Sonny Red, Big Trin and Phil Lucky

Hello everyone, i'm very curious about Sonny Red Faction. I mean, where whas Alphonse ''Sonny Red'' Indelicato's crew based on ? And on what operations ? Also Dominick ''Big Trin'' Trinchera and Phillip ''Phil Lucky'' Giaccone. Where were their crews based on ? What kind of operations and stuff they were involved in mainly.

Also how kind of personalities were they ? You know, as i know, Sonny Red was different kind of mobster: wearing hockey jackets, shorts, jeans, red boots, big glasses (which said he inspired by Cesare Bonventre) in 70's. He probably got very colorful personality, but also known as dangerous.

About Phil Lucky, i read he was bit brash but gentle, who was a religious man, an altar boy back in his childhood and he was once capo of Joey Massino and Joey hated him.

I don't know much about Big Trin: only he hardly spoke English, always mixed it with Italian and that's all.

If you've got any more info. share please, thanks

Many of the Bonanno's from that time were based in the southern end of little Italy by Knickerbocker Village. Not just Lefty, but at least half a dozen made guys lived in Knickerbocker village or near Monroe, Pearl and Madison Streets. This included Anthony Mirra. Richard Canterella controlled the NY POST building right there. Nicky "Cigars" Marangello, albert emberrato and Joey D'amico also lived in knickerbocker and had a stake at the NYPost.

I guess this doesn't answer your question but I always thought it was interesting that so many Bonanno's came from one apartment complex.

I think Sonny Red operated North of Canal street.

That helped a lot, thank you very much. I'm trying to write some kind of novel, will be based on 70's and 80's of NYC. The crime family i'm writing will be loosely based on the Bonanno's so i need those kind of infos. Thanks again.

Knickerbocker Village was and is where a ton of my family lives/ lived. It is still rent controlled but has turned mostly Chinese where at one time was almost exclusively Italian. I think it was built for returning war vets with the GI bill and my Uncle got a place there after he came back from Korea. For a while, to get an apartment you had to go through Junior Chili or his brother. I tried to get an apartment there after college in the late 90's but by that time the city took over due to corruption and Junior was away at the time. There are still a few Bonanno's left and they still have a steak in the Post. There were some interesting characters that came out of the neighborhood and the stories you heard were amazing.

that would be more helpful if you'd share some stories or heard about any of the three capos.

Wonder how things would have gone had this faction won the day..

I am just speculating here but seeing as how all three of those guys sold a lot of H, I think they would have continued to push more and more H until they all would have gone down in the Pizza Connection Case. I remember seeing their pictures from the Bono wedding and that was a whose who of heroin dealers. Food for thought.

im pretty sure some guy who says he's the nephew of phil lucky wrote a book, that's were the story of tommy d the acting boss getting kicked out of his crew come from. nother thing people are saying Vincent asoro kicked up some jewels to massino but wasn't he not a capo till after galante got killed and in phill luckys crew. what happen first the heist or galnte killing?

Hey PMAc the Lufthansa heist went down in 1978 and the Glanate killing happened in 1979. I think Massino wsa a capo even before the Galante murder but I could be wrong.

no massino testified he became a capo after galante got hit. think he said it was a big power play him sonny black that guy big trin and sonny red kid became capo after the galante hit. big trin was one of the shooters so was Bruno I. massino wasn't even there, I think sonny black was a driver or shooter. after the hit rusty rewarded everyone in one it but he was still in jail and then the 3 capos started plotting a takeover which was dumb. the guy big trin hade a very successful truck company he sold for like 1.5 million in 1981 rite before he got whacked. that be like 5times that today he daughter read a sentencing letter at massino hearing. she must be pissed the guy free today spending his millions. next Friday tommy shots sentencing on valentines day. I gonna guess he gets only like 2 more yrs.

Hey PMAC thanks for the information. Here is the chart. This is all Pogo the Clown's work.

