Update

New Post: Colombo Family (July 1973) [Text]

Updated: Genovese Family Ceremonies (1970s) - Added Joseph 'Pepe' LaScala (inducted c. Summer 1979).

Colombo Family (July 1973) [Text]

Breakdown of the Colombo Family provided by FBI CI Gregory Scarpa in July 1973:

Administration:

1. Boss: Thomas DiBella (67y)

Soldiers [Reported Direct to Boss]

- John 'Johnny Bath Beach' Oddo (69y)

2. Underboss: Anthony Abbatemarco (51y)

3. Consigliere: Alphonse 'Alley Boy' Persico (43y)

Captains:

1. Joseph 'Little Joey' Brancato (56y)

Soldiers

- Anthony 'The Gawk' Augello (50y)

- Rosario 'Black Sam' Nastasa (61y)

- Anthony Peraino (58y)

- Joseph Peraino (47y)

- Modesto 'Duke' Santoro (61y)

- Joseph 'Jo Jo' Vitacco (46y)

Associates

- Dominic 'Little Dom' Cataldo (37y)

- Carmine 'Turi' Franzese (41y)

- Anthony 'Butch' Maltese (53y)

2. Nicholas 'Jiggs' Forlano (59y)

Soldiers

- Vincent Aloi (39y)

- Vincent 'Vinny Sicilian' Gugliaro (45y)

Associates

- Augustus Corrao (40y)

- Vic Orena (38y)

- Two Redacted Names (Members / Associates)

3. Persico Crew

Acting: Aniello 'Allie Lamonte' Giannattasio (63y)

Soldiers

- James 'Jimmy Bats' Cardello (68y)

- Leonard Dello (45y)

- Ambrose Magliocco (72y)

- Antonio Magliocco (63y)

- Salvatore 'Charlie Lemons' Mineo (75y)

- Carmine 'Junior' Persico (39y)

- Anthony 'Tony Long' Ricciardi (62y)

- Anthony 'Tony Skee' Scianna (42y)

- James 'Jimmy Skee' Scianna (47y)

- Joseph 'Joe Yak' Yacovelli (45y)

Associates

- Salvatore Albanese (38y)

- Michael Bolino (31y)

- Anthony Colombo (28y)

- Joseph Colombo Jr. (26y)

- Gennaro Langella (34y)

- Philip 'Chubby' Rossillo (30y)

- Andrew 'Mush' Russo (38y)

- Ralph Spero (49y)

- Thomas 'Shorty' Spero (42y)

4. Salvatore 'Turi' Lombardino Jr. (42y)

Soldiers

- Andrew Lombardino (69y)

- Paul Lombardino (68y)

- Rosario Lombardino (48y)

- John Misuraca (76y)

- Salvatore J. Profaci (37y)

- Salvatore S. Profaci (38y)

5. Charles 'Charlie Moose' Panarella (51y)

Soldiers

- Fred Clemenza (50y)

- James 'Jimmy Brown' Clemenza (62y)

- Frank Fusco (69y)

- Anthony LaPonzina (55y)

- Ernest LaPonzina (56y)

- Benjamin 'Benny Sidge' LoCicero (40y)

- Frank 'Gandy' LoCicero (46y)

- Rocco Miraglia (47y)

- Gregory Scarpa (45y)

- Salvatore Scarpa (43y)

- Nick Sorrentino (77y)

- George Tropiano (58y)

- Ralph 'Whitey' Tropiano (60y)

Associates

- Paul Bevacqua (34y)

- Peter Candarini (56y)

- Charles Clemenza (72y)

- Joseph DeDomenico (31y)

- Richard Fusco (36y)

- Salvatore Fusco (42y)

- Joseph 'Joe Lane' Gentile (59y)

- Michael 'Mike the Head' Gulemmo (45y)

- Joseph 'Joe Notch' Iannaci (42y)

- Nicholas Mainello (50y)

- Peter Sabatino (32y)

- John Saponaro (38y)

- Joseph Saponaro (35y)

- Gregory Scarpa Jr. (21y)

- Robert Stasio (31y)

6. Dominick 'Mimi' Scialo (46y)

Soldiers
- Robert Barbieri (57y)

- Paul D'Amico (59y)

- Harry Fontana (73y)

- Philip Fontana (76y)

- Salvatore John Fontana (78y)

- Lawrence Lampasi Jr. (47y)

- Vincent 'Jimmy' Muce (52y)

- Frank 'Frankie the Sheik' Musacchio (58y)

- Salvatore Peritore (60y)

- Michael Savino (64y)

Associates

- Gaetano 'Tommy' Barbusca (42y)

- John Coiro (30y)

- Frank 'Frankie the Beast' Falanga (53y)

- Harry 'Junior' McGuire (29y)

Soldiers (Crew Not Specified) [All described as inactive]

- Benedetto D'Alessandro (72y) [Res. Sicily]

- Joseph Greca (76y)

- Lorenzo Lampasi (86y) [Incorrectly noted as having 'died several months ago']

- Vincent Mangano (67y)

- Vincenzo Randazzo (72y)

- John 'Johnny Green' Scimone (60y)

Confirmed members not named in the report included Sebastiano 'Buster' Aloi (66y), John 'Mooney' Cutrone (53y), Alphonse 'Funzi' D'Ambrosio (48y), John 'Sonny' Franzese (56y), Vincent 'Little Jimmy' Melia (57y) and a dozen or so others.

