Mob guys are famous for nicknaming their fellow hoodlums based on just about anything…Blind Frankie, Black Louie, Tony the Dope, Sally the Blond, Cockeyed Nick, and so on. But among the most popular nicknames had to do with animals.

This next challenge involves eight different mafiosi, from eight separate and distinct Cosa Nostra Families sprinkled throughout the United States. Each guy had a nickname related to an animal of some sort.

Your job? — “Should you choose to accept it” — is to identify the true first and last name of each mafiosi, then match the (letter) of their nickname, to the corresponding Family or city they were affiliated with.

A) The Beast
B) Joe the Cat
C) Sharkey
D) The Weasel
E) The Horse
F) Petey Rabbit
G) Cow
H) The Whale

1) Bonanno
2) Buffalo
3) Chicago
4) Colombo
5) Gambino
6) Genovese
7) Los Angeles
8) San Francisco

H) Joseph "Joe the whale" Peraino
4) Colombo

D) Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno
7) L.A.

B - 5 : Joseph "Joe the Cat" LaForte (Gambino)

F - 1 : Peter "Petey Rabbit" Calabrese (Bonanno)

E) Matty "The Horse" Ianniello
6-Genovese

C) Jack "Sharkey" Ehrenreich
2-Buffalo

D-7 for Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno (Los Angeles) was correct.
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But the other three, Peraino, Ianniello and Ehrenreich are each incorrect for this particular challenge. Still, this is a great effort (because I can see why each of those fellas could fit into the puzzle.)

But you know what they say, Lou. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. lol....

F-1 for Calabrese, and B-5 for LaForte, are both correct.


...This challenge is now down to five mystery mobsters.

Lou, as I think I mentioned, our minds generally go right to Matty Ianniello as soon as we hear that nickname. But in this case, "The Horse" was actually E-3, or Frank “The Horse” Buccieri (Chicago)

Frank Buccieri was an old-time veteran soldier of the Chicago Outfit.

I believe he was related to Fiore "FiFi" Bucceri, as either brothers or cousins.

PS: I have a funny story about Buccieri that I'll be posting up at some point for a few laughs.

C-6 was Alfred “Sharkey” Cupola (Genovese)

"Sharkey" Cupola was an old-time East Harlem based soldier who served under capo Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno. He lived in Jamaica, Queens but was a daily fixture up in Harlem since at least the 1930s. He is probably best known for having assisted Salerno and their borgata by helping control the Genovese crew's vast policy-numbers network.


.....and then there were 3.

G-8 was Frank “The Cow” Cosenza (San Francisco)

Frank Cosenza was a soldier serving under Family boss Jimmy Lanza, of San Francisco, CA.

Born in 1903, he and his older brother Tony Cosenza were both identified as longtime soldiers of the Lanza Family. Both Frank and Tony were both heavily engaged in the smuggling and wholesale distribution of hard narcotics around the Bay Area.

The only One they is Gigi The Whale is a Lucchese and you don’t have that listed but here’s my Answer

Louis (GIgi The Whale) Inglese - Lucchese Soldier

Wasn't there a Steve "The Whale" Cino in Buffalo?

Bingo! Thats him, Dwalin. You hit that one right on the head of the nail. Good job.

Steven “The Whale” Cino (Buffalo)

Cino was originally from Buffalo and with that crew. Years later, he migrated out west to CA.

"Gigi the Whale" Inglese was an excellent pick also. But as you say, the Lucchese's weren't mentioned in this challenge.

Still, (I'm with you.) To my knowledge, Inglese and Cino are the only two hoodlums who had that particular nickname.

And last, but not least, was A-4, who was Frank “The Beast” Falanga (Colombo)

Frankie the Beast Falanga was a longtime "associate" and trusted functionary of the Colombo Family's Brooklyn faction. He operated as an all around strong-arm man and enforcer, shylock, and close aide.

Well, men, Falanga wraps up another edition of mystery mobster challenges. See ya next time.