Also there would be a trashcan filled with ice and sodas- Pepsi, Coke, Mountain Dew, Minute Maid Orange, Sprite, etc. and the Mexican or Colombian who was overseeing the festivities a “Little Nick’s” behalf would be running back and forth to the microwave and hot water dispenser preparing cappuccinos, coffee, or tea for prisoners as they arrive. Paper plates, napkins, and paper cups would complete the set up so prisoners could pass by the buffet table, fill up their plate, grab a soda or coffee, then sit against the wall in a folding metal chair congratulating the guy who was going home, joking, laughing, making future plans, and reminiscing.
These events were usually pretty crowded and people would be spilling out into the hallway making room for the new guys showing up. The whole mafia cheek kissing, handshakes, and slaps on the back would go around as every new prisoner showed up making their way to greet the host, “Little Nick” and whoever the honored guest and party was being thrown f or.
A lot of other prisoners who weren’t Italian or weren’t invited would walk by the multipurpose room looking on with envy. If “Little Nick” saw them he would tell one of his crew to give them a soda or something and send them on their way. Generosity was one thing but having undesirables hanging out at a mob party. No way. “Little Nick” would rather swim with the fishes.
Most times a prisoner who had a good rapport with the cop working the unit would go to him in advance and explain what was going on so the cop wouldn’t get all excited and alarmed and hit the deuces when he saw a big group of guidos loitering around his building. Most cops didn’t have a problem with it and sometimes when the Lieutenant made his rounds he would even drop by the mixer and pay his respects. But I’ve seen Lieutenants bust up the little parties too to everyone’s dismay. And if anyone complained they’d go straight to the hole. Imagine that- going to 24 hour lockdown because you were having a birthday party. Forget about it.
The mob guys are funny too. They may have all these regional and inter-family beefs and talk mad shit behind each other’s backs but when there’s some pasta or free food to be had they put on their best face and all come together like the best of friends. Nothing like a bowl of prison microwave prepared spaghetti to mend differences. And I’ve seen mob dudes get all offended to if they’re not invited to a certain party or don’t get their bowl of pasta. They might be ready to whack somebody. Good thing they don’t have any guns in federal prison. Because for real, a lot of these mob guys aren’t trying to fight. They’re straight killers and the old saying goes boys fight, men kill. So ain’t no mob guy fist fighting, he’s whacking someone, if only he had a gun. Imagine being whacked because you didn’t offer the Gambino capo a bowl of pasta.
I spent some time at FCI Fairton also which is a medium to high security joint in southern New Jersey about 45 minutes away from Atlantic City. At Fairton I just happened to be in the unit, B-Left, with Michael Perna, the consigliere from the New Jersey branch or the Luchassie crime family. Now Michael Perna was a class guy. He held pasta dinners every Sunday for all the Italians on the block. He was literally feeding 15 or 16 guys every weekend. He was generous to say the least. And he went all out for holidays and special occasions. His Christmas parties were legendary.
The prisoners who cooked for him, usually some Italian guy from Boston or Philly spent all day cooking the sauce or gravy as Mikey called, it. Heavy on the garlic and pepperoni, but very smooth and zesty, the red sauce always turned out nice. Three or four card tables were put together in the common area to form a banquet table and white sheets were laid overtop like tablecloths as all the seats were arranged. Made guys at one end with Mikey and the other Italians and hangers on at the opposite end away from the really good conversations.
Appetizers consisting of salami and pepperoni slices, mozzarella and Velveeta cheese, olives, and Townhouse Crackers were prepared and ready to serve on a cardboard tray. A mop bucket filled with ice and sodas sat at the foot of the table. As all 15 or 20 guys sat down at the table after the 4:00 pm stand up count. Paper plates were handed out as the appetizers were passed around with Mikey always offering more and making sure everybody was served. Then the main course of ziti with red sauce was served with a dash of parmesan on top in plastic microwave bowls. As everyone ate with their plastic utensils and drank sodas dudes talked and joked wishing each other Merry Christmas. Then for desert chocolate donuts were set out along with Italian sweetbread and chocolate-mint cookies. For real, the spread wasn’t bed. Mikey always threw a nice dinner party. But it was more an in house thing because previously Mikey had problems with the SIS Lieutenant who is in charge of investigating occurrences at the prison. Sort of like the FBI on the inside.
Well, one of Mikey’s guys had went home some time before and Mikey had thrown him a party with guys from all the other units stopping by B-Left and joining in the festivities. The unit cop had OK’d it so Mikey thought he was in the clear. But some inmate police or jailhouse snitch had dropped a note to SIS informing on the party and about a week after Mikey’s guy was released Mikey was called down to see the SIS Lieutenant.
The SIS Lieutenant told Mikey that he knew about the party and that he had it all on tape and was going through the tape to identify all the all the prisoners who had visited B-left on the day of the party. The SIS cop seemed to think something nefarious was going on. Mikey tried to explain that it wasn’t a big deal, just a going away party for one of his guys but the SIS Lieutenant seemed to take the matter very seriously and told Mikey that if he didn’t cease and desist with his party throwing activities that he would be thrown in the hole. He also told Mikey that he would be informing the probation officer of the prisoner who went home that Mikey had thrown him a going away party before he left the institution Like this was some kind of violation of his probation.
But Mikey just kindly told the SIS Lieutenant that he wouldn’t throw anymore parties and blew the guy off. Fucking jerk off, he probably thought. But that’s how it is in here. Imagine the audacity of the SIS Lieutenant to actually think that he could get the released prisoners probation revoked because Mikey threw him a going away party. Forget about it. And by the way Mikey doesn’t throw mob parties anymore he holds dinners.
http://www.gorillaconvict.com/mob-parties-in-prison/
