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How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames #720542
06/15/13 07:44 AM
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As former FBI undercover agent Joe Pistone says: "Say what you want about wiseguys, they got the best nicknames in the business."

Joe Pistone says, once a mobster gets a nickname it stays for life. "Everybody has a nickname. It might be something you get as a kid or later on. And once you get a nickname, you can't get rid of it.

"You can know a guy for 10 years and you'd never know his last name. Nobody would ever introduce someone with their last name and nobody would ever ask."



John "No Nose" DiFronzo, a Chicago mobster, got his name after having his nose disfigured in a shootout with police during a robbery in 1949. Now reputedly running the Chicago mob.

Louis "Louie Ha Ha" Attanasio, a Bonanno crime family member, got his name because he was always happy and laughing. The smile was taken off his face last month when he was sentenced to 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering another mobster.


Philip "Chicken Man" Testa was head of the Philadelphia mob until be was blown up by a bomb planted under his house in 1981. He got his nickname from an earlier involvement in a business that raised chickens. His death inspired Bruce Springsteen's song Atlantic City, which opens with the lines "Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night/Now they blew up his house too",


Harry "the Hunchback" Riccobene took over the Philadelphia mob after the murder of Philip "Chicken Man" Testa. Also known as "Harry the Hump", he got his nickname from a birth defect that left him with a deformed spine. But no-one ever called him "Hunchback" or "Hump" to his face. Riccobene was at the centre of the Philadelphia mob war that raged through the early 1980s. He was jailed for murder in 1984.


Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano, an underboss in the Genovese family, got his nickname from stealing eggs as a kid in the east village area of lower Manhattan where he grew up.


Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo. An underboss in the Gambino family, he was listed as the 26th richest crime boss in the US by Fortune magazine in 1986. He got his nickname because he was cross-eyed.


Jimmy "Little Guy" Ida, a consigliere with the Genovese family, got his name from his pint sized stature. But that didn't make him any less nasty. He was sentenced to life for murder in 1998.


Sam "Wings" Carlisi got his nickname from being a courier for the Chicago mob and constantly flying around the country. Tied to two underworld hits, he died in jail of a heart attack in 1997 where he was serving a 13-year sentence for racketeering, loan sharking and arson.


Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo, a member of the Chicago mob, was given his name by none other than Al Capone after smashing the skulls of two men with a baseball bat (a similar incident was featured in the movie "The Untouchables"). "This guy is a real Joe Batters," Capone said afterwards and the name stuck. Accardo, one of Capone's bodyguards, took part in the infamous St Valentine's Day massacre. He outlived many of his friends and enemies, taking over the Chicago mob in 1972, before dying in 1992.


Salvatore "Pizza Guy" DeLaurentis got his name from the pizza restaurant he owned. Also known as "Solly D", he was an enforcer for the Chicago mob and head of the Ferriola Street Crew. He was convicted in 1993 of conspiracy to murder and racketeering.


Jailed Chicago mob boss Joey "The Clown" Lombardo got his nickname from clowning around, including hiding behind a newspaper mask while walking through a courthouse and leading fellow mobsters up a construction ladder to evade news crews. He was arrested earlier this year in connection with 18 murders. His cousin, Joseph "the Builder" Andriacci, is allegedly the boss of Chicago's North Side Crew.At a subsequent trial, Lombardo explained to reporters that a piece of his jewelry was made from "canarly stone": "You 'canarly' see it," he said.


Take Joseph Massino, aka “Big Joey” or “The Ear”. He used to be boss of the Bonanno family, whose activities under Joseph “Joe Bananas” Bonanno were chronicled by Gay Talese in Honor Thy Father. Massino got the name “The Ear” because he was so conscious of surveillance under the “Rico” anti-racketeering laws that he told associates to touch their ears when referring to him, rather than speaking his name.

It might be the person’s business that gives the sobriquet, as with Simone Rizzo “Sam the Plumber” DeCavalcante, who kept a plumbing supply business in Kenilworth, New Jersey, or “Louie Bagels” (Louie Daidone), who owned a bagel shop in Queens.

