Benny Squints

The more I read and research, the more I come back to my interest and confusion about Philip Lombardo. Following Vito's downfall, Benny Squints was the first person to seemingly institute order and control. His model for running the family lasted from 1969 until Chin was outed as boss. WHY do we know so little about him??? He must have been revered and respected (possibly more so than Chin . . . possibly not). Chin and most of the people you guys cite as "controlling the Genovese family" today must have personally known him. He must have personally known Castello, Luciano and Vito.

What gives!?

Nobody outside of OC gave a shit about Benny because he wasn't considered the boss and his inner circle probably didnt talk that much about him.

Benny was hardly a fitting media darling like Gotti or Merlino, just a "boring" old man like Danny Leo so he don't get no press coverage or people talking about him.

Vinny was on the family panel in the 70's when Benny was the boss and Benny later promoted Vinny to consigliere.

You are quite right about all of that. But we know a lot about gangsters that were not media darlings and controlled far less of an empire than Lombardo did. I think there is an untold story here. I just don't know what it is.

There is.


And you never will. Those guys didn't talk when they were alive. And most of them are dead now .

He was the smartest boss of his era. The fact that he broke tradition by handpicking Vince as his successor tells you all you need to know about what kind of foresight the guy had. And the fact that the power base remained on 116th Street after Benny moved to Florida (even though Vince rarely left the Village), is what led the Feds to believe that Fat Tony was really The Boss.

Now, things obviously didn't work out so well for Fat Tony. But Vince not being dragged into the Commission Case altered mob history. Because the Genovese family picked up more construction contracts and held onto more unions after the Commission Case than any other family (but like I always say, they've always been tightly aligned with the Luccheses in construction).

Regards the Luciano vs Carlo debate?

I'll take Benny.

Innovator and the most underrated mob boss of all time . The end

How about photos? Does anyone have any of him other than the one on google search? Also, has anyone here made a FOIA request on him?

the genovese became the strongest ny family when they start running this the chicago way

meaning using front bosses, triumvarites , etc to run the mob

There's always been a strong connection between the Westside and the Outfit. Milwaukee Phil was originally from Yonkers, which is just north of the Bronx and kinda like an honorary "sixth borough."

Anyway, he always maintained close ties to the Bronx and Westchester wings of the Genovese Family. He was particularly close to a skipper named Larry "Black" Centore. I've heard that the Genovese guys and the Outfit guys would often vacation together out in Palm Springs. This was as far back as the '40s and '50s.

As an aside, there are more retired mob guys living in Palm Springs than just about anywhere else. I'm talking about guys who are literally a hundred years old .

Any pics of this guy around. He died in 87 was there a big send off. Guy is a mystery. Was he the guy breslin wrote about something along the lines he was a boss in the shadows. The bug in big pauls white house 83 84 no mention. Of him at all just fat Tony n chin.

The Outfit/Genovese connection goes waaay back, Masseria/Capone, Luciano/Ricca, Giancana/Costello, Giancana/Catena etc. I dont know much about the New York mob and its origins, but if the Genovese fam originated from the Morello organization than the Chicago connection starts from there with Rosario Dispenza, but im not sure

No desire of getting into a debate here on Lombardo, but he was the official boss for only a brief time (in the early 1980s). This is clear reading his files. Funzi Tieri was the official Genovese boss for most of the 1970s, until he was taken down by the other Genovese powers. Oviation, weren´t you a member of this forum when I posted stuff from his files? You can find it by putting "Lombardo" in the searchfield and "HairyKnuckles" in the author´s name.

When Vito departed for jail he left Tommy Eboli, Tony Bender Strollo, Jerry Catena, Mike Miranda and Benny Squints to rule as a panel. Although they held various positions within the Family, they were considered the administration. At this time Phil Lombardo was a soldier with influence who served under capo Mike Copolla. Also Phil was said to have been a protege of underboss Jerry Catena. In 1972, Catena stepped down and offered the postion to Phil. He accepted and served under Frank Tieri who supposedly held the title of boss. Phil actually handled the ongoings of the Family. Once Funzi was convicted in 1980 Benny Squints officially had the thrown. He held a brief reign between 80' & 81. Upon Lombardo's retirement Fat Tony was appointed as the new boss. He suffered a stroke soon after taking over leadership. While recuperating at his ranch in upstate NY Vincent Gigante seized power and demoted Fat Tony to soldier. Once Tony was able to tend to his rackets again he would be promoted to front boss.

