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| 1962 |
Born March 15, 1925 in Brooklyn to Salvatore (Ship Caulker; 34y) and Adelina Salemi (29y). Father from Procida comune of Naples, Campania. Mother from Sortino comune of Syracuse, Sicily.
At the time of Dominico's birth the family resided at 104 Butler St in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
Served in the Marines during WWII.
On July 21, 1946 arrested by the NYPD's 60th Squad in Brooklyn for an attempted house burglary.
The following day he was picked up in a similar case from the 70th Squad.
Convicted on a final charge of burglary 3rd degree, County Judge Marasco sentenced Esposito in October 1946 to a term at Elmira Reformatory.
By 1958 Esposito was possibly a formally inducted member of the Colombo Family.
His South Brooklyn upbringing, coupled with his parents' Neapolitan / Sicilian origins, suggests a link to the crew of Harry Fontana, Salvatore Musacchio or possibly Nick Sorrentino.
By 1962 Esposito resided at 1488 East 91st St in the Canarsie neighborhood.
That November he was arrested by the NYPD's 61st Squad on charges of assault and robbery and conspiracy. On January 23, 1963 Supreme Court Judge Barshay threw out the case.
Esposito moved to Norfolk, Virginia with wife Marie Gloria Falco and their children. (Falco's father was also from Naples.)
By 1976 they resided at 7431 Spartan Ave in Norfolk, where Dominick operated the Maritime Services Incorporated ship cleaning business at 237 West 4th St. He also ran a bail bond business in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
On January 30, 1976 FBI CI reported: "[CI] stated [redacted] Angelo Bertolotti, well known racketeer from Brooklyn and Hollywood, Florida. [Redacted] [Dominick] Esposito is a 'made' guy in the Colombo La Cosa Nostra Family. [CI] stated Esposito lives in Norfolk [and] operates a ship cleaning and loading business in Norfolk. He stated that Esposito also operates a bail bonding business in Ft Lauderdale, FL. [CI] stated Esposito is originally from Brooklyn, and used to hang around the Mulberry Street area of Manhattan." The FBI subsequently designated Esposito the subject of an anti-racketeering investigation.
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| J. Capotorto (Source: Fort Lauderdale News) |
By that time his associates included strong-arm James 'Big Jim' Capotorto.
On April 2, 1976, at approximately 10:00 PM, Capotorto was shot to death inside the residence of Pat Truglia in Fort Lauderdale. Robert 'Bobby Dee' Dominici and Bruce Wayne Neeld were also killed.
The trio had visited Truglia's residence to collect a debt. When Truglia claimed he was unable to pay, the men began assaulting his wife and were then shot. (Although he claimed self defense, Truglia was charged with three counts of murder and ultimately acquitted at trial.)
On April 8, 1976 the FBI's Miami Field Office reported:
"
[James Michael Capotorto], Robert Raymond Dominici and Wayne Bruce Neeld shot and killed by Pat Truglia early evening of 4/2/76, in Truglia's residence, 1318 NW 15 St, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Ft. Lauderdale PD believes Truglia became enraged with trio when they came to his residence in attempt to collect money he owed Capotorto in a drug related deal. Ft. Lauderdale PD relates when Capotorto began slapping [Redacted] Truglia pulled a 9mm automatic secreted under dining room table and started shooting trio. Initial reports state Truglia shot victims 13 times, however, later reports indicate they were shot a total of 25 times with the 9mm and an unknown .22 caliber weapon. Medical Examiner found Capotorto and Dominici with three bullet wounds each in back of their heads and Neeld with one bullet wound believed made with .22 caliber under jaw in neck. Neeld determined to have been armed with .22 caliber handgun, which was found in his possession when police arrived.
Additional reports indicate that a [redacted] Truglia's partner in drug operation, was one who actually owed Capotorto money believed to be in amount of [redacted]. Capotorto and [Redacted] apparently worked some sort of deal which netted Capotorto foregoing amount when time came to collect money [Redacted] left area so Capotorto decided to collect from Truglia instead. Capotorto paid Truglia visit during early part of week and was subjected to a beating with admonishment that they would be back to collect money.
...Ft. Lauderdale PD determined Capotorto stayed at an apartment located at 1480 S. Ocean Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Apt 321, prior to he demise. This apartment owned by Dominico Esposito, believed to be identical with Danny Esposito.
