Strongest capo/toughest crew from Queens?

Historically, what were some of the powerhouse crews hailing from Queens? Queens always seemed to be mentioned less compared to the Bronx, BK or Manhattan..SI even.

Only one you hear about the most are the Bergin Crew, but Queen's is mostly residential which is why there seems to be the least amount of crews

Maybe not historically but more recently you had the Ronny Truchio crew with his son Alphonse who i believe was the capo when his father got locked and then he followed and fot his own bid some interesting stories about that crew definetely had some young up and comers for the gambinos even besides alphonse who i thought was very well liked supposedly Bobby Glasses smacked him in jail not sure where he stands when he gets out now you also got michael roccaforte both considerably young earners among others

You also had Luchesse Jimmy Burkes Roberts Lounge crew that was in Ozone Park and the Giannini Crew from ridgewood which was kinda like a mafia farm team for a few of the families from what i hear they were big into drugs and were all young and ruthless trying to make a name for themselves and get noticed you had alot of young crews there with young wiseguys trying to come up it was like damn near every neighborhood had a crew the ridgewood boys and middle village boys to name a couple

The Neil Migliore and Joey Laratro crew were originally from Corona, Queens. I read on a Mary Ferrel document that Laratro had bragged that he was the biggest guy in Queens, or that he could get anything done in Queens. This was in the late 50s, early 60s.

Sonny Franzese also operated out of Queens during his heyday. Big in Jackson Heights according to his son.

Also, I'm not sure about how much of a force he was in the area, but Gambino consigliere Joe Gallo was based in Astoria, Queens.

Incredibly difficult question. There's a ton of powerful guys from that HUGE area. Right now, the top west side guy has to be Rom.

Ctang good post my friend thanks for sharing... Can u elaborate on the Giannini crew im blanking on who they are and what fam? Im legit in awe of you nY/Nj guys that can keep all these fuckin crews and guys straight... Im a philly guy and i barely have a fuckin handle on that one shitshow of a mafia.. Thanks pal

At least until recently it probably was the Trucchio crew. The Gambinos have the biggest presence in Queens and the Trucchio crew, before the latest bust, was said to be the largest and most active in the family.

Fat Andy Ruggiano had a strong Queens crew with a presence in Florida. As I have stated before there was one big Gambino crew led by Petey Pumps Ferrara back in the day that consisted of East NY Brooklyn guys.Billy Batts, John Gotti, Nicky Corrozzo, Jo Jo Corrozzo, Angelo Ruggiero, John and Charlie Carneglia Lenny DiMaria were just a few of the guys in the crew. It kind of mirrored Paulie Vario's East New York's BK Brownsville Crew.This crew eventually spread to Queens in the 70s(as did Vario's) and was split up between Charlie Wagons and Fat Andy as Capos. The Bonanno Family also had a crew that mirrored the Lucchese and Gambino early East New York/Queens crews that was once headed by Phil Giaccone (Joe Massino, Vinny Asaro were crew members) that was later a crew commanded by Joey Massino in Maspeth. These crews interacted a lot in hijacking and robberies such as Lufthansa.the Colombo Family also had a presence that mirrored the other 3 families and their guy in the area was Buster Aloi, who was tight with Sonny Franzese. Remember when Henry Hill took down Air France, they kicked up to Paul Vario and Buster Aloi. Why only those 2? Because it was 67, the Bonanno and Gambino Families were only starting to migrate to Queens. In 78 after Lufthansa, the Lucchese Fam had to partner with Vinny Asaro and kick in to Massino as the Bonanno had become one of the main crews in that area. I am sure the Gambino Family got a piece(albeit a small one) of that stake.

The JoJo Corozzo/Trucchio/Sassano crew is strong. A lot of future capo's came up under JoJo.... Mastrangelo, Vernace, Ron & Al Trucchio, Monk Sassano.

Wasn't the Vario Crew based in Queens?

