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| 1960s |
Philip LiCastri was a Gambino Soldier and member of the Family's Traina crew.
He had some connection to the Newark Family prior to the 1920s.
He had some connection to the Newark Family prior to the 1920s.
In later years he was active in Staten Island as both a longtime bakery owner and as a participant in local gambling operations.
Sons Vincent (1914-1992) and Charles (1923-2014) were also Gambino members.
Philip was born November 25, 1887 in the Marineo comune of Palermo, Sicily.
On April 23, 1910 arrived at Port of New York aboard S.S. Perugia. Destined for a brother-in-law residing at 261 Elizabeth St in Manhattan's Little Italy.
By June 1917 resided at 221 8th Ave in Newark, New Jersey. Employed as a chauffeur for the D'Amico & DiLiberto macaroni factory at the same location.
The business was owned by fellow residents Gaspare D'Amico (1886-1975) and Andrew DiLiberto (1886-1968), both from Villabate in Palermo.
Gaspare went on to serve as Newark Family Boss in the 1930s. He survived an attempted hit that killed his father and is believed to have joined the Colombo Family upon Newark's disbandment late that decade. (Gaspare's younger brother John, also living at the 8th Ave address, was confirmed as a Colombo member in the 1960s.)
By April 1919 LiCastri and his family left New Jersey for Manhattan, listing an address at 538 E 13th St in the Alphabet City section of East Village.
Early that month he filed his Declaration of Intention.
By April of the following year the LiCastris had moved to Old Town Road (125 then 264) in Old Town, Staten Island. Philip listed his occupation as chauffeur / delivery.
By June 1925 he established Philip LiCastri & Sons Bakery on Olimpia Blvd about a mile away in the Arrochar neighborhood.
By April 1930 the LiCastris had settled at 153 Cromwell Ave in Dongan Hills, Staten Island.
Philip was likely a made member by this time.
In April 1950 he and wife Nunzia 'Nancy' Fontana were living with family at 1370 NW 52nd St in the Miami's Liberty City.
By 1958 Philip's son Vincent LiCastri had also been inducted into the Gambino Family and they were both reporting to Captain Joseph Traina.
Philip was born November 25, 1887 in the Marineo comune of Palermo, Sicily.
On April 23, 1910 arrived at Port of New York aboard S.S. Perugia. Destined for a brother-in-law residing at 261 Elizabeth St in Manhattan's Little Italy.
By June 1917 resided at 221 8th Ave in Newark, New Jersey. Employed as a chauffeur for the D'Amico & DiLiberto macaroni factory at the same location.
The business was owned by fellow residents Gaspare D'Amico (1886-1975) and Andrew DiLiberto (1886-1968), both from Villabate in Palermo.
Gaspare went on to serve as Newark Family Boss in the 1930s. He survived an attempted hit that killed his father and is believed to have joined the Colombo Family upon Newark's disbandment late that decade. (Gaspare's younger brother John, also living at the 8th Ave address, was confirmed as a Colombo member in the 1960s.)
By April 1919 LiCastri and his family left New Jersey for Manhattan, listing an address at 538 E 13th St in the Alphabet City section of East Village.
Early that month he filed his Declaration of Intention.
By April of the following year the LiCastris had moved to Old Town Road (125 then 264) in Old Town, Staten Island. Philip listed his occupation as chauffeur / delivery.
By June 1925 he established Philip LiCastri & Sons Bakery on Olimpia Blvd about a mile away in the Arrochar neighborhood.
By April 1930 the LiCastris had settled at 153 Cromwell Ave in Dongan Hills, Staten Island.
Philip was likely a made member by this time.
In April 1950 he and wife Nunzia 'Nancy' Fontana were living with family at 1370 NW 52nd St in the Miami's Liberty City.
By 1958 Philip's son Vincent LiCastri had also been inducted into the Gambino Family and they were both reporting to Captain Joseph Traina.
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| J. Traina FBN Mafia Book |
Made members under Traina included Vincent 'Jimmy' Amato, Louis 'Fat Louie' D'Agostino (Traina's stepbrother), Pietro 'Little Pete Lombardo' Giallombardo, Joseph Giardina and his sons Joseph Jr., Louis 'Red' and Salvatore 'Teddy' Giardina, Philip LiCastri, Vincent LiCastri, Angelo Mannino, Samuel Mannino (Angelo's son), Paul 'Whitey' SanFilippo, Vincent 'Jimmy' Sarullo, Salvatore 'Sam' Tirone and Mario 'Red' Traina (Joseph's son).
