Or is it a matter of personal choice?

Don't think even Gotti had any BG's when he ran the Fatico crew. Obviously as boss he was picked up daily by Bobby Boriello and few other guys like Jackie Nose or Nicky

Someone like Joe Gallo who I'm not sure was even a capo walked around with Pete the Greek watching his back/ granted he knew he was in trouble somewhat

How is Jackie Nose gonna protect Gotti?

By pecking people?

They are criminals, so yes a capo had a couple of bodyguard or a bodyguard/driver.

Based on what I've read, they usually have a driver who I suppose would double as a bodyguard. But not security teams or whatever following them around.

I SERIOUSLY have no clue why anyone (LCN, Hollywood, Etc.)

If presidents/congressman/government officials can have an army of bodyguards (secret service) and some random Joe Schmo can get to them, NO ONE is safe. It is a false sense of security.

Does anyone recall a story of when some person decided to attack a known high ranking member of LCN, with their FISTS, while the guy had a bodyguard?

Hoffa and Provenzano comes to mind but I don't think Provenzano had a bodyguard in jail and look what happened to Hoffa eventually. Did someone go to bat for Jimmy for this infraction or was he whacked not long after this?

I am sure there are examples but, they would be committing suicide by doing that.

A bodyguard cannot stop bullets and if someone/anyone wanted to take out another, they would methodically plan it out and execute.

JFK was taken out in a VERY SMART (Criminal smart) manner.
From a distance, with a rifle.

Reagan was inches away from getting killed.
Bobby Kennedy was killed while campaigning.

Just my opinion!

What's the story with Tony pro? Couldn't find anything online

And absolutely, as shown in Montreal there's been plenty of guys shot in the company of their bodyguards

Although yes there are times when they are useful like the attempted hit on Desjardins, and he was later caught recommended the same bodyguard that saved him to another partner in crime

A lot was made of Bilotti not being armed but even if he was, the element of surprise would have got him anyway

Gotti had drivers because he had a bunch of dui's.
When he was boss, he always had a driver as most did back then. It was a dispaly of success so to speak. Most capo' s that i knew always drove themselves.

When Hoffa went to jail, he said that it was because of people like him that got him jammed in the situation he was in. It led to a physical altercation. Hoffa was obviously the bigger guy. Not sure it let to fist thrown but it was physical.
Provenzano replied something to the tune of, I am gonna take your heart out (for touching a made guy)
I believe he threatened to harm his family to make him feel the worst pain. An LCN no no.. No old school boss would ever approve that.

I KNOW I read it from a book somewhere but cannot recall it....I am sure some of the more knowledgeable posters can provide more info on this.

I was trying to think of a long time capo who always had a body guard. Jimmy brown was a capo for like 40yrs he was always photod by himself. Id guess if your a capo with a lot of beef. Gotti rolled with a crew like mayweather an the money team. Most of the old capos just had a driver/protege like that other old gambino capo acuri was always with a nephew ect. Chin had a guy frankie condo of smoking gun fame his roll was bodyguard he must have always packed cause he was a little dude. Carmine persico had that guy apples who was huge gotti had abunch of shooters always around he had the most.

Spot on; and exactly the reason Frank Costello never had a bodyguard and, while there was the attempted hit by Gigante, Costello was one of the few top bosses who died free, peacefully in bed.

But when you're a boss/shot caller you've always got a target on your back. It's why the boss gets bodyguards in the first place.

So these guys are supposed to kick money upstairs via their captains but Gotti was on tape saying he pays Bobby and Jackie $500 a week if i recall

Paul paid his driver 1000$ a week acording to Montiglio and he would have taken the job if Nino hadn't said no, telling him "it's not worth it cause basically you gotta live with the guy."

I guess it depends on the skipper but the two I know of had them Carmine Persico had a great bodyguard and friend (real friend)Hugh " and he was not a brainless load of mussel, he had connections and helped the snake get judges and politicians etc and was with him since the 60's that I know of.


Nick Scarfo had Philip from around 72 after he got out is when Phil really got involved cos he was spending a lot of time in Philly for Bruno , he was doing for Bruno's family this is where he met the mother of his kid , but anyway as of that day when Nick got out Phil was gone compared to the year before he was now full time uncles bodyguard driver killer business partner etc.

Apples was physically a big guy apparently and BobbyBoriello was a giant of a man

And I don't think the guys are always armed either unless they were expecting trouble.

For instance Phillip said in his book he was armed when there was that war with the Hunch going on

And I can't imagine Phil as a useful bodyguard physical wise. Didn't he almost get strangled to death in jail, in the book he made out like he got into a fight. as an mma fan he was seconds from lights out had it not been for his underling jumping in & saving him

Yeah he is not big at all , they show him handcuffed to Nick or sitting in court with him and he looks like something.

He would ware nice wool knit turtle neck or mock neck sweaters and jeans with black short boots with a almost biker jacket so he did look a little imposing.

I am guessing knowing he was /is a killer you may think twice and I don't think many bodyguards carried unless there was cause .

The life had them up against cars with legs spread often just for random question by cops or Feds .

Id dont no im a pretty vain person but even if you gave me money to have plastic surgery id deffinly pass. Its just weird. And sammy the bull and he had it just weird. Ya there psycho killers who probaly hate themselves. It was funny i ready won of sammy guys who turned rat was calling him in arizona how the feds paid to get his teeth fixed. Ever see that brazilian dr on e think hes dr 90210 hes weird. Just picture sammy n phil getting face lifts and bakini waxx lol.

Don't forget Phil was quite a handsome young man- so not surprised he wants to look young

Serp how about Nick the blade, Phil mentioned in the book he would act as bodyguard/ driver for his uncle

What was he like

Older then us but was the type to hang late , now and then partied to much like many guys.

But he was a good neighbor had his head on straight when not partying , he was a loner pretty much .

Lived on the edge of Ducktown down a ally his son would come now and then but once the son hit drinking age he was around more and lived with his father for some time , he would get into trouble now and then and go back to Philly but he would come back .

Regular guy , even though he was a killer still a regular guy .

Yes. Like everything else in LCN, it's not automatic--there are no "rules." It's up to the capo.

Probably the worst thing about being a capo or a Don is that you can never trust anyone. Every man has his price--including bodyguards. The easiest way to get rid of a capo or a Don is to bribe his bodyguard.