Philadelphia Surveillance (c. 1979)

Surveillance photo taken circa 1979.

Those depicted:

2. Felix 'Little Felix' Bocchino (1918-1992): Member from South Philadelphia but closely aligned with the Newark faction headed by Antonio Caponigro. Inducted in January 1982. Sentenced to two years Federal imprisonment for tax violations in June 1983.

In the early 1990s Bocchino was instrumental in newly appointed Boss Giovanni Stanfa's move to exert control over South Philadelphia. It was this role that led the Family's rebel faction, consisting of Joseph Merlino, Ralph Natale and others, to orchestrate his murder. Bocchino was shot to death in late January 1992.

3. Joseph Sodano (1936-1996): Caponigro crew member also inducted in January 1982. Around late 1991 Giovanni Stanfa appointed Sodano to Capodecina, replacing Ralph Napoli (below). Shortly afterward Sodano was convicted on New Jersey State racketeering charges. Upon his release in 1995 he refused to pay tribute to Natale and Merlino, now heading the Family. In response his murder was ordered and Peter Caprio, a member of Sodano's crew, was given the job. Sodano was shot to death in December 1996 by Caprio associate Philip Casale. Caprio was promoted to head the crew.

4. Ralph 'Blackie' Napoli (1914-2005): Member from Newark. Appointed Capodecina by Boss Nicodemo Scarfo in the early 1980s, then demoted and replaced with Pasquale Martirano. Regained his position around 1990, but was again demoted the following year after campaigning by crew members Sodano and Joseph Licata.

Dominic Rugnetta (Bruno Member)

c. 1956

Dominic Rugnetta was a member of the Bruno Family.

Born February 26, 1924 in Sinopoli comune of Reggio Calabria, Calabria.

Around June 1942 briefly served in Italian Army. He later told the INS: "I served for eleven days, after eleven days I ran away and returned home after the American Army liberated Italy."

On June 29, 1948 entered the US at Baltimore aboard S.S. Monreale.

By 1951 he resided with his uncle, Bruno Member Joseph 'Joe the Boss' Rugnetta, at 2030 South 13th St in South Philadelphia.

In February of that year he and Joseph's adopted daughter, Clara Romeo, were married in Elkton, Maryland.

On December 4, 1952 Dominic entered Buffalo, New York from Canada. Giving his occupation as hand presser, he was accompanied by James 'Lefty' Gatto, a Bruno member and close associate of Joe Rugnetta. The year prior Gatto had served as Dominic's interpreter in a sworn statement given to the INS.

In February 1956 filed Petition for Naturalization in USDC Philadelphia. Gatto and Joe Rugnetta acted as witnesses. Granted citizenship three months later.

By 1965 he worked as a bartender at the South Philly Grill located at 2026-28 South 12th St. The business was owned by his uncle, then the Family's Consigliere.

On January 16 of that year Dominic was formally inducted into the Bruno Family. It was the first ceremony known to have been held since the books were closed on New York's orders around mid-to-late 1962.

The following day Bruno Capodecina John Cappello was visited by Rocco Scafidi, Bruno member and Federal informant, at Cappello's grocery in South Philadelphia. An FBI bug picked up the conversation, during which Cappello informed Scafidi of the induction:

Cappello: Don't say nothing that I told you -- (they made a guy from) Joe Rugnetta's bar.

Scafidi: Joe Rugnetta's barber shop?

Cappello: Bar.

Scafidi: Bar?

Cappello: Joe Rugnetta's barber shop?

Scafidi: Oh, the bar, on the corner of the little street. (So. Philadelphia Grill, 12th and Mercy Sts).

Cappello: Since when's Joe Rugnetta got a barber shop?

Scafidi: Oh, don't mind me. You mean over at the bar.

Cappello: Yeah. (He's the bartender).

...

Scafidi: They made him today?

Cappello: (Made him yesterday).

Scafidi: Oh, good.

Cappello: So what you going to do.

