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| Gang Land News |
Breakdown of known members reporting to Lucchese Captain 'Big Frank' Lastorino by early 1991.
Born April 1939 to a family with roots in Santa Lucia del Mela comune of Messina, Sicily, and Rossano comune of Cosenza, Calabria, Lastorino grew up on E 87th St in Canarsie, Brooklyn and later moved to Howard Beach in Queens.
By the early 1980s he was
known to associate with various local LCN figures, including members of the Gambino Family's
DeMeo crew, and frequented DeMeo associate Richard Mastrangelo's R-Twice Collision located on Ralph Ave in the Flatlands neighborhood.
Suspected co-conspirator in January 1983 murder of the crew's leader, Gambino Soldier Roy DeMeo.
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| R. Amuso |
By Spring 1987 formally inducted member of Lucchese Family and believed reporting to Captain
Robert 'Bobby' Amuso.
On June 19, 1987 FBI CI reported that the Family's Brooklyn faction 'continues to gain strength'. The informant identified Lastorino as a made member and Robert Amuso as a Captain, noting: "[Amuso]
is a capo and in all probability is heavily involved in narcotics trafficking, specifically heroin." (This identification of Lastorino led to the FBI officially recognizing him as an LCN member.)
The Amuso crew was previously headed by Bobby's younger brother Vittorio 'Vic' Amuso, who was appointed Family Boss the previous Fall, and subsequently by Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso, by that time named the Family's (Acting?) Consigliere.
Lastorino was involved, often as an active participant, in several murders carried out on behalf of Amuso and Casso during the mid-to-late 1980s and into the early 1990s:
- James 'Jimmy' Hydell (Gambino Associate; 27y) (October 18, 1986) - Helped dispose of the body per CW Casso.
- James Bishop (Lucchese Associate; 60y) (May 17, 1990) - On scene as blocker.
- Bruno Facciolo (Lucchese Soldier; 53y) (August 24, 1990) - Personally stabbed Facciolo multiple times in the back before another participant finished victim off with gunshots to the head.
- Laurence 'Larry' Taylor (Lucchese Associate; 31y) (February 5, 1991) - Co-conspirator; suggested his 'cousin', Associate Thomas 'Tommy Red' Anzeulotto, be used as a shooter.
- Alfred 'Flounderhead' Visconti (Lucchese Associate; 51y) (March 26, 1991) - Co-conspirator.
- Bartholomew 'Bobby' Borriello (Gambino Acting Captain; 46y) (April 13, 1991) - Identified as shooter.
- Anthony Fava (Lucchese Associate / Architect; 37y) (April 13, 1991) - Suspected by CW D'Arco of having personally participated, as Fava was stabbed and, as D'Arco later agreed in court, 'Lastorino's way of killing was stabbing'.
- Patrick Testa (Lucchese Soldier; 35y) (December 2, 1992) - Identified by CW Casso as the shooter.
By 1988 made members of Robert Amuso's crew believed included Frank Bellino, Peter Chiodo, Angelo Defendis, Nicola 'Nicky Edkins' DiCostanzo, Frank Lastorino, John Petrucelli and George 'Georgie Neck' Zappola.
By early 1989 Robert Amuso stepped back due to health and George Zappola was named the crew's Acting Captain. CW Alfonso D'Arco later testified: "[Bobby]
had cancer and it was pretty serious...Vic removed him. He didn't remove him, he just gave him that nobody should bother him and Bobby was told to like take it easy. They appointed an Acting Captain in his place [meaning]
George Zappola."
In March of that year Lastorino was promoted to Captain over a new crew believed to have consisted primarily of men who formerly reported to Amuso. Promotion announced at Family meeting held in Brooklyn residence of unspecified Lastorino relative.
Attendees included Boss Vittorio Amuso, Consigliere Anthony Casso, Captain Peter Chiodo, Captain Alfonso D'Arco and Soldier Michael Perna, a member of the New Jersey crew formerly headed by outlaw Anthony 'Tumac' Accetturo.
Several Accetturo crew members had refused to attend a meeting called by Amuso and Casso the previous December.