As far as i can see, only 4 photos of him exist in the public domain. Guess that says a lot.

I think that Gigante being the consigliere think came from a misquote of Gravano in one of the mob books. I don't recall what book but I do remember it said Gravano had referred to Gigante as a captain and Gigante corrected him saying he (Gigante himself) was consigliere.

According to the document below, this is what was actually said:

On May 25, 1976 he returned to the Hospital for ten days. In that year Salvatore Gravano, a Member of the Gambino Family, had a problem with Vincent DiNapoli, a Member of the Genovese Family, involving the construction business. Gravano arranged to meet with Gigante, then a Genovese Captain, at Gigante's club, The Triangle Social Club, where signs on the wall read "The enemy is listening" and "Tough guys don't squeal."
At the meeting Toto Auriello, Gravano's Captain, introduced a man named Dom as a Captain in the Genovese Family. Gigante immediately corrected him, saying that Dom had become the Consigliere. As a result of the meeting Gigante agreed to communicate with DiNapoli and straighten out the problem. He then did so.
http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19960515_0000096.ENY.htm/qx



They've been the strongest family since the beginning.



It is an old argument indeed. But I don't know what files you're referring to. It seems pretty clear from Vincent Cafaro's testimony, the extent of which can be found in the "25 Years After Valachi" report, that Tieri was official underboss/acting boss and never the official boss. The whole "Benny Squint was only boss for a short time" came from picasso on the RD forum. All things considered, I think Cafaro would be in a better position to know than picasso (who also claimed Fat Tony was the official boss too and Chin didn't become boss until after the Commission case - despite all the evidence to the contrary.)

Old argument indeed. It doesn´t come from Picasso though, but from Lombardo´s files. A dozens of informants, or let me put it this way...on a dozens of occassions (both in Lombardo´s and Tieri´s files) informants identify Tieri as the official boss and Lombardo as a captain (later as the consigliere before he suffered a massive stroke which sidelined him for years). I have no clue why Cafaro testified and said the things he said. It´s possible that Lombardo was able in some cases to manipulate and control Tieri in much same way as Persico was with DiBella and that made Cafaro believe Lombardo was stronger and more powerful. Perhaps that´s what he is referring to in the testimony but words it incorrectly. In Lombardo´s files, there is a small chart showing Lombardo as a captain, Tieri as the boss. It´s based on information from CI´s. I have showed you parts of this chart over on the other site, don´t you remember?

In your opinion, didn't the other 4 families know who was in real power in the Genovese family during those times, that Lombardo was the "power behind the throne" or whatever, or was it only the law enforcement that took the bait? I mean, was this whole "conspiracy" and "front bosses" thing aimed only at law enforcement or was it meant to confuse the other families also?

Don't know about all the family's, but a Dec 12 1984 conversation recorded at the Palma Boys between Tony Salerno and Tony Ducks seems to indicate that at least the Lucchese knew about it.
Salerno was speaking about having one of his guys chase off another guy for coming around after he had been warned to stay away...

Salerno: well, sure enough he goes down there, and this guy gives him a whack...this kid goes to his mother, his brother goes to Ben. He sends that wiseguy to knock that fucking Carmines head off.
I come in Monday, he's telling me the story. I said "Ben, hey, what the fuck, you, you put me on...you gave me a fucking job over here, do you want me to take care of it or don't you?

Corallo: But does he reason with him?

Salerno: No

Corallo: Did you reason with him?

Salerno: He, he just lets you know about it. He just lets you know about it. I don't know what to do. I swear I don't. The first time I ever had an argument with him. So fucking disgusted with myself. I said "well, we gotta live with this guy". Yeah, I told him.

Corallo: You cant do that, see, you gonna, you gonna let this run from here downtown, is that what you want to do?...you wanna say "I throwed the fucking thing out". You want it, and you have to run downtown when you want something done?

