Colombo Family Ceremonies (1980s-1991)

Brief descriptions, in chronological order, of known Colombo Family induction ceremonies from the 1980s through 1991.

The majority of this information was obtained from reports of longtime FBI CI Gregory Scarpa.

Dates are approximate and usually indicate when news of the induction was first reported to LE, not necessarily when the ceremony itself took place. It's possible some names listed separately were made together and news of their membership got out at different times.

More info will be added as it becomes available.

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January 7, 1981
CI Scarpa reported: "[Carmine] Persico is attempting to seek a Commission meeting soon to ask for new members for the Colombo Family, and to that end is having all his Capos reporting on their respective members to give Persico an accurate reflection of the makeup of the Colombo Family."

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Early February 1981
- Joseph Scopo (34y) (Murdered 1993)

CI Scarpa reported: "[Carmine] Persico was attempting to make ten new members in the Colombo Family but the National Commission approved only the one above individual. [Scarpa] noted that the other LCN Families in the New York area are concerned that the Colombo Family has been taking in too many young and inexperienced individuals and has therefore limited their numbers at this time."

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c. Early April 1981
- Joseph ‘Joe Notch’ Iannaci (50y)
- Unsub

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c. September 1981
- Pat Amato (46y) (IPL 1993) (Died 2015)

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c. 1981
- Joseph 'Joe Brewster' DeDomenico (38y) (Murdered 1987)
- Gregory Scarpa Jr. (30y)

Sources differ on year of Scarpa Jr.'s induction (1977/1981).

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November 16, 1982

CI Scarpa reported: "[Scarpa] advised that approximately two weeks ago new members were inducted into the Colombo Family, but [Scarpa] had not met either one of the individuals and could not furnish names at that time."

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c. 1983
- William Russo (25y)

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January 1983
- Joseph Colombo Jr. (36y) (Died 2014)
- John Saponaro (48y) (Died 1991)
- Frank 'Frankie Collision' Tormenia (36y)

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Pre-April 1983
- William 'Wild Bill' Cutolo (34y) (Murdered 1999) [Sponsored by J. DeRoss]

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September 1983
- Joseph ‘Joe Lane’ Gentile (69y) (Died 1987)

On September 29, 1983 CI Scarpa reported: "[Scarpa] also advised that the Colombo Family has three or four additional individuals proposed for membership, and they are to be taken into the Family within the next several months."

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c. June 1986
- Robert Pate (38y)

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January 9, 1987
- Thomas ‘Tommy Shots’ Gioeli (34y)
- Theodore Persico Jr. (23y)
- Unsub

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Pre-March 1987
- Vincent 'Jimmy Gooch' Febbraro (53y) (Died 2017)

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March 11, 1987

Location: Unspecified Residence (Brooklyn)

Attendees:
- Benedetto Aloi (51y) (Captain) (Died 2011)
- Vic Orena (52y) (Captain) (IPL 1992)
- Gregory Scarpa Jr. (35y) (Acting Captain)

- Joel 'Joe Waverly' Cacace (45y) (Soldier)
- Vincent 'Jimmy Gooch' Febbraro (53y) (Soldier) (Died 2017)
- Theodore Persico Jr. (23y) (Soldier)

Members Inducted:
- Dennis DeLucia (45y)
- Carmine Sessa (36y) (Flipped 1993)
- Robert Zambardi (46y) (Died 2014)

Sessa: "I was [called in first and] asked to state my name and what I thought of everybody in the room. And I answered that I thought very highly of everybody..The next question was if we have a problem in the Family, Carmine, would you be willing to help out with this problem to kill somebody? And I said I would. With that, these individuals were throwing out fingers like they were choosing, and Vic [Orena] got up, came on my right, and Benny Aloi came on my left, and Vic Orena took a pin and pricked my finger, drew blood. Benny grabbed a [paper saint and] put the blood of my finger on that saint, put in in my hands, told me to cup my hands. He lit the saint on fire and told me to repeat after him. And the words were, 'May I burn in hell like the saint that's burning in my hand if I reveal any secrets of La Cosa Nostra'."