This weeks gangland is about the feds trying to build a new case against asoro and his queens guys doing home invasions. So id expect some type of case coming against him his son and all the cousins.

mikey the giannini crew was basically a farm team sort of they had guys that ended up being made in different families ace aiello of the bonnanos was a young guy who got made supposedly he ran with them and then got made and shot the pizzolo guy for basciano then went on the run got caught kept his mouth shut and took his time his pops was huge heroin guy during pizza connection times associated with sal catalano and like ivy said alot of the giannini crew werw gambino affiliated those young guys were ruthless they killed strong armed robbed and dealt drugs

Vario had a large crew and after the mid 60s it's sphere included Queens/Ozone Park and it's proximity to JFK. But Paulie's main base was in East New York, Brooklyn on the BK/Queens Border. He also had a presence in Canarsie and all areas in between. When Henry Hill first got involved Paulie's base was on Pitkin Avenue between Pine and Crescent street which is smack dab on the BK/Queens border. Paulie was centered there with his crew stretched out to the East in Ozone Park and even Long Island and also to the West like Canarsie and Flatbush.

Who is Rom?

Tough Tony Federici's main guy Anthony Romanello. HQ is right next to Tough Tony's ParkSide restaurant at 107-01 Corona Avenue Queens NY.

What about pallazolo who about two years back was said to be "street boss of the queens and bx" side of the boannos

Somebody should try and get Vinny Asaro to write a book when hes way too old to be messed with for any of his past crimes.

He is like the last man standing, a direct link to the LCN of the glory years. I wonder if Christy Tick is all there, or if he is wearing Depends and eating banana pudding through a straw. I'll bet he's also got some amazing stories to tell. The 19th Hole, Gasspipe etc.

Sal

trucchio and mastrangelo crews were definitely the most active, biggest, and going harder than anyone else when it came to traditional street shit. i think that was one crew (joe corozzo) and split into two, and now after the bust in 2011 or 2012 im guessing it merged back to one crew. those two crews were all over queens doing wild shit, making tons of $. i wonder what trucchios status will be when he comes home. everyone on these boards says he got taken down or is on the shelf but whats that based on? a rumor that he got slapped by vernace?

re: romanello's crew... how big/active is it? who are some crew members?

If I remember right, Capeci confirmed Trucchio being demoted in one of his articles.

Good post TT didn't know that about Trucchio crew... Were you referring to Nicky Corozzos crew or his brother Joseph? I know dick about either of them i always thought Nicky was the more powerful and the former Consigliere, is that remotely accurate?


In regards to Romanellos crew is he still the skipper of that crew? Didnt he get acquitted at his last trial?

Read my post earlier in the thread about that crew, it's Jo Jo's former crew, it went to Ron Trucchio when he got upped to consigliere, then to his son Alphonse Trucchio, now Monk Sassano runs it, don't think Nicky was ever consigliere, he was acting boss though.

Nick was on panel early 90's never acting boss

I thought he was acting boss when he got arrested in 96

Those on the ruling panel are effectively acting bosses. Some reports said Corozzo was actually set to become official boss, with Gotti stepping down, but he was indicted before that could happen.

So at the time 96 chins under indictment or going to trial but there deff the strongest family massino is the strongest guy in queens. Allie boy is fixing there family. Gaspipe fliped and lil al is destroying the family. Is massino or whoever chins guy wS pushing for lil nick. You think they would just want the fAmily to clash with each other. Mayne massino is trying to push the gottis out.

only a rumor Ivy. nick was not going to be boss ..

Nicky was going to be Boss..don't think he really wanted it and Massino was far from being the Strongest in Queens.

Nicky was/is more powerful than JoJo.

