How big were Pittsburgh during their peak

How many Capo's and Soldier's did they have, sometimes I have assumed that they weren't at that many due to today's records but then Frank Valenti had their support against the Buffalo crime family when Valenti wanted to split the Rochester faction away from the Buffalo family and form his own

This is a detailed chart I posted on real deal from 1980-1990:

LaRocca Crime Family

Hierarchy

Boss- John Sebastian LaRocca (took over in 1956 from Frank Amato Sr and died December 1984)
Boss- Michael James Genovese (took over in 1985 and died 10-31- 2006)
Underboss- Gabriel "Kelly" Mannarino (LaRocca's Underboss from 1956, died July 1980)
Underboss- Joseph "Jo Jo" Pecora (imprisoned from 1985 and died March 3, 1987)
Underboss- Charles "Chucky" Porter- 1986-1999 (cooperated secretly from 1992-1999) Released from prison in December 2000, living back in Penn Hills, PA.
Consigliere- Charles "Charlie Murgie" Imburgia (died in 2002) Consigliere since the early 1960's.

Capo Regimes

Capo- Antonio Ripepi- Clairton, PA (father in law to John Bazzano Jr.) died in 2000
Capo- Joseph Sica (grandfather to infamous drug dealing rat Joey Rosa and father in law to former Capo Frank Rosa) died 1991
Capo- Frank Rosa- (son in law to Joe Sica, father of drug dealer/rat Joey Rosa) died on January 28, 1982
Capo- Joseph "Little Joe" Regino- (Controlled illegal gambling in Altoona/Johnstown, PA) died June 18, 1985
Capo- Thomas "Sonny" Ciancutti- Protege of Gabriel Mannarino, Controlled all Illegal gambling in New Kensington, PA. Last made man left, 82 years old
Capo- Pasquale "Patsy" Ferruccio- (Video Poker kingpin, considered the mafia's leading expert) Canton, OH. died March 31, 2006
Capo- Domenico "Big Dom" Mallamo-Ran Youngstown, OH rackets since the 1940's (semi retired by 1982). Died in April 1987. (Was made in NYC and over in Reggio, Calabria Italy)
Capo- Vincenzo "Brier Hill Jimmy" Prato- Ran Youngstown, OH rackets since 1980-81. Died in 1988.
Capo- John Bazzano Jr.- Son of legendary mob boss John Bazzano Sr and son in law to Antonio Ripepi. Died in 2008.
Capo- Frank "Sonny" Amato Jr.- Son of legendary mob boss Frank Amato Sr (who stepped down in 1956 and was longtime Capo for LaRocca and died in 1973) Jr. died in 2003.



Soldiers (Made Men)

John Fontana- Ran illegal gambling in Monroeville, PA. Died on April 1, 1984.
Michael Traficante- Ran illegal gambling around Indiana, PA. Died in 1986.
Samuel "Sammy Fashion" Fashionatta- Ran illegal gambling in Altoona/Johnstown, PA. Died March 11, 1985
Louis Volpe- Infamous brother of the "Volpe Brothers" who ran gambling in East McKeesport/Turtle Creek, PA. Died June 3, 1987
Anthony "Wango" Capizzi- Ran gambling junkets for Pittsburgh family and worked closely with Bufalino Crime Family and Buffalo LCN. Died March 21, 2007
John "Jack" Verilla- Ran illegal gambling with Sammy Fashion in Altoona/Johnstown, PA. Died in prison September 10, 1988
Joseph "Little Joey" Naples- Ran illegal gambling in Youngstown, OH with Lenny Strollo. Naples was Jimmy Prato's protege. Murdered August 19, 1991.
Lenine "Lenny" Strollo- Ran illegal gambling with Joey Naples in Youngstown, OH. Convicted in 1999 and cooperated. Out of prison and living back in the Youngstown area.
Henry "Zebo" Zottola- Acted as liason between Youngstown faction and Pittsburgh. Oversaw Youngstown operations and reported to Genovese/Porter. Died in 1998.
Louis Raucci Sr.- Ran gambling, narcotics and fencing stolen property in Verona, PA. Answered directly to Porter/Genovese. Was said to have sit on the "left" side of Mike Genovese


Pittsburgh Associates:

