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| c. Mid-1970s |
Frank 'Hialeah Frank' Pelliccio was a member of the Genovese Family active in South Florida.
Born October 12, 1915 in Mount Vernon, New York to Joseph and Angelina Pauli. Father believed from Casalnuovo di Napoli comune of Naples, Campania.
On October 18/19, 1935 married Rose Tozzo (21y) at St. Joseph's Church in New Rochelle, New York.
By April 1940 the Pelliccios resided at 102 Finney Lane in Stamford, Connecticut, where Frank drove a truck for a fuel oil business.
By 1945 they left New York for Florida, living at 1731 NW 34th St in Miami.
In March of that year Frank enlisted in the US Army at Camp Blanding.
By April 1950 the Pelliccios moved further north to Hialeah, residing first at 511 SE 6th St then at 1116 Palm Ave.
On October 1, 1955 arrested by the Hialeah Police Department on charges of bookmaking and selling bolita (lottery) tickets.
On October 6, 1955, at approximately 11:00 AM, Hialeah's Police Chief Herbert U. Warner received an anonymous phone call. The Miami News reported: "[Warner] said [caller] warned him: 'If Frank Pelliccio is convicted watch yourself at red lights when you stop. And watch yourself when you go home. This is a friend of yours, but you don't know who I am. They have brought in a couple of boys from New Jersey to get you. Watch your step."
Four days later Pelliccio was convicted on both counts and fined $200 by Municipal Court Judge Frank Hand. Press coverage of the conviction noted that, in addition to the Police Chief, Hialeah's Mayor Henry Milander was threatened 'but he said he wasn't worried and that he had torn [the letter] up'.
By 1958 Pelliccio was a made member of the Genovese Family believed to be reporting to Rocco 'The Old Man' Pellegrino.
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| R. Pellegrino (FBN Mafia Book) |
Like Pelliccio, Pellegrino later moved to Florida from Westchester County, New York. An FBI source stated that 'if any one person' controlled Westchester's rackets, it was Pellegrino. The FBN's Mafia book entry described him as 'Head of Mafia' in the county.
Other made members of Pellegrino's crew included his sons Carmine (1916-2003) and Peter (1923-1972).
By June 1963 Pelliccio, Gambino Soldier Vincent 'Jimmy Dee' Palmisano and Ralph Petillo operated Ciro's Inc. located at 15090 Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami Beach. The FBI noted: "...[CI] has previously advised that [Genovese Soldier] Anthony Russo and Emilio Delio also have financial interests in the restaurant...Ciro's is frequented by local and visiting members of the racketeer element."
An FBI bug active at Ciro's by the middle of that month picked up multiple conversations between Palmisano, Pelliccio and others. Topics discussed included gambling and loansharking activity.
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| P. Erra (FBN Mafia Book) |
In June 1963 FBI CI reported: "With regard to other persons responsible to [Pasquale Erra], [CI] advised that Rocco Pellegrino is a member of the Genovese Family as is Frank Pelliccio, known to [CI] as Frank Hialeah, and every Thursday morning without fail, these two meet between 8:00 and 10:00 AM for the purpose of discussing the past week's activities. All of this action, which consists of bookmaking, gambling, shylocking, narcotics and fencing belongs to Erra."
On December 4, 1963 the FBI's Miami Field Office reported: "[Vincent Palmisano], Frank Pelliccio, Anthony Russo and possibly [Genovese Captain] Thomas Greco have financial interest in Ciro's Inc., which, in turn, operates Ciro's Restaurant and the Streamliner Motel, both of which are located at 15090 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach, Florida. Palmisano also operates Romeo's Pizzeria which is located directly across the street from Ciro's Restaurant and is leased from Ciro's Inc."
On June 21, 1968 an FBI informant described Pelliccio as a 'leading shylock' in the Miami area.
In September 1968 included in the FBI's list of 209 identified Genovese Family members.
In November 1969 included in the FBI's list of 216 identified Genovese Family members.
By Fall 1970 resided in Broward, Florida. Owned Italian-American Civil Rights Club in Hialeah.
On December 18/20, 1970 the club was a target of arson carried out by Genovese Associates John Manarite, Gary Bowdach and Harry Olivero. Bowdach later testified before a Senate Subcommittee: "[Arson committed at] Manarite's instructions...I don't think he liked Hialeah Frank and I don't think they wanted that club there...It was a small building, I believe it was on Red Road in Hialeah. We burnt it down, we used gasoline [but] it didn't burn completely. We went back 2 nights later and burnt it down again, with a sufficient amount of gasoline." (Manarite was an older brother of Genovese Soldier Salvatore 'Springfield Sammy' Manarite and a cousin of Salvatore Cufari, the Family's Captain in Springfield, MA.)
In October 1972 included in the FBI's list of 198 identified Genovese Family members.
In October 1973 included in the FBI's list of 190 identified Genovese Family members.
On June 12, 1975 Pelliccio and Cleveland Member John 'Peanuts' Tronolone appeared before a State Grand Jury investigating gambling in South Florida. Both cited the 5th Amendment and refused to testify.
By the mid-to-late 1970s resided at 1401 NW 52nd Ave in Lauderhill. Operated The Tree of Italy Society club at 7790 Red Rd in Hialeah.
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| c. 1979 (The Miami Herald) |
On February 28, 1979 Pelliccio became the first individual arrested by Broward County authorities for loansharking following his indictment on two counts of criminal usury. Specifically charged with loaning $3,000 to CW Peter Salerno, a former LCN Associate, then using threats in an attempt to collect. Released on $50,000 bond.
On April 19, 1979 the Fort Lauderdale News reported that Pelliccio's list of character witnesses submitted for the upcoming trial included five Judges, two State Senators and several other current politicians and LE officials.
On May 15, 1979 Hollywood Police Department Lieutenant Marco Ceritelli gave a deposition in the lead up to trial: "[CW Peter Salerno reported Pelliccio] was running a pretty good card game down there at [The Tree of Italy Society] and he had judges, congressmen, senators. They all owe him favors because he takes care of them...And he had shylocking activities extending to Dade and Broward counties and maybe back up to New York."
On January 2/3, 1980 Broward Circuit Judge Stanton S. Kaplan barred Peter Salerno from testifying at trial due to his refusal to answer defense attorney questions during depositions. The Judge also made note of Federal interference in the case.
By Fall 1980 the indictment was dismissed.
Pelliccio is included in both the 1983 and 1988 Senate Charts of Genovese Family membership.
By the mid-1990s he resided in Miami Lakes, Florida.
He died early January 2012 and was buried in Vista Memorial Gardens in Miami Lakes.