Carmine “The Cigar” Galante was so known because he loved cigars. He was smoking one when he was gunned down on July 12, 1979 by three men in ski-masks just after he’d finished his main course in the garden of Joe and Mary’s restaurant in Brooklyn. A photograph shows “the Cigar” slumped on the floor beside his chair with a fat stogie clamped between his teeth.

Joseph “The Animal” Barboza was said to have chewed a man’s cheek over a quarrel in a bar – either that or he bit off the man’s ear, which is scarcely better.


Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, former acting boss of the Bonanno crime family, owned a beauty salon in the Bronx called "Hello Gorgeous" and was known for being obsessed with his personal appearance; serving life on racketeering and murder charges.

Anthony "Tony Bagels" Cavezza, an accused Gambino family mobster known for his affection for New York bagels. He was indicted in Jan. 2011 as part of a sweep in New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island and awaits trial on charges including running an illegal gambling business scheduled later this month; has pleaded not guilty.


Carmen "The Cheeseman" DiNunzio, former underboss of the New England mob, got his nickname because he was the portly owner of a cheese shop in Boston's North End; now serving a 6-year prison sentence for bribing an undercover FBI agent posing as a state official to try to win a $6 million contract on Boston's Big Dig highway project.


Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, headed the Genovese organized crime family, known for faking mental illness for decades to hide his position. His nickname apparently came from his mother's pronunciation of "Cincenzo," a variation of his name in Italian, and his childhood friends shortened that to "Chin"; died in prison in 2005 at age 77.

Manocchio is also sometimes called "Baby Shanks." The nickname "Baby Shacks" is said to have been given to him because he had an older relative nicknamed "Shacks," which was bestowed because of that man's relationships with numerous women.

Carmine "The Snake" Persico, de-facto boss of the Colombo crime family, earned his nickname for switching sides in a mob faction battle. Persico has been serving a 139-year sentence since 1987 on racketeering charges.


Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme, former boss of the New England mob, so named because he owned a bunch of auto body garages in Boston. Salemme later became a government witness. Released from prison in 2009, he is now believed to be in the witness protection program.

Vincenzo "Vinny Carwash" Frogiero,despite the infinite frog-related options his surname provides, Frogiero was thought to have got his nickname after running car washes for the mob in his younger days. The FBI describes him as a "soldier" for New York's infamous Gambino crime family.

Michael "Jello" Kuhtenia,the mob can be cruel. Many of the monikers given to the portlier gangsters are weight related (the FBI lists the suspect mobster John Hartman's nicknames as "Fats", "Fatty" and "Lumpy") and it seems that this member of New York's notorious Gambino family may be no exception. Or, in the spirit of "Tony Bagels", maybe he just eats a lot of jelly.


John "Dapper Don" Gotti,the infamous former head of New York's Gambino crime family,was dubbed "Dapper Don" by the press because of his suave suits and charming public image. The media later named him "Teflon Don" for his ability to slip out of the hands of the law, but Gotti was said to be proud that the mob never knew him by any nickname. They simply called him John.


Tony Spilotro was given his nickname by legendary FBI agent William F. Roemer, Jr who once referred to him as “that little pissant.” The Ant, who died in 1986, handled all of the Las Vegas casino profits for organized crime, known in their lingo as “the skim.”


Dominic “Sonny Black” Napolitano had beach-blond hair by the time he turned 40, so he dyed it black—hence the nickname. He was the Capo who let FBI agent Joe Pistone into his crew posing as gangster Donnie Brasco. Let’s just say that decision did not sit well with his bosses.

Sam “Golf Bag” Hunt was one of Al Capone’s most trusted hit men and carried all his weapons in a golf bag he lugged everywhere he went. He wasn’t much of a golfer, but he was pure magic when it came to a hole in one.


Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone. He was known as “Scarface.” In his youth in New York, he insulted a sister of a Mafioso named Frank Gallucio. Capone apologized and said it was a misunderstanding, but Gallucio slashed him three times across the face, and that’s how he got his nickname.


