Part from an article written by T.L.J.

Sometime towards the end of 1978, Caponigro was involved in a major dispute with the Genovese crime family of New York, who claimed the rights to this bookmaking operation as it was mainly based in an area they considered theirs. A sit-down in Manhattan was arranged between Bruno and the Commission heads and it was eventually decided that Caponigro held on to his business. (The Commission was formed sometime in 1931, as a kind of Board of Directors of the American Mafia, although most of its members came from New York or the Eastern Seaboard.)

After the meeting, there would have been much kissing of cheeks and shaking of hands as the gangsters departed, but Alphonse ‘Funzi’ Tieri, boss of the Genovese family, and its representative on the board, who had lusted after the behemoth gambling franchise, never forgot, and never forgave.

Restless for power and seeing his clock ticking away, Caponigro decided to make a play to take over the family, once Bruno was murdered, but first approached the powerful Genovese crime family again, this time for their blessing and support, hoping they would secure him the approval of the Commission, in his attempt. He had meetings in New York with Anthony ‘Fat Tony‘ Salerno who was a major powerbroker in the family. Salerno answered to Phil ‘Ben Turpin’ Lombardo who was second in charge to Funzi. Also along in the coffee sit-downs, was Vincent Gigante, one of the many peripheral figures who operated in the shadows of the Genovese family’s convoluted top management structure. Tieri, who like his contemporaries at this time, had a doctorate in the science of manipulation and deception, played a royal flush against Caponigro’s pair of aces, in a game of poker that was never played, except in each man‘s head.

‘Funzi’ had little time for Caponigro, and had long lusted after the enormously profitable gambling business the Philadelphia consigliere controlled, especially since the 1978 meeting that had gone against him. Tieri in effect gave his approval for the hit on Bruno, but after the act denied this, and was in fact probably instrumental in setting up the events that followed. Tieri wanted the Caponigro gambling concession and the Genovese family wanted access into the potential gold mine that would become Atlantic City. The stage was set for a theatre of treachery, deceit and death.

Do you think Tieri organized everything by himself or acted at Philip Lombardo's orders? Lombardo is said to have been the real boss at the time, while Tieri was a cover to distract rivals and the law enforcement.

I think Phil Lombardo was on it too...but Tieri was a big player in the manipulation game so i think he orchastrated everything by him self...about who was the real boss at the time,who knows?Its the Genovese's!

The Genovse family really screwed up by starting a war in Philly. Did they even manage to gain any rackets in the area that lasted?

What war?

Well after the Bruno,Testa and Caponegro hits,i think they made it with Scarfo,more or less

Sorry, posted a question that has been already asked, didn't notice it.

I always heard Bannanas had a huge book in JC. And even tho the philly familys crew was based in Down Neck, he had huge pull in JC. Especially in the old greek part of it. Not many know but Tino Furima came up with Caporigino and was based in JC, hence The Greek nickname. When the genovese got this book they had a lock on JC, and Tinos crew basically ran it along with other guys like Larry D and Manna who were hoboken based. That crew is still based out of there partly, save the down neck and ila guys.

Pls correct me if im wrong, this is old shit i couldve forgotten something

Poor Tino Fiumara and Caponigro. You distorted their surnames in an unthinkable way!

Way to make me feel good im fucking dyslexic

If you are not joking then I apologize.

Lombardo was the official boss at the time so he obviously would have had to be involved. Tieri was the acting boss and he, along with Fat Tony and Chin, were also apparently involved. These are the names who you always see at the top of the family at the time. Of course, not long afterward, Chin, Fat Tony, and Bobby Manna put in Scarfo as boss and told Casella to go down to Florida because he was finished. Chin also gave the OK for several of the murders that followed in Philadelphia.



They certainly were the instigator that screwed things up for the Philadelphia family but the Genovese themselves never really suffered from it. As a matter of fact, while Bruno was closer to the Gambinos, Scarfo was closer to the Genovese because of his relationship with Manna. The Genovese later got part of the money coming from HEREU Local 54.

I dont think that Lombardo was the "offoicial boss" as you put it. what are you basing this on? fat Tony was a boss, as I remember it.

Turncoat Genovese soldier Vincent Cafaro revealed that Lombardo had been the official boss all along. Frank Tieri was the underboss but effectively serving as the acting boss. While likely a part of the family's administration, Tony Salerno was never the boss. He may have become the boss but he had his stroke before that happened. That's when Vincent Gigante became the official boss, succeeding Lombardo, who went into at least semi-retirement. After he recovered, Salerno effectively became the acting boss.

In addition to Cafaro's testimony, there were several bugged conversations that alluded to Gigante being the real head of the family. Including one of Salerno himself saying he would leave a certain matter "up to the boss," referring to Gigante. In another recorded comment, he said something like, "If Phil and Chin don't like how I'm doing the job, they can have it back." Salerno had a lot of power in his own right. He attended most of the Commission meetings, making ceremonies, met with other mafiosi from other cities, and his crew oversaw many of the family's construction rackets. But he ultimately had to defer to Gigante on major matters involving the family.

How sure are we that this guy did not have his own agenda? Was he in a position to know this?

Cafaro was a member of Salerno's crew and worked directly under him for years. Few were in a better position to know.