Is The LaRocca Family Defunct?

Pittsburgh.

Boss: Thomas "Sonny" Ciancutti
Underboss: Robert "Bobby I" Iannelli

That's what I think I know but according to Wiki they have a membership of less than 5. Is the mob in Pittsburgh done for and dispersed or are they still around? Anyone know?

ill leave the fine details for JCB, but yes the family is dead. theres only one made guy left and thats Sonny Ciancutti, hes been involved in a couple of gambling cases over the last 10 years, but the guys in his eighties and once hes gone, there will be no more members left. Bobby Iannelli isnt made, he took over Tony Grosso's gambling operations who was always independent of the LCN.

Its over!!

Sad but True ;-(

Family is long gone.

I see this thread once a week.

Bobby Ianelli is made but just a soldier. Mauro P. Matone also a soldier. 3 made guys and they are long gone.

Why does JCB care so much about this family?

The LaRocca Family is over with. There are only three made guys left and maybe 7 or 8 associates left as well. Thomas Ciancutti, Bobby Ianelli and Mauro Matone are all made. Michael Genovese was told by New York not to make anyone, and true to the rules of costra nostra, he did not make anyone. Then when he was allowed, it came out that Charles Porter was an informant and Genovese decided not to make anyone, since no one knew how much information Porter gave, and who else might be an informer as well.

You know how many times this has been said? No one cares and nobody cares how much info you have.

Ciancutti only made guy left...Ianelli has always been independent and Matone was a mere middle man drug dealer.

Why do you care so much about this shitty family so much?

Extortion why do you care that he cares man?

You seem to hate these so called small crime families but you are always checking it out and commenting on it.

The small families r great to read about , every man and his dog knows what is going on in New York , I've been reading a lot about the Rochester mob , in particular the A and B wars of the 70s , very interesting stuff

Because there is a new one popping up every day on the same subject just different ppl asking...thats really the only reason (also the search function isn't that effective even in ADVANCED settings because it shows EVERY response even if you specify subject/body query)

I don't dislike any of the smaller families. Love the Patriarcha family, Detroit and LA are cool too. Honestly, I really just don't like JCBs avatar (Whoever it is, LaRocca) it makes the posts seem more snobby than they really are.

I'm actually going to agree with Extortion here. The Pitts Mob has been brought up too many times. It gets old! But there are definitely 3 Made Members of that Fam.

I won't even respond to the hostile remarks. I didn't start this topic, but it is my area of expertise as my partners and I have over 10 years of research invested for our project. Thanks for your comments, I truly appreciate it.

Correct...except for Bobby I and Mauro Matone...never were they made, as Iannelli has always been independent of LCN, just like Tony Grosso. Sonny is the last man standing, except for turncoats Chucky Porter and Lenny Strollo who are both still alive and well.

JCB1977, you do fine work, and i look forward to reading your book when it publishes. i find the pittsburg family very interesting. it seems as if they were a much larger player in LCN than i was aware of.keep it up, and dont be dissuaded by the naysayers.

No hostile remarks, just criticism...that avatar is super annoying looking. Evertime JCB posts I imagine that avatar talking and its borderline infuriating!

Never seen Avatar, as the science fiction themed movies would remind me of sixth grade which is long behind me.

Since the death of Michael James Genovese in October of 2006, the family became "inactive." Bobby Iannelli is one of the largest independent bookamkers in the country and the operation he assumed control of was Tony Grosso's, which the movie with John Travolta called Lucky Numbers was loosely based off of. Tony Grosso was the largest independent numbers and sports bookmaker in the country, taking in $35-$55 million per year and he employed over 5000 numbers writers alone. Tony Grosso was more politically connected than the Pittsburgh Mob ever was, thus, he operated independently and did not pay tribute to John LaRocca and in return, LaRocca was provided political protection for his operations. When Grosso went to prison in 1986, Bobby Iannelli, Eugene, Salvatore & Adolf Williams assumed total control of his rackets and split the territories up amongst them. Eugene, Sal & Adolfo Williams were half Italian and they paid tribute to the Pittsburgh mob as well. When Mike Genovese took over in 1985, he demanded a higher percentage of the profits from all three of them and he knew that Iannelli didn't even come close to having the amount of political protection that Grosso had.

Sonny Ciancutti still has a network of bookmakers who pay him tribute, but he spends his time at the Meadows Racetrack (every day) betting on the ponies. Chucky Porter has been living in Penn Hills since he was released from prison for cooperating and Lenny Strollo is back living in the Youngstown area since his release from witness protection.

Mauro Matone was a mid level drug dealer and considered an associate, nothing more. He dabbled in fencing of stolen property as he was a fence for Frank "Sonny" Amato Jr., but was never considered important. Once Chucky Porter got convicted, Mauro Matone lost all credibility with Mike Genovese, as Mike actually wanted to kill him at one point because he felt that Matone was using the name of the Pittsburgh mob for drug operations and contrary to what was written, Mike Genovese did not pursue cocaine trafficking. Mauro Matone trafficked in narcotics for Eugene Gesuale, a real animal who is currently doing over 100 years.

