1978 does seem reasonable; Can’t dispute that.
@ColonelReb
I would like to know that question also; Was Persico able to preside over a induction ceremony in his time on the streets as boss from 1979-1981...
I keep reiterating this point; but no-one that I talk to; including this forums have a idea what Persico was doing as boss on the streets in 1979-1981.
It’s like a blank there..... No surveillance?? Pictures?? Wiretaps?? on Persico while he was out on parole.
- Persico is promoted to underboss after he gets out (the position had been vacant since Anthony Abbatemarco was shelved) but continues to be the one who is de facto in charge of the family
- In 1980, Persico gets the Genovese family to kill Jerry Pappa in retaliation for the unsanctioned murders of Colombo captain Shorty Spero and his brother Ralph
- Charles Panarella is demoted to soldier and his crew is split up
- Joseph Tomasello is promoted to captain
- Persico approves the 1980 murder of Colombo soldier Dominic Somma
- Gennaro Langella is promoted to acting consigliere after Alphonse Persico goes on the lam
- Persico becomes close with John DeRoss and frequently uses him as a liaison with other families
- Persico becomes the official boss by November 1980, with DiBella stepping down with the approval of the Commission
- Persico becomes close with captain Dominic Montemarano
- Persico gets relaxed and starts meeting personally with members of his own family and the other families
- Persico tries to get permission from the Commission to induct new members and instructs his captains to construct an accurate view of the makeup of the family
- The Commission only gives the okay to induct Joseph Scopo, noting that too many young and inexperienced guys have been inducted into the Colombo family
- At least Joseph Iannacci, Pasquale Amato and another unknown individual were also inducted while Persico was still on the street
- Persico promoted Langella to underboss, with Benny Aloi taking over Langella's crew
- Persico ostensibly has legitimate employment at MGA Trucking in Staten Island to satisfy his supervised release
- Persico goes to MGA Trucking at least once a day and uses a small house in a junk yard there to meet with Colombo members
- All Colombo captains, including John Matera from Florida, meet with Persico at MGA
- Anthony Peraino and James Clemenza are briefly put direct with Persico
- Little Allie Boy Persico gets promoted to captain by May 1981
- Persico fears a return to jail and wants to consolodate control over the family
- Persico decides that Langella will run the family if he is incarcerated with advice from DiBella and help from Montemarano
- Persico attends a meeting in Brooklyn with Langella, DiBella, other Colombo members and high-ranking figures in the DeCavalcante family over a dispute between the DeCavalcantes and John Matera
- Matera is hit on Persico's orders because of a drug deal
- Persico is sentenced to 5 years in prison November 1981
