Roy Demeo

I just finished Murder Machine and then Sins of my father, shortly after. I have a few questions, how well was Roy known to the public? Obviously, the public didnt know he was wacking about a person a week in the late 70's early 80's.

But towards the end of Sin's, Al stated that he was on his way to identify Roy's corpse, when over the radio, the news station said "Authorities say reputed mobster Roy Demeo was found murdered" or something along those lines. So was he well known as a mobster to the public in NYC at that time?

Also, what is his legacy in the history of LCN? Was he an important character or was he just a typical scum? I have noticed a lot of people who take a casual interest in LCN do not even know who he is. Infact, I had only came across him while I was reading on serial killers at the crime library.

It seems he's not nearly as popular as a guy like Gotti, and so many of the other mainstream mobsters. But to me, he was alot more intersting than someone like Gotti or "The bull". Without Demeo around, how would it of changed the outlook of the LCN in NYC?

How does it change the Gambino family? Would Big Paul of been wacked faster? Would anything have changed? It seemed when Roy was around he was a pretty important member to them, and Big Paul apparently didn't see it.

As far as the books, I liked Murder Machine overall. But I didn't care for Dom at all. He seems like a tool, and his background is not interesting at all. I thought Roy and Nino were interesting characters but Dom is not. I wish the book had less of him and highlighted more on Nino and Roy and the squades they ran.

Sin's was ok.. gave a side to Roy that made him seem human. But Al seemed to make a lot of assumptions. Like when he would outright tell a different story of events that was highlighted in murder machine, and claiming some as not being true. I was reading it thinking.. how the hell do you know what happened? Roy seemed to kinda keep his family in the dark as far as his "work" went. Im pretty sure, none of us know knew exactly what our parents were doing at work as kinds. Im pretty sure Al didnt either. Which was odd to me that he stated several stories that were different from murder machine.

Hey Walkner welcome. In egards to Ro demeo he wasnt a celebrity like Gotti became i the late 80's BT he was well known by law enforcement since he was probably the most prolific killer at the time and big earner. Back in the late 70's early 80's guys like Demeo Gotti and Gravano were unknown b the public. Also i do agree that Albert made a lot of assumtions and portrayed his fathe as too "human". Roy was a ood family man BUT he was a monster when it came to his work

Allegedly Paul Castellano didn't think much of Roy DeMeo, but I don't know the exact reasons.I noticed that Roy's crew weren't all Italian (Chris rosenberg and Richard Kulinski). Roy was a handy person when the LCN wanted someone whacked and he was also a very good earner. I'd say Roy DeMeo and Tony Mirra were two of the most obnoxious and violent NY mobsters of that era.

Roy wasnt arrogant or obnoxious, he was a serious guy. The kuklinski association has ben way overstated and not verifiable. Kuklinski was a bullshit artist.
Castellano kept his distance from DeMeo because he was involved with porn( not child porn), auto theft, and drugs. Castallano liked the money but didnt like where it came from.

Walkner you read the book,haveing that in mind does it say somewhere what part of canarsie did the crew grow up?joey richie freddy anthony henry...

Or what street in flatlands did roy grow up?

It does if I recall correctly.. I think they grew up near the dump. I live in Phoenix and have never been to NYC so I have no idea about the lay out of the area.

Also.. I read the book again on my drive to vegas and back. In the book it claims Roy was personally selling cocaine out of the Gemini lounge.

I read the DeMeo kid's book. I found it to be heartfelt, honest and sad but with a good ending. The kid even admits how fucked up it was being the son of a man with Roy's reputation. Yet... the man was his father. He loved the man as only a son can. I've known kids similar to him, and it's not pretty after dad dies. They most likely crash & burn. Some, never to recover.

I have read both books, but Murder Machine was better written also they talk more about his crew, they was all sick pups, but he was very fear in the mafia world, john gotti wannt no part with him or his crew, also gotti would neva make a move to kill Paul C,unless the Demeo was gone, Paul, mess up bad but he was in very bad position anyways

I have a q if anybody knows,was roy into ilegal gambling and bookmaking,i never even read that nino gaggi was into gambling either,would have been a great change from child porn and animal love movies

As far as the books, I liked Murder Machine overall. But I didn't care for Dom at all. He seems like a tool, and his background is not interesting at all. I thought Roy and Nino were interesting characters but Dom is not. I wish the book had less of him and highlighted more on Nino and Roy and the squades they ran.


It's been many year since I've read the book but the reason that we have the book cause the story is from dom prospective.

Whoa whoa whoa... They were never, ever producing/distributing child porn. Regular Porn, yes.

Gambiling?

I'm pretty sure it was alleged in Murder Machine that DeMeo was trafficking in child porn. Perhaps this is why Gaggi put the immediate kibosh on Roy's idea to get Montiglio involved in the business then?

Roy did move some kiddie porn in the beginning but stopped once Nino told him he'd get killed if he kept doing so.

Dominick montiglio says that roy s crew made 250-300 thousand a week,i mean imagine that..thats like a million a month..cars only were 7 milian a year..thats a real money maker..i dont know wich mobster made so much money,i dont know if john gotti made so much money..roy never used drugs like his crew did..top notch gangster and buisnessman..evan paul castellano feard him..which other gangster could say that the boss is afraid of you..:)

It was pretty much Dominic telling his story, so you couldn't have less of him. and to Garbageman, the book said he did deal in kiddie porn which Dominic found disgusting

Great book but Montiglio makes himself out to be a saint.

If I remember right, they did only deal regular porn, and one found some child porn or animal porn in a stock pile of tapes. I don't think DeMeo handled it but backed it, till Gaggi told him all porn was of limits. DeMeo was a real outlaw when it comes down to it, I think he cared nothing about mob rules, and obviously nothing about legal rules.

its been a long time since I've read the book but I think I remember it saying that a lot of the nastier porn ended up with Freddy Dinome.

A great earner with very little foresight. He gad to know running rampant would be his demise.

[quote=Quiet_Doms]A great earner with very little foresight. He gad to know running rampant would be his demise.

he was making too much money to care about anything else, christ... a million a month!