John V Adams- He ran the Green Door Club, an after hours illegal gambling spot. Reported to John Bazzano Jr and Chucky Porter.
James "Jimmy" Ameris- Sports and numbers bookmaker in New Kensington, PA. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.
Ronald "Farmer" Brown- Owned the BBS Coal Company. Extortion, illegal gambling and enforcer. Reported to Chucky Porter.
Eugene "Geno" Chiarelli- Narcotics, extortion and robbery. Reported to Chucky Porter (was convicted in 1990 as part of the Porter trial)
Anthony Durish- Narcotics, extortion and robbery. Reported to Chucky Porter and Louis Raucci. (was convicted in 1990 as part of the Porter trial)
August "Augie" Ferrone- Major bookmaker, interstate illegal gambling, partners with Primo Mollica. Reported to Chucky Porter and Sonny Ciancutti.
Primo Mollica-Major bookmaker, interstate illegal gambling, partners with Augie Ferrone. Reported to Chucky Porter and Sonny Amato.
Anthony Gesuale- Narcotics, loansharking, extortion, illegal gambling. Reported to Chucky Porter and Sonny Ciancutti.
Eugene "Nick the Blade" Gesuale- Major Narcotics distributor, loansharking and extortion. Reported to Chucky Porter and Louis Raucci.
Daniel "Speedo" Hanna- Illegal gambling, collections of tribute money to Pitt LCN. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti and Michael Genovese.
Steven Hatzimbes- Illegal gambling, worked with Jimmy Ameris and Daniel Hanna. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.
Anthony "Tony" Grosso- Largest numbers operator in the country. $30 million/year, employed over 5000 numbers writers. Imprisoned in 1986. Reported to Genovese.
Robert "Bobby I" Ianelli- Major numbers/sports bookmaker. Took over part of Tony Grosso's numbers operation with the Williams brothers. Reported to Genovese
Salvatore Williams- Major numbers/sports bookmaker. Took over part of Tony Grosso's numbers operation with Bobby Ianelli. Reported to Genovese
Adolfo "Junior" Williams- Major numbers/sports bookmaker. Took over part of Tony Grosso's numbers operation with his brother and Bobby Ianelli. Reported to Genovese
Anthony "Ninny" Lagatutta- Ran back door, high stakes card games as well as sports bookmaking. Reported to John Bazzano Jr.
Samuel "Sammy" Lanzino- Sports bookmaking and fencing stolen property. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.
John "Johnny Boy" Leone- Narcotics trafficking, illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion. Reported to Chucky Porter.
Michael "Mikey" Martorella- Sports and numbers bookmaking. Reported to Chucky Porter and Sonny Amato.
Louis "Louie" Masco- Illegal gambling and principal operator of the Cecil Italian Club. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti and Sonny Amato.
Mauro Matone- Narcotics trafficking and fencing stolen property. Reported to Chucky Porter.
Peter Mercurio Sr.- Sports and numbers bookmaking. Associated with Steve Hatzimbes gambling network. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.
Anthony "Murgie" Imburgia- Nephew of Consigliere Charlie Imburgia. Owner of Verona Auto Sales. Reports to Chucky Porter and Mike Genovese.
Felix "Phil" Pitzerell- Owner of Pitzerell's Restaurant, illegal gambling and fencing stolen property. Reported to Chucky Porter and Louis Raucci.
Ronald Plisco- Plisco was Sonny Amato's key representative in illegal gambling. Reported to Sonny Amato and Chucky Porter.
William "Billy" Porter- Brother of Chucky Porter. Extortion, narcotics trafficking & robbery. Reported to Chucky Porter.
Michael Rosenfeld- Narcotics distribution. Reported to Chucky Porter and Louis Raucci.
Gerald Sabatini- Sports/numbers bookmaking and narcotics trafficking. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.
John Sabatini- Sports/numbers bookmaking and narcotics trafficking. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.
Robert Sabatini- Sports/numbers bookmaking and narcotics trafficking. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.
Joseph Scolieri- Sports.numbers bookmaking. Reported to Chucky Porter and Louis Raucci.
Paul Scolieri- Sports/numbers bookmaking. Reported to Chucky Porter and Louis Raucci. (Part of Bobby Ianelli gambling network).
Meyer Sigal- Owner of Daily Juice Company, employed Joe Sica and Louis Raucci as ghost employees.
Frank Unis Jr- Ran the largest sports bookmaking/numbers operation in Beaver County. Reported to Joey Naples/Paul Hankish/Genovese/Gambino Family.
Rocco Viola Jr.- Chucky Porter's first cousin and real estate developer. Employed Porter as a consultant/ghost employee.
Manuel Xenakis- Sports/numbers bookmaking, part of the Sabatini brothers gambling enterprise. Reported to Sonny Ciancutti.


Youngstown, OH Faction:



Ernest "Ernie B" Biondillo- Chief Lieutenant to Joey Naples. Ran gambling in Campbell, OH. Murdered June 3, 1996. Reported to Joey Naples.
Frank "Ball Bat Frankie" Lentine- Ernie Biondillo's right hand man, ran dice/card games/robbery and sports bookmaking in Campbell, OH. Reported to Joey Naples.
Bernard "Bernie The Jew" Altshuler- Major money maker for Pittsburgh. Ran the All American Club illegal casino in Campbell, OH. Reported to Henry Zottola/Lenny Strollo.
Lawrence "Jeep" Garono- Lenny Strollo's chief lieutenant, collected gambling proceeds from local bookmakers. Reported to Lenny Strollo/Henry Zottola.
Dante "Danny" Strollo- Bagman for brother Lenny, liason between payoffs to corrupt public officials. Ran gambling at All American Club in Campbell, OH.
Michael "Cyrak" Serrecchio- Largest numbers/sports bookmaker/fencing stolen property in Youngstown. Operated Mr. A's Eatery. Reported to Naples/Strollo.
Joseph "Joey Cyrak" Serrecchio- Son of Mike "Cyrak" Serrecchio. Ran numbers for his dad/fencing of stolen property.
Joseph Perfette- Ran illegal gambling in Trumbull County/Warren, OH. 25% kicked up to Cleveland until 1983, then reported directly to Charlie Imburgia (Consigliere).
Jack DeSarro- Largest numbers/sports bookmaker in East Liverpool, OH (about 30 miles south of Youngstown). Reported to Naples/Strollo/Henry Zottola.
Robert "Bobby" Poghen- Debt collector/enforcer/hitman/illegal gambling. Reported to Naples/Strollo.
Paul "Pinto" Holavatick- Joey Naples' driver/enforcer/hitman/debt collector.
Raymond Hertz- Lenny Strollo's stepson. Owner of Stagecoach Inn Bar. Illegal gambling/numbers. Reported to Lenny Strollo.
Samuel "Sam" Vona Sr./Jr.- Both father and son ran extensive numbers/sports bookmaking in Struthers, OH. Reported to Naples/Strollo.
Thomas "Tommy" Peters- Owned Patsy's Lounge, numbers/sports bookmaking. Reported to Naples/Strollo.
Gary Goodrick- Enforcer/numbers/sports bookmaking/barbut dealer. Reported to Naples/Strollo.
Jack Malys- Ran illegal gambling/barbut/craps/numbers at the Greek Coffee House in Campbell, OH. Reported to Naples/Strollo.
Peter Cascarelli- Worked for Naples at Youngstown United Music (Vending Company), robbery/fencing stolen property. Reported to Naples.
Amil Dinsio- One of the biggest bank robbers in American History (1972 Laguna Niguel, CA heist). Robbery/burglary. Reported to Naples/Strollo.
James Dinsio- One of the biggest bank robbers in American History (1972 Laguna Niguel, CA heist). Robbery/burglary. Reported to Naples/Strollo.