(CI Scarpa, who was not present at the ceremony, named Dennis Guzzardo as the third inductee in addition to Sessa/Zambardi. Dennis DeLucia is specifically named by Sessa as the individual made with him.)

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Pre-Summer 1987
- James Vincent Randazzo (40y) (Murdered 1993)

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July 17, 1987

CI Scarpa reported: "[Scarpa] said the Colombo Family is planning to make five new members in the near future. Three will be from New York including Benny Aloi's son [sic; brother] and Vic Orena's son, and two will be New Jersey guys in the Profaci crew. Sometime thereafter eight more are to be made. [Scarpa] said although the books are supposedly closed to new members, the Colombo Family is nevertheless going to make at least 13 new members without the approval of the other Families."

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July 28, 1987

Location: Bay Lounge (New York)

Attendees:
- Vincent Angellino (51y) (Acting Boss) (Murdered 1988)

- Anthony Scianna (56y) (Acting Captain) (Died 2009)

- James Randazzo (41y) (Soldier) (Murdered 1993)
- Others

Members Inducted:
- Sebastian Aloi Jr. (44y)
- John Orena (33y)
- Aurelio ‘Ray’ Cagno (46y) (IPL 2004) [Sponsored by J. Randazzo]
- Rocco Cagno (43y) (Flipped 1993) [Sponsored by J. Randazzo]
- Unsub (NY)

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Pre-Fall 1987
- Vincenzo Miceli (55y)
- Ralph 'Ralphie Patches' Piccirillo (47y) (Died 2001)

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October 30, 1987

CI Scarpa reported: "[Scarpa] advised that another eight individuals have been proposed for membership in the Colombo Family, and said that they would be initiated shortly."

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c. November 1987
- Victor M. Orena (31y)

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Pre-1988
- Richard 'Ritchie Nerves' Fusco (50y) (Died 2013)

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1988
- Alan Quattrache (39y) (Flipped 1992)

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Pre-Summer 1988
- Richard Capichano (46y) (Died 2018)
- Joseph 'Joe Smash' Gambale (36y) (Died 2018)
- Thomas Petrizzo (55y)
- John Staluppi (40y)

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December 1988
- Robert Donofrio (32y)
- Joseph ‘Joe Legs’ Legrano (46y) (Died 2017)
- Lawrence ‘Larry Monk’ Micciolo (46y)
- Michael Sessa (29y) (IPL 1992)
- Seven Additional Inductees

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Pre-1989
- Vincent 'Schwartzie' Cascio (50y) (Died 2007)

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c. Mid-1989
- Gioachino 'Jack' Leale (42y) (Murdered 1991)

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Pre-Fall 1989
- Ralph Lombardo (59y)
- Thomas Ocera (58y) (Murdered 1989)
- Henry ‘Hank the Bank’ Smurra (50y) (Murdered 1991)

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December 1989

Location: Residence of Lombardo Relative (Long Island)

Attendees:
- Vic Orena (55y) (Acting Boss) (IPL 1992)
- William Cutolo (40y) (Underboss) (Murdered 1999)

- Joseph Scopo (43y) (Captain) (Murdered 1993)

- John Orena (35y) (Soldier)
- Victor M. Orena (33y) (Soldier)

Members Inducted:
- Joseph Baudanza (45y)
- Joseph ‘Joe Campy’ Campanella (40y) (Flipped 2002) [Sponsored by W. Cutolo]
- Unsub

Campanella: "[Cutolo] told me that he's going to pass my name around, and most likely, he doesn't see a problem. That was about a week, week-and-a-half later, got back to me and he told me my name went around to the Family, to other Families, and that there's going to be a ceremony..I had met Robert D'Onofrio, Joe Legrano. We had met in the neighborhood and then we drove to Bill Cutolo's house [and from there] to Long Island..[Cutolo] told me to go in the basement to wait till my name was called..They had called me up. I went upstairs, and Bill had just pinched my trigger finger with a knife, made some blood come out. He put a saint in my hand. He burned it, and just repeated a couple of words after what he said, and that was it, basically, confess yourself to the Family."

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c. Late December 1989

- Pasquale 'Patty' Catalano (58y) (Died 1999)

Catalano may have been the Unsub inducted in the Baudanza / Campanella ceremony noted above.

