How powerful is your crew?

Let play another interesting game. Create your own crew. Pick 10 historical soldiers to be in your crew. Pick a territory, Pick a family and a main racket for yourself. The only "rules", no bosses period!, I'll give a pass to capos but the percentage of their time as a capo vs. Being a soldier has to relatively low ( was a acting capo or bumped up at the end of their career. The soldiers can be from anywhere (again if they weren't in the northeast, just give some insight on the character in question). Have fun!!!


My answer will be in the thread.

@Dob_Peppino, can this include underbosses or consiglieres?

Main racket would be Wall Street scams, labor unions and trash hauling. Territory would be split between New Jersey and Montreal (Canada).

Acting Capo would be Mario Gigante

If I had a pick, it would be:

- Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello
- Angelo "Little Moe" Presanzano
- Joseph "Joe Brown" Lucchese
- Francesco "Frank" Bonomo
- Frank Cotroni
- Arthur "Artie Todd" Tortorello
- John "Johnny G" Gammarano
- Pasquale "Patsy" Erra
- Anthony "Tony Pep" Trentacosta
- Pasquale "Patsy Ryan" Eboli

My rackets would be drug trafficking,money laundering and loansharking in the Tri-State Area.

- Ronald "One Arm" Trucchio

- Eugene "Nick the Blade" Gesuale
- Raymond Martorano
- Roy DeMeo
- Anthony Spilotro
- John Gambino
- Vincent Papa
- Oreste "Ernie Boy" Abbamonte
-Thomas Pitera
-Salvatore Testa
-Joseph Gallo

My rackets would be drug trafficking, human trafficking, pornography, extortion, loansharking and gambling

My acting capo:
Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato

My soldiers:
Tommy Pitera
Charles Carneglia
Fabrizio DeFrancisci
Craig Marino
Robert Lino
Blaise Corozzo
Salvatore Larca
Vincent "Vinny Butch" Corrao
Anthony Nicodemo
Michael Yannotti

For the Family I choose the cosca of Castellammare del Golfo. Their base territory being the town of Castellammare in Trapani province of course, with their satellite "regime" based in New York City.

The "Capo Famiglia" is Girolamo (Lupo the Wolf) Minore. His underboss or "Sotto Capo" is Giuseppe (Pepino) Buccellato. Their "Consigliere" is Salvatore (Don Turiddo) La Sala.

Their resident New York City "Capo di decina" would be Leonardo (Black Leo) Evola. He has as his "Acting Capo" over the regime Camillo (Lilo) Cammarata.*

This "regime" has as its mainstays; gambling rackets in the form of a large sports-bookmaking network grossing approximately $25,000,000 annually (or $500,000 weekly), and an extensive "joker poker" slot machine route with 30 to 40 video gambling machines steadily operating, which bring in an estimated $1,500 per machine per week.

They also control a large loan shark operation with an estimated $1,000,000 out "on the street" averaging 2%-4% weekly interest or "vigorish." This generates an average of $30,000 per week in net profits alone.

Augmenting these base "bread and butter" rackets is a highly sophisticated counterfeiting operation that duplicates near perfect quality $20 and $50 dollar notes of United States currency that are manufactured and printed back in the Trapani province of Sicily and smuggled into the states (once a year), specifically into the Northeast region for future wholesale distribution by Sicilian nationals who are affiliated with the "Minore" network of mafiosi operating surreptitiously in America.

Side note: narcotics is strictly prohibited. Any violation of this edict results in death, or at the very least, permanent expulsion (being shelved) from Cosa Nostra. The one possible exception to this rule is trafficking in marijuana (but only if it is put "on record" and sanctioned by Evola).

But paramount to all these illegal activities is the "cardinal rule" dictated by Lupo Minore and Pepino Buccellato back in Castellammare del Golfo that all "men of honor" living in America are to purchase, start up, partner in, or otherwise invest these monies in their choice of legitimate businesses so as to reinvest the profits, create a legit cover for themselves, and keep the lowest of profiles. Not to mention the fact that is will further strengthen their regime.

Legitimate industries that they are thought to be invested in include the following;

pizzerias, restaurants, cafes and taverns
Italian food importation and wholesale distribution
construction and land development
trucking and warehousing
real estate and income properties
dry cleaners and laundromats
import-export and trading
----
Resident caporegime Leonardo "Black Leo" Evola oversees a ten man crew of "soldiers" that includes;

Camillo (Lilo) Cammarata *
Vito Cammarata
Arcangelo (Lefty) Morello
Pietrino (The Fox) Crociata
Joseph (Joe Brown) La Bruno
Joseph (Joe Dap) Dapoleo
Carmen D'Angelis
Rosario (Ross) Carozzo
Giuseppe (Piddu) Evola
Roberto (Bobby Ross) Borruso
--
These "soldati" are augmented by a small contingent of trusted "associates," some of whom are "proposed" and slated for induction down the road. They are estimated to number approximately 20-30 additional men of both Sicilian and Southern Italian ancestry (Calabrese and Napolitani). Some of whom are American born, and some born oversees.
-----

There you have it Don Pep. My "fantasy" borgata. LOL...... It would probably be the most successful Family that ever existed!! Hahahaha! ...... but alas there is no such entity.