The situation was temporarily smoothed over at a subsequent meeting, where the Jersey crew was assigned to Alfonso D'Arco and Michael Perna was elected the crew's spokesman by the other members.
Perna was brought to the March 1989 meeting by Lastorino.
D'Arco, who became a Cooperating Witness in September 1991, later testified:
"
[Lastorino], some relative of his, he said, he got a safe house, and we assembled in the house. It was myself, Anthony Casso, Vic Amuso, Frank Lastorino and Petey Chiodo, and Michael Perna was brought in.
Again, [Mike Perna] didn't know where he was going, and he had made a complaint before that, that he didn't like the basement, but he came to the house anyway, and he was pretty shaken up that he was being brought into the house. He didn't know where he was at and whatnot, but he did show up.
...[Amuso and Casso] made Frank Lastorino a Captain. He wasn't a Captain up until that time and they made him a Captain, and then there was a conversation regarding [Jersey crew].
"
D'Arco also testified: "[Lastorino crew was in]
Canarsie. It's another group there...[Peter]
Chiodo was also a Captain, and he was down on a little different section of Brooklyn, like the McDonald Avenue section." At a later date D'Arco also referred to Lastorino's regime as the 'Utica Avenue' crew. (It appears that by 1989 the original 19th Hole crew under
Chris 'Christy Tick' Furnari had been split three ways among Amuso, Lastorino and Chiodo.)
Lastorino and his crew would participate in the murder plots ordered against several Jersey crew members after they again fled a follow-up meeting called to introduce them to their new Captain, Peter Chiodo. (The murder contracts were still active at the time of D'Arco's defection in 1991.)
During his time as Captain, Lastorino took an active role in other murders ordered by the leadership (see above), and was also a co-conspirator in many additional murder plots that never came to fruition.
He was also responsible, along with fellow Captain Robert Amuso, for overseeing the Family's shylock bank.
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| J. DeFede |
In October 1989
Joseph 'Little Joe' DeFede, an Associate direct with Vic Amuso, visited by Robert Amuso at The Liberty Lounge in Ozone Park. DeFede later testified: "[Vic]
put me on what we call on his list, I was proposed, and I didn't know exactly when [until Bobby]
called me to come down...[Bobby]
told me to get dressed. This was on Saturday, to get dressed, on Monday somebody will pick you up, which they did, they dropped me off at a Canarsie restaurant, met a few other people there, in turn we went into Brooklyn."
DeFede was driven by Lucchese Associate James 'Jimmy' McCann to The Pier restaurant in Canarsie. From there he and others were taken to a residence on Farragut Rd where the ceremony occurred. (The house was owned by Lucchese Soldier Peter 'Rugsy' Vario's son-in-law, named by CW D'Arco as [FNU] Albanese. This may be Lucchese Associate Anthony 'Tony Shape' Albanese.)
Ceremony presided over by Boss Vic Amuso and Consigliere Anthony Casso.
Others present included Captains Robert Amuso,
Salvatore Avellino, Anthony Baratta, Peter Chiodo, Alfonso D'Arco and Soldier John Conti.
Others inducted in addition to DeFede (55y) were Michael DeSantis (34y), Frank 'Frankie Pearl' Federico (61y), Richard Pagliarulo (40y) and Frank 'Frankie Bones' Papagni (32y).
D'Arco's
debriefing on the ceremony states that DeFede and Papagni were assigned to the Amuso crew after induction.
During his court appearances DeFede made no mention of being in Amuso's crew and instead testified that he was placed with Frank Lastorino.
By mid-1990 several of Peter Chiodo's men were given to Lastorino after Chiodo fell into disfavor with the leadership.
By 1991 made members of Lastorino's crew included:
1.) George 'Goggles / Little Georgie' Conte
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G. Conte
Gang Land News |
Born 1960 in Manhattan, Conte was an Associate of the Genovese Family on-record with Possible Captain Dominick 'Swaggy' Carlucci by the early 1980s.
Around late 1986 several of Carlucci's associates, including Conte, were transferred to the Lucchese Family. Lucchese Soldier turned CW
Frank Gioia Jr. later testified: "[The]
Genovese Crime Family had their books closed for so many years. When I say their books closed, their books have to be open for them to take in new members, [the]
Genovese Family were not making any new guys for about 15 years, Luccheses were, we had a brand new Boss [meaning Amuso]
, Underboss, and Swaggy transferred those guys over so they could become made members."