Charles “Lucky” Luciano is one of the most famous and best remembered of all gangsters. He is like the Joe DiMaggio of the Mafia.RUMOUR goes that he got his name “Lucky” when he was kidnapped and attacked by three assassins in 1929; they beat him and stabbed him multiple times and left him to die on the beach in New York. He survived the ordeal, which is why they called him “lucky,” but he received the scar and droopy eye that he became famous for.


Gaetano Lucchese as a young person went to work at a machine shop. He earned his nickname "Three Fingers" as by an accident at work he managed to slice off his right thumb and forefinger while not concentrating.After one arrest the cops named him after a popular baseball player at the time,Mordecai Brown.


Artichoke King - Ciro Terranova. Back in the early 1900s, Terranova earned this delicious moniker because he started his life of crime by buying cheap artichokes from California and threatening vegetable sellers in New York to buy them at a 30-40 percent markup. Too bad he died in 1938 "“ the Artichoke King and the Artichoke Queen (that would be Marilyn Monroe) would have been a perfect couple.


Yeast Baron "“ Giuseppe Siragusa. Similarly, "Yeast Baron" Siragusa made a fortune selling yeast to illegal home-brewers during Prohibition. "Yeast Baron" doesn't seem like a very threatening nickname, though. It sounds more like a corporate cartoon mascot "“ the disowned cousin of Captain Crunch or the Quaker Oats guy. Siragusa died in 1931, so he isn't around to show me exactly how intimidating he can be. Hopefully he doesn't have family members who read mental_floss. Um. Maybe we should move on"


Greasy Thumb "“ Jake Guzik. "Greasy Thumb" Guzik was one of Capone's right-hand men after Guzik tipped him off to a murder plot. He was one of the guys responsible for paying off police and politicians, which is how he got his greasy thumbs "“ from counting out money all of the time.


Milwaukee Phil "“ Felix Alderisio. This wouldn't be such a remarkable nickname if it didn't belong to a guy who was neither named Phil nor was from Milwaukee. Alderisio was originally from New York, then lived in Chicago as a teenager, and finally made his way to Milwaukee, where he started boxing under the alias "Milwaukee Phil." I suppose "Phil" sounded tougher than "Felix." Alderisio ended up being a big player in Milwaukee's prostitution, gambling, narcotics and loansharking circles.


The Waiter "“ Paul Ricca. Paul Ricca worked under Diamond Joe Esposito during Prohibition, smuggling whiskey and moonshine to Bella Napoli, a restaurant patronized by mobsters. Diamond Joe made Ricca the maitre d' at Bella Napoli to accommodate his friends with "special requests," hence his "The Waiter" nickname. It's not technically correct, but I suppose Paul "The Maitre d'" just doesn't sound as good.

Tony Ducks — Anthony Corallo. Corallo, a member of the Lucchese family, didn't have a water-fowl hunting hobby, as you might suspect. He actually acquired the name because of his amazing ability to duck subpoena servers.


If yall have some other nicknames with the explanation about their origin,pls add em to the list... cheers



He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720561
06/15/13 01:07 PM
06/15/13 01:07 PM
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Toddo. I think this has been addressed before. When posting an article, please provide a link to the article. You should learn to give credit where credit is due.


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Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: HairyKnuckles] #720569
06/15/13 02:46 PM
06/15/13 02:46 PM
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Benny Squint was boss of the Genovese family, not underboss of the Gambino's. I'm not trying to be critical but I have seen a couple of mistakes like this in some of the articles you have posted. Out of curiosity, where do they come from?

Last edited by GoldenEagle; 06/15/13 02:48 PM.
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: GoldenEagle] #720580
06/15/13 07:04 PM
06/15/13 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted By: GoldenEagle
Benny Squint was boss of the Genovese family, not underboss of the Gambino's. I'm not trying to be critical but I have seen a couple of mistakes like this in some of the articles you have posted. Out of curiosity, where do they come from?


Your right,its a mistake...heres the source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Its-All-In-The-Name-&id=328041


He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720582
06/15/13 07:08 PM
06/15/13 07:08 PM
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Best nicknames?

