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| 1985 |
Ralph Micale was a possible member of the DeCavalcante Family active in South Florida.
Born March 1, 1922 in Niagara Falls, New York to Pietro (36y) and Antonette Petrone (29y). Both parents from San Pier Niceto comune of Messina, Sicily.
By April 1930 family resided at 1514 Walnut Ave in the city's Little Italy neighborhood. Pietro listed his occupation as proprietor (soft drinks).
By 1935 the family moved a couple of blocks south to 1447 Ferry Ave.
As of Summer 1942 Ralph listed employment with the Kimberly Clark Corporation located on Packard Rd.
He served in the US Army from November 1942 to April 1945.
On February 11, 1947 married Angeline Mantione (25y) in Buffalo, New York. Bride's family from San Cataldo comune of Caltanissetta, Sicily. (There were at least two Mantiones involved with the Bufalino Family. One moved to Buffalo by the 1950s.)
By April 1950 the Micales were living at 2772 Forest Ave in Niagara Falls. Ralph worked as a salesman for a wholesale liquor concern.
By March 1954 he operated the Armory Grill at 830 Main St. (Former owner Benjamin 'Benny' Giordano [1888-1964] retired in 1947.)
When and how Micale became involved with the DeCavalcante Family isn't known. He's absent from available files until 1977.
On March 29 of that year Colombo Boss Thomas DiBella checked into the North Ridge Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The same day a member of the local Organized Crime Bureau partially overheard a visit made to DiBella by three Unsubs. Upon leaving the hospital the trio was followed a few miles north to Margate, where one of the three was dropped off. It was noted that Sebastiano 'Benny' Buffa resided in the vicinity.
Born March 1, 1922 in Niagara Falls, New York to Pietro (36y) and Antonette Petrone (29y). Both parents from San Pier Niceto comune of Messina, Sicily.
By April 1930 family resided at 1514 Walnut Ave in the city's Little Italy neighborhood. Pietro listed his occupation as proprietor (soft drinks).
By 1935 the family moved a couple of blocks south to 1447 Ferry Ave.
As of Summer 1942 Ralph listed employment with the Kimberly Clark Corporation located on Packard Rd.
He served in the US Army from November 1942 to April 1945.
On February 11, 1947 married Angeline Mantione (25y) in Buffalo, New York. Bride's family from San Cataldo comune of Caltanissetta, Sicily. (There were at least two Mantiones involved with the Bufalino Family. One moved to Buffalo by the 1950s.)
By April 1950 the Micales were living at 2772 Forest Ave in Niagara Falls. Ralph worked as a salesman for a wholesale liquor concern.
By March 1954 he operated the Armory Grill at 830 Main St. (Former owner Benjamin 'Benny' Giordano [1888-1964] retired in 1947.)
When and how Micale became involved with the DeCavalcante Family isn't known. He's absent from available files until 1977.
On March 29 of that year Colombo Boss Thomas DiBella checked into the North Ridge Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The same day a member of the local Organized Crime Bureau partially overheard a visit made to DiBella by three Unsubs. Upon leaving the hospital the trio was followed a few miles north to Margate, where one of the three was dropped off. It was noted that Sebastiano 'Benny' Buffa resided in the vicinity.
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| R. Bufalino FBN Mafia Book |
The remaining pair drove to Joe Sonken's Gold Coast Restaurant in Hollywood, Florida and then split up. One of the men left the scene in an auto registered to Bufalino Boss Russell Bufalino.
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| S. DeCavalcante |
Another vehicle was stopped after leaving the restaurant and the occupants were identified as DeCavalcante Boss Simone 'Sam' DeCavalcante', Acting Boss John Riggi and Ralph Micale. (DeCavalcante and Bufalino were observed meeting at Miami's Thunderbird Hotel the same month.)
Micale was then residing at 318 NE 117th St in North Miami.
By 1980 he moved to 4831 Tyler St in the Hollywood Hills section of Hollywood, FL.
A Florida LE report compiled the same year identified Micale as a DeCavalcante Soldier. (This report mistakenly identifies other associates as members and vice versa.)
Micale was then residing at 318 NE 117th St in North Miami.
