The Commission's Real Charges against Joe Bonanno

I have to preface this with some backstory. In 1931 when the Commission was established as an alliance of peace between the warring factions of New York, a cooperative approach to business and "autonomy" between each Family. The Bosses were chosen by the respective Clans and approved (not placed) by the Castellamarese War Winner Lucky Luciano. Who ( thru association to Vito Genovese) represented the Napolitano. Tom Gagliano represented the Corleonesi. Joe Profaci represented the Villabate. Vincent Mangano represented the Palermantani and Joe Bonanno represented the Castellamarese.

One thing that should be mentioned is (much like in the case of Law), the idea of "Precedence" is in effect. The Commission (despite common beliefs) never had authority over other Family's issues until the a "New" Commission was formed to oust Joe Bonanno in the mid 60's. What I intend to layout, is the landscape of what was really going on, If The Commission had justification for their action and if Joe Bonanno actually committed (as Sammy Gravano would say on MSOA) "a killing offense".

The precedence issue:
When Tom Gagliano decided to retire due to health, he brought Tommy Lucchese to the Commission to inform them that he chosen Tommy Brown as his successor and the Caporegime excepted the decision. This shows that the transition of power was decidedly a internal Family decision.
When the Mangano Bros, were removed, it was decided (since Don Vincenzu was missing and Phil was murdered) it was a Family matter. The Captains obviously back Anastasia out of fear and with a co-sign from Frank Costello. He was excepted.
Once Anastasia was hit, it was decided by a panel that Carlo Gambino would be Installed as temporary Boss (because he had opposition from Anastasia loyalist and because the Appalachian meeting never commenced) until the next official meeting to be held in 1961/62 (which never happened). However there was an unofficial meeting to discuss the Gallo-Profaci war. The main antongonist of the meeting were Tommy Lucchese and Carlo Gambino calling for the removal of Profaci due to him loosing his grip on the streets and failing health. Bonanno defended Don Piddru' and it was decided (out of respect to Profaci's power and legacy) he should resolve his own Family issues. When he dies, Joe Magliocco is "elected" to Boss but his election was callled into question after continuing instability with the Gallos. He was called to a meeting (by Lucchese, Gambino. Tommy Eboli and probably Stefano Magaddino) where he is told to hold another election and fined $40 grand (or some varying amount) for the transgression. Afterwards out of fear for his own life (much like the case of Castellano and Gotti) Magliocco decided to strike first and planned a hit on Gambino and Lucchese. He gave to the order to Joe Colombo. Comobo's Biographer stated that "Don Carlo was much like a godfather to Joe after his father was murdered. And even had the opportunity to join Gambino's crew but opted to go with the Profaci's because of his family association". This (being new information to me) makes the reason why he informed Gambino of the plot alittle more clear. It wasn't an opportunitistic move, it wasn't out of fear of the Commission, it was because of a personal relationship. And who's to say Colombo would've automatically been the Boss with two factions still to contend with mainly the Gallos. It wasn't until later (based on how Colombo conducted himself during the Kidnappings of their Caporegime) that the Gallo's decided they could live with Colombo as Boss. Bill Bonanno's name got thrown into the mix for being Magliocco's (his uncle in-law)driver. He, Gaspare DiGregorio and Johnny Burns Morales were sent to Lucchese to assure him, that they weren't involved in the plot. He seemed to except it.

By this time Lucchese and Gambino were placating to the Senoir member of the Commission, Stefano Magaddino. Don Stefano brought alot of weight to this alliance. He was a Boss since the 20's, a leader among the Castellamarese and Bonanno's cousin. For the Family's on the fence, that makes everything alot easier to digest and go along with. The other borgatas (Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, Genovese and New Jersey) had some gripes but were generally going along to get along. Surely they would benefit from his removal.

The real Problem begins:
Bonanno began to instigate a situation for Frank Desimone ( Boss of the L.A. Family) to be whacked. A little known fact is San Diego, Ca had a contingent of guys from L.A., Gambinos and Bonannos (I'd assume other borgatsa as well). The most prominent being Frank Bompensiero, a L.A member. Bompensiero was approached by Antonio "Tony" Bello (little known Bonanno member in San Diego) but Bompensiero wasn't receptive. This information undoubtedly made its way back to New York, with Gambino member Marco Limandri being prominent in that area as well. The reason this even applies to New York is because The Los Angeles Family had long standing ties to the Lucchese going back to Jack Dragna (a fellow Corleonesi and allegedly, originally a member of the Gagliano Family). Frank Desimone was represented by Tommy Brown on the Commission. So there it is.

The Actual Charges brought upon Bonnano:
Bonanno was summoned to the Commission to answer for 4 charges. Two were justified and two were kinda B.S. in my opinion.

* Charge 1: The books were closed since 1955 but Bonanno was accused of making members of the record. (This is a hypocritical charge because all the Families did it but, this alone is enough to be called in for).

*Charge 2: Instigating a hit on Boss Frank Desimone ( this charge is warranted in my opinion but because the attemp was never really made and it based on hearsay. Whether true or not, Bonanno should have had to answer for it.

*Charge 3: Paolo Violi was a member of the Luppino Clan in Toronto. He was a huge earner and began shifting his allegiance to the Cotroni's in Montreal. This was Stefano Magaddino's beef because Toronto was his territory. (This is the second legitimate charge in my opinion because of the poaching of assets meaning earners. Although I do believe it was more internal Canada business, from a technical standpoint Don Stefano had a beef.)

*Charge 4: The Chicago outfit had a beef over two Territories. Bonanno usurped both the Chicago and Milwaukee borgatas in the purchase of Grande Cheese company that had long-standing ties to those groups (even having a history of bloodshed tied to it). Secondly, although it was considered an "open" territory, Arizona was considered apart of their jurisdiction. Bonanno moved there in the mid 40s only as a resident. But into the 50's began running a crew (through Capo Joe Venza) operating in Tuscon and Phoenix. (This charge doesn't have merit in my opinion because Arizona was always considered open. Now maybe Bonanno overstepped by not asking permission or including Chicago in his criminal exploits but not totally wrong. In the case of the Cheese Company, which turned to being extremely lucrative, maybe they had a beef but no rights in my opinion.)

Those are the official charges against Bonanno. Now after logically speaking, are these "Killing Offense's"??? I mean if Albert got away with the Mangano brothers hit for 6 years, should Bonanno have really been whacked? I don't think so. Should he have been removed? Besides the fact that they didn't have the authority because there wasn't a precedence, I still say, No. It was a Bonanno Family issue.

In the case of Gaspare DiGregorio, once the Caporegime splintered (whether I like it or not) Bonanno power was called into question. A contingent of guys based in Long Island (DiGregorio, Paul Sciacca, Rusty Rastelli, Frank Mari, Mike Adamo and a few others) and with support from fellow Castellamarese Stefano Magaddino, split the Family. Based on the rules, The Bonannos didn't have an official leader because neither had majority sway in the Family. It was the "New" Commission (comprised of Lucchese, Gambino, Eboli & Catena and Joe Colombo with Stefano Magaddino) who gave DiGregorio his status. But Gasparino was no Don Peppino and was relinquish of his power. (This is were the precedence for the Commission directly ruling over Families began.) Paul Sciacca was installed. This is the real reason ( I believe) the Bonannos lost their Commission seat. After the was was done, The Family was crippled campared to just 10yrs earlier. Between the murders and thise who retired, the Bonannos lost alot of strength. They were acknowledged with a Commission seat because they were strong enough. Its that simple. Sciaaca, although a smart business guy, wasn't even close to Bonanno power and prestige.

In the end it all worked out for the other Families. Even Joe got a better deal out of it. But The Bonannos (from 1968-present) lost the most for turning on their godfather for a Commission who had no authority. Thats why they use the word "Representante". The Father represents the Family, he is the protector against outside powers. When the Father is weak, so is the Family.

