Do most believe he is lucky to still be alive??

Survived under Corallo and a lot of NY wanted him dead. Corallo said “NO”… and saved his life.

Survived under the reign of Vic and Gas…. I’ve been told they were close to him and loved him like a brother; They also respected how much money he was bringing in…

He’s still alive; never ratted…. And is retired with tons of money…

Very successful guy; Do people agree?

What was the reason they had for wanting him dead?

@Jace

A lot of people believed he was “ratting” on Corallo while driving the Jaguar…. His questions; etc …

Some Lucchese guys wanted him gone but Corallo said it wasn’t his fault with the gossip in the jaguar.

I can't remember if it was Sal or Carmine Avellino (I think Sal) but John Pennisi said he was shelved and bought his way back in. Sold a business for 40 mil and gave a chunk to Matty Madonna allegedly. Either way this would indicate he was shelved at one point for whatever reason. Take that story for what it's worth..

Avellino got put on the shelf at some point because of a plea he took that the family didn't like. He has since been reinstated however.

Thanks to John Pennisi, we know of quite a few Lucchese members who got put on the shelf for some offence or another including:

- Salvatore Avellino
- Anthony Baratta
- Anthony Grado
- Frank Lastorino
- Michael Perna

All of the above could be considered lucky to not have been killed instead, simply due to the extreme reluctance to resort to murder nowadays.

What John Pennisi says and what is actually true may not be the same thing.

I heard the tapes, or at least what the government allowed us to hear. Corallo was talking more, or so it seemed. As surveillance techniques have improved over the past 50 years it is almost impossible to not be picked up on a tape sooner or later. Gotti get unfairly criticized for the tapes he was caught on, but almost all top mafia members are on a recording at one time or another.

Regarding him being lucky he is not dead, we're all lucky that we're not.

Anyone that had any sort of contact with GasPipe is LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

Maybe not deliberate ratting, more like just carelessness.

A stand up guy who probably has more money than anybody. He got shelved because he took what some considered a "bad plea". I think he basically admitted to being a Lucchese member. No one got hurt. Not even him. He did 10 years for two murders lol

@Fleming_Ave;

He was definitely careless; Avellino talked way to much on those wiretapes.

@Bensonhurst;

You’re right about that; If you survived the Amuso/Casso reign you were lucky; Guess who’s even luckier; Who’s that captain or made guy who got saved by Casso;

Anthony Tortorello was his name. I believe; Chin Gigante wanted him dead but Casso saved him… from being whacked (Isn’t that ironic??)

In Fear City the former fbi agent spoke about how was difficult to put a wire and record especially in a car.
In the 1980s the mob simply doesnt understand who powerful was the electronic surveillance
Corallo was speaking with his driver like anybody.
Nobody can blame Avellino,who lived in the 1980s know how was different.
For me Avellino wasnt killed because was a big earner and controlled the garbage industry until the 1998. Was a shot caller,Casso would have a good reason for ask the ok to Amuso.

Anthony "Torty" Tortorello a former capo of the "Prince Street crew". In 1986, Tortorello was overheard by Genovese mobster asking why Vincent Gigante was upset by drug deals when Gigante himself profited from drug deals. When Gigante heard these statements demand Tortoello's death, but Anthony Casso was able to save his life by planning a phony beating of Tortorello to appeal Gigante demand. In October 1991, Tortorello along with Frank Lastorino, Anthony Baratta, Salvatore Avellino, Richard Pagliarulo, George Conte, Thomas Anzellotto and Frank Papagni inducted (made) Joseph Tortorello, Thomas D'Ambrosia, Frank Gioia Jr., Gregory Cappello and Jody Calabrese into the crime family during a ceremony that was held in a Howard Beach, Queens home. Tortorello sponsored his son Joseph "Torty Jr." during the ceremony. His son Joseph "Torty Jr." later went on to control a drug operation in lower Manhattan. In 1996, Tortorello was arrested and charged with the murder and robbery of a Manhattan designer, he later took a plea deal and was sentenced to ten years in prison. In late 2000, Tortorello died in a Kentucky prison.

For me Casso doesnt want to lose the moneycfrom Tortorello drug ring for the Gigante susceptibility.