Inducted with five others around August-September 1988.
Alfonso D'Arco's debriefing report states that Conte and three other inductees were all assigned to the Robert Amuso crew.
By mid-to-late 1990 Conte was reporting to Lastorino. D'Arco: "[At that time Conte]
was a member of the Family and he was with Lastorino but he did a lot of things for [Underboss]
Anthony Casso."
As part of Lastorino's crew Conte participated in the May 1990 murder of Lucchese Associate James Bishop and the attempt on Captain Peter Chiodo's life the following year. (Chiodo, shot a dozen times, survived and began cooperating with the government.)
Appointed Acting Captain for George Zappola following the October 2, 1991 induction ceremony.
(The exact succession from Lastorino to the Zappola and Pagliarulo crews isn't clear; Conte and a few others, possibly including Zappola as well, are believed to have been taken out of Lastorino's regime and made part of a newly formed crew.)
Zappola and Conte were both later demoted and shelved for their suspected involvement in a plot against the Amusos; Conte was then convicted of Federal racketeering charges and released from prison in March 2014.
2.)
Joseph 'Joe D. / Little Joe' DeFede |
J. DeFede
Gang Land News |
Born February 1934 in Brooklyn, DeFede started out as an Associate with the Colombo Family before being released to the Luccheses around the summer of 1988.
Initially reported direct to Boss Vic Amuso, who sponsored him for membership in October 1989.
Following induction assigned to the Lastorino crew.
After the defections and first wave of indictments, the now-imprisoned Amuso promoted DeFede to Captain in October 1993, then named him Acting Boss the following April.
He served in that position over the next five years until his demotion in September 1999 while serving time for extortion.
Two years later, nearing release and fearing for his life, DeFede voluntarily reached out and began cooperating with the government.
Died November 2012.
Full bio
here.
3.) Angelo Defendis (1932-2014)
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| Gang Land News |
Born September 1932 in Brooklyn to a father from Bisceglie comune of Bari, Puglia, Defendis was inducted into the Lucchese Family around 1978 through the sponsorship of Captain
Chris Furnari, the 19th Hole's crew leader prior to Vic Amuso.
Identified as a member of Lastorino's crew around the time of Joseph DeFede's induction in October 1989.
Over the next couple of years Defendis operated a bar-restaurant and participated in at least two assaults on behalf of the Family.
In February 1995 he pleaded guilty, along with Acting Captain Nicola DiCostanzo, to Federal extortion charges.
He was released in early 2008 and died in the summer of 2014.
4.) Michael DeSantis
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M. DeSantis
Gang Land News |
Born 1954 in Brooklyn, DeSantis was sponsored for membership in October 1989 by Captain Peter Chiodo.
He had by then participated in multiple murders, assaults and attempted murders with Chiodo.
After falling into disfavor with the Family leadership, Chiodo lost several of his men including DeSantis, whom CW D'Arco named as a Lastorino crew member by September 1990.
D'Arco named on-record Associates of DeSantis as including Gabe Lombardo.
Around that time DeSantis and others acted as armed guards at a meeting between D'Arco and Gambino Underboss Salvatore 'Sammy Bull' Gravano. D'Arco, who noted that DeSantis was armed with an Uzi, later testified: "[I] believed at that time that Sammy Gravano was going to make a move on me and we were to protect ourself, and if it meant killing Sammy Gravano, so be it." (D'Arco flipped in 1991; two months later Gravano followed suit, becoming the first made member of the Gambino Family to cooperate.)
As a member of Lastorino's crew DeSantis operated the Concept body shop located on McDonald Ave in Brooklyn.
Visited at the shop by Alfonso D'Arco around June of 1991, DeSantis confided in the now-Acting Boss that, in the wake of Peter Chiodo's defection, plans were underway to move the body of Former Associate John 'Sonny' Morrissey, murdered by members of Chiodo's crew in September 1989.
