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| 1973 |
Joseph 'Joe' Amato was a suspected DeCavalcante member active in local affairs within the Family stronghold of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Brothers-in-law Simone Palermo (1933-2005) and Girolamo 'Jimmy' Palermo (1938-2014) were both DeCavalcante Members, the latter having served at different times as Family Underboss and as member of a ruling panel formed in the late 1990s.
Born Giuseppe Amato on August 10, 1928 in Cattolica Eraclea comune of Agrigento, Sicily to Giovanni and Filomena Cammalleri.
There are no confirmed DeCav members from Cattolica; the majority of LCN figures in the tri-state area with roots in this town were affiliated with the Bonannos.
Around 1953 married Alfonsa 'Alice' Palermo in Sicily. Bride from Ribera, Agrigento, the hometown of many DeCavalcante members.
The couple immigrated in 1954 and within a few years were residing with Amato's in-laws the Palermos at 875 Anna St in Elizabeth. Amato listed occupation as laborer. (His obituary notes he worked early on a salesman for Garden State Brickface and Siding.)
By 1958 possible formally inducted member of DeCavalcante Family. (If Amato was in fact a made member it's also possible that he transferred from a Sicilian Family after moving to the US.)
The Family was then headed by Nicholas Delmore.
Brothers-in-law Simone Palermo (1933-2005) and Girolamo 'Jimmy' Palermo (1938-2014) were both DeCavalcante Members, the latter having served at different times as Family Underboss and as member of a ruling panel formed in the late 1990s.
Born Giuseppe Amato on August 10, 1928 in Cattolica Eraclea comune of Agrigento, Sicily to Giovanni and Filomena Cammalleri.
There are no confirmed DeCav members from Cattolica; the majority of LCN figures in the tri-state area with roots in this town were affiliated with the Bonannos.
Around 1953 married Alfonsa 'Alice' Palermo in Sicily. Bride from Ribera, Agrigento, the hometown of many DeCavalcante members.
The couple immigrated in 1954 and within a few years were residing with Amato's in-laws the Palermos at 875 Anna St in Elizabeth. Amato listed occupation as laborer. (His obituary notes he worked early on a salesman for Garden State Brickface and Siding.)
By 1958 possible formally inducted member of DeCavalcante Family. (If Amato was in fact a made member it's also possible that he transferred from a Sicilian Family after moving to the US.)
The Family was then headed by Nicholas Delmore.
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| L. LaRasso FBN Mafia Book |
Louis 'Fat Lou' LaRasso, later a business partner of Amato's, served as Delmore's Underboss for a time before being demoted and shelved.
Simone 'Sam the Plumber' DeCavalcante succeeded Delmore as Boss following the latter's death in February 1964. He held the position until voluntarily stepping down around September 1982.
DeCavalcante had two Underbosses, Frank Majuri of NJ and Joseph LaSelva of Connecticut, and the Consigliere position is believed to have remained vacant until the 1970s.
Simone 'Sam the Plumber' DeCavalcante succeeded Delmore as Boss following the latter's death in February 1964. He held the position until voluntarily stepping down around September 1982.
DeCavalcante had two Underbosses, Frank Majuri of NJ and Joseph LaSelva of Connecticut, and the Consigliere position is believed to have remained vacant until the 1970s.
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| Ribera Club (c. Mid-1960s) Standing (L to R): S. Vitabile, J. Riggi, G. Palermo, J. Amato Seated: S. DeCavalcante |
A Family headquarters was the Ribera Club located at 3rd Ave and John St in Elizabeth.
Amato served as the club's President at one time and during the mid-1960s was photographed there with Sam DeCavalcante and many other members and associates.
One photo later obtained by the FBI (see above) depicted the Boss seated in the center of a group that included DeCav Captain John Riggi, Possible DeCav Member Joseph Amato and DeCav Associates Carl Corsentino, Girolamo Palermo (Amato's brother-in-law) and Stefano 'Steve' Vitabile. (Riggi took over as Boss after DeCavalcante stepped down in 1982. Palermo and Vitabile were inducted into the Family in the late 1970s. Corsentino was a member by September 1989 at the latest.)
By the early 1970s Former DeCav Underboss Louis LaRasso, taken off the shelf after Nick Delmore died and since promoted to Captain, partnered with Amato and DeCav Associate Stefano Vitabile in Val Sand Fill company located at 610 3rd Ave in Elizabeth. (Val = Vitabile / Amato / LaRasso.)
