Frank 'Frankie Mal' Mallamaci was a possible member of the Bonanno Family.
Born January 2, 1912 in New York to George and Lillian Mallamaci. Father's family from Motta San Giovanni comune of Reggio Calabria, Calabria.
By 1920 the Mallamacis resided at 590 Flushing Ave in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. George worked as a dock foreman.
Frank's first arrest of record came in November 1931 when he was charged with arson in Paterson, New Jersey. Case nolled prossed.
On June 4, 1933 he was again arrested in Paterson, this time on charges of robbery, carrying a concealed weapon and assault (pistol). Five months later he was convicted and given an unspecified term in the Annandale Reformatory.
In 1935 he married Ada Matera in New Jersey. Bride's family from Foggia, Puglia.
By 1936 the couple were living at 360 West 42nd St in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Frank listed his occupation as silk worker for a dye works in Paterson.
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| Pittsburgh (1936) |
On August 31, 1936 Mallamaci and three others were arrested for counterfeiting in Pittsburgh. The group, picked up in a bar on Carson St, were accused of passing eighteen to twenty-five counterfeit ten dollar bills in various South Side beer parlors during the previous two hours. Those charged in addition to Mallamaci were Frank Schiavone (32y), a fellow Calabrese from Paterson; Brooklynite Frank 'Lou Salerno' Mazzatesta (43y); and local Frank Gallo (37y), a confectioner at 144 Elm St in the borough of Edgewood.
Mallamaci's three co-defendants went on to plead guilty and receive sentences ranging from eighteen months to four years. Mallamaci himself is believed to have been removed from the docket on account of a case only tangentially related to counterfeit notes.
Upon news of the Pittsburgh arrests, members of the New York State Police visited the city to question the group regarding the August 12 murder of Rocco DeLorenzo.
The body of DeLorenzo, about thirty-five-years old, was discovered on a farm road near Massena, New York. He had been bludgeoned to death with an iron pipe left at the scene. At least one press report stated the victim was beaten after having been shot and dumped from an automobile. Counterfeit notes similar to those in the Pittsburgh case had been passed in Massena the day before the body was found.
Law enforcement described the killing as resulting from a 'falling out among counterfeiters' and zeroed in on Mallamaci, charging him with 1st degree murder on September 3.
Eight days later Frank Piscioneri was arrested in Brooklyn and admitted being present near the scene. Born July 1889 in Geraci comune of Reggio Calabria, Piscioneri resided at 82 Pine St in Paterson. He was charged the following week.
On September 26 Mallamaci and Piscioneri were formally indicted by a St. Lawrence County Grand Jury. Also named, but not yet apprehended, was forty-seven-year old Antonio Foleno of Catanzaro, Calabria. Queens resident Dominick Tallurado was held as a material witness.
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| Clinton Prison (1/14/36) |
As their trial date neared Mallamaci and Piscioneri switched their pleas to guilty, and on January 12 each were given State Prison sentences of fifteen-to-thirty years. Two days later they arrived at Clinton Prison in Dannemora. The receiving blotter summarized their offense: "Assaulted mortally wounded man with a piece of iron pipe."
Fellow inmates included future Genovese Members Rosario 'Sally Young' Palmieri and Angelo 'Little Angie' Tuminaro.
Antonio Foleno was apprehended in August 1940, pleaded guilty that December and was given the same sentence as the other two.
Just prior to incarceration Mallamaci and family had moved to 62 Van Houten St in Paterson. As of 1943, with Frank still behind bars, the family listed residence at 138 Market St.
Mallamaci was paroled from Dannemora on January 13, 1947 and returned to Paterson, residing at 491 East 24th St and running a general contracting company on Vernon Ave.
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| L to R: Mallamaci, Zicarelli (1950s) |
By 1958 he was a close associate and gambling partner of Bonanno Soldier Joseph 'Bayonne Joe' Zicarelli, a fellow Calabrese, and may have been an inducted member himself. They reported to Capodecina Carmine 'Lilo' Galante.
Zicarelli had widespread interests in both New York and New Jersey, as well as financial holdings and political connections abroad.
A June 1960 FBI report described Mallamaci as Zicarelli's 'top man' in gambling operations centered in North Hudson and Bergen Counties.