Some contemporary reports had Corozzo as official boss, right around the time he went away.

jojo was a drunk..nick was respected far and above jojo always.. nick was going to kill jr gotti according to sources ,if he was being bless boss by gotti's what kill jr.. he was not even considered consiglieri .jojo got it ..it was only gossip started by nicky and his crew..

andrew DiDontaro a corezzo associate in the 80s and 90s he said weeks before nicky was arrested he told him and mike yannotti that they were to kill junior gotti if nicky got arrested nicky was angry that junior was cheating him out of that phone scam. According to andrew the murder never happened because junior got indicted and nicky never gave the go ahead. He also said nicky told him he was going to "step up" and take over the family and that he would now have to report to Lenny DiMaria.

talks alot of shit in his book andrew so not sure how much is truth a few interesting stories like how in the 80s how the corezzo crew had beef with some lucheses a couple of guys got killed and a few shootings. In the 90s aswell alot of detail on the 1996 robert arena murder and on billy cutlo junior

hello report, nicky was pinched several years before jr i believe 96 jr pinched 98..nicky was giving jr 10% of the phone cards, there was no beef about phone cards between those two..do i think nicky would have made a sneak move vs jr..yes. no doubt about if they both do not get pinched..jr was no boss, nicky seen that in him..he would have to kill jr to get to that spot..which ever other family would have been very happy about it..would nicky have made a good boss, not sure he has made some bad decisions thats why he keeps going back to prison..my opinion he would ha ve been a great dellcroce replacement..

yeah, you're right. i think i remember it being written about in a GL (interesting enough, after the rumor was posted on these boards)

as reported in GL, it had something to do with Trucchio trying to sever himself from the other codefendants and pleading guilty - causing problems for the other guys. and also there was a little tiff with him and Joe Corozzo the lawyer. but i also remember reading Vernace had something to do with in, and reading (rumor, second hand, etc...) on the boards that someone, either Roccaforte or Vernace, slapped Trucchio in jail

im just wondering if that was the case, how good is Vernace's word for? is there an expiration date on that? say vernace busts trucchio down and "shelves" him... trucchio is still coming out of jail a young guy, coming home to a crew with guys loyal to him that he's been committing crimes with since he was a kid. Vernace is old, serving a life sentence, inactive for all intents and purposes, and could kick the bucket in prison before Trucchio even comes home. what then? his word still carries weight? i always wondered how things liked that worked with these guys.

the trucchio crew i always found interesting. theres not a lot of info out there on Al Trucchio or his dad even, but both seemed to be very poweful guys. Al must have been something serious, because afaik he was made before he was 25 years old, and full Capo by 29 or 30. his crew seemed like one of the biggest and most active not just in the gambinos but in the entire city

it was al trucherio who i think drove past the fed and that rat santos having that meeting. I thought it was more to do with his beef with the corezzos when they all got busted they were angry about how he was defending himself i think it was the plea deal thats what that argument with joseph corezzo was about joseph said something like everyman for himself al and truccherio told corezzo to come and say that to his face.

He was worth millions when he was arrested very interesting guy he was at that meeting with ligambi nicky skins all of those guys he is on the tapes when the feds went to bust him they raided the wrong house the feds got surveillance of him jo jo corezzo and venace meeting i think that photo was used at trial against venace to prove that he was still a organized crime member

Good last couple posts Alphonse was definetely the one that saw Santos meeting with the fed...what luck huh hes just coming around the block and sees one a his guys meeting with a fed. I cant even imagine that he probably shit himself and at the same time wanted to off santos immediately lol forget truchio imagine how santos felt lol caught out ratting like the scum he is anyways.. I wonder about truchio when he gets out you guys made very valid points hes respected got a younger loyal crew hell of an earner i kknow bobby supposedly smacked him in jail and word was he got demoted orbwhatever but i cant not see him being a major player when he gets out he could very well get that captain spot back sooner than later as far as i see it hes already proven he can run a a strong crew and like i said before he earns he gets respect from his guys the one thing that im not sure of is whats going on with his boy Roc michael roccaforte im almost positive hes made already and if not i could almost guarantee he will be when hes out if hes not already..at one point i lnow that Roc and alphonse were real tight both came up together and Roc gets respect on the street from regular street guys and made guys i know he is definetely an up and comer like truchio hes young he gets money the part im not sure of is i heard they had a falling out and that could def cause problems with that crew when they are out Roc is a leader he was very very close to alphonse so he had no problem playing his position but if what i heard was true it will cause problems again please dont jump all over me if im wrong on this as i stated i wasnt 100pct positive they ay very well still be very close and if they are they are def young guys to watch but if there not getting along then it could be interesting how it plays out i rarely post things im unsure of so we'll see if anyone knows whats up with them let me know

This is all bullcrap. First off there is no one ever going to slap Trucchio. Second off a guy like him is too valuable to even be thought of about being put on the shelf. Im sure whenever he gets out hes gonna be back in the same position he was w much more respect and much more power. When a guy like that comes home, everyone will fall in line. All these things you all are talking about are based on bullshit rumors.