Altoona, PA Faction:

Alfred Corbo- Sports/numbers bookmaking. Reported to John Verilla/Joe Regino
Joseph Ruggierio- Sports/numbers bookmaking. Reported to John Verilla/Joe Regino
Victor Schiappa- Sports/numbers bookmaking. Reported to John Verilla/Joe Regino
Carl Venturato- Sports/numbers bookmaking- Reported to John Verilla/Joe Regino
John Caramadre- John Verilla's chief lieutenant. Sports/numbers bookmaking/murder for hire. Reported to John Verilla/Joe Regino.
Vincent Caraciollo- Enforcer for John "Jack" Verilla. Testified against Verilla and Caramadre for murder of John Clark, narcotics trafficker. Reported to John Verilla.
Dennis "Denny" Colello- Enforcer/debt collector for John Verilla.


West Virginia Faction

Paul "No Legs" Hankish- Wheeling, WV "Godfather." Paul was Lebanese and was closely associated with Jo Jo Pecora/Chucky Porter. Controlled all illegal gambling/narcotics trafficking in the West Virginia area. Got his legs blown off in the 1960's after a bloody war with Bill Elias, former West Virginia "boss." Closely associated with Joey Naples and Demus Covello of the Gambino Crime Family. Naples was godfather to his son Chris Hankish and Demus Covello was godfather to his daughter. One of the biggest moneymakers for LaRocca/Genovese. Convicted in 1990 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Reported to LaRocca/Genovese/Porter/Pecora
Chris Hankish-Ran gambling/video poker/narcotics for his father in Scott Twp., PA.
James "Jimmy" Griffin- Paul Hankish's "right hand" man and partner in gambling/narcotics organization.
Charles "Buddy" Jacovetty-Paul Hankish's "left hand" man and partner in gambling/narcotics organization.
Charles "Chucky" Joseph- Owned and operated the Lightning Rod Club in Wheeling, WV, an after hours illegal gambling style casino.
Theodore "Teddy" Tsoras- Ran illegal gambling/narcotics distribution

Who did Youngstown report to? Buffalo or Pittsburg? I remember in the fifties my dad made several trips to Toronto.

Youngstown was part of the Pittsburgh LCN. Back in the 1960's, Youngstown was wide open and Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo fought for control of the lucrative rackets. Youngstown racketeer Sandy Naples was actually originally affiliated with the Buffalo LCN through his good friend Joe DiCarlo.

You have to remember that LaRocca controlled not only Western PA, but he also controlled over half of Northeast Ohio, Erie, PA, the panhandle of West Virginia and Jamestown, NY. LaRocca also supported Frank and Stan Valenti (both made in Pittsburgh) to start their own crew/family in Rochester, NY and split profits with Buffalo and he also supported Salvatore and Angelo Marino (both made in Pittsburgh) to go out to San Jose and start their own family, which he got a piece of everything out there. John LaRocca was a nationally respected friend to everybody. His strongest suit was his uncanny ability to build and sustain relationships with other families around the country, and was especially close to Russell Bufalino, Angelo Bruno, John Scalish, Joe Zerilli, Tony Accardo and Carlo Gambino. LaRocca was godfather to one of Gambino's sons, if I'm not mistaken, it was Tommy (but not 100% sure on that). Big John was also next door neighbors with Paul Castellano in Pompano Beach, FL and the two of them used to charter fishing boats and go deep sea fishing with their wives and family.

Pittsburgh was a split city back in the day. I know Kelly Mannarino's family and have heard many times about the meeting with Rooney about who controls what. *Once again this post as in nearly all others I've noticed nobody mentioning non-Italian forces. Go Steelers.