The 'weird' behavior of DeSantis, his crew leader Frank Lastorino and others at a ruling panel meeting that September convinced D'Arco that he was to be murdered. D'Arco fled the meeting and within days became the second made member of the Lucchese Family to defect.
Indicted on Federal racketeering charges in October 1992, DeSantis pleaded guilty and was released from Federal prison in June 2010.
Gang Land News named him as the Family's Acting Boss by the middle of that decade.
5.) Nicola 'Nicky Edkins' DiCostanzo (1936-2007)
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| N. DiCostanzo |
Born July 1936 in South Brooklyn to parents from Barano d'Ischia comune of Naples, Campania, DiCostanzo was inducted into the Lucchese Family in the late 1970s and reported to
Chris Furnari.
Identified as a member of Lastorino's crew around the time of Joseph DeFede's induction in October 1989.
At the time DiCostanzo was residing in Dongan Hills, Staten Island and operated Edkins Auto Scrap located a few miles north in Port Richmond.
Named the crew's Acting Captain after Richard Pagliarulo's indictment in October 1992.
As Acting Captain DiCostanzo authorized the murder of 'Louie the Albanian' LNU after Louie pulled a pistol on
Joseph DeFede during an argument. DeFede and two Unsubs were assigned by DiCostanzo to search Astoria, Queens but the victim was unable to be located.
In February 1995 pleaded guilty, along with crew member Angelo Defendis, to Federal extortion charges.
Sentenced that December to twenty-seven months, he was released in March 1998 and resumed involvement in Family activity.
Died August 21, 2007.
6.) 'Fat Frankie' Giacobbe (1957-2021)
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| F. Giacobbe (Dec. 1992) |
Born September 1957 in Brooklyn, Giacobbe was an Associate of the 19th Hole crew by the late 1980s.
He was inducted under Anthony Casso's sponsorship in March 1991 and, according to the D'Arco debriefing report, assigned to Lastorino.
D'Arco: "George Zappola claimed Frank Jacoby had done a lot of work, meaning a lot of murders for Mr. Amuso and Mr. Casso, and that he was to be used in the [May 1991] shooting of Chiodo."
During this time involved in extortion and the vending machine business in both Staten Island and Manhattan.
In 1994 convicted of robbery and grand larceny and spent the next six years in New York State prison.
Also served a Federal prison sentence, being released in December 2008.
Died May 6, 2021.
7.) Butch LNU
No information on this individual except that he was named by DeFede as a Lastorino crew member, along with his father (below).
8.) Degar (ph) LNU
Father of Lastorino crew member Butch LNU; described by DeFede as '80-some odd years old'.
9.) Richard Pagliarulo (1949-1999)
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R. Pagliarulo
Gang Land News |
Born November 1948 in Brooklyn to a father whose family originated in Giffoni Valle Piana comune of Salerno, Campania, Pagliarulo was another Genovese Associate released to the Lucchese Family around late 1986.
Like Michael DeSantis, Pagliarulo was sponsored for membership by Captain Peter Chiodo in October 1989.
Also like DeSantis, Pagliarulo had by then been involved in several acts of violence, including at least three murders, as part of Chiodo's crew.
After falling into disfavor with the Family leadership, Chiodo lost several of his men including Pagliarulo, whom CW D'Arco named as a Lastorino crew member by September 1990.
As a member of the crew Pagliarulo gave out shylock loans and operated the Cafe Sicilia in Bensonhurst.
On-record Associate Corrado 'Dino' Marino owned the La Gondola coffee shop in the same neighborhood.
Participant with George Conte and others in the May 1991 shooting of former crew leader Peter Chiodo.
Identified as Lastorino's Acting Captain by July 1991.
Late that month the residence belonging to Pagliarulo's girlfriend was used for the Lucchese Family meeting where fugitive Boss Vic Amuso abolished the acting admin positions and reinstated a ruling panel. (A previous version of the panel had been tried for a time around 1989-1990.)
After Alfonso D'Arco was removed as Acting Boss and placed on the ruling panel, his control of murdered Lucchese Captain Michael Salerno's considerable loanshark book was given to fellow panel member Lastorino, who tasked Pagliarulo with handling the operation.
Within a couple of months Pagliarulo also replaced Former Captain Dominic Truscello as head of the Family's construction panel.
