Hey Phatmatress,

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on here. Just because I said your hometown is corny, I'm a tool? Who the hell are you to judge me, get a sandwich with a bunch of coleslow and frenh fries stuffed in, or whatever the hell that crap is they think is so famous out there lol

You two guys wanna spend Christmas in the sandbox??? Play nice with each other.

no im not trying to argue. it just seems that a few select members are just spreading alot of negativity for no reason on this board as of late. attacking what members post, intelligent interesting as this one have turned into blatten disrespect for the posters in this thread. i just don't understand why you would wanna just disrespect this thread (wich some find very interesting with lots of facts and info and research). i have never been banned or kicked or even warned for that matter. i consider myself a respectful poster and person. if i have an opinion that really has no use on this board i keep it myself.(AND TRUST ME I HAVE MANY!!!)infact i just got a msg from a certain member stating that the name of this game is arguing on this board. obv it's not and it's not to come on and rag on posters/threads. i just wanted to explain my feelings.

I have friends who live out that way and some family out there they know how to take a joke as they would make fun of Philadelphia as well.

That area is very spread out unlike this side where everyone is in your business. I could of contributed stuff about the video poker business, or certain last name(s) on one of the charts that hit close to home but then again we have people claiming to have worked with law enforcement.

It's the holidays I'm not trying to argue with anyone either.

ok perhaps i have just been to sensitive lately with this board. no hard feelings. i was auctually just out towards philly on the 18th. i was in Reading for the CKY show. are you familar with them?

Just ignore the guy, Philly Boy. DNM, If people like you know who, spended their time minded their own, instead of what others are doing, and not being the net police like the person I'm talking about is, this world would be a better place. Also, about the name of the game, it was a joke. The guy needs to stop being so sensitive and enjoy this awesome forum.

You know what, just got a note from Phat, and It's all good. Merry Christmas to all and to my Jewish friends Happy H. Let's all just have a drink and chill. Ciao!

Happy Holidays to all. NJBoy55 was going to send you a PM, but wanted to know if you ever made it to the Pet Shop today lol..

Like Bam Margera CKY? Didnt know they still preformed.

yeah bam's brother is the drummer. they are still around. im a die hard cky fan lol. not to much a fan of bam nowadays hes kinda gay but the band has done a good amount to distance themselves from like the jackass mtv stuff. they are a really good band.

The FBI one bother all the VFW'S and take there poker machines in towns alot smaller then dubois back in the 60's n 70's they harassed anyone they could

I've ran into BAM at his bar/club "The Note in West Chester PA. I saw him out a few times, always bugging people for yeyo if he didnt have his own or to get him some. I remember at the IGGY POP Concert a few years back 08 I believe Electric Factory Philadelphia..These girls he was taking back in the greenroom no way they were 18 pedafile,,cokehead..loser.

yeah im not a fan of bam anymore. i used like him when he was a skateboarder as opposed to some women's clothes wearing idiot. his stuff isn't even funny anymore. i think thats a big reason the band CKY distants themselves from that nonsense.

Happy holidays to all.

Yeah I always thought he was a douchebag.

How old are you Phat? A CKY fan can't be older than 30, I'm 22

im 28...i have been a fan since 99 lol im an original fan

It's nice to see other youngsters on the board

Here is a link from 1983 that shows West Virginia, Youngstown, Stebenville and Pittsburgh organized crime.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19830227&id=7tkcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GGEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2459,4738016

That's quite a find. I remember being incredulous when my father told me there was a Cosa Nostra presence in Steubenville when he was younger. In fact, I just dismissed it as him repeating some silly rumor he had heard. Then I later investigated it extensively and found out it was true. And it also existed in Wheeling and other places in the panhandle.

Yes, that's right.... the West Virginia Mafia.

I've never seen a picture of Orlando Carabbia before... wonder what he's up to these days. Interesting how the graphic highlights the unmade Carabbia but doesn't show Jimmy Prato.

BTW you don't happen to have a timeline of the hits etc. from the Naples-Carabbia war, do you?

Hi Ivan,

Through my extensive research, here are a few clues for you to investigate further. If you are looking for a great photo of Jimmy Prato from Youngstown, check out Rick Porello's book called "To kill the Irishman." There is a large surveillance photo of Prato. Also included are photos of Ronnie Carabbia, Joey Naple and Lenny Strollo.

As far as Steubenville, three names to check out are Silvio Pinciaro, James Vincent Tripodi and Jack DeSauro (still alive and running a very extensive numbers and sports bookmaking operation).