1) there really was argument between joseph corezzo and alphonse truccherio that is a true story it was in front of loads of people in court

During a pre-trial session an argument developed between Trucchio and Corrozo’s lawyer his son Joseph.

“Hey Al, so it’s every man for himself, now,” said Corozzo.
“Why don’t you come here and say that to my face,” replied Trucchio, as he kept moving toward the elevator.
“So, I’m not a man now,” snapped the lawyer, with a look of disgust on his face.

now whenever that was the reason for him getting shelved who knows but we do know the corezzos were not happy with how he was defending himself

2)it was capeci i think who reported he had been demoted i have never heard about him being shelved capeci has been proven to be accurate on alot of things in the past

3) so you can predict the future now? you know how the gambinos will look at truccherio when he gets out we have no idea what will happen. Also dont act like you know what is bullshit and what is truth you have no idea like the majority on this site we wont know unless someone flips all we have his people like capeci reporting on it who like i said before is normally accurate but his information his limited.

Who even listens to Capeci anyways??? Hes so full of crap himself I wouldnt even read his column.

Some say Vernace got demoted for slapping Trucchip, no matter what Trucchio done that's a big no no.

where did that story come from? al didn't break his hole after that?

First off, Ive lived in that area of queen's for 40 years. I just recently moved out of state and i know that vernace and trucchio never had any disagreement let alone hands being raised. As far as Jerry Capeci goes, he also wrote an article stating that Trucchio got beat up in prison which he said was unconfirmed and two weeks later Trucchios lawyer made a statement on Capecis column basically calling the previous article bullshit.And Capecis only defense was he said it was unconfirmed. Capeci is nothing more than a gossip columnist for guys on the outside looking in.And as far as Trucchio fighting his case, from the last time I looked..he was sentenced to the most time out of all his codefendents including the lead defendent Corozzo. All these guys are home and hes still in prison. So who should be the one complaining about people fighting cases. From my understanding, he was the only one that wanted to go to trial and no one else did. Thats where the rift came. And as far as the argument with the lawyer, since when is there a rule for a guy like Trucchio is not allowed to argue or stick up for himself when he feels he was getting the shaft.
And about predicting the future, there is nothing to predict because all of the above that everyone's talking about NEVER OCCURRED. YOU NEED GUYS LIKE TRUCCHIO BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO GIRLS DONT GET RAPED AND MURDERED IN HOWARD BEACH!

This thread was unexpectedly interesting, thanks everyone

The Bonannos started out in Williamsburg/Greenpoint almost a century ago and you can follow their progression basically up Metropolitan Avenue and into adjacent neighborhoods in Queens (i.e.: Maspeth, Ridgewood, Middle Village).

I think it's similar to the Newark Genovese, who moved northwest along Bloomfield Avenue.

I think some of the old Bushwick/Williamsburg Bonnanos sill reside in Ridegwood (such as Grimaldi and Amato).

The Bonano's had an East New York crew in addition to their Bushwick crew? Or are you thinking of the same crew? The Bushwick crew consisted mainly of Zips and moved north to Ridgewood.

Joe Laratro the Luchese capo? He was Corona based? I had no idea Luchese (including Neil Migliore) had a Corona faction. I thought it was all Genovese and Bonanno.

Anyone have more info on this lineage?

Looking through some of these files it seems Laratro and Migliore both came up in Corona.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc...eId=66&search=neil_migliore%20corona

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc...migliore+corona#relPageId=5&tab=page

In this interview with an FBI agent, Laratro says he used to be a bookmaker in Corona, and is now the president of Migliore Funeral Home, which is also in Corona.
https://ibb.co/eRRzzy


Judging by where they lived and were arrested they both seem to have later moved operations to Long Island.

