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| 1975 |
Joseph 'Joe Carlo / Little Carlo' Calabro was a member of the Genovese Family active in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.
Born January 31, 1925 to Frank (40y) and Marianna 'Mary' Delfino (40y). Father from Catona district of Reggio Calabria. Mother believed from Villa San Giovanni, also in Reggio Calabria.
By June 1925 the Calabros listed residence was at 2770 28th Ave in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Joseph's father worked in construction as a lather.
By May 1928 the family moved to Cropsey Ave in Bath Beach.
By the early 1940s they resided at 2772 Harway Ave in Gravesend.
On March 25, 1943 Joseph enlisted in the US Army, where he rose to the rank of Corporal.
Following his September 3, 1945 discharge he married Pauline Alois. Bride's father from Francofonte comune of Syracuse, Sicily.
As of April 1950 the couple resided at 8309 20th Ave in Bensonhurst. Joseph worked in a factory pressing women's suits.
On April 21, 1952 among three arrested by the NYPD on charges of burglary and possessing burglar tools. Co-defendants were Vincent Ambrosino (30) and Peter Marcello (sp?) (36y). The trio was apprehended after tripping an alarm while burglarizing the Pincer Movement bar and grill at 598 Atlantic Ave in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Defendants arraigned before Felony Court Magistrate John R. Starkey and held on $2,500 bail each. (Ambrosino, of Stillwell Ave in Gravesend, was from Venticano in Avellino, Campania.)
By 1958 Joseph Calabro was a made member of the Genovese Family.
Around May 10, 1966 he was arrested in Manhattan's Diamond District. A Detective with the NYPD's Safe, Loft and Burglary Squad noticed he was wearing a 1961 World Series ring belonging to Yankees relief pitcher Hal Reniff. Calabro, who claimed he found the ring a few days prior, and associate John Conforti (22y) were charged with criminally receiving stolen goods. It was determined the ring had been taken from Reniff's Queens apartment while he was out of town.
Calabro was then living at 1359 86th St in Dyker Heights and remained at this address until his death in the late 1970s.
By early 1967 his LCN membership was made known to authorities and he was designated the subject of an FBI anti-racketeering investigation.
He is believed to have been reporting to Captain Rosario 'Saro' Mogavero.
Born January 31, 1925 to Frank (40y) and Marianna 'Mary' Delfino (40y). Father from Catona district of Reggio Calabria. Mother believed from Villa San Giovanni, also in Reggio Calabria.
By June 1925 the Calabros listed residence was at 2770 28th Ave in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Joseph's father worked in construction as a lather.
By May 1928 the family moved to Cropsey Ave in Bath Beach.
By the early 1940s they resided at 2772 Harway Ave in Gravesend.
On March 25, 1943 Joseph enlisted in the US Army, where he rose to the rank of Corporal.
Following his September 3, 1945 discharge he married Pauline Alois. Bride's father from Francofonte comune of Syracuse, Sicily.
As of April 1950 the couple resided at 8309 20th Ave in Bensonhurst. Joseph worked in a factory pressing women's suits.
On April 21, 1952 among three arrested by the NYPD on charges of burglary and possessing burglar tools. Co-defendants were Vincent Ambrosino (30) and Peter Marcello (sp?) (36y). The trio was apprehended after tripping an alarm while burglarizing the Pincer Movement bar and grill at 598 Atlantic Ave in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Defendants arraigned before Felony Court Magistrate John R. Starkey and held on $2,500 bail each. (Ambrosino, of Stillwell Ave in Gravesend, was from Venticano in Avellino, Campania.)
By 1958 Joseph Calabro was a made member of the Genovese Family.
Around May 10, 1966 he was arrested in Manhattan's Diamond District. A Detective with the NYPD's Safe, Loft and Burglary Squad noticed he was wearing a 1961 World Series ring belonging to Yankees relief pitcher Hal Reniff. Calabro, who claimed he found the ring a few days prior, and associate John Conforti (22y) were charged with criminally receiving stolen goods. It was determined the ring had been taken from Reniff's Queens apartment while he was out of town.
Calabro was then living at 1359 86th St in Dyker Heights and remained at this address until his death in the late 1970s.
By early 1967 his LCN membership was made known to authorities and he was designated the subject of an FBI anti-racketeering investigation.
He is believed to have been reporting to Captain Rosario 'Saro' Mogavero.
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| R. Mogavero (FBN Mafia Book) |
By early 1967 made members of Rosario Mogavero's crew included Joseph 'Joe Curley' Agone, Philip 'Philly Katz' Albanese, Frank 'Frankie the Bug' Caruso, Michael 'Mike the Loader' Clemente, Carmelo 'Charlie Bananas' Coppolino, Albert DiStefano, George 'Flip' Filippone, Louis 'Louie Healthy' Gaccione, Salvatore 'Salvie' Gencarelli, Joseph 'Joe Beck' Lapi and Saro's brother Joseph Mogavero. (Calabro may have instead been reporting to Captain Cosmo 'Gus' Frasca. He is later named as a member of Frasca's crew, and both Mogavero and Frasca had crew members in his section of Brooklyn as well as in Lower Manhattan.)
