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| Court Exhibit / Press |
John 'Big Head' Arcaro was a member of the Bonanno Family's Graziano crew.
Born September 29, 1942 in Manhattan to Anthony (26y) and Rose Tuzzio (23y). Father from Sant'Angelo in Grotte frazione located in Santa Maria del Molise comune of Isernia, Molise. Mother's family from Chiaromonte comune of Potenza, Basilicata.
By April 1950 the Arcaros resided at 241 Baxter St in Manhattan's Little Italy. Anthony worked in building construction.
By 1957 they had moved about a block north at 396 Broome St. (One Benedetto Guiliani [1909-1970] of this address was picked up in a gambling raid carried out that March on a social club operated by Probable Bonanno Member Carmelo John Bivona.)
On July 8 of that year fourteen-year-old John was stabbed after an attempted holdup while riding the subway in Brooklyn.
By the late 1960s he was associated with various LCN members and associates in the neighborhood.
He is believed to have been present for the February 20, 1970 murder of Joseph 'Wagon Wheel' Vescovi (25y) inside an apartment on Elizabeth St.
Born September 29, 1942 in Manhattan to Anthony (26y) and Rose Tuzzio (23y). Father from Sant'Angelo in Grotte frazione located in Santa Maria del Molise comune of Isernia, Molise. Mother's family from Chiaromonte comune of Potenza, Basilicata.
By April 1950 the Arcaros resided at 241 Baxter St in Manhattan's Little Italy. Anthony worked in building construction.
By 1957 they had moved about a block north at 396 Broome St. (One Benedetto Guiliani [1909-1970] of this address was picked up in a gambling raid carried out that March on a social club operated by Probable Bonanno Member Carmelo John Bivona.)
On July 8 of that year fourteen-year-old John was stabbed after an attempted holdup while riding the subway in Brooklyn.
By the late 1960s he was associated with various LCN members and associates in the neighborhood.
He is believed to have been present for the February 20, 1970 murder of Joseph 'Wagon Wheel' Vescovi (25y) inside an apartment on Elizabeth St.
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| J. Yacovelli (1970s) |
Vescovi was lured to the location and ambushed by a group that included Colombo Consigliere Joseph 'Joe Yak' Yacovelli, Colombo Captain Carmine 'Junior' Persico, Possible Genovese Member Carmine 'Sonny Pinto' DiBiase and Bonanno - Colombo Associates Anthony 'Blackie' Calabro, the Indelicato brothers Alfonse 'Sonny Red' and Joseph 'J.B', Alfonse's son Anthony aka 'Bruno' Indelicato, Joseph 'Joe Fish' Luparelli, Carmine Persico's brother Alphonse aka 'Allie Boy' and Hugh 'Apples' McIntosh. (Calabro and all three Indelicatos were inducted into the Bonanno Family in the late 1970s. 'Allie Boy' Persico was made into the Bufalino Family in 1972 then transferred to the Colombos where he succeeded Yacovelli as Consigliere.)
Inside the apartment Yacovelli stabbed Vescovi multiple times with an ice pick, after which the victim was strangled by Luparelli and others.
The body, its head and hands chopped off, was recovered from a burial site in New Jersey after Luparelli flipped in April 1972.
Luparelli's cooperation, fallout from Colombo Soldier Joseph Gallo's murder earlier the same month, resulted in Arcaro and several others being hit with Grand Jury subpoenas.
Arcaro refused to answer questions about his presence at the Vescovi murder and was charged with criminal contempt.
He later pleaded guilty and in May 1974 was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Inside the apartment Yacovelli stabbed Vescovi multiple times with an ice pick, after which the victim was strangled by Luparelli and others.
The body, its head and hands chopped off, was recovered from a burial site in New Jersey after Luparelli flipped in April 1972.
Luparelli's cooperation, fallout from Colombo Soldier Joseph Gallo's murder earlier the same month, resulted in Arcaro and several others being hit with Grand Jury subpoenas.
Arcaro refused to answer questions about his presence at the Vescovi murder and was charged with criminal contempt.
He later pleaded guilty and in May 1974 was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
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| S. LoCurto (L) and A. Graziano Gang Land News |
By the late 1990s he was a customer of Bonanno Soldier Stephen 'Stevie Blue' LoCurto's marijuana operation.
LoCurto reported to Anthony 'T.G.' Graziano.
A Captain since 1987, Graziano headed a large crew with members throughout the New York metropolitan area as well as in Florida.
On June 13, 1998 a wedding reception for crew associate Jack Dildbanian was held at the Excelsior Grand in New Dorp, Staten Island. Attendees included Captain Anthony Graziano, Soldier Stephen LoCurto, Possible Member John Cicala and Associates John Arcaro, Gary Lane and Hector Pagan.
On January 20, 2000 Stephen LoCurto was arrested by the DEA following indictment on Federal narcotics charges. A phone book seized from LoCurto included entries for Bonanno Soldier Vincent Basciano, Possible Member John Cicala and Associates John Arcaro, Jack Dildbanian, Gary Lane and Hector Pagan. (Cicala was a confirmed member by the early 2000s.)
On January 18, 2001 LE surveillance was conducted on Da Nico Ristorante in Little Italy. Those observed were Bonanno Captain Richard Cantarella, Soldiers Paul Cantarella, Joseph 'J.B.' Indelicato and William Riviello as well as Possible Member John Arcaro and Augie LNU. (Augie is believed to be Augustino Gustari, a Cantarella crew associate who flipped later that year.)
Arcaro died April 26, 2001 and was waked at Little Italy's Guidetti Funeral Home.
LoCurto reported to Anthony 'T.G.' Graziano.
A Captain since 1987, Graziano headed a large crew with members throughout the New York metropolitan area as well as in Florida.
On June 13, 1998 a wedding reception for crew associate Jack Dildbanian was held at the Excelsior Grand in New Dorp, Staten Island. Attendees included Captain Anthony Graziano, Soldier Stephen LoCurto, Possible Member John Cicala and Associates John Arcaro, Gary Lane and Hector Pagan.
On January 20, 2000 Stephen LoCurto was arrested by the DEA following indictment on Federal narcotics charges. A phone book seized from LoCurto included entries for Bonanno Soldier Vincent Basciano, Possible Member John Cicala and Associates John Arcaro, Jack Dildbanian, Gary Lane and Hector Pagan. (Cicala was a confirmed member by the early 2000s.)
On January 18, 2001 LE surveillance was conducted on Da Nico Ristorante in Little Italy. Those observed were Bonanno Captain Richard Cantarella, Soldiers Paul Cantarella, Joseph 'J.B.' Indelicato and William Riviello as well as Possible Member John Arcaro and Augie LNU. (Augie is believed to be Augustino Gustari, a Cantarella crew associate who flipped later that year.)
Arcaro died April 26, 2001 and was waked at Little Italy's Guidetti Funeral Home.
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| S. Vitale |
According to Anthony DeStefano's King of the Godfathers, published in 2005, CW Salvatore Vitale told the government that the Family decided to make Arcaro a member 'as a courtesy before his death'.
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| Court Exhibit (Originally posted on Black Hand Forum) |
A Bonanno induction list seized in 2002 shows six candidates and four deceased members being replaced. (Beginning around 2000 each Family was allowed two extra slots per year.)
The proposed members were:
The proposed members were:
- Joseph Amedure (43y) [F. Lino crew member, subsequently disqualified for membership]
- Thomas 'Tommy Las Vegas' Ferreri (43y)
- Joseph Loiacono (56y) [A. Graziano crew]
- Michael Palmaccio (30y) [Asaro crew]
- Salvatore Puccio (31y) [Chilli crew]
- Louis 'Big Louie Toronto' Taranto [F. Lino crew member, believed disqualified]
- Nicholas Accardi (DOD 1.20.2002)
- John Arcaro (DOD 4.26.2001) [Former A. Graziano Crew]
- Giuseppe Arcuri (DOD 6.11.2001) [Former G. Sciascia Crew]
- Arthur 'Artie' Franconeri (DOD 7.28.2001) [Former A. Graziano Crew]