to-day operations under Gigante's remote direction. The messenger delivered Gigante's instructions to his capos and soldiers. As a result of these changes, Gigante did not directly communicate with other family mobsters, with the exception of his sons, Vincent Esposito and Andrew Gigante, and a few other close associates.

While the public and media were watching Gigante, other family leaders were running the day-to-day operations of the family. Underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano operated out of Brooklyn and ran the family's Windows Case rackets. Consigliere Louis "Bobby" Manna operated out of New Jersey and supervised four capos around that area during the 1980s.

In 1985, Gigante and other family bosses were shocked and enraged by the murder of Paul Castellano, the Gambino family boss. An ambitious Gambino capo, John Gotti, had capitalized on discontent in that family to murder Castellano and his underboss outside a Manhattan restaurant and become the new Gambino boss. Gotti had violated Cosa Nostra protocol by failing to obtain prior approval for the murder from The Commission. As mentioned above, Gigante had been the triggerman on the last unsanctioned hit on a boss—the hit on Costello. With Castellano dead, Gigante now controlled the Commission and he decided to kill Gotti. Gigante and Lucchese crime family boss Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and underboss Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso hatched a scheme to kill Gotti with a car bomb. On April 13, 1986, a bomb exploded in Gambino underboss Frank DeCicco's car, killing DeCicco. However, Gotti was not in DiCicco's car that day and escaped harm.[15] Although Gigante eventually made peace with Gotti, he remained the most powerful boss in New York. The Genovese family dominated construction and union rackets, gambling rackets, and operations at the Fulton Fish Market and the waterfront operations. During this period, Gigante used intimidation and murder to maintain control of the family.

During the early 1990s, law enforcement used several high profile government informants and witnesses to finally put Gigante in prison. Faced with criminal prosecution, in 1992 Gambino underboss Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano agreed to testify against Gotti and other Cosa Nostra leaders, including Gigante. Philadelphia crime family underboss Phil Leonetti also became a government witness and testified that during the 1980s, Gigante had ordered the murders of several Philadelphia associates. Finally, Lucchese underboss Anthony Casso implicated Gigante in the 1986 plan to kill John Gotti, Frank DeCicco and Eugene "Gene" Gotti. While in prison, Gigante was recorded as saying that he'd feigned insanity for 40 years. In 1997, Gigante was convicted on racketeering and conspiracy charges and sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. While Gigante was in prison, the Genovese family was run by acting boss Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello,[16] he received help from capos Ernest Muscarella, Dominick Cirillo, and Gigante's brother Mario.

Gigante was indicted in 2002 for running his family from prison and for delaying his initial trial by feigning insanity. Prosecutors also obtained evidence that he'd used his son, Andrew, to deliver instructions to his soldiers and had enlisted several members of his family to keep up the charade that he was insane. Had he been convicted, Gigante faced an additional 20 years in prison, which at his age would have effectively been a life sentence. Rather than risk having his relatives charged with obstruction of justice, Gigante pleaded guilty in April 2003 and accepted an additional three years in prison. On December 19, 2005, Gigante died in prison from heart disease.

Since the 1990s, infamous mobsters in top positions of the other Five Families of NYC have become informants and testified against many mobsters, putting bosses, capos, and soldiers into prison. The most prominent government witness was Bonanno crime family boss Joseph "Big Joe" Massino, who started cooperating in 2005. Genovese underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano, consigliere Louis "Bobby" Manna, capo James Ida ("Little Jimmy") 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 the other Mafia families. Despite these indictments the Genovese family remains a formidable power with approximately 250 made men and 14 active crews as of 2005, according to Selwyn Raab.

Current position and leadership

When Vincent Gigante died in late 2005, the leadership went to Genovese capo Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo, who was apparently running the day-to-day activities of the Genovese crime family by 2006.[17] In 2006, Genovese underboss and former Gigante loyalist, Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano was released from prison. That same year, former Gigante loyalist and prominent capo Dominick Cirillo was allegedly promoted to consigliere in prison. By 2008, the Genovese family administration was believed to be whole again.[18] In March 2008, Leo was sentenced to five years in prison for loansharking and extortion. Underboss Venero Mangano is reportedly one of the top leaders within the Manhattan faction of the Genovese crime family. Former acting consigliere Lawrence "Little Larry" Dentico was leading the New Jersey faction of the family until convicted of racketeering in 2006. Dentico was released from prison in 2009. In December 2008, one-time Gigante street boss Liborio "Barney" Bellomo was paroled from prison after serving 12 years. What role Bellomo plays in the Genovese hierarchy is open to speculation, but he is likely to have a major stay in the running of the family once his tight parole restrictions are over.