The 1980-1991 Pennsylvania Crime Commission Reports list Iannelli as an associate, because Iannelli never wanted to be made and neither did Tony Grosso...they didn't need to be as their operation was worked out with John LaRocca dating back to the 1960's. Here are some articles for your review that have been well researched and as accurate as any other investigative journalism:

1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19940813&id=QNpRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NW8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5749,5711916

2. http://www.post-gazette.com/neighborhood...es/200311210091

3. http://old.post-gazette.com/localnews/20030418junior3.asp

4. http://www.therxforum.com/showthread.php?t=205811 (from Pittsburgh Tribune Jason Cato)

5. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19930205&id=cIRIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x24DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6552,1099463

JCB1977,you hit the nail on the head about Gesuale. Did you ever hear the story about law enforcement doing a surveillance on him and watching him snorting coke with one hand and urinating off his balcony with the other? Also,he was the first target when Crazy Nick went hunting.He wouldn't answer his door,so Gelormini left and shot Fio Genovese instead.

SA Roger Greenbank observed that act of debauchery! I believe he lived on Mt Washington or somewhere close to that area

Are they paying SC tribute or is he the bankroll and he is there partner.

Hey Faffy, nobody is naysaying, we're just tired. There's been a lot of threads about this family, which is no longer around. He is out numbered when it comes to there only being one made guy left who isn't an informant or fink. Matone and Ianelli were alleged soldiers of the Pittsburgh crime family and hopefully in his book he can put that.

JCB is there any new mob crews in Pittsburg today, other than the larocca family being over times are changing in the mafia i'm sure and the guys involved today just aren't profiled yet? And also how can anyone truly know who is currently made in any family, it's not like the mob boss's share that info to the public. Also could you send me a link to your book when your done so I can order it.

Matone & Iannelli were considered associates: Here is a report from the Pennsylvania Crime Commission on OC:

1. https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=138666 (1989 Report on OC)

2. https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=133208 (1990 Report on OC)

***In these reports, it will demonstrate and give detailed information about Iannelli and there is a "small blurb" about Matone, who was not important to the family in any capacity.

Hi Overcoat,

ALL of our research comes from detailed FBI files, interviews with SA Roger Greenbank and Roger Garrity who worked the LaRocca Crime Family for over 25 years each as well as the son of mob boss Mike Genovese and turncoat Lenny Strollo. Believe it or not, the FBI has enough resources and informants who provide very accurate information on who the players are, which has allowed the FBI to dismantle most OC families. I was one of the lead researchers for Allan May's newest projects on Youngstown, called Crimetown USA: The History of the Mahoning Valley Mafia from 1933-1963. Part 2 is currently being written which will cover 1964-present day. Here is the link if you are interested:

http://www.amazon.com/Crimetown-U-S-A-Mahoning-Organized-1933-1963/dp/0983703752

There are definitely "independent" illegal gambling operatives, many of them associates of the old Pittsburgh Mob. Here is a recent illegal gambling bust that happened which includes Bobby Iannelli's son Rodney Iannelli as well as Nicky Scarfo's brother in law Joe Nistico:

1. http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4653630-74/count-charged-counts#axzz2mnxYQuEH

2. http://www.post-gazette.com/neighborhood...es/201309050318

Here are some articles that are well researched regarding the LaRocca Crime Family that will paint a picture of how much influence they had in their respected region. Remember, they not only controlled "ALL" of Western Pennsylvania, but also Northeast Ohio, the panhandle of West Virginia as well as Erie, PA and Jamestown, NY.

1. http://www.post-gazette.com/Op-Ed/2009/0...es/200904190162

2. http://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/2...es/200611020421

3. http://old.post-gazette.com/obituaries/20031107amatoobit4p4.asp

4. http://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/2...es/200807290152

5. http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001106mobhistory2.asp

6. http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001024gamble4.asp

7. http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001202porter2.asp

8. http://www.ipsn.org/pittsburgh/t2000-08t-03-9-2001.htm (Pittsburgh's Union Control of local 1058)

9. http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001105greenbank1.asp

10. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20001219&id=2dNRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=um8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2621,7053746 (Copy and paste this link to browser)

Great stuff, JCB .

Hey Pizzaboy,

I fancy myself as a "pizza connoisseur" as well and have had pizza from all over the country as well as many times in trips I've taken to Italy with my family who still has a few homes on the other side. I'd LOVE to discuss pizza with you "if your call sign rings true."

I love pizza too, JCB. But as far as my username goes, people ALWAYS make more of it than it is.

The truth is, when I signed up here 7 years ago, "There's Something About Mary" was on in the background. And just when I was prompted for a username, the end was on when Matt Dillon yelled at the phony Englishman to "tell her the truth, pizzaboy!"

And that's all there is to it .

Lol that is a good one pizzaboy classic.

Great posts JCB.

Is there no Italians there then, can they not make new members?

There are but New York put the freeze on them making new members years ago.

Mike Genovese was told to hold off on new membership back in 1991 following the Chucky Porter conviction...then after Genovese found out Porter had been giving information, he focused on who was earning and didn't bother making new members with his advanced age. He would have probably handed the family over to Henry "Zebo" Zottola, who became the most active guy in Pittsburgh but died young of cancer in 1998

Here are a few great articles on the Youngstown, OH faction of the LaRocca Crime Family.

1. http://youngstownpride.blogspot.com/2004/12/city-that-fell-in-love-with-mob.html

2. http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/end-of-the-line/Content?oid=1472059