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| S. Avellino (1984) |
Breakdown of known members reporting to Lucchese Captain Salvatore Avellino by 1991.
Referred to as 'The Golfer' by Family leadership, Avellino was born November 1935 in East Harlem, Manhattan to Salvatore (23y), a painter, and Rose Capra (21y).
Father's side of the Family from Sicily, possibly Messina Province (per Ancestry).
Mother's family from San Polo Matese comune of Campobasso, Molise and from Castello d'Alife in Caserta, Campania.
Relatives included the following LCN Members and Suspected Members:
By mid-1988 Corallo was about a year into his 100-year sentence from the Commission case and Avellino had been promoted to Captain.
The Avellino crew was responsible for overseeing much of the Family's activity on Long Island, particularly as it concerned the carting industry. CW Alfonso D'Arco later testified: "[Avellino] had the say in the Long Island area, Nassau and Suffolk on disputes within the garbage industry, the carting industry...[Avellino] administers the disputes in the Long Island area, the various Families have areas they assign to one another, so it is just not a mix. The Long Island area is the Lucchese area and Sally administers it, and all disputes under his jurisdiction, and if money is distributed for the Gambino's or any other Family, he gets the money. He settles the disputes and passes on their share."
D'Arco also claimed that, like Family Underboss Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso, Avellino had a source in law enforcement: "Sally Avellino picked up various money for the Lucchese Family, and he deducted $4,000 a month for this law enforcement information to give to whoever this person was, and he saw the person after the first of every month, by prior arranged meeting place...I never did [learn who the source was], and I never asked."
D'Arco was made the Family's Acting Boss in early January 1991.
By that time made members in the Avellino crew included:
Referred to as 'The Golfer' by Family leadership, Avellino was born November 1935 in East Harlem, Manhattan to Salvatore (23y), a painter, and Rose Capra (21y).
Father's side of the Family from Sicily, possibly Messina Province (per Ancestry).
Mother's family from San Polo Matese comune of Campobasso, Molise and from Castello d'Alife in Caserta, Campania.
Relatives included the following LCN Members and Suspected Members:
- Maternal grandfather Michele Capra (1888-1967) was a suspected early member.
- Granduncle 'Nick Montair' Capra (1897-1973) and uncles Daniel 'Danny Hogan' Capra (1910-1982) and Joseph 'Joe Hooks' Capra (1916-1992) were members, the latter a Captain and possibly a part of the Family administration at one time.
- Uncle Nicholas Tolentino (1909-1972), who married Avellino's aunt, was a Soldier. (Tolentino was also related to the Capras.)
- Cousin Michael 'Mikey Cap' Capra, Joseph's son, has been identified in various court records as also being a member.
- Younger brother Carmine Avellino has been identified by multiple CWs as a member.
By mid-1988 Corallo was about a year into his 100-year sentence from the Commission case and Avellino had been promoted to Captain.
The Avellino crew was responsible for overseeing much of the Family's activity on Long Island, particularly as it concerned the carting industry. CW Alfonso D'Arco later testified: "[Avellino] had the say in the Long Island area, Nassau and Suffolk on disputes within the garbage industry, the carting industry...[Avellino] administers the disputes in the Long Island area, the various Families have areas they assign to one another, so it is just not a mix. The Long Island area is the Lucchese area and Sally administers it, and all disputes under his jurisdiction, and if money is distributed for the Gambino's or any other Family, he gets the money. He settles the disputes and passes on their share."
D'Arco also claimed that, like Family Underboss Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso, Avellino had a source in law enforcement: "Sally Avellino picked up various money for the Lucchese Family, and he deducted $4,000 a month for this law enforcement information to give to whoever this person was, and he saw the person after the first of every month, by prior arranged meeting place...I never did [learn who the source was], and I never asked."
D'Arco was made the Family's Acting Boss in early January 1991.
By that time made members in the Avellino crew included:
1.) Carmine Avellino
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| C. Avellino Gang Land News |
Salvatore's younger brother, inducted by 1984 and believed reporting at the time to uncle Joseph Capra.
