Boss: Joseph Sciortino
UnderBoss: Peter Simone
(Kansas City has never had the rank of Consigliere)
Current or recent Capains include William Cammisano Jr., Vince Civella, Angelo Porrello, James Duardi.
Soldiers/Associates -
1. Peter Tamburello
2. Jack Lascuola
3. Joseph Porrello
4. Nick DiGirlamo
5. Anthony "Tony" Simone
6. Philip "Phil" Simone
7. George Chiavola
8. Joseph "Joe" Ragusa
9. James Moretina
10. John Calia/61
11. Salvatore "Sal" Mandacina
12. Joseph "Joe" Mandacina
13. John Cuezze
14. Peter Ribaste
15. John Costanza
16. Carlo Cavallaro
17. Frank Tousa
18. Vince Picone
19. Eugene "Gene" Picone
20. Frank Deluna
21. Benjamin "Ben" Palmentere
22. Robert Gulotta
23. Joseph Barletta
24. Nathan "Nat" Brancato
25. Thomas Fontanello
26. Phillip Saladino
27. Nicholas LaBruzzo
28. Richard "Rick" DeLuna
29. John Termini
30. John Glorioso
31. Salvatore Agrusa
32. Pasquale Sellaro
33. Samuel Scardino
Here is some more in depth information on some members and assocaties of the Family supplied by someone on another forum -
Boss: John Joseph “Joe†Sciortino
Underboss: Peter Simone[/b]- I found this incorporation record from 1975 for an Avenue Social Club in Kansas City where Peter Simone is the registered agent. The address listed is 4419 Sunrise in KCMO. I'm not sure if that is the actual address of the club or not, but is an interesting piece of the puzzle.
Simone operated Be Amused Vending Company, which he used to launder gambling income. The incorporation record is found here:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?256849
Deceased Boss: Anthony "Tony Ripes" Civella
Here is Anthony Civella's obit. Lots of familiar names mentioned. Check out the pallbearers at the end.
http://www.legacy.com/KansasCity/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=16753972"Anthony Thomas Civella Sr.
Anthony Thomas Civella, Sr., 75, Kansas City, MO, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2006, in Phoenix, AZ, while enjoying a golfing vacation with family and friends. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m., Monday, February 20, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1357 NE 42nd Terr., Kansas City, MO, 64116; entombment in Resurrection Mausoleum, Kansas City North. Visitation will be 3-9 p.m., Sunday, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 2117 Independence Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 64124; where the rosary will be said at 6 p.m. The family requests no flowers. Tony was born in Kansas City, MO, on February 17, 1930, to Carl and Fannie Civella. He lived his entire life in the Kansas City area. On February 6, 1951, Tony married his childhood sweetheart, Molly DeLuna, and over the years fathered five children. Tony belonged to various organizations including the Tobacco Round Table. He owned several businesses and real estate during his life including restaurants and rental properties. Tony was devoted to his family, and was a man who liked to do things his own way. This trait endeared him to the people who knew him well and came to love him. Although he only fathered five children, Tony became a beloved father figure to many, many others. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Fannie Civella; and son-in-law, John Sansone. Tony is survived by his wife of 55 years, Molly Civella; his children and their spouses, Carl and Bridget Civella, Nick A. Civella, Fanny-Jo Sansone, Vince and Savara Civella, Anthony T. Civella, Jr.; grandchildren, Molly Ann Civella, Stacie Civella, Tony Carl and Valerie Civella, Michael Sansone, Anthony Sansone, Anthony Joe Civella, Amalia Civella, Tony John Civella, Brianna Civella, Celia Civella, Zoe Stephens, Anthony T. Civella III, Francesca Civella, Spano Civella; great-grandchildren, Rianne Civella, Dante Civella, Nicolette Sansone; brother and sister-in-law, Carmen "Butch" and Barbara Civella; brothersin-law and sisters-in-law, Carl and Sandy DeLuna, Rosie and Ralph Siraguso, Frank and Sylvia DeLuna; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, with a special mention and heartfelt thank you to his physician and close friend Dr. John Cascone. Pallbearers: Carl J. Civella, Sam Mirabile, Nick Palmentere, Peter J. Ribaste, Nick Simone, Vince Siraguso, Mark Sorrentino. Honorary Pallbearers: Bennie Palmentere, John Sciortino, Paul Silvio, Pete Tamburello, Paul Varsalona. (Arr: Passantino Bros. Funeral Home (816) 471-2844)
Published in the Kansas City Star from 2/18/2006 - 2/19/2006."
