The most important, but unknown, Mafia boss ever!

He is arguably Cosa Nostra’s most important, and least known, boss to ever head a Mafia Family in the United States. A mafioso genius, so shadowy, but so powerful and respected that he was recognized and revered by his fellow bosses from coast to coast. Yet, he remained a shadowy enigma...Coming soon! Only at ButtonGuys.


Often Imitated, Never Duplicated…Button Guys of The New York Mafia…There’s only one!

He ruled with unquestioned reverence for his authority for nearly four decades and was beloved by his men.

He was a deadly, deadly mafioso. Yet, whether by the sword or by the pen, his made his mark and conquered his territory, paving a new way for his troops.

He not only became a millionaire many times over within the underworld. But later, like the true chameleon mafioso that he was, transformed himself into a highly respected figure within the 'upper world' as well.

Coming soon...Only at ButtonGuys!

Who is this man?

Maybe Frank Costello?

Russel Buffalino?

Actually, those are both very good guesses Millspgh. But no, this next fella is neither one of them.

In fact, (to the best of my knowledge,) and to my surprise, nobody has ever really written about him before.

Tommy Lucchese or Tommy Gagliano?

Wow! Two more really good guesses. (especially, IMO, Tommy Gagliano who was so low keyed)

But no, this next fella I'm gonna be posting up isn't ether one of them. lol (but, without a doubt, good guesses Dwalin)

I'm gonna say James Lanza of San Fransico.
A 4 decade run is hard to pull off. It can't be from the
5 Families cause of the rate of high turnover of bosses
Getting whacked or dying from old age.

Lanza was very successful in the olive oil trade.
To be beloved by your rank and file means
You let them earn and prosper.

If it's not Lanza then I'm thinking of that boss in
Upstate New York. I think it's the Binghampton Crime Family
I'm thinking of.

Paul Ricca?

Augustus, that was a very intelligent, logical, and well thought out response to my question. And on review, you picking Jimmy Lanza makes a helluva lot of sense. So bravo to you my friend!

But no, Lanza is also not the fella I'll be writing about.

But, once again, kudos to you for such an intelligent pick.

Well, without a doubt Paul Ricca does meet many of the criteria I mentioned. So thats another intelligent choice, Hollander.

But no, Ricca is not the guy either.

Still, Paul Ricca was a very respectable pick.

My final guess lol.

Jack Tocco?

Honestly Hollander? Picking Jack Tocco was an even more succinct and smart choice than picking Ricca, because Tocco was a master at infiltrating and later expanding into legit business and cleaning up his image.

So, I hate to be the one to say it. But, no, its not Tocco either. Lol

He said that he was deadly, none of the guys mentioned here were known for being particularly ruthless, except for maybe Paul Ricca or Tommy Lucchese.

There were not that many bosses who ruled nearly 40 years.

No doubt. Thats an accomplishment.

One of us had to throw John LaRocca in the mix. So I'll do it :-)

I'm totally stumped. Maybe someone from SF?

I understand. lol.

I will say this BarrettM. I really enjoyed researching this fella. I found him fascinating. And now, as I organize and put the final pieces of his story together, I'm enjoying that as well.

Truth be told, I had actually gathered most of what I needed for his biography many months ago. But I had some other projects on the fire and didn't want to rush this particular story. So it just kinda laid in the corner gaining dust until a week or so ago. When I finally said, "its time for this. Its due"

Hopefully, I can have this finished and designed by the end of the week (thats what we're shooting for.) And hopefully...when all is said and done, everyone will enjoy it. lol

Only person it can be is Stefano Maggadino.

Joe Zerilli maybe.

OK one more shot Nicholas Civella.

Second Nick Civella.

Frankie LaPorte of Chicago--"the only man from whom Capone took orders."

A lot of guys mentioned here were pretty notorious, especially among mob buffs. Sounds like NY Mafia is talking about a more shadowy figure. Just my 2 cents.

Magaddino is another excellent (and logical) choice. But I'm sorry to say, he isn't who I'm referring to either SonnyD.

As far as having deeply integrated into the very fiber of Detroit, Joe Z has to be considered the 'man.' He and his inner crew's ability to infiltrate legit business in that city is legendary. But he's not the guy either.

Still, great pick!

LaPorte is a very interesting pick Turnbull. And after thinking about it, a smart pick as well. He's someone who typically doesn't come to mind at first (at least to my mind,) yet, Frank LaPorte makes sense also.

But although I gotta give you an E for effort, and a big I for imagination, if you bet on LaPorte, then unfortunately, you lost your money. Because its not him. lol

Hummmmm? Now thats an interesting statement you made there Liggio.

FOH - I am pretty sure NYM alrweady did an article on Big John, so I left him off my guess, but he absolutey fits the description.

Yes NYM did a rather rather detailed story on the John LaRocca era in Pittsburgh, I just want John on this list :-)

If it's not Raymond Patriarca or Carlos Marcello, then I give up. Although I also thought about Joseph DiGiovanni from Kansas City; he remained the "power behind the throne" in his family for a very long period, I think.

Shadowy, unknown, most important? Has to John Gotti! I kid. In all seriousness, looking forward to this!

I'm working on this right now as I write this. Trying my best to get all this background info all together. Then I gotta first organize the chronology of his life so it makes sense....But we'll get there (one way or another) LOL

Some real good guesses in this thread. I admit I’m stumped

You've been working on this guy for weeks now....chop chop...lol.

GIVE US THE FUCKING NAME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! I'VE HAD IT WITH YOUR BULLSHITT!!!!!!

Ralphie,

That's the joy in the way we do things...builds intrigue. But I can guarantee you, it's a story well worth waiting for (even if you haven't guessed the name) and will thoroughly enjoy once you read it.

I’m gunna go with MoMo

He did all those things and he also rubbed elbows with the well know, prominent and famous.

Sam G. For those not familiar with the nickname Momo

But Giancana was notorious, not shadowy.

He was behind the scenes of many famous events including the election of JFK, the murder of Monroe and many other Huge events without being named or ever mentioned in the time frame, i gotta consider that shadowy.

Matteo Messina Denaro

Frank Lino

Gianni Russo

Giancana is not the subject of my story...nor could he be. As Liggio pointed out, Giancana was way too brash, among other detractors.

Now THATS a mob boss!....the most powerful

Civella or Gizzo? Or Scalish?

No TD. Lol. I'm afraid not. But good choices anyway. Especially Scalish IMO.

But I will say this much...

The story's done! I just completed it an hour or so ago and it's currently in the 'hopper' in the design phrase. But it a long and complex story. (a deep-dive expose' really) with lots of photographs as well. So it is gonna take a bit to design properly.

ButtonGuys just posted an expose about the remarkable life and career of "Representante" Santo Volpe.

This was the iconic mafioso we were alluding to...