I look forward to the comments, I know there will be backlash lol but its ok, this isn't revisionist history, all these facts can be researched to be truthful. Its just my perspective on how the information is layed out.
I will disclose some of the other Issues the Commission had with Bonanno on another post!!!

The Second Half of The Story:

As far as Bonanno was concerned (in 1963) he was the last Chairman, at the last "Official" and "Unofficial" meetings, which happens to be true. Gambino (of course on the streets) was head of his Family but not "on paper" in Bonanno mind because it was ratified in a "Official" Meeting. (If you remember, one of the reasons Vito Genovese rushed the Appalachian meeting because he wanted his position in the Luciano Family ratified during the meeting.) Angelo Bruno and Joseph Zerilli were assigned to inform Bonanno to Come in for a meeting but Zerilli didn't have a dog in the race and went back to Detroit. Bruno and Sam Decavalcante tried to intervine but The Plumber wasn't on the Commission and Bonanno didn't respect Bruno as a Boss. (Bruno was endorsed by Gambino who in Bonanno's mind wasn't a Official Boss yet.) So Bonanno refused the meeting and went on the lam from his impending legal issues. (I also wanna point out that during these times Bonanno was still seeking and acquiring other business opportunities. He was just "hiding" from enemies or law enforcement agencies.)
Lucchese and Gambino used Stefano Magaddino's Senoirity to usurp Bonanno's "Chairman" status and they conspired with Joe Colombo, Tommy Eboli and Jerry Catena to removed Bonanno. Why??? Over Drugs, Territory and (probably) some Union and Garmet industry racket seizure.

Stefano Magaddino comes into play because he and Joe were cousins. The jealous of his younger cousin gaining more prominence in America and within there Castellamarese Clan was stinging. And the Paolo Violi situation was a legitimate beef but I really believe the fact that Bonanno left Magaddino out of the Heroin business and his expansionist plans was the biggest bone to pick there. For whatever reason, Bonanno never wanted to couple with Don Stefano. Perhaps, he didn't think Magaddino was as astute as he was. This is what also brings Gaspar DiGregorio into the picture.

Gasparino represented a strong group of guys mainly from Longn Island but some from the Brooklyn homebase. But he was the brother in-law of Don Stefano and for that reason (I believe) him and his group was mainly kept out of Bonnano's "drug clique". That's a huge source of cash to kept out of and have to pay exorbate tribute on top. That's a fault on Bonanno's part, but he could trust DiGregorio and Magaddino's association (If you remember in the Sopranos, Tony didn't wanna give Ralph a piece of the casino because New York was partners and he didn't wanna give him access to Johnny Sack.) He would prove to be right. This is the only logical reason I could come up with forthe Family spliting apart. In reality, its always OVER THE MONEY!!!

In the case of Bill Bonanno, whether he was "elected" or "placed" as Consigliere is iffy for more. I see both angles and truely believe, its alittle of both. Thats being said, he didn't belong in that position. Period. As a street guy, he supposedly had an opportunity to whack Gaspar himself and didn't. (That's his words). But end of the day, it was about the drug money not flowing in Long Island. Frank Mari was getting his drugs from Joe Beck DiPalermo on the side. The more street side of the Family in New York who weren't tightly associated to Carmine Galante weren't really apart of the "Clique" which was his associates (in NY & Canada) plus Bonanno's relatives (Bonventre/Magaddino/Labruzzo/Bonanno). That leaves alot of guys on the outs : Gaspar, Sciacca, Smitty D'angelo, Rusty Rastelli, Nick "The Battler " DiStefano, Mike Adamo, Mike Consolo, Nick Alfano, Angelo Caruso. Aand alot more. The Bonanno Family doesn't get the credit it deserves because even it had some earners and and some dangerous guys. Frank Mari for instance was definitely more capable any any capacity than Bill Bonanno.

And by all means based on the rules, they had a right to want another leader. But Bonanno still bolstered a loyal to the end group. (Which to me speaks the loudest.)
The Family fought, Bonanno lost the war and Paul Sciacca was elevated to Boss of not the same organization. He had to whack out a few contenders but that was that. Family issue resolved.

One last thing I have to point out, in the mid-60s Bonanno was allegedly offered the opportunity to run the "Coffee" trade ( code word for heroin) in Haiti directly by its dictator, Papa Doc Duvalier. At some point the island a been occupied (similarly to Cuba although lesser in scale) by La Cosa Nostra particularly the Gambinos. There were abandoned Casino to be rejuvenated and another hub for the Heroin trade being offered to Bonanno at a meeting that Bill had there. This also is an affront to the likes of Gambino. I do believe Gambino had a claim on this territory but the beef isn't legitimate because the opportunity was brought to the Bonannos.

The aftermath:
To me, its obvious that the end game was to remove Bonanno so that the Lucchese and Gambino Families could become the leaders in the Heroin Trade. Think about about it this way, early 70s French Connection case is Carmine Traumanti (Lucchese) going into the mid-70s you have the Cherry Hill Gambinos. Once Carmine Galante returns, you have to wonder why the Gambinos were so close to his hit??? He would've brought back too much of the old ways (The Bonannos in prominence and being leader of drugs).
They got to knock them out of the Garmet Industry (believe it or not they were pretty lucrative at one point). And who benifited? Tommy Lucchese and Ultimately Don Carlo Gambino.

Bonanno mantain an viable business portfolio, still controlling the Mozzarella cheese industry for a decade longer. He was still a high level emisarry within the international drug smuggling (think to his being informed of the Galante hit). He ran a crew of old timers and second generation relatives who were into gun and jewelry smuggling, loansharking and small business infiltration.

The Conclusion:

*The Commission based on the actual rules they established didn't have the authority to remove Joe Bonanno. Based on a Majority though, they removed him. It is what it is. I don't agree with it, It was a Family Matter.

*Bonanno overstepped his boundaries and the size of his empire crumbled under its own weight. I do agree Bonanno was out of line (in totally) but I don't think he committed "Killing Offense's".

*The Bonannos (like every Family) should be able to elect their own boss. No Commission approval needed. If you are the "Rapresentante" you represent a group of people. That group should be strong enough for you to be respected and acknowledged as a "Boss".

*Bill Bonanno had no business being in the Hierarchy. No argument here.

*The Commission that most mob enthusiasts understand is how it operated after 1968. The Original 1931 Commission is misunderstood.

*Tommy "Three Fingers Brown" Lucchese is the real puppeteer. Although Carlo Gambino reaped the ultimate rewards, it was Lucchese who orchestrated this. Lucchese could've been the Boss of Bosses if he lived longer.

*The Bonannos (post 1968) aren't the same organization (or drawing from the same historical lineage). And lost power, prestige and money.

Interesting observation, can't wait to read the whole thing later.

So...the guy he hired to do the hit, who went to the commission...there is dispute as to whether he was truthful? I had not heard that before.

How did Bonnano respond when that accusation was made to him? Deny, admit, lie, silence, etc?

I'm going to Google the Grande connection. I had always heard rumors about milk hauling operators in Wisconsin being mobbed up but could never really find anything about it. Can you add anything to that part?

*The Bonannos (post 1968) aren't the same organization (or drawing from the same historical lineage). And lost power, prestige and money.

This is where I have to disagree with you. The Bonannos are still very much in touch with their roots, even to this day. According to Italian law enforcement:

Francesco Domingo, is the Mafia don of Castellammare del Golfo, in the Province of Trapani, Sicily, which is likely the birthplace of the Bonanno Family. According to various investigations, Domingo has maintained close relations with the American Mafia, in particular the Bonanno Family. In fact, Bonanno affiliates have made numerous visits to Domingo's villa in Sicily. Here they would ask Domingo for permission to speak with members of the Mafia family based in Alcamo, also in the Province of Trapani. The traveling Bonannos also conveyed messages between Domingo and his associates in the United States. Domingo was arrested in June 2020, along with 12 other members of the Castellamarese Family.

