Wow! Didn't know that detention memo existed. Has anyone seen Joseph Grande around North Jersey? Anyone know if he's living in the Newark area? I'm surprised that he's not working with his nephew Dom Grande.
@Dante - Yeah there is one out there and if you haven't seen it/read it yet then you definitely should as it has a lot of very interesting pieces of inside info. Also, the part of the memo that I meant to include was actually the part where Scoops not only intervenes on behalf of Joey Grande (Joe Pung accused Grande of still being loyal to Scarfo and not Ligambi/Merlino new/current Admin) and backs it up by suggesting to Ligambi that he send Joe Grande up to North Jersey to work in Scoop's Neward crew so that Scoops and the North Jersey guys could keep an eye on him and make sure his allegiances were in the right place. Here is the whole Licata Detention Memo if you're interested:
During the meeting, LIGAMBI mentioned Johnny “Gonz” Casasanto and laughed. LICATA then stated: “At least we finally got to get him! Huh!” (More laughter) John Casasanto, a/k/a “Johnny Gonz,” a Philadelphia LCN Family associate, died from a gunshot wound to the back of his head in November 2003. (The second superseding indictment avers that LIGAMBI’s was the acting boss of the Philadelphia LCN Family at this time.) Casasanto’s killing remains an unsolved murder. However, LICATA’s statement acknowledges that the Philadelphia LCN Family endorses the use of violence.
During the meeting, LICATA bragged that he was incarcerated with a former boss (Junior Gotti?) of the Gambino LCN Family, and predicted to members of the Genovese and Lucchese LCN Families that he would become a rat. These statements confirm LICATA’s close relationships with members of other New York LCN families. These statements also demonstrate the contempt of LCN members for cooperating witnesses.
LICATA inquired about the current leadership of the New York Gambino LCN Family, and wondered what would become of JG and other members of the current triumvirate when the old leaders (JJC, NC, LDM) are released from prison. LICATA also elicited that PG is the real boss of the crime family, but will probably be incarcerated for a long time.
LICATA also inquired about the current leadership of the DeCavalcante LCN Family, which is also known as the “Elizabeth Crew.” LICATA discussed the recent demotion of specific members of the DeCavalcante LCN Family. LICATA noted the sons of a former DeCavalcante leader had been identified as the new power in the family, and expressed both astonishment and disdain about the new leadership. LICATA asked the CW to check with the Gambino administration to verify the new leadership of the DeCavalcante LCN Family because LICATA had business with the crime family.
LICATA also discussed by name a number of “caporegimes” and soldiers in the New York Genovese LCN Family, also referred to as “the Westside,” and noted that, among other things, the family controlled the Port of Newark.
LICATA told the group how VC is a “friend with us... and he’s with me,” indicting that VC is a made member of the Philadelphia LCN Family who reports to LICATA, his capo. The CW stated that he did a lot of stealing with VC including trailer loads of gold and diamonds. LICATA stated: “I’m the boss of making three cents with him.”
LICATA discussed how RL is an LCN associate in his crew, but will never become a made member because he was proposed by Peter Caprio, a former “caporegime” of the North Jersey crew who became a cooperating witness for the government. LICATA further discussed how RL went to LIGAMBI and LIGAMBI ignored him.
LICATA talked about the mob parties at the 311 Club, a Newark social club controlled by the North Jersey crew of the Philadelphia LCN Family. LICATA discussed how Philadelphia LCN Family members Caponigro, Joseph Ciancaglini, Sr. (capo), Frank “Faffy” Iannarella (capo), Tommy Del Giorno (capo), and Nicky “The Crow” Caramandi (soldier) frequently came up to the club. LICATA and LIGAMBI referred disparagingly to Del Giorno as a “fucking rat bastard.”
LICATA stated that, after Steven Mazzone (a member of the Philadelphia LCN Family convicted in
the Merlino RICO case), who LICATA identified as the “consigliere,” gets off of supervised release, more people will become fully initiated members of the Philadelphia LCN Family through “making” ceremonies. LICATA explained that Joseph Merlino is calling shots from prison by telling LIGAMBI to “make” certain people. According to LICATA, LIGAMBI will only “make” guys he knows well, and will let Merlino “make” the guys he wants when he comes home from prison. LICATA also stated that the leadership in Philadelphia has asked him if he wants to propose any new members. LICATA stated that, while he is not ready to do it now, he will propose new members in near future. LICATA stated to the CW that he had already proposed VM and JS previously to LIGAMBI and wants them to be “made” before proposing any new members. LICATA added that he will propose reliable guys who will earn money for him and not give him headaches. LICATA discussed how he does not want to face another criminal prosecution where his guys cooperate with law enforcement.
LICATA related that Joseph Pungitore tried to have Joseph Grande killed by conveying to LIGAMBI and STAINO that Grande remained loyal to Nicky Scarfo, Sr., and disloyal to LIGAMBI. LICATA stated that he intervened with LIGAMBI to save Grande. LICATA stated he admired Grande who returned to Philadelphia when he was released on parole, not knowing whether he would live or die.
LICATA stated that Joseph Sodano was killed because he was making $30,000 to $40,000 per week with gambling machines and other racketeering activity, but was conning the Philadelphia LCN Family hierarchy about his profits. LICATA stated that Sodano was called to report, but failed to appear, so he was killed. LICATA noted that this occurred while LICATA was in prison (December 1996), and said that it would never have happened if LICATA had been out at the time. LICATA would have persuaded Sodano to meet with the LCN hierarchy and give up whatever share of his profits they demanded.[/quote]