By 1985 owned R&B Caterers in East Farmingdale, Long Island; business damaged in arson that June as result of an agreement over territorial rights with Bonanno Family.
Around mid-1988 the Luccheses dispatched three Captains, each with one accompanying crew member, to the wedding reception for the daughter of Colombo Acting Underboss Benedetto 'Benny' Aloi; Salvatore, now a Captain, was accompanied by Carmine.
Co-owned Crown Bagel in Jamaica, Queens, where Lucchese Soldier Michael Pappadio was bludgeoned and shot to death by Alfonso D'Arco and others in 1989. On the day of Pappadio's murder, Salvatore Avellino summoned the victim to a meeting at a nearby location. Carmine then physically brought Pappadio to the business to be killed, exclaiming, 'Surprise! Look who's here!' as he walked the victim into the room. Afterward Carmine, along with unnamed associates and Crown Bagel employees, cleaned the crime scene.
Also a co-conspirator three months later in the double murder of Long Island carters Donald Barstow (35y) and Robert Kubecka (40y). Murders authorized by Family administration at request of Carmine's brother Salvatore, who had received information marking one or both of the victims as cooperators in a Federal investigation of the trash-hauling industry.
The Avellinos pleaded guilty to various charges, including involvement in the Barstow-Kubecka murders, brought in Federal indictments issued in the wake of Alfonso D'Arco's defection in September 1991.
Released in February 2004, Carmine was indicted as a Captain in May 2014 and ultimately sentenced to house arrest.
By 1985 owned R&B Caterers in East Farmingdale, Long Island; business damaged in arson that June as result of an agreement over territorial rights with Bonanno Family.
Around mid-1988 the Luccheses dispatched three Captains, each with one accompanying crew member, to the wedding reception for the daughter of Colombo Acting Underboss Benedetto 'Benny' Aloi; Salvatore, now a Captain, was accompanied by Carmine.
Co-owned Crown Bagel in Jamaica, Queens, where Lucchese Soldier Michael Pappadio was bludgeoned and shot to death by Alfonso D'Arco and others in 1989. On the day of Pappadio's murder, Salvatore Avellino summoned the victim to a meeting at a nearby location. Carmine then physically brought Pappadio to the business to be killed, exclaiming, 'Surprise! Look who's here!' as he walked the victim into the room. Afterward Carmine, along with unnamed associates and Crown Bagel employees, cleaned the crime scene.
Also a co-conspirator three months later in the double murder of Long Island carters Donald Barstow (35y) and Robert Kubecka (40y). Murders authorized by Family administration at request of Carmine's brother Salvatore, who had received information marking one or both of the victims as cooperators in a Federal investigation of the trash-hauling industry.
The Avellinos pleaded guilty to various charges, including involvement in the Barstow-Kubecka murders, brought in Federal indictments issued in the wake of Alfonso D'Arco's defection in September 1991.
Released in February 2004, Carmine was indicted as a Captain in May 2014 and ultimately sentenced to house arrest.
2.) Anthony 'Big Tony' Calagna (1938-2000)
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| A. Calagna |
Born in Manhattan's East Village to a father from Partinico comune of Palermo, Sicily.
Associated with the Avellinos by the early 1980s.
Around 1986 elected President of IBT Local 295.
Inducted under Salvatore Avellino's sponsorship in Fall 1988. Others made in the same ceremony included Alfonso D'Arco's son Joseph as well as Former DeMeo Crew members Anthony Senter and Joseph Testa.
Associated with the Avellinos by the early 1980s.
Around 1986 elected President of IBT Local 295.
Inducted under Salvatore Avellino's sponsorship in Fall 1988. Others made in the same ceremony included Alfonso D'Arco's son Joseph as well as Former DeMeo Crew members Anthony Senter and Joseph Testa.
Calagna, his Captain Salvatore Avellino and others handled the Lucchese Family's union activity including interests at at JFK Airport. CW D'Arco later testified: "There were a few unions handled by Calagna. There were Teamsters unions and they controlled the various different things; toll booth collections in the Hunts Point market, the air freight industry."