A March 2009 article in the New York Post claimed Daniel Leo was still acting boss despite his incarceration. It also estimated that the family consists of approximately 270 "made" members.[19] The Genovese family maintains power and influence in New York, New Jersey, Atlantic City and Florida. It is recognized as the most powerful Cosa Nostra family in the United States.[3] Since Gigante's reign, the Genovese family has been so strong and successful because of its continued devotion to secrecy. According to the FBI, many family associates don't know the names of family leaders or even other associates. This information lockdown makes it more difficult for the FBI to gain incriminating information from government informants.[20]

According to the FBI, the Genovese family has not had an official boss since Gigante's death.[21] Law enforcement considers Leo to be the acting boss, Mangano the underboss, and Cirillo the consigliere. The Genovese family is known for placing top caporegimes in leadership positions to help the administration run the day-to-day activities of the crime family. At present, capos Bellomo, Ernest Muscarella, Cirillo, and Dentico hold the greatest influence within the family and play major roles in its administration.[20] The Manhattan and Bronx factions, the traditional powers in the family, still exercise that control today.

New boss

On February 4, 2016 Gangland News confirmed Liborio "Barney" Bellomo was the new official boss of the Genovese family. The 59 year old is a multi-millionaire in legitimate business and now leads the most the successful crime family in the country. He is the first official boss since Vincent "the chin" Gigante and was handpicked at an early age to be the future of the family. 73 year old Peter "Petey Red" DiChiara has been promoted to "acting street boss" and runs a social club at 73 Market Street lower Manhattan.

Historical leadership

Boss (official and acting)

Street boss (front boss)

The position of "front boss" was created by boss Philip Lombardo in efforts to divert law enforcement attention from himself. The family maintained this "front boss" deception for the next 20 years. Even after government witness Vincent Cafaro exposed this scam in 1988, the Genovese family still found this way of dividing authority useful. In 1992, the family revived the front boss post under the title of "street boss." This person served as day-to-day head of the family's operations under Gigante's remote direction.

Underboss (official and acting)

Consigliere (official and acting)

Messaggero

Messaggero – The messaggero (messenger) functions as liaison between crime families. The messenger can reduce the need for sit-downs, or meetings, of the mob hierarchy, and thus limit the public exposure of the bosses.

Administrative capos

If the official boss dies, goes to prison, or is incapacitated, the family may assemble a ruling committee of capos to help the acting boss, street boss, underboss, and consigliere run the family, and to divert attention from law enforcement.

Current family members

Administration

Caporegimes

The Bronx faction

Manhattan faction

Brooklyn faction

Queens faction

The New Jersey faction

The Genovese crime family is operating in New Jersey with five crews.[66]

Soldiers

New York

New Jersey

Other territories

The Genovese family operates primarily in the New York City area; their main rackets are illegal gambling and labor racketeering.