The timeline for the Naples-Carabbia war would be from 1978. Charles Grisham was the first casualty, James Cononico in 1979. The Carabbia's first cousin, Dominic "Junior" Senzarino from Poland, OH was shotgunned to death in his own garage in 1980 and the list goes on. Here is a link for the indictment:

http://www.vindy.com/news/2002/feb/22/youngstown-ky-inmate-indicted-in-21-year-old/?print

http://www.vindy.com/news/2002/jun/08/man-pleads-innocent-in-21-year-old-murder-case/?print

http://www.vindy.com/news/2003/jul/14/youngstown-mob-hit-man-talks-to-crime-task-force/

http://www.vindy.com/news/2003/jun/26/youngstown-hit-man-suspect-appears-in-court/?print

http://www.nevadaobserver.com/Reading%20...20Affidavit.htm (This is a complete list of all the victims from the Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Youngstown war.)

http://members.fortunecity.com/sosdie/mob/family/pittsburgh/youngstown.htm (Photos of Prato, Naples and Strollo)

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/end-of-the-line/Content?oid=1472059 (Great article on Youngstown, OH mafia activity)

Here is an article on Carmen Policy, originally from Youngstown/Poland, OH. Carmen and his law partner Ed Flask had a very strong law firm where their concentration was on organized crime figures such as the Carabbia's, Naples brothers etc. Carmen became the President of the San Francisco 49ers because of his close friendship with billionaire shopping mall mogul Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Here is a great article:

http://www.clanram.com/forums/f58/amazing-transformation-carmen-policy-defender-mobsters-5212/

http://www.sfweekly.com/1999-10-13/news/charmed/full/ (Photos of Ronnie Carabbia nd Joey Naples are included)

Here is a court document on Jack DeSarro, who controls gambling in East Liverpool, OH (which is about 30 miles north of Steubenville). Jack DeSarro and Michael "Cyrak" Serrecchio from Youngstown, OH were longtime friends and partners in both the Youngstown/East Liverpool operation of numbers known as "the bug."

http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F3/16/16.F3d.1222.92-3872.html

Here is an article on the DeSarro family from East Liverpool, OH from a small publication known as "Ohio River Life."



Friday, December 19, 2008
The DeSarros respond

by M. Stewart
In light of the stir caused by a Tuesday Morning Journal article in which East Liverpool Councilman Ryan Stovall is quoted as saying that threats were made over renewal of a local club’s liquor license, I visited with Gina DeSarro Tatgenhorst on Thursday to get her family’s side of the story.

Let me say at the outset that I take no sides in this controversy, but when Gina told me that the local newspapers have been reluctant to present her family’s point of view, I thought it would be interesting to offer ORL readers a chance to see it. Please note that although I have had some fun with this issue in the past, I’m playing it straight in this piece.

First of all, let’s address the alleged name of the Pennsylvania Avenue club in question—Liquor Dick’s. The working assumption is that the DeSarro family gave the club a suggestively lewd name to retaliate against the city for shutting down the University Club, which Gina DeSarro operated for 10 years before it was closed in 2006 as a “nuisance” bar.

Liquor Dick’s has been interpreted as a way of saying “lick our dicks” to city hall. A compelling idea to be sure, but Gina claims the name has nothing to do with that. In fact, Liquor Dick’s is not the name of the club. It appears on no sign and is not recorded as the name of the club on the liquor license, invoices, or any other documents. It is, she admits, what people called the Italian American War Veterans (ITAM) Post 25, and that her son, Dick Bissell, who operated the club, is largely responsible for it.

“It was a name he thought was cool, like Whiskey Dick’s,” Gina said. “His name is Dick and we sold liquor there, so it became known as Liquor Dick’s. What can I say? He’s a 22-year-old, and it probably was a mistake to call it that, but what 22-year-old hasn’t made a mistake? . . . [So] the name really is not what it seems. We are sorry. We didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just something it was tagged.”

As for the alleged threats, Gina said that her father, Jack DeSarro, did call Councilman Brian Kerr, but made no threats to him. According to Gina, Jack complained to Brian about the Liquor Dick’s issue being dragged through the newspapers yet again, even though the club has been closed since October. She said her father did, however, express disdain for the city’s constant opposition to his family’s business interests, at one point saying, “As far as I’m concerned, the town can stick every business I own up its ass.”

