Is there anything to support that Al D'Arco was in the Vario crew or is that a personal claim by Al in his book? Not saying I doubt it on any level, just wondering why there is little mention of him as a crew member/associate during the period in time that Paulie's crew was one of the more formidable ones in the city.
Was it that he was simply just another solider until he wasn't?
I know he wasn't made til nearly 50 and his star didn't truly rise until Vic and Gas began to take over and seek out help via an advisory role.
About to finish his book, have mixed feelings about much of the information being accurate and/or genuine, just curious if others have wondered the same or Al was undoubtedly on record with the Vario Crew even back into the 50s/60s as he claimed.
(DISCLAIMER: please don't respond just to say this topic has been discussed ad nauseam, at this point we've discussed nearly everything ad nauseam)
Happy Thanksgiving
Al D'Arco is credible. He might be self serving which all these guys are, but he was the real deal. A rat yes he was. Pretty sure he wasn't on record with Vario from the 50 and 60s, but by the late 70s he definitely was. Started out in Red Hook then was more involved in Manhattan at first. After feeling used by Little Davie Petillo he went full fledged with his cousin Joe Schiavo who was an old time guy under the old Vario crew captain. Made in 82 and took over the Vario crew in the late 80s.
