I was wodering, tat is it true that the Bonano Family lives in Tucson? Is it true? Since when? What did the did.

Giorgio Luigi Gambino.

I think you drink more than me.

If I think you mean Joe Bonanno and his immediate family and not the Organised Crime Family, yes he did retire to Arizona. Not sure where but it could have been Tuscon for all I know. The Crime Family still resides in NY. Joe Bonanno retired after a heart attack after the Bonanno war in the 60's. He took his real family with him, who most probably are still there, and he died last year. I doubt his family have any ties with organised crime.

Turi's right, as always. Bonanno's connection with Tucson began in 1942, when he sent his son, Salvatore (Bill) to attend a boarding school there. Bill suffered from chronic mastoid problems, and it was believed that the desert climate would be good for him. Joe eventually bought property in Tucson. As far as is known, he had no criminal operations there. He made a point of cultivating prominent politicians, judges, etc., to underscore his "legitimacy." Bill moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, after he got married. But, when the Apalachin, NY, gangster convention was raided, Joe's identity as a mob boss was revealed, and things got very difficult for Bonanno pere et fils in Arizona.
Ironically: Joe wasn't even at the Apalachin convention--he sent his second-in-command, Gaspar di Gregorio. But, before Joe left for a Sicilian vacation months before the Apalachin meeting, he had given his driver's license to di Gregorio to be renewed. Di Gregorio stuck it in his wallet and forgot about it. When the cops pinched him at Apalachin, they retrieved his wallet and Joe's license, which was how Joe was erroniously listed as an attendee--and his true vocation exposed. Di Gregorio probably was the model for the joke about the gangster who was ejected from the Mafia for being stupid: they sent him to blow up a car, he burned his lips on the tailpipe.

Classic story that Turnbull. And an excellent elaboration on the full story. Wasn't also the attempt hit on Salvatore another reason behind the Bonanno war?

Yes, Turi, there was an attempted hit on Salvatore (Bill), but it occurred after the war broke out. Di Gregorio, who was Joe's second-in-command and had been best man at his wedding, betrayed Joe by attempting to command his family after the Commission deposed Joe. About half the family remained loyal to Joe and Bill. Joe disappeared (supposedly kidnapped, but I don't think so), and Bill was in charge. Months into the war, Di Gregorio sent an emissary to Bill, suggesting a sit-down on Troutman Street, in Brooklyn. Bill and his loyal capo, Frank Labruzzo, went to the sitdown. It was a setup. Over 100 shots were fired in the street. No one was hit. All the neighbors claimed to have heard nothing (a real Mafia neighborhood!).

100 shots fired..Now that IS the real gang that couldn't shoot stright!

Sonny was right...you have to get right up to them and bam... all over them and you

I guess they didn't want to get their suits dirty who could blame them at a couple of thousand a pop...

That is why I don't go in for that rich Italian silk suit...Blood doesn't come out of that fine fabric