Although Gina did not characterize the discussion as cordial, she vehemently disputed that any threats were made to Kerr or any member of city council. According to the Morning Journal, Councilman Stovall issued a “warning” in response to the alleged intimidation, saying, "This won't be tolerated. We will take back our town."

In response to Stovall, Gina said, “I don’t understand where that’s coming from. He’s going to take the town back. I didn’t know we were running the town.”

Gina said that when the ITAM club received a letter dated Oct. 17, 2008 from Italian American War Veterans national commander, George Le Porte, demanding that the club cease operations, the decision was made to shut it down with no intention to re-open. According to Gina, it was Councilman Kerr who made the inquiry to Le Porte that elicited the cease-and-desist letter.

Much of the controversy, she believes, came from the club’s unofficial name of Liquor Dick’s, but Gina insists that it was a legitimate ITAM club. “Everybody signed the member book; everybody paid dues; and everybody had a card,” she said. “I didn’t understand it, but when I got the letter I shut it down. It has been closed since before Halloween.”

She said the liquor license itself remains in good standing. “We’ve paid the fee every year. We haven’t received any letter from the liquor control board. They have no issue with the license. [Le Porte] told us that Councilman Kerr said that ITAM 25 was being run as a night club. When we asked for proof of trouble, [the commander] didn’t have any. We were charged with serving a non-member in ’07. [Police Chief Mike] McVay stated it was underage drinking, but there was never any charge for underage drinking.”

Gina said the liquor license was issued in 1980 and was fully sanctioned by ITAM, who sent documents to the liquor control board indicating who was to receive the license. There was no forgery involved, she said. According to Tuesday’s Morning Journal story, the city intends to challenge the renewal of the license with the state commerce department.

Gina admitted that there has been some problems at the ITAM club—particularly a July 4 shooting involving a local resident and a Columbus man. She also recognized that there had been unwanted trouble at the downtown University Club. The night of the infamous “riot,” she said the club was filled to capacity, and most of the patrons were out-of-towners from Pittsburgh and Youngstown.

As much as she attempted to control the U-Club, she admits that in the end “it got away from [her],” largely because of its popularity with big-city patrons. Gina also said that some of those people no doubt were involved with drugs, but that happens in bars everywhere. “We never said we were running a church,” she said. “No matter how hard you try, bar owners can’t always control that.”

As for her family’s strained relationship with city police, Gina said, “We don’t have a problem with the police department. We understand what they have to do here. I regret that every cop thinks I have a problem with them. The truth is I respect them.”

Gina has decided to retire rather than continue to do battle with the city. “We don’t want to fight anymore,” she said. “We’re tired. I am enjoying my grandkids.” Still, she is not happy about how her family has been portrayed, especially in the media.

“I’m not here to try to sway anyone’s opinion,” she said, “but we are a good family. I don’t care what they say, my father is a good father and husband. He’s been a great provider for his family, and there is nothing that would make me not proud of him.”

Here is a copy of part 5 & 6 of the 1985 Pennsylvania Crime Commission's report on organized crime in Philly/Pittsbugh. There is a great surveillance photo of John LaRocca just months before he died as well as a photo of new boss Michael Genovese leaving the Holiday House in Monroeville. A 1985 Pittsburgh Family Chart as well as photos of the Altoona, PA faction and some of its key players:

http://clevelandmob.com/files/Penn1985Rptpart5and6005.pd

Here is an article from the Pittsburgh Press from February of 1992. The article mentions Charles Imburgia, a Pittsburgh LCN member from Warren, OH. His son in law is Frank Nannicola, owner of Nannicola Wholesale Co., which sells bingo supplies nationwide.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19920201&id=YrUcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CGQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1129,15357

Here is the link to Pittsburgh Family Chart from 1984 Pennsylvania Crime Commission. This chart was found in the book by Rick Porello called "To Kill the Irishman."

http://books.google.com/books?id=K2NkBhJ...hio&f=false

So there is still a remnant of Italian-American organized crime presence in Steubenville? I figured it was COMPLETELY gone.

Pinciaro and Tripodi are dead, as they handled alot of gambling in Steubenville. However, Jack DeaSarro is still alive, probably around 80-85 years old and has always been the key guy in East Liverpool, OH.

Here is a recent article regarding Paul "No Legs" Hankish, former gambling boss in Wheeling, WV.

http://news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/542134.html

Here is an article on Adolfo and Salvatore Williams, who took over Tony Grosso's numbers writing business.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_147857.html