Longtime Bonanno Family soldier, Sereno (Bobby T) Tartamella, was another perfect example of a below-the-radar mobster "with no police record whatsoever" who flew under the radar for many years. This, despite the fact that he was the son of Joe Bonanno's iconic consigliere and lifelong personal friend, Giovanni (John) Tartamella.
Until he was well into the mid-1960s when he was finally tied into the internal "Banana War" conflict, Bobby T was so "squeaky clean" that he actually ran for public office, and later, headed a labor union as a clean "front."
More to come....
A rare picture of Sereno Tartamella
This photo MS posted above is one of the very few known photographs available of Tartamella. It was pulled from his FBI file in Washington. I believe this was taken during the height of Bonanno War tensions (between 1966-68 or so) after he was held on a contempt charge (along with a dozen or so others) for refusing to answer a Brooklyn grand jury's questions about missing and murdered Bonanno Family combatants.
Beautiful work. Once again, you've totally outdone yourself. Thank you brother
Thank you @G and you're always welcome. Your constant support means a lot bro. Cheers
Originally Posted by Giacomo_Vacari
Good work TD. Many corrupt cops with connections to the outfit. If you ever have the time, I recommend a story on Mike Corbitt. Jon Burge had contacts with outfit before joining the military and had contacts in the early 1970s as a patrol officer which helped him become a detective in a couple of years after joining. There are many to do a piece on.
Thank you too @GV and yeah, I agree there are still many to do few stories on, such as the Moretti bros, Durso, Matassa Sr etc. Regarding Corbitt, I think I already included him in my old Hy Larner article, although its a good idea to place him on my list regarding future articles.
In Bloomington Illinois. The city shutdown the Line in the early 1950s which is the redlight district. The club was small and by the early 1960s they brought it back, there was still prostitution before that. They were able to establish a bordello in the early 1960 through an associate of theirs. Late 1960s exploded with the hippy movement and some clubs popped up. They had some protection from the city council and cops, but not really strong. Narcotics have been big with that chapter since the mid 1970s and the 1980s it was Hugh. It was mostly a beer drinking clubs, with prostitution, some gun running, auto part stores and garages. A few of its members went to Florida with the national officials of the club to open up a branch in florida, and to patch over a small group they liked, who were recommend by the gypsy Outlaws who wanted to join there club before the 1964 mergings formed the outlaw nation. New recruits were changing the scene and there was a powers struggle between the beer drinkers and pot smokers in the clubs in the 1970s.McLean majority supported John Davis as president, while the Vietnam vets and pot smokers went against Davis. After Davis was killed, the chapter started to get into narcotics majorly, however it appeared as more of a neutral chapter to the politics of the mothership and Detroit. Interesting there have been rumors of a couple of plots to kill Harry Taco, one for betraying the brotherhood to gain possessions that belonged to another brother, and in the late 1990s when he picked someone as president of a different chapter who should have never been brought as a member. They did not like James Wheeler relocating HQ to Florida, and had great relations with Jack Rosga. They are still active and make trips around the country.
Good work TD. Many corrupt cops with connections to the outfit. If you ever have the time, I recommend a story on Mike Corbitt. Jon Burge had contacts with outfit before joining the military and had contacts in the early 1970s as a patrol officer which helped him become a detective in a couple of years after joining. There are many to do a piece on.
Enrico Gentile would not have enough time to be in two places at almost once even if he had a private plane in the Harlem Village area around plus he had a meeting in south Brooklyn roughly two to three hours after the Hoffa hit. If he did pull this off then he would be the luckiest hitman in history to have all factors favoring him. Seen in Harlem Village around 10 to 11am, and later had a meeting in South Brooklyn from 5pm or 6pm till around 8pm or later that night, and another meeting later on in the Bronx that night. Gentile was not made until Vincent Gigante was boss of the Genovese family.
Date and marry are 2 totally different things my friend Wat man forget “man of honor “ is gonna want to marry a girl half there friends seen naked working a on a pole.
The question I posed here last week was strictly for fun. And, of course, it was a hypothetical one to spark some friendly conversation and gentlemanly debate between members of our forum.
It was an “opinion” piece designed for entertainment. But at the end of the day, there is still the truth of it all which is based on established historical facts, hard numbers, and recognized statistics that come into play here.
That said, here are the unvarnished facts and naked truth about if an all-out “gangland-war” had ever actually taken place between these two formidable underworld entities. And, unfortunately for Chicago, there is simply no comparison between the two cities or Families whatsoever.
The reality is that New York City has always been, currently still is, and will continue to be, the very epicenter of underworld power and the headquarters of the Mafia in America. Not to mention the fact that New York City was (and is) the key linchpin and main lifeline traveling back to their original birthplace of Sicily and Southern Italy.
The overwhelming majority of Italians who ever immigrated to the United States came through New York’s Ellis Island. Most of these immigrants settled into the five boroughs or over the bridge into northern New Jersey where they settled in and made their homes. Later, some of them chose to relocate to other cities such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, etc., etc., etc.
New York IS the “seat of power” for all Cosa Nostra in the United States. This is as clear as day! This “truth” has been cemented in history time and time again, and by the very fact that “The Commission” has always been headquartered in NYC. This governing body was, and still is, responsible for setting policy and supervising the bosses and hierarchies and activities of ALL the Cosa Nostra networks throughout the U.S….the City of Chicago included.
In other words, The NY Commission set the rules of the road in place and enforced those rules. And, although, “technically” speaking, all family bosses are created equal, New York was always a little more equal. A “first among equals,” if you will….These are non-negotiable facts.
Next, the overwhelming and massive amount of manpower (and subsequently, firepower) available to them among their own soldiers and associates within the Tristate area alone, not to mention the fact that all the other families in the country listen to them because of their pervasive influence and acknowledged final say over everybody else, (which once amounted to 20+ other crime families sprinkled throughout the country) more than speaks for itself.
Remember too, that the Chicago “Family” was but an original seedling of New York, as was the overwhelming majority of other borgatas created all across the United States.
Chicago’s very formation was first established and long governed by New York City natives. And as powerful as they later became, they were still only one “medium-sized” borgata against all the “Five Families” (and for that matter, every other “Family” all across the country combined.)
Why is that? Because — at the end of the day — everybody listened, and still listens, to New York. (That is, of course, whatever families are still in existence today.)
PS: Still need more proof? Then consider this…
As of today, May, 2024 the total “inducted” membership of the so-called Chicago “Outfit” is estimated to encompass no more than several dozen men (if that)….which is a paltry number, to say the least.
While collectively, the formal “inducted” membership of New York City’s Five Families is still estimated at approximately 800 to 1000 core members….not to mention, literally, thousands more NY, NJ, CT-based crew associates.
PS: Lastly, please don’t hate the messenger, ok? Because this is NOT opinion. These ARE the facts!
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