I think many of these so-called "experts" talk out of turn, or speak too soon, without knowing what the hell they're even talking about. The Bonannos were indeed still a powerhouse after 1968, and while they may have been booted off the Commission, they still held their own and were probably the Family with the closest ties to the old country.

That's not to say that you haven't made some valid points.

Joe Columbo's son said in one of his interviews available on Youtube that it was Gambino his father was very close to.

1.) Joe Colombo was personally close to Carlo Gambino. Colombo didn't "go to the Commission" per se, he went to his personal friend to warn him. That's a big difference. Joe Colombo and Sally The Shiek Mussachio were tasked with the hit from Magliocco. Apparently Bill Bonanno drove Magliocco to the meeting. Colombo informed Gambino of this.

2.) As I stated, Bonanno sent word to Lucchese that he wasn't involved. Later Joe Zerilli and Angelo Bruno failed to inform Bonanno "properly" about a Commission meeting and Bonanno stalled. (As well as dealing with his legal problems at the time)

3.) I don't have info on Milk hauling in Wisconsin, though it sounds intriguing. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a connection

Well maybe I spoke too soon, but I try to stay away from modern LCN things (aA. Because its current and B. I don't find it as interesting).
I know there was a "Domingo" in the Bonannos in the early days so I am familiar with the name. I will say this, an "expert" doesn't mean you know everything, which I never claimed.
I will say this, the Bonnano come from a clan of Families (Bonanno/Bonventre/Magaddino) and some subsidiary families from the past. These aren't the same groups that modern guys are associated too. And that's my point however, if you'd wanna be techincal, there was (and is) other powerful bloodlines from Sicily (in this case, Castellamare Del Golfo). The current Bonannos are probably dealing with the historical rival factions in CDG. I could be wrong.

One thing I want to point out since we're on the topic. In the late 50's, there was a mafioso from CDG named Guiseppe Buccelato. Historically, the Buccelatos warred against the Bonannos/Bonventre/Magaddino. Once in America, he became affiliated with the Bonnanos in Brooklyn. He was one of the guys who sided with Gaspare DiGregorio and Paul Sciacca. I brought him up for two points.
1.) Just this one guy can tell you about the change in the make-up of the Organization from both a mentally not just from an Americanized standpoint but even from the homeland guys.
2.) There are other Families of influence in CDG but if its not the particular clan I'm referring too, its something different. The Genovese and Gambino Families have well known crews that can trace back 100 years in this country. They have crews that trace directly to Lucky Luciano and Vito Genovese.The Bonannos don't have that same organizational history. There isn't that same connection to Joe Bonanno. That's all I've been saying

Some things.
1) The Books were closed in 1957 for NYC, but the families were still making members in 1958, this was due to guys recently being released and the other families finally gave the ok for prospects. Even when the books were closed the bosses did make a few guys during that time. This was mainly New York Families, but other families followed suit in closing their books as a sign of solidarity especially after Appalachian. The only families that actually continued to make members during the books being closed were smaller families, exception being Philadelphia and Decavalcante who closed their books sometime in the mid 1960s, and the Commission told Bufalino, Marcello, and Lanza that their books could remain open with no interference from the other families. San Francisco and New Orleans out of respect for how old they could trace their roots, while Russell Bufalino was just respected all around, we know that the Colombos sent guys to Pittston and Scranton to be made and transferred back, Jerry Catena sent someone over there to be made, and Russell made a couple of guys for Tommy Lucchese.

2) Giuseppe Buccellato was in the D'Angelo crew and where his capo went, he followed. Not a lackey, but had strong connections to Sicily, D'Angelo went with Digregorio and his soldiers including Buccellato.

3) Gambino actually mad Bonanno look bad to Commission members. Wiretaps from The Genovese, Rhode Island, and Decavalcante paint a good pitcher of it as Bonanno didn't show up for Commission meetings, but wiretaps and informants have shown that Bonanno was not informed or was mislead by Gambinos messages.

4) The Bonannos today still have those connections to Trapani province but the connections you talk about are gone mostly as they do not hold as much power as they once did, but the Bonannos are in contact with those in charge. Bonanno and Gambinos are the only two New York City families with strong Sicilian ties.

I basically agree with all of this. Great post man....

Oh okay I see what you're saying.

Thanks for the information GV.

I brought up Buccellato merely to point out that the 2nd generation ( guys after 1957) had less of a connection to Bonanno even if they came from CDG.
This poses a question and you're the right person for it.
Do you think ultimately it was Bonanno's disconnect from the street (in New York specifically) that cause his internal problems? And although he did had Johnny Burns, Frank Labruzzo, and Joe Notaro, the fact that Bill Bonanno wasn't a feared presence contributed to that???

I always thought if they were able to get to the top guys ( Gaspare, Sciacca, Adamo, Rastelli) early, it would've at least qualled the Family. Maybe it wouldn't have gotten the Commission of his back. Who knows. I think after Lucchese died, Don Carlo could've been negotiated with but Sciacca and L.I. refused to give up the reigns. I curious why it totally broke down at the end. I don't think anyone tried to bring it back together at the end. Bonanno had to step aside.

His Biographer said Colombo could've joined the Manganos und Carlo but joined the Profaci's, because he wanted to find out the reason and the killers of his father.

This was brand new information to me and pretty interesting I might add. Colombo was a capable guy and maybe Joe Magliocco knew that he could get close to Gambino but he didn't understand the extent to their relationship. I don't think many of us knew this.

Yes Bonanno was out of touch with his street guys. By the late 1930s early 1940s, Joe Bonanno was presenting himself as a business owner and a pillar of the community. He had loyal street guys in the streets, but it came down to respect and fear of them which is how Bonanno kept his family in check. Remember the big narcotics bust in the 1950s sent alot of Bonanno top loyal guys to prison such as Carmine Galante, Natale Evola. Joe had Johnny Burns and Joe Notaro, but when Notaro died guys who were on the sidelines went into Digregorio camp, and some even switched over there while a few Bonanno loyalist who wanted to go on the sidelines went on the lam even going out of state in some cases. Also Bonanno was greedy and as he his legal troubles and cost went up, he demanded more from his family, and this is one of the main roots that Digregorio, Rastelli, Sciacca and a few others went against Joe Bonanno and yes they started out peacefully, but as time passed and no one was getting anywhere, DiGregorio listened to Stefano Magaddino and made the mistake of making a violent conflict. Genovese and Lucchese wiretaps shows how much Magaddino and DiGregorio lost respect.

GV maybe you have some insight.
From 1969 until about 73', is usually overlooked, do you know what the general thoughts were on the street in the aftermath? Was there trust issues with the Family?

Also, I've seen on a previous thread, that there was a rumor about some members considering the idea of having Bonanno return as leader. Do you think there is any validity to that???

From 1969 to 1970 yes there was much mistrust. Paul Sciacca became a little more paranoid after Frank Mari and Mike Adamo tried to take over. When Gaspare Magaddino was killed, a lot of people could sleep at night. After that there was more trust, but there was still two main groups that socialized with each other but preferred to stay with their own crowds. There was talk by loyalists of Joe Bonanno the Joe should come back and lead the family after Paul Sciacca stepped down in 1971. Anthony Cosenza and Frank Tartamella had family in Arizona with Joe Bonanno, they actually spoke for the Bonannos that were still loyal to Joe Bonanno in New York and it was settled that they would vote for Natale Evola as boss, but the Commission picked for them, general census is that they picked Evola cause he was reasonable to everyone. By 1972, the Bonannos got their seat back on the Commission. 1973 Evola dies and Rastelli is the strongest contender, but there was resentment from an unknown hitman in the family that was on Troutman st in 1966, but he died a few months before Rastelli became boss, I want to say the unknown member was Joseph DiFilippo but some things are off on that connection.