Administration:
1. Boss: Michael "Mikey Nose" Mancuso/59 (IP/3/12/2019)
-Acting Boss: Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore/70 (UI/IP)
2. Underboss: Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore/70 (UI/IP)
-Acting UnderBoss: ?????
3. Consiglieri: ????? (Possibly Vacant)


Capos:
1. Sandro Aiosa/70 - Brooklyn
2. Jerome “Jerry” Asaro/55 (UI/IP)/Giacomo “Jack” Bonventre/45 (UI) - Queens
3. Vincenzo Asaro/78 (UI/IP) - Queens
4. Vincent "Vinny T.V." Badalamenti/55/Vito Balsamo/57 - Brooklyn and Staten Island
5. Joseph Cammarano Jr/53 – Brooklyn
6. Gerard "Jerry" Chilli/77 (IP)/John “Big John” Contello/60 – Staten Island and Florida
7. Louis “Louie Electric” DeCicco/67/Anthony "Little Anthony" Pepitone/40 – Brooklyn, Long Island and Queens
8. Anthony “The Hat/Walker” Frascone/64 (UI)/John “Johnny Joe” Spirito Jr. - Bronx, Queens and Long Island
9. Anthony "Tony Black" Furino/58 - Staten Island
10. Joseph "Joe Lefty" Loiacono/67 (Acting) - Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, Queens and Florida
11. Anthony "Elmont" Mannone/69 – Brooklyn and Long Island
12. Anthony "Fat Anthony/Mr. Fish" Rabito/79 – Queens and Manhattan
13. Nicholas "Nicky Mouth" Santora/71 (UI/IP)/Ernest Aeillo/34 (UI)/Vito Badamo/51 (UI) – Brooklyn and Long Island
14. Joseph "Sammy" Sammartino-58 - New Jersey
15. Anthony "Scal" Sclafani/67 (IP/2/4/2014) - Staten Island


Soldiers:
Frank Adamo
Alfred Altadonna
Vincent "Elmo" Amarante/61 (UI)
Vito Badamo Sr/81
Vincent “Vinny” Basciano Jr/31 (UI)
Antonio Bonventre
Anthony Calabrese/45
John Caltagirone/79
Michael “Mikey Batts” Cardello/70
Ronald “Ronnie Mozzarella” Carlucci/67
Salvatore “ToTo” Catalano/68
Joseph Chilli III/57
John Cicala
Peter “Petey Boxcars” Cosoleto/66
Frank Coppa Jr.
Perry Criscitelli/64
Vincent D'Antonio
Pino D’Aquanno
Michael “Mike Box” DiMaria
Vincent “Vinny Bionics” DiSario/49
Joseph “Joe Shakes” DiStefano/55
Simone Esposito/37
James Galante/71
James Genna/77
Ronald Giallanzo/43
Anthony "T.G." Graziano/72
Joseph Grimaldi
Vito Grimaldi/70
Anthony Guarino (UI)
Joseph "J.B." Indelicato/801
John Licata/70
Joseph Lino/49
Ronald “Ronnie” Lorenzo
Salvatore Maiorino/82
Pasquale Maiorino/49
Salvatore Marchese/80
John “Johnny Boy” Mirabile
Anthony Navarra/38
Philip Navarra/40
John Palazzolo/75
Michael Palmaccio/40 (UI)
Anthony Parisi/80
Frank “Big Frank” Pastore/41
Guiseppe Pizzo/80
Salvatore Ponico
Frank "The Fireman/Big Frank" Porco/82
Michael Primiano/65
Salvatore Puccio/42
Armando “Mondo” Rea/59
Richard “Big Ritchie” Riccardi/63
William "Willie Glasses" Riviello/75
Joseph Sabella/47
Ronald Scala/64
John "Johnny Mulberry" Sciremammano/53
Joseph Taglianetti/74
Arthur "Harvey" Tarzia/50
Joseph Torre/60
Charles "Crazy Charlie" Travella/68
Joseph Yannucci
John "Porky" Zancocchio/53


Imprisoned Members:
Anthony “Ace/T” Aiello/36 (IP/5/06/2031)
Baldassare “Baldo” Amato/56 (IP/L)
Louis "Louie HAHA" Attanasio/64 (IP/1/23/2018)
Robert "Bobby HAHA/Big Bobby" Attanasio/62 (IP/6/05/2015)
Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano/51 (IP/L)
Peter ‘Peter Rabbit” Calabrese/63 (IP/2/13/2017)
Michael Cassese/42 (IP/5/22/2014)
Fabrizio "The Herder" DeFrancisci (IP)
Joseph "Joe Desi" DeSimone/74 (IP/7/04/2014)
Anthony “Little Anthony” Donato/50 (IP/8/29/2026)
Vincent “Vinny” Faraci/58 (IP)
Gino Galestro/41 (IP/11/10/2023)
Anthony “Bruno” Indelicato/65 (IP/9/28/2023)
Robert "Little Robert" Lino/44 (2/2/2028)
Stephen “Stevie Blue” LoCurto/47 (IP/L)
Peter Lovaglio/51 (IP/3/5/2015)
Bari Mascitti/67 (IP/3/3/2014)
Daniel “Dirty Danny/DeDe” Mongelli/44 (IP/12/06/2023)
Thomas "Tommy Karate" Pitera/54 (IP/L)
John “Bazoo” Ragano/52 (UI/IP)
Louis Restivo/73 (IP/5/07/2014)
Anthony “Skinny” Santoro/50 (UI/IP)
Paul “Fat Paulie” Spina/57 (IP/12/19/2016)
John “Johnny Joe” Spirito/54 (IP/1/18/2021)
Anthony "Tony Green" Urso/76 (12/05/2021)


