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| 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.)
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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'.
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| 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.
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| L to R: Prisinzano, Pollastrino, Trinchera, Infanti |