At times Calagna was also responsible for passing along $4,000 monthly payments from the Jersey crew's own local airport interests.
Calagna typically reported on these activities to D'Arco and at times to Patrick 'Patty' Dello Russo, a D'Arco crew Associate.
Calagna typically reported on these activities to D'Arco and at times to Patrick 'Patty' Dello Russo, a D'Arco crew Associate.
In May 1989 indicted with Lucchese Associate Richard Schroeder for shaking down a trucking company.
During mid-to-late 1990 and into early 1991 frequently kicked up large sums to fugitive Boss Vittorio 'Vic' Amuso through D'Arco.
In response D'Arco chose to contribute to Calagna's legal fees from the 1989 indictment: "Big Anthony had some lawyer problems and was pressing me for money. I think I let him keep a thousand of the money and I told Anthony Casso that I let him keep the money. Anthony told me what are you giving away our money. So, I said, Anthony, if you don't want to pay the money, I made a mistake, I'll get it back or I'll see what I can do about it. He said no, forget about it." (In the summer of 1991 D'Arco was taken down as Acting Boss, in part due to accusations from Casso and others of mishandling money; he defected that September after suspecting he was being set up for a hit.)
Calagna was convicted on the trucking extortion charge in January 1991 and released on bail with the condition that he resign from Local 295.
Three months later given a seven year sentence.
Following conviction his role as overseer of JFKIA interests given to Patrick Dello Russo, now himself an inducted member.
In November 1993, while Calagna was serving his sentence at FCI McKean in Pennsylvania, both he and Dello Russo were hit with Federal racketeering charges stemming from D'Arco's cooperation. Calagna received an additional fifty-seven months to be served at the conclusion of his original sentence.
Died while incarcerated in June 2000.
During mid-to-late 1990 and into early 1991 frequently kicked up large sums to fugitive Boss Vittorio 'Vic' Amuso through D'Arco.
In response D'Arco chose to contribute to Calagna's legal fees from the 1989 indictment: "Big Anthony had some lawyer problems and was pressing me for money. I think I let him keep a thousand of the money and I told Anthony Casso that I let him keep the money. Anthony told me what are you giving away our money. So, I said, Anthony, if you don't want to pay the money, I made a mistake, I'll get it back or I'll see what I can do about it. He said no, forget about it." (In the summer of 1991 D'Arco was taken down as Acting Boss, in part due to accusations from Casso and others of mishandling money; he defected that September after suspecting he was being set up for a hit.)
Calagna was convicted on the trucking extortion charge in January 1991 and released on bail with the condition that he resign from Local 295.
Three months later given a seven year sentence.
Following conviction his role as overseer of JFKIA interests given to Patrick Dello Russo, now himself an inducted member.
In November 1993, while Calagna was serving his sentence at FCI McKean in Pennsylvania, both he and Dello Russo were hit with Federal racketeering charges stemming from D'Arco's cooperation. Calagna received an additional fifty-seven months to be served at the conclusion of his original sentence.
Died while incarcerated in June 2000.
3.) Richard DeLuca (1934-2020)
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| R. DeLuca (R) with Lucchese Captain Anthony Baratta (1989) |
Born June 1934 to a father from Nicosia comune of Enna, Sicily, DeLuca was a made member by the early 1980s with interests in The Bronx, East Harlem and Florida.
At that time he was believed to be in the faction more closely aligned with Underboss Salvatore 'Tom Mix' Santoro. In late November 1982 FBI Agents approached DeLuca after observing him and Santoro together at the Santoro's business in Morris Park, The Bronx. DeLuca would not answer whether Santoro and Captain Joseph Capra were 'having problems', and also refused to verify a rumor that shots had recently been fired at Santoro's residence on City Island.
