Anybody know of any good reading or have any good info (say from FBI files, etc.) about Nicholas Bianco, who seemed to be Raymond Patriarca's right hand man? I know he supposedly spent a lot of time trying to stop the Colombo war and after all the changes in New England nobody ever seemed to go after him either. I've read a few of the conversations between him and Ray on that illegal wiretap they had but that is about it. I know not long after he was locked up he got ALS and I imagine died in a pretty horrible way.
Tony I think FiveFelonies had a good thread on the Gallo crew and what happened to all of them. You are right that "Mike Rizzi" went to California and was involved with Frank Bomp and Jimmy The Weasel.
Mulberry I remember reading that but who was he under during his time with the Colombo's? I know he moved to Johnston or Cranston Rhode Island when he was under Ray. I've never heard much about his rackets or who was under him or anything about what caused him to seem to come from nowhere to Ray's underboss for all those years. He seemed to be well liked too since it seems none of the Boston faction ever went after him after Ray died but of course I think he went to prison not long after that?
I just found this interesting artilcle on Nicky Blanco. It says that during the 1960s, Bianco was the liaison between the New England family and the Colombo family.
I've read that one before but even then I missed where it says he grew up on Atwells which is where Ray's power base was and is Federal Hill. I wonder how he became associated with the Colombo's from Federal Hill, then went to NY and of course it seems Ray must have known him well to bring him back and be his underboss.
He got made in 62 at some special ceromony. He was a mediator between gallo and profaci scarpa liked him then colombo made him a capo but with no soldiers. There wiretap talking with ray saying gambino was instigating the whole thing and at anypoint the family could wipeout the gallos but gambino wwanted peace.
Yep HK is right, I found the FBI files on Patriarca and it mentioned around 9/24/63 or 9/25/63 Bianco was made into the New England family at some special ceremony at "Roma's" in New York when the books were actually closed.
It seems they made him to try and keep the Gallo Gang in check since Bianco was with them and made and of course to keep the peace.
It didn't mention if he was made into the New England or Colombo family but I would assume since Ray put him up he was under him? What are your thoughts Hairy?
Yep HK is right, I found the FBI files on Patriarca and it mentioned around 9/24/63 or 9/25/63 Bianco was made into the New England family at some special ceremony at "Roma's" in New York when the books were actually closed.
It seems they made him to try and keep the Gallo Gang in check since Bianco was with them and made and of course to keep the peace.
It didn't mention if he was made into the New England or Colombo family but I would assume since Ray put him up he was under him? What are your thoughts Hairy?
It is confusing. Below are two passages clearly stating that Bianco was made into the New England Family. How the heck he ended up being a Gallo associate prior to getting made (and a Brooklynite) is a mystery to me. Perhaps they had a mutual business interest or met in prison in the 1950s?
I´ve also seen a passage in a FBI flie stating that Bianco was made for the sole purpose of being the mediator in the Gallo/Profaci war. (But I can´t find the passage now.) The Gallos refused to come to the table as long as Bianco wasn´t made. Making Bianco shows that the bosses were willing to go to great lengths in order to settle the conflict peacefully.
Not that long after the statements in the passages shown above, Bianco was listed as a Colombo soldier and in Joe Colombo´s crew. So apparently he had transfered from Patriarca Family to the Colombos.
Think he would have been the new boss after ray sr died but he was in prison for 3 yrs for ta. Evation. The commission voted for ray Jr to take the spot and it didn't go to good. There a wiretapp on some vid of frank anguilo explaining to some soldier even thou jerry his bro was official underboss he had to answer to bianco and they were salty about it.1981 I think. Its a lot about him in scarpa files he like him and got along. So I wonder at the induction for him there had to be a few guys Christie tic a luchese hitman working for profaci might have got his button same day wonder if all families did.
In the files the FBI thought it was a restaurant called Roma's but they were not sure on the name and mentioned they would try to find it.
I think this also shows how the bosses wanted peace with the Gallo's and that Patriarca was more than just a puppet like some think of the Genovese as it showed his power I think by him getting Bianco made in N.Y. during a time when the books were closed.
Pmac I too think Bianco would have become boss whether Anguilo was in prison or not if Bianco was out. I can't find a whole lot about Bianco in the 80's so I don't know for sure. It just seems nobody really talked bad about him and seemed to respect him unlike someone like Anguilo.
It also seems Patriarca was close to Lucchese as well at one point as he mentions to Bianco to go talk to him if needed.
I also think the New England family would have been better off if Bianco became boss after Ray Sr. died instead of Junior becoming boss. I think it would have stopped the in-fighting for sure.
Hairy or pmac, I've read some where Bianco was indicted or even popped for Grasso's murder. Is that true? Did Bianco want Grasso dead to get back to the top or did he just give the ok for the Boston faction (or Worcester or whoever it was) to clip Grasso? I'm trying to understand what part he played in that ordeal and what the Boston faction thought of Bianco.