Thanks for that clarification GV.

You added great context to that situation and it makes sense that Joe Diamond would be a logical choice for both sides.

I have to agree with you on the Joseph DeFilippo comment. I saw a diagram outlining the Family around that time and it had Evola/Rastelli/Marangello/ DeFilippo a council of sorts representing opposing factions.

Speaking of Gaspare Magaddino, there is some dispute on why he was whacked, do you have any insight on that?

Excellent info, guys!
Stepping back a little: You can never to wrong by following the money in any Mob dispute. Bonanno's "vacation" in Italy in 1957, when he met with Charlie Luciano and his Sicilian partners to set up a drug pipeline, couldn't have sat well with Genovese, who called the Apalachin meeting in part to get blessing for nationwide drug trafficking. And, his forays into Canada had to piss off Cousin Stefano, who regarded Canada as his territory.

Also have to ask: What kind of "leader" (or "Father," as Bonanno so grandly called himself in his autobiography) deserts his troops in a war by staging a "kidnapping" so he could take himself out of the line of fire and duck a grand jury subpoena? Small wonder half of his people deserted him for DiGregorio, rather than wait for his return and be led by son Bill.

Well put TB..but..Did not we think that @ that day & age drugs were off limits ?? & a sour ness to the families?...Nationwide????..that means everyone ( I believe was around 28 families @ that time) in the U.S. was dealing in what was forbidding limits..or maybe I'm mistaken because it was the exact time when Appalc. took place..?

Yes, indeed, Hoodlum--we thought that drugs were off-limits for Mafia because that was the fiction they created. Reality: Mob was dealing drugs from Day One. Don Vito Cascio Ferro, the Sicilian pezzanovante who spent 1900-1904 in NYC and New Orleans, helped set up the first drug pipelines to the US. Drug trafficking was small-scale and local; and as long as sales were to minorities, musicians, immigrants and others society didn't care about, The Law was happy to be paid to look the other way, But the profits were too tempting to ignore, which is why, by the late Fifties, drugs started to become big business.

Today's Dons are just as hypocritical: They say they'll kill anyone caught dealing drugs. But, if the dealers are kicking good money upstairs, and they aren't caught, well, what the Dons don't know won't hurt them.

Very much agree.

On Magaddino, the best source I have comes from Nick Zaffarano brother to Michael Zaffarano. Gaspare Magaddino scared alot of people. Jerry D'Angelo a survivor of the Cypress shooting identified him, and many guys in both faction lost a lot of sleep over the thought Gaspare was going to be the one to pull their plug. A meeting was held between Paul Sciacca, Phil Rastelli, Natale Evola, Nick Marangello, Steve Cannone, Frank Tartamella, and Mike Zaffarano and they agreed that for everyone's sack and to move forward that Magaddino had to go. Evola and Tartamella agreed on the hit. A soldier in Michael Zaffarano crew and Nick Marangello had a beef with Tony Labello over many things and the order to kill him was a go, but they used him to purchase the shotgun used to kill Magaddino and as the driver in the hit. Labello was just a Bonanno associate. Phil Giaccone was the shooter and he had back up, maybe Alphonse or Joseph Indelicato, or just another guy from Rastelli crew. After the hit took place, and everyone was sure they got away and nothing got back to the conspirators, they killed Tony Labello hours later in Queens, Phil Giaccone was not the shooter on this but another guy in Rastelli crew. That's the best source I can give.

Good to see you on the board TB.
In reference to you statement about the "kidnapping". When it comes to that, I truely believe it was a move to buy time. I mean eventually he would have to come out of "hiding", so it probably wasn't out of fear. He was fight a war on two fronts "so to speak". I think that he learned from his his mentor Maranzano, not to trust Tommy Lucchese (particularly) and Don Carlo.
One thing that isn't as known, is Bonanno went to a military school (maritime/Naval) as a teen. He had a different kinda mind then most Mafiosi. I think it was merely strategic. He wasn't gonna make it easy for them to kill him.

The question I pose to you TB is.... Would it really have made a difference if he stayed? IMO, the guys on Long Island weren't gonna give the Family up no matter what.

In the case of the "No drugs" myth, I think it is another convoluted story. Similar to the discrepancy over the year of when the books were closed. My example would be Sammy The Bull in MSOA saying the books were closed in 1955 ( if you remember, Anastasia and Scalise were selling membership. So maybe the info Sammy got about their particular Family was correct) but most saying 57-58 after Appalachian (which would make more sense).
Similarly, Michael Franzese said they were told not to deal in drugs (to my knowledge, the Colombos weren't involved on a scale of the other Families.)

So I think it's the fact that, informers make statements about their respective borgatas and it is taken as a blanket statement for all the Families.
I also believe, that each Family had their on separate drug "thing" and it wasn't a collective effort. That's where the confusion comes in.

And maybe, what they were really saying is, You Can't deal drugs like Vito Genovese or Joe Bonanno ( on a wide scale) but if its quiet and in the background. Money is Money.

Bill Bonanno said that in 1957 they banned drugs, people take his word on the things they like, yet all him a liar or self-serving when they don't like what he said. I think it is as it seems, they banned drugs, but members secretly dealt. If caught by their bosses, many were killed.

Jace I disagree. Not with the "they banned drugs in 1957" statement because as I said, I think some Families took a hard stance and others decided to refine it/ confine it to certain crews. I have no doubt that, most of the rank and file were told that but certain guys had that "blessing" from whoever they needed and the envelopes kept going up

I believe that Joe Bonanno was very blatant and He (not Vito Genovese) actually could make his part of the Heroin trade nationwide (almost by himself). The heat was on Bonanno legally. The Canadian government knew who and why he was there. He got detained there. He was getting subpoenaed in the N.Y. They were gonna connect him to the drugs eventually through Galante.

Speaking of Bill Bonanno, GV do you know (if any) what exactly Bill Bonanno had in the streets? Things with his uncle Frank Labruzzo, The DeFilippos, The Depasquales?? And did he at least have a decent reputation before the Bananas war or always lacked respect???

In Arizona, California, and Connecticut. was where Bill Bonanno was making his money. His hand was not in New York or New Jersey, except for stolen checks, and credit cards. Those loyal to the Bonannos were into gambling, shylock, burglary, construction, garment industry, trucking, grand theft auto, unions, credit card scams, narcotics, and extortion. Also keep in mind when the split happened, a lot of their lucrative business revenues went with the renegade faction, notable those involved in the garment industry, numbers, loansharking, gambling, and narcotics. Bill Bonanno had to get his hands in on the streets to help out the family finances. He really was not a street guy and according to Peter Notaro his brother and Frank Labruzzo told Bill to stay at the safe house when they needed to make sure people were paying up. His reputation was that he was the bosses son, so members paid respect, now when he was up for nomination of Consigliere and got the position it was his fathers old friends and blood family that supported Bill, but Digregorio and two dozen other guys in the family balked at Bill and wanted another election, funny thing about it, is the break away faction was three different groups that came into one, cause they found out that they were not the only group that voiced their complaint on Bill Bonanno getting the position, so the two dozen turn into 40 made members at the start to 70 before 1966. Bill Bonanno and Gaspare Digregorio were two of the four nominees. One issue in all this was Gaspare Digregorio listening to Magaddino and making the first move in the killing of Carlo Simari, then there was the ambush in Manhattan which made Tommy Lucchese to push Paul Sciacca as Gaspare Digregorio right hand man, then the Troutman street shootout had New York remove Digregorio and told Magaddino that his advice is no longer needed. Bill Bonanno was really not respected by the crime family. He ended up hiding out in Connecticut for awhile during this time, so which cost the Bonanno loyalist a few more valuable members to switch sides, with one member going to Canada to stay with the Grecos, also at the time the Cotronis were thinking of splitting from the Bonannos for two reasons, first their first meeting with Bill Bonanno they were not impressed and felt he was dealt with kid gloves, second he went into hiding in Connecticut and did not have a message relay setup between him and Montreal forcing the Cotronis to use an old retired messenger to get messages across the boarder, which took months to get a reply only for their deals and schemes die out on the vine. This was the time that Montreal decided to do things their way instead of waiting on the administration orders, however Montreal still respected protocol and any guys that needed to he killed or bring new blood into the family, they still reach out to New York Bonannos for those rulings and orders.

