Philadelphia Roofer's Union Local 30|Traitz family

I was wondering what some of you guys well-versed on the Philly crime scene/history could tell me about the Local 30s Roofer's Union corruption.

Specifically the reign of the Italian-American Traitz (pronounced in the 20's as 'Trait-zee' & derived from Trezza or Trazzi) family, and their connection with the Scarfo crime family & the meth trade/Northeast Philly Irish?

I guess I should have been more specific and provided more information, but alas I was in a hurry this morning. So here's the skinny.

The first time that the Local 30 gets mentioned in connection with organized crime is with John McCollough. Apparently Angelo Bruno and McCollough had long-standing ties until Bruno was murdered. After Bruno's death Nicky Scarfo had a falling out with McCollough over some labor rackets in Atlantic City (having to do with casino worker unionization & some other things IIRC). In 1980 he was killed by a gunman in his home on order of Phil Testa and Nicky Scarfo over the dispute.

Later, Phil Testa was killed by members of the Philadelphia crime family. By a bomb, comprised of roofing nails & dynamite. Reportedly, it was done in this manner to point suspicion towards the Roofer's Union Local 30 (A predominantly Irish union from what I've read); hypothetically, to make it look like revenge for the assassination of John McCollough.

After John's death, Steven Traitz Jr., a former boxer, aligned himself with Scarfo. Using Scarfo's influence he was able to install himself as the new boss of the Local 30. Over the next decade or so, Traitz and his sons (whom were also in the union) would find themselves in a plethora of racketeering charges ranging from union corruption to assault charges (due to Traitz making collections on behalf of Scarfo), and other due to general labour union cronyism. The Traitz sons were also charged in connection with running a methamphetamine ring in the early 2000s.

I had also read that they were connected to the Northeast Philly Mob, a sort of spiritual successor to the K&A gang. Rumoured to be comprised of Irish-American guys from the Local 30, hoodlums from the K&A area, and a network of vending machine and gambling machine operators. Anyways the Internet is littered with articles about the Traitzes. Seems they were marginally important to Philly organized crime.

If I remember right, the local was put under oversight back in 2006.

The interesting thing about this area of Philly mob history is the comparison between the two large entities in question. Angelo Bruno and Nicodemo Scarfo. Both were respected and powerful figures. But both were complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

Bruno, during his reign, wielded power and was a sphere of influence on the streets, but also understood that with power came responsibility. He recognized his limits and was content with the businesses he knew and understood: gambling, loansharking and bookmaking. He was able to maintain a tight-knit underground circle of operations without stepping on too many toes. And as George Anastasia would put it 'he always worked in the shadows.'

Whereas Scarfo on the other hand, he had polar-opposite views when it came to making a fast-buck. Similar to Joey Merlino and John Gotti, Scarfo loved the cameras and was an MTV mobster. He thought what was the point of having power if you didn't flaunt it? A flamboyant figure, he wanted people on the street to know who he was and what he did. Ultimately he enjoyed the attention and happily coined the reputation of being 'the most violent mob boss in America.'

Its funny you mention Traitz...I went to school with one of their sons who was in the special ed class and I guess alternative schools then he'd reappear after a year or two. Obviously the family didn't value education. I haven't seen him in years. He wasn't a big guy in High School, but he was a hell of a boxer. Not that too many people knew he even boxed, for the most part he didn't really socialize with anyone. Their house/farm is right on a main road and for years they've had a wooden sign out that says "Bunnies for Sale."

Nice dicknose. Small world ain't it.
Yeah I had no idea they were Italian until I read this excerpt
tiny.cc/c5z0hw

Then I found someon on youtube with the same surname from Philly James Traitz, whom is an author ont eh topic of several New Age belief systems and neuromysticism (fromw hat I gathered) and he confirmed ti was a corruption of Trezza.

I mean it's not like they were made or anything, but I just find obscure organized crime subjects to be fascinating. Something about researching little-known things makes me feel like an academic explorer. Cause the Local 30 & Traitz stuff has come up alot when looking into the Philly crime family and the Irish crime element in Philly.

Also the methamphetamine rings so prevalent int eh area during that time. At one time Philly was known as the "meth capitol of the worlds" as I've heard was claimed. And alot of influential OC guys were involved. A great deal of disputes came from this as well. Find it all very intriguing.

Here are a few more prevalent names you might want to look at researching who were also involved in or around the distribution of P-2-P methamphetamine rings during the Scarfo/Bruno era.

Chelsais 'Stevie' Bouras - Head of Philadelphia's Greek mob. Killed in a South Philadelphia restaurant on May 27, 1981, in a dispute over methamphetamine dealing.