Both Lastorino and Pagliarulo are believed to have participated in the September 15, 1991 murder of architect Anthony Fava.
Promoted to official Captain at the October 2, 1991 induction ceremony.
One year later hit with Federal racketeering charges and opted for trial as the indictment's lone holdout.
Witnesses included former Associate Corrado Marino, who testified that his cooperation came about because he feared that Pagliarulo and others were planning to kill him.
Convicted and sentenced to life, Pagliarulo died behind bars in January 1999.
Buried in Green-Wood Cemetery located in Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn.
10.) Anthony 'Blue Eyes' Santorelli
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| A. Santorelli |
Born 1946 in Manhattan to a father whose family came to the US from Cava de' Tirreni in Salerno, Campania, Santorelli was a made member by the mid-to-late 1980s.
Likely reporting to Captain Samuel 'Sammy Bones' Castaldi during that time.
By the early 1990s transferred to the Lastorino crew in Brooklyn. CW
Joseph DeFede later testified: "
They had problems. [Santorelli]
had problems in the Bronx. So Vic Amuso felt it was better that he will move them over to Brooklyn. This is done a long time [prior to 1995]
."
DeFede made Santorelli an Acting Captain in the mid-1990s. (Not clear if over the old Lastorino crew or one of the Bronx-Westchester groups.)
11.) Patrick 'Patty' Testa (1957-1992)
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| P. Testa |
Born March 1957 in Brooklyn, Testa and his brother Joseph were former Associates in the Gambino Family's
DeMeo crew.
Following DeMeo's murder in 1983, the brothers were released and put on-record with the Lucchese Family's 19th Hole crew.
Patrick was extremely close to Vic Amuso and, when Amuso became a fugitive in May 1990, served as the Boss's primary messenger and intermediary with other Family members.
He was inducted under Amuso's sponsorship in March 1991 and assigned to Lastorino.
As a member of Lastorino's crew, Testa continued operation of the successful Patty Testa Motor Car Service located on E 89th St in Canarsie.
On more than one occasion Testa used the business to provide or dispose of hit cars.
In early December 1992 a gunman entered the car service's garage and opened fire, killing Testa with nine shots to the head and body.
Former Underboss Anthony Casso, who began providing information in early 1994, confessed to ordering the murder and named Frank Lastorino himself as the shooter.
Murder carried out without imprisoned Boss Vic Amuso's authorization. CW
Frank Gioia Jr. later testified: "[There]
was a lot of sneaks that were done in the Family, like Patty Testa. You know, people were getting killed without permission. Things were going on, you know...Guys were getting killed in the Family with no permission from anybody. We didn't know where it was coming from. Patty Testa was one of them [and]
we were surprised to see Patty get clipped. Like, for what? Nobody knew what was happening." (Casso and Lastorino were both shelved after they were recorded plotting against Amuso's leadership.)
Possible Lastorino crew members included:
1.) Frank 'Frankie Bones' Papagni
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F. Papagni
Gang Land News |
Born 1957 in Brooklyn to father believed from Bisceglie in Bari, Puglia (same town as 19th Hole crew member Angelo Defendis), Papagni was another of Possible Genovese Captain Dominick Carlucci's men released to the Lucchese Family around late 1986.
Inducted in October 1989 and, according to D'Arco's debriefing report, assigned to Robert Amuso.
Papagni may have been among the Amuso crew members transferred to Lastorino by the early 1990s.
As of October 1991 he was assigned to Captain George Zappola; at least one other Zappola crew member, George Conte, was formerly under Amuso and then Lastorino.
Convicted as a result of the widespread Lucchese indictments of the early-to-mid 1990s, Papagni was released from Federal prison in November 2015.
2-3.) Anthony Senter and Joseph Testa (1955-2026)
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| L to R: J. Testa, A. Senter, F. Lastorino |
Formerly two of the
DeMeo crew's core members, Senter and Testa were released to the Lucchese Family sometime after DeMeo's murder.
Both were inducted around August-September 1988 and reported to Robert Amuso.
They may have been among the ailing Amuso's crew members who were re-assigned to Frank Lastorino following the latter's promotion in March 1989.
