Mobsters from middle/upper classes

I'll get the ball rolling with Sammy Gravano.

Who else came from a comfortable background? There can't be that many can there?

I don't count people like Tommy Gambino because that's a direct consequence of Carlo's ill gained wealth and so that's a bit different.

Mikey franzese did. Look who his dad was. Can I count john Jr Gotti. He grew up in Howard beach in a nice home. His mom was a house wife.. And never worked a day in her life. Only reason why the Gotti family would go broke was because john Sr was a lousy gambler and would loose hundreds of thousands smh lol moron. Who else, there is many others... Old timer like Salvatore "bill" bonanno... Son of joe bonanno. He grew up in Hempstead Long Island... A well off area, a nice comfortable living before he got mobbed up. Salvatore maranzano grew up very wealthy in Palermo Sicily before be came to the states in 1925-1926. I can't think of no others right now. Lol

I don't think you can count legacies like Franzese or Junior Gotti or Tore LoCascio or Craig DePalma. They grow up with a different mindset than your average entitled suburban kid. And even there, it's tough to make real gangsters out of them. For every Tore LoCascio, there are ten Craig DePalmas (who was a good kid, but he was no gangster).

I've said it here a million times. It's very difficult to develop a true gangster mentality when you grow up wanting for nothing. There are anomalies, of course. But they're few and far between.

im sure their were many, ,michael fransese, alphonse persico went to st. jons.

I'm on about middle/upper class guys who joined the mafia despite being brought up in a family that wasn't mobbed up - like Sammy.

His parents were good people.

Roy Demeo was born into a well off family.His uncle was atorney,and one was farmasist.

Moe's question was... Who else came from a comfortable back ground. I thought he meant wiseguys who grew up comfortable before they joined the mob. I must of read the question wrong lol

That's why I mentioned mike franzese. He grew up wanting for nothing, went to a good private school (hofstra university) and was suppose to be legitimated. Jr Gotti grew up comfortable not wanting for nothing but he wanted to be just like his dad so he was destined to be a gangster. I don't think Mike franzese wanted to follow in his fathers foot steps but his dad needed him to take care of his business when he got jammed up in the late 60's and did that time. I got one... What about Sal ruggerio.... Son to quack quack ruggerio. How did he grow up? I am guessing he grew up pretty good with all that drug money his father was making wit his younger brother Sal and Genie Gotti. Lol

The Kennedy's where well off

A farmasist? Is that a person who works on a farm?

Those kids were influenced and wanted to be just like daddy.

/me chuckles

Neg Mul. It's an ASSISTANT on a farm.

Jon Perna

Obviously the family was 100% CN , they grew up in Belleville when it wasn't as dark and a decent place to live ( tough Italian neighborhood and still is in some sections further from Newark border ) . Jon was one of top wrestlers in the state ( state champ and top 3 every year in HS) and received a degree from seton hall ( tuition is $50k a year but think he had a scholly ) .

Joe was older than me but I think he went to college too

Now the kids had some growing up to do ( notice how much info was on those wiretaps ) but the old man wasn't on those taps , but this recent indictment IMO will result in these kids staying off the radar ( smartening up ) and still being earners in the stable book and shy business where they easily making 6 figures . Since that bust I haven't seen em at all so these kids got smart , pre indictment I knew how this crew talked . These kids will be smart n stick to book and shy ( low LE priority ) make high end income and maybe a small stretch here and there.

Ralph I believe was the only one that didn't get offered a plea so IMO that is why this has dragged out , would not be surprised if this drags out until next August when Michael gets out and I think he steps right into the leader role and do what they do best , take action and make loans and this family is one of the best on NJ at that .

Ralph is some smart gangster , hardly anyone knew crap about him but he was running things , try and find 1 thing about this guy in the 90s . If I was ever in that life I would be doing the services he provided and using that $ to buy up small construction companies and real estate for rentals, high grade weed wholesaling is something I would also think about but at a mid level layer to keep off the radar. I don't know about the permas but the Tacetta had or have union influence . I personally would stay away from the union stuff but use my family connections to get contracts . Paper recycling is another thing I would do and somehow that activity is still off the radar.

Jeez I know of a major waste transportation company killing it , in fact killing it so much that A P/E firm bought a big chunk , and guess who rents this company their lease ? Another guy in the biz

Roseanna Perna is hot as hell.

Though in that family, with that father and those brothers, I'd run a mile before even looking at her.

How many kids does Ralph Perna have? Doesn't he have 3 sons that are made?