In January 1963 FBI CI
reported: "[CI]
advised that Joseph Zicarelli and Angelo DeCarlo control all gambling including numbers, sportsbetting and gambling games in Hudson and Bergen Counties. Working for Zicarelli are Claude Hammond, Frank Mallamaci, Lou Morino, Peter Joseph Cavadi, Patrick Del Fino, Ralph (LNU) (DeMeglio) and Lou 'The Stinger'. According to this source, Mallamaci, for many years, was Zicarelli's top man in the area but has recently made several blunders and now acts as a principal runner rather than an overseer of banks. This group of Zicarelli's apparently turns their action in at the Shirley Diner in West New York, which is run by Frank Trivisanno."
In April 1963 FBI CI
reported: "[CI]
advised that Joseph Zicarelli was concerned about the activities of one of his lieutenants, Frank Mallamaci, as he was believed broke and was being harassed by the IRS and West New York PD and was unable to keep a gambling game going in the West New York area."
On April 5, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised recently one of Antonio Caponigro's men, one Tony, a nephew of Caponigro from Passaic, NJ had gotten out of line. This nephew of Caponigro went to the site of the monte game operated by Claude Hammond and Frank Mallamaci in West New York, NJ and roughed up a couple of young guys who owed the nephew of Caponigro some shylock money. [CI] said that Mallamaci protested this action to Angelo Bruno, Caporegime of Antonio Caponigro. Caponigro reprimanded his nephew, who claimed to be drunk when he ordered this action and Caponigro later went to Mallamaci to apologize for the trouble." ('Tony' is believed re Bruno Associate Anthony 'Tony Meats' Ferrante.)
By Fall 1969 resided at 323 59th St in West New York.
On November 13, 1969 Zicarelli, Mallamaci and Bonanno Associate Spedito 'Sperry' DeLuca were indicted by New Jersey State on charges of conspiring to commit kidnapping, aggravated assault and battery, and murder. The target of their plot was identified in press reports under the name 'Jack Hoyt'.
Mallamaci and Zicarelli were apprehended the same day at the latter's Regal Oldsmobile office in Union City. Both were processed at the State Police barracks in Little Falls, then transported to the Hudson County Courthouse for arraignment and subsequent release on $25,000 bail each.
In late January 1970 Zicarelli was imprisoned at Yardville for refusing to testify before the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation.
On March 1, 1970 FBI CI reported: "...Prior to his return to prison, Zicarelli refused to meet with anyone since he did not want to contaminate any of his friends by their association with him...Zicarelli has designated Frank Mallamaci as his general overseer and 'peacemaker', as well as the custodian of his Union City - West New York, New Jersey operations. John Squicciarini controls Bayonne [and] Joseph 'Cowboy' Lucignano operates Hoboken. The 'New York People' want to know why they were not included in Zicarelli's scheme of things since Zicarelli is part of their Family. They are resentful over the fact that Mallamaci 'chased' the 'New York people'. According to [CI], the people from New York might utilize a 'power play' supported by violence in an attempt to take over."
Over the next six months Zicarelli and Mallamaci were named in multiple indictments handed down by the New Jersey State Grand Jury in Trenton:
1. March 6, 1970 - Zicarelli, Mallamaci and three others charged with bribery conspiracy. The pair were accused of paying $20,000 to West New York Mayor John Armellino, also indicted, to obtain reduced sentences for three accused gamblers. Co-defendant Alfred 'Big Al' Angelicola pleaded guilty in June 1971, necessitating a delay in trial for the remaining defendants. In March 1972 the indictment was dismissed after the death of key witness Peter Policastro.
2. June 3, 1970 - Zicarelli, Mallamaci and a Jersey City PD Detective charged concerning payments made to keep local law enforcement attention off Zicarelli's gambling interests in Hudson County. This indictment was also dismissed in March 1972.
3. June 17, 1970 - Zicarelli, Mallamaci and Guttenberg, NJ Mayor Herman Klein charged with bribery. The Associated Press reported: "The indictment charged that [pair] agreed to pay Klein $250 a month from April 15, 1968 to Oct. 14, 1969, and $300 a month thereafter until April 15, 1970, to protect Zicarelli's gambling operations." This indictment was also dismissed following Policastro's death.
4. July 2, 1970 - Zicarelli, Mallamaci and the Hudson County Captain of Detectives charged with bribery and conspiracy. Monthly protection payments of $100 were made to the Captain for approximately five years. The trio stood trial and were convicted in July 1971. In June 1973 the convictions were overturned on double jeopardy grounds relating to a subsequent indictment, then reinstated that December.