Scafidi: Only one they made.

Cappello: Yeah. Joe [Rugnetta] is going to go to Florida. Ange [Bruno] is going on a bigger trip -- Italy -- I guess.

Scafidi: God bless them.

Rocco was recorded in a subsequent discussion with his brother Sam, also a member:

Rocco: Guess who I went to see this morning?

Sam: Who?

Rocco: Johnny. You know what he told me this morning. Did you know about it, they made somebody last night?

Sam: Who?

Rocco: Over at Rugnetta...Yeah. Johnny told me this morning. Said don't let them know I told you.

...

Rocco: So Uncle Joe (Scafidi) [Bruno Capodecina] must have been down [for the ceremony].

Sam: Uh huh. Naw.

Rocco: Unless they skipped part of the meeting. Must have just had a few guys there, that's all.

Sam: Who --

Rocco: Just this guy [Dominic].

Sam: I mean they start with -- start all over with nobody -- don't look for nobody.

Rocco: No nobody at all.

Sam: Nobody.

Rocco: I thought they would make what's his name, uh, Sindone (Frank Sindone). Sindone is in line.

That September a member source identified Dominic Rugnetta and the Marconi brothers, Alfonso and Guerino, as the last three known to have been made since October 1961.

During the mid-to-late 1960s Rugnetta reported to Captain Nicholas 'Nicky Buck' Piccolo.

N. Piccolo (1960s)

Made members of Piccolo's crew included Dominick Lepore, Alfonso 'Funzi' Marconi, Guerino 'Marc' Marconi, Piccolo relatives Anthony, Joseph and Michael Piccolo, Santo Romeo and Dominic Rugnetta.

Both Rugnetta and Romeo were shifted to the Chester crew in later years.

In July 1969 Dominic inherited ownership of the South Philly Grill from his uncle.

Four months later he and seven other Family members appeared before a State Grand Jury investigating organized crime. Others were Capodecina John Cappello and Soldiers Dominick Lepore, Ernest Perricone, the Piccolo brothers Anthony, Joseph and Michael, as well as Rugnetta's in-law Santo Romeo. Rugnetta and Lepore were ordered to return with counsel the following day.

In November 1976 Dominic was noted as handling his ailing and bedridden uncle Joe's gambling and loansharking business, described by the CI as 'Calabrian in nature'. Joe died the following September.

By the early 1980s reported to Chester crew leader Santo 'Sam' Idone.

Made members of the Idone crew included Anthony Iacono, Jack Parisi, Santo Romeo, Dominic Rugnetta, Joseph Scalleat and Antonino Sciglitano.

In 1985 Rugnetta attended the annual Christmas party hosted by Family Boss Nicodemo 'Nicky' Scarfo at LaCucina restaurant in South Philadelphia. Additional attendees included Bruno Captain Philip Leonetti and Bruno Soldier Felix Bocchino.

In 1988 Dominic passed on ownership of the South Philly Grill to a son.

He died July 4, 2021 at age 97.

Vito Seidita (Milwaukee)

1952

Vito Seidita was a member of the Milwaukee Family who served as Consigliere under Frank Balistrieri.

Born August 22, 1904 in Santa Flavia comune of Palermo, Sicily.

On June 15, 1909 the Seidita family arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard S.S. Martha Washington. Their destination was given as the residence of early Milwaukee Boss Vito Guardalabene at 164 Detroit St.

Vito Guardalabene died in 1921. The Seiditas returned to Sicily around the same time.

Vito Seidita returned to the United States with a son and daughter on February 16, 1948. They joined his wife, Frances Cefalu, at 2586 Murray Ave in Milwaukee. The two married in Santa Flavia in April 1930, and Frances had been residing in the US since late 1946.

On June 2, 1952 he filed Petition for Naturalization in USDC Milwaukee. He was then residing at 1632 North Warren Ave and working construction. Acting as witnesses were Milwaukee members Joseph Caminiti and John Alioto, who took over as Family Boss around this time. Seidita, possibly already a member of the Family as well, was naturalized the following month.

Although he applied for a bartender's license in April 1952, within a couple of days of his naturalization Vito began working with the City of Milwaukee's Street Sanitation Department. He remained with the city until his retirement twenty years later.

On January 11, 1965 FBI Agents observed Joseph Caminiti, now the Family's Underboss, visiting the Seidita residence at 3428-3430 North 48th St. Vito lived in a duplex alongside relative Salvatore 'Ted' Seidita, also a member of the Family.

Vito's rank at the time is not clear. Later that year an FBI source identified seven Family members as making up 'the chair' or council. Those named as council members were Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Caminiti, John Alioto, Peter Balistrieri, Joseph Gumina, Michele 'Mike' Mineo and Vito Seidita.

A member source, possibly Augie Maniaci, confirmed Seidita as Consigliere when providing Agents with a breakdown of Family leadership the following summer.

It was probably the same source who attended a political fundraiser hosted by Frank Balistrieri in March 1968. During the occasion Seidita informed the source of his assignment to Capodecina Peter Balistrieri and spoke with him about various Family matters: "[Seidita] told [CI] to get in line and keep in touch with Pete Balistrieri and, in effect, Vito was telling [CI] that he was not being ignored by the Milwaukee LCN Family leadership as he had been in the recent past. Seidita did mention that there was someone in the Milwaukee Family whom they do not trust. Seidita gave no indication that he knew who it might be."

c. 1970

Around early April 1970 Seidita's counsel was sought in a dispute between Soldier Vincent Maniaci and Boss Frank Balistrieri concerning Maniaci's restaurant and tavern. Balistrieri, knowing Maniaci had been forced to find a new location for the business, demanded in 'very strong terms' that Maniaci use Balistrieri-owned vending machines at the new location. Maniaci considered this approach an 'affront to [his] honor' and requested a meeting with Seidita and Underboss Joseph Caminiti to settle the matter.

The following month Seidita confided in a member source regarding his own unhappiness with the Boss: "[Seidita told CI] he has not been taken into Frank Balistrieri's confidence regarding problems of the Milwaukee LCN Family and was personally disgusted with the manner in which Balistrieri was leading the Family. Seidita mentioned that Balistrieri conducts no meetings and consults with no one concerning LCN matters. Seidita felt that demands would have to be made by the LCN membership and the Family become more active without ties to the Chicago LCN Family."

Despite the various complaints no overt action appears to have been taken. Seidita continued in his role as Consigliere and was present at nearly all of the wakes and other social functions held through the following years.

He remained employed with the city, now working for the Milwaukee Dump Sanitation Department. When tracked down there for an interview he told the FBI he had no knowledge of LCN.

Seidita retired from the City of Milwaukee by April 1974.

Two months later an FBI source provided another Family breakdown, confirming he remained as Consigliere.

He may have continued in this position until his death in Milwaukee on July 17, 1978.

He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum.

Underboss Joseph Caminiti, replaced by Steve DeSalvo, was shifted to Consigliere.

Those interested in learning more about the Midwest Crimes Families should check the Milwaukee Mafia site.

Genovese Family Ceremonies (1970s)

Brief descriptions, in chronological order, of known Genovese Family induction ceremonies from the 1970s.

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.

===

January 12, 1976

- "[CI] advised that all LCN 'Families' in New York have been given permission to initiate ten (10) new members into each Family. Source stated that Carlo Gambino had been against such a move; however, he has been persuaded to go along with the initiation...Source stated that the initiations could happen any day in the near future. Source advised each Family is receiving an equal number of new members so that the already unequal membership in the Families will not be thrown farther out of proportion."

===

c. Late January / Early February 1976

L to R: DeVingo, Mangano, Russo

- Books open. Each Family initially allowed ten new members. Those inducted in Genovese's first wave included:

- Anthony DeVingo (46y) [Died 1989] [Sponsored by J. Russo]
- John DiGilio (43y) [Murdered 1988] [Sponsored by F. Tieri]
- Tino Fiumara (34y) [Died 2010]
- Venero 'Benny Eggs' Mangano (54y) [Died 2017]
- John 'Johnny Mumbles' Russo (60y) [Died] [Sponsored by F. Tieri]

===

February 9, 1976

- "..[CI] continued that no party has been held as yet for the new members in LCN but that a party will be held for new members in the near future."

===

February 10, 1976

- "[CI] stated that he heard the Genovese Family had their initiation earlier in the week."

===

March 8, 1976

- "[CI] advised that in conversation with Joe 'Demus' Covello, Covello advised the Newark LCN has recently admitted 30 new members into their outfit. CI advised Emilio 'The Count' Delio's one time 'gofer', Anthony (LNU) [DeVingo], was supposedly made a member recently, and it is common knowledge that Delio is extremely upset due to Anthony's admittance into the outfit."

===

c. Spring 1976

Antonelli
Source: New York Daily News

- Pasquale 'Smudgie' Antonelli (42y) [Died 2007]
- Douglas Rago (53y) [Died 2010]

CW George Barone later noted Rago's induction occurred about one year prior to his own.

===

c. May 1976
- Unsub #1 [Sponsored by J. Lapi] [Operated laundromat at Mulberry and Kenmare Sts]
- Unsub #2 [Sponsored by J. Lapi] [Connected to Zito's Butcher Shop at 162 Mott St]

===

May 14, 1976
- "[CI] advised the ban on introducing newly made members to members of other Families has been lifted."

===

June 8, 1976
- "[CI] advised the LCN membership books continue to be open. He mentioned the original plan was to make only ten new members per Family. However, the larger Families complained this number is too few and favored the smaller Families."

===

June 30, 1976
- "[CI] advised he has heard there will be a meeting of representatives of LCN Families in Miami, Florida in the near future to discuss 'opening the books' for further LCN induction. [CI] advised there are an estimated 150 proposed members awaiting induction into the LCN, many having been proposed for a number of years. [CI] noted, however, that no proposed member over age fifty will be inducted. [CI] advised he does not expect the Miami meeting to occur within the next ten days, because he has heard Sam DeCavalcante who will be a representative at that meeting is presently hospitalized in the Miami area."

===

July 1, 1976
- "[CI] advised there were no 'geeps' (ie foreign born Italians) made in the recent induction of members into the NY LCN Families."

===

July 28, 1976
- "[CI] advised [later] on the same afternoon Eli Zeccardi, Underboss in the Genovese Family, was going to meet with Capo's from the above Family who frequent the Lower East Side. They were to meet at the Cafe Roma which is owned by Zeccardi...[CI] related he had ascertained that the meeting was to discuss new members being made in the Genovese Family of LCN. [CI] related he ascertained that some new members will be made in the LCN in the next few weeks."

===

Pre-September 1976

Paladino

- Joseph Celambrino (36y)
- Lawrence 'Fat Larry' Paladino (45y) [Died 1984] [Sponsored by F. Tieri]

===

September 14, 1976

- "When new members are 'made' or intra-Family transfers are effected, either the Boss or Underboss must personally oversee such an occasion and make the formal introduction to the respective captains."

===

1976

Palumbo

- Dominick 'Quiet Dom' Cirillo (47y) [Died 2024]
- Anthony 'Tough Tony' Federici (36y) [Died 2022]
- Arthur 'Bam' Palumbo (70y) [Died 1978]
- Joseph Zito (40y) [Died 2020] [Sponsored by R. Palmieri]

An FBI membership list compiled in 1/77 indicates that Arthur Palumbo was a recently inducted member, and his name is absent from earlier Federal charts. However, at least one CI identified him as a 'button man' in the 1960s.

===

c. 1976

Cafaro

Location: Il Cortile Ristorante at 125 Mulberry St (Little Italy, Manhattan)

Attendees:

- Frank 'Funzi' Tieri (72y) (Boss) [Died 1981]
- Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno (65y) (Consigliere) [Died 1992]

- Antonio 'Buckaloo' Ferro (58y) (Capodecina) [Died 1978]

Members Inducted:

- Vincent 'Fish' Cafaro (43y) [Flipped 1986] [Died 2004] [Sponsored by A. Salerno]

Cafaro: "...Funzi asked me if I wanted to become a member of the family. He said I could accept or not accept, and there would be no hard feelings. But he also said 'once you accept you belong to us. We come first. Your family and home come second. We come first, no matter what'. And I accepted.

Funzi then showed me the gun and the knife, and says 'This is the gun and the knife, you live with the gun and you die by the knife'. He told me that Fat Tony had sponsored me, and gave me a piece of paper to let burn in my hand while I took the oath. 'If I betray the Cosa Nostra, I shall burn like this paper.'
He then pricked my finger with the pin and told me, 'Now you are amico nostra, you have been born over again. Now you are a man; you belong to us'. From that point on, I was amico nostra, a soldier in the Genovese family, the most powerful mob or 'brugad' in New York City and, for that matter, in the United States.

There were certain rules that all amico nostra lived by: no fooling around with another amico nostra's wife; no 'junk'; no dealing with pornography or Government bonds; and never talking about 'this thing' to anyone but other amico nostra."

The above testimony was delivered before the Permanent Subcommittee of Investigations in April 1988.

During the same testimony Cafaro cited 1974 as his year of induction.

Contemporary reports from informants all agree that 1976 is when the books were re-opened in New York. Sources included made members in at least two of the New York Families.

A signed affidavit from Cafaro entered into the record during the same proceedings noted: "I later learned that Patty Jerome was also 'straightened out' that day'."

This is possibly referring to Pasquale Genese (1910-1995), a close associate of Antonio Ferro and other Harlem crew members.

Genese is present in FBI membership lists going back to the 1960s, although CW Joseph Valachi told Federal agents in 1962 that he was 'doubtful' Genese was a member at the time.

 

===

 

Pre-March 1977

- Thomas Principe (45y) (Murdered 1979) [Sponsored by P. LaPlaca?]
 

===

March 3, 1977

- "[CI] advised each of the five NY LCN Families have been given authorization to initiate ten new members, and each of the NY Families have already prepared a list of those individuals to be 'made' in the immediate future."

===

c. Spring 1977

Location: Apartment (East Harlem)

Attendees:
- Frank 'Funzi' Tieri (Boss) (73y) [Died 1981]
- Eli Zeccardi (67y) (Underboss) [Murdered 1977]

Members Inducted:

- George Barone (53y) [Flipped 2001] [Died 2010] [Sponsored by A. Salerno]
- Multiple others

Prior to induction Barone summoned to New York by Douglas Rago for a meeting with Anthony Salerno.

Barone: "[Salerno] told me to go to a certain place [and he said] that I was going to receive what he termed a reward for my services through the outfit."

Prior to induction Barone was informed by Zeccardi that the ceremony would be 'abbreviated' and that 'we're going to make it fast'.

Barone: "I was brought in. It was very brief. [Tieri] was very old. The ceremony that normally took place had to be shortened because the man was not as capable in his old age to carry on a big ceremony."

"I was told that I had to abide by the rules of whatever captain I was assigned to. I was told that we didn't deal in drugs. They didn't deal. They respected the wives of the other soldiers, and never, never betray the New York Mafia on fear of death."

Following the ceremony the inductees gathered at a social club: "There was a breakfast held nearby, and there were all of the members in our group, the Harlem group were there having breakfast to welcome in the new inductees. [Harlem group numbered] 50 or 55."

===

c. April 1977

Napoli

- Albert 'Blast' Gallo (46y) [Sponsored by D. Alongi]
- James 'Jimmy Nap' Napoli (65y) [Died 1992]
- Unsub [Sponsored by V. Gigante]
- Unsub [Sponsored by T. Maiorana]

===

May 20, 1977

- "CI advised despite popular belief that only full-blooded Italians are admitted to LCN membership, many members have mothers who may be only part Italian. He noted, however, if a proposed member's father is not Italian, he would be barred from membership, since an Italian name is an absolute requirement."

 

===

 

c. Mid-July 1977

- Michael Coppola (31y)

Coppola's induction was reported to the FBI's Newark Field Office by a (Member?) source on July 21.

 

Three months prior he acted as shooter in the murder of Genovese Soldier John Lardiere.

===

July 1977

Napurano

- Salvatore 'Red Light' Napurano (44y) [Died 1998] [Sponsored by R. Boiardo]

Possibly made at the same ceremony as Michael Coppola (above).

===

c. Early October 1977

Illiano

- Frank 'Punchy' Illiano (49y) [Died 2014] [Sponsored by V. Gigante]
- Unsub #1 [Sponsored by V. Gigante]
- Unsub #2 [Sponsored by V. Gigante]

===

October 1977
- Salvatore 'Zookie' Esposito (42y) [Sponsored by M. Ianniello]
- Alexander 'Alex Russo' Morelli (40y) [Died 2003] [Sponsored by P. DeFeo]
- Unsub [Sponsored by G. Filippone]

===

c. October 1977
- Frank 'Frankie The Eye' Vispisiano (38y) [Died 2011] [Sponsored by G. Filippone]
- Three Unsubs

Vispisiano may be identical to the Unsub listed above as part of the Esposito / Morelli ceremony.

===

c. Fall 1977
- Peter 'Petey Red' DiChiara (45y) [Died 2018] [Sponsored by G. Filippone?]
- Anthony 'Figgy' Ficarotta (49y) [Died 2016] [Sponsored by J. Lapadura]
- Joseph Pata (39y) [Died 2002] [Sponsored by J. Pagano?]
- Columbo Saggese (50y) [Died 2011] [Sponsored by R. Palmieri]

===

c. 1977
- Liborio 'Barney' Bellomo (20y) [Sponsored by V. Cafaro]
- Alfred Vigorito (55y) [Died 2010]

===

c. Early 1978
- Anthony Giacalone (41y)

- Vincent 'Jimo' Calabrese (69y) [Died 1994] [Sponsored by R. Boiardo]

An FBI Member Source identified Vincent J. Calabrese as a 'recently made' Genovese member on February 5, 1978.

===

April 6, 1978

- "[CI] advised that there has been a delay in new LCN members being made in the NYC area because of the ill health of Joe N. Gallo and 'Vinnie Beans' Foceri, the Consiglieri's of the Gambino and Lucchese Families of LCN."

===

c. May 1978
- Louis 'Gigi' Arminante (49y)
- James Vito Montemarano (36y) [Died 1995] [Sponsored by R. Boiardo]

===

c. Mid-1978

Lapi

- Angelo 'Vic' Lapi (46y) [Died 2011] [Sponsored by J. Lapi]

===

c. 1978
- Gerard 'Jerry' Papa (44y) [Murdered 1980]

===

c. 1978

- Angelo Prisco (39y) [Died 2017] [Sponsored by M. Gigante]
- Unsub

Michael Visconti, an associate in Prisco's crew who became a cooperating witness in 2006, stated the following on the above Unsub: "It was a running joke that a friend of [Prisco's], he used to say, I got straightened before you, Angelo told me, like 30 seconds before he did. He went in the room first."

===

c. Summer 1979

- Joseph 'Pepe' LaScala (37y) [Died 2019]

===

Late 1970s (Confirmed Inducted by 1980)
- James Vincent Delio (55y) [Murdered 1980]

- Joseph Dente (40y) [Died 1996]
- Vincent DiNapoli (42y) [Died 2005] [Sponsored by V. Cafaro]
- Nicholas 'Nicky the Blond' Frustaci (48y) [Died 2017]
- Salvatore 'Sally Dogs' Lombardi (40y) [Died 2009]

- Alphonse 'Allie Shades' Malangone (42y)
- Joseph 'Jo Jo' Russo (50y?)
- Saverio 'Sammy Black' Santora (40y) [Died 1987] [Likely 1976]
- Many others

Carmine Fatico (Gambino Capodecina)

 

1944

Mugshot of Gambino Capodecina Carmine 'Charley Wagner / Wagons' Fatico following an arrest for felonious assault with a knife. The case was resolved with a $100 fine.

Fatico was inducted into the Gambino Family in the late 1940s or early 1950s.

He sponsored both his brother Daniel and Anthony 'Fat Andy' Ruggiano for membership.

Ruggiano was made in 1953, shortly after he and the Fatico brothers carried out a murder ordered by Family Boss Albert Anastasia.

All three reported to Capodecina Armand 'Tommy' Rava.

After Rava's murder the trio reported to Aniello 'Neil' Dellacroce.

Fatico inherited a portion of the former Rava crew around 1973.

Made members of the crew included his brother Daniel, Ettore 'Eddie' DeCurtis, Guido 'Dolls' DeCurtis, Anthony Guerrieri and Anthony Ruggiano.

Notable associates included the Carneglias, the Corozzos, the Gottis and Angelo Ruggiero. Several were inducted after the books re-opened in 1976 and rose to positions of leadership in the following years.

By 1980 Carmine Fatico had taken a less active role in Family matters. John Gotti served as his Acting Capodecina, and remained in that position until taking the Family over in January 1986.

Fatico died August 1991 in West Islip, Long Island.

Stephen Maruca (Bonanno Acting Capodecina)

Mugshot of Bonanno Member Stephen Maruca following an arrest for burglarizing a liquor store.

He was convicted and sentenced to sixty days imprisonment and five years probation.

Born in Rochester, New York, Maruca gravitated to the Bonanno Family through his activities in Florida.

By the 1960s he was an associate of Capodecina Michael Sabella.

Maruca was inducted, likely under Sabella's sponsorship, sometime around the first half of 1978.

By 1979 made members under Sabella included William 'Willie the Tile Setter' Dara, Salvatore 'Sally Paintglass' D'Ottavio, Anthony 'T.G.' Graziano, Ronald Lorenzo, Joseph 'Pepe' Marino, Stephen Maruca, Joseph Puma and Benjamin 'Lefty' Ruggiero. The crew was comprised of both New York and Florida-based membership.

Sabella was demoted after Carmine Galante's murder in July 1979. Maruca and the other Florida members were placed with Philip 'Phil Lucky' Giaccone.

Giaccone crew member Joseph Puma operated the Little Italy Restaurant in Hallandale, Florida.

In late April 1981 the restaurant was site of a meeting between Bonanno Acting Capodecina Benjamin 'Lefty' Ruggiero, Soldier Joseph 'Pepe' Marino and FBI Undercover Agents 'Donnie Brasco' and 'Tony Rossi'. Brasco later testified: "We got a table by ourselves, Mr. Marino, Rossi, Lefty and myself. Joe Puma was left out. Marino said that Joe Puma and Steve Maruca were made acting captains of Phil Lucky's crew in the Miami area, that the crew was down to seven guys and that they were kind of disorganized. Lefty said, 'Don't worry about it, because some of the captains are going to get knocked down, which would put two up,' and that the books of the Family were going to be opened soon."

Ten days later Giaccone, along with Captains Alfonse 'Sonny Red' Indelicato and Dominick 'Trin' Trinchera, was murdered in Brooklyn.

Soon afterwards Maruca and other crew members were put with Dominick 'Sonny Black' Napolitano.

Napolitano was himself murdered three months later.

Maruca was indicted on both state and Federal charges multiple times through the 1980s. Released from Federal prison in November 1993, he was then believed to be reporting to Anthony Graziano.