So would Al Capone be considered as coming from a "comfortable" background? His father who was educated (pretty rare in those days) moved the family out of the slums just after Al was born into an apartment above the barber shop he owned.

There Joe Jon Ralph and I think 1 more

Jon and Joe are def made and will be running north jeez at some point I'm sure as Tacetta kid , while made , got no chance . Wouldn't be shocked if he is shelved when his elders are gone and he will be stuck with small scores like his recent weed deal which was so amateur , I mean HS stuff , buying a few lbs without the buyers lined up , just selling it by word of mouth which is guaranteed to end up in a bust from some random informant .

I don't think Ralph is made but I could be wrong , I really don't know

When Jon was first made he had that " do I know u bro " tude when people would say what's up , people he vaguely knew, I know big timing people . I think he watched to many movies on how a gangster should act but now I think he got his shit together, sometimes it takes a pinch or 2 for people to realize how real this is , plus he was young and was made young , he a kid that will keep that family strong , he got a legit degree so should have some good ideas on where to invest the $ and is strong , a leader

Now I don't know Barney at all but it just seems like this guy gets it and has from a young age , this was not about being cool and showing off or this or that , this was serious and a deadly biz and he played it as such , again if I passed him I wouldn't know him but he is real CN and really this seems to be the case with all Westside guys . I'm probably wrong but from things I hear , while they lost a lot of biz in fish market, some unions etc , they have greatly expanded their book n shy business with the severe weakening of the other families . I really think these guys still wield a tremendous amount of power and wealth and learned how to blend illegitimate biz w legit biz .

The mob of the the past and all it's violence is done and done forever but associates that act dumb n don't draw the media attention will still be hit and I still don't think many associates are willing to run on the bad side of the Westside .
Again all just my opinion

The son Carlo won't be shelved as long as the Taccetta brothers live, as for people not wanting to get on the bad side of the Westside, are you just talking New Jersey? Then fair enough, in terms of Ny Gambino's are just as feared.

Yes that what I meant w Carlo but I still not sure how much they let him in

He got busted with a Mickey Mouse weed operation ( 2 lbs I think ) at a damn traffic stop and his right hand was basically trying to sell small quantities to people the night before .

I could be wrong but why else we he be doing this type of tiny operation , If I told you more you would laugh how small time it is .

Yes mainly talking NJ but NY too , I agree Gambino no doubt feared too.
It sounds like gambinos might have a major role in drug distro in NY NJ PA .

it was actually over 60 pounds taccetta was caught with in his truck.

His uncle Albert was one of the most well known Prosecutors in New York, an his other uncle was not a Pharmacist, he was a medical examiner in Brooklyn I believe it was. He actually examined Andrei Katz' corpse.

Yes,he was from a respected family it seems.Why did he ever want to be a mobster,i just can't understand it.My parents are both doctors,and i would never consider to do ilegal stuff,and over here mobsters really have a lot of money.I am talking about Serbia.One phd doctor earns 14000 euros a year,a criminal drives a car that costs a 100000,imagine how much does he really make,drugs not included.All i want to say is i can't figure out why Demeo wanted to be a gangster.

How do you become a doctor in Serbia? Is it a mail order thing? Do you sacrifice a sheep and chant I'm a doctor three times and they give you a stethoscope and a diploma to hang on the wall?

Sorry, Alex. You know I can't help myself .

Lay off Pizza.What kind of a joke is that,am talking about my parents,thast just bs pizza.You are a nasty person,i wish you dont correspnd with me anymore.

[quote=DB]Yes that what I meant w Carlo but I still not sure how much they let him in
He got busted with a Mickey Mouse weed operation ( 2 lbs I think ) at a damn traffic stop and his right hand was basically trying to sell small quantities to people the night before . "

He got popped with 60 pounds. It was'nt some routine traffic stop, the state police were investigating him based on someone else getting caught and talking. The state police had a tip he was coming back from xyz with weed.
Why a supposed " made guy" with such a recognizable name in nj would be driving with a pack of firecrackers in his car, never mind 60 pounds of weed, is mind boggling. Just plain amateurish.
He doesnt have an underling that could drive the shit for gods sakes ????

PB sometimes i think you forget what board your on, you have to remember this the babyboard where its easy for people to get their little feelings hurt.

I'm sorry, buddy. I was really just kidding. That's why I used those silly smileys.

And that's good for your parents. I hope you'll be a professional one day, too .

See, to me that speaks volumes .