Possible crew members included Charles LiCastri (another of Philip's sons) and Paul SanFilippo's father Joseph.
All of the known Traina crew members from the time period were Sicilian. The majority traced their origins to Palermo, either the city itself (Amato) or neighboring communes Marineo (the LiCastris), Torretta (the Manninos) or, like Traina, Belmonte Mezzagno (Giallombardo).
Non-Palermitani who reported to Traina included the Giardinas from Mussomeli in Caltanissetta, the SanFilippos from Sciacca and Vincent Sarullo, as yet the only known New York based member from Ribera, Agrigento not with the DeCavalcantes.
The LiCastris first came to the attention of the FBI in March 1963. CI Gregory Scarpa, a Colombo Soldier, identified the owners of both the LiCastri Bakery and the Trio Club in Staten Island as Gambino members.
Possible crew members included Charles LiCastri (another of Philip's sons) and Paul SanFilippo's father Joseph.
All of the known Traina crew members from the time period were Sicilian. The majority traced their origins to Palermo, either the city itself (Amato) or neighboring communes Marineo (the LiCastris), Torretta (the Manninos) or, like Traina, Belmonte Mezzagno (Giallombardo).
Non-Palermitani who reported to Traina included the Giardinas from Mussomeli in Caltanissetta, the SanFilippos from Sciacca and Vincent Sarullo, as yet the only known New York based member from Ribera, Agrigento not with the DeCavalcantes.
The LiCastris first came to the attention of the FBI in March 1963. CI Gregory Scarpa, a Colombo Soldier, identified the owners of both the LiCastri Bakery and the Trio Club in Staten Island as Gambino members.
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| V. Sarullo |
The Trio Club was operated by fellow Traina crew member Vincent Sarullo with LiCastri as a reported silent partner.
FBI investigations were soon opened on both men.
On June 14, 1963 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised that both Vincent Sarullo and Philip LiCastri are partners in the operation of the Club Trio, although the latter's name does not appear as one of the owners...[CI] further stated that LiCastri is handling both policy and horse bets, through his three sons who operate delivery trucks for the Philip LiCastri & Sons Co., a bakery. He stated one of the younger sons has a poor reputation and has in the past failed to pay off winning wagers. He noted LiCastri is also reputed to be backing one or two builders but he cannot identify the particular builders involved."
FBI investigations were soon opened on both men.
On June 14, 1963 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised that both Vincent Sarullo and Philip LiCastri are partners in the operation of the Club Trio, although the latter's name does not appear as one of the owners...[CI] further stated that LiCastri is handling both policy and horse bets, through his three sons who operate delivery trucks for the Philip LiCastri & Sons Co., a bakery. He stated one of the younger sons has a poor reputation and has in the past failed to pay off winning wagers. He noted LiCastri is also reputed to be backing one or two builders but he cannot identify the particular builders involved."
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| J. LaForte |
On April 1, 1965 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised there is every indication that the LiCastris will take over control of the numbers racket from Joseph LaForte. He noted that about a year ago, the LiCastris appeared to be replacing LaForte, but the latter had too strong backing and was able to retain his position. However, [CI] noted LaForte has been bothered by a bad heart condition and in addition he was very close to Tony Bender, and with the latter's disappearance he has lost one of his biggest supporters. On the other hand, Vincent LiCastri has been very friendly with Peter Ferrara and with others in the Gambino Family. He has also teamed up with Jimmy Sarullo, another member of the Gambino Family, and the report is that the LiCastris will assume control over the entire numbers operation in Staten Island within the near future." (Joseph 'The Cat' LaForte [1917-2016] was then a proposed Associate under Captain Joseph Gennaro. After Gennaro died in 1968 LaForte was reporting directly to Underboss Aniello Dellacroce. He was inducted after the books re-opened in 1976.)
On June 16, 1965 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised that he still has not been able to resolve the question of whether Vincent Sarullo has taken control over all of the policy racket in Staten Island from Joseph LaForte. He stated that he has spoken to a number of bookmakers and has received conflicting answers...He said it appears Charles LiCastri has the most authority, and it will be he who will run the Staten Island policy if Sarullo is successful in driving LaForte out of this racket. [CI] further stated that he has heard Charles LiCastri has acted as the guarantor of several loans made recently by Jimmy Sarullo but LiCastri will not loanshark in competition to Sarullo. He stated these two are close friends and are reported to assisting each other wherever possible."