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Late 1990
- Joseph Amato (31y)
- Pasquale 'Fat Patty' DiMatteo (44y) (Died 1999)
- Salvatore Fusco Jr. (25y)
- Louis ‘Bobo’ Malpeso Sr. (51y) (IPL 1995) (Died 2003)
- Joseph ‘Joe Monte’ Monteleone (50y) (IPL 1993)
- Five Additional Inductees

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c. Early 1991
- Frank 'Frankie Camp' Campione (48y) (Died 2012)
- Daniel Persico (28y) (Died 2016)
- Ralph Scopo Jr. (42y) (Died 2013)

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June 20, 1991

Location: Unspecified Residence (New York)

Attendees:
- Vic Orena (55y) (Acting Boss) (IPL 1992)
- William Cutolo (40y) (Capodecina) (Murdered 1999)
- Others

Member Inducted:
- Vincent 'Chicky' DeMartino (35y) [Sponsored by W. Cutolo]

Campanella: "It was myself, maybe like 30 or 40 guys at the club in Queens, and Bill [Cutolo] had told me, they're going to leave for about two hours and they're going to sponsor [DeMartino] into the Family. It was him, Vic Orena, maybe about four or five captains over there, and they had left for about two hours and Bill had come back [and] introduced Vincent DeMartino as a friend in the Family."

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c. August 1991

- James 'Jimmy O'Toole' Spitalere (58y) [Sponsored by R. Fusco]

DeMartino and Spitalere were both initially scheduled for induction on June 20, 1991.

The day before the ceremony a failed hit attempt was made on Vic Orena and several Persico loyalists went into hiding. The ceremony continued nonetheless but was attended only by Orena and his supporters.

After a short period of time a truce between the factions was reached and Spitalere, according to CW Joseph Ambrosino, was inducted 'a few weeks' after DeMartino.

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Confirmed Inducted Pre-November 1991
- Joseph 'Chubby' Audino (50y)
- Paul Bevacqua (52y) (Died 2011)
- Salvatore 'Sally Bread' Cambria (40y)
- Benjamin Castellazzo (52y)
- James 'Jimmy Brown' Clemenza Jr. (56y)
- Gary Gugliaro (36y)
- Dennis Guzzardo (48y) (Died 1992)
- Frank 'Chicky' Leto (60y)
- Angelo Leto (30y)
- Charles Lombardo (52y) (Died 2004)
- Frank Melia (44y) (Died 2001)
- Charles 'Charlie Fish' Miceli (30y)
- Frank 'Frankie Wheels' Politi (46y) (Died)
- Vincent Ricciardo (45y)
- John Rosatti (56y)
- Joseph Saponaro (53y) (Died 1991)
- Frank 'Frankie the Bug' Sciortino (57y)

The Colombos were banned from making new members for the rest of the decade. Inductions resumed early 2000.

Edit1: Moved DeMartino and Spitalere to c. August-October 1991.

Edit2: Moved Pasquale Catalano to December 1989, DeMartino to June 20, 1991 and Spitaleri to c. August 1991.

Frank Lino Crew (1985)

Around 1985 Bonanno members Frank Lino and Anthony Spero were promoted to official Captains at a meeting held in Maspeth, Queens. Lino previously served in an acting capacity for Matteo Valvo and later for Anthony 'Bruno' Indelicato. Following the latter's demotion and reassignment in the aftermath of the May 1981 Three Captains hit, Family leadership kept Lino in place as Acting Captain over Indelicato's former crew.

Those under Lino around the time of his promotion included:

Members

1. William 'Cappy' Capparelli: Inducted in the late 1970s under Bruno Indelicato's father, Alfonse aka Sonny Red. Serving NYS sentence for narcotics during the intra-Family conflict of the early 1980s. Convicted on another state charge in 1993 and spent three years at Wallkill Correctional Facility. Following release briefly targeted in murder plot solicited by Lino on the grounds he had allowed himself to be disrespected by having jewelry stolen while incarcerated. Despite authorization from leadership the plot not carried out and he died of natural causes in 2012.

