To make your way up the ranks in the Family you have to be a great earner or be willing to take people out. The bosses of the family, I would assume, had to be exceptional earners or do something to separate themselves from the rest of the family. I have seen that the current bosses are Genovese:Bellomo, Lucchese:Crea, Colombo:Russo, Gambino:Cali, Bonanno:Cammarano Jr. I know that technically Persico is still considered boss of the Colombo's, but I'm talking more about bosses who are active/street bosses and who aren't in prison for extended periods of time. So, my question is... is there any information or stories on how these leaders set themselves apart and worked there way up to the top of the ranks? I've always wondered in today's era what these guys are known for that has led to their rise. I've heard stories of Bellomo, simply because he has been known since the Gigante days. But I'm curious as to what he was great at the Gigante trusted him so much. Also, what the others have done because I do not know much about them.

***Also, if my listing of any/all of the bosses are wrong, i apologize, and please feel free to correct. I was not stating them as fact, but simply what I have read.

Liborio "Barney" Bellomo was predestine to be the boss. Was made in 1977 at 20 y, Capo at 30y and acting boss from 1990 to 1996 plus was charged with 2 murders and waterfont rackets but doesn't flip and after 12 y become the alleged genovese boss but is thinked that the genoveses had a Ruling Panel with all the most powerful capos inside so LE dont understand who exactly give the orders.

http://www.nysun.com/new-york/barneys-bravado-gives-the-feds-fits/53741/
In that article it gives a bit of background on Bellomo. Says that his father was a Genovese soldier who was close to Salerno and asked Salerno to look out for him. Bellomo was put in Sammy Black's crew. So I'd guess being around the top people helped him get to where he is and learn how to do things so well.

I don't know much about Andy Russo but I'm sure I've read he has been a capo since the 70s and was related by marriage to Persico.

Andrew Russo is the cousin of carmine persico, this is the reason why the snake wanted him and was acting underboss in the 70s,so when the snake will die and allie boy will be the boss, Andy russo or anybody with blood ties with persicos will be the new acting boss.

Steven Crea was always a good earner and a smart guy: Casso wanted him as acting boss and in the 80s to the early 2000s ruled the Lucchese costrution group who extort the builders all over new york and made an alliance with the the Gambinos for extort more money.

I think it's a mistake to think of a mafia family as a meritocracy, where you earn your way up and get promoted for your loyalty. Actually, I think you just need to be a member of one of the main drug dealing crews, a captain perhaps.

And by main I don't mean those who do a little dealing under the radar. I'm talking about the crews who run the pipelines owned by each major family.

Just the opinion of an outsider to that world.

What camr out of andy russos wire taps was pretty funny. Guy dont give a fuck and the minute hes off of probation restriction and hes healthy anuff hes acting boss again. He put his whole life into to thing he says on tape and dont give ashit if he dies in jail.

Hes probaly off or will be very soon. When he got rounded up january 2011 think he got 3 yrs so with 3yrs parole dont hng around any colombo guys should be over.

I remember reading about his rico case in the late 90tys he controlled about of trash routes and a dump on long island. Guy made alot of cash but done alot of time for being so close to carmine persico. Did like all of the 80tys and early 90tys then got like 10more years in 1999.

Pmac - what was said on the wiretaps? I don't know anything about them. Or is there any audio out there to listen to?

No just wat was wrote by capeci in his columns. I guess a capo pauly guns who went back to the colombo body guards days wore some type of recording device to russos capo meetings. The guy andy was just a true believer in there life basically like sonny franfese or alot of them guys. How many times you think the feds went to snake persico son allie like you roll and you can get out today. Some people have a code like omar from the wire said.