I think it's too easy to overestimate that "mob royalty" stuff. And WAAAY too easy to be predicting what kind of future these mopes are going to have. All it takes is one dummy with a big mouth, followed by one indictment, followed by one rat, and the entire family is in prison.

Look at the Bascianos. Need I point out that ten years ago these people were on top of the world?

I tried to lay off pizza too been losing weight but still getting cake na what I mean bull I mean alexanderarnsass

Serbia has actually a very good and advanced educational system. Many students from all parts of the world come to Serbia to study. And there are a lot of extremely bright Serbian historical figures who has made a great impact over the years. Nikola Tesla comes to mind. I know PB´s joke was well meant because I have had the pleasure to get to know him pretty well these three years I´ve been on here. But I just wanted to set the record straight.

Moooooooooo just kidding " Don't cry outloud!,,,just keep it inside...Chorus 3x just keep it inside....

Thanks, HK. And it WAS a joke. He and I have had some back and forth about Serbia since he signed up, so I thought he'd get the joke.

Anyway, it's not like I pointed out something that's really offensive. You know, like Swedish men and the whole small penis thing. Right?

Where´s your smileys in this one?

I was dead serious about that one.

You´re too funny!

Just want to add that Serbia has been fighting invaders for centuries, causing tremendous tragedies for so many Serbians. I want you to understand, joking about the misery that country has suffered throughout the years is 1000 x worse than joking about 9/11. Just saying.

Yes 60 LB , confused that with the VB kid

But trust me this was Mickey Mouse , the extent to which they reached out to people to move this small amount guaranteed being a bust , word was everywhere

Even crazier is he touched it , a man of his family stature is not caught with product on em and especially that small of an amount

60 lbs isn't so bad actually. You can pull in more than 10k profit just with 10 lbs going wholesale. With the price break for buying so many pounds that's easily over 100k profit. But with so much potential cash to be made, he could have had an underling doing the dirty work. And if u know the right people, 60 lbs could be gone in a month just in a local operation. 100k per month ain't bad

**edit- in a place like nyc, forget a month. U could clear that in a week just distributing thru one area in one Boro

Hairy- Yes Serbia is a tragic situation, but I don't think you will find many red blooded Americans who would agree with you that it is 1000 times worse than the 911 attacks

Toughen up

I would agree. 9/11 was a one time deal. It didn't reshape our whole country unless you factor in our loss of privacy and rights. It's worse when it's a long, drawn out violation like some countries suffered. Even greece hasn't been able to get on the same level as the rest of Europe after the turkish occupation and the invasions that followed. I would trade 500 years of slavery and oppression for one 9/11 if given the chance

Tragedies are never worth comparing. Ever. And for a lot of Americans---especially those of us who live in New York City, and were here that day---it's honestly the kind of topic that can't be debated rationally. It doesn't belong in this thread anyway.

Moving on . . . .

Yes, let´s move on. I just wanted you guys to understand that making jokes about the misery Serbia has suffered and that misery´s after effects is as bad as me, a Europeean, joking about 9/11. Alex is a Serb (on his father´s side) and I´m sure that he have relatives and/or close friends who lost their lifes during the horrible Balkan wars in the 1990s. That´s all.

Well put, HK.

Now, as for middle class wiseguys who weren't born into the life, there have obviously been a few. But they're few and far between.

It's like I always say, it usually takes a childhood full of poverty to make a true gangster mentality.

That's a great point HK. People think their tragedy is worse than someone else's, or they know nothing about the tragedies that others have suffered. A lot of people died in the recent war in the former Yugoslavia, and then they just came out of Communism, before that it was Nazified, and before that they had to deal with Ottoman Turks. To make things even worse, nobody wanted to buy Yugos!

would al trucchio be an example? granted his dad was probably in and out of his life, but ronnie trucchio made a lot of money. he'd be an example of a "real" gangster from a middle class background. one of the corrozzos has a kid whos supposed to be involved. not talking about the lawyer.

unless you're talking abiut kids with more of a WASPish upbringing who got into OC. then idk...

I remember an old commercial (I think it was) showing the basketball player Vlade Divac (who´s 7´1) driving the car. They had to remove the front seats in order for him to fit into it. So he sat in the back seat driving it around. That was funny!

Off topic, but Divac was a great ball player. Too bad he played mostly for the Lakers .

This.

Debating emotional tragedies is something that can never be resolved with cool heads.

Best to respect, sympathise and move on.


Like the man says above.