2. Joseph D'Amico: Inducted with Lino on Halloween 1977 and also transferred to Bruno Indelicato after his own captain's demotion. One of several Lino crew members involved in May 1986 murder of Associate Robert 'Bobby C.' Capozio. In 1999 transferred to his cousin, the newly promoted Richard Cantarella. Flipped 2003.

3. Russell Mauro: Another Sonny Red crew member inducted in the late 1970s. Named by CWs as shooter, along with Bruno Indelicato and Dominick Trinchera, in Carmine Galante's 1979 murder. Put with Lino after the Three Captains hit and, by the late 1980s, transferred again to Salvatore Vitale. Shot to death May 1991 on Family orders. (This murder will be detailed in a future post.)

Wally (L) and Associate Ronald Filocomo

4. Vito 'Wally' LNU: Another former Valvo crew member, reports give varied spellings of the family name (Palazzolo, Polizzotto, etc.). Listed as 'Vito (Wally) Pallmuzo' in a 1999 Bonanno induction list and apparently died the same year.

Associates of interest

1. Robert 'Bobby' Lino: Cousin to Frank and inducted under his sponsorship around October 1985. Acting Captain by the time of Capozio's murder. Just prior to his death in June 1989 he asked that his son Robert Jr. be made into the Family, a request fulfilled the following summer.

L to R: Riccardi, Pitera

2. Thomas 'Tommy Karate' Pitera: One of Bruno Indelicato's closest associates, he initially joined Bruno in his short-lived exile after the Three Captains hit. Brought back into the fold by Lino who sponsored him for membership around early 1986. Shooter in multiple Family ordered hits through the following years. Convicted in 1992 on charges that included a half dozen or so other killings, most unsanctioned, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

3. Richard Riccardi: Related to Lino through marriage and present for at least two hits in the 1980s. Believed identical to the Richie LNU inducted with Nicholas Pisciotti in December 1997.

4. Robert Trimaldi: Handled much of Lino's off the record narcotics interests. Participant in 1992 murder of Associate Robert Perrino. Believed to have died the following year. (CW D'Amico specifically named Trimaldi as a Soldier in Lino's crew, claiming he was made as a direct result of involvement in the Perrino homicide. CW Lino, in the few available instances where Trimaldi is referenced, either describes him as an Associate or makes no mention of rank at all.)

Bio: Antonio Adamo

1946

Antonio 'Nino' Adamo was a Soldier in the Bonanno Family.

Born January 19, 1910 in Santa Margherita di Belice comune of Agrigento, Sicily to Calogero Adamo (28y) and Maria Sparacino (18y). Mother from Poggioreale, Trapani.

The Adamo family were living in Poggioreale by 1912 when father Calogero immigrated to US.

On September 5, 1913 Antonio, his mother and younger brother Joseph arrived at Ellis Island aboard S.S. Calabria, joining Calogero at 131 East 84th St in Upper East Side, Manhattan.

By 1930 family resided at 331 East 75th St also in Upper East Side. Five years later the family had moved to 339 East 75th. Antonio worked as wagon driver and father listed involvement in plastering business. (Years later an informant claimed Calogero helped organize the Plasterers Helpers Union.)

Giovanni Bonventre
Source: FBN Mafia Book

On December 4, 1940 Giovanni Bonventre, uncle to Family Boss Joseph Bonanno and later a Family Captain, filed Declaration of Intention in USDC EDNY. Witnesses were Giovanni's brother Pietro, a Bonanno Member and Brooklyn undertaker, and Nino Adamo. Nino was then managing a bar and grill at his family's address on East 75th St.

Calogero Adamo (1945)

In May 1945 Nino's father Calogero filed Petition for Naturalization in USDC EDNY. Witnesses were Lorenzo Giacobbe, an early DeCavalcante Family member, and Nicola Campagna.

Born 1893 in Prizzi comune of Palermo, Nicola Campagna initially worked as a coal miner in Colorado before settling in Manhattan's East Village. By 1945 he was partnered with Nino Adamo in the Anchor Bar located on 2nd Avenue. An informant later claimed the partnership extended to an East Side loansharking operation.

Campagna died January 1946. Funeral arrangements handled by Anello and Bonventre Undertakers, owned by the aforementioned Pietro Bonventre and Bonventre's brother-in-law Vito Anello. Nino Adamo, his brother Joseph and Giovanni Bonventre were in attendance.

