Genovese family
(Redirected from Genovese crime family)
| Genovese family | |
|---|---|
 Named after Vito Genovese | |
| In: | USA, New York City, New York |
| By: | Charles Luciano |
| Years active: | 1931-present |
| Territory: | Various neighborhoods over NYC |
| Ethnic makeup: | Italian, Italian-American |
| Membership: | 200 - 250 made members, 600 associates approx |
| Criminal activities: | Racketeering, conspiracy, loansharking, money laundering, murder, narcotics, extortion and pornography. |
| Allies: | Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, and Lucchese Crime Families |
| Rivals: | Various gangs over NYC including their allies |
Contents |
[edit] Family
The Genovese 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 faction got its name from Vito Genovese, who ran it in the 1950s, although it had existed before that time. Although having several leaders throughout the 20th century, four have been recognized as the family's "Great Fathers"; Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Frank "Prime Minister" Costello, Vito "Don Vito" Genovese and Vincent "Chin" Gigante who died in 2005.
[edit] Impact of the Genovese Crime Family
The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of Organized Crime. Currently there are an estimated 200-250 'made' members in the family making it arguably the largest mob family. They are rivalled in size by probably 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. They have close ties with the Patriarca crime family, they mediated in the civil war of the Buffalo crime family and 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 "The Chin" Gigante, the family stills appears to be more organized than most of the other families and has remained powerful. The family was hated by chinese and japanese workers alike.
[edit] History of the Genovese Crime Family
[edit] Early history
The Genovese crime family developed in the early 1930's, as the children of immigrants of Italian ancestry started pushing out some Irish, Jewish, and German mobs. This ended some of the Irish and Jewish dominance of organised crime in New York that had been in place since the 1890s through 1920's.
[edit] The Castellammarese Era to Luciano
Whilst Masseria consolidated his power in the Italian underworld throughout the 1920s, Luciano rose to prominence with his Broadway Mob. However, Luciano grew increasingly impatient with Masseria's traditionalist approach to organised crime.
[edit] The Costello Era
During the reign of Frank Costello, the Genoveses controlled much of the bookmaking, loansharking, labor rackets and the garment industry in New York City. Costello also controlled much of the docks in New York. Known as the Prime Minister of the Underworld, Costello was said to have so many political and judicial contacts that no state judge could be appointed without his consent. Costello believed in diplomacy and discipline, and also started the Family's interests in Las Vegas. Costello ruled for 20 years until his underboss, Vito Genovese, attempted to have him assassinated in 1957 (the trigger man was Vincente "The Chin" Gigante, future boss of the Family). Having survived the bullet wound, Costello retired quietly.
[edit] The Gigante Era
When Genovese was sent to prison, a "Ruling Committee" that included Underboss Gerardo "Jerry" Catena and his protege Philip Lombardo, was set up to rule the family with complete secrecy. Various "Front Bosses" were also established for the purpose of distracting law enforcement. This tactic had great success in fooling law enforcement. In 1985 front boss Anthony Salerno was convicted of being Genovese boss in the Mafia Commission Trial.
A more elaborate Family Administration was introduced upon Vincent Gigante's take-over of the Genovese Family, which involved the creation of a fourth messagario (messenger) and fifth position (Street Boss) in the family. The messagario was responsible for relaying messages up the chain-of-command as well as between families, while the Street Boss operated family activities on behalf of the Administration (i.e., Boss, Underboss, Consigliere). Since Gigante 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.
During the 1970s, the Genovese Family was aligned with the Gambino Family, but the two Families drifted apart in the 1980s, primarily due to the rivalry between the then-boss of the Genovese Family, Vincent "the Chin" Gigante, and the flamboyant and swaggering Gambino boss, John Gotti.
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.
Since late 2004 a series of prosecutions against high ranking Genovese capos has weakened the Family. 'Barney' Bellomo (street boss), already incarcerated for racketeering, was hit with murder charges. Dominick Cirillo, Lawrence Dentico and Mario Gigante, all senior capos, have also been indicted on broad RICO enterprise charges. As of 2006, Daniel Leo is listed as acting boss, hit with extortion charges and murder the next year.[1] With a history of front bosses it's unclear who really holds full power.
[edit] 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, held without bail awaiting trial), 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 — Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo (acting boss), Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano (underboss), Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (consigliere) (imprisoned)
[edit] Current Family Leaders
- Vincent "Chin" Gigante - Boss of the Genovese crime family since the mid 1980s. Alleged shooter in the attempted murder on Frank Costello in 1957, later driver for Vito Genovese and convicted in 1997 on racketeering and conspiracy charges. Sentenced to 12 years in prison, the jury didn't buy Gigante's mental illness. Vincent Gigante died in 2005 while in prison.
- 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 involvement with loansharking in the New Jersey faction of the family, he won't be released from prison for some 5 years yet.
- 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. Projected release-date is in 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.
[edit] Current Family Capos
- Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo - Capo in the Brooklyn faction since the 1980s, Cirillo managed to become one of the most powerful members of the family under Vincent "Chin" Gigante in the 1990s, before he was imprisoned.
