Guglielmo Giuca was a Suspected Colombo (Gambino?) Member active in South Brooklyn.
Linked to extortion and at least one murder, he was shot to death in November 1931.
Born around 1905 in Pozzallo comune of Ragusa, Sicily to Antonino (24y) and Orazia Ruta (20y).
Guglielmo's father immigrated to the United States the same year.
By 1929 Guglielmo had immigrated as well and was residing at 543 Henry St in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
His mother and siblings are believed to have remained in Italy.
On April 16, 1929 Giuca and Future (?) Colombo Member Sebastiano Nani (22y) were arrested on attempted extortion charges after threatening one John Bruno. New York Daily News reported: "[Bruno] said that April 14 the men accosted him and his wife at Union and Hicks sts. and informed him that if he didn't hand over $500 he would be 'bumped off.' He explained that he didn't have that amount with him and was told that he'd better have it ready the next day. The next day, Bruno charged, the men came to his home and he put them off. They called again yesterday and informed him that if he wanted to go on living the money must be paid at once. Mrs. Bruno slipped out of the house and called Patrolman Charles A. Boyle of the Butler st. station, who arrested Nani and Guica." The pair was arraigned before Adams Street Court Magistrate Eilperin and held on $7,500 pending hearing scheduled for April 22.
Sebastiano Nani, also from Pozzallo and living nearby at 540 Henry St, was identified as a Colombo Soldier by the early 1950s.
The hearing was postponed after a third co-conspirator, Silvestro 'Phil Diana' Giannuso (24y), was charged and held on $2,000 bail. New York Daily News reported: "It is charged by the Brunos that Sunday night Giammuso called at their house and threatened them with death if they testified against Nani and Giuca. [The wife] slipped out the back way and summoned detectives, who arrested him." (Giannuso [1904-1929], of Palermo, resided in Carroll Gardens - Columbia Street Waterfront District of South Brooklyn.)
On May 6 the case was dismissed after the complainant moved to Connecticut without notice.
On December 5 twenty-five-year-old Silvestro Giannuso was found shot to death on a snow pile outside 151 President St about a block over from the Giuca residence. He had been shot three times in the head. The Times Union reported: "A woman in the neighborhood said she heard a car pass slowly through the neighborhood shortly after midnight and it is thought that Gianusso was thrown from this car after he had been shot. Gianusso was shot in head last April as he was talking to a girl friend in front of his home and was in the hospital for several weeks. Detectives endeavored to find out who shot him but he refused to help them, saying he would look after them when he got out of the hospital...Two flashy diamond rings, a gold watch, and $200 in cash were found on the body. Police are seeking a woman seen with the victim earlier in the evening."
Linked to extortion and at least one murder, he was shot to death in November 1931.
Born around 1905 in Pozzallo comune of Ragusa, Sicily to Antonino (24y) and Orazia Ruta (20y).
Guglielmo's father immigrated to the United States the same year.
By 1929 Guglielmo had immigrated as well and was residing at 543 Henry St in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
His mother and siblings are believed to have remained in Italy.
On April 16, 1929 Giuca and Future (?) Colombo Member Sebastiano Nani (22y) were arrested on attempted extortion charges after threatening one John Bruno. New York Daily News reported: "[Bruno] said that April 14 the men accosted him and his wife at Union and Hicks sts. and informed him that if he didn't hand over $500 he would be 'bumped off.' He explained that he didn't have that amount with him and was told that he'd better have it ready the next day. The next day, Bruno charged, the men came to his home and he put them off. They called again yesterday and informed him that if he wanted to go on living the money must be paid at once. Mrs. Bruno slipped out of the house and called Patrolman Charles A. Boyle of the Butler st. station, who arrested Nani and Guica." The pair was arraigned before Adams Street Court Magistrate Eilperin and held on $7,500 pending hearing scheduled for April 22.
Sebastiano Nani, also from Pozzallo and living nearby at 540 Henry St, was identified as a Colombo Soldier by the early 1950s.
The hearing was postponed after a third co-conspirator, Silvestro 'Phil Diana' Giannuso (24y), was charged and held on $2,000 bail. New York Daily News reported: "It is charged by the Brunos that Sunday night Giammuso called at their house and threatened them with death if they testified against Nani and Giuca. [The wife] slipped out the back way and summoned detectives, who arrested him." (Giannuso [1904-1929], of Palermo, resided in Carroll Gardens - Columbia Street Waterfront District of South Brooklyn.)