Link to Tony Ripes guestbook upon his death:
http://www.legacy.com/KansasCity/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=16753972There is a photo at the bottom of this post showing Tony Ripes and George Chiavola from 1959 with caption provided by whoever added the picture to the guestbook.
Capos:
1. William “Little Willie†Cammisano Jr.- Obviously well known, many have speculated that Willie Jr. may in fact be running the KC family right now. Here is a link to interesting stories involving the Cammisano's that also mentions several other KC family figures:
http://www.pitch.com/2005-01-06/news/badda-bam/fullWillie's son Carlo Cammisano is co-owner of The Copa Room, an Italian restaurant in Kansas City. Willie's ex-wife Kathy Fiorello, Carlo's mother, run's the kitchen there. Here is a link to a story about the restaurant and another link that has a picture of Carlo and gives more family background information.(I don't know if Carlo is officially involved in the family business. I have seen no other mention of his name):
http://www.pitch.com/2004-08-19/dining/his-way/full
http://home.kc.rr.com/coparoom/historyWillie's cousin, Charles "Vito" Cammisano, has an obituary from this year that mentions the "lunch bunch." Charles was shot to death in front of his home in last fall. Family members believe it was his ex-wife Lettie Cammisano-Strait who killed him. She was arrested after a standoff along with her new husband. Charles was employed at a Northland car dealership. A picture of Charles and his ex-wife and the house he was murdered at can be found in the following two links:
http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/update-charles-v-cammisano-murder/http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2007/09/03/charles-v-cammisano-murder-9107-riverside-mo/"The Lunch Bunch: Jerry Cammisano, Joe "Red" Cervello, Joe Moretina, Sam Marsalla, Frank Marsalla, Mike Fasone, Sam Scola, Jack Ancona, Joe Vigliaturo, Vince Civella, Mike Garozzo, Mike Lombardo, Steve Morgan, and Anthony Scavuzzo."
Included in that list is at least one KC family member, and several VERY prominent local businessmen. I'm not sure if it means anything, but I want to keep the names handy for future reference. The full obituary can be found here:
http://www.legacy.com/KansasCity/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=93884108More information that suggests the possibility of mob involvement from this story:
http://www.kctv5.com/news/14071259/detail.html"This year, a neighbor said Strait told her, "the Italian mafia would take care of things."
Strait said, "I was married to the mob for 23 years. I went to prison for them. I kept my mouth shut. I wouldn't cooperate with federal officers."
KCTV5 reported Thursday night about the conviction about which she talked.
Friday, KCTV5 News found out that she and her co-conspirators were prosecuted by the Organized Crime Strike Force.
That drug trafficking case involved her, Cammisano and a Kansas City, Mo., fire captain."
Also, Charles Cammisano's niece Alaena Cammisano is the registered agent for Birdies Duffers Sports Bar in KC. I'm not sure if that means anything yet.
2. Vincent “Vince†Civella- Vince is involved as the registered agent for local home development company Coventry Court LLC. Note on the incorporation record linked below that Tony Ripe's son, Anthony Civella Jr. and the Antoinette Cammisano Trust (Antoinette was Willie "The Rat" Cammisano Sr.'s wife and Willie Cammisano Jr.'s mother.
https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?619361Also, here is the link to the website for the home development of Coventry Court:
http://www.cbkc.com/communities/coventrycourt/
3. James Duardi[/b]- Contrary to some posts, Duardi is still alive. He actually was in the middle of a minor controversy in 2005 involving Jackson County Executive Kathryn Shields, who recently ran for Mayor unsuccessfully then got indicted. The link to that story is here:
http://www.pitch.com/2005-04-07/news/katheryn-the-grate/full4. Angelo Porrello (IP)
Soldiers:
1. Salvatore Agrusa- Sal owns Paramount Pest Control in KC. His incorporation record can be viewed here:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?6201012. Joseph Barletta
3. Nathan “Nat†Brancato- Brancato is the owner of Brancato's Catering, a very well known KC business.
I found this great story about a music festival put on in Sedalia by Sal and Nathaniel Brancato to deal drugs and launder KC Mafia money in 1974. It's long but pretty interesting. Sal and Nathaniel are related to Nat, just haven't firmed up how yet.
http://rodsievers.googlepages.com/ozarkmusicfestivalThe Brancato family operated Fairyland Park, an amusement park open in Kansas City from 1923-1977 at 75th/Prospect.