Joseph Adamo had LCN connections of his own. The year prior he and Bonventre took part in the short-lived Pinta Clothing Company in East Village. Adamo was also an officer, along with John Aglialoro and Gambino Captain Domenico Arcuri, in the Victory Star Social Club on East 76th St. The location served as a base of operations for the Gambino Family's Upper Manhattan faction. Years later FBI Agents surveilling the club noted Joseph Adamo's presence and, observing his frequent contacts with Arcuri, speculated he was a possible made member in that crew. (There's no available informant data supporting this belief. CI Alfred Santantonio, a Gambino Soldier with extensive knowledge of Family membership, was murdered before he could shed further light on Arcuri's regime. Joseph Adamo died 1966 of natural causes.)

On May 21, 1946 Nino Adamo arrested by NYPD on robbery charge. Case dismissed following month.

By 1950s Adamo was a formally inducted member likely reporting to Giovanni Bonventre. One of Adamo's closest associates was Bonanno Soldier Alfonse 'Big Al' DeMarinis; it may have been DeMarinis who originally sponsored Adamo for membership.

Alfonse DeMarinis (1962)

In February 1958 FBI CI reported: "Nino LNU, the owner of the Anchor Bar on 2nd Ave reportedly is a 'Don' in the Italian underworld. [CI] stated he believes but is not certain Nino is possibly involved in narcotics."

On April 18, 1958 interviewed by FBI: "Adamo stated he had witnessed the naturalization of John Bonventre. He alleged that his deceased former partner in the Anchor Bar, 1469 Second Avenue, Nicholas Compagna [sic], who was close to Bonventre had introduced him..Adamo stated reluctantly that Bonventre used to visit the Anchor Bar from time-to-time to pass the time of day. Adamo stated he was never sure what Bonventre's employment was, but that at one time he believed him to be in the undertaking business and in the cheese business. He alleged that he never knew Bonventre to be engaged in any illegal activity and never had reason to believe he was anything other than a respectable businessman and gentleman. Adamo alleged he did not recall if he last saw Bonventre in 1956 or 1957..[Asked about Apalachin he] commented 'perhaps they were just good friends together for a barbecue'..[He] was asked in connection with previous arrest records if he had ever been arrested or convicted for the possession or sale of narcotics. Adamo assumed an injured air and professed to consider narcotics peddlers among the lowest form of humanity."

On May 16, 1958 FBI CI reported: "[CI] stated he believes John Bonventre to be tied up with Nino Adamo, operator of the Anchor Bar on 2nd Ave, and with his brother, Joseph Adamo, possibly in a numbers operation..He said this crowd had a card game running on East 75th Street, and someone had been killed there. He alleged that this group belonged to a Democratic Club in the East 75th St and 2nd Ave area, out of which they operate. He described Nicola Campagna, who died several years ago, as a gambler. Speaking of Calogero Adamo, the father of Nino Adamo, [CI] stated Calogero is an old man who drinks to excess and has no connection with any illegal activity, in which his sons Joseph and Nino Adamo may be participating."

Following the Apalachin meeting Bonventre stepped back from Family affairs and eventually returned to Italy. Michael Sabella, who had previously taken part of Bonventre's crew following his own promotion to Captain, now assumed the remainder.

By 1964 Sabella crew, along with representatives from Gambino and Genovese Families, involved in blackjack game held at 81 2nd Ave. Nino Adamo and Soldier Frank 'Fauney' D'Angelo handled Sabella's cut.

Around Fall 1968 Michael Sabella was reportedly demoted and assigned to Captain Philip Rastelli. Some or all of his crew members may have been shifted to the recently promoted Frank D'Angelo.

In late May 1969 FBI CI reported: "[CI] was shown a photograph of Tony Adamo, whom he identified as a Captain in the Sciacca Family of LCN. [CI] advised that Tony Adamo was from Prince Street, the Lower East Side section of Manhattan, NY, and was very close to Lilo Galante prior to the latter's incarceration." (This is the only report suggesting Adamo ever held a rank higher than Soldier.)