By November 1986 Boss Antonio Corallo got wind of a plot against his leadership led by Santoro. The two leaders were awaiting the Commission case verdicts, and Santoro reportedly sought to install Captain Anthony 'Buddy' Luongo as the new Family head should the pair be convicted. Luongo was instead murdered by a group that included Vittorio Amuso, Corallo's choice of successor; others involved in the plot were transferred to other crews or, as in the case of Lucchese Soldier 'Fat Anthony' DiLapi, subsequently tracked down and killed.
It's possible that DeLuca was one of those involved in the plot. By the late 1980s he was reporting to Avellino.
As part of Avellino's crew DeLuca held a partnership with Lucchese Associate Tony Ormento in a Florida garment shop. He kicked up $2,500 per month from shop, with the payment evenly distributed by the administration among five 'retired' Lucchese members. (DeLuca's partner might actually have been Thomas 'Tommy' Ormento [1937-1996], son of Former Lucchese Captain and close Santoro associate 'Big John' Ormento [1912-1974].)
DeLuca escaped the legal fallout from D'Arco's defection and by the early 2000s was reporting to Captain Joseph DiNapoli. (This is from a 2006 Govt List posted on the forum.)
According to CW John Pennisi, a Former Lucchese Member who flipped in 2018, by the mid-2010s DeLuca had been promoted to Captain.
Died September 2020.
4.) Frank Lagano (1939-2007)
Born 1939 in Manhattan and inducted in the late 1970s, Lagano and another member were taken out of Alfonso D'Arco's crew and transferred to Avellino after D'Arco was removed as Acting Boss in July 1991.
Having avoided indictment in the wake of D'Arco's defection, Lagano was indicted in 2004 on charges involving a New Jersey gambling ring.
Shot to death outside a diner in East Brunswick, NJ three years later, Lagano remains the most recent made member in that Family to be murdered.
At that time he was believed to be in the faction more closely aligned with Underboss Salvatore 'Tom Mix' Santoro. In late November 1982 FBI Agents approached DeLuca after observing him and Santoro together at the Santoro's business in Morris Park, The Bronx. DeLuca would not answer whether Santoro and Captain Joseph Capra were 'having problems', and also refused to verify a rumor that shots had recently been fired at Santoro's residence on City Island.
By November 1986 Boss Antonio Corallo got wind of a plot against his leadership led by Santoro. The two leaders were awaiting the Commission case verdicts, and Santoro reportedly sought to install Captain Anthony 'Buddy' Luongo as the new Family head should the pair be convicted. Luongo was instead murdered by a group that included Vittorio Amuso, Corallo's choice of successor; others involved in the plot were transferred to other crews or, as in the case of Lucchese Soldier 'Fat Anthony' DiLapi, subsequently tracked down and killed.
It's possible that DeLuca was one of those involved in the plot. By the late 1980s he was reporting to Avellino.
As part of Avellino's crew DeLuca held a partnership with Lucchese Associate Tony Ormento in a Florida garment shop. He kicked up $2,500 per month from shop, with the payment evenly distributed by the administration among five 'retired' Lucchese members. (DeLuca's partner might actually have been Thomas 'Tommy' Ormento [1937-1996], son of Former Lucchese Captain and close Santoro associate 'Big John' Ormento [1912-1974].)
DeLuca escaped the legal fallout from D'Arco's defection and by the early 2000s was reporting to Captain Joseph DiNapoli. (This is from a 2006 Govt List posted on the forum.)
According to CW John Pennisi, a Former Lucchese Member who flipped in 2018, by the mid-2010s DeLuca had been promoted to Captain.
Died September 2020.
4.) Frank Lagano (1939-2007)
Born 1939 in Manhattan and inducted in the late 1970s, Lagano and another member were taken out of Alfonso D'Arco's crew and transferred to Avellino after D'Arco was removed as Acting Boss in July 1991.
Having avoided indictment in the wake of D'Arco's defection, Lagano was indicted in 2004 on charges involving a New Jersey gambling ring.
Shot to death outside a diner in East Brunswick, NJ three years later, Lagano remains the most recent made member in that Family to be murdered.
