GR Sources: The Lucchese-Bonanno Mob Love Triangle That Lit Flame For Michael Meldish Murder All Began With “Joey Relay’s” Ex-Wifehttp://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=newpost&Board=8January 29, 2023 — The ex-wife of a then-jailed fast-rising Lucchese crime family capo Joe (Joey Relay) Lubrano was at the center of New York mob love triangle ten years ago that proved the beginning of the end for former Bronx-East Harlem Purple Gang boss and Lucchese associate Michael Meldish, per multiple sources.“Joey Relay” Lubrano is being groomed for an administrative position in the Lucchese organization, these sources allege. The 53-year old Lubrano operates out of the Bronx and did four years in prison (2010-2014) for racketeering and armed robbery. He is a protege of former Lucchese underboss Steven (Stevie Wonder) Crea and in the 2000s earned his nickname for relaying all of Crea’s messages, per court records.
Lubrano’s ex-wife was dating Bonanno crime family boss Michael (Mikey Nose) Mancuso before Mikey Nose went away to do a prison stint for a 2004 mob hit related to internal Bonanno business. Mancuso started his gangland career under Meldish and his brother Joe in the Purple Gang, which during the 1970s served as a breeding ground for many future leaders of the Bonanno and Genovese families.While Mancuso did his time, Joey Relay’s ex began dating Michael Meldish, who by that point was Lucchese boss Matty Madonna’s best friend, top loan shark and street enforcer. The romance between the woman and Meldish greatly disturbed Mancuso behind bars and Mikey Nose sent word for Meldish to stop seeing her. Meldish refused. In 2012, Mancuso allegedly ordered Meldish’s beating in front of Harlem’s famous Rao’s Italian restaurant on 114th Street and was intercepted on a prison telephone discussing and joking about the beat down with associates.