Hows that for a crew Pep? Lol

My rackets would be primarily Loansharking, Legitimate Business Infiltration/Extortion and Gambling
The Family (I think it would be known which flags I fly haha) Bonanno.
Territory would be the home-based Brooklyn

1.) Tommy Bilotti
2.) Gaspar Magaddino
3.) Vincenzo "Jimmy Nap" Napoli
4.) Nicholas "Nicky Glasses" Marangello
5.) Harry "The Hunchback" Riccobene
6.) Joseph "Joe Bikini" Brocchini
7.) Dominick "Fats" Ferraro
8.) Peter "Lodi Pete" La Planca
9.) Nicholas "Jiggs" Forlano
10.) Pasquale "Patsy" Conte

I think I have a solid crew. Loyal hitters. Some legit business guys. And some gamblers who can protect their rackets on their own.

@Ralphie. Involved in all the vice in the city lol

Harry Riccobene??..good call..Joe Bikini could watch over the porn rackets while Nicky Glasses supervises the whole 9 yrds. but Harry has more experience than all of them put 2gether..well..maybe not ..but still is a boss canditate ..fuck Tommy Billotti..he aint shit w/ out his big lab 2 whom he rides his coat tails...& look where that got him..face up in front of a steakhouse..

@Nymafia Fantastic list. Strong business model and good choice of origin haha.
I'll have to do my homework on some of these members.

@Hoodlum
I have an affinity for the Philly guy (who get overlooked alot of the time). Riccobene is fascinating to me. He was "made before the electric light" as they say and was a teen to boot. Yeah he became an informant but before that he was as Cosa Nostra as they came. Hitter, earner, knew history/mob politics and tough. I know Bilotti was considered a tool/jerk who followed Paul but he was a serious guy and loyal. I thought that was needed. I almost went with Tony Plate (another Gambino in a similar mold). Bilotti would be for intimidation mainly while Gaspar Magaddino would be for wet work. Joe Bikini and Lodi Pete were earners and very capable in their own right. Marangello and Napoli would have the money on the streets and probably the most valuable gambling operation in the country. Lastly, Conte had a supermarket chain and Fats Ferraro (early NJ Genovese) was a legitimate business millionaire

Yeah good call. Have an informant in your crew reporting everything you do back to the Feds.

Who is the rat in the list?

Harry Riccobene

Great observation guys but I'll say this, You gonna have a rat in your crew. Its inevitable, like being involved in a hit ( whether you know some details or your involved from "cradle to grave") that's Cosa Nostra. We Don't know how many guys gave even alittle info to walk free. Its the price of being in the business. Besides, I got Gaspar Magaddino, capable of doing public mass hits, I don't think I am too concerned about not being known as "Cosa Nostra", secondly I think that would be a hell of a deterrent to a rat. Lastly, we've seen Bosses flip, so from that angle, does it really matter??? Somebody gonna do it. And btw, I am not the only one with rats in my crew btw. Lol. Anyways, I stand by the choice.

Harry Riccobene was not a rat,his brother was and was killed because left the witsec for turn to philly,bad idea,he died in 1993.

Thats wrong Furio. We are not speaking of Sonny Riccobene. Harry gave interviews to FBI agents more than once where he revealed much info on the Philly mob. It seems he was an undercover rat for years.

Great crew but it doesn't really respect your rules. Unless i'm wrong, Forlano, Conte, Bilotti and Marangello have been at a higher position than soldier for a rather long period.

I'll post my crew in a minute.

My main rackets would be the garment industry, bookmaking and gambling.

My Family would be the Lucchese Family

My territories would be NYC and New Jersey



My crew :

- Richie Martino
- Louis Milito
- Mike Pappadio
- Joe Schiavo
- Tony Riela
- Joe Pagano
- John Praino
- Joe Strecci
- Dominick Cataldo
- Tommy Agro

I pick these guys because i wanted a mix of good businessmen and tough guys but i didn't want guys who are mere enforcers. When you have guys like Milito, Cataldo and Agro, nobody mess with you. They can do the dirty work but they can also make a living. Pappadio, Schiavo and Strecci would be running my garment rackets.Riela, Praino and Pagano would be doing bookmaking/gambling. Richie Martino could move freely, work his magic and find all sort of moneymaking opportunities.

Good observations Malavita. Billotti was UB for a cup of coffee and now maybe your right technically because he was made once the books got open and was a Capo for Paul majority of that time but, I think most of his life would be considered a soldier. Marangello was up and down several times. When it comes to Conte, I was gonna go with his father, but I went for name recognition. I'll give you Forlano..... Its not a perfect formula but I mainly wanted to exclude the top Echelon mainy for that reason, they are the top Mafioso (for whatever or however reason) so off course, they'll make great crews.