On October 10, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised that members of the Vito Genovese Family are 'arming like mad'. [CI] stated the reason for this sudden preparation for gangland warfare has not been learned by him as yet, but advised the Genovese people are attempting to obtain revolvers and machine guns by the case load. [CI] identified Georgie 'Argento' Fillippone, Georgio 'Crumb' Tedesche and Joe 'De Carlo' Calabro as being the three most active members of the Genovese Family obtaining weapons. [CI] also advised that Joe Bonanno has spent 'loads of money for arms' also. [CI] stated the reason for this recent activity is known only to a few, but furnished the following theories for the sudden activity: One. Vito Genovese was preparing to prevent a power grab from within his Family and added at present one unknown member from the Bronx and two members from Manhattan, one of whom is Tommy Ryan (Eboli), are attempting to seize power from Vito. The second theory proposed by [CI] is that the Genovese Family is preparing to back Joe Bonanno in his move to regain control of his Family from Gambino and Colombo."
By 1968 Calabro's wife Pauline operated a barbershop at 121 Mott St in Manhattan's Little Italy. The location was used as a meeting place for DeCarlo and some of his associates, including the Conforti brothers John, Leonard and Michael.
In September 1968 included in the FBI's list of 209 identified Genovese Family members.
On October 6, 1968 FBI CI (Member Source) reported: "[CI] was contacted and advised the following individuals are members of the Vito Genovese Family of LCN...Joseph Calabro - Soldier under [Redacted]."
Around early 1970 among several indicted by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York on charges arising from an investigation into stolen government bonds. As later reported in the New York Daily News: "[Three] or four major 'clearing houses' throughout the United States have distributed stolen government bonds and postal orders. Calabro headed one of the rings operating out of New York, he said. Calabro distributed the bonds and money orders to brothers Leonard, John and Michael Conforti who in turn would hire the 'movers', those who cashed the bonds, and furnish them legal assistance if caught. The Confortis also provided the movers with fake identification, automobiles and bodyguard drivers." The operation, in existence from approximately July 1966 to 1970, was supervised by Calabro from his wife's Mott Street barbershop.
Other defendants included:Michael Conforti pleaded guilty before trial. The remainder were convicted in Brooklyn Federal Court on February 4, 1972.
On February 22 the defendants appeared for sentencing before Judge Jacob Mishler. Calabro received five years imprisonment and was fined $10,000. John and Leonard Conforti were each given ten years. Joseph Chilli and Anthony Tortorello were sentenced to three months and one year one day respectively. (Chilli was inducted into the Bonanno Family in June 1977 and rose to the rank of Captain. He died in 2008. Tortorello was made around May 1976 and later headed the Lucchese Family's Prince Street crew. He died in 2000.)
On April 28, 1974 an FBI Member Source provided a partial breakdown of the Genovese Family. He identified Joseph Lapi as a Captain and noted his crew, formerly headed by Rosario Mogavero, included Soldiers Joseph Calabro, Frank Caruso, Albert DiStefano, George Filippone, Vincent Mauro and Joseph Mogavero. (Possible crew members included Salvatore 'Sammy Meatballs' Aparo.)
On October 10, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised that members of the Vito Genovese Family are 'arming like mad'. [CI] stated the reason for this sudden preparation for gangland warfare has not been learned by him as yet, but advised the Genovese people are attempting to obtain revolvers and machine guns by the case load. [CI] identified Georgie 'Argento' Fillippone, Georgio 'Crumb' Tedesche and Joe 'De Carlo' Calabro as being the three most active members of the Genovese Family obtaining weapons. [CI] also advised that Joe Bonanno has spent 'loads of money for arms' also. [CI] stated the reason for this recent activity is known only to a few, but furnished the following theories for the sudden activity: One. Vito Genovese was preparing to prevent a power grab from within his Family and added at present one unknown member from the Bronx and two members from Manhattan, one of whom is Tommy Ryan (Eboli), are attempting to seize power from Vito. The second theory proposed by [CI] is that the Genovese Family is preparing to back Joe Bonanno in his move to regain control of his Family from Gambino and Colombo."
By 1968 Calabro's wife Pauline operated a barbershop at 121 Mott St in Manhattan's Little Italy. The location was used as a meeting place for DeCarlo and some of his associates, including the Conforti brothers John, Leonard and Michael.
In September 1968 included in the FBI's list of 209 identified Genovese Family members.
On October 6, 1968 FBI CI (Member Source) reported: "[CI] was contacted and advised the following individuals are members of the Vito Genovese Family of LCN...Joseph Calabro - Soldier under [Redacted]."
Around early 1970 among several indicted by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York on charges arising from an investigation into stolen government bonds. As later reported in the New York Daily News: "[Three] or four major 'clearing houses' throughout the United States have distributed stolen government bonds and postal orders. Calabro headed one of the rings operating out of New York, he said. Calabro distributed the bonds and money orders to brothers Leonard, John and Michael Conforti who in turn would hire the 'movers', those who cashed the bonds, and furnish them legal assistance if caught. The Confortis also provided the movers with fake identification, automobiles and bodyguard drivers." The operation, in existence from approximately July 1966 to 1970, was supervised by Calabro from his wife's Mott Street barbershop.