Family crews

Former members

Government informants and witnesses

Name Rank and Year
Joseph Valachi Soldier (1963)
Vincent Cafaro Soldier (1986)
George Barone Soldier (2003)
John Bologna Associate (2007)[119]
Anthony Arillotta Soldier (2008)[120]
Felix Tranghese Captain (2008)[121]
Renaldi Ruggiero Captain (2012)[122]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 The Changing Face of ORGANIZED CRIME IN NEW JERSEY - A Status Report(May 2004)State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation
  2. ↑ Stefanie Cohen, "City's main mob power, October 18, 2009, New York Post
  3. 1 2 The Frank And Fritzy Show: Cast - the wiretap network - wmob.com
  4. 1 2 3 Marzulli, John (July 1, 2009). "Mobster 'Mikey Cigars' Coppola won't rat out pals in Genovese crew". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  5. ↑ Jerry Capeci The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia, 2nd Edition pg.59
  6. 1 2 3 2 Die In Pistol Fight in Brooklyn Street, The New York Times, September 8, 1916
  7. ↑ David Critchley The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891–1931 pg.155
  8. 1 2 Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(Page 1)By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  9. ↑ Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(Page 2) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  10. ↑ Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(Page 3) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  11. ↑ Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(Page 4) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  12. ↑ Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(Page 5) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  13. ↑ Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(Page 7) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  14. 1 2 Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(Page 8) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  15. 1 2 Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(page 9) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  16. ↑ Reputed Genovese family members indicted From Marissa Muller, CNN, July 28, 2005
  17. ↑ Capeci, Jerry, "Meet the Genovese Crime Family's New Boss, November 30, 2006, The New York Sun
  18. ↑ Epic saga of the Genovese Crime Family(page 10) - By Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
  19. ↑ IT'S A MOB FAMILY CIRCUS TURNCOATS, TURF WARS & JAILED DONS TURN TODAY'S MAFIA INTO BADA-BOZOS - By Stefanie Cohen (March 8, 2009), New York Post Archived 3 June 2009 at WebCite
  20. 1 2 Cohen, Stefanie (October 18, 2009). "City's main mob power". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Family may soon have new Boss" Mafia News Today On April 9, 2010
  22. ↑ Raab, Selwyn (1995-09-03). "With Gotti Away, the Genoveses Succeed the Leaderless Gambinos". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  23. ↑ "Charges against mob boss show Mafia alive and well in New York", 1 June 2007
  24. ↑ Claffey, Mike (January 28, 2002). "SNITCH STOLE 3 YEARS OF MOB SECRETS". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  25. ↑ Smith, Greg B. (August 12, 2001). "GENOVESE FAMILY KEEPS ITS CHIN UP Gigante becomes top don as Gotti fades". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  26. 1 2 "Rick Porrello's American Mafia.com". Americanmafia.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  27. ↑ Jerry Capeci. Jerry Capeci's Gang Land. (view)
  28. ↑ New York Magazine (pg.33) July 17, 1972. Books.google.com. 1972-07-17. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  29. ↑ Bonanno, Joseph. A Man of Honor: The Autobiography of Joseph Bonanno pg.170-185
  30. ↑ Block, Alan A. "East Side, West Side: organized crime in New York, 1930-1950" (1999)
  31. ↑ Raab, Selwyn "Five Families: The Rise, Decline and Resurgence of Americas Most Powerful Mafia Empires". St. Martin Press. 2005 (pg 61)
  32. ↑ 'Buster' Ardito Hunts for Bugs by Jerry Capeci (June 22, 2006) The New York Sun
  33. ↑ The Mobster and the Failed Polygraph by Jerry Capeci (July 13, 2006) The New York Sun
  34. ↑ Robert Nardoza (April 5, 2005). "Genovese Family Acting Boss Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo and Three Captains Indicted for Racketeering". The United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  35. ↑ Escaping the Law, One Last Time...: An Elusive Mobster's End, Double-Checked by William K. Rashbaum February 1, 2011 New York Times
  36. ↑ "Former Acting Boss of Genovese Crime Family Sentenced in Manhattan Court to 18 Additional Months in Prison" US Attorney's Office March 23, 2010
  37. ↑ "Reputed acting crime boss pleads guilty to racketeering charges". NorthJersey.com. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  38. ↑ "Liborio Bellomo" Inmate Locator Federal Bureau of Prisons
  39. ↑ "Ernest Muscarella" Friends of Ours Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  40. ↑ Indictments Name 73 Linked to the Genovese Crime Family By Robert F. Worth. December 6, 2001. New York Times.
  41. ↑ "So Many Indictments" American Mafia.com
  42. ↑ "Joseph Dente Jr." Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
  43. ↑ McPhee, Michele (January 13, 2004). "BIG FRANKIE'S VEGAS STING Cop posed as wiseguy to probe fight-fixing". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  44. ↑ Pasquale Parello Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