4. John Calia (IP)- Here is a link to somrthing posted by Calia online from prison:
http://www.november.org/thewall/cases/calia-j/calia-j.html5. Carlo Cavallaro
6. George Chiavola
7. John Costanza
8. John Cuezze- Cuezze's wife JoAnne is the official owner of Vivace, an Italian restaurant in the River Market. John Cuezze is listed as "staff" in an article in the Pitch. I hung out quite a bit for a while at the restaurant with co-owner Joe "JoJo" Amaro. JoJo was an acquaintance of a girl I worked with and ran with quite a bit, so we spent a lot of time over a six month period at the restaurant. I spent a few nights drinking with these guys afterhours at the restaurant. At the time I didn't know about John's involvement in the KC family, but looking back there was definitely that kind of vibe with these guys.
The following Pitch article talks about Vivace, and had a very interesting blurb I highlighted below.
http://www.pitch.com/2004-06-10/dining/cha-cha-vivace/full"The neighborhood we now know as the River Market slowly went dead for a century, but it's experiencing a post-millennium renaissance, with expensive loft condominiums, an antique mall, snazzy little shops and the newest see-and-be-seen restaurant, Vivace. One of the restaurant's staffers, John Cuezze, might debate the theory that this north-of-the-loop neighborhood ever got too sleepy, because he had a great-uncle who played piano in one of the saloons that occupied the front half of Vivace. That poor relative was shot dead by a ricocheting bullet. "It was either 1928 or 1938," Cuezze says. "And in those days, there was still a brothel upstairs."
The building has been home to a wide variety of tenants (including a lesbian bar) over the past few decades. And if the ghost of Cuezze's great-uncle Phil is still hanging around, he's probably amazed at the changes that new owners JoAnne Cuezze (John's wife) and her business partner, Joe Amaro, have made."
9. Carl “Tuffy†DeLuna (Inactive)- Link detailing Tuffy's ban from Missouri casinos in 2005:
http://www.labor-unions.net/LOCALS/LU110/panel_bans_mobster_from_missouri.htm"Longtime Kansas City mob figure Carl Angelo "Tuffy" DeLuna on Wednesday was barred from Missouri's riverboat casinos.
Missouri Gaming Commission investigators said DeLuna, 77, had frequented area casinos since his release from federal prison in 1998. He served 12 years on multiple racketeering and other convictions related to skimming profits from Las Vegas casinos in the 1970s and '80s.
DeLuna could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
He has 30 days to appeal his listing in Missouri's "Black Book" of undesirables.
Kevin Mullally, commission director, said that DeLuna's gambling came to the commission's attention and that a check of player- tracking records at area casinos confirmed it.
DeLuna becomes the eighth person to be listed by the commission, and the first since 1997."
10. Frank DeLuna
11. Richard “Rick†DeLuna
12. Nicholas “Nick†DiGirlamo- This info from the union case DiGirlamo was involved in ties together a few guys on this list
"In United States v. International Bhd. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of Am. ("DiGirlamo"), 824 F. Supp. 410 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), DiGirlamo was the bookkeeper for IBT Local 41 in Kansas City, Missouri and the evidence therein established that he associated with four men -- Charles Moretina, James Moretina, Peter Simone ("Simone"), and Frank Tousa ("Tousa") -- whom he knew to be members of the Kansas City LCN. Id. at 414-416 (discussing association with C. Moretina, J. Moretina, P. Simone and F. Tousa).
DiGirlamo's car was observed by the FBI outside of Charles Moretina's house during working hours. He also attended Charles Moretina's criminal trial and visited him several times in prison. Id. at 416. James Moretina and Simone hired DiGirlamo as an accountant for their business -- Be Amused Vending Company-- and he would occasionally go to Simone's illegal gambling hall to pick up the company's books. In fact, during his tenure as the company's accountant, the FBI seized illegal gambling equipment which the company owned, and James Moretina and Simone were eventually convicted for money laundering and illegal gambling. Id.
DiGirlamo also visited James Moretina's home and spoke with him daily on the telephone. Id.
DiGirlamo and Simone had known each other since childhood. They had participated in community sporting and charity events together, and had spent time at one another's homes. Id.
DiGirlamo had also prepared Tousa and his wife's personal tax returns and had spent time in the Tousas' home while doing so. Id."
13. Thomas Fontanello
14. John Glorioso
15. Robert Gulotta
16. Nicholas LaBruzzo- Own's Chubby's Restaurant. Here is a Pitch article about the restaurant, just confirms LaBruzzo is the owner.
http://www.pitch.com/2000-08-10/dining/fat-city/full17. Jack LaScuola
18. Joseph “Joe†Mandacina (IP)_ Owns popular KC strip joint Diamond Joe's. Here are two links to stories about the club and Joe and a building he owns that house a local French Restaurant:
http://www.pitch.com/2001-12-20/news/prancers-and-vixens/fullMandacina was also somehow involved with 901 Mississippi St and Shenanigans in Lawrence, KS in 1976. I grew up in and currently live in Lawrence, so I will try and find out more info.