To the best of my knowledge Bill Bonanno's associate Carl Simari was never shot or killed. I believe he just faded off the scene.

Gaspare DiGregorio's stepping down from the boss position had more to do with his extremely poor health (he had a series of serious heart attacks both before, and after, his ascension to leader) as well as his lack of zeal regarding the gang-war and its fallout. I'm sure his health played a major part in this lack of focus and abilities, and reduced desire to lead. He essentially relinquished his post voluntarily. His choice. He wasn't forced to step down. Quite frankly, Paul Sciacca wasn't a forceful leader either. He was a 'weak sister" so to speak. Only with the election of Natale Evola to become "representante" did all factions finally align with the hierarchy. "Joe Diamond" was a very well respected man. Unfortunately he passed away several years later (73' I believe) which led to another round of splintering in this family.

Note: Gaspare passed away only a year or two later after stepping down if my memory serves me..

One more thing I will say is that for many years I never realized just how large a family the Bonanno's had at their peak.

I always thought they hovered around 125-175 members. When in actuality their true strength lay closer to 275-325 back in the 1940s-1960s era. They were definitely one of the largest crews in the U.S.

If the Bonannos had around 300 wiseguys in their roster, then what of the other four? What was their peak strength in the 1950s?

Of course nobody has an exact count. Even wiseguy themselves are largely ignorant to the numbers unless the served in the hierarchies and were "told" the numbers each crew was allowed. But to the best knowledge I have, I believe the "firm" Commission allowance of each borgata hovered at; Mangano/Anastasia family 260-300; Luciano/Genovese family 250-300 (although some credible sources have also placed this crew at closer to 180-220 in total strength); Bonanno family 260-300; Profaci/Colombo family 150; Lucchese Family 120.

Those were the original ceilings set by the Commission back in 1931, when peace was declared after the infamous Castellammrese War of 1929-1931. Of course over the years this has all changed. ALL crews have been reduced in power and numerical strength.

The formal "inducted" in New York City was thought to never actually exceed 1500 +/- members. Then of course there were hundreds of top associate-members, and thousands and thousands of outer-ring associates of every stripe and value.

GV, now playing devil's advocate for Bill Bonanno. How was he view by his close associates? The loyalist? People like Hank Perrone? Was he even involved in anything as a soldier?

I really don't know, DP. The standard story is that a lot of his people resented his making Bill his consigliere. But. that doesn't strike me as reason enough for such wholesale desertions. Perhaps they thought Joe was dead, and they believed Bill was no wartime leader. I always go with "follow the money," but I don't know enough about how generous--or not--Joe was with his troops (Castellano was a known cheapskate with his troops, which was one major reason for his downfall).

Bill was a white collar guy not a blue collar guy. Those that were loyal to Joe Bonanno liked him and loved him. He was no street guy, but what he had on the west coast, and Connecticut was bringing in money, most of which was legit, while in Connecticut it was check forgery with Benny Flats an old Giovanni Bonventre associate, a small group of Bonannos operated in Connecticut, only a few made members and a dozen or so associates that were with Giovanni Bonventre crew, as far I know they didn't make in anyone up there since the books reopened in the 1970s, pretty sure it died out, with guys from New York having small pieces of action here and there.
As a soldier, no not really, he was only a soldier for a year before bumped up to capo and his father, Frank Labruzzo and Bonventre schooled him, but Joe made sure Bill knew the white Collar and legit business aspects, and even then Joe really was not teaching Bill and letting other guys teach him. Different atmosphere between New York and Arizona, if Bill did not have a silver spoon in his mouth and grew up in New York City more and was on the streets a lot more, I think things would have turned out different and he would not have needed all of his fathers guys advise all the time. Bill was really lost when his father was not around, and that really was Joe's doing.

NYM. I've been trying to get you to that conclusion for a while haha. Most people have underestimated Joe and The Bonannos during this period but that's mainly because most people don't care about what happened before 1957. Or if they do, it's focused on the Luciano ( and not even Genovese Family but the Meyer Lansky ) side of it. This largely leaves the true roots misunderstood. There was alot of working parts during that time. They make it seem like Luciano waved a magic wand and the Five Families were born. No, each group have infighting and instability in their respective territory and opposition to their Boss seat. The Mangano seat is questionable but understandable because it's possible the Albert Anastasia was probably powerful enough but not mature enough to be the Boss. The Manganos were the Family with the most outside forces at hand.

The Fact that Bonannos group started out on the losing side of the Castellamarese War, most people don't understand how powerful that contingent was from the 20s until the 60s mainly because of Bonanno and Magaddino falling.the Castellamarese had influence throughout the country. Several bosses/Hierarchies had CGD influence and it all connected to Bonanno. Joe had guys all over the country ( GV brought the Connecticut guys to my knowledge) Honestly, (and you'd really have to have know the majority of the Families to get this) the Family was disjointed being so spread out but for Bonanno himself, he was top 5 boss in power, strength and stability for 25 years before the Bananas War.

Don Peppino, I came to that conclusion some years ago. But growing up I was never told or realized as a young guy just how many Bonanno members there were all around us in NYC. So I do partially agree with you on that point.

And yes, Joe Bonanno had a more widely diversified family that most others crews, even most NY crews. The Bonanno's had an entire regime based up in Canada as we know, and a few members based in Florida, and some others in midwest and west coast states. Especially after Joe himself started to move west to Arizona, where they were estimated to have about a dozen members, and another dozen associate-members.

But I think you are getting a bit mixed up with just "who" was an "actual member of the Bonanno family," with the many men who originally had hailed from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, and later settled in other states across the U.S., after having first landed at Ellis Island and first resided in NYC before moving elsewhere.

Being an extremely tight knit group, 99.9% these mafiosi of Castellammrese heritage (although not Bonanno's per se) remained "amici" and "compare" with their New York based brethren. It was a strange phenomena, not unlike that of others groups (those from Palermo, Agrigento, Corleone, etc). But what makes the Bonanno's, and by extension all Castellammarese is the fact that they were elevated in stature and public exposure by the infamous "Castellammarese War" fought between 1929 and 1931 across the country, but most prominently in the New York "theatre of war."

Many future members who later migrated upstate to what became known as the Magaddino Family of Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY; or moved out west to Detroit's Zerilli family; some of Chicago's Aiello family; Joe Cerrito's and Jimmy Lanza's California families; among others across the country, were in fact from Castellammare del Golfo. Still others traveled back home to their ancestral hometown of Trapani like Frank Garofalo, or back and forth like the Buccellato's to and from America to name a few. This "thread" provided a continuing cross continental exchange of men and partnerships through the decades.

These men always maintained ties to Bonanno, and he and his family back to them. They were "compare" of course and had 'ties that bound" them forever. Many of these same men had fought side by side with Joe against Joe (The Boss) Masseria to later win that historical war. But these men were NOT necessarily members "under" Joe Bonanno per se. Some were. But many were not. Many were original members or affiliates under Salvatore Maranzano. Or were simpatico with him as a "supreme ruler" of the Castellammarese in America. They gave support to Maranzano and his NYC Castellammarese contingent. But many were in fact technically with "other borgatas."

So in a very real sense it later made it seem as though Joe Bonanno had "HIS" men all over the place. When in fact they were just allied as friends and former comrades in arms.

Understand what I'm trying to say here?