Anthony "Whack-Whack" Indelicato

and

Vincent "Vinny Aspirins" Congiusti

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Iceman999] #720583
06/15/13 07:10 PM
06/15/13 07:10 PM
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"Vinny Aspirins" lol thats a cool one


He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720585
06/15/13 07:13 PM
06/15/13 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted By: Toodoped
"Vinny Aspirins" lol thats a cool one


Because he made "headaches" disappear. wink

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Iceman999] #720587
06/15/13 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted By: Iceman999
Originally Posted By: Toodoped
"Vinny Aspirins" lol thats a cool one


Because he made "headaches" disappear. wink


While ago ive read this Chi outfit wiretap(dont remember who was on it)and the guys were sayin something like "well tonight,hes goin to have a big headache"meaning hes goin to get a bullet in the head.So lloks like thats a job for guys like Vinny Aspirins! lol thanks for that one Iceman999 cheers


He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: HairyKnuckles] #720589
06/15/13 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted By: HairyKnuckles
Toddo. I think this has been addressed before. When posting an article, please provide a link to the article. You should learn to give credit where credit is due.




He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720631
06/16/13 01:21 AM
06/16/13 01:21 AM
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I always though Sally Paintglass (from his panel shop) from the Brasco books sounded good.

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720635
06/16/13 01:48 AM
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The one not mentioned here that's always made me laugh is "Louie Bagels" i dont really know why though.

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720636
06/16/13 02:00 AM
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Sammy Meatballs is a funny one too.

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720646
06/16/13 05:31 AM
06/16/13 05:31 AM
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naples,italy
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Raffaele Cutolo Cutolo has a variety of nicknames including "'o Vangelo" (the gospel), "'o Principe" (the prince), "'o Professore" (the professor) and "'o Monaco" (the monk).

Cutolo higfh ranking men were Antonino Cuomo known as "'o Maranghiello" (The Cudgel), Pasquale Barra known as "'o Nimale" (The Animal), Giuseppe Puca known as "'o Giappone" (Japanese), Pasquale D'Amico known as "'o Cartunaro" (The Cardboard picker) and Vincenzo Casillo known as "'o Nirone" (The Big Black).

Pasquale Barra got his nickname for the cruelty with killed the NCO enemies in prison.When killed Francis Turatello he stab him 60 times,turning over the intestines and arriving to bite his heart.

Michele Zaza once said: “At least 700,000 people live off contraband, which is for Naples what Fiat is to Turin. They have called me the Agnelli of Naples… Yes – it could all be eliminated in thirty minutes. And then those who work would be finished. They’d all become thieves, robbers, muggers. Naples would become the worst city in the world. Instead, this city should thank the twenty, thirty men who arrange for ships laden with cigarettes to be discharged and thus stop crime!” (The Agnelli referred to is Gianni Agnelli, president of Fiat, the Turin-based car multinational)[5] The profit margins were lucrative: in 1959 a case of Chesterfield, Camel or Pall Mall was bought for US$23 and sold on the streets for US$170.

Giovanni Brusca had committed between 100 and 200 murders but was unable to remember the exact number,in Mafia circles was know as "U' Verru" (in Sicilian) or Il Porco or Il Maiale, (In Italian: The Pig, The Swine) or "lo scannacristiani" (people-slayer; in Italian dialects the word "christians" often stands for "human beings").

Salvatore "Totò" Riina was nicknamed The Beast (La Belva) due to his violent nature, or sometimes The Short One (U curtu) due to his diminutive stature. During his lifelong career in crime he is believed to have personally killed around forty people and to have ordered the deaths of several hundreds more.

Bernardo Provenzano his nickname is Binnu u tratturi (Sicilian for "Binnie the tractor") because, in the words of one informant, "he mows people down."Another nickname is The Accountant due to his apparently subtle and low-key approach to running his crime empire, at least in contrast to some of his more violent predecessors.

Tommaso Buscetta, also known as the boss of the Two Worlds,for his international heroin traffick and Don Masino.

