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| 1973 |
Joseph Serao was a member of the Gambino Family active in Manhattan and Queens.
Born October 24, 1915 in New York to Geremia 'Jerry' (35y) and Madeline Novelli (34y). Father from Carinola comune of Caserta, Campania.
At the time of Joseph's birth the family resided at 2046 1st Ave in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood. His father worked for Interborough Rapid Transit Company and later as an auto mechanic.
Joseph's first known arrest was in 1933 for robbery.
By April 1938 the Seraos listed residence was at 309 East 106th St in East Harlem.
On May 6, 1946 Joseph was held for being AWOL. The US Attorney's Office declined prosecution.
By April 1950 he resided with his wife and two daughters at 520 West 123rd St in Morningside Heights, a neighborhood adjacent to Harlem on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Listed occupation as a restaurant counterman.
By 1958 Joseph Serao was a made member of the Gambino Family.
Born October 24, 1915 in New York to Geremia 'Jerry' (35y) and Madeline Novelli (34y). Father from Carinola comune of Caserta, Campania.
At the time of Joseph's birth the family resided at 2046 1st Ave in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood. His father worked for Interborough Rapid Transit Company and later as an auto mechanic.
Joseph's first known arrest was in 1933 for robbery.
By April 1938 the Seraos listed residence was at 309 East 106th St in East Harlem.
On May 6, 1946 Joseph was held for being AWOL. The US Attorney's Office declined prosecution.
By April 1950 he resided with his wife and two daughters at 520 West 123rd St in Morningside Heights, a neighborhood adjacent to Harlem on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Listed occupation as a restaurant counterman.
By 1958 Joseph Serao was a made member of the Gambino Family.
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| 1/21/63 |
On January 21, 1963 arrested by the NYPD on an unspecified charge.
On November 26, 1965 he and two others were convicted of Federal gambling violations in the US District Court in Manhattan.
Co-defendants were Charles Cafaro (55y), of Lower Manhattan, and Harlem - Bronx resident Benjamin Genetempo (42y). (Cafaro and Genetempo were charged in another gambling bust in 1972, the latter described in contemporary press coverage as associated with the Genovese Family.)
Serao was then possibly reporting to Captain Anthony 'Tony Baker' Napolitano, who succeeded the recently deceased Arthur Leo.
On November 26, 1965 he and two others were convicted of Federal gambling violations in the US District Court in Manhattan.
Co-defendants were Charles Cafaro (55y), of Lower Manhattan, and Harlem - Bronx resident Benjamin Genetempo (42y). (Cafaro and Genetempo were charged in another gambling bust in 1972, the latter described in contemporary press coverage as associated with the Genovese Family.)
Serao was then possibly reporting to Captain Anthony 'Tony Baker' Napolitano, who succeeded the recently deceased Arthur Leo.
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| A. Napolitano (1965) |
Operating from the Royal Cafe at Second Ave and East 116th St, Napolitano headed a crew of approximately fifteen Soldiers from Harlem, Queens, The Bronx and Westchester County.
Made members of Napolitano's crew included Michael Baratta, Charles Barcellona, Anthony 'Hoyt' Benintende, James 'Jim Calo' Calandriello, Vincent James Casablanca, Joseph 'Jo Jo' Manfredi, Rocco 'Rogie' Mazzie, Frank 'Frankie Moose' Moccardi and Michael Pinetti.
Serao may have instead been reporting to Francesco 'Cheech' Rizzo, another Captain with a presence in Harlem. (Rizzo is believed to have taken over Pietro Stincone's crew for a period in the mid-to-late 1960s.)
On March 27, 1969 Serao's LCN status was confirmed by an FBI member source and he was designated the subject of an anti-racketeering investigation.
In November 1969 included in the FBI's list of 233 identified Gambino Family members.
On April 1, 1970 Anthony Napolitano was interviewed by FBI at his residence in Astoria, Queens: “...Napolitano was shown a photograph of Joseph Serao. He, after some hesitation, indicated that he was familiar with the individual in the photograph. He stated he did not know him well but had seen him around on occasion, especially in the area of 2252 Second Avenue, in Manhattan. He had seen Serao as recently as two weeks ago. He did not know where he lived or could be located. He further indicated that he did not like answering questions about other individuals but would talk about himself.”
In October 1972 included in the FBI's list of 201 identified Gambino Family members.
In the first half of 1973 Serao was arrested on two separate occasions for possessing gambling records at 156 East 117th St in East Harlem. The cases resulted in fines of $250 and $500.
By the summer he resided at 708 West 177th St in Washington Heights and operated the Mid-City Florists at 233 East 59th St in Lenox Hill, both in Manhattan.
In October 1973 included in the FBI's list of 196 identified Gambino Family members.
In December 1975 included in the FBI's list of 192 identified Gambino Family members.
In January 1977 included in the FBI's list of 195 identified Gambino Family members.
In May 1977 the FBI compiled a background report on Serao, noting: "Subject was arrested 13 times between 1933 through 1963 for robbery, burglary, bookmaking, Gamblers Tax Act and Wagering Tax Laws Violation."
He is listed in the April 1988 Senate Chart of Gambino Family membership. He died the following month.
In June 1993 posthumously included in an FBI list of Gambino Family membership.
Made members of Napolitano's crew included Michael Baratta, Charles Barcellona, Anthony 'Hoyt' Benintende, James 'Jim Calo' Calandriello, Vincent James Casablanca, Joseph 'Jo Jo' Manfredi, Rocco 'Rogie' Mazzie, Frank 'Frankie Moose' Moccardi and Michael Pinetti.
Serao may have instead been reporting to Francesco 'Cheech' Rizzo, another Captain with a presence in Harlem. (Rizzo is believed to have taken over Pietro Stincone's crew for a period in the mid-to-late 1960s.)
On March 27, 1969 Serao's LCN status was confirmed by an FBI member source and he was designated the subject of an anti-racketeering investigation.
In November 1969 included in the FBI's list of 233 identified Gambino Family members.
On April 1, 1970 Anthony Napolitano was interviewed by FBI at his residence in Astoria, Queens: “...Napolitano was shown a photograph of Joseph Serao. He, after some hesitation, indicated that he was familiar with the individual in the photograph. He stated he did not know him well but had seen him around on occasion, especially in the area of 2252 Second Avenue, in Manhattan. He had seen Serao as recently as two weeks ago. He did not know where he lived or could be located. He further indicated that he did not like answering questions about other individuals but would talk about himself.”
In October 1972 included in the FBI's list of 201 identified Gambino Family members.
In the first half of 1973 Serao was arrested on two separate occasions for possessing gambling records at 156 East 117th St in East Harlem. The cases resulted in fines of $250 and $500.
By the summer he resided at 708 West 177th St in Washington Heights and operated the Mid-City Florists at 233 East 59th St in Lenox Hill, both in Manhattan.
In October 1973 included in the FBI's list of 196 identified Gambino Family members.
In December 1975 included in the FBI's list of 192 identified Gambino Family members.
In January 1977 included in the FBI's list of 195 identified Gambino Family members.
In May 1977 the FBI compiled a background report on Serao, noting: "Subject was arrested 13 times between 1933 through 1963 for robbery, burglary, bookmaking, Gamblers Tax Act and Wagering Tax Laws Violation."
He is listed in the April 1988 Senate Chart of Gambino Family membership. He died the following month.
In June 1993 posthumously included in an FBI list of Gambino Family membership.