On January 24, 1973 arrested by Elizabeth, NJ PD on unspecified charge. (See top)
On May 11, 1974 Ribera Club sponsored formal dinner held at Empress Room of Winfield Scott Hotel located on North Broad St in Elizabeth. Attendees included DeCav Boss Simone DeCavalcante, Underboss Frank Majuri, Captain Louis LaRasso, Captain John Riggi, Soldier Salvatore 'Skinny Sal' Caterinicchi, Soldier Emanuel 'Manny' Riggi (John's father), Possible Member Joseph Amato as well as Associates Frank Ali, Joseph Caruano, Charles Majuri (Frank's son), Girolamo Palermo and several Elizabeth politicians. (Caruano, Majuri and Palermo were inducted into the Family after the books opened in the 1970s.)
On March 24, 1975 FBI's Newark Field Office reported: "Louis LaRasso is a 'Capo' in the DeCavalcante LCN Family [and is] a partner in Val Sand Co, 1975 Magnolia, Elizabeth. This company has a garage space and office at this location. Val Sand also operates several heavy trucks. LaRasso's partners in Val Sand Co are [Redacted; Steve Vitabile] and Joe Amato. Amato is a made LCN member." (This is currently the only available identification of Amato as a made member; he has yet to turn up in other sources and the DeCav CWs don't mention him in available testimony. Given their business relationship it's possible that Amato was reporting to LaRasso, although very little is available on DeCav crew alignments prior to the 1990s.)
On August 12, 1975 Somerset Prosecutor's Office advised FBI Newark: "[He] had recently learned that Louis LaRasso has been visiting [redacted paragraph]. It should be noted Louis LaRasso, Steve Vitabile and Joe Amato are allegedly partners in the above corporation...Amato resides at 407 Redcliffe Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey."
In early 1976 the books were opened and several DeCav Associates were inducted, including Amato's brother-in-law Girolamo Palermo and his business partner Stefano Vitabile.
Described by one informant as John Riggi's 'favorite', Palermo was likely part of the first wave inducted around February of that year. (Riggi was appointed the Family's Acting Boss later the same year and, as noted above, took over the Family around September 1982.)
On December 10, 1978 DeCavalcante Family Christmas party held at Charade Lounge located at 100 Elizabeth Ave in Linden, NJ. FBI Agent(s) surveilling the event observed Acting (?) Consigliere Stefano Vitabile, Captain Louis LaRasso, Soldiers Salvatore Caterinicchi, Joseph 'Fat Joe' Colletti, Rudolph 'Rudy' Farone, John LaMela and Emanuel 'Manny' Riggi (John's son) as well as Possible Member Joseph Amato.
Additional observations included autos registered to Tony Attanasio, Charles Matarese (66y) and to Val Sand Fill Company.
(Charles Matarese [1922-1998], family from Naples, Campania, resided in Putnam Valley, New York. In the 1990s an individual with the same name born 1959 was identified as an Associate in DeCav Captain Rudolph Farone's crew in New York. Tony Attanasio might be referring to Anthony 'Slicker' Attanasio [1924-1994], inducted into Philadelphia's Bruno Family in 1986.)
Amato served as the club's President at one time and during the mid-1960s was photographed there with Sam DeCavalcante and many other members and associates.
One photo later obtained by the FBI (see above) depicted the Boss seated in the center of a group that included DeCav Captain John Riggi, Possible DeCav Member Joseph Amato and DeCav Associates Carl Corsentino, Girolamo Palermo (Amato's brother-in-law) and Stefano 'Steve' Vitabile. (Riggi took over as Boss after DeCavalcante stepped down in 1982. Palermo and Vitabile were inducted into the Family in the late 1970s. Corsentino was a member by September 1989 at the latest.)
By the early 1970s Former DeCav Underboss Louis LaRasso, taken off the shelf after Nick Delmore died and since promoted to Captain, partnered with Amato and DeCav Associate Stefano Vitabile in Val Sand Fill company located at 610 3rd Ave in Elizabeth. (Val = Vitabile / Amato / LaRasso.)
On January 24, 1973 arrested by Elizabeth, NJ PD on unspecified charge. (See top)
On May 11, 1974 Ribera Club sponsored formal dinner held at Empress Room of Winfield Scott Hotel located on North Broad St in Elizabeth. Attendees included DeCav Boss Simone DeCavalcante, Underboss Frank Majuri, Captain Louis LaRasso, Captain John Riggi, Soldier Salvatore 'Skinny Sal' Caterinicchi, Soldier Emanuel 'Manny' Riggi (John's father), Possible Member Joseph Amato as well as Associates Frank Ali, Joseph Caruano, Charles Majuri (Frank's son), Girolamo Palermo and several Elizabeth politicians. (Caruano, Majuri and Palermo were inducted into the Family after the books opened in the 1970s.)
