The Vario Regime of Canarsie Brooklyn

This is an updated article that you all might find interesting

Originally born in the gritty mobbed-up East New York section of Brooklyn where he would operate for years, as Paul Vario better established himself in the underworld he would expand his operations to other parts of Kings County, as well as out to the County of Nassau on Long Island.....

https://thenewyorkmafia.com/mob-vario-canarsie-flatlands/

Paulie Vario's name became synonymous with the infamous Lufthansa Heist in 1977 from JFK Airport where the thieves got away for $5.8-Million in cash, gold and diamonds.

But in truth Vario was so much more than that to Cosa Nostra. He ran one of the biggest crews any "captain" had ever overseen, and his crew was into virtually every racket imaginable... And Paulie was a very dangerous guy.

Many in his regime went on to serve in higher capacities within the Family, and this crew were responsible for many MIA's and DOA's.

Anyone old enough to know anybody from this crew?

It was a big crew. I've known a few. why?

Another interesting article, NYM. Thanks again.

An esteemed poster on these boards, Don Cardi, also gave a detailed account of just how big Vario was. Cardi said he was, in effect, the street boss of the Luccheses.

In "The Heist," co-author Ernest Volkman, says Vario supported the Lufthansa operation because he had been slipping in status since he was passed over for the Lucchese Donship. He needed a big score to regain status. Your opinion? I posted a review of that book here:
http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=695638&Searchpage=1&Main=26269&Words=%2BLufthansa&Search=true#Post695638
Volkman often appeared in OC programs on cable. I thought he behaved like a jerk most of the time. But his book was pretty good.

I spent most of my formative years in East New York. As you said, the northern part of ENY was almost exclusively Italian and heavily mobbed up--Gambino as well as Lucchese territory. The southern part, closer to Jamaica Bay, was mixed Italian/Irish/Jewish. I lived in Canarsie for three years after marrying. Old Canarsie was exclusively Italian. Then they started building ticky-tack two-family houses from Flatlands Avenue to the pier. You could tell the ethnicity of residents in December. At first, one entire block, both sides of the street, would have either Christmas trees or Chanukah Menorahs. Later it'd be one side of the street for trees, the other side for candles. Finally, one story of a house would have a tree, the second story would have candles. Couldn't miss!

Hi Turnbull, Whatever Volkman wrote is total BS. That and $2.50 gets you on the subway! Lol.....He's a writer who's projecting opinions to fill up his book pages.

Paulie was a MAJOR figure in that crew. Always! He NEVER lost any status whatsoever.

He was involved with Lufthansa because his guys like Jimmy Burke, etc., were involved, otherwise Paulie is NOT involved in Lufthansa. Lol... They gave him a big envelope, and he in turn kicked up (traditional)

He was also NOT the street boss of the Lucchese's. In reality, there is NO such thing or Position. Especially back then.

You're either the BOSS, underboss (which is really the street boss for the boss himself if you think about it), or a capo, which is what Vario was.

But he was a TOP capo in that he virtually ran most of Brooklyn, and a good portion of LI. The only other capo to my knowledge at that time active in Brooklyn was Chris Ticker. And honestly, Furnari hadn't even been elevated to capo when Vario was at his peak. Christy Ticker was elevated a bit later.

So Paul Vario really was the man to see relative to the Brooklyn faction of the Lucchese crew understand?

Vincenzo Rao was official Consigliere but was locked up. Macaluso became acting Consigliere for awhile, then from 1967 till Rao release, Vario became acting Consigliere, then became Carmine Tramunti lefthand man. Vario and Furnari were both out on the streets at the time when the family needed a Consigliere. Vario was the most powerful Capo in the Brooklyn faction but he stepped on a few toes and rubbed some people the wrong way. Ducks heard disturbing rumors some of which were true about Vario, so he put Furnari name forth and Christy Tic became Consigliere. Another thing was the Drug business and both Furnari and Vario crews were in it, but Furnari was more cautious where Tony Ducks was tipped off that the DEA knew that Joe Beck and Vario had financed a drug deal worth millions, they could not prove it in court, so Ducks went with Furnari since he was more under the radar and had more important connections to legitimate businesses, and Christy Tic had James Bishop and Frank Arnold.

That was their longest period of instability because of Tommy's death. For a couple of years they were changing hats the way we change underwear. Even Vincent (Vinny Beans) Foceri served as the consigliere for a bit. But as far as I know Paul Vario was never thought of in that capacity. He was a top skipper, but he was always to friggin "Hot" that even if they'd wanted to install him there permanently it wouldn't have been an intelligent move for the borgata IMO..

Carmine Tramunti ruled for awhile (He was a good boss by the way - very well-liked guy). But once he fell on the heroin case everybody else became a seat warmer while they waited for Tony Corallo to be paroled.

Tommy Noto Pappadio also served as the "acting boss" for awhile, but you see what happened to him when he didn't wanna step down right?


PS: as a side note, the Harlem/Bronx?Whitestone, Queens faction of the Lucchese's were a VERY cohesive crew back then. Thats where ALL the power lay. Always did!

Only in later years did Brooklyn become more significant to the Family. The once exception being Vario. But even he played second fiddle to Harlem/Queens. Thats a fact.

Something many people might not know about is that Eugene Gold, Mr. District Attorney (he was a Brooklyn DA), who was the guy who created the infamous "gold bug" that recorded the conversations in Vario's junkyard, was actually a convicted child molester.

In 1983 after admitted to his heinous act against a 10 year old girl at a District Attorneys conference in Tennesse, he was put on 2 years probation. Served no time. When he left the courthouse, he said: “I am very very relieved to have this behind me,’ Gold said as he and his wife Ronnie left the Metro Courthouse hand-in-hand. ‘I’ve had a very very bright and wonderful past. I am looking forward to having the same kind of future.’”

He was 59 at the time and charged with aggravated rape.

I asked if anybody new anyone from the vario crew because my family is from Canarsie and lived there during that time. My uncle had his own thing back then, from what i understand he didnt have allegiance to any family. But his best friends did and he new them all, he was a legend. But i heard stories about what it was like back then and things that occurred. I always found it crazy how wild canarsie was back then. The bucket of blood, bamboo lounge, paulie, etc. He used to actually yell at the tv when he watched goodfellas lol.

I asked if anybody new anyone from the vario crew because my family is from Canarsie and lived there during that time. My uncle had his own thing back then, from what i understand he didnt have allegiance to any family. But his best friends did and he new them all, he was a legend. But i heard stories about what it was like back then and things that occurred. I always found it crazy how wild canarsie was back then. The bucket of blood, bamboo lounge, paulie, etc. He used to actually yell at the tv when he watched goodfellas lol.

I am somewhat familiar with Canarsie. I personally knew Bruno Facciolo (good guy by the way), Joe Defede and a few other guys from that area. I also knew guys from other crews who came from, or hung around Canarsie, Flatlands and Sheepshead Bay. Why?

And Canarsie/Flatlands was a great area years back. Very heavy Italian. Very nice clean area. I used to eat at Abbracimento's on the Bay, and another little Italian joint along Avenue U called Villagio Italia if I remember correctly.