Everybody knows that the old man Rooney won a big hand of poker and bought the Pittsburgh Steelers...allegedly, his sons placed their bets through Paul Hankish, who controlled all illegal gambling in Wheeling, WV but was under the control of John LaRocca/Michael Genovese in Pittsburgh. As far back as the late 1930's when Frank Amato Sr. took over in 1937, the Pittsburgh Crime Family were their own entity. There were some independent operators, the biggest being Anthony "Tony" Grosso, but as far as gambling went, the Pittsburgh Mob controlled 90% of it. Kelly Mannarino was LaRocca's underboss and was very active in the Havana Casinos as he owned a piece of the Sans Socui, the Nacional and the Capri. The actual successor to LaRocca was supposed to be Joseph "Jo Jo" Pecora, who became underboss after Kelly Mannarino died...but Jo Jo was on his way to federal prison on a racketeering conviction which is why the Pittsburgh Family chose Genovese as boss...which proved to be a good move as Mike Genovese was as low key of a boss as one could get. A good friend who was very close to some of the Pittsburgh fellas described Jo Jo Pecora as a "don of the people" meaning that everybody loved him and he always wanted to keep the peace. Mike Genovese was "extremely" arrogant and not as approachable as Pecora or LaRocca. Mike ruled with an iron fist and if you stepped out of line, he would have killed you in a minute. Check out these articles in the Post Gazette on Michael Genovese, gives some great insight.

http://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/2...es/200611020421

http://www.post-gazette.com/Op-Ed/2009/0...es/200904190162

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-...maker-mr-rooney (Trial of Paul Hankish describing Art Rooney's gambling habits)

JCB nice breakdown. I ask if the Cihal brothers would be Pittsburgh LCN associates? I think they would of had to been backed by the Pitt lcn being they were some pretty big bookmakers in the 1970's.

The Cihal brothers were tied in with Bobby Iannelli and Mickey Flynn, owner of the Union Grille in Pittsburgh. They were not LCN, but they did kick up a percentage to LaRocca and Mike Genovese. Sonny Ciancutti oversaw all bookmakers from Allegheny County and collected tribute through two guys; Ralph "Big Head" Masselli and Jeff Risha. Anthony Cihal was busted back in 2003 in a illegal gambling operation ran out of the Union Grille. Bobby I assumed control of Tony Grosso's bookmaking and numbers operation along with Sal, Eugene and Adolfo Williams, all longtime associates of the LaRocca Crime Family but never made members. When Grosso went to prison, Iannelli and the Williams brothers divided up the $30 million dollar per year operation and the 5000 numbers writers that Grosso employed independent of LCN. Grosso had more political protection than LaRocca or Genovese ever had, hence why they never shook him down or extracted tribute. Anthony Cihal was close to Bobby I.

http://old.post-gazette.com/neigh_washington/20030817wacover2.asp

http://www.leagle.com/decision/1972510339FSupp171_1481

Billy and Anthony Cihal were also connected to Cleveland via Joe "the Hat" Lanese and Tony delsanter. I think they all got jammed up with John Nardi on a bookmaking pinch in the early 70's


Nice heroin ring here

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19721014&id=ArMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dbMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6540,3663531

Great insight Strocco. Interestingly enough, the Sabatini brothers (Gerald, John & Robert) moved into Portage County and parts of Cuyahoga County since the fallout of the Cleveland LCN. They have been running sports bookmaking as well as barbut games in the Ravenna area.

Tony Grosso: Numbers Kingpin (from PA Crime Commission Report on Organized Crime in Western Pennsylvania 1990)

Pennsylvania's undisputed illegal lottery kingpin, Anthony "Tony" Grosso, 76, dominated Pittsburgh's numbers-betting community for more than 40 years and built a large illicit gambling organization which grossed more than $30 million annually. In October 1986, he pled guilty to 68 counts of a federal grand jury presentment. The charges alleged that Grosso, of Mt. Lebanon, operated a numbers organization with several thousand writers scattered throughout the Western Pennsylvania region. Grosso was sentenced by a federal judge in January 1987 to 14 years in prison and later to 10 to 20 years in prison by an Allegheny County Court judge. During one hearing, Grosso testified that he had not filed a tax
return since 1973. Grosso agreed to testify against a State Police corporal who had been charged by a state grand jury with receiving more than $100,000 over several years in bribes and other illegal gratuities from Grosso. The corporal, who committed suicide shortly before he was scheduled to stand trial, was in charge of a State Police vice detail operating in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Grosso has been arrested over 20 times between 1938 and the present. Relatively few of those arrests have resulted in incarceration. Prior to the 1980s, he served short jail terms for gambling-related convictions in 1943, 1950, 1964, and in the mid-1970s. Grosso, who never used a bank account, testified that he did not know how many individuals were in his gambling operation because he had established it in a pyramid fashion with himself at the top. He said he did not know the identity of "runners and writers" near the bottom of the pyramid, nor did they necessarily know his identity. He said that his operation had many telephone girls who each made about $500 per week and that each phone girl would have 10 to 20 writers "working the street." Grosso paid his writers on a percentage basis. Should a writer offer 500-to-one odds to a customer, the writer would get 40 percent. A 600-to-one odds bet would provide the writer with 30 percent. On the average, a writer who turned in about $1,000 per week in business would earn about $300 per week, tax free. Grosso said his organization would gross at least $400,000 weekly. His annual income, estimated by the IRS, was $1.5 million to $2.1 million. Grosso apparently operated without paying "direct" tribute to the Pittsburgh LCN, primarily because of his
political contacts. Because of his favorable affiliation with local political and police officials, however, Grosso
was expected to do "favors" for the LaRocca/Genovese Family-such as providing information on an ongoing investigation or an upcoming raid. Grosso's incarceration, in turn, has contributed to the Family' s dominance of illegal gambling in the Greater
Pittsburgh area. Today, the bulk of Grosso's numbers business has beentaken over by Robert "Bobby I" Iannelli; and two brothers, Adolph "Junior" Williams and Salvatore "Sal" Williams, all of Pittsburgh. Iannelli and the Williams brothers are associates of the LaRocca/Genovese LCN Family.