To give you another example. Joe Cerrito who became boss of a small family in California originally started out in NYC allied with Joe Profaci and his crew. For that matter Cerrito's brother Salvatore Cerrito remained a soldier in NYC's Profaci family long after his brothers moved west. After Joe Cerrito moved out west and became boss he was no longer "with" Joe Profaci, yet still remained close to him for decades through the original mutual bonds they shared.

The same can be said of the many mafiosi who migrated from NYC's Castellammarese "clan" up to Buffalo, NY. This includes "Buffalo Bill" Palmeri, Steve Magaddino, the DiBenedetto bothers, etc. They may have once been actual "members" under Maranzano/Bonanno clan, but after moving upstate they transferred membership to the Buffalo-Niagara Falls family. Yet, always stayed friendly with the Bonanno family.

Detroit's Gaspare Milazzo and others who moved to Michigan fall into the same category. In the City of Chicago too (think "Buster Domingo from Chicago"). Memberships were either transferred, or they struck out on their own and established a new borgata for themselves. These were the "originals" remember.

Joe Bonanno just capitalized on these connections which made it look to outsiders as though "he" had men all over the country. Which in fact was not true.

NYM, I understand you, I'm no novice on this subject. I don't disagree with anything you said. But two things can be true at the same time. I never said that theose bosses were under his control. You just more eloquently elaborated what I was trying to say. Most people don't understand the more Sicilian side of Cosa Nostra, so Bonanno's influence in that is underestimated. That's all I was say. The Valachi Charts misrepresented them as almost nothing in comparison but its understandable. The Family doesn't bolster a roster of name value or eye catching stories. The Bonannos require more research to gauge its true power. Unlike the Genovese Family (you could just look at the soldiers at that time and see the power). But I'm not mistaken about who was a member. The Bonannos had their own guys, in the places that they were known to be. I don't take every piece of info as gold. (If I did, I'd be saying Bonanno had 500 guys and was all over Europe and South America lol). I know the difference between who was made with him and who was "with him in spirit" (as an associate)

Another thing that is missed. Bonanno himself was the key. He was the Centerpiece to all the connections. The connection to the heritage. His problem was he started so young and his allies died out. He didn't have that 2nd generation (Bill) set up to continue that (or at least fast enough for what ended up happening). And he didn't adjust to make new allies. He became on the outside of the Commission because Luchesse and Gambino decided they could re-center it around them.

GV, Do you know of Joe Bonanno's connections to Roy Cohn (if any)??? I something thats say Cohn own The Lionel Corporation from 1960-1963 and Bonanno was a secret partner? The company was based in Germany

Don Pep, I agree that Bonanno was a powerhouse. As he stated in his book (and I believe him), he was a major power and leader on NYC Commission for years as a primary voice for the "conservative" older wing of the board (Profaci and Magaddino being the other two).

He was as strong, or stronger, than most of the family bosses (although technically all are equal). Nobody was fucking with him. As you say, it wasn't until the 1960s that Gambino and Lucchese, who were allied in mindset as well as by intermarriage, felt they could take a shot at him.

I do think that he became complacent in his control of the family and also too "confidant" that nobody would ever question him. By traveling too often away from his NYC base, it allowed the "wolf to raid the henhouse." (outsiders and disgruntled insiders who sought his ouster). It opened the door for trouble...and the trouble sure enough came his way.

And by putting his nincompoop son Bill in a position of power when the kid didn't even have a clue about being a hoodlum greatly art him in the eyes of his previously loyal followers.

PS: One more thing. I know (for a fact) that he was an extremely cheap man. He made sure he lived an exceedingly wealthy and rich existence, but held most of his guys down. DiGregorio, Morale, Tartamella, etc. Thats a fact thats well known among the guys in NY.

We are in agreement. It was also through looking at Bonanno that I gained more respect for Tommy Brown. He was the smoothest operator. A puppetmaster.

Question for you NYM
Besides DiGregorio, Sciacca and Rastelli, Who do you believe could've been a good candidate for Boss of the Family? (GV you can get on this answer as well)

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Thats an extremely subjective question. Ostensibly someone low-keyed first of all. I think had he not gone back to Sicily a man like Frank Garofalo was extremely capable. Others who I think fall into this category were Natale Evola, John Tartamella, Angelo Caruso, and possible Giuseppe Buccellato and later on even a Nick Marangello. But each of them had either died, were old, disinterested, or not in the running for one reason or another.

The problem is that we do not know there base intelligence or other key things that factor in to make a great leader; lack of greed, knowhow in the streets, personality dynamics (or lack thereof), organizational abilities over hundreds of men, etc.

So what may look good from the showroom window, might not fit so well once you try it on for size.

To your last point, that's probably what happened. Somehow DiGregorio had to to believe he had a good shot at really taking over. I personally believe, although Paul Sciacca wasn't necessarily a powerhouse, if Frank Mari and Mike Adamo were loyal, it would've worked out. They were very capable. Mari is a underrated guy, he was a earner and gangster

GV, can you speak to Mari, Smitty D'angelo and Mike Adams reputation on the street? Any words on Paul Sciacca?

The Lionel Corporation not that I know of.

Frank Mari came up in Galante regime. He was not Sicilian but a Calabrian. A heavy hitter and was into narcotics. He did not get along with Mike Sabella or Joe Notaro. When talking about a street guy, Frank was it. Grew up in Bensonhurst or near there, but mainly operated in the LES. Ran a gambling joint, robbery, narcotics (He actually visited Canada with Salvatore Giglio, to meet with the Cotronis, and they put him in touch with Angelo Tuminaro who helped distribute narcotics state side. Brother in law to Genovese soldier Carli DiPietro. Moved to Long Island. Sponsored by Domenico Sabella.

Mike Adamo, came up with his cousin Frank Bonomo in Giovanni Bonventre group. Was a hitter, and involved in bootlegging in the 1920s and 30s. Did not get along with Mike Sabella and John Morale. Ended up in Al DeMarines crew with his cousins, Frank Bonomo and Tony Adamo. By 1950s may have been placed in Natale Evola crew. Was involved in bookmaking, and hijacking, by late 1950s was in Gaetano D'Angelo crew, which was formerly Evola crew. Early 1960s seemed to be semi active, and more into white Collar crimes.

Paul Sciacca very low key. He had a lot of power in New Jersey since he owned two banks in that state. Most of his power came from the garment industry, and through there he met Tommy Lucchese and his fortunes began to increase with that friendship. Despite what some write about him, he was not involved in narcotics, but when he became boss, he did take envelopes from drug deals, which is how he was arrested but the charges were dismissed. After that he stepped down as boss and Evola became boss. Not really a street guy per say, but did earn his stripes. Unknown what crew he was in, but by the late 1950s, Joe Bonanno promoted him to Capo, his crew was split between New Jersey and Brooklyn.

I also think a "dark horse" candidate might have been an excellent fit as a boss for that family. If you look at their membership many were largely unrecognized as members for decades. Many were never even identified. Period!

The Bonanno's were a shadowy borgata for sure. The fact that Joe Valachi during his 1963 Senate testimony could only ID a dozen or so men also greatly helped them evade detection in future years.

Valachi came from Harlem. He never hung around Queens or Brooklyn and knew very little about who operated there. He was a Manhattan and Bronx guy. Thats why so many men from crews that operated up that way were ID'd for the feds. Typically Genovese, Gambino, and Lucchese guys.

If you notice, neither Profaci's or Bonanno's members were extensively listed. Most didn't operate the same areas Valachi did.

Seriously, I didn't read all the comments, I'll just say that after Vito Genovese I don't know of another mob guy with bigger balls..They were both hated and didn't care...It was almost like, come get if ya got balls enough..Nobody seriously went after either one of them..

Imagine trying to take down the commission but they fear you enough to just ban ya ??