Can you please link these episodes?

Thank you for that.

I have passed that business (Coppola-Migliore Funeral Home) several hundred times and never considered that it was the same Migliore.

did a quick google joe narrows a chicago tribune article pops up when laratro dies in 1989 in florida a ton of mobsters showed up for his funeral basically all the chicago heavys at that time. he was only 73 must have took off when vic n gas took over in 87

Anthony Pipitone is a force in Queens. His crew is all over the borough. Tough guys from Louie DeCicco's old crew.

He’s a moron tho. Ya ever hear the story of him stabbing the two wrong teens in 2004?

Currently it will have to be either the Corozzo crew of the Gambino crime family or the Persico crew of the Colombo crime family. Anthony Pipitone is a force but not that powerful, and has learned from past mistakes such as 2004. As for family, I will say the Bonanno's.

In what neighborhood is the Persico crew active? How many members do you suspect theu have?

Thanks

The Persico Crew has historically been linked to Brooklyn. Carmine Persico was always active in Brooklyn and the recent cases surrounding the Colombos have been based in Brooklyn. In fact, Colombo activity in Queens has been comparatively low compared to the other four families and compared to their strength in Brooklyn. If you look at indictments over the last twenty years, you'll see that most Colombo gangsters' crimes either take place in Brooklyn or Long Island. Sure, there are a handful of cases in Queens and Staten Island but none involving the Persicos.

The only current active "Persico crew" is the one that is run/ran by Teddy Persico Jr., who has been described as a potential heir to the family (he is serving ten years for racketeering at the moment and scheduled for release in 2020.) Teddy Persico Jr.'s crew has always been Brooklyn-based. I can provide evidence if needed, but a quick google search will show you. The 2011 indictment detailed how Big Anthony Russo, another Brooklyn-based mobster, was Teddy's acting capo and the entire crew was seemingly Brooklyn-based. In Teddy Jr.'s 2005 indictment which involved his brother Sean and cousin Andre D'Apice, that was also based entirely in Brooklyn.

Giacomo, are there any specific Persicos which you think run things in Queens? Also, which Colombos are Queens powerhouses?

The only recent Colombo activity that I had heard of was the dust up over the Napa and Sonoma restaurant in Whitestone. Apparently two Colombo associates broke all the windows of the restaurant and were chased down by the Bonannos. I can't find any links to it, but this NY Post story covers it without mentioning that the "other" family was Colombo: https://nypost.com/2010/08/04/stabbing-pains-for-mob-crew/

who is the current corozzo crew capo ?
is it jimmy delaretta ?

When acting consigliere Ralph Lombardo was arrested in 2003 for loansharking, most of his crew lived in either Queens or Long Island. https://nypost.com/2003/06/18/911-no-excuse-to-mobs-loan-thugs/
A later Gang Land Article mentioned that Lombardo operated in Queens and Long Island.
"Lombardo earned his mob stripes in Middle Village, Queens under Joe Colombo crony Vincent Aloi during the 1960s and ‘70s. Following five years behind bars for a 1974 stock fraud conviction, he relocated to North Babylon, while maintaining a social club in Middle Village. The club’s gone now, and Lombardo has since hunkered down in Bellmore."

Whatever the case, I think most Queens activity fell by the wayside probably around the time Joe Scopo was whacked. Larry Mazza mentioned in his book that when Vic Orena was in charge he emphasized inducting Queens guys over Brooklyn guys in order to consolidate power. Take that how you will, but the implication there is that Orena didn't want to make Brooklyn guys because that's where Persico's power-base was. Guys like the Russo Cousins (cousins of the Persicos, Chucky and JoJo Russo) were Brooklyn-based according to the book, as was Teddy Persico Sr. and Jr. The only Brooklyn guys that Vic did induct (according to Mazza's book) were guys in Wild Bill's crew because Bill was an Orena supporter.
After the war, in terms of busts and indictments (of which the Colombos have had MANY), it doesn't look like Queens has that much Colombo activity anymore. Yes there is still some, but certainly not as much. The argument could be made that maybe the Queens Colombos have been staying low-key, but I'd counter that this is the COLOMBOS we're talking about.... the gung-ho, ghetto-banging crime family. From the 1990s-late 2000s, their leadership and inner workings have pretty much been made an open book by informers and rats, so I think if there was some big Queens power, we'd know about it.