Following up on Joe Mandacina in Lawrence, as of 2001 he still owned the building at 901 Mississippi, which now houses the Cork & Barrel liquor store (owned by different people).
Here is the link confirming as much:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2001/jul/07/cork_barrel_to/"Allison Vance Moore, an agent for Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group in Lawrence, said that she received several inquiries from people interested in subleasing the building for use as a bar or nightclub.
But neither the Merc nor the building's ownership group led by Michael Messina and Joe Mandacina wanted to lease to such businesses."
19. Salvatore “Sal†Mandacina (IP)
20. James Moretina- Charles Moretina was involved with Phoenix Investment Group in Lenexa, KS and Moretina Diversified at 28th/State Ave, in Kansas City, KS in 1997.
21. Benjamin “Ben†Palmentere- Ben and Joe Palmentere was the head of Palmentere Brothers Distributing, who is big into trucking, vending and soft drink distribution in the area.. Ben actually sold the business to what appears to be legit new owners in 1994. A link to the business is found here:
http://www.palmenterebros.com/A story about the new owners and transaction is here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/1997/04/14/smallb1.htmlHere is some background on Palmentere (I believe his father is Baldasaro, not 100% on that though):
"Local 64 HRE - Kansas City. This local was formed as a result of a merger of 4 locals by the International. During the two years it was in receivership, the local was run by Michael Salerno, hand-picked by Hanley. Salerno is under investigation for allegedly embezzling organizing funds disbursed to him by the International. When the local was taken out of receivership in 1976, Baldasaro Palmentere, former bagman for Nick Civella's right hand man, Danny Lawson, appeared as the Secretary Treasurer of the local. Hanley supported Palmentere who according to DOL is trying to gain control over all the locals' funds."
22. Eugene “Gene†Picone
23. Vincent “Vince†Picone- Possiblty recently deceased in a car accident, if this is him:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/415257.htmlOwner of Quality Detail and Auto sales at 326 Olive.
24. Joseph Porrello (IP)
25. Joseph “Joe†Ragusa
26. Peter Joseph Ribaste (Las Vegas)-Peter is among the most well known KC guys because of the Vegas contacts. He owns several strip clubs through Ziegfield's Entertainment in the KC area. Most notable among those is Totally Nude Temptations Downtown, which is attached to The Cigar Box, where his brother Louis Ribaste is involved. For reasons not known to me, Peter transferred ownership of Temptations to John Ribaste in 2003, but is still very involved in the club's operations.
Louis has also been involved in various local restaurants, including Cafe New Yorker. The family also owns the KnobtownFruit Market at 8540 Noland Road.
Louis Ribaste was actively involved in Lawrence until at least 2002 with (I'm not making this up) The Bada Bing Strip Club. I do not know anything about Peter Bengimina, a KC businessman mentioned in the article, but I'm very curious about him.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/mar/09/briefcase179/
Gala Hospitality Corp., owner of the strip club formerly known as Gala Cabaret, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Bada Bing in Lawrence.
The Bada Bing strip club is owned by a company controlled by Kansas City businessman Peter Bengimina, who bought it from Louis Ribaste a few months ago. Bengimina could not be reached for comment.
Gala Hospitality, with headquarters in Miami, was formerly known as Xpedian Inc., a small public company previously involved in Web-based financial planning businesses.
Jeff Stoller, president of Gala Hospitality, said the purchase price was still being negotiated. The deal is subject to approval by liquor control authorities in Lawrence.
Another article quoting Ribaste about The Bing:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2001/mar/17/bada_bing_to/The following Pitch article details some of this, with the most interesting blurb below. I think it would be a decent assumption that Louis Ribaste is very actively involved with the KC family.
http://www.pitch.com/2005-02-24/news/it-s-his-world/full"In the mid-'70s, Louis Ribaste had owned a cocktail lounge called Judge Roy Bean's at Fourth Street and Wyandotte in the River Quay (now the River Market). An explosion leveled it, along with the entire block -- which was owned by mob snitch Fred Bonadonna -- in March 1977. Ribaste collected insurance money. Three months later, his other downtown club near Ninth Street burned to the ground. Police never determined who was responsible for the bombing or the suspected arson.