By 1975 involved in gambling operation headquartered out of Windsor Garage and adjacent Victory Star Social Club on East 76th St in Manhattan's Upper East Side. Participants included Adamo, Bonanno Soldier Alfonse DeMarinis, Genovese Soldier Frank Cacciatore and the Schiro brothers, one of whom headed the DeCavalcante Family's Manhattan faction. Adamo served as contact man for gamblers and potential loanshark customers. One informant described Schiro as the 'right-hand man in Cacciatore's gambling activities'.

Adamo outside Victory Star Social Club (c. 1970)

Believed reporting to Angelo 'Moe' Prisinzano by 1976.

By September 1977 Adamo and longtime associate Alfonse DeMarinis were reporting to Armand 'Buddy' Pollastrino.

By 1978 Pollastrino crew members included Antonio Adamo, Joseph Benanti, Alfonse DeMarinis, Gabriel Infanti and Salvatore 'Chubby' Maiorino.

L to R: Prisinzano, Pollastrino, Trinchera, Infanti

A string of regime changes followed the July 1979 murder of Carmine Galante. Armand Pollastrino initially kept his rank and even had his power expanded with the addition of members from other now-defunct crews, but around April 1980 he was also taken down and replaced by Dominick 'Trin' Trinchera. After Trinchera's own murder in May 1981 control went to Gabriel Infanti.

Antonio Adamo died October 1986 in New York.

Gioeli - Calabro Crews (2000s)

Gioeli (L) and Calabro (R)
Government Photos

Colombo member Thomas Gioeli was promoted to Capodecina following the 1994 Federal racketeering conviction of Joseph Russo.

By Spring 2000 Gioeli crew included:

1. Paul 'Paulie Guns' Bevacqua (61y)
2. Dino Calabro (34y)
3. Leonard Dello (73y)
4. Vincent 'Jimmy Gooch' Febbraro (66y)
5. Joseph 'Joe Smash' Gambale (49y)
6. Gary Gugliaro (45y)
7. Vincent 'Vinny Sicilian' Gugliaro (72y)
8. Joseph 'Joe Monte' Monteleone (61y) (IPL)
9. Robert Pate (52y)
10. Frank 'Frankie Wheels' Politi (55y)
11. Nick Rizzo (73y)
12. Frank Melia (54y) [Possible]

Several crew members, including Bevacqua and Politi, were part of Acting Boss Vic Orena's faction during the early 1990s intra-Family war. They were given to Persico loyalist Gioeli following peace agreement between sides.

Fellow Russo crew member Leonard Dello had briefly defected to Orena at the height of the conflict.

Joseph Gambale was transferred to Gioeli following the May 1999 murder of William Cutolo.

By Summer 2002 Dino Calabro was promoted to Capodecina and given his own crew. Those who reported to Calabro included:

1. Andre D'Apice (28y)
2. Vincent 'Chicky' DeMartino (47y)
3. Gary Gugliaro (47y)
4. Vincent 'Vinny Sicilian' Gugliaro (74y)
5. Ralph Scopo Jr. (53y)

Around January 2004 new members were inducted, including Joseph Competiello, Dino Saracino and Sebastian Saracino.

Saracino brothers assigned to Calabro.

Competiello told he would be reporting to Vincent 'Vinny Buffalo' Ricciardo and given contact number. After ceremony Competiello instructed to get rid of the number, he would instead be reporting to Gioeli and that his assignment to Ricciardo was 'just protocol'.

During mid-2000s new members inducted and added to Gioeli/Calabro regimes included:

1. Vincent 'Downtown Vinny' Manzo (68y) [Gioeli]
2. Michael Uvino (40y) [Gioeli]
3. Michael Souza (38y) [Calabro]

Souza had been on-record with Calabro since the 2001 death of Frank Melia.

Following 2008 Federal racketeering indictments and the subsequent convictions (Gioeli) and defections (Calabro), members of both crews were dispersed to other Captains.

Vincent Capasso (Bonanno)

1967 Jersey City PD Arrest

Vincent 'Fort Lee Jimmy' Capasso was a member of the Bonanno Family.

Born June 20, 1908 in The Bronx to Agostino Capasso and Rosaline Federico. Father, shoemaker from Cimitile comune of Naples, immigrated in 1899.