  45. ↑ "Criminal RICO indictment against Genovese Crime Family" United States vs. Liborio Bellomo, John Ardito, Ralph Balsamo and others. 2005
  46. 1 2 Feuer, Alan (April 18, 2012). "Officials Say a Little Italy Tradition Is Back: The Mob at San Gennaro". New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  47. ↑ "Eleven Individuals, Including Members and Associates of the Genovese Organized Crime Family Indicted Charges Include Racketeering Conspiracy, Extortion, Illegal Gambling, Union Embezzlement and Obstruction of Justice". District Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York. April 18, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  48. ↑ Capeci, Jerry (December 7, 2006). "Smoking Ban Sets Off Brawl Among Wiseguys". New York Sun. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  49. ↑ Allan May's Mob Report current mob stuff 10-28-2002 Rick Porrello's AmericanMafia.com
  50. ↑ "Rosario Gangi" Inmate Locator Federal Bureau of Prisons
  51. ↑ PRESS RELEASE:Genovese Family Acting Boss Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo and Three Captains Indicted for Racketeering(April 5, 2005)
  52. ↑ "John Barbato" Inmate Locator Federal Bureau of Prisons
  53. ↑ Corruption Haunts Laborers International Union 1998.
  54. ↑ USA Bulletin. November 1997 Volume 45, Number 6
  55. ↑ "James Messera". Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  56. ↑ THE MOB ON WALL STREET--PART 2(12/16/1996)BusinessWeek
  57. ↑ Two Convicted as Leaders Of New York Trash Cartel - By SELWYN RAAB Published: October 22, 1997 - New York Times
  58. ↑ PRESS RELEASE:GENOVESE FAMILY ACTING BOSS DOMINICK "QUIET DOM" CIRILLO AND THREE CAPTAINS INDICTED FOR RACKETEERING(April 05, 2005)The United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York
  59. ↑ "Anthony Antico" Inmate Locator Federal Bureau of Prisons
  60. ↑ "Mobster charged in jeweler's slaying" by Frank Donnelly Silive March 06, 2010
  61. ↑ "Anthony Antico". Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  62. ↑ LONGSHOREMEN (ILA) / TEAMSTERS (IBT) / CARPENTERS (UBC) Longshore Union Allegedly Infiltrated by Genovese UNION CORRUPTION UPDATE - February 4, 2002 -- Vol. 5, Issue 3, National Legal and Policy Center -- Organized Labor Accountability Project20071011231141 at the Wayback Machine
  63. ↑ Vincent "Chin" Gigante, Boss of the Genovese Crime Family, Together with Genovese Acting Boss, Former Acting Boss, Family Captain, 2 Soldiers and 2 Associates Indicted and Charged with Infiltration of Longshoreman's Union(January 23, 2002)Press Release - Organized Crime & Political Corruption by John Flood & Jim McGough
  64. ↑ "Charles Tuzzo" Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
  65. 1 2 3 Marzulli, John (January 10, 2012). "Genovese wiseguy Anthony Romanello lucks out, cops to gambling rap with feds Faced more serious gun count, but witness' death leads to reduced charges, permission to hang with mobbed-up Parkside Restaurant pal". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  66. ↑ "Waste And Abuse" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  67. ↑ Jerry Capeci. Tino looks for Christmas past. April 12, 2010. The Huffington Post. Jerry Capeci: Tino Looks For Chrismas Past
  68. ↑ McNab, Matthew (May 23, 2012). "Feds charge 4 Bayonne men, 10 others with mob-run online betting operation". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  69. ↑ "Alleged genovese organized crime family member and associates among 14 charged in racketeering conspiracy". District Attorney's Office of New Jersey. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  70. ↑ "State of New Jersey Inmate Finder". .state.nj.us. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  71. ↑ Lawrence Dentico Indicted - US Attorney's Office: Fourteen Arrested with Unsealing of RICO Indictment Against Genovese Crime Family Members, Associates. - 2005/08/17 -- Dentico, Lawrence et al. -- Indictment -- News Release
  72. ↑ Lawrence Dentico Inmate Locator Federal Bureau of Prisons
  73. ↑ Meet the Genovese Crime Family's New Boss by Jerry Capeci (November 30, 2006) New York Sun
  74. ↑ Cleaning Lessons for Dirty Bosses by Tom Robbins (9-24-2002)
  75. ↑ Marzulli, John (November 19, 2002). "MOB MONEY LAUNDERER WASHED UP". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  76. ↑ Marzulli, John (October 11, 2002). "SWAT OLDFELLA IN RACKETS WITH 5 YEARS". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  77. ↑ "Federal Bureau of Prisons: Inmate Locator "Salvatore Aparo"". Bop.gov. 2006-05-25. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  78. ↑ Ross, Barbara (August 27, 2008). "Wiseguy pleads guilty in Bronx racket". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  79. 1 2 "The Law News Network". LawFuel. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  80. ↑ PLASTERERS Union Racketeer Sentenced in NY Fed. Court UNION CORRUPTION UPDATE - January 31, 2005 -- Vol. 8, Issue 3, National Legal and Policy Center -- Organized Labor Accountability Project Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
  81. ↑ Roy Rowan REPORTER ASSOCIATE Julia Lieblich (June 6, 1988 FORTUNE Magazine). "THE MAFIA'S BITE OF THE BIG APPLE Byzantine building codes and horrendous logistics help the mob control New York City construction -- at a price that the big developers have been all too willing to pay". CNN. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ↑ "Judge Is Charged in Money-Laundering Case" By WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM August 31, 2005 - New York Times