Another member of the Ribaste family, Peter Ribaste, moved to Las Vegas in 1989 after doing six months in prison for mail fraud; he had failed to disclose $90,000 in Las Vegas gambling debts on loan applications to buy a Kansas City car dealership. In 1998 the Las Vegas Gaming Commission, citing mob ties, banned Peter from local casinos. In 2003, according to news reports, Peter transferred his ownership interest in Totally Nude Temptations, the strip club adjoining the Cigar Box, to his wife, who transferred the ownership to another family member, John Ribaste.
John Pisciotta has owned the Cigar Box since it opened in 1997. He bought the land beneath the club from Louis Ribaste in 2001. The Pitch could not locate Ribaste to request an interview.
Regardless of whether the Cigar Box deserves its reputation, plenty of the partiers there buy into the club's underworld allure. When asked about it, people who could dispel any such notions suddenly turn goodfella, invoking a code of silence.
Bring up the club's rumored mob connections and Latta becomes visibly agitated, like an actor threatening a young punk about asking too many questions. Pisciotta shuns the press. Pisciotta's attorney, Richard Bryant, strongly discourages mafia-related questions. No one brings trouble here, says the club's only enforcer, the gray-haired, hulking bouncer who works the humidor.
"What people do, that's their own thing," Latta says of the Cigar Box's reputation. "It's like anything else. You fuck with the wrong people, you get hurt. I never asked anybody what they do. Everybody always liked me, and I always liked everybody."
The mythology surrounding the club hasn't hurt Latta's stage persona -- barroom lore even has it that his years performing at the Cigar Box are to pay off debts to the mob. "No, that's so far from the truth," Latta says. "If that's what they think, it's crazy."
His love and loyalty lie with Pisciotta."
Pete Ribaste is shown as incorporating the Market Social Club located at 106 E. 5th Street in KCMO in 1986 and dissolving it in 1987. That site is now home to Solaris Massage, which does not appear to be affiliated in any way with Ribaste. That record is found here:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?670456John Ribaste holds the liquor license at Pure, a bar located on 350 Hwy.
27. Philip Saladino- Owns PS Surfaces, a recently formed floor laying company. Incoration record found here:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?2019906
Also owns Mercy Properties. Incorporation link found here:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?201990628. Samuel Scardino
29. Pasquale Sellaro
30. Anthony “Tony Simone- Owner of Necco Coffee. This guy is a real prick. I did advertising for them. Doesn't pay his bills and takes it personally if you cancel his shitty coffee service.
Necco Coffee Website (note Tom Sciortino is prominent in the company):
[url=
http://www.neccocoffee.com/home.asp]
http://www.neccocoffee.com/home.asp[/url]
Link that contains pictures of Anthony Simone:
http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=necco_raidersInteresting background from a 1991 story:
http://www.firedupmissouri.com/roe_nace_mob_fundraiser"Federal authorities contend the mob used this company’s [Necco's] office in 1973 as the headquarters for a multimillion-dollar bookmaking operation.
A federal jury convicted the company’s president, Anthony Simone, of gambling charges. Simone pleaded guilty to another federal charge in 1984 after authorities found him with coffee stolen from an interstate shipment.
Anthony Simone is the cousin of reputed mob lieutenant Peter J. Simone. Phil Simone is their uncle"
Here is a link to a story involving Anthony:
http://www.pitch.com/2003-05-08/news/bean-counters/fullHere is a link to a blog describing a fundraiser for a Mayoral candidate that involved the Simone's and Brancato's and was held at The Cigar Box.
http://kcbuzzblog.typepad.com/kcbuzzblog/2007/02/nace_fundraisin.html31. Philip “Phil†Simone
32. Peter Tamburello- The Tamburello family owns Marty's BBQ in the Northland on Vivion Road, as well as Talk More Wireless on N. Highland. Marty's BBQ has been there for over 23 years.
33. John Termini- Termini currently is involved with Cater Time Vending in Kansas City. He is banned from Missouri Riverboat Casinos, detailed here:
http://www.globalgamingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=755&Itemid=66More info on his current gambling habits here:
http://www.beloblog.com/KMOV_Blogs/n4idailybriefing/2007/12/do_casinos_need_a_master_list.html"John Termini, who is on the Missouri Exclusion List, told me that he travels to Nevada and Mississippi to gamble in casinos in those states."
34. Frank Tousa- Tousa started two Social Clubs. Columbus Park Social Club was in 1969, and Northview Social Club Association preceded that in 1964. Both clubs were located at 1048 East 5th Street in KC. Curiosly enough, the following linked story details a bank robbery in 1930 where one of the assailants lived at that exact address. That story is linked here:
http://www.sodalofts.com/funeral.htm
