Bonanno family

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The Bonanno Family ( Bonanno Crime Family ) is an Italian-American Mafia family of the American Cosa Nostra and one of the so-called Five Families of New York City , which largely dominate organized crime there .

Family history

prehistory

In the 1890s Giuseppe "Peppe" Bonanno, Jr. came to New York City and founded the clan, which initially consisted mainly of immigrants from Castellammare del Golfo . In Sicily at the time the Bonannos and Magaddinos were at war with the Buccellato family. Giuseppe was a classic Mustache Pete , his nickname was "Don Peppe". Giuseppe died in 1901 and his younger brother Salvatore "Turiddu" Bonanno is considered head of the clan from 1908 onwards. He came to the USA with his wife Caterina Bonventre and his son Joseph Charles Bonanno, Sr. , who later actually gave the Bonanno family its name. However, he returned to Italy in 1911, where he died in 1915.

Since then, Nicola Schiro has been considered the leader of the clan, but according to other sources, this is said to have only been the case from 1925. He disappeared in 1930 and was replaced by Salvatore Maranzano , who had just arrived from Castellammare del Golfo .

Five families

The argument between Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano between 1930 and 1931 manifested the formation of the five families of the American Cosa Nostra in New York City. This conflict at first between the Sicilian mafioso from Castellammare del Golfo and the other members of the Cosa Nostra of New York became known as the War of Castellammare . First, the Sicilians prevailed, most of whom came from Castellammare del Golfo. In the course of the argument, however, this dividing line blurred, as the alliance between the people involved shifted in the course of the bloody conflict. In particular, Charles "Lucky" Luciano , dramatically influenced the debate.

The argument that had started in 1930 with the murder of Peter Morello ended with the murder of Joe Masseria in 1931. Maranzano wanted to divide the New York Mafia into five families , which corresponded to the existing power structure in the city. Since Maranzano wanted to put himself at the head of these families as “ Capo di tutti i capi ” (Italian: Boss of all bosses), this project provoked further conflicts. His aspired position as dominant leader was not well received by the other high-ranking Mafia members, although his arrogant treatment of subordinates and a penchant for comparing his organization to the Roman Empire fueled further concerns.

Maranzano realized this soon enough, which is why he planned the murder of Luciano, Vito Genovese , Frank Costello and other potential adversaries, but the other side was quicker. By the time Maranzano wanted to hire the killer Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll to have Luciano and Genovese murdered, Luciano had already found out Maranzano's murder plans with the help of Meyer Lansky . On September 10, 1931, "Red" Levine, Bo Weinberg , a criminal close to Dutch Schultz , and two other killers provided by Lansky broke into Maranzano's office, disarmed the guards and shot him.

After his death, the leaders of the Five Families reorganized the collaboration in New York and banned the position of Capo di tutti i capi . These families usually bore the names of their respective heads and were later classified as Bonanno, Colombo , Gambino , Genovese and Lucchese . With the help of Buffalo Stefano Magaddino's mafia boss, his cousin, then twenty-six year old Joseph Bonanno , was elected head of the remaining followers of Maranzano and the Bonanno family was created.

Luciano set up a downright federal system with the National Crime Syndicate and its commission ; The Chicago outfit and even non-Italians were involved in this structure . The most influential of them was the " Kosher Nostra " Meyer Lansky .

The family under Joseph Bonanno (1931–1965)

At the time, at the age of 26, Bonanno was the youngest boss of the Five Families. He firmly believed that consanguinity and a strict Sicilian upbringing were the only way to uphold the traditional values ​​of the Cosa Nostra. The Bonanno family was the most traditional Mafia family in New York and used the Sicilian dialect of the Italian language internally. As a result of these restrictions, the Bonanno family remained the smallest of the five families in New York. The position of the Bonanno family benefited from the friendly relations that Joseph Bonanno had with Joseph Profaci , the leader of the influential group, later known as the Colombo family . The close relationship between the two families was strengthened in 1956 when Bonanno's son Salvatore married a niece Profacis.

The main fields of activity of the Bonanno family under Joseph “Joe” Bonanno were gambling, credit usury and, above all, drug trafficking. Joseph Bonanno himself, together with Meyer Lansky, increasingly invested in Cuba under Fulgencio Batista . Cuba became one of the major drug hubs in the United States. When the victory of the revolutionaries of the Cuban Revolution began to emerge, the family reoriented itself. The good contacts to Sicily were used. In October 1957 Joseph Bonanno stayed in Palermo for several days and met with representatives of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra to organize the import of drugs. He suggested the formation of a commission based on the American model for the Sicilian Mafia .

The Bonanno family became the largest distributors of illicit drugs in New York during this period. In 1963, Bonanno and Joseph Magliocco , the head of the Colombo family at the time, allied against Tommy Lucchese , Carlo Gambino and Stefano Maggadino and planned the murder of their opponents. However, their intentions were betrayed by Joseph Colombo , and both Magliocco and Bonanno were deposed as leaders of their respective families by the Mafia's convened commission, which included representatives from all of the country's major Mafia families. This led to a bloody conflict within the Bonanno family, which is sometimes referred to as the "banana war" with allusion to the name of the family. The followers of Bonanno faced the followers Gaspar DiGregorios , the successor of Bonanno appointed by the commission. DiGregorio was unable to prevail against Bonanno and was soon replaced by Paul Sciacca . It was only when Bonanno suffered a heart attack in 1968 and retired to Arizona , where he lived until his death in 2002, that the situation within the Bonanno family calmed down again and Sciacca was recognized as the new leader over time. When Sciacca was arrested in 1968, he lost his job to Natale Evola , who died in 1973. Evola's successor was Philip Rastelli . The clashes within the Bonannos eventually led to the Mafia family losing their traditional seat on the Mafia Commission.

