Below is a photo that appeared in New York newspapers during September 1930:
Those pictured were charged with involvement in the May 1930 kidnapping of Louis Gandolfo.
Of interest is that at least two of those arrested were made members of the Bonanno Family who have rarely, if ever, been mentioned outside of old government reports.
1.
Joseph Colletti
Born 1897 to Paolo and Mary Colletti. Family from Lucca Sicula comune of Agrigento.
By the 1920s resided on E 13th St in East Village, Manhattan.
In May 1943 indicted on bootlegging charge. Listed residence at 299 Innes Rd in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey.
By 1950s served as Bonanno Capodecina, heading a primarily Manhattan-based crew of non-Castellammarese members. The group typically congregated at the Shoreview Social Club, located on E 12th St in East Village and supervised by Colletti's brother-in-law, and former Bonanno Acting Boss, Angelo Caruso. Angelo married Joseph's sister in 1928.
Colletti briefly showed up on the FBI's radar following the November 1957 Apalachin meeting. Significant Federal attention was directed towards each of the attendees, among them Vincenzo 'Black Jim' Colletti, a cousin and the Family Boss in Colorado.
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| L to R: Angelo Caruso, Vincenzo Colletti |
Agents noted a phone call placed by Vincenzo Colletti to Joseph's residence in New Jersey exactly one week prior to the meeting. Also noted, but disregarded at the time, were records of phone contact between Joseph, his brother-in-law Angelo Caruso and Bonanno member (and future Capodecina) Angelo Salvo, who would later describe Colletti as his 'close friend'.
At the time Joseph Colletti was in failing health. He died in a Manhattan hospital the following month, and is believed to have been replaced as crew leader by Angelo Caruso.
2.
Nicola Ciccone
Born May 31, 1900 in Casteltermini comune of Agrigento, Sicily to Vincenzo Ciccone and Alfonza Rizzo.
Immigrated August 1923.
On December 16, 1931 married Maria Noto (29y) in Manhattan. Maria's brother
Leo (No. 3), Nicola's co-defendant in the kidnapping case, was murdered in Brooklyn early that year.
By 1935 resided at 1848 W 7th St in Gravesend, Brooklyn. Listed employment in garment manufacturing business.
On April 26, 1947 shot to death outside tailer shop at 1478 76th St in Bensonhurst. Assailant approached Ciccone on foot and fired multiple rounds, hitting victim twice in hands, once in hip and twice in chest. Bystander Joseph Tornello (38y) wounded in ankle. Assailant fled in automobile.
Many years later an FBI informant identified Ciccone as a Bonanno member and gave the following synopsis of events surrounding the murder:
The CI described 'Nick' as an active member of the Family with a group of 'young toughs who were trying to become members' under him. Acting on Ciccone's orders, these associates severely beat the unconnected owner of a shoe repair store who refused to allow the use of his business as a gambling spot. One of the participants later became a fugitive and traveled to Arizona where, after running into someone close to Family Boss Joseph Bonanno, he complained that Ciccone failed to provide assistance while he was on the lam. Furthermore, the associate claimed, Ciccone was 'highly ambitious and looking for power' in the Family. This, according to the CI's account, resulted in Bonanno ordering Ciccone's murder. The killer was named as 'Sally the Greek' LNU, a close associate of the victim. In recounting the events, the informant made at least one error when stating Sally the Greek, by that time dead of natural causes, killed Ciccone at a wedding.
Nicola's cousin
Vincent Ciccone (No. 4) maintained association with the Bonannos through the following decades.
Little information is available on the remainder:
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Peter Mandella (No. 5) possibly identical to Pietro Mandala born circa 1877 in Monreale, Palermo.
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Leo Gardini (No. 6) resided in East Village and worked as a plasterer. Possible match with Leo Giardina (1905-1989), who in turn may be 'Leo Giarino' included in the deceased section of a Bonanno induction list from 1991.