Salerno: No, I'll retire. I don't need that

Corallo: I know you'll retire. I know you'll retire
Salerno: Fuck that shit. I wont take orders from that guy.

The conversation demonstrates that Salerno was not impressed that Lombardo(Ben) and Gigante(downtown reference)had second guessed him after giving him a job to do (front boss/street boss)and that Salerno was tiring of his own no-win role and would "retire" if things didn't change.
The fact Corallo brought up the downtown reference as to where Salerno got his orders from suggests he was at least aware of the setup.

Tieri was no front boss. He was the official boss. And it wasn´t like Lombardo in some sick twisted way was above Tieri rank wise and nobody knew about it. My explanation for what Cafaro testified (that Lombardo was the boss) is based on my assumption that Lombardo was somehow able to manipulate Tieri when some decisions had to be made. That´s just my assumption and take on what Cafaro said when he testified.. Not totally out of place, bosses sometimes consults with their underlings (other ranking members of the Family) when decisions has to be made. In fact, they do this very often. In Tieri´s case, Lombardo who had always been held in high esteem by the members, seems to have been one of those kind of underlings.

Edit - And just for the record, I´m talking about the Tieri/Lombardo situation. With the Salerno/Gigante situation I totally agree with Cafaro. Gigante was the boss.

To tell you the truth, DiMaggio, I can´t understand what the two of them are talking about. The quote is taken out of its context and could mean just about anything.

No, I don't remember. And it seems to be the general consensus among writers like Capeci and Raab, as well as current or former LE people, that what Cafaro said was true and Tieri and Salerno were acting bosses for Lombardo and Gigante. Though one could argue, as Capeci did, that it's all academic to a point.

Having searched for Lombardo on Mary Ferrell, in one account it states...

"On March 28th, 1967, NK T-2 (informant) stated that Philip Lombardo, also known as Benny Squint, of Englewood, New Jersey, has been made boss of the entire LCN by Vito Genovese."

Although I realise, this remark doesn't prove anything, it's still interesting.

One thing I've noticed is that it seems most rats still seem to lie or tell "fishy things" in court. Just like when Massino claimed Sonny Black was killed because of a power play, I truly think like most he was killed over the Donnie Brasco fiasco. The Feds might believe that b.s. but I sure as hell don't. To save face Massino had to send a message and that is what he done. I'm not sure if they ever asked him why he was going to kill Lefty, but why else would he pop him as well? Because of the Donnie Brasco deal that's why, but yet he claimed "under oath" (b.s.) it was because of "moves". I doubt Sonny Black would have made a true power play as long as Rusty was alive. It seemed like Massino he respected Rusty and wasn't going to try and overthrow him.

So I always take what they say with a grain of salt, even under oath.

Its not out of context and no the quote cant mean"just about anything" lol...

This is why Fbi guys actually have audibility experts or whatever, and why say a guy from brooklyn, or the streets in general is more qualified to be chasing these guys, cause they get the lingo. Its like the wire episode when they listen to a reup but because they dont get the dialect they dont know what the fuck is being said, or if people speak in code or a scicilian dialect...

In the Mary Ferrel document, it states Lombardo was made capo of the coppola crew, fat tony was his acting, and that Vito Genovese Loved Benny. Its clear that Genovese loved chin too. So the guys in charge are the guys closest to Vito, not really complicated aT ALL...

And dont get caught up with titles,look at the POWER,LOOK AT THE INFLUENCE...

I disagree on the genovese being the strongest family since the beginning. Thats Chicago, people seem to not get that the Chicago syndicate basically PREDATES the Comission, and was out earning every New York family during the Capone era, dont even try to dispute this...

Benny almost certainly most influential WS that not many discuss

Definately a starter on the all star team

A ghost with tremendous power

One can dispute it for several reasons. Most individual families predate the formation of the Commission. And the Genovese family has always been the top family. That's a fact whether you realize it or not.

So fat Tony goes to jail in 79 or 77 for 6 months that's probably when chin teiri and Ben start mixing up. Tieri indicted on shit 79 and dies a year later. Jimmy weasel is at his trial. The pics of tieri are funny that guy looked like Elton john was his fashion dude. He had flare.

But why thought? And understand im really asking...