Im just reading about Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato and his 2001 murder conviction and its making me wonder why capos commit murders and risk getting life in prison despite the seniority. I always thought that one of the biggest purpose of being a capo is to insulate yourself from the dirty work?

Although it seems pretty textbook, I always assumed it was the capo giving the order and the soldier or associate who commits the murder.

Im relatively new to the mob scene so any posts would be helpful.

My guess is two part (and all speculation); (1) Some of these guys (Indelicato's street name is "Whack Whack") are just sociopaths. Some hitters ENJOY doing the deed. (2) The old adage "If you want something done right…".

well with the santoro murder, he had threatened to kidnap one of vinny basciano's sons, indelicate and basciano were close, so it seems like more of a personal thing.

I agree with Dell, if you look at some of the examples, you see a lot of situations where the capo was wronged in some way by the victim. Also like was already said, some of the guys are just straight up crazy asses who like to be a part of it. Anyone got any other examples other than Bruno?

The Carmine Galante hit was done by Bruno Indelicato, Sonny Black and Dominick Trinchera, all three of them capos.

Another question regarding this, is it soldiers or associates who are the ones that commit most of the murders? Im just trying to see what the level of insulation is, as in the soldiers pass down the order as well or they are the ones that carry out the hit.

Wrong, I'm pretty certain Sonny black was only upped to captain AFTER Galante's murder

Reason is, they considered Mike Sabella as a Galante guy but since he was well liked, he accepted to be demoted and Sonny took over. Which is why Lefty ended up under Sonny

Bruno too was rewarded as a capo for the hit. He to the best of my knowledge wasn't a capo beforehand. No idea regarding big Trin though

Either way, I've read of a lot murders done by capo who have been the ones pulling the trigger. I guess with hits that including taking out the boss, the ones conspiring against him (Carmine Galante for example) need to be very careful who they get in on the plan, if you tell some low-level hood to take out a boss he might see it as an opportunity to tell Galante and move up in the ranks

Lombardo in Chicago personally killed while he was capo.Nino Gaggi,Gravano.Scarpa killed quite a few but I guess as was stated above he truly enjoyed the killing

Al Darco, Greg Scarpa, Carmine Sessa, and Sammy Gravano

The Galante hit was actually done by Bruno Indelicato and Russell Mauro while Dominick Trinchera held staff at bay further back in the restaurant. Obviously Cesaer Bonaventre and Baldo Amato were present and in on the hit but were not involved in the actual shooting. The getaway car was driven by another zip, Santo Giordano.

Apparently,Indelicato nailed Joe Turano, restraunt owner/bonnano soldier/galantes cousin and Leonardo Capolla a bonnano captain also dinning with them. Mauro was the one who dropped Galante.

Stationed outside further down the street were Joe Massino, Phil Giaconne, Al "Sonny Red" Indelicato and JB Indelicato.
Of all involved here I believe only Sonny Red and Phil Lucky were captains at the time of the Galante slaying. All others were soldiers at that point with Massino and Trinchera being "upped" as a result of this killing.

Sonny Black Napolitano was made captain to replace Mike Sabella who's crew he came up in, after his demotion following the Galante hit. I've never heard a version where he was involved in Carmines murder.

I thought Turano wasn't in the life and was just a family friend of Galante?

You would think it'd be a liability for Trin to be one of the shooters. He doesn't exactly look very mobile.

Sometimes you still gotta show you can kick ass, and put fear into people, so somebody doesnt think your weak.

Its also a modern form of insulation.

50yrs ago you could delegate knowing a soldier would never roll. And if he was caught, he'd take the pinch.

Now anybody and everybody can and does roll. So doing the job yourself is protection from an underling rolling and pointing the finger.

Could it also because of a lack of people willing to commit murder in the family? I heard that the amount of hit men in the mob is usually exaggerated. Is it fair to say that out of a crew in family that consists of about 10 soldiers and maybe 20-30 associates (Im not sure what the accurate amount of associates per crew is) only a very small handful of them are capable of carrying out a contract?

I think a crew with 10 made guys usually has around 100 associates,espacially in NYC families. 10 associates with one made guy,geneally believed.

That group of 100 of associates however consists of corrupt cops, DA's, fences and other types of independent criminals who have a semi-connection to a wiseguy. The number of associates who directly for a crew is probably a 5:1 for every made guy at most.

when Dalco take over the Variou crew of lucheese family,the crew had 14 made members and over 100 associates,and it mains those people directly report to the variou crew.the same as Acceturos crew in new jersey.

I think the number of "associates" in Mob families is exaggerated by Law Enforcement to some degree. It looks good when they can turn a low level gambling pinch into a roundup of "several reputed associates of the ____ Family".
A good example of a real Mob associate would be someone like Joe Pistone. As Donnie Brasco,he was involved closely with Jilly,Lefty,Mirra (to some extent),and later on,Sonny Black.He spent most of his time with Lefty,even eating many dinners at his house.
He was involved with Bonanno business on a day to day level,was trusted enough to be given a contract to hit Bruno Indelicato,and was on the fast track to getting made.
For every one guy like Pistone,you have maybe four or five who are really just fringe guys who do occasional business or favors for the Family.

How many guys like Pistone do you think there are to each crew or to each made guy?

Some rats like Darco are former capos ,and they gave some numbers about associates in their crews,thats a realistic figure of those button man who directly report to their capos,just like Pistone. I dont think people mainly run some businuss and seldom take orders from the family can be called associstes, or connected guy. You say someone is connected,means his a worker of a mob family,like pistone and henry hill.

D'arco didn't participate in a hit until he was a capo and that's because Casso told him he had to do it

Yeah, and I don't think Vic and Gaspipe regime can be considered SOP for a crime family.

you got this capo Anthony st Laurent in providence that tried getting to low level associates to kill bobby DeLuca in 2006. one thug was wireing a wire saint an his bad health at the time says id do it myself if I was in better shape. told them they get some money a book and there button. he s been in jail since gets out in 2016 thought he be dead by now guess he was using the old I to sick card. wonder why he didn't use his son.

Who says they do? Some do, and some don't.