"
On April 19, 1976 FBI reported: "On 2/3/76 information was received [indicating] Dominico Esposito is a 'made' guy in the Colombo LCN Family. Esposito is reportedly a close associate of Angelo Bertolotti of Brooklyn."
On May 28, 1976 the FBI's Norfolk Field Office reported: "...[CI] has indicated Esposito's business [Maritime Services Inc.] appears to be legitimate; however, no business activity has been observed and he is unknown on the docks and therefore this business could be merely a front."
On July 27, 1976 FBI Norfolk reported: "...[CI] asked Esposito if [Robert] Dominici or [James] Capotorto had been scheduled to be 'made'. [Redacted] Dominici was 'only a worker' for Sammy Zahalaran (ph) and Capotorto a worker for Esposito...He stated the only guy that was made however, was a 65 year old guy in Brooklyn and added 'How much money can you expect to earn with a guy like that. He has five years at the most'. He added, however, this individual is a' good earner'." (Sammy Zahalaran refers to Colombo Associate Samuel 'Sammy the Syrian' Zahralban [1929-2006], an active Gallo war participant who was wounded in a Colombo ordered shooting in September 1980.)
On January 16, 1979 the FBI interviewed Dominico's older brother Michael:
"
[Michael Esposito] was contacted at his place of employment, the U.S. Naval Air Station [where] he furnished the following information:
..His brother, Dominico or Danny Esposito, came to the Norfolk, Virginia area approximately five years ago. [Before that] Danny Esposito resided in the [Brooklyn] area and worked on the docks.
Michael Esposito is not very familiar with the associates and business dealings of his brother Danny S. Esposito. He noted that he and his brother have led two separate lives..He has made it a point not to inquire as to some of the activities of his brother and he is not really familiar with many of his brother's associates. He did not know if his brother owned the business, Maritime Services, Incorporated, and added that when his brother came down to the Norfolk, Virginia area approximately five years ago, his brother told him that the owners of the company, the [Redacted] sent him down to run the business. Michael Esposito noted that his brother either must own the business now or is able to run it very independently in that he was seen no indication that he has to answer to any immediate supervisors. [Redacted] who originally owned Maritime Services were not the famous [Redacted] linked with organized crime or the Mafia in New York City. Michael Esposito advised that he personally attended school with [Redacted] and the organized crime linked [Redacted]. He advised that it was his understanding the [Redacted] who owned Maritime Services also owned [redacted].
Michael Esposito advised he had never heard his brother talk of stolen money orders or travelers checks and he was also unfamiliar with the name [Redacted]. Michael Esposito advised that his brother never offered to sell him any stolen items and felt that even if his brother had such items in his possession he felt that he would not be made aware of it. He stated Dominico Esposito calls him the 'Cardinal' or 'Father Dungan' referring to Michael S. Esposito's numerous activities in the Catholic Church and his feelings regarding law and order. He stated that his brother, Dominico Esposito, is an outward going person who often has visitors at his residence. He noted that his brother is from the New York area and also has many associates in Florida. These individuals appear to use his brother's residence as a stopping point in their travels between New York and Florida. He stated that his brother recently had guests from Florida stay at the residence and noted that these people were acquaintances of the family since his childhood days.
Michael Esposito did not know if his brother associated with organized crime figures in the New York area. He noted that his brother certainly had the background to be so associated. He explained this by saying that the residence in which they lived most of their lives was approximately one block from President Street in Brooklyn, New York, and then his brother has been associated wit or worked on the docks in New York most of his life. He stated that another brother, [Redacted], has recently moved in behind him, Michael Esposito, on Johnston's Road. He advised that [redacted].
"
Despite his identification as an LCN member, Esposito has yet to turn up in additional reports and his name is not included in Federal lists of Colombo membership.
On April 13, 1981 indicted by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia on five counts of income tax evasion, four counts of assisting in the preparation of fraudulent corporate tax returns and one count violation of the Taft-Hartley Act. The Associated Press reported: "...Esposito is accused of trying to evade more than $16,000 in taxes for 1974-78 by failing to report income totaling over $69,000."
On March 7, 1991 released from Federal prison.
Around late 2003 moved from Norfolk to Tampa, where he died on March 15 of the following year.
On March 18-19, 2004 wake held at Stowers Chapel in Brandon, Florida. Buried in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery, also in Brandon.