On March 24, 1975 FBI's Newark Field Office reported: "Louis LaRasso is a 'Capo' in the DeCavalcante LCN Family [and is] a partner in Val Sand Co, 1975 Magnolia, Elizabeth. This company has a garage space and office at this location. Val Sand also operates several heavy trucks. LaRasso's partners in Val Sand Co are [Redacted; Steve Vitabile] and Joe Amato. Amato is a made LCN member." (This is currently the only available identification of Amato as a made member; he has yet to turn up in other sources and the DeCav CWs don't mention him in available testimony. Given their business relationship it's possible that Amato was reporting to LaRasso, although very little is available on DeCav crew alignments prior to the 1990s.)
On August 12, 1975 Somerset Prosecutor's Office advised FBI Newark: "[He] had recently learned that Louis LaRasso has been visiting [redacted paragraph]. It should be noted Louis LaRasso, Steve Vitabile and Joe Amato are allegedly partners in the above corporation...Amato resides at 407 Redcliffe Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey."
In early 1976 the books were opened and several DeCav Associates were inducted, including Amato's brother-in-law Girolamo Palermo and his business partner Stefano Vitabile.
Described by one informant as John Riggi's 'favorite', Palermo was likely part of the first wave inducted around February of that year. (Riggi was appointed the Family's Acting Boss later the same year and, as noted above, took over the Family around September 1982.)
On December 10, 1978 DeCavalcante Family Christmas party held at Charade Lounge located at 100 Elizabeth Ave in Linden, NJ. FBI Agent(s) surveilling the event observed Acting (?) Consigliere Stefano Vitabile, Captain Louis LaRasso, Soldiers Salvatore Caterinicchi, Joseph 'Fat Joe' Colletti, Rudolph 'Rudy' Farone, John LaMela and Emanuel 'Manny' Riggi (John's son) as well as Possible Member Joseph Amato.
Additional observations included autos registered to Tony Attanasio, Charles Matarese (66y) and to Val Sand Fill Company.
(Charles Matarese [1922-1998], family from Naples, Campania, resided in Putnam Valley, New York. In the 1990s an individual with the same name born 1959 was identified as an Associate in DeCav Captain Rudolph Farone's crew in New York. Tony Attanasio might be referring to Anthony 'Slicker' Attanasio [1924-1994], inducted into Philadelphia's Bruno Family in 1986.)
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| J. Amato (L) and Unsub |
On October 12/19, 1979 FBI photo surveillance conducted in the vicinity of Cafe Italia, a Family hangout at 612 Third Ave in Elizabeth.
Those observed included Acting Boss John Riggi, Captain (Underboss?) Louis LaRasso, Soldier Joseph Colletti and Possible Member Joseph Amato.
Those observed included Acting Boss John Riggi, Captain (Underboss?) Louis LaRasso, Soldier Joseph Colletti and Possible Member Joseph Amato.
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| L. LaRasso |
Reports from April 1978 identified LaRasso as 'the new Underboss' to John Riggi, possibly in an Acting Capacity.
Testimony from CW Vincent Palermo confirms he held the position during this period before being demoted for a second time: "[Sam] DeCavalcante at the time was the Boss. And Louie was plotting to take Sam DeCavalcante's spot. And because of that, they dropped him down from underboss to soldier instead of killing him."
Testimony from CW Vincent Palermo confirms he held the position during this period before being demoted for a second time: "[Sam] DeCavalcante at the time was the Boss. And Louie was plotting to take Sam DeCavalcante's spot. And because of that, they dropped him down from underboss to soldier instead of killing him."
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| L. LaRasso |
In 1991 LaRasso was taken off the shelf and promoted to Captain by the now imprisoned Boss John Riggi.
Amato may have joined his brother-in-law Girolamo Palermo, Riggi's Former Underboss, in reporting to LaRasso at this time.
Members of the New York faction suspected LaRasso of again plotting against the leadership and he disappeared in November of the same year.
Little else is available on Amato's activities.
Per his obit he worked as Chief Tax Assessor for the City of Elizabeth, retiring after 20 years.
He died August 22, 2021 in New Jersey and was buried in Rosedale Cemetery located in Linden.
Amato may have joined his brother-in-law Girolamo Palermo, Riggi's Former Underboss, in reporting to LaRasso at this time.
Members of the New York faction suspected LaRasso of again plotting against the leadership and he disappeared in November of the same year.
Little else is available on Amato's activities.
Per his obit he worked as Chief Tax Assessor for the City of Elizabeth, retiring after 20 years.
He died August 22, 2021 in New Jersey and was buried in Rosedale Cemetery located in Linden.
More DeCavalcante Family posts can be found in the Index.