Paolo Di Lauro aka Ciruzzo the millionaire, got his nickname when Luigi Giuliano, at a poker table, he saw several hundred thousand lire tickets fall out of his pocket of Di Lauro, and exclaimed: "And who came , Ciruzzo the millionaire?

Last edited by furio_from_naples; 06/16/13 05:32 AM.
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: furio_from_naples] #720650
06/16/13 06:22 AM
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While some conehead posters tried to ruin this thread,i wanna thank you guys for contributing some interesting,cool and funny nicknames.Furio i find that Pasquale Barra horror story very interesting,thanx again.I tried to find some italian mafia nicknames but coudnt find any,it would be great if you post some more.cheers


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Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720651
06/16/13 06:49 AM
06/16/13 06:49 AM
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naples,italy
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Ok Tood,i try to find another sicilian mafia nicknames.

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #720882
06/17/13 11:37 PM
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New book about Vinny Basciano coming out July 2. Has some new photos and details about his early years.

"Vinny Gorgeous: The Ugly Rise and Fall of A New York Mobster." (Lyons Press) by Anthony M. DeStefano

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Mob_Scribe] #722657
06/27/13 06:42 AM
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Sam Battaglia got his nickname 'TEETS' from his large Loan Sharking business. He would hold court in the old days in Melrose Park at an underground Casino run by Rocky DeGrazia. The Street Soldier/Collectors would bring in a guy who was behind in his payments and Battaglia would say "Pay up or I'll knock out all of your 'teets' instead of saying teeth.
Willie Daddano got his nickname 'POTATOES' because he loved French fries.
Jack Cerone got his nick name 'JACKEY THE LACKEY' because he would always be very attentive to Accardo's needs and was his driver bodyguard in the old days.
Joe Gagliano got his nickname 'JOE GAGS' from his own name.
Dominic Cortina got his nichname 'LARGE' because he was fat and because he oversaw the main Bookmaking office that took the layoff bets from all the other crews. His action was large.
Donald Angelini got his nickname 'WIZARD OF ODDS' from his tremendous bookmaking skills and was Cortina's partner.
Sammy DeStefano got his nickname 'DYNO' because he was like a stick of dynamite that could go off at any moment.
Joey Lombardo got his nick name 'LUMPY' from giving some guys lumps on their heads when they got behind in loan payments or street taxes.
Frank Bucciere (Fifi's brother) got his nickmame 'THE HORSE' because he gave his girlfriend a horse for her birthday. A couple years later the F.B.I. asked his older brother Fifi to identify some people in a picture they showed him. The picture was of Frank and Frank's girlfiend sitting on top of her horse. Fifi said 'That's my brother frank with his girlfiend but I take the 5th on the horse'.


I could go on and on but my hand is getting tired from typing. LOL

Last edited by Chicago; 06/27/13 06:59 AM.
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Chicago] #722664
06/27/13 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted By: Chicago
Sam Battaglia got his nickname 'TEETS' from his large Loan Sharking business. He would hold court in the old days in Melrose Park at an underground Casino run by Rocky DeGrazia. The Street Soldier/Collectors would bring in a guy who was behind in his payments and Battaglia would say "Pay up or I'll knock out all of your 'teets' instead of saying teeth.



This is a funny one. He must have been born in Italy. My husband says the same thing. 20 years in this country, he still can't pronounce "th". Just like theater is still "tee ater" for him, etc etc. Makes for good entertainment if nothing else. lol


La madre degli idioti e' sempre incinta.