Meyer, Jimmy leaves himself exposed more often then he should, so I don't think he is the Capo, but a highly trusted member of the crew, acts more like a right hand man, than a Capo. That is my opinion.

Nicky, The Russo's have been taking guys off the self from the third Colombo war. They have been grabbing guys from the Colombo brothers crew since Anthony Colombo passed away last year. Juniors crew supervises them, and that is why I call them the Persico crew. Andy Russo and Jerry Clamenza uncle Jack had some talks, and since then I believe Green Eyes has come back into the folds, but I don't think Chris Colombo has come back as he is still in Orange County New York. The Aloi crew took many hits and the Colombo brothers moved into areas to take over as there really wasnt anyone saying overwise as they were not stepping on anyone's toes. They were shelved and did not give up the gangster life style.

Ralph Scopo Jr death, is where I had wrote them off in Queens, but the Colombo have guys all over in Queens. Let Serp weigh in on this.

@Giacomo, thank you for clarifying the Persico Crew thing, it makes a lot more sense than to say that the Persicos are Queens-based. Also, it has been proven that Andy Russo and Co. were bringing many members back into the fold - in some cases, guys were forced back into the fold. "Yeah, what my intentions are that when I'm finished, who really doesn't want to come in, I'm making up a list. I'm giving it to all the borgatas and they're outlaws. Anybody that deals with them is my enemy. I'm making it as clear as that," said Russo in a tape-recorded conversation.

That being said, I haven't seen anything linking the Colombo Bros. Crew to Queens. Can you think of any other Queens soldiers? Other than Gerard Clemenza?

The four I can think off the top of my head, are Jack DeRoss, John Orena, Vinny Lambardo, and one of Benny Aloi kids. For associates I can give you many, but the three top associates are from the Colombo crew, Phil Dioguardi who took over where the Scopos left off, LaRosa and Sparaco. The Aloi and Lombardo families are related.

By Sparaco, are you talking about Frankie Blue Eyes?

Thanks giacomo !

No, Frank turned and is in his 60's I believe. This Sparaco is younger than Frank. Perhaps a relative or maybe a son.

I wish Muk would update the charts so I can see who the captains are from the other 4 families!!

Yes, I was going to mention that. Not to mention Frankie Blue Eyes was also Brooklyn-based I'm pretty sure. Who do you mean by LaRosa?

The Real question is.. Who's left to control Queens..? A lot of guys just hiding out in their homes.

The Ronnie Giallanzo bust of 2017 proves that there are not only a spate of young guys looking to fill the ranks, but there are also millions of dollars to be made even through the standard, unsophisticated blue-collar crimes like loansharking and gambling.

Also, the DeBello/Delligatti bust in northeast Queens (Whitestone) was pretty major. I am sure they were an arm of the Corona Genovese faction, what's left of it.

Two attempts on the life of Joe Bonelli (Genovese)

The meeting at Tratoria 35 with the Bonanno bigs (caught on tape by FBI).

One can safely assume that what is left of the Vernace and Truchio crews are still very active in Glendale and Howard Beach.

Vito Grimaldi still owns the bakery in Ridgewood, and Cammarano has married into that Bonanno faction.

Colletti (Genovese) in Middle Village and Asaros remaining crew in Ozone.

There is a lot of activity. Queens is far from over...

The only families not prominent seem to be Colombo and Luchese. Though it was mentioned above that the Lukes still own the funeral parlor in Corona.

Isn't Grimaldi part of the Bonanno Zips faction or even their leader?

@Giacomo, regarding Phil Dioguardi: You talking about the guy who was pals with the Colombo Bros.?