5.) Anthony 'Curly' Russo (1937-2021)
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| A. Russo (1990) |
Born in Manhattan to parents from Marineo and Misilmeri comunes of Palermo, Russo was inducted around May 1976 and reported to his cousin, Captain Carmine 'Willie Brown' LoCascio.
Russo is believed to have taken over the crew sometime after LoCascio's death in 1983.
Following the Commission verdicts and ascension of Vittorio Amuso as the Family's new Boss, Russo was one of the Captains to be demoted after it was determined he had joined in on Santoro's failed plot against Former Boss Antonio Corallo.
When Alfonso D'Arco was promoted to Captain around June 1988, both Russo and Frank Lagano were assigned to his crew with permission from Amuso to kill them whenever convenient: "When I was made a captain, [Russo transferred at] the same time...He was assigned to my crew with the instruction to kill him at will [because] they said he was in the plot to kill [Tony] Corallo...Vic Amuso and Anthony Casso and they said, I don't have to come back for an okay to kill him -- which I didn't, I knew his whole family...[I] kept Anthony Curly alive by saying he is drawing heat. That's why he is walking the streets. They kept telling me, 'What are you waiting for?' I kept saying, 'Right now we got other problems with the concrete. We got this' -- and I knew Curly and I knew his family. He lived upstairs with me, his mother and father and sister. The original reason he is alive today is on account of me."
Russo was another of those convicted on Federal racketeering charges as a result of D'Arco's cooperation, and spent most of the 1990s incarcerated before being released in December 2000.
Indicted for narcotics conspiracy in 2004 and on various New Jersey State charges in 2007, he died in May 2021.
6.) Peter 'Jocko' Vario (1944-2024)
Russo is believed to have taken over the crew sometime after LoCascio's death in 1983.
Following the Commission verdicts and ascension of Vittorio Amuso as the Family's new Boss, Russo was one of the Captains to be demoted after it was determined he had joined in on Santoro's failed plot against Former Boss Antonio Corallo.
When Alfonso D'Arco was promoted to Captain around June 1988, both Russo and Frank Lagano were assigned to his crew with permission from Amuso to kill them whenever convenient: "When I was made a captain, [Russo transferred at] the same time...He was assigned to my crew with the instruction to kill him at will [because] they said he was in the plot to kill [Tony] Corallo...Vic Amuso and Anthony Casso and they said, I don't have to come back for an okay to kill him -- which I didn't, I knew his whole family...[I] kept Anthony Curly alive by saying he is drawing heat. That's why he is walking the streets. They kept telling me, 'What are you waiting for?' I kept saying, 'Right now we got other problems with the concrete. We got this' -- and I knew Curly and I knew his family. He lived upstairs with me, his mother and father and sister. The original reason he is alive today is on account of me."
Russo was another of those convicted on Federal racketeering charges as a result of D'Arco's cooperation, and spent most of the 1990s incarcerated before being released in December 2000.
Indicted for narcotics conspiracy in 2004 and on various New Jersey State charges in 2007, he died in May 2021.
6.) Peter 'Jocko' Vario (1944-2024)
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| P. Vario Press |
The son of former Acting Captain Salvatore 'Babe' Vario, Peter was by the summer of 1982 an inducted member reporting to his more well-known uncle, Captain Paul Vario. (The Varios were from Trapani, Sicily.)
By 1991 he was assigned to Avellino and involved with the Local 66 construction and concrete workers union in Long Island. D'Arco: "[Jocko] picked up money from [a] lawyer that handles labor. It's a kickback for him getting the work to handle [the] legal work for the union. He gets paid quite well for that, I was told."
Later convicted on Federal charges and released from prison in November 2003.
Died March 2024.
Suspected Avellino crew members included:
By 1991 he was assigned to Avellino and involved with the Local 66 construction and concrete workers union in Long Island. D'Arco: "[Jocko] picked up money from [a] lawyer that handles labor. It's a kickback for him getting the work to handle [the] legal work for the union. He gets paid quite well for that, I was told."