On May 6 the case was dismissed after the complainant moved to Connecticut without notice.
On December 5 twenty-five-year-old Silvestro Giannuso was found shot to death on a snow pile outside 151 President St about a block over from the Giuca residence. He had been shot three times in the head. The Times Union reported: "A woman in the neighborhood said she heard a car pass slowly through the neighborhood shortly after midnight and it is thought that Gianusso was thrown from this car after he had been shot. Gianusso was shot in head last April as he was talking to a girl friend in front of his home and was in the hospital for several weeks. Detectives endeavored to find out who shot him but he refused to help them, saying he would look after them when he got out of the hospital...Two flashy diamond rings, a gold watch, and $200 in cash were found on the body. Police are seeking a woman seen with the victim earlier in the evening."
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| G. Peraino |
By 1930 Giuca was reportedly an associate of Giuseppe 'The Clutching Hand' Peraino.
Peraino, born around 1889 in Sicily, is believed to have been a high-ranking / influential member of the Colombo Family.
On March 27, 1930 he was gunned down while walking past a tenement at 151 Sackett St in the Columbia Street Waterfront District.
On October 6 of the same year his son Carmine (21y) was shot to death in Bensonhurst.
A source later identified Carmine's killers as Colombo Members Cassandro 'Tony the Chief' Bonasera and Salvatore 'Sally the Sheik' Musacchio.
Giuseppe's other sons Anthony (1915-1996) and Joseph (1926-1998), as well as grandson Joseph Jr. (1950-1982), were later made members in the same Family.
In 1982 Joseph Jr. was murdered and his father wounded in a Family-ordered hit that also resulted in the accidental death of a fifty-three-year-old ex-nun.
Giuca was himself possibly a made member by 1931.
On April 24 of that year his uncle John (42y) was charged after a loaded revolver was found inside his bedroom at the 543 Henry St address.
In mid-July 1931 Guglielmo partnered with Charles Grillo and Frank Zanca (29y) in establishing Henry National Home Servicing Company at 50 Court St in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. (Francesco Zanca [1901-1937] was born in Palermo and resided at 574 Clinton St. Charles Grillo listed residence at 342 6th St in Park Slope, Brooklyn.)
Peraino, born around 1889 in Sicily, is believed to have been a high-ranking / influential member of the Colombo Family.
On March 27, 1930 he was gunned down while walking past a tenement at 151 Sackett St in the Columbia Street Waterfront District.
On October 6 of the same year his son Carmine (21y) was shot to death in Bensonhurst.
A source later identified Carmine's killers as Colombo Members Cassandro 'Tony the Chief' Bonasera and Salvatore 'Sally the Sheik' Musacchio.
Giuseppe's other sons Anthony (1915-1996) and Joseph (1926-1998), as well as grandson Joseph Jr. (1950-1982), were later made members in the same Family.
In 1982 Joseph Jr. was murdered and his father wounded in a Family-ordered hit that also resulted in the accidental death of a fifty-three-year-old ex-nun.
Giuca was himself possibly a made member by 1931.
On April 24 of that year his uncle John (42y) was charged after a loaded revolver was found inside his bedroom at the 543 Henry St address.
In mid-July 1931 Guglielmo partnered with Charles Grillo and Frank Zanca (29y) in establishing Henry National Home Servicing Company at 50 Court St in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. (Francesco Zanca [1901-1937] was born in Palermo and resided at 574 Clinton St. Charles Grillo listed residence at 342 6th St in Park Slope, Brooklyn.)
On September 12, 1931, at approximately 3:00 PM, Suspected Colombo Member Joseph Mannino (33y) was shot down at 149 Union St in the Columbia Street Waterfront District. Mannino walking with two male companions when suddenly ran from and fired upon by the pair.
The same day a shooting was carried out on a poolroom located at 513 E 13th St in Manhattan's East Village. Wounded were Nicholas Cione (28y) and John Mannino (24y), a younger brother of Gambino Soldier Angelo Mannino (36y).