Both were sentenced to life imprisonment a few months after Lastorino was made a Captain.
4.) Joseph 'Jo Jo' Truncale
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| 1990s |
Born January 1931, Truncale was another of the Genovese Associates released to the Luccheses around late 1986.
Made under Vic Amuso's sponsorship in the August-September 1988 ceremony and reported to Vic's brother Robert.
He may have been another of those taken from the Amuso crew and placed with Lastorino. By 2001 he was named as a Soldier under Anthony Santorelli, who previously reported to Lastorino and was made an Acting Captain, possibly of that same crew, in the mid-1990s.
July 1991 - 2000s
In July 1991 Boss Vic Amuso removed Captains Alfonso D'Arco, Anthony 'Bowat' Baratta and Steven Crea from their Acting Admin positions and instated a ruling panel in their place. Panel members were D'Arco, Baratta, Captain
Salvatore Avellino and Captain Frank Lastorino.
By this time Peter Chiodo, recovering from his gunshot wounds, had become a Cooperating Witness.
Alfonso D'Arco, suspecting a plot against his life, went to the government that September.
The following month Lastorino was present for the ceremony where five new members formally inducted, including Gregory 'Whitey' Cappello (1958-1997) and
Frank Gioia Jr.
At this point it appears that some or all of Lastorino's crew was split up.
Gioia Jr., who became a cooperating witness in 1994, later testified that following the inductions George Conte was named Acting Captain for fugitive George Zappola; Conte, at least, was a former Lastorino crew member.
Gioia also stated that Richard Pagliarulo, who had been taken from Chiodo and assigned to Lastorino by late 1990, was announced as an official Captain.
Lastorino crew member
Joseph DeFede, who served as Acting Boss during the mid-to-late 1990s before becoming a cooperator himself, later made statements in court implying that Pagliarulo took over Lastorino's crew.
DeFede: "[Around October 1991]
I went up to one of [Pagliarulo's]
restaurants to have lunch and he was there, few people there, he got me off to the side, he introduced me to another inductee, Whitey Cappello. He said, Joe, amica nostra [means]
Our friends. He introduced me [then Cappello]
says Richie Pagliarulo is my captain. Richie told me, I am your captain too, which I didn't know."
During follow-up questioning, DeFede was specifically asked about the subject and gave the following clarification:
"
Q: You were transferred to another crew in 1991 or '92, is that right?
A: No, sir. I stayed in that crew up until '93.
Q: But didn't there come a time in '91 or '92 when you told the authorities you were transferred into a crew headed by a man by the name of Pagarulli?
A: No, sir. He was still the same crew. He just took over as Capo.
Q: You said same crew, but there was a new Captain?
A: Yes.
Q: And there came somebody by the name of DeConstanzo who became the Captain?
A: Acting Captain.
Q: In the same crew?
A: Same crew.
"
(It's possible Lastorino was promoted to Acting Consigliere and his crew given to Pagliarulo, although Gioia specifically identifies him as being part of the ruling panel at the time of the October 1991 ceremony; there are other examples of panel members mistakenly being labeled as administration members.)
Lastorino served as Best Man when Pagliarulo married in April 1992.
Like many others, he was caught up in the indictments issued in the wake of Chiodo and D'Arco's defections.
He pleaded guilty to multiple racketeering counts and on September 16, 1994 was sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment, twenty-one years supervised release and ordered to pay a special assessment of $550.
Prior to entering his guilty plea, Lastorino was set to stand trial with Richard Pagliarulo, who, as noted above, was convicted and died while serving his life sentence.
A few months before pleading guilty, Lastorino and Former Underboss Anthony Casso were shelved on the orders of imprisoned Boss Vic Amuso after it was discovered that the pair were plotting against Vic's brother Robert and Associate Oscar Ansourian.
 |
| 2000s |
According to Lucchese Member turned CW John Pennisi, Lastorino remained shelved after his release from prison in 2008 until at least the mid-to-late 2010s.
He died 2022 and was waked from the Gambino-affiliated Scarpaci Funeral Home in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
More Lucchese Family posts can be found in the
Index.
Edit: Added info from June 1987 CI report.