I have a "dark horse" Hierarchy for you NYM. It actually proved harder then meets the eye. Alot of guys dead or in jail by 1968 but here goe:

Boss: Anthony "Tony" Riela- respected guy across the board, old timer with connections to mid-west Families. Representing New Jersey, he brings "new blood" to the administration.
Underboss: (I'll go with two). Nicky "Glasses" Marangello- Good Earner
John Morales - tried and true during the Bananas War, I think he could make up for the "street presence" Marangello's lacks. (Plus Rusty was too wild)
Consiglieri: Paul Sciacca - Smart business guy and it gives a olive branch to the Long Island guys.

I think this could've been a good transition until Joe Diamond and Galante got out of jail.

GV, What was Johnny Burns Reputation on the street? Why wasn't he strong enough to either take over (meaning win gor the Bonanno side) or still be involved in the Hierarchy afterwards???

IMO, Johnny Burns didn't have the capabilities to run the family as boss, nor did he have a forceful enough personality to command the family troops. (his brother Sally Burns had even less).

Johnny Morale was largely just a proxy and puppet of Joe Bonanno, who installed Morale as "underboss/acting boss" in his stead because he was malleable and easily controlled. (a smart move actually). Bonanno felt "safe" with Morale.

Thats why as soon as Bonanno was ousted, Morale was pushed to the side and essentially shelved and forgotten about. He didn't have enough influence on his own. He just faded from the scene and resigned himself to an early retirement.

He was no Evola, Galante, or even Rastelli.

Why did Bonanno kill his first two Consiglieres?

Francisco Italiano was in opposition to Joe for the Boss seat in 1931. He didn't have enough standing within the Family to challenge him but was made Consigliere. I don't know the specifics (maybe GV has insight) but I imagine they couldn't work together. Italiano was probably subversive.

Fillippo Rappa took his spoke but was replaced by John Tartamella. He was killed in 1944 for unknown reasons

NYMafia posted about John Morale, I'll add that sitdowns in John's favor and later his rulings in sitdowns didn't make him many friends or allies on the streets. Everyone is going to lose in sitdowns but Morale won when he should not have and ruled in the wrong direction of a fair rulings. A lot of us, and one of the reasons, Asaro and Grimaldi went to Digregorio faction by 1965/66, cause they could not get a fair ruling with John Morale.

Frank Italiano wanted the top spot, when he lost he started to undermine Joe Bonanno. Joe could have killed him right there as his right, but Bonanno had respect for the Italiano family in Florida and Sicily. He also wanted his new reign a peaceful one, when those were denied to him, Joe Bonanno ordered him killed.

Rappa was killed for stealing money from the family. Joe Bonanno said he was shelved, but that was just for the book and his image to the public. Rappa stole money but most likely from one or more of Joe Bonanno personal businesses. Rappa was not killed quick and Joe Bonanno was vicious with his justice l, which is something alot of writers over look. There two meeting between Bonanno and Rappa before Rappa was killed, which leads me to believe Joe Bonanno was trying to get his money back and find a peaceful solution. I think in Joe Bonanno head he really wanted Rappa to be shelved but Rappa made it difficult and he also had to send a message to his family that he was not a weak boss, cause if they sensed he was weak, even his strongest allies in his family would have him killed and replaced.

Dilorenzo, Carmine Galante had balls just as big as Vito Genovese, but was not as smart.

Several questions:
1. Would Bonanno been better off if he made John Tartamella as consigliere in 1931 instead of Italiano?
2. What impact would Galante have on the Banana Wars if he wasn't carted of to prison?
3. Bonanno was quite a greedy boss, but did he impose the $25 monthly street tax on his men as Profaci did?

GV, your knowledge of this Family is invaluable IMO.

What was the beef between Morale, The Asaros and The Grimaldis???

Do you know of Bill Bonanno's uncle Jimmy DePasquale and Joseph DeFilippo??? What were their reputations if you know.

Also have you heard of a suspected soldier named Michelangelo Vitale??? A fellow Castellamarese out of Brooklyn.

@NYMafia; Dob_Peppino; GIacomo_Vacari

I’m enjoying your knowledge about the “old Bonanno family” Pre-1970’s….

Very interesting; I didn’t realize how powerful they were.

I wish someone could write an extensive 500+ book for each of the 5 Families from their beginning to the present, sounds like some of you here are qualified to do one for the Bonannos.

I think I uncovered, why Francisco Italiano was at least kept around for awhile. He did have some people who voted for him to be the boss but If he was related to the Italianos of Tampa then they were from Belmonte, Sicily which is close to Villabate. They had association to Joe Profaci. It's probable that Francisco himself was connected to both. It makes sense as to why Bonanno wouldn't just knock him off in 1931'.

When I saw the Valachi Charts, I knew there was more than meets the eye. I think the fact that there isn't a good informer (soldier/aasociate who was on the street) from that time to give the details like the other Families.

This group was comparable to any powerhouse Family particularly peaking from 1947-1960. Not the most sophisticated nor were they the most organized (meaning structurally in comparison to The Luciano Genovese Family) but for a time the were definitely the closest (as far a personal relations go) and tight knit. That gets thrown around alot but it can't be understated. The blood ran deep in this borgata.
With everything revolving around Bonanno, it work for him until the empire was too spread out to work any longer.

Someone asked about Joe's Greed and a street tax? I don't know if he did the exact same thing as Profaci. I believe Bonanno's legit business portfolio and the drug trade was lucrative enough. He didn't need to be the NY boss anymore and get tribute. It was that simple. The other guys wanted to eat but I think all of them were out in deep waters playing with Tommy Lucchese and Carlo Gambino.

Joe Bonanno WAS a very greedy guy. This fact I know personally. He was greedy in the sense that he kept his men down. Even his best and closest skippers. Boyhood friends. He made them skippers, but largely kept them "barefoot and pregnant" all their lives as the saying goes.

Unless they themselves were sharp and earned separately, he gave them zero!

That said. The "Castellammarese Clan" was probably the most secretive and blood bonded of all the five borgatas. Starting with Maranzano they were an extremely close-knit, "closed" group in many ways. Especially those Sicilians from Trapani region. The other four groups were often kept in the dark and at arms length. The Castellammarese generally dealt amongst themselves for decades.

Something that should be acknowledged is Bonanno did curate alot of his own income. He was a big earner (for himself obviously). And I agree with NYM about him not " putting money on the streets" as they say.

When it comes to the Family itself. I look at it like cereal. You got 5 types (Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, French Toast Crunch, Fruit Loops and Raisin Brand), inevitably, one is gonna get left on the shelf more often then not. There was so much competition in NY. The crews had stiff competition in Brooklyn and Manhattan from the other Families.

Njein,
1) No, Tartamella only became efficient Consigliere after seeing where others had failed, he still made minor mistakes as a Consigliere his first few years, but it was trial and learn from him. So by the mid 1940s he was ready as he could be. He was well respect and liked cause he kept the gripes professionally, many members were getting fed up with Joe Bonanno taking most of the money from scores or from their rackets.

2) Galante's crew would not have been split into two if he stayed on the street, nor would one of the split crews split again into four groups or crews. One faction would have still split from the crew, but Mike Sabella and a few other members that went on the sidelines would have joined Joe Bonanno as that was where Carmine loyalty was. Frank Mari, Mike Consolo, and many others would have not joined up with Gaspare Digregorio. Carmine would be the number one target for Digregorio shooters, that was one guy you did not want on the street. Also Joe Bonanno would have likely named Carmine Galante his successor in the early 1960s.

3) Profaci, Mangano, and Anastasia had the 25 dollar a month tax. Tommy Lucchese and Joe Bonanno had the 10 dollar a month tax for those in the Garment industry, but there is not a lot of info for the other activities in the family or even if Joe Bonanno placed a tax like that on all members. Only the 10 dollar a month tax in the garment industry is a fact.