(Press at the time noted there was no apparent relation between the East Village Manninos, from Torretta in Palermo, and the one murdered in Brooklyn. The latter was from Carini, Palermo, as were several Colombo members who went on to hold high positions in the Family. These included Consiglieres Joseph 'Peppino' Buffa [1900-1959] and Benedetto D'Alessandro [1900-1982] as well as Captains Salvatore 'Sam' Badalamenti [1905-1967] and Vincenzo Randazzo [1901-1987].)
The incidents occurred two days after Boss of Bosses Salvatore Maranzano was shot and stabbed to death by multiple assailants inside his Grand Central Station office.
The same day a shooting was carried out on a poolroom located at 513 E 13th St in Manhattan's East Village. Wounded were Nicholas Cione (28y) and John Mannino (24y), a younger brother of Gambino Soldier Angelo Mannino (36y).
(Press at the time noted there was no apparent relation between the East Village Manninos, from Torretta in Palermo, and the one murdered in Brooklyn. The latter was from Carini, Palermo, as were several Colombo members who went on to hold high positions in the Family. These included Consiglieres Joseph 'Peppino' Buffa [1900-1959] and Benedetto D'Alessandro [1900-1982] as well as Captains Salvatore 'Sam' Badalamenti [1905-1967] and Vincenzo Randazzo [1901-1987].)
The incidents occurred two days after Boss of Bosses Salvatore Maranzano was shot and stabbed to death by multiple assailants inside his Grand Central Station office.
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| B. Balsamo |
On October 6 Giuca and Battista 'Tito' Balsamo were held in the Mannino homicide. (Battista Balsamo [1902-1969], from Terrasini in Palermo, was identified in the 1960s as a Gambino Soldier active on the Brooklyn waterfront.)
By that time Giuca listed his occupation as a grocer. Press later noted he had 'a fish market and other business interests'.
On November 16, 1931, at approximately 11:30 PM, he was murdered while sitting at a table inside the Court Open Kitchen Restaurant at 337 Court St in Carroll Gardens.
Giuca was sitting at a table with Benedetto 'Benny' Ruggiero (26y) and a third man when four men armed with pistols entered and opened fire. Giuca and Ruggiero were hit twelve and ten times respectively, Giuca in the body and head, and both died at the scene. The third man dove under the table as the shooting began and crawled out of the restaurant through the kitchen's rear door. The assailants were seen entering an auto with two other occupants and speeding off in the direction of Brooklyn Borough Hall.
(Benny Ruggiero, whose mother was from Palermo, was an older brother of Future Gambino Member Frank 'Frankie Reynolds' Ruggiero [1913-2002]. In 1971 Frank was one of several named by an FBI source as reporting to Gambino Captain Ettore 'Terry' Zappi. In another Colombo - Gambino connection, Colombo Soldier Dominick 'Mimi' Scialo was surveilled driving Frank's auto in early 1973.)
Police speculated that Giuca was the intended victim and that the unidentified third man acted as a spotter. Brooklyn Eagle reported: "[Unsub] being sought by police as the man who lured Guica to the restaurant, where he was 'spotted'...This man escaped injury by ducking under the table at the first shot. He slipped from the restaurant unobserved in the confusion which followed the fusillade...[Deputy Chief Inspector] Sullivan said Guica also had been suspected of trying to 'shake down' Giuseppe Pirano, known in the underworld as 'The Clutching Hand,' who was shot and killed two years ago. Ruggiero has no police record and Sullivan believes that the volley which resulted in his death was intended for Guica alone."
The Times Union noted: "Guica was known in the underworld as a 'safety first' man. That is, instead of exacting tribute from the merchants of the community, he preyed on those who did. He was a friend of the late Giuseppe Piraino, known as the 'Clutching Hand,' and is believed to have aspired to Piraino's place as czar of the Union street underworld."
Giuca was buried in St. John Cemetery located in Middle Village, Queens.
Those initially questioned in the murders included Giuca's former co-defendant Battista Balsamo.
On December 8 investigators held Bartello Carbone (33y), who admitted being present at the restaurant and seeing 'the bodies of the two men on the floor' but denied any involvement. (Bartolomeo 'Bartello' Carbone [1898-1966], also from Pozzallo, resided at 139 Hudson in Hackensack, New Jersey and worked as a butcher. He was residing in South Brooklyn and working as a longshoreman by the early 1940s.)
On January 21, 1932 Nick Somma (26y) was shot and stabbed to death inside an Ozone Park, Queens apartment. Times Union reported: "What may be the key to the killing, police assert, is that Somma was wanted for questioning in connection with a double murder in a Court street restaurant Nov. 16, 1931. The police think that Somma was hiding not only from the police but from others he had reason to fear...The murders about which the police wanted to question Somma occurred in a restaurant at 337 Court Street. [Giuca and Ruggiero] were shot to death. Police say the shooting had to do with a disturbance in the window cleaning business." (Nicola 'Nick' Somma's family was from Castellammare di Stabia in Naples, Campania per Ancestry.)
By that time Giuca listed his occupation as a grocer. Press later noted he had 'a fish market and other business interests'.
On November 16, 1931, at approximately 11:30 PM, he was murdered while sitting at a table inside the Court Open Kitchen Restaurant at 337 Court St in Carroll Gardens.
Giuca was sitting at a table with Benedetto 'Benny' Ruggiero (26y) and a third man when four men armed with pistols entered and opened fire. Giuca and Ruggiero were hit twelve and ten times respectively, Giuca in the body and head, and both died at the scene. The third man dove under the table as the shooting began and crawled out of the restaurant through the kitchen's rear door. The assailants were seen entering an auto with two other occupants and speeding off in the direction of Brooklyn Borough Hall.
(Benny Ruggiero, whose mother was from Palermo, was an older brother of Future Gambino Member Frank 'Frankie Reynolds' Ruggiero [1913-2002]. In 1971 Frank was one of several named by an FBI source as reporting to Gambino Captain Ettore 'Terry' Zappi. In another Colombo - Gambino connection, Colombo Soldier Dominick 'Mimi' Scialo was surveilled driving Frank's auto in early 1973.)
Police speculated that Giuca was the intended victim and that the unidentified third man acted as a spotter. Brooklyn Eagle reported: "[Unsub] being sought by police as the man who lured Guica to the restaurant, where he was 'spotted'...This man escaped injury by ducking under the table at the first shot. He slipped from the restaurant unobserved in the confusion which followed the fusillade...[Deputy Chief Inspector] Sullivan said Guica also had been suspected of trying to 'shake down' Giuseppe Pirano, known in the underworld as 'The Clutching Hand,' who was shot and killed two years ago. Ruggiero has no police record and Sullivan believes that the volley which resulted in his death was intended for Guica alone."
The Times Union noted: "Guica was known in the underworld as a 'safety first' man. That is, instead of exacting tribute from the merchants of the community, he preyed on those who did. He was a friend of the late Giuseppe Piraino, known as the 'Clutching Hand,' and is believed to have aspired to Piraino's place as czar of the Union street underworld."
Giuca was buried in St. John Cemetery located in Middle Village, Queens.
Those initially questioned in the murders included Giuca's former co-defendant Battista Balsamo.
On December 8 investigators held Bartello Carbone (33y), who admitted being present at the restaurant and seeing 'the bodies of the two men on the floor' but denied any involvement. (Bartolomeo 'Bartello' Carbone [1898-1966], also from Pozzallo, resided at 139 Hudson in Hackensack, New Jersey and worked as a butcher. He was residing in South Brooklyn and working as a longshoreman by the early 1940s.)
On January 21, 1932 Nick Somma (26y) was shot and stabbed to death inside an Ozone Park, Queens apartment. Times Union reported: "What may be the key to the killing, police assert, is that Somma was wanted for questioning in connection with a double murder in a Court street restaurant Nov. 16, 1931. The police think that Somma was hiding not only from the police but from others he had reason to fear...The murders about which the police wanted to question Somma occurred in a restaurant at 337 Court Street. [Giuca and Ruggiero] were shot to death. Police say the shooting had to do with a disturbance in the window cleaning business." (Nicola 'Nick' Somma's family was from Castellammare di Stabia in Naples, Campania per Ancestry.)
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| S. Nani FBN Mafia Book |
Former extortion partner Sebastiano Nani was inducted into the Colombos and later transferred his membership to San Francisco before being deported in 1958. In 1967 an informant in the latter Family reported that Nani was then living in Palermo and working as a cab driver.
More Colombo Family posts can be found in the Index.