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Chicago] #722675
06/27/13 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted By: Chicago
Sam Battaglia got his nickname 'TEETS' from his large Loan Sharking business. He would hold court in the old days in Melrose Park at an underground Casino run by Rocky DeGrazia. The Street Soldier/Collectors would bring in a guy who was behind in his payments and Battaglia would say "Pay up or I'll knock out all of your 'teets' instead of saying teeth.
Willie Daddano got his nickname 'POTATOES' because he loved French fries.
Jack Cerone got his nick name 'JACKEY THE LACKEY' because he would always be very attentive to Accardo's needs and was his driver bodyguard in the old days.
Joe Gagliano got his nickname 'JOE GAGS' from his own name.
Dominic Cortina got his nichname 'LARGE' because he was fat and because he oversaw the main Bookmaking office that took the layoff bets from all the other crews. His action was large.
Donald Angelini got his nickname 'WIZARD OF ODDS' from his tremendous bookmaking skills and was Cortina's partner.
Sammy DeStefano got his nickname 'DYNO' because he was like a stick of dynamite that could go off at any moment.
Joey Lombardo got his nick name 'LUMPY' from giving some guys lumps on their heads when they got behind in loan payments or street taxes.
Frank Bucciere (Fifi's brother) got his nickmame 'THE HORSE' because he gave his girlfriend a horse for her birthday. A couple years later the F.B.I. asked his older brother Fifi to identify some people in a picture they showed him. The picture was of Frank and Frank's girlfiend sitting on top of her horse. Fifi said 'That's my brother frank with his girlfiend but I take the 5th on the horse'.


I could go on and on but my hand is getting tired from typing. LOL


Thanks for putting these up.


He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #722912
06/28/13 05:18 AM
06/28/13 05:18 AM
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I find a site with most of the mobster nicknames:

http://www.onewal.com/maf-nick.html

now when I'll find the reason of the nicks I'll make a list.

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #722913
06/28/13 05:56 AM
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http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/01/the_20_best_nic.php

The 20 Best Nicknames in the Big Mafia Bust

News came down this morning about the FBI's largest organized crime bust in New York history, in which raids resulted in the arrest of over 100 alleged mobsters from all five crime families including the Gambinos, Genoveses, Luccheses, Bonannos and Colombos. Charges run the gamut from murder to gambling and the ol' standby, racketeering, and now WNYC has the full list of indictments. Digitally thumbing through the documents, two things are initially clear: this thing is huge (16 indictments in all) and none of them share my last name. The other thing that jumps out is that these dudes have great nicknames. Here are 20 of our favorites:
20. VINCENT AULISI, also known as "The Vet"

19. GIOVANNI VELLA, also known as "John Vella," "Mousey" and "Little John"

18. STEPHEN DEPIRO, also known as "Beach"

17. ANTHONY CAVEZZA, also known as "Tony Bagels"

16. JOHN BRANCACCIO, also known as"Johnny Bandana"

15. ANTHINO RUSSO, also known as "Hootie"

14. FRANK BELLANTONI, also known as "Meatball"

13. CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, also known as "Burger"

12. VINCENZO FROGIERO, also known as "Vinny Carwash"

11. JOSEPH CARNA, also known as "Junior Lollipops"

10. DENNIS DELUCIA, also known as "Fat Dennis," "Little Dennis" and "the Beard"

9. LUIGI MANOCCHIO, also known as "Baby Shacks," "The Old Man," and "the Professor"

8. ANTHONY DURSO, also known as "Baby Fat Larry" and "BFL"

7. GIUSEPPE DESTEFANO, also known as "Pooch"

6. JOHN AZZARELLI, also known as "Johnny Cash"

5. ANDREW RUSSO, also known as "Mush"

4. VINCENT FEBBRARO, also known as "Jimmy Gooch"

3. BENJAMIN CASTELLAZZO, also known as "Benji," "The Claw" and "the Fang"

2. ANTHONY LICATA, also known as "Cheeks," "Anthony Firehawk," "Anthony Nighthawk," "Nighthawk" and "Firehawk"

1. JOHN HARTMANN, also known as "Lumpy," "Fatty" and "Fats"

[jcoscarelli@villagevoice.com / @joecoscarelli]

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #723505
07/01/13 04:52 AM
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Frank "Frankie Flowers" D'Alfonso ran a flower shop at 821 S. Ninth St. for many years - hence his nickname. The shop was often a focus of police surveillance because reputed Mafia chieftains from the city and beyond could be seen entering its door. But law enforcement investigators said that D'Alfonso, who was 55 when he was gunned down on a South Philly street corner in 1985, was not a "made member" of the Cosa Nostra. He had never, to their knowledge, killed anyone.