The family and Carmine Galante (1975–1979)

Rastelli's position of power was challenged in 1975 when Carmine Galante , a pupil of Joseph Bonanno, was released after serving twelve years of a twenty-year prison sentence for large drug deals. Before his imprisonment under Joseph Bonanno, Galante had worked his way up from his chauffeur to underboss and after his return he activated his contacts to the Sicilian Mafia and their drug channels and built up the so-called " French Connection " to smuggle in French heroin via Montreal . His very extensive business caused nervousness at Rastelli and also within the Commission. The distrust was reinforced by the aggressive demeanor of Galante and the increased recruitment of Sicilian mafiosi, whom he also used as bodyguards. His goal was to gain control over all activities of the Mafia families. To achieve this goal, Galante had several members of rival Mafia groups murdered. Because of this, he finally drew the displeasure of the leaders of the other families. Therefore the commission gave the order to get Galante out of the way. He was shot dead on July 12, 1979 while he was smoking a cigar in a restaurant. Many of the people involved in the attempt to carry out the attack subsequently held high-ranking positions within the Bonanno family. It can be assumed that the action was also approved by Rastelli, as he remained the head of the Bonanno family after Galante's assassination.

The Bonannos after the end of Galante

After Galante's death, Rastelli initially held the undisputed position of boss of the Bonanno family again. The family concentrated on pizzerias (where illegal immigrants were housed), restaurants, espresso bars, pornography shops, and most importantly, drugs. However, three of the Rastellis' capos (Philip "Philly Lucky" Giaccone, Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato and Dominick "Big Trin" Trinchera) soon turned against him because they wanted a bigger stake in the drug business. Rastelli, who was in custody at the time and was directing the fortunes of the Bonanno family from his cell, wanted to turn away from the drug business. Rastelli's request to the Commission for permission to eliminate his opponents was initially rejected. Since the three renegade capos were soon seen as a problem by other families, the order to remove them was given to Joseph Massino . This engaged three members from the branch of the Bonannos in Montreal and arranged a meeting with Giaccone, Indelicato and Trinchera in Bensonhurst in the borough of Brooklyn . At the meeting on May 5, 1981, the three capos were shot dead by three men masked with ski masks; but this could not resolve the conflicts within the family.

The family's internal problems were exacerbated when the FBI had succeeded in smuggling an undercover agent into the Bonanno family , the alleged jewel thief Donnie Brasco (alias Joseph D. Pistone ) . Donnie Brasco investigated the family for six years. He belonged to the part of the organization led by Capo Dominic "Sonny Black" Napolitano . Napolitano held a particularly high position within the hierarchy of the Bonanno family due to his significant involvement in both the Galante assassination and the elimination of Giaccone, Indelicato and Trinchera. Brasco was promoted and introduced into the Bonanno family by the influential Napolitano, who did not know that Brasco was a police officer. The knowledge gained by Brasco led to the arrest of over 100 bullies in all parts of the United States. Brasco also testified against Rastelli, who received a twelve-year prison sentence during which he died of cancer in 1991. Napolitano, on the other hand, was murdered on August 17, 1981, as he was held responsible for Brasco's success as an undercover agent.

The Bonannos after Rastelli's death

After Rastelli's death, who had also headed the organization from prison, Massino took over the position of leader. Under Massino's direction, the illegal business of the Bonanno family was carried out more covertly, so as not to unnecessarily arouse the attention of the investigative authorities, as in the past. Overall, the illegal business was now increasingly focused on the particularly lucrative drug trade. Other activities included crimes that were less likely to be detected, such as extortion, money laundering and usury of credit. In this way Massino succeeded in restoring the Bonanno family's reputation within the Five Families , which had been damaged by the Brasco affair . Massino's close friendship with John Gotti , the leader of the Gambino family , also proved helpful . It was thanks, among other things, to Gotti's influence that the Bonanno family finally got back their seat on the commission, which they had lost in the meantime.

Massino's strategy of offering the investigative authorities as little attack surface as possible initially proved to be successful. While the leaders of many other families of the American Cosa Nostra came into the crosshairs of the police, the investigative pressure on Massino was rather low. In the end, however, Napolitano's murder was his undoing. Based on the statements of two high-ranking Pentiti from the ranks of the Bonanno family, Massino and his underboss Salvatore Vitale were charged with the murder of Napolitano in 2003. Vitale, who was responsible for several other murders, decided to testify against Massino. In order to avoid the death penalty, Massino now also cooperated with the investigative authorities and provided detailed information on the activities of the Bonanno family. Although he avoided the death penalty, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

It is believed that in the course of his testimony, Massino advised the FBI to carefully examine the place where Alphonse Indelicato's corpse was found in 1981. In the course of an excavation carried out by the FBI in October 2004 at the location called "The Hole" in the New York borough of Queens , the remains of Dominick Trinchera and Phillip Giaccone were discovered there.

Developments in recent years

After Massino's arrest, Anthony Urso initially represented him. However, his term in office was very short as he was also convicted and imprisoned. Vincent Basciano then took the place of Urso as Massino's representative . When Massino became an informant, he also provided the authorities with information about Basciano, so that at the end of 2004 he was also arrested and charged with various crimes. Massino then secretly recorded conversations that he had with Basciano in prison in late 2004 and early 2005 on tape, thus collecting further incriminating material against Basciano. The authorities assume that Basciano, after Massino's cooperation with the police became apparent, