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| 1980s |
Emanuel 'Manny' Guaragna was a member of the Bonanno Family.
Born November 2, 1932 in the Bronx to John, a concrete worker, and Frances Termine.
Father and mother were born in Agrigento, hailing from the towns of Cattolica Eraclea and Montallegro respectively.
Several Bonanno members, primarily those active in the Bronx and Montreal, were also from Cattolica Eraclea. Among this group was Nicolo Buttafuoco (1899-1984), whose relative Concetta witnessed Frances Guaragna's Petition for Citizenship in 1934.
The Guaragnas were then residing at 888 East 165th St in the Foxhurst neighborhood.
By 1950 they had moved to 1641 Lurting Ave in Morris Park, where John owned a liquor store.
Little is known about Emanuel's early involvement with the Bonanno Family. He was likely part of the Family's Bronx faction that included Vito DeFilippo and his son Pat.
His name first comes up in available records at his induction into the Family on June 14, 1977. Guaragna and four others were made in the back area of a bar located in Maspeth, Queens. The ceremony, carried out by Acting Boss Carmine Galante and Underboss Nicholas Marangello, consisted of a verbal oath only. Those inducted in addition to Guaragna were Joseph 'Junior' Chilli, Joseph 'J.B.' Indelicato, Joseph Massino and Anthony Spero.
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| Vito DeFilippo |
Although not named as present for the occasion, Vito DeFilippo may have sponsored Guaragna for membership. He was surveilled visiting Galante's residence two days before the ceremony.
Galante promoted DeFilippo to Capodecina that summer. Four months later DeFilippo and Guaragna attended another ceremony, this one held inside a Little Italy, Manhattan tenement.
By 1978 members of the DeFilippo crew included his son Pat 'Patty' DeFilippo, Gerald 'Jerry' Chilli, Anthony 'Tony Crish' Crisci, Emanuel Guaragna, Salvatore 'Sally Blind' Frascone and William 'Willy Glasses' Riviello.
DeFilippo was one of several Captains demoted following Carmine Galante's murder in July 1979. Most or all of his crew was placed under Armand 'Mondo' Pollastrino.
By 1980 members of the Pollastrino crew included Antonio 'Nino' Adamo, Joseph Benanti, Vito Bonventre, Gerald Chilli, Anthony Crisci, Epifanio 'Frank Fauney' D'Angelo, Pat DeFilippo, Vito DeFilippo, Alfonse 'Big Al' DeMarinis, Emanuel Guaragna, Gabriel Infanti, Salvatore 'Chubby' Maiorino, William Riviello and Dominick 'Trin' Trinchera.
On March 20, 1980 Guaragna was among thirteen indicted in a Bronx County insurance fraud case. Processed at the NYPD's 44th Precinct, he claimed no occupation and gave an address on Williamsbridge Rd in Morris Park. (Others indicted included Alfio Indiviglia [1932-2004]. Born to parents from the San Fratello comune of Messina, Alfio may be identical to the 'Silvio LNU' later named by one of the Bonanno CWs as a made member from the Bronx.)
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| L to R: Pollastrino, Trinchera, Infanti |
By the following month Armand Pollastrino had been demoted and replaced by Dominick Trinchera.
After Trinchera's murder in May 1981 his crew went to Gabriel Infanti.
Infanti utilized the Fourth Street Cafe located at 80 East 4th St in East Village, Manhattan as a base of operations. An FBI report compiled around January 1985 noted Guaragna's automobile had been spotted at the location.
That September Guaragna was arrested in the Bronx on an unspecified charge.
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| Musillo |
In December 1987 Gabriel Infanti was murdered and the members of his crew were dispersed to various captains. Guaragna was likely placed with Charles 'Little Charlie' Musillo.
Aside from operating a restaurant in the Bronx, his activities for the next couple of years are unknown.
On April 25, 1991 FBI surveillance was conducted on the Grand Avenue Social Club located at 69-64 Grand Ave in Maspeth, Queens. At least seven official or Acting Captains and twelve Soldiers were observed, including Guaragna. Patrick DeFilippo, Acting Captain for Charles Musillo, was also present.
Around December of the following year Boss Joseph Massino promoted DeFilippo to official Captain. Massino later testified: "We always had a Captain in the Bronx for the last 40, 50 years. And when I come home [from prison in November 1992] there was no Captain in the Bronx. And I decided to put a Captain back [and] that's what I did." CW Salvatore Vitale, Former Underboss to Massino, testified: "Mr. Massino didn't know Patty and because Patty was close to me, from the time [Massino] was away [in prison], and given his support to the Family, [Massino] says I'm doing this more for you than I am for myself."
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| Pat DeFilippo (1991) |
By 1994 members of the DeFilippo crew included Vincent Basciano, Anthony 'Stutters' Frascone, Emanuel Guaragna, Silvio LNU and Salvatore Maiorino. Notable associates included 'Little Anthony' Donato, John 'Johnny Joe' Spirito and Michael 'Mikey Nose' Mancuso.
On July 29, 1994 an FBI surveillance was conducted on Tremont Ave in The Bronx. Those observed included DeFilippo and crew members Basciano, Guaragna and Maiorino.
Around 1996 Bonanno Acting Captain Richard Cantarella was given responsibility of collecting money on behalf of the Family hierarchy. Patrick DeFilippo and Emanuel Guaragna were among those he received payments from.
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| DeFilippo Crew at the Amato Wake L to R: Pat DeFilippo, Anthony Frascone, Michael Mancuso, Manny Guaragna |
On July 5-6, 1997 wake for father of Soldier Baldassare 'Baldo' Amato was held at Marine Park Funeral Home located on Quentin Rd in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Attendees included Underboss Salvatore Vitale, nine official or Acting Captains, over thirty Soldiers as well as members and associates of the Gambino Family. DeFilippo attended with crew members Basciano, Frascone, Guaragna and Maiorino as well as Michael Mancuso, believed to have recently been inducted.
Around the same time members of the DeFilippo crew committed an unsanctioned murder in Queens. The unidentified victim was shot to death by Soldier Vincent Basciano inside a social club located on Francis Lewis Blvd. Nearly all of the active DeFilippo crew members were present, including Guaragna, Frascone, Maiorino, Mancuso as well as Associates Anthony Donato, John Spirito, Salvatore Montagna and Alan Handler.
Patrick DeFilippo, not present when the murder took place, subsequently informed Boss Joseph Massino: "[DeFilippo] says they had a meeting in Flushing to resolve a [gambling] problem, and the kid had a gun on him, and he got cocky and he got nasty and Vinnie killed him...[DeFilippo told me] Johnny Joe was there, Anthony Stutters and Michael Nose and Vincent Basciano...They killed him and they left the body in the Bronx in the car."
DeFilippo himself acted as the shooter in another murder, this one sanctioned, in March 1999. Captain Gerlando 'George' Sciascia was shot to death in Manhattan after orchestrating an unauthorized murder of his own, in his case the son of a Family member in Canada. The body was dumped on a Bronx street to be discovered and hopefully interpreted by law enforcement as indication of a drug deal gone wrong.
Sciascia's wake was held March 21-22, 1999 in White Plains, New York. In a further attempt at steering blame away from the Bonanno Family, the event was heavily attended by the membership. With the exception of Boss Joseph Massino, who avoided public gatherings on principle, the co-conspirators and participants in the murder all showed. Other DeFilippo crew members present included Vincent Basciano and Guaragna, whose father was from the same hometown as the victim.
By 2001 Emanuel Guaragna served as DeFilippo's Acting Captain. Members of the DeFilippo crew included Guaragna, Vincent Basciano, Anthony Frascone, Silvio LNU, Salvatore Maiorino, Michael Mancuso, Salvatore Montagna and John Spirito.
On January 5, 2001 the NYPD surveilled Basciano, Guaragna and Basciano’s Associate Dominick Cicale meeting at the Green Dragon Restaurant in The Bronx.
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| March 2001 Surv (L to R): Manny Guaragna, Sal Montagna, Pat DeFilippo |
On March 28, 2001 FBI surveillance conducted on another location in the Bronx captured a meeting between DeFilippo, Guaragna, Salvatore Maiorino and Salvatore Montagna.
On June 8, 2001 DeFilippo and Guaragna were surreptitiously recorded discussing an unidentified loanshark customer. DeFilippo was picked up stating: "[Forget] about hurting him. It's out of the picture. It's not gonna happen."
On June 13, 2001 wake for Bonanno Soldier Giuseppe Arcuri held in The Bronx. DeFilippo and crew members Guaragna, Mancuso and Spirito attended. Arcuri, formerly under Gerlando Sciascia and also from Cattolica Eraclea, may have been transferred to DeFilippo after the murder.
In December 2001 Guaragna's son married. Reception attendees included Vincent Basciano, Salvatore Montagna as well as Bonanno Soldiers Anthony 'Fish' Rabito and Nicholas 'Nicky Mouth' Santora.
Around March 2002 Vincent Basciano was promoted to Captain and given a separate crew from DeFilippo.
On November 12, 2002 DeFilippo, Guaragna and eighteen others were indicted by a Manhattan Grand Jury on enterprise corruption charges.
The following year Guaragna was hit with a Federal racketeering indictment in Brooklyn.
Multiple defections had occurred within the Family by 2004, leaving Boss Joseph Massino incarcerated and awaiting trial in his own racketeering case.
By May 2004 Vincent Basciano was the Family's Acting Boss. He appointed as his Acting Underboss Michael Mancuso, who had replaced the imprisoned DeFilippo as the Bronx crew's official Captain. Basciano also appointed Salvatore Montagna to serve as the crew's Acting Captain in view of Mancuso's promotion, a choice disputed by the imprisoned Boss. CW Dominick Cicale, formerly one of Basciano's closest associates, later testified: "[Basciano] stated that Joseph Massino sent word back [that Basciano's promotions were] okay with everybody. However, Sal the Iron Worker [Montagna] had to be knocked down because [Massino felt Mancuso] don't need an acting captain...[Basciano] told [Mancuso] don't say nothing. We'll leave [Montagna] where he's at…You know, don't worry about it."
On June 24, 2005 Guaragna pleaded guilty to one count Federal racketeering conspiracy.
On September 23, 2005 sentenced by EDNY Judge Nicholas Garaufis to twenty months imprisonment and three years supervised release.
He surrendered at FCC Coleman, Florida late the following month.
The extent of Guaragna's involvement with the Family upon release in March 2007 is unknown. He died July 29, 2008.