He died July 1997 in Dade County, Florida and was buried in Rochester.

Giuseppe Perugino (Bruno Capodecina)

Giuseppe 'Joe Lupo / Peppi' Perugino was an early Capodecina of the Bruno Family's crew in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Born April 13, 1897 in or near Curinga comune of Catanzaro, Calabria.

In October 1932 arrested by State Police in Reading, PA for bootlegging. The following year he was indicted federally on a similar charge. Both cases were dismissed.

Around 1934 Perugino and Felix 'Skinny Razor' DeTullio, acting as shooter and driver respectively, were reputed to have carried out the murder of an unspecified male known as 'Indian Nuts'.

Perugino was then living on South 10th St in South Philadelphia, where he also owned a coffee shop. Within a couple of years he left the city for Chester, running a candy store from his address at 1208-1210 West 3rd St.

In July 1936 he was indicted on another bootlegging charge and paid a $5,000 fine.

In September 1938 arrested by Chester PD on carrying concealed weapon charge. Case dismissed.

In January 1940 among forty-five indicted in a widespread Federal bootlegging case. Those charged in addition to Perugino included Bruno Members James Gaglioti and Frank 'Zip' Zirpoli, Gaglioti's brother Tony as well as Carmelo Sciglitano, uncle to Bruno Members Joseph and Antonino.

Perugino was convicted and served three months at Berks County Prison in Reading, PA.

By the 1940s he was the leader of the Bruno Family's crew in Chester. Members included Dominick Festa, James Gaglioti, Demetrio Pennestri and the Sciglitano brothers. All were Calabrian.

Associates included William 'Fish Cake' Dostiglio, Mario 'Murph' Eufrasio and Charles 'Fat Charlie' Zoiena.

In addition to conducting legitimate business, particularly in beer distribution, Perugino and his men oversaw the city's numbers and horsebetting operations. Card games were run from the candy store on 3rd St, a common meeting place for the crew.

Years later one of the FBI's member sources, likely Harry Riccobene, was asked about Perugino: "..He said Perugino had the reputation of being a gunman [and] had something to do with the murder of an individual he recalled as being nicknamed 'Speed Brown'. Regarding 'Speed Brown', he said 'Speed Brown' was found on the 'back road' of Chester [and] part of Brown's body had been amputated and placed in his mouth by the murderers."

Perugino's last encounter with the law came in April 1945, when temporarily held for suspicion by the Philadelphia PD.

He died of a heart attack in Atlantic City, New Jersey on August 3, 1949.

Waked from South Philadelphia with burial in Saint John the Evangelist Cemetery in Pittston.

James Gaglioti is reported to have briefly held a leadership role in the wake of Perugino's death. By 1960 Joseph Sciglitano was Capodecina.

Philadelphia Surveillance (1979)

 

DEA surveillance photo taken June 7, 1979.

Those depicted:

1. Antonio 'Tony Bananas' Caponigro (1912-1980): Newark-based Member elected Consigliere upon the death of Joseph Rugnetta in 1977. Orchestrated the March 1980 murder of Family Boss Angelo Bruno in the hopes of usurping leadership for himself. The next month he and his brother-in-law, Member Alfred 'Freddy' Salerno, were found beaten and shot to death in New York.

2. Ralph 'Blackie' Napoli (1914-2005): Member from Newark. In 1973 an informant described Napoli and Dominick 'Tommy Adams' DiNorscio as the last two from that city inducted into the Bruno Family prior to the books re-opening in the 1970s. Completed a seven-year New Jersey State Prison term for contempt around June 1978. Appointed Capodecina by Boss Nicodemo Scarfo, then demoted and re-appointed over the following years. Died in 2005.

3. Frank Sindone (1927-1980): Member from South Philadelphia. Believed inducted around 1976. Joined in Caponigro's plot against Bruno and murdered on orders of Philip Testa, Bruno's successor, in October 1980.