John Calabrese - Mob associate loosely involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, drug dealing and loan-sharking operations with Antonio Caponigro. Murdered on October 6, 1981, after failing to fall in line under Scarfo's reign.

Michael 'Mickey Coco' Cifelli - Suspected methamphetamine and drug dealer murdered for selling drugs to the son of a mob figure. Gunned down in a South Philadelphia bar on January 4, 1979.

Angelo 'Chick' DiTullio - Convicted South Philadelphia methamphetamine and drug dealer. Victim of Mafia P-2-P importation scam. Convicted of federal drug charges. Sentenced to eighteen-year prison term.

Robert Hornickel - Suspected methamphetamine and drug dealer. Found murdered in South Philadelphia on January 27, 1983.

Raymond 'Long John' Martorano - Longtime Bruno associate. Became a 'made' member under Scarfo. Convicted of murder in the death of John McCullough and methamphetamine drug dealing in separate federal case.

George 'Cowboy' Martorano - Son of Raymond Martorano. Major Philadelphia methamphetamine drug dealer and suspected hitman. Sentenced to a life prison term after pleading guilty to federal drug dealing charges.

Albert 'Reds' Pontani - Scarfo soldier in charge of Trenton operations. Convicted of federal methamphetamine and drug charges. Sentenced to thirty years in prison.

Ralph 'Junior' Staino - Scarfo soldier. Convicted of RICO and federal drug and methamphetamine charges. Serving concurrent thirty-three-year and twelve-year prison terms.

Steven Vento, Sr. - Convicted South Philadelphia drug dealer whose methamphetamine operation became the target of a Scarfo shakedown. Testified against Scarfo organization in subsequent drug trial.

Steven Vento, Jr. - Son of Steven Sr. Wounded on May 27, 1986, by Scarfo gunmen during drug dispute over methamphetamine shipment.

John Renzulli - Head of South Philadelphia-based methamphetamine drug network. Convicted of federal drug charges in a major P-2-P importation and methamphetamine distribution ring.

Michael Borelli - Reputed lieutenant of South Philadelphia-based methamphetamine drug network. Convicted with Renzulli and 10 others of federal drug charges in a major P-2-P importation and methamphetamine distribution ring.

Other convicted methamphetamine traffickers and dealers: Peter Donato, 35, of Sheridan Street near Oregon Avenue; John Small, 45, of Wenonah, N.J., Anthony Leo, 40, of 10th Street near Hall.

Also, Joseph Tenuto, 40, of Beulah Street near Oregon Avenue; Vincent Peraino, 49, of Lindenwold, N.J.; Gerald Esposito, 50, of Washington Township, N.J.; his brother, Thomas Esposito, 43, of 17th Street near Ritner; Joseph Liberio, 42, of Moyamensing Avenue near Jessup Street; Renzulli's cousin, John R. Renzulli, 41, of Newkirk Street near McKean, and Louis DiFranco, 32, of Dover Street near Passyunk Avenue.

Great. Thanks Parisi. I was hoping for some info like this. Only recognize like half the names on this list. Bouras and Martorano specifically.

I believe Martorano was meth-related partners with John Berkery, who was apparently the " main nexus between the Northeast Irish mobsters and the Mafia." at the time and also a member of the infamous K&A burglary crew decades before that.

He was also in alliance with the Pagans during this period and worked out a meth arrangement with them as well. And now that I think about it he was eating dinner with Chelsais Bouras, the presumed leader of the Philadelphia Greek Mob.

Seems like Long John was a busy guy when it came to the crystal trade. Shame about his son though. A life sentence for a non-violent offense. It's unheard of, literally. Think it broke some kinda record or something.

you said i went to school with you who are you

if your talking to dicknose, hes no longer a member of this site.

The Traitz brothers have to be in their 50's by now. They beat the murder rap but went down on the drug shit. DickNose went to school with them? I thought DN was a young guy. Guess not.

The biggest P2P dealer in philly from the late 1970's to 1981 was Ronald Raiton. He supplied just about everyone up until 81 when he flipped and became an informant for the feds. But up until 1981 Martorano, Berkery, Vadino, Vento etc etc were getting most of their P2P from Raiton. After Raiton went down is when all these guys started importing the shit themselves. But up to 1981 Raiton was the biggest supplier of P2P in philly.

He testified against alot of guys after he flipped...including Vento, Martorano and Berkery. They all went down hard.

Yeah, I read about Raiton. He got away pretty clean by playing the system IIRC.

Anybody know the names of men indicted in 1987 drug ring case?

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/...the-mob-the-mafia-meth-king/vdka23405570


S2E2The Mob: The Mafia Meth King
The rise and fall of Philadelphia mobster Long John Martorano, who built a meth empire worth $500m; told for the first time by those closest to him.