A full two-thirds of the Associates named by Scarpa were made after the books re-opened in 1976.

The document mistakenly (?) lists Salvatore Albanese, Gennaro Langella and the Spero brothers Ralph and Thomas as made members. (One report claims that Albanese and Langella were driven to Upstate NY and inducted, presumably into the Bufalino Family, in early April 1973. Subsequent reports from member sources are unanimous in stating that both were made with Thomas Spero and others in early 1976. It's possible that Albanese and Langella were not inducted but instead transferred to the Colombos at that time.)

Scarpa provided the following additional information:

- He claimed no knowledge of any illegal activities on the part of Boss Thomas DiBella.

- John Oddo answered directly to the Boss and 'no longer has a crew' other than Joseph Livoti.

- Colombo Associate Salvatore 'Sally Boy' Mangiameli had recently transferred to the Gambino Family. (Mangiameli was subsequently released to the DeCavalcante Family's Rotondo crew in the late 1980s.)

- "The feeling is prevalent also that Joe Colombo made the biggest mistake of his life by creating the Italian-American Civil Rights League and taking on the FBI."

- "Informant reiterated that the balance of power rests with the Persico faction and that Carmine Persico is still calling the shots in the Family."

- Salvatore J. Profaci, son to the former Boss, was described by Scarpa as 'very well thought of and respected' not only within the Colombo Family but nationwide. Scarpa stated that Profaci was familiar with many 'out of town chiefs' through his father, and felt he would make a good 'compromise boss' in the future.

- He described Capodecina Charles Panarella as 'very ambitious' and noted: "[Panarella] has set up a meeting to be held in New Jersey between himself, an aide from his crew and members of Tutti Lombardino's Jersey faction of the Colombo Family. Moose commented, 'It's about time I got to meet these people and see who they are' although source feels Panarella's motivated by a desire to form an alliance of understanding that would be useful in some future shift of power."

1980 Baltimore Regime Meeting (Gambino)

Top Row (L to R): J. Gotti; J. Riccobono
Bottom Row (L to R): F. Corbi; J. Corbi

January 27, 1981 FBI report:

Attendees at the meeting would have likely included:

New York Representatives

- John Gotti (39y) (Acting Capodecina)

- John Riccobono (70y) (Capodecina)

Baltimore Regime

- Frank Corbi (76y) (Capodecina)

- Charles Barbera (76y) (Soldier)

- Joseph Nunzio Corbi (69y) (Soldier)

- Joseph Gigliotti (77y) (Soldier)

- Frank Malvaso (79y) (Soldier)

- Giacomo 'Jimmy' Romano (71y) (Soldier)

- Joseph 'Joe Lino' Tamburello (74y) (Soldier)

Potential Additional Attendees:

- Thomas Averella (74y) (Member?)

- Frank Dabbene (83y) (Member?)

- Angelo Munafo (53y) (Member?)

Accursio Marsala (DeCavalcante)

April 1964

Accursio Marsala was a suspected member of the DeCavalcante Family.

Born May 24, 1899 in Caltabellotta comune of Agrigento, Sicily to Serafino and Maria Augello.

In April 1928 immigrated to United States.

By 1931 he resided at 547 East 168th St in Morrisania, The Bronx and worked as a bartender.

Both Accursio and older brother Lorenzo (1898-1969) were possibly made members of DeCavalcante Family's New York wing by this time.

On December 16, 1935 Accursio married Calogera Bosco (36y) in Manhattan. Bride, also from Caltabellotta, daughter to Giuseppe and Ninfa Dinovo. (Later records give an alternate date of April 26, 1936.)

Around early 1939 Marsala briefly left the country, re-entering through Canada at Rouses Point, New York.

On October 24, 1942 filed Petition for Naturalization No. 425 864 in USDC Manhattan. Witnesses were fellow Caltabellottesi Giuliano Farina (49y) and Nicholas Ippolito (46y).

A former coal miner from Pennsylvania, Farina resided in Kips Bay, Manhattan and was listed as Marsala's employer on the latter's World War II Draft Card.

Ippolito resided on East 22nd St in the adjacent neighborhood of Gramercy Park. He had previously witnessed the Petition for Giuliano's brother Paolo in 1930.

Accursio received his Certificate of Naturalization on March 7, 1944.

By 1948 he lived at 1922 McGraw Ave in Parkchester, The Bronx.

In early April of that year issued US Passport for the purpose of visiting family in Sicily. He departed the following month and returned late that October.