Currently, Bobby Iannelli and the Williams Brothers are the principal illegal gambling operatives that were LCN associates of the LaRocca Family. I'll break it down:

• Robert Iannelli, also known as "Bobby I." Iannelli, an associate of the Pittsburgh Family, acquired, during the mid-1980s, a significant portion of Tony Grosso's numbers empire after Grosso's conviction for federal gambling and tax violations. Iannelli expanded in the greater Pittsburgh gambling market. In outlying counties, operations laid off action to Iannelli. Iannelli's sports and bookmaking enterprise ultimately
became the largest in Western Pennsylvania.
His organization included bookmakers in at least six Pennsylvania
counties and several other states. Iannelli used Chub's Place, McCandless Township, Allegheny County, a restaurant operated by his family, as a drop-off point for monies owed to the enterprise. The organization was tied through layoff activity to several other major gambling enterprises in Western Pennsylvania, including the Frank Unis, Jr., operation in Beaver
County. On June 18, 1990, Iannelli and a number of bookmakers affiliated with him were indicted by a state grand jury and were charged with operating a multi-million dollar a year sports and
numbers bookmaking enterprise. Indicted with Iannelli were two of his chief operatives, Albert Diulus of Pittsburgh and Ralph Romano of Carnegie.

• Adolph "Junior" Williams, Eugene Williams and Salvatore Williams The Williams organization, which dominates
numbers action in the Hill District, in the East End of Pittsburgh, and in the McKees Rocks area, was also heir to part of Tony Grosso's gambling empire. The Williams brothers operated two Pittsburgh businesses, Guglielmo Jewelry Store and Sugar's
Deli. Sugar's Deli, 1501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, has been used by the Williams brothers to collect and sort bets. Additionally, Salvatore Williams has acquired over 40 properties in the
Hill District, a large Black section of Pittsburgh. The Williams operation has also been connected to the gambling
enterprise operated by Paul "No Legs" Hankish in Wheeling, WV.
The Williams organization has a number of Black numbers writers in its organization, including Joseph Stotts, who accepts wagers from several Black numbers writers and collectors in the Hill District and the East End of Pittsburgh. He then forwards the action to the Williams operation. During the late 1980s, Adolph
Williams used John Deep, then-operator of the 900 Club, McKees Rocks, and his brother Eugene Williams to
expand his numbers operation in McKees Rocks. A competitor for
numbers business at that time was Robert Mancini who, on October 24, 1988, was a homicide victim. The homicide remains unsolved.
In May 1989, state authorities arrested Adolph and Eugene Williams, along with Kenneth "Leroy" Scotty, and charged them with operating an illegal lottery and bookmaking business. Those charges emanated from a grand jury investigation of gambling
activities in the McKees Rocks, Allegheny County area. In March 1990, Eugene Williams entered a no contest plea to three gambling charges and was fined $1,000. Kenneth Scotty was convicted in August 1990, on three lotteries counts. Charges
against Adolph "Junior" Williams were dismissed earlier by a district magistrate who ruled that the state had
provided insufficient evidence.

Yeah they moved into those outer counties and had a huge numbers operation. Did they stay in the are after they were busted? I know those smaller towns Near Akron except maybe Kent , could care less about a little action. I ran some games down there before.

So did Manuel Xenakis report to Gerald Sabatini. Ironically as you know ,Xenakis is helping run a numbers ring on the outskirts of Cleveland , and he is partners with Ferrito in Erie. That is to funny.

Did any one in the Cleveland LCn get a taste of the Sabatinis?

Manny and Gerald as well as Stevie Hatzimbes all reported to Sonny Ciancutti. Ferritio laid off to Sabatini or Xenakis. Manny was partners with the Sabatini brothers...Personally, if anybody from Cleveland wanted to take the operation, it's theirs for the taking. Pittsburgh's clout is over, although "many" associates still exist. Ernie Biondillo & Frankie Lentine oversaw Portage County in the mid 1990's, with 25% supposedly going to Ronnie Carabbia's wife Jo Jo. Also, Gary Goodrick and Mike Sabella ran barbut games in Portage County.

most of the guys are gone...the oldest Sabatini brother passed...big head passed...the remaining Sabatini brothers are said to be at odds and on the outs with Sonny and on their own...Junior and one of the Sabatini brothers had a falling out over a mexico deal or something like that...Duffy is back but not doing much of anything...Pittsburgh is wide open...but there is nothing there to fight over...so the remaining few associates are carving up the carcass of a onetime major city and eating scraps...

These guys have been on the outs with Sonny for a while. The Sabatini's as of three years ago were still running gambling in Portage County, OH.

When did Ralph "Big Head" Maselli die?

Big Head died almost a year ago to the day...around this time...

The Sabatinis are still in ohio...they tried a run in Florida...and tried to buy a restaurant chain in Pa...now they are peddling used cars and roll your own cigarette machines...hey...the keep trying...