John "Johnny Cupcakes" Melilli's nickname was a tease that in his youth, girls thought he was cute. He grew up to be a South Philly bookmaker and an excellent blackjack and craps player. He won $323,740 at three Atlantic City casinos between 1985 and 1987, but went to jail for failing to report most of it on his income taxes. He was later banned from the casinos.


Peter "the Crumb" Caprio got his nickname, Caprio said while on the witness stand last year at age 83, because of his affinity for crumby treats - and because "I did a lot a lot of crummy things. ...Oh, I hit people with bats, pipes, shot people, stabbed people."

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: furio_from_naples] #723506
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Originally Posted By: furio_from_naples


Frank "Frankie Flowers" D'Alfonso ran a flower shop at 821 S. Ninth St. for many years - hence his nickname. The shop was often a focus of police surveillance because reputed Mafia chieftains from the city and beyond could be seen entering its door. But law enforcement investigators said that D'Alfonso, who was 55 when he was gunned down on a South Philly street corner in 1985, was not a "made member" of the Cosa Nostra. He had never, to their knowledge, killed anyone.




John "Johnny Cupcakes" Melilli's nickname was a tease that in his youth, girls thought he was cute. He grew up to be a South Philly bookmaker and an excellent blackjack and craps player. He won $323,740 at three Atlantic City casinos between 1985 and 1987, but went to jail for failing to report most of it on his income taxes. He was later banned from the casinos.


Peter "the Crumb" Caprio got his nickname, Caprio said while on the witness stand last year at age 83, because of his affinity for crumby treats - and because "I did a lot a lot of crummy things. ...Oh, I hit people with bats, pipes, shot people, stabbed people."
Thanx again Furio.


He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #726131
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Murray Liewellyn Humphreys was nicknamed "The Camel" because of his habit of wearing camel hair coats.Theres also another theory that his nickname camed from "The Hump" wich was derived from his surname Humphreys.


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Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #726154
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Anthony "The Hatch" Chiaramonti was known for attacking juice-loan delinquents with a hatchet.The Hatch was a maniac,but his lunacy was interfering with the way the business was running.

Tony Capezio, Tony Spilotro, even Tony Accardo, they were all also known as "Tough Tony."


Angelo "the Hook" LaPietra. This Outfit capo earned his nickname by hanging his victims on meat hooks.


He who can never endure the bad will never see the good
Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: Toodoped] #726158
07/13/13 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted By: Toodoped
Anthony "The Hatch" Chiaramonti was known for attacking juice-loan delinquents with a hatchet.The Hatch was a maniac,but his lunacy was interfering with the way the business was running.

Tony Capezio, Tony Spilotro, even Tony Accardo, they were all also known as "Tough Tony."


Angelo "the Hook" LaPietra. This Outfit capo earned his nickname by hanging his victims on meat hooks.
Angelo's younger brother Jimmy's nickname was "The Lapper" lol. Some say it's just a play on his name. Some say it's because after he shot or stabbed somebody he would suck out some blood and spit it in their face. I doubt it was for his proficiency in for being an actual lapper lol. I am related to the LaPietras through marriage and remember them well when I was a little boy. It's amazing how these guys can be so kindly and loving to their families yet capable of such horrible things. True sociopaths, I guess...

Re: How Mobsters Got Their Nicknames [Re: 12thStreet] #726160
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Originally Posted By: 12thStreet
Originally Posted By: Toodoped
Anthony "The Hatch" Chiaramonti was known for attacking juice-loan delinquents with a hatchet.The Hatch was a maniac,but his lunacy was interfering with the way the business was running.

Tony Capezio, Tony Spilotro, even Tony Accardo, they were all also known as "Tough Tony."


Angelo "the Hook" LaPietra. This Outfit capo earned his nickname by hanging his victims on meat hooks.
Some say it's because after he shot or stabbed somebody he would suck out some blood and spit it in their face.


uhwhat lol Some times ppl go too far.Cool info,thanx


He who can never endure the bad will never see the good

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