  83. ↑ "Genovese Family Soldier and 7 Genovese and Gambino Family Associates Charged With Racketeering Conspiracy, Loansharking, Extortion, Attempted Obstruction of Justice, Arson, and Murder". PR Newswire.
  84. ↑ 12-Year Term in Largest Securities Fraud(May 31, 2001)(A version of this article appeared in print on Thursday, May 31, 2001, on section C page 17 of the New York edition.)- The New York Times
  85. ↑ "Alan Longo" Inmate Locator Federal Bureau of Prisons
  86. ↑ Kates, Brian.Genovese crime soldier Joseph (Rudy) Olivieri to finger contracting big, prosecutors say. October 19, 2010. New York Daily News.
  87. ↑ Kates, Brian (October 28, 2010). "Reputed Genovese soldier Joseph Olivieri found guilty of perjury". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  88. ↑ Joseph Olivieri Profile at the Federal Bureau of Prisons
  89. ↑ 5 Are Indicted As Participants In Rackets Ring - By JAMES FERON, Published: June 13, 1989 New York Times
  90. ↑ Daniel Pagano - Inmate Locator - Locate Federal inmates from 1982 to present - Federal Bureau of Prisons
  91. ↑ http://aboutthemafia.com/genovese-family-capo-daniel-pagano-gets-two-year-sentence
  92. ↑ "U.S. Indicts Numerous Genovese Family Members and Associates, Including an Acting Boss of the Family" (JULY 28, 2005) United States Attorney Southern District of New York
  93. 1 2 "Mob Capo, 87, Gets A Break" by Kati Cornell (February 23, 2008) New York Post
  94. ↑ "Weighing Prison When the Convict Is Over 80" by John Eligon and Benjamin Weiser (October 9, 2009) New York Times
  95. ↑ Federal Bureau of Prisons: Ciro Perrone Released on October 14, 2011
  96. ↑ "383 F. 3d 65 - United States v. Bruno" Open Jurist
  97. ↑ Maddux, Mitchel (March 7, 2012). "Mob 'Uncle' dies". New York Post. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  98. 1 2 Ryan, Joe (February 4, 2009). "Three N.J. men are among 13 indicted in crackdown on Genovese crime family". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  99. ↑ "U.S. Charges Former Acting Boss and 12 Other Members, Associates of the Genovese Organized Crime Family". Newyork.fbi.gov. February 4, 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  100. ↑ Golding, Bruce (June 15, 2010). "Reputed Genovese capo charged in 1992 murder plot". New York Post. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  101. ↑ Gearty, Robert (August 31, 2010). "Capo Anthony Palumbo takes plea in '92 organized crime hit plot". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  102. ↑ "Tickle The Wire » Mobster for Genovese Crime Family Gets 10 Years For "Murder Conspiracy" Involving a Hitman for the Russian Mob". ticklethewire.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  103. ↑ "Staten Island caterer Frank DiMattina sentenced on extortion, gun convictions". SILive.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  104. ↑ Organized Crime By Howard Abadinsky p.80
  105. ↑ "The Day - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  106. ↑ "Curcio prison term ends today". Connecticut Post. October 29, 2003.
  107. ↑ Genovese crime family Springfield Representatives
  108. 1 2 "Lawyers: Mobster becomes informant" By STEPHANIE BARRYMassLive September 07, 2010
  109. ↑ The Republican Photo Desk. "Fotios and Ty Geas, Arthur Nigro found guilty of murder, extortion, attempted murder, racketeering in Al Bruno murder case". masslive.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  110. 1 2 Jerry Capeci's Gang Land By Jerry Capeci "Chin's last Dom runs the show"
  111. ↑ "Giuseppe Fanaro". gangrule.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  112. ↑ Critchley pg.44
  113. ↑ Valentine, Douglas (2004). The strength of the wolf : the secret history of America's war on drugs. London: Verso. p. 140. ISBN 1-85984-568-1.
  114. ↑ Selvin, Joel (Nov 13, 2012). Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s. New York: Macmillan. p. 177.
  115. ↑ Valentine, Douglas (2004). The Strength of the Wolf: The Secret History of America's War on Drugs. Verso. p. 140.
  116. ↑ "Full text of "Investigation of improper activities in the labor or management field. Hearings before the Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field"". archive.org. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  117. ↑ "The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  118. ↑ "Eugene Ubriaco". gangrule.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  119. ↑ Barry, Stephanie (May 6, 2013). "New York gangster John Bologna was FBI informant for nearly two decades in midst of the Al Bruno murder plot". The Republican. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  120. ↑ Barry, Stephanie (April 18, 2012). "Mafia turncoat Anthony Arillotta takes witness stand for second day at trial of Emilio Fusco for murder of Al Bruno". The Republican. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  121. ↑ Barry, Stephanie (December 7, 2012). "Felix Tranghese of East Longmeadow gets 4 years in connection with 2003 Al Bruno murder, other crimes". The Republican. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  122. ↑ McMahon, Paula (February 15, 2012). "South Florida mobster's prison sentence cut in half". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 8, 2013.

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