According to Joe Valachi testifying at the McClellan hearings, when the books opened around 1954, Frank Scalice and Albert Anastasia initiated a couple of hundred members and some of them were "commercialized" as Valachi puts it, paying $40,000 to become a member. According to him they were "kids there who was with Frank Luciano" one called JoJo.

Later on in his testimony, Valachi lists several members who were initiated by Scalice. These include Jimmy Squillante, Jerry Mancuso, Aniello "Wahoo" Mancuso, "ch*nk" Leo, Frank Rocci, Tony the Geep, Mike the Geep, Carmine Camarado, Jimmy Ward, Salvatore Bonfrisco, Jojo and Dudu. Valachi indicates they all paid $40,000 to become members. He also says that some paid with their business and then never saw their business again.


In Vinnie Teresa's book, he says Anguilo became a member pretty much the way pmac said it. Lombardo shut down his gambling activities because of the Keafuaver heat, Anguilo picked up the slack, started getting shook down by Larry Baione and others, didn't like that, so starting giving Patriarca $100,000 a month directly and became a member for that. However, Teresa hasn't always proven himself to be a credible source. I can see how that story can be interpreted as him buying his button, but I would say it is more him being a good earner.