Other defendants included:
- Brothers (and believed Genovese Associates) John (25y), Leonard (28y) and Michael Conforti (26y), principals in the ring
- Bonanno Associate Joseph 'Junior' Chilli (36y), accused of supplying bonds to the Confortis
- Lucchese Associate Anthony 'Torty' Tortorello (33y), accused of supplying the ring with fake IDs
- John Roche (22y) and Richard Pasqua (23y), son of Gambino Soldier Frank Pasqua, accused of acting as driver / bodyguard for the ring's 'movers'
- Marc Moskowitz (26y), accused of acting as one of the ring's movers
- Anthony Picciano (38y), accused of providing women to act as movers
On February 22 the defendants appeared for sentencing before Judge Jacob Mishler. Calabro received five years imprisonment and was fined $10,000. John and Leonard Conforti were each given ten years. Joseph Chilli and Anthony Tortorello were sentenced to three months and one year one day respectively. (Chilli was inducted into the Bonanno Family in June 1977 and rose to the rank of Captain. He died in 2008. Tortorello was made around May 1976 and later headed the Lucchese Family's Prince Street crew. He died in 2000.)
On April 28, 1974 an FBI Member Source provided a partial breakdown of the Genovese Family. He identified Joseph Lapi as a Captain and noted his crew, formerly headed by Rosario Mogavero, included Soldiers Joseph Calabro, Frank Caruso, Albert DiStefano, George Filippone, Vincent Mauro and Joseph Mogavero. (Possible crew members included Salvatore 'Sammy Meatballs' Aparo.)
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| J. Lapi (L) and J. Calabro (R) following March 1975 raid |
On March 13, 1975 Lapi, Calabro and several other crew members were arrested on gambling charges following the joint FBI - NYPD raid of a game held at 133 Mott St in Little Italy. The location was a couple of doors down from the Calabro barbershop.
Seven were charged with Federal gambling violations:
Others present were charged locally for participating in the game:
Seven were charged with Federal gambling violations:
- Joseph Lapi (Genovese Captain)
- Salvatore Aparo (Genovese Soldier) (Lapi Crew?)
- John 'Beans' Campanella (Genovese Soldier) (DeFeo Crew) (Father of Bonanno Soldier Joseph 'Joe Beans' Campanella [1938-2007] and possible Genovese Member John 'Beansy' Campanella Jr. [1942-2010])
- Rosario 'Sally Young' Palmieri (Genovese Soldier) (Possible Captain)
- Vincent Aparo (Genovese Associate) (Son to Salvatore, inducted in the late 1990s)
- Vincent Battista (39y)
- William DiCenzo (44y)
Others present were charged locally for participating in the game:
- Joseph Calabro (Genovese Soldier) (Lapi Crew)
- Albert DiStefano (Genovese Soldier) (Lapi Crew)
- Joseph 'Crumb' Tedesche (Genovese Soldier)
- James Borgese (54y)
- Dominick Dicenzo (58y)
- Joseph DeSimone (45y) (Brother to Ralph DeSimone, a proposed Genovese Associate murdered in 1991)
- James Fusco (52y)
- Albert Palmieri (54y)
- Columbo 'Edward' Saggese (Genovese Associate) (Inducted into the Genovese Family circa Fall 1977 under Rosario Palmieri's sponsorship)
- James Soldano (53y)
- John Tangorra (49y)
- Anthony Vestuto (62y)
- Marshall Schreder (40y)
The Federal gambling case against Lapi, Palmieri and the others was subsequently dismissed.
Joseph Calabro died February 16, 1978 and was buried in Long island National Cemetery located in East Farmingdale.
In June 1979 posthumously included in the FBI's list of 177 identified Genovese Family members.
That same month the FBI provided a breakdown of the Genovese Family hierarchy, naming Frank Tieri as Boss, Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno as Underboss and John 'Buster' Ardito as Consigliere. Matthew Ianniello was listed as Acting Underboss. Listed Captains included Cosmo Frasca. Those named as Frasca crew members included Joseph Calabro (Deceased), Nicholas Carpentieri, Thomas 'Tommy Bullets' Contaldo, Alexander DiBrizzi and Ilarie 'Big Larry' Pisani. (This report was outdated in at least some aspects, i.e. listing deceased members as current Captains and Soldiers.)
Joseph Calabro died February 16, 1978 and was buried in Long island National Cemetery located in East Farmingdale.
In June 1979 posthumously included in the FBI's list of 177 identified Genovese Family members.
That same month the FBI provided a breakdown of the Genovese Family hierarchy, naming Frank Tieri as Boss, Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno as Underboss and John 'Buster' Ardito as Consigliere. Matthew Ianniello was listed as Acting Underboss. Listed Captains included Cosmo Frasca. Those named as Frasca crew members included Joseph Calabro (Deceased), Nicholas Carpentieri, Thomas 'Tommy Bullets' Contaldo, Alexander DiBrizzi and Ilarie 'Big Larry' Pisani. (This report was outdated in at least some aspects, i.e. listing deceased members as current Captains and Soldiers.)