Dob_Peppino,
1) Mostly money, also Morale would not pay what he owed, but would make other soldiers and capos pay what they owed. It was ok for Morale to be broke and not pay, but the other members had to go to the streets and make money not a few hours, but a full day or longer. Those loyal to Morale and his brother were given cushy business ventures, while other were chasing the same dime and nickel.

2) Vincent Depasquale was big in the garment business and a capo. Ignazio and Natale were also members Vincent and Ignazio both died in the 1970s while Natale died in the 1990s. Vincent Depasquale was demoted during the war, but was still with Joe Bonanno. After Mike Adamo was killed in 1969, Phil Rastelli named him as a replacement for his crew when Rastelli was upped. Instead of Vincent getting his old crew back he gets Rastellis. Him and Phil Lucky did not get along. Vincent died before 1975. 1975 till 1977 no Ideal who ran Rastelli old crew before Phil Giaccone took over. Jimmy and Joseph were both powerhouses in the garment business for the family. Joseph had a fearsome reputation, while Vincent had a well respect reputation, hence while Rastelli who went against Joe Bonanno picked a Bonanno loyalist to skipper his old crew.

3) Michelangelo Vitale is an enigma wrapped inside an Enigma. He was a big narcotics dealer who I believe was a Bonanno members who traveled across the states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, and California, and all over Sicily, Palermo, Trapani, Agrigento. He was killed in Sicily, Frank Mari is credited on getting a team to get him in Sicily, but in all likely Hood he was killed by the new powers to be over there and not part of the Bonanno war.

Michelangelo Vitale was related to iconic Castellammarese boss Vito Vitale, a very powerful guy back in Trapani Province. That's where MVs power emanated from. And I'm 99.999% sure that any trafficking he did in America was at the behest and prodding of his relative.

He was not a Bonanno per se, but was closely tied to them because of this smuggling and supply chain the Trapanese cosca ran.

When it comes to Tartamella, I found a book called the Journymen Barber from the 1930s. It was a union book that outlined the associates across the country. The were some recognizable names coming out of Brooklyn (Di Gregorio, Oddo and other relatives I'd assume). John Tartamella went on to become Vice President of the International Barbers union. I wonder what kind of rackets/money was there.

This group did have some Garmet industry influence in the 40s-50s but Lucchese and Gambino put a stop to that. Which is interesting seeing as to Paul Sciacca association to them was from that space.

There was a member named Joseph Spadaro. He was a in-law to Frank Labruzzo (also in Garmet). He owned a coat and suit factory. Bonanno used him as his accountant and he was tasked with collection extortion fees in the garmet district.

Can I get some clarification on Rusty Rastelli's rep and role during the Bananas wars? As well as the Asaros, The Fiordillinos and Nick ",The battler" DiStefano?

What were the thoughts of some of the old timers (Peter Licata, Tony Riela, Nick Alfano, Vincenzo Morsellino, Angelo Caruso)

How was some of the associates (Lefty Guns Ruggiero, Joe Massino, Sonny Red) involved during that time?

At that point in time, the 1930s-1960s, the barbers union was very strong. Italian barbers were prominent so the industry was thriving. John half-created that union. He later merged it with another separate barbers union that only expanded and strengthened it. By the 1960s, it was renamed the Barbers & Beauty Culturist Union (Independent). As John aged, by the 1950s he had brought his son Sereno, more commonly called Bobby, in as a union official. "Bobby T" later headed that union local. It think it may have been Local #1771, but don't quote me on that.

In later years the Barbers Union lost strength and members. But back in the day they were very powerful.

@NYMafia & Dob_Peppino

Wasn’t Angelo Caruso the underboss to Salvatore Maranzano?

Yes, Angelo Caruso was the official Underboss to Maranzano. He represented the members who weren't Castellamarese. Caruso wasn't ambitious and became a Caporegime. He had a social club in Brooklyn called the Shoreview. I am not aware of his operations or crew members

This is partly why Bonanno is thought to haven been involved in the Maranzano hit. People don't understand the truth behind how he was elevated. He provideds a plausible explanation in the book on why he wasn't.

Yes, for a time I believe so. Real old timer who later resided in No. Jersey I believe. He was not Castellammarese though like Maranzano. they sometimes do that to "balance" the membership

Who is interesting to me is Giovanni (Johnny) Aquaro. Very little out on him. He's exactly the type of guy I like to do.

@NyMafia & Dob_Peppino

What’s mind-boggling; Angelo Caruso died in 1991…. He was born in 1895….

Guy had seen it all..

What was his relationship like with Joe Bonanno?

Aquaro, as well as, "Skinny Pete" Crociata, Giuseppe Grimaldi, Joe DiMaria Peter Licata and Frank Labruzzo were all capos officially or under the rebel faction but there is little info on them as well. The Bonannos for what its worth (even with informers) were a shadowy group.

Yes. Of them all, Pietro Licata we learned the most about and I think that was because of his killing.

Not much is known but he obviously got along with JB because he served in a hierarchy post for years right?

Angelo also lived a long life similar to JB, who I believe died at age 97 correct?

Aquaro was also the mentor to Phil Giaccone (one of the three capos involved in the plot to overthrow Rusty).

I saw in one source that Santo Sorge was affiliated with Bonanno. I know Sorge worked with Luciano, he's one of the great mob enigmas. Any info on him GV or NYM

During his time as Donnie Brasco, did Pistone ever bring up Joe Bonanno's name in front of Mirra, Lefty or Sonny Black? If so, how did they react?

What reason would he have had to bring up Joe Bonanno? He was long removed from the New York Mafia scene.

As long as Carmine Galante was around, Joe Bonanno was involved in some kind of way.... the feds were checking his trash. It's plausible that Pistone was made to pry information. I've always been curious what the words on the streets within the NY Bonannos about Joe during the 70s. I know generally it was bad but everyone couldn't have thought he was a bad guy/Boss.

Bonanno was allegedly informed of the Galante hit. The has never been an actual connection (who) made but I have a few ideas why.....

Wasn't Patty DeFilippo in contact with Joe after he moved out west?

"unofficially" many guys were. But officially both Joe and his son Bill were outcasts and persona non grata.

(Also, I don't believe for one split second that Joe Bonanno was "consulted" either before, or after, the hit on Galante. What the fuck did they care about what Bonanno thought at that point in time?). He was old news and amounted to nothing in CN at that point for many years already. He was a non-entity by then.

I disagree NYM. In my opinion, the international drug trade is above LCN. Galante was always gonna be associated with Bonanno. Galante (and not taking anything away from the guy) gets alot of credit as far as the establishment of the Canada and the Heroin but Bonanno did alot of that himself.

I am a believer in their is "truth in each lie". There was a rumor that Carmine was sending tribute to Bonanno after he got out of jail. Now I'm in now way inferring that Joe had any power in NY but just because Tony Ducks, Big Paul, Carmine The Snake and Fat Tony didn't deal with him didn't mean Galante didn't. And Galante wasn't a nobody. That's a problem. Also I would think it came from within the Family. It could've been a simple message that his envelopes were gonna stop. Or it could've been a question of how involved he was with Galante? Which could lead to the understanding that the guy is about to "go". Maybe they wanted to get Galante's drug contacts and Bonanno played the middleman. It could've been many reasons

You cross all your T's and dot all your i's, when hitting a guy like this. Do you think if Vito Genovese was gonna get hit in 1959, Lucky Luciano wouldn't be in the loop? And you could argue how much sway either way Luciano still had at that point. I only use it as an example. Sammy the Bull said "you go to anywhere you could get possible blowback". Maybe the just wanted to feel Bonanno out and that was all. And he in turn gave them his "blessing" by saying he wasn't already/gonna get involved. Who knows but I think it happened to some extent.

Don Pep, as they say in the vernacular, "that's what make horse races! Everybody's free to pick the horse they like."

For me, I'll stay with what I said. I feel thats closer to the truth.