Members Who Have Died Since 1998:
Nicholas Accardi (2002)
John “Big Head” Arcaro (2001)
Giuseppe Arcuri (2001)
Joseph Benanti (2007)
Anthony Bonacci (2001)
Joseph “Joe Bananas” Bonanno (2002)
Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno (2007)
Salvatore Bruno (2006)
Salvatore Caccamise (2011)
Antonio Cacciopo (2009)
Joseph "Joe C/Joe Saunders" Cammarano (2013)
Gaspar Cammarata (1999)
William "Cappy" Capparelli (2012)
Vincent “Jimmy Fort Lee” Capasso (1999)
John “Boobie” Cerasani (2007)
Joseph “Junior” Chilli (2008)
Anthony "Tony the Indian" Cusenza
Patrick "Patty from the Bronx" DeFilippo (2013)
Salvatore "Paintglass" D’Ottavio (1999)
Alfred "Al Walker" Embarrato (2001)
John “Johnny Green Eyes” Faraci (2011)
Salvatore “Sally Fruits” Farrugia (2007)
Arthur Franconieri (2001)
Emanuel "Manny from the Bronx" Guaragna (2008)
Angelo Lapi (2011)
Anthony Lucido (2010)
Thomas Malletti (1999)
Nicholas "Nicky Cigars/Glasses" Marangello (2000)
Louis “Louie Cigars” Mele (2007)
Salvatore “Sal the Ironworker” Montagna (2011) (Killed)
Gerlando “Georgie from Canada” Sciascia (1999) (Killed)
Salvatore “Sally Bross” Scudiero (2006)
Anthony "Little Anthony" Seccafico (2009) (Killed)
Anthony “The Old Man” Spero (2008)
Joseph “Joe T” Taoromina (2001)
Michael "Mike the Butcher" Virtuoso (2012)


Members Who Have Flipped:
Genoroso “Jimmy the General” Barbieri/Soldier/Former Acting Capo
Joseph “Jersey Joe” Bonanno/Soldier/Acting Capo
Paul Cantarella/Soldier
Richard "Shellackhead" Cantarella/Capo/Acting UnderBoss
Dominick Cicale/Soldier/Acting Capo
Frank Coppa/Capo
Joseph "Joey Mook" D'Amico/Soldier
William Dara/Soldier (Dead)
Frank "Curly" Lino/Capo
Michael “Sonny” Maggio/Soldier
Joseph "Big Joey/The Ear" Massino/Boss
Nicholas “P.J” Pisciotti/Soldier/Acting Capo
Peter Rosa/Soldier
James "Jimmy Tag/Big Lou" Tartaglione/Capo
Salvatore "The Chief" Vitale/UnderBoss

i've reached some guy on the youtube telling that his grandpa or daddy was friend of Phil Lucky, also i've read the same story, the book thing and those informations are good, but i need things beyond wiki or online sources. thanks anyway.

All three of them were pretty big in the heroin trade and they were originally close with the so called zip faction. But that alliance was broken when the zips decided to go with the Rastelli faction during their push for power in 1981. Information on the three of them is sparse, but somewhat surprising is the fact that Giaccone was actually the most powerful of them until Sonny Red later superseded him in wealth and influence. Giaccone was for example part of a ruling panel when Galante was imprisoned in 1978. He was also the fastest one (of the three of them) who reached the rank of a captain after being made.

Giaccone came out of a street gang called the Comanches that terrorized the streets of Ridgewood in the 1940s and 1950s. He had a criminal record which included convictions for rape, assault and gambling. Later in life, he was the owner of Air Freight Haulage Company, a trucking company that did business at Kennedy Airport.