When they went to Ohio, they were under the supervision of Charles "Charlie Murgie" Imburgia....who was a lot bigger than Sonny.

Thanks Tommy.

Great info Tommy...stay in touch regarding Pittsburgh.

Was eboli the cousin of the Genovese boss considered with Pitt?

No, Alfonse "Little Al" D'Arco, boss of the Lucchese Family was first cousins with Joseph "Joe" Sica, former Capo in Pittsburgh and father in law to Pittsburgh soldier/then capo Frank Rosa. D'Arco was invited to join Pittsburgh but didn't want to take orders from his cousin, Joe Sica.

Any information on Herman Lardieri? He used to run some night clubs in Altoona, PA.

http://openjurist.org/497/f2d/317/united-states-v-lardieri

Pretty neat you got any more info on Altoona? What clubs did he run, I heard there was some decent mob activity in altoona back in the day. Seeing thats where I'm from, im allways interested. JCB would be the guy to ask but I think he got banned, what up with that? That guy had alot of good info.

I can recall many a chats with Corbo and the weep at Brunswick Billiards. Old timers through and through.

How long ago was this? Just curious I had a guy that worked for me that use to run around at a pool hall with those guys and he told me some interesting stories, any of these guys still around or any activity?

Approx twenty years ago. I was in the adult entertainment business and they attempted to dip in but not a real threat. Not sure if any still around. I believe Corbo passed last year.

That's really neat, thanks for sharing,I heard the weep was a big player then, seemed like altoona had alot going on back then, now it's just pretty boring, you still round altoona? I'm just a younger guy that has alot of interest in the mob, thanks!

Herman Lardieri operated The Red Shoe in downtown Altoona and later the UVA club on 18th Street. Rocky Marciano used to come to town for gambling at his clubs and he shipped Baronner's corn to NYC for Frank Sinatra's parties. He was definitely into the gambing circuit but I don't have hard evidence of much else.

Thanks for the info. I regonize your screen name, I think there is a bar or social club sportin the italian colors with that name beside a auto body shop headin over the bridge into downtown any connection?

Does anyone know who ran places outside of the city of PGH like Westmoreland county in the 1920s or before then? Back then the counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong were a part of Westmoreland County.

Also who was a part of the whole black hand thing? Was it Sicilians? People from Calabria? Neapolitans? Or all 3? Or did they all eventually become a part of LCN?

Who ran places in Ohio sort of close to PGH like the Youngstown area and all the small towns near it in the 20s and 30s, was that mainly black hand or LCN or both together?

I have a question, what actually stopped the Pittburgh family from making new guys were the commission going to whack them all?

It is my understanding that Michael Genovese wanted to rebuild the family and actually made at least two men in the 80's and had a list prepared in the mid 90's. However, with the Porter revelation, supposedly, NY put a hold on any new inductees. To my knowledge, no new members have been made since.

I don't pretend to know anything about Pittsburgh. But the better historians here from the Youngstown-Pittsburgh-Stubenville triangle all pretty much agree that that family is as dormant as Vesuvius.

And the New York families really couldn't give a shit in this day and age. They have their own problems. If they were to involve themselves with any of the outside families today, it would most certainly be Philadelphia. And they can't even be bothered there because they're an even bigger sideshow than New York .

And welcome to the board, pal .

New York defo isn't interested in a few remaining old guys bulkshitting playing cards , there not rebuilding as has been stated , genovese consigliere thomas ciancutti is apparently running wot is left since the death of genovese

I agree with both of the above....for multiple reasons, all of the families outside of NY and Chicago are all but extinct with little hope of making any significant comeback....in fact, even Chicago is having their own troubles with survival.

Uh-oh. Here we go . . .

Frank Amato brought stability to that family during his time as boss. It became a powerhouse when John LaRocca was boss, do to his friendships with Carlo Gambino, Angelo Bruno, Santo Trafficante, and a few other powerful boss during his time as boss. He extended the families interests into other areas and as well as other territories, thought he did have a conflict with Cleveland over Youngstown Ohio.

Michael Genovese made 5 guys during his reign. In 1986, Charles Porter and Sonny Ciancutti. In 1987, Joey Naples and Lenine Strollo, both from Youngstown. In 1989, Henry Zottola was made and became Mike's right hand man and consuit to all Youngstown family business. John Bazzano Jr. and Sonny Amato Jr. both had their roles expanded by 1990.

Michael Genovese's underboss Chucky Porter was indicted in 1989 and he along with Gigante in NYC put a moratorium on new members and after the 1990 trial that sent his top guys to prison, he had trust issues with bringing new members in

Guys up for membership included:

Ernie Biondillo-Youngstown, OH
Frank Lentine- Youngstown, OH
Bobby Poghen- Youngstown, OH
Frank Unis Jr- Aliquippa, PA
Primo Mollica- Glassport, PA
Anthony "Murgie" Imburgia- New Kensington, PA
John Sabatini- Corapolis, PA

All were highly respected associates who were never made because of Porter's cooperation and Mike Genovese's distrust of new guys after what Porter did.

Nice posting Bugsy...what is very interesting, but not widely known or appreciated, is the fact the Pittsburgh family was truly that...all family, either related by blood or by marriage. This caused the # of made guys to be small...however, there were a large # of associates who acted and continue to act as though they are made members. This has enabled what is left to continue business as usual. To my knowledge, they continue to control the majority of gambling and continue to have some union influence..especially with LIUNA...along with the Buffalo family?

