Nicholas Castello was a Soldier in the Bonanno Family.
Born January 29, 1932 in Brooklyn to Angelo Castello (31y) and Lena Marchese (28y). Family resided at 47 Sumner Ave in Williamsburg.
Father and mother were born in the Sicilian province of Palermo, hailing from the comunes of Villabate and Camporeale respectively.
Castello is the only known Bonanno member of Villabatese heritage. The town is more typically associated with the Colombos.
Bonanno members from Camporeale are present going back to the Family's formative years and include Paolo Orlando (1864-1947), Thomas Scardino (1897-1978), Vincent Tarantola (1899-1974), Antonio Rizzuto (1902-1981) and Frank LaBruzzo (1911-1966).
By the 1950s Nicholas was working in the family's Castello Bakery located at 1136 Broadway in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
By 1958 formally inducted member of Bonanno Family.
On May 7, 1958 Unsub (Italo-American Bakers Association) advised FBI: "..Benjamin Restivo and Angelo Castello, Italian bread bakers in the Brooklyn area might know more about the up-to-date operations of the association. He stated he believed Angelo Castello has a bakery on Broadway near DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn."
By 1962 resided at 1384 Hancock St in Ridgewood, Queens.
Around May 1963 moved from Ridgewood to 1165 Barnes St in Franklin, Long Island.
On April 2, 1964 Bonanno Acting Boss Frank LaBruzzo visited at Lane Thread Company by Unspecified Bonanno Member. The meeting was surreptitiously recorded by an FBI bug installed the previous September. A report summarized: "[LaBruzzo] indicated he has to see 'these people' and stated in connection with getting money from them some can't do it since they don't have the money. He said if they get something you have to give them a chance..LaBruzzo then said 'and these younger guys, [Sally] and er [Castello]..'. In the above conversation there is an indication that some 'button guys' do not have any money because they don't have any action going for them." (Sally refers to Bonanno Soldier Salvatore Marchese, a relative of Castello and also a baker in the Ridgewood - Bushwick area. As recently as 2014 Marchese was included in a Federal list of Bonanno membership.)
On April 15, 1964 LaBruzzo visited at Lane Thread by Castello and Marchese: "[LaBruzzo] was in a non-specific conversation with Nick [Castello] and Sally [Marchese] regarding Nick and Sally becoming active in a gambling operation. LaBruzzo repeatedly mentioned to Nick and Sally he wanted them to move around and make some money. He told them he is behind them in whatever they do, but warned them not to go haywire because he could only back them up so far."
On October 26, 1965 interviewed by FBI: "[Castello] advised he has been engaged in the bakery business with his father all of his adult life, the bakery being currently located at 1136 Broadway [and formerly] at the corner of Floyd and Sumner Streets in Brooklyn, and they have been at their present location for twelve years..Castello stated he has never been arrested and he has never engaged in any kind of illegal activity. He denied having engaged in any kind of bookmaking or numbers operation. He further advised he has no knowledge of [LCN] and denied being a member of this organization. He stated he was acquainted with Frank LaBruzzo having met him on one or two occasions. He said about six months ago he went to LaBruzzo's place of business [and] said he had been referred to LaBruzzo by an individual he could not now recall. He said he last saw LaBruzzo about five months ago and has had no dealings with him either through [Lane Thread or Castello Bakery]."
In November 1965 surveilled at the wedding reception for Bonanno Acting Boss Gasper DiGregorio's daughter in Huntington, Long Island.
On January 22, 1966 an FBI Member Source was questioned extensively on the Bonanno Family's current status: "[CI] advised, when displayed a photograph of Nick Castello, he was formerly with Joseph Bonanno but now with DiGregorio. Castello is in the bakery business in Brooklyn." (This informant was very likely Salvatore Bonanno.)
On June 29, 1966 Castello approached by FBI in an attempt to develop him as a source: "[Castello] denied any knowledge of La Cosa Nostra. In view of his attitude further efforts to develop Castello were not deemed advisable."
In December 1969 among twenty-six who appeared before Nassau County Grand Jury investigating organized crime. The group included at least seventeen Bonanno members. Castello refused to answer questions.
On September 10, 1970 interviewed by FBI at his Franklin Square residence: "Castello advised he is employed in his family-operated bakery [and] his current shift at this bakery is from seven in the morning until three in the afternoon..Castello denied any affiliation with organized crime and refused to furnish any information regarding individuals whom he might possibly know. Castello stated he would gladly go to jail prior to furnishing any information which would be detrimental to another individual."
On May 13, 1971 Castello's automobile observed at the Barrett Dress Company in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. Business owned and operated by Bonanno Consigliere Joseph DiFilippi.
In October 1971 indicted by Nassau County on criminal contempt charge for refusing to testify before GJ.
On December 28, 1971, at approximately 11:15 AM, shot to death by girlfriend Carol Lasquadro (30y) inside Lasquadro's third-floor apartment in East Williston, Long Island. Shot once in side with .22 caliber pistol. A search of Castello's auto found an unlicensed .38 revolver. Nassau County DA stated to press: "[Castello was] a prime mover in the transferring of power from the Joseph Bonanno Family to the Paul Sciacca Family..His car was almost constantly parked in front of Sciacca's home."
At Lasquadro's trial the prosecution contended she killed Castello for threatening to end their relationship. The defense claimed it was a murder in self-defense brought about by a violent argument. Lasquadro acquitted.
On March 29, 1973 FBI questioned a potential source about Castello: "Target stated that Castello was a 'nice boy' who was killed by his girlfriend last summer. Target stated he was not really sorry 'Nicky' was dead because target said 'he should have stayed home with his wife'." (FBI noted re this source: "[Target] gave background on local Knickerbocker Avenue hoodlums and information regarding old and deceased Bonanno Family members. All above men are members of Evola LCN Family..Target is a Capo in above Family. Target has been contacted on one occasion by the alternate agent. It is to be noted that target speaks very little English." Later reports indicate that, despite these early interviews, this individual did not cooperate further and was abandoned as a potential source.)
Edit1: Details re parents' heritage.