@Malavita solid crew. Respect on the Joe Reese, Joe Stretch and Tony Riela (who almost made my list) picks.

I forgot about Tommy Agro when I was thinking about enforcer types... It would have easily been Tommy Bilotti, Tony Plate then Agro.


This part is for anyone:
Rank these guys in terms of Toughness, Earning ability, and Clout
BILLOTTI vs. PLATE vs. AGRO??? Who did the most hits?

I never know it. But was just an i formanti in the 1960s like Scarpa or was a real rat?
If he was a rat why dont used the feds against Scarfo like whitey with Angiulo?

Here goes.
Pietro Lombardo
Joe Massei
Santo Virusso
Alexander Presta
John Balsamo
Lorenzo Brescia
Alexander Giglio
Paul Fraccacreta
Salvatore Alaimo
Nicholas ToLentino.

Apparently Riccobene was allegedly a C.I. (probably in the mold of Scarpa but not as connected/protected) by the FBI. End of the day, I pretty much forgot about that when picking my list because its inconsequential. Nobody of any relevance went down behind Harry. It certainly didn't save him from dying in jail (so how good or how much of a rat was he really?). Sure in this case, if it came out that he was a rat, he's gotta go but if nobody went down (and he was probably giving them crap they already knew) who gives a damn. Thats apart of the life. Am I saying its right, or would be my style in that life, No! But it comes with that territory.

I'd be curious to see @ColonelReb and @Hoodlum's list

You have some solidly unknown guys. Could you elaborate on your choices

Pietro Lombardo- mistaken for a Los Angeles family soldier but was actually with the Detroit family. Had strong connections to Detroit, New York, Florida, and Italy. An earner who specialized in all types of commercial crime, when someone needed a top of the line car and knew Lombardo, they could expect their new ride in under a month, free and clear.

Joe Massei- He would be my acting Capo. A tremendous earner who could make it rain money. Another member of Detroit who moved to Miami in the 1930s and remained there til he died in 1971. He was considered a counselor to talk to in order to settle disputes, not just his own family but other members in other families also sought out his advice. He was a financial genius, had a big book from Miami to Detroit, to Toledo, to Las Vegas, involved in gambling and casinos. A big time briber who knew which palms to grease.

Santo Virusso- a heavy hitter for Chicago. Lived and operated in Hollywood, Florida, but also active in Miami Beach and Chicago. Johnny Roselli was terrified of him, and it is said when Santo visited Chicago, Mad Sam, and the three Doms, Dominick Brancato, Dominick DeBello, and Dominick Nuccio held their tongues.

Alexander Presta- better known as Alex Preston, was a soldier for Kansas City, that was one of the best political fronts in the mafia. He was an easy approach for high society and politicians to meet and make deals with. Involved in gambling, stolen goods, and extortion which he became better at after his release to where he worded things carefully as it would be difficult to prove it in court.

John Balsamo- a Profaci members that served as a trusted courier between the U.S. families and Italy. Strong connections to Italy. No Criminal history and is a perfect front man.

Lorenzo Brescia- a heavy hitman in the Gambino family. Heavy in labor unions, enforcer, and extortion. For the longest time he was the chief suspect in the Anastasia killing.

Alexander Giglio- a distant cousin of Salvatore Giglio and Bonanno member. Close to the Cotroni family in Montreal. No Criminal record, identified by three informants as a member. Involved in smut. Strong connections to Canada, Buffalo, New York City, and Italy.

Paul Fraccacreta- a Genovese member that served as a front for Tony Bender, and Tommy Ryan. Operations a large shylock business, specialized in burglaries, and mortgages

Salvatore Alamio- a Bufalino soldier who was a Strong Arm member in Pittston. Involved in gambling, garment industry, and labor racketeering.

Nicholas ToLentino- a Lucchese soldier, who was highly trusted in the tri-state area. Involved in armed robberies, and interstate drug trafficking.

Should of read all of it. Territory, half the members are from New York City, two are from Brooklyn plus another eleven associates are also from Brooklyn, so New York and Brooklyn as home base. Miami is open so no trouble there, Lombardo never stepped on anyone's toes in California. Kansas City and Pittston make a business arrangement with those families. Family? These members know of one or two already in the crew, seeing how half of them knew administration members of the Genovese family, I'll go with the Genovese family. My main racket, will be sanitation, but I will be dabbling in gambling, loansharking, adult entertainment, political fundraising, and real estate. A pretty solid crew, and that is not including the associates. Nick ToLentino had a solid heist crew, which is the main reason I picked him for my crew.

@Giacomo_Vacari interesting choices. The extent of your nationwide knowledge is impressive. You crew seem to be very heavy and doesn't "F" around. That Santo Virusso sounds extremely serious. I need to do more looking into his history.