And regards the Buffalo family?

Relatively speaking they are dormant...prior to the 90's the family was so powerful that it controlled a wide swath of territory and the politicians that went with it, however, it now is a mere shadow of itself. But to say that is dead is gone is a slight overstatement, but relative to the past it is "dormant as Vesuvius."

Your enthusiasm about Pittsburgh is appreciated as well. I've researched this topic for over 12 years and actually know several former members and associates. Although Porter and Raucci got convicted in 1990, the Pittsburgh family thrived through the 1990's with unions, gambling, fencing of stolen property and loansharking. After Porter got convicted, nobody was dealing in drugs any longer. Mike Genovese relied on Henry "Zebo" Zottola, Frank Amato Jr., John Bazzano Jr. and Sonny Ciancutti plus they still had the entire Youngstown, OH faction that were thriving and getting rich off of black drug dealers by opening gambling dens for those animals. Lenine "Lenny" Strollo had every politican, county sheriff, several police chiefs,the prosecutor and a congressman in his back pocket by 1992 and it didn't come crumbling down until December of 1997 when 62 people were indicted in a racketeering enterprise throughout Youngstown. In Pittsburgh, they were still earning through traditional crimes. When Mike Genovese died in 2006, there really wasn't a "boss" as the only members left were John Bazzano Jr (who died in 2008) and Sonny Ciancutti (still alive in his mid 80's). Strollo and Porter are both still alive and living in the open. Porter still resides at 3999 Old William Penn Hwy and Strollo is living at 3900 Mercedes Place in Canfield, OH. Labor union infiltration has been gone since JOhn LaRocca Jr. retired from local 1058 and the other unions that they infiltrated were gone in 1987 when Jo Jo Pecora died. Sonny Ciancutti now spends his days at the Meadows racetrack. He still makes book through some of his associates such as Jeff Risha.

Pittsburgh's influence spanned over all Western PA, NE Ohio, Jamestown, NY, the panhandle of WV as well as Erie, PA. That's 4 states...that's a huge territory.

As far as their influence now, it is gone compared to where it was because there is no family any longer. Case in point, the most recent gambling bust in Pittsburgh that included Rodney Iannelli and Kirk Mollica, both sons of "high ranking" associates Bobby I and Primo Mollica, never would have happened if LCN was still in tact in Pittsburgh. The ring leader, Ronald "Porky" Melocchi would have been paid a visit by one of Sonny's guys and they never would have accumulated that kind of business if the boys were still running things.

Mike Genovese had several high ranking associates who he let use his name for influence purposes. In Youngstown, Ernie Biondillo, Bobby Poghen and Frank Lentine and in PA there was Frank Unis Jr., Primo Mollica, Anthony Murgie and the Sabatini brothers who relocated to Ravenna, OH and took over a lot of action from the old Cleveland Mob when their members all went to prison. These guys had permission to use Pittsburgh and Mike Genovese's name which carried a lot of weight.

Jeff Risha was one of the guys rounded up in the Porky Mellochi gambling bust,so he may have been arranging for a taste to get back to Sonny.They just sentenced Dan Carr to probation and a couple hundred buck fine.Carr was a councilman,and later ran a small business that used Porky's machines. I'm sure we all know how the rest of the plea bargains are going to go in this case.
Nothing changes but the faces.

A few well done pieces by Torsten Ove of the Post Gazette (and I don't agree with everything he writes, but these were well done)

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/obituar...es/200611020421

http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/09109/963736-294.stm?cmpid=news.xml

Bugsy, do you know if what's left of Pittsburgh or any of the smaller east coast families for that matter, still kick up to the Genovese?

That hasn't gone on from my knowledge. Although the Genovese Family represented them on the commission, LaRocca and Mike Genovese didn't kick up to them. Same with Cleveland which was evident in the casino skimming case, as they were close to KC, Milwaukee & Chicago.

In Pittsburgh, Sonny Ciancutti is the last made guy standing (other than Chucky Porter and Lenny Strollo from Youngstown who both cooperated). Sonny still has Jeff Risha and a few other guys who make book and he gets his cut, other than that, Pittsburgh still has some of the Williams brothers (Sal and Junior as well as Eugene), John Conley, Bobby Iannelli, Anthony Murgie, Frank Unis Jr., Mauro Matone (not confirmed that he is doing anything, but it's likely) and Manny Xenakis. These guys still operate independently but not nearly to the extent that they did in the 1990's. Frank Unis Jr., he is the largest bookmaker in Beaver County and was just in the news a few years back for shooting a guy.

http://www.post-gazette.com/breaking/200...es/200810230386

The remains of the Pittsburgh mob's union influence appears to have ended when Laborers Local 1058 was put under federal oversight back in 2001. There have still been some gambling busts here and there involving people connected to the family over the last 10 or 15 years but that in no way implies there is still a formally structured, viable family there. At most there are a handful of members still living. Some say only one or two.

Buffalo does have more members remaining, about 20 still, but it also no longer appears to be recognized as a viable family by the feds. At least it hasn't been included on any list of remaining families I've seen since the 1990's. That's when they lost control of Laborers Local 210 when it was put under oversight. There have continued to be the odd bust - some gambling, some drugs, some other things - involving members or associates but, again, that doesn't imply a formally structured, viable family at this point.