By 1980 he moved to 4831 Tyler St in the Hollywood Hills section of Hollywood, FL.
A Florida LE report compiled the same year identified Micale as a DeCavalcante Soldier. (This report mistakenly identifies other associates as members and vice versa.)
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| Early 1980s |
Micale's name is not included in Federal charts from the time period.
In December 1984 the FBI's Miami Field Office requested indices checks on DeCavalcante, Riggi and Micale. (Riggi had by then replaced DeCavalcante as Family Boss.)
On July 2, 1985 Micale appeared at the office for photographs. (See top.)
On December 16, 1985 described in a Press of Atlantic City article as DeCavalcante's chauffeur.
In December 1984 the FBI's Miami Field Office requested indices checks on DeCavalcante, Riggi and Micale. (Riggi had by then replaced DeCavalcante as Family Boss.)
On July 2, 1985 Micale appeared at the office for photographs. (See top.)
On December 16, 1985 described in a Press of Atlantic City article as DeCavalcante's chauffeur.
Identified in an April 1988 Senate Report as a 'Principal Non Member Associate' of the DeCavalcantes in Florida. Report noted: "Drives Sam the Plumber DeCavalcante around South Florida. Observed recently meeting Joseph 'DEMUS' Covello, a Gambino Mafia figure." (Joseph Covello [1924-1991] was a Gambino Soldier formerly under Captain Joseph Paterno.)
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| V. Palermo Gang Land News |
Around October 1989 Vincent Palermo was promoted to Captain of a crew based primarily in Florida.
Made members of Palermo's crew included Carmelo 'Melio' Cocchiaro, Nick LaMela and Ralph LNU.
Ralph LNU is believed to be either Micale or Ralph Reda (1933-2009). Like the Ralph LNU named as a Palermo crew member, they both were Florida residents with ties to the local DeCavs. (Ralph Reda is the more likely of the two, given he had previously been indicted with Carmelo Cocchiaro and other Family members / associates. The indictment named both Cocchiaro and Reda as made members formerly under Captain Frank Cocchiaro who died in 1985.)
Vincent Palermo subsequently traveled to the state to be introduced to his men. He later testified: "One of the Soldiers, Anthony Mannarino. I called him to come up. He came up one Sunday and he met me and [Underboss] John D'Amato [who] introduced me to Anthony Mannarino as captain. So when I went down to Florida, Anthony Mannarino introduced me to the other soldiers down there [so we could] do it the official way." (Mannarino, a Soldier under Rudy Farone, was transferred to Palermo sometime after the latter's promotion.)
In Fall 1997 Palermo was made part of a ruling panel and most of his crew was given to Acting Captain Joseph Giacobbe.
Ralph Micale doesn't come up in any of the available LE records and related CW testimony of the 1990s and early 2000s.
He died July 14, 2003 in Hollywood and was buried in Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Niagara Falls.
Made members of Palermo's crew included Carmelo 'Melio' Cocchiaro, Nick LaMela and Ralph LNU.
Ralph LNU is believed to be either Micale or Ralph Reda (1933-2009). Like the Ralph LNU named as a Palermo crew member, they both were Florida residents with ties to the local DeCavs. (Ralph Reda is the more likely of the two, given he had previously been indicted with Carmelo Cocchiaro and other Family members / associates. The indictment named both Cocchiaro and Reda as made members formerly under Captain Frank Cocchiaro who died in 1985.)
Vincent Palermo subsequently traveled to the state to be introduced to his men. He later testified: "One of the Soldiers, Anthony Mannarino. I called him to come up. He came up one Sunday and he met me and [Underboss] John D'Amato [who] introduced me to Anthony Mannarino as captain. So when I went down to Florida, Anthony Mannarino introduced me to the other soldiers down there [so we could] do it the official way." (Mannarino, a Soldier under Rudy Farone, was transferred to Palermo sometime after the latter's promotion.)
In Fall 1997 Palermo was made part of a ruling panel and most of his crew was given to Acting Captain Joseph Giacobbe.
Ralph Micale doesn't come up in any of the available LE records and related CW testimony of the 1990s and early 2000s.
He died July 14, 2003 in Hollywood and was buried in Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Niagara Falls.