Actually it was Joe Lefty who took a shine to Tommy after his father Anthony went to prison in the early 1980s. Muscarella took over the crew when Joe Lefty passed away in 1988, and he proposed Tommy Ficarotta for membership sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s. He has operations in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Those dates you mention Lou, he was official capo, but did server as acting underboss even as Muscarella voice. Muscarella is still official Underboss of the family, but he is get old, and it wont be long before Ficarotta gets a shot at the number 2 spot in the family. He is well respected and is extremely capable.