Here in the Pittsburgh/Western PA area,the Mob as we knew it is gone forever. Gambling,as always, produces a ton of revenue,but nowadays the kickups are going to the cops and politicians,not any outside Mob Family.Sports,numbers, and high roller private Poker/Table game joints will always thrive here. Plus you still have the juice,prostitution, and and on a smaller scale,drug businesses.
Nowadays it's loosely allied groups of guys running their rackets. Everybody knows everybody,and if not,introductions are made. Once Sonny is gone,the only thing that will change is the number of pieces cut from the pie.

The Iannelli's, Kirk Mollica, the Williams brothers, Frank Unis Jr and John Conley are still running their operations...with Unis Jr and Sal & Junior Williams being the largest operators in the area. Unis Jr has all of Beaver County and Chippewa and Sal & Junior operating out of the city. Bobby I is basically retired but is still getting a cut as his son Rodney has started to assume his book. Manny Xenakis is still operating on a small scale as well.

IMHO,"Duffy" Conley is one of the more interesting characters on the local gambling scene. He started out as a kid washing dishes at the old Del-Kid restaurant out in Robinson Twp.(We called it Greasy Gus's,it was one of the few food joints open all night in those days). He began placing Video Poker machines and as his business (and connections)grew,he developed a reputation as a guy who always gave his associates a fair deal,and sincerely wanted to build mutually profitable relationships. After he took his first big fall,he kept his mouth shut and did his bit. He went back on a parole violation,got out,and caught another case involving a pretty lucrative sports book. He then decided to cash in on the booming online auction business and started Bid66.com,a "penny auction" site. This is actually a legit endeavor,and you can't swing a dead cat anywhere in the Western Pa area without hitting a blue Bid66 bumper sticker. Bottom line,Duffy hustled his butt off and built a hugely successful business,always staying loyal and never giving up his "partners" (I'm sure you know a few of them). Back in the old days,whenever he walked into a bar that had his machines,he would buy a round for the whole bar,kick the bartender a sweet tip,and,if he saw someone playing a machine.he would slip him a tenner so he could have a few free credits. He also owned a ton of real estate (mostly in his girl's name).
It wasn't unusual for him to help out a down on their luck bar or coffee shop owner with a few bucks as a gesture of goodwill and gratitude for taking his machines. Of course in his business there were times when he had to resort to,shall we say, "aggressive" collection practices,but all in all the guy was and is pretty much a gentleman.

Duffy Conley purchased all of his machines from Pasquale "Pat" Feruccio, a high ranking made member of Pittsburgh and longtime owner of Liberty Vending in Canton, OH. Feruccio was known as the video poker "expert" and he distributed the machines in NY, Ohio, PA, Kentucky, West Virginia and New Jersey.

http://www.peepsplace.com/showthread.php?t=36293

clevelandmob.com/files/PD-Ferruccio-articles1991-93.doc

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19910413&id=ASweAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7JYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6909,5475204


Feruccio taught Conley the "business" of gambling which is why Conley ran such a professional gambling business. Feruccio was also the liason between the Pittsburgh & Cleveland families and played an instrumental role in the early 1980's of brokering the peace between the two families over control of Youngstown/Wareen, OH rackets. He died in 2006.

IMO, the most intriguing guy in Pittsburgh was Bobby Iannelli and how he took over Tony Grosso's numbers operation with Sal & Junior Williams and was as big as Sonny Ciancutti yet he wanted no part of being made into LCN. Grosso was never touched because of his deep & extensive political connections and relationships with the Democratic Ward bosses.

Bugsy, do you know what became of "Eggy" Prosdocimo and his crew of killers? Are they all gone as well?

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...es/201005250274

Bugsy,did you know that Eggy actually got a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education while he was locked up at "The Wall" (Western)? Talk about a waste of taxpayers money. The guy is never going to get out and is a sadistic piece of garbage.
The only good thing I can say about him is that he wasn't as bad as Gesuale.
I guess it could be worse,could you imagine him getting a PhD?
CO: "Doctor Prodoscimo,could you please bend over and spread em?"
I didn't mean to go off on a rant,but I figured you might enjoy the story. We definitely had our share of characters here.

Thanks...I was aware of him being in prison, but was unaware of what became of the rest of his crew. I have heard that there were some real cold blooded sociopaths in that group...esp. the long gone Codfish Bricker.

Big Lou,

Try this book on "Pittsburgh Characters"


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1878783009?pc_redir=1404707258&robot_redir=1

Yeah, I had heard about Eggy getting educated in the can. I ran into Mike Genovese (the son) and we ended up going to the Monterrey Bay Fish Grotto with our wives over last Christmas and he was telling me the same thing. Turns out that after dinner, we went to the private bar and Charles Porter Jr., the attorney, was at the bar having some drinks as well. Mike and Charles Jr used to be pretty tight friends until Porter's father Chucky decided to feed the Feds with information. Anyhow, thought it was worth mentioning.

Bugsy - do you have any more stories form your time with Mike(the son)? Whatever became of his fight with his dads widow over the property, last I heard he got nothing.
I actually corresponded with one of Mike(The Boss) grandsons from California from Mikes first wife, met him on Ancestry.com LOL no lie.

Mob Fireside Chat has a special video coming out real soon that all Pittsburgh aficionados are not gonna wanna miss...so be sure to look for it!