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| Armand Pollastrino |
On October 11, 1970 FBI CI reported: "[CI] stated that the Zicarelli group has had some problems lately affecting the leadership of the group. Apparently some of the people in Zicarelli's group such as Spedito 'Sperry' DeLuca, Leonard 'Babe' Ladagona, and Frank Scaraggi, have been concerned about their future in the event Frank Mallamaci, who is now in the position of authority for Zicarelli, is also imprisoned. [CI] explained that 'these people' have to have somebody to 'lean on', much like a child and a father. For this reason, they had expressed their concern about this to various people. They had made a move toward John DiGilio, but he refused to listen to them. As a result, 'word reached the people in New York' so Armand 'Mondo' Pollastrino visited Mallamaci to advise him that he (Pollastrino) was told to 'take over'. Mallamaci refused to accept this solution and 'chased' Pollastrino. A short time later, Sam DeCavalcante asked to meet with Mallamaci in an attempt to convince Mallamaci that he should accept the 'Family's' decision. Zicarelli also sent word to Mallamaci to relinquish his position to Pollastrino. As a result, Mallamaci and Pollastrino met [redacted], where [they] came to an amicable agreement. However, according to [CI], Pollastrino will only have authority over the group in the event that Mallamaci goes to jail."
The following month another bribery conspiracy indictment was handed down by the Grand Jury in Trenton. Those named in addition to Zicarelli and Mallamaci included Future Genovese Capodecina Ludwig 'Ninni' Bruschi and a previous co-defendant, Mayor John Armellino of West New York. The indictment accused the group of paying Armellino $1,000 per week for a period of nearly five years to secure political protection of their gambling interests.
Trial began in March 1971. During opening statements the prosecution referred to Mallamaci as Zicarelli's 'alter ego when Zicarelli was away [at Yardville]'.
The state's key witness was former Bonanno Associate Peter Policastro. Mayor Armellino and his brother Michael, former co-defendants, pleaded guilty prior to trial and also testified.
The trial ended with convictions early the following month. Zicarelli and Mallamaci were each found guilty on one count of bribery and six counts of conspiracy.
On April 23, 1971 Mallamaci was sentenced to ten-to-eleven years in New Jersey State Prison and fined $7,000. He was allowed to remain free pending appeal. Zicarelli received a similar term and was returned to Yardville.
On January 29, 1973 the State Appeals Court upheld the convictions.
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| 1975 |
On February 26, 1973 Mallamaci arrived at the State Prison in Trenton.
On March 16, 1975 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised that 'Lilo' (TN Carmine Galante) has reportedly put out the word in Jersey City, New Jersey, the people who were 'with' Joe Zicarelli are now to consider themselves and to be considered by others as being 'with' Lilo. [CI] advised that the only individuals in Hudson County, New Jersey that he personally knows to be members of the Bonanno LCN Family are Zicarelli and Frankie Mal (TN Frank Mallamaci), both of whom are presently incarcerated. [CI] advised that two individuals whom he has heard were advised of Galante's notification were Sal Briguglio, who [CI] advised is an LCN member, and [Redacted] (ph), who is unknown to [CI]."
Initially paroled in December 1975, Mallamaci's return to prison was ordered the following July after it was determined that he had been released eight months prior to eligibility.
An application for parole in October 1976 was denied.
The State subsequently found that the Parole Board had erred in their denial and Mallamaci was freed on December 21, 1976. He took up residence at 2201 Grand Ave in North Bergen.
On May 17, 1977 the FBI's Newark Office reported: "Frank Mallamaci, aka Frankie Mal, [is] reputed to be in charge of Bayonne Joe Zicarelli's operations in West New York...Mallamaci is considered a 'peacemaker' for Zicarelli forces and complaints are directed to him...Frank DeSico, aka Frankie D., TN Armando Frank DeCicco, acted as courier between Mondo Pollastrino and Frank Mallamaci."
By April 1978 Zicarelli was free as well and serving as a Bonanno Captain with interests primarily in New Jersey and Florida. He returned to his office at Regal Oldsmobile and began making efforts to both build up his crew and regain lost territory.
Mallamaci is not mentioned in further documents and it's not known what role, if any, he played in Zicarelli's post-Yardville operation. He died December 26, 2002 in North Bergen and was waked at the Festa Memorial Home in Totowa.