- Liborio "Barney" Bellomo - Capo in the Genoveses' Brooklyn docks, he was promoted caporegime by the age of 30, and promoted again to Street Boss by Vincent Gigante in the 1990s. Serving time for money laundering and extortion operations. Due for parole in 2009, and being 52 by that time means he may yet potentially become boss, only time will tell.
- Ernest "Ernie" Muscarella - Capo in the Harlem and upper Manhattan factions of the family. Muscarella used to serve as Acting Boss for Gigante sometime in the 1990s. Longtime racketeer in New York, Muscarella was released from prison in 2007.
- Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello - Capo in the central Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan factions of the family, Ianniello used to serve as top member in the Genovese crime family. Currently imprisoned due to large racketeering charges in New York City.
- 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.
- Ciro "Chris" Perrone - Capo, recognized as the top soldier for Matthew Ianniello since the 1970s. Operated with loansharking, racketeering, illegal gambling and extortion from his Italian restaurant in Ozone Park, Queens. Currently imprisoned.
- Rosario "Ross" Gangi - Capo of the Brooklyn wing of the Genoveses. Involved in large racketeering, loansharking, extortion and credit card fraud operations in New York City. Currently imprisoned, projected release is in 2008.
- Tino "Greek" Fiumara - Capo in the New Jersey faction of the Genovese crime family since the 1980s. Reportedly involved in illegal gambling, loansharking, racketeering and drug trafficking activities in the Newark faction. Under tight parole restrictions until January 2008, including not being able to meet with known felons, Fiumara is a viable candidate for boss.
- Mariano "Mario" Gigante - Capo in the Manhattan faction of the Genoveses and brother of Vincent Gigante. Took over the control of the racketeering operations in the Garment District during the the 1980s. Possibly retired.
- Frank "Punchy" Illiano - Capo who used to manage the Gallo Crew of the Colombo crime family, switched to the Genoveses along with Albert Gallo in the 1970s to avoid being murdered. Illiano, a South Brooklyn faction leader, is involved with illegal gambling, loansharking and extortion operations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island.
- James "Little Jimmy" Ida - Capo in the Manhattan faction of the Genovese crime family. Took over as Consigliere after the imprisonment of Louis Manna, and conspired to kill Gambino leader John Gotti along with Vincent Gigante. Serving life without parole since 1996.
- Louis "Bobby" Manna - Capo with control of the North Jersey faction and the former Consigliere of the family. Convicted of conspiracy to attempt the murder on Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, serving life without parole.
- Vincent "Vinny" DiNapoli - Capo in the East Harlem faction of Manhattan in the Genovese crime family, with large racketeering operations in the Bronx, New York. Brother Joseph DiNapoli is a top member in the Lucchese crime family.
- Peter "Pete" DeFeo - Capo in the Little Italy faction of the Genovese crime family. A longtime rival of Vincent Gigante, DeFeo's influence eventually declined during the 1980s as Liborio Bellomo took over the construction and labor racketeering operations in East Bronx. Currently residing in Long Island.
- John "Johnny Sausage" Barbato - Capo in the New Jersey faction of the Genoveses. A recognized member of the family since his early arrests on bookmaking and illegal gambling since the 1960s. In January, 2007, Barbato pled guilty on racketeering and conspiracy and received a 2 to 6-year sentence.
- Alan "Baldie" Longo - Capo with former stocks and fraud activities in the Brooklyn faction of the family. Indicted in 2005 on racketeering, loansharking and pump-and-dump scams, convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
- Joseph "Joey" Zito - Capo in the Bronx and Brooklyn, Zito was at some point the Acting Underboss in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as he was jailed for racketeering and loansharking charges and released in 2005. Currently running the Bronx faction of the Genovese family.
- John "Buster" Ardito - Capo with alleged money laundering, drug trafficking, extortion, loansharking and racketeering operations in the New Jersey and Brooklyn factions of the family since the 1970s. Close ties with crews in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Died 2006.
- Alphonso "Allie Shades" Malangone - Capo of the family since the 1980s, with extortion, loansharking and fraud operations in the Brooklyn faction of the Genoveses. Took over the waste management activtites before sent to prison in the late 1990s.
- Renaldi "Ray" Ruggiero - Capo with control of the South Florida faction of the Genovese crime family. Indicted in 2006 on conspiracy to commit extortion, robbery, money laundering, and loansharking charges. Currently on trial, if convicted, Ruggiero faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 120 years and fines of up to $1,750,000.
http://www.geocities.com/OrganizedCrimeSyndicates/GenoveseFamily.html
[edit] External links
- Crime Library: Epic Saga of the Genovese Crime Family by Anthony Bruno
- Seize The Night - The Genovese Family
- Jerry Capeci's Gangland - The Genovese Family
- Gangsters Inc. - Genovese Crime Family
- [2]
- Organized Crime Control of Some Gay Bars in New York City
[edit] Source
Wikipedia: Genovese crime family under GFDL