On June 16, 1965 FBI CI reported: "[CI] advised that he still has not been able to resolve the question of whether Vincent Sarullo has taken control over all of the policy racket in Staten Island from Joseph LaForte. He stated that he has spoken to a number of bookmakers and has received conflicting answers...He said it appears Charles LiCastri has the most authority, and it will be he who will run the Staten Island policy if Sarullo is successful in driving LaForte out of this racket. [CI] further stated that he has heard Charles LiCastri has acted as the guarantor of several loans made recently by Jimmy Sarullo but LiCastri will not loanshark in competition to Sarullo. He stated these two are close friends and are reported to assisting each other wherever possible."
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| 1960s |
On June 26, 1966, at about 1:55 AM, he was robbed of $2,500 when two assailants entered the bakery and forced him at gunpoint to open the safe.
On July 19, 1966 FBI CI reported: "...He advised that Sarullo continues as an active loanshark and is in fact the biggest shylock in the Staten Island area. He said that Vincent LiCastri is a close associate of Sarullo, and LiCastri is active in the local policy rackets and is the son of Philip LiCastri, who is also reported to be a button man in the organization."
On October 31, 1966 FBI CI reported: "...[CI] stated Sarullo is very friendly with Vincent LiCastri, and he has heard the latter is either a button man, or his father is in the organization."
On March 2, 1967 FBI CI reported: "...[CI] noted Sarullo continues to be friendly with Vincent LiCastri, son of Philip LiCastri, reputed to be a 'button man' in the Gambino Family. He said Vincent LiCastri operates a policy racket out of the family bakery business, the Philip LiCastri & Sons Bakery."
On July 21, 1967 the NYPD Staten Island District Attorney's Squad advised FBI: "[Detective] advised that Philip LiCastri and his sons, Charles and Vincent LiCastri, are on the NYPD 'Known Gamblers' list as important figures in the Staten Island policy racket. He stated the LiCastris are not presently engaged in any other criminal activity."
On July 24, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] noted that Philip LiCastri's two sons, Vincent and Charles LiCastri are close friends of Jimmy Sarullo, and are frequently observed in the latter's tavern, the Club Trio."
Philip LiCastri died March 4, 1968 at his Dongan Hills residence.
His wake was held three days later at the Azzara Funeral Home located at 183 Sand Lane in Arrochar. Buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Rosebank.
On July 19, 1966 FBI CI reported: "...He advised that Sarullo continues as an active loanshark and is in fact the biggest shylock in the Staten Island area. He said that Vincent LiCastri is a close associate of Sarullo, and LiCastri is active in the local policy rackets and is the son of Philip LiCastri, who is also reported to be a button man in the organization."
On October 31, 1966 FBI CI reported: "...[CI] stated Sarullo is very friendly with Vincent LiCastri, and he has heard the latter is either a button man, or his father is in the organization."
On March 2, 1967 FBI CI reported: "...[CI] noted Sarullo continues to be friendly with Vincent LiCastri, son of Philip LiCastri, reputed to be a 'button man' in the Gambino Family. He said Vincent LiCastri operates a policy racket out of the family bakery business, the Philip LiCastri & Sons Bakery."
On July 21, 1967 the NYPD Staten Island District Attorney's Squad advised FBI: "[Detective] advised that Philip LiCastri and his sons, Charles and Vincent LiCastri, are on the NYPD 'Known Gamblers' list as important figures in the Staten Island policy racket. He stated the LiCastris are not presently engaged in any other criminal activity."
On July 24, 1967 FBI CI reported: "[CI] noted that Philip LiCastri's two sons, Vincent and Charles LiCastri are close friends of Jimmy Sarullo, and are frequently observed in the latter's tavern, the Club Trio."
Philip LiCastri died March 4, 1968 at his Dongan Hills residence.
His wake was held three days later at the Azzara Funeral Home located at 183 Sand Lane in Arrochar. Buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Rosebank.
Both Federal and local PD surveilled the wake and noted the vehicles present but all names save for Charles LiCastri are redacted.
Charles was President of the bakery by 1973.