Trinchera was indicted (together with Sonny Red btw) in 1972 when they refused to give information on the Joey Gallo murder. Why exactly Trinchera and Sonny Red were picked up is hard to say. But I don´t think they had anyting to do with the Gallo killing. Trinchera was made captain pretty late, in 1980 when he took over Armand Pollastrino´s crew. So he was pretty fresh on the job when the three of them were slain.

Sonny Red had a reputation as a violent man. And before the books were opened in 1976, several NY Families put a claim on him. However, Sonny Red chose the Bonannos, perhaps because of his closeness with Lilo Galante.

I love threads like this, this is why this site can be great.

Hairy, wasn't Phil Lucky's trucking business pretty damn big? I remember reading somewhere in a book that it was pretty big and he was worth a pretty penny on the trucking gig alone.

Yeah I think so. Giaccone and his company also had a senior position with MITA (The Metropolitan Import Truckers association) which according to an investigation back in 1970, brought pressure on and extorted all air freight truckers who did business at the airport.

thanks, helped a lot. great post.

totally agree thanks hairy. ive always wondered about these three. i think the others on the board are right; mancuso has to be a figurehead. i have a friend whose a friend who never says much but said something to me which seemed obvious; that right after 9/11 because so many resources were designated towards terror, the mafia had a good decade to recruit while the heat was off of them. not sure if i agree or not just thought it was interesrting

I read somewhere sonny red riot George from Canada off for a million $ worth off heroin and wouldn't pay him back. That's probably why Vito and. George were ready and willing to kill them. Massimo really wanted Phil lucky killed and told seal to have guys in Florida be ready to whack him if he didn't come to the club sit down. Wasn't Sammy the bulls club. He was just in all murders.

One more thing I read the pizza connection book it said sal Catalan took over as street boss 81 also read sonny black took over as boss in 81 after the 3 capo murder. But the zip faction from Brooklyn didn't take a side. George and the Canada crew helped Massimo. There's another guy sally fruits who was a old zip who was on and off acting boss for most off the 80 tys used to go meet gotti at the ravenite till they locked gotti away. .sally fruits was a sneaky guy when it came to the media for any type of boss died at home I think.

You´re welcome. I have often wondered about Mancuso. I´m not sure, but I think his father was Tony Mancuso, nicknamed "The Nose", a Bronx based Lucchese soldier who died in 1967. Looking at an old mugshot of him, Mikey Nose resembles him a lot. Tony´s father´s name was Michaele which makes my argument at least a little bit stronger, since many Italian Americans are named after their grand fathers or in some cases, their dads.



Yep. Catalano served as the acting boss for a short while but stepped down due to his lack of good english. He had trouble representing his soldiers at sitdowns. Then a ruling panel was installed with Sonny Black on it. At that moment Lefty Ruggiero stepped up as acting captain of Sonny Black´s crew. After Brasco was revealed being an undercover FBI agent, the ruling panel was dismantled and Sally "Fruit" Farrugia became the acting boss.

Hairy: great additional info you provide as always. Youre a true asset to this forum.
Im currently Reading DeStefanos "King of the godfathers" on Joe Massino, the internal turmoil of the Bonnano family is interesting stuff.

DiFore will lose clout while in prison. Asaro was an animal should of been boss awhile ago in my opinion. Rumor is he was once attacked my a junkyard bull dog and he snapped it's neck ..true story..True psycho

Thanks! Reading up on the Mafia has been a great interest of mine for many years.

Sonny Red and Galante were close ?

I don't know if Sonny Red was close to Galante before he was made, but after Sonny Red was inducted into the Bonanno crime family, the two became close. Red was a earner and hitter for the family.

One of the best threads on the forum... Learned a lot reading this.

Who would have inducted sonny red? Joe Bonanno himself?

same as jimmy two times i personaly lerned a gr8 deal from this thread loads of previus unkown info came to light readin all the updates plz keep adding its a cracking read lol

Indelicatos former father in law Charles Ruvolo proposed him for membership, sonny red would have been inducted by Carmine Galante, Nicholas Marangello, or Stefano Cannone. Guys got made without the Boss being present, but an official member of the family's administration had to conduct the ceremony with the boss's blessing, especially after 1957.

Very cool. Thanks! So Bruno? Kinda the same deal?