At time of birth family resided at 731 St. Ann's Ave in Woodstock. By 1930 moved to 770 Home St in Morrisania.

Inducted into the Bonanno Family by the 1950s, Capasso remained unknown to law enforcement for many years. His only New York arrest of record came in November 1964, on charges of conspiracy and grand larceny.

By Fall 1967 resided at 258 Tremont Ave in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Employed as supervisor for Knitco Company in Jersey City.

Capasso's second and final known arrest occurred at Knitco, after a Jersey City PD search warrant uncovered $400 worth of company property in the trunk of his 1967 Cadillac. Convicted and given six month suspended sentence.

What, if any, role Capasso played in the 1960s intra-Family conflict and subsequent reorganization isn't known. For the next several years he is absent from available records.

By June 1975 described by NYPD as the 'main bookmaker' for Bonanno-controlled Italian-American Veterans Club located at 43 Madison St in Lower Manhattan.

In September 1975 FBI reported: "[NYPD] has advised they received information Vincent Capasso has recently been made a Capo in the Bonanno Family..by Carmine 'Lilo' Galante. He reportedly is now in charge of the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn."

Clarification of the above appears in a May 1977 Fort Lee, NJ Police Department report. Citing information received from the NYPD's Intelligence Division, it notes that Capasso reportedly took the place of demoted Capodecina Michael 'Mickey' Zaffarano. It was believed by the NYPD that Zaffarano had been reduced in rank due to LE scrutiny of his involvement in the obscene film business.

In early 1976 a longtime Bonanno member informed the FBI that Zaffarano had actually stepped down over an unspecified money dispute and was replaced by Angelo 'Moe' Prisinzano. Capasso could have served as interim crew leader. The following year Zaffarano was reinstated as captain, this time over a separate crew comprised of newly inducted members.

Despite receiving information identifying Capasso as a previously unknown member and possible Captain, there was apparently little follow-up conducted at the time. No reports have been located wherein FBI sources, which soon included at least two Bonanno Soldiers, were contacted regarding Capasso. He is also not named in contemporary CI breakdowns of Family membership. The rank of Captain is again attributed to Capasso during a brief mention in 1988's Donnie Brasco, however, the basis for that claim may well have been the same 1975 NYPD intelligence that initially brought him to the FBI's attention.

In November 1975 the Brooklyn DA's Office passed along information naming Capasso as owner of two or more methadone clinics operating in Hawaii and on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. FBI noted: "Sources of the New York Office have also advised numerous individuals connected with the Bonanno Family have gone to a methadone clinic in Hawaii to 'dry out' from a heroin habit." Subsequent investigation failed to uncover any evidence linking Capasso to either location.

As of 1977 Capasso was a regular at the Toyland Social Club, headquarters for Underboss Nicholas Marangello, at 94 Hester St in Lower Manhattan. From February 1977 through January 1978 the location was subject of almost daily Federal surveillance. Capasso was a constant presence and, agents noted, it was his responsibility to open and close the club every Monday through Saturday.

He was seen on more than one occasion departing the club with an unknown male described as 6'4" and 'in the area' of 300 lbs.

Toyland Social Club (Aug. 1977)
L to R: Philip Giaccone (Obscured), Unsub, Vincent Capasso and Stefano Cannone

In late May 1977 he was briefly a target of investigation by local police. Acting on intel from New York, members of the Fort Lee PD conducted surveillance at Capasso's residence on Tremont Ave, and on one occasion photographed him watering plants in his front yard.

Fort Lee PD Surv (May 1977)

Little is available on Vincent Capasso's involvement in the Bonanno Family post-1978. He was likely inactive by the time of his inclusion on 1983 and 1988 Senate Charts of Bonanno Family membership. He died May 1999 in Florida.

Colombo Club Surveillance (1996)

Brief excerpt of May 1996 FBI video surveillance conducted on Colombo Family social club in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

The first clip shows a group that includes Captain Thomas Gioeli and Associate Dino Calabro entering the location. Gioeli and Joel Cacace are then shown briefly stepping outside for a walk and talk.

Additional footage from this date is available, albeit at much worse quality, and may be added in a future post.