I have an ancestor who was in the life back in the 1930s to around 1947. In 1933 he was arrested on arson charges - he was part of a ring and was employed as the insurance adjuster. He did 5 or 6 years in Sing Sing and never said a peep. His Sing Sing intake says no priors. He died in the late 40s. His son claims Meyer Lansky would come to the house and was introduced as Uncle Meyer. We have a statue he had made of a house he loved, he had the small statue done in bronze. 20 years later, the local neighborhood guy in Bensonhurst, I think the local neighborhood Capo or at least made guy Jack the Barber, spared my father's life because of my ancestor's rep as a stand up guy after my dad beat up his son.

Any way I can find out how high his rank might have been, if he was made or not? I know it's not a definite signifier that he was made but in photos I've seen he did wear a pinkie ring.

Maybe if you can give a name someone will tell u

Nicotera. If there were any made guys by that name.

Nick Nicotera fits your ancestor. He was an associate of Genovese made member John Buscemi who was in Anthony Carfano crew. He was close to Al Zacarelli an associate with the Colombo/Gambino crime families, Carmelo Coppolino and Angelo Leole both soldiers in Carfano crew. I have very little on him and only seemed to be in that one racket and went legit after his release from prison. Hope that helps.

Thanks. And who would fit the moniker of "The Barber" in Bensonhurst circa say early to middle 1970s? The name I was told was Jack "The Barber" Barbara but the person who told me doesn't have the best memory since they spent the 70s getting drunk, high and into brawls. All they remember is his name/nickname was Jack The Barber.

Another question: While my ancestor wasn't a made guy it seems, could he have commanded respect in the neighborhood nonetheless? I ask because relative of my ancestor said how in the 70s, there was fighting all the time with the kids (meaning teens/young adults) in the local area of the neighborhood, and that if Nick had been alive, that would never have been allowed.

Also was there a guy in Gotti or Sammy the Bull's crew named Jimmy Amelia (not sure of spelling, that's the way I was told it was pronounced)? Around 72nd Street in Bensonhurst. And any guys named Scotto in that area in that period.

I was born and raised in Bensonhurst, what’s now considered China town. I’ve never heard of Jack the Barber so I can’t help with that one. As far as Scotto there’s several. The one that always comes to mind first is Rosanna Scooto’s father but he’s been out of LCN forever. The other two are brothers from the neighborhood Billy and Anthony. One of them had the club on 60 something street called Enigma.