Later convicted on Federal charges and released from prison in November 2003.
Died March 2024.
Suspected Avellino crew members included:
1.) Michael 'Big Mike' LaBarbara Jr. (1937-2004)
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| M. LaBarbara Press |
Born to parents with roots in Palermo and Catania, Sicily, LaBarbara grew up in the Brooklyn-Queens neighborhoods of East New York and Ozone Park before moving to Long Island.
By the summer of 1982 he was a made member in Paul Vario's crew.
Believed to have transferred out of that crew by 1988; CW Alfonso D'Arco does not name him among the Soldiers reporting to him when he succeeded Vario around June of that year.
LaBarbara was then Business Manager for Local 66.
Indicted that December on Federal racketeering charges and sentenced the following year to fourteen months.
Hit with additional racketeering charges in 1994 and given an additional nine years.
Died behind bars in October 2004.
A government membership list compiled in 2006 and posted on the forum groups LaBarbara's name with other confirmed Avellino crew members.
2.) Michael LaBarbara (1913-1997)
By the summer of 1982 he was a made member in Paul Vario's crew.
Believed to have transferred out of that crew by 1988; CW Alfonso D'Arco does not name him among the Soldiers reporting to him when he succeeded Vario around June of that year.
LaBarbara was then Business Manager for Local 66.
Indicted that December on Federal racketeering charges and sentenced the following year to fourteen months.
Hit with additional racketeering charges in 1994 and given an additional nine years.
Died behind bars in October 2004.
A government membership list compiled in 2006 and posted on the forum groups LaBarbara's name with other confirmed Avellino crew members.
2.) Michael LaBarbara (1913-1997)
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| M. LaBarbara |
Father of 'Big Mike' noted above, Michael Sr. was heavily involved in bootlegging, loansharking and other criminal activities by the 1940s.
CW Salvatore 'Sonny Black' Montello, a Colombo Associate who flipped in 1975, claimed that LaBarbara was 'not a button' at the time.
He may have been inducted after his release from New York State Prison in August 1976, as his name turns up on multiple government lists from the 1980s and early 1990s.
CW Salvatore 'Sonny Black' Montello, a Colombo Associate who flipped in 1975, claimed that LaBarbara was 'not a button' at the time.
He may have been inducted after his release from New York State Prison in August 1976, as his name turns up on multiple government lists from the 1980s and early 1990s.
Press coverage of his son's 1988 indictment stated: "[LaBarbara Sr.] is believed to control one of Long Island's largest concrete-supply firms."
Died October 1997.
In July 2003 the FBI's New York Office identified LaBarbara as a deceased Lucchese member, although the report also erroneously included at least one confirmed non-member in the same list. (Lucchese Associate Vincent 'Jimmy Brown' Luchese.)
3.) Frank Petrullo (1937-2007)
Born in the Bronx to a father from Stio comune of Salerno, Campania, Petrullo grew up in East Harlem and was a made member by the late 1980s.
Possibly a member of Samuel 'Sammy Bones' Castaldi's regime at the time.
CW Joseph 'Little Joe' DeFede, the Family's Acting Boss after D'Arco, identified Petrullo as Salvatore Avellino's Acting Captain while Avellino was incarcerated in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Died April 2007.
Died October 1997.
In July 2003 the FBI's New York Office identified LaBarbara as a deceased Lucchese member, although the report also erroneously included at least one confirmed non-member in the same list. (Lucchese Associate Vincent 'Jimmy Brown' Luchese.)
3.) Frank Petrullo (1937-2007)
Born in the Bronx to a father from Stio comune of Salerno, Campania, Petrullo grew up in East Harlem and was a made member by the late 1980s.
Possibly a member of Samuel 'Sammy Bones' Castaldi's regime at the time.
CW Joseph 'Little Joe' DeFede, the Family's Acting Boss after D'Arco, identified Petrullo as Salvatore Avellino's Acting Captain while Avellino was incarcerated in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Died April 2007.
More Lucchese Family posts can be found in the Index.