In April 1964 he made another trip abroad.

In early May 1965 Accursio and his brother Lorenzo attended the wedding reception for the daughter of DeCavalcante Underboss Frank Majuri. Additional guests included Soldier John LaMela, Possible Member Joseph Miranda and Associate Laurence 'Little Larry' Schiro.

In Summer 1967 the FBI took a closer look at the Marsalas. They noted the brothers were guests at the Majuri reception and identified Accursio as a retired laborer formerly out of Family-controlled Local 394. Brief reference was also made to a relative, Serafino (1925-).

On August 28, 1967 the FBI reported: "It is believed [Accursio] was born in Ribera, Sicily, since the majority of the old-time members of the DeCavalcante 'family' are originally [from there]."

On October 30, 1967 they reported: "It is felt that Accursio and Lorenzo may possibly be members of the old faction DeCavalcante [Family]."

Sources contacted over the next year were only able to offer confirmation of Marsala's former employment with Local 394.

Neither Accursio nor his relatives Lorenzo and Serafino have yet turned up in further reports.

Accursio died in June 1977.

Manny LoPorto (Gambino)

c. 1960

Emanuele 'Manny Butch' LoPorto was a member of the Gambino Family.

Born February 28, 1920 in Brooklyn to Nunzio and Rosaria 'Sera' Dominicolo.

Father and mother were born in the Sicilian province of Ragusa, hailing from the towns of Vittoria (Scoglitti frazione) and Scicli respectively.

Through the next two decades the LoPortos resided at various addresses on Union St in the area of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill in South Brooklyn.

By Summer 1941 Manny listed employment with Jarka Corporation headquartered at 15-17 Whitehall St in Lower Manhattan. His father worked for Marra Bros at Pier A on the Brooklyn waterfront.

In April 1950 he resided at 108 Clinton St in Brooklyn Heights and listed occupation as machine operator.

By 1958 LoPorto was a made member of the Gambino Family and active on the docks.

On August 17, 1961 he and seven others were subpoenaed to testify before the Brooklyn Waterfront Commission. Those called in addition to LoPorto included Gambino Soldiers Battista 'Tito' Balsamo (1902-1969), Frank Gagliardi (1905-1982) and Salvatore 'Toddo Mack' Trapani (1913-1975).

LoPorto was then residing at 224 DeGraw St in Cobble Hill and served as a delegate for International Longshoreman's Association Local 1814.

He and fellow union delegates Balsamo and Gagliardi cited the Fifth Amendment and refused to testify. Trapani and four others chose to resign from their positions rather than answer questions.

At the time Balsamo and LoPorto were believed to be reporting to Capodecina Joseph 'Gus' Colozzo (1905-1971).

Colozzo, heavily influential in affairs on the waterfront, was noted by FBI member source Alfred Santantonio as having thirty to thirty-five made members under him by early 1963.

Members of Colozzo's crew included Battista Balsamo, Dominick 'Mimi' Lagana (1903-1977), Manny LoPorto and Domenico 'Joe Pitts' Petito (1904-1971). 

On September 22, 1968 the FBI's Gambino source confirmed LoPorto's status as a Family Soldier. He had previously been carried as a suspected member.

By 1970 LoPorto resided at 89 First Place in Carroll Gardens and listed employment with Oceanic Trucking headquartered at 71 Otsego St in Red Hook. An informant later reported: "[Joseph] Colozzo is also believed to be behind LoPorto's interest in [Oceanic]...Dock bosses in Brooklyn are being pressured by 'Court Street' to give special service to [the company]."

In early February 1971 FBI CI reported: "One of the Maglioccos, believed to be Ambrose, whom [CI] refers to as 'The Iron Horse' died last week at the age of 82 and was waked at the Prospero Funeral Home in Brooklyn. Joe Colombo, Joe Colozzo and Manuel LoPorto, [redacted] all attended the wake last Sunday night and, later on, in a back room, became embroiled in an argument of some kind. Apparently [Redacted] was not in agreement with Colombo and told him so - Joe Colozzo was heard to say something to the effect that he was a sick man and didn't care what they did." (Ambrose Magliocco, former Colombo Capodecina, died in 1982.)

Colozzo died late that November while in Italy. One year later the FBI reported that his 'place has been taken' by former crew member Dominick Lagana.

The extent of LoPorto's involvement in the Gambino Family post-1971 isn't known.

He died May 27, 1995 and was waked at Raccuglia & Son Funeral Home on Court St.

Misc Photos (Chicago)

Miscellaneous Chicago Photos:

Possible Chicago Member William 'Butch' Petrocelli, murdered by asphyxiation in 1981.

Harry 'The Hook' Aleman, close associate of Petrocelli and a suspect in several Family murders.

Capodecina Fiore 'Fifi' Buccieri, head of Family's Cicero crew, arrested in 1944 re counterfeit gasoline coupons.

Undated Chicago PD Mugshot of Buccieri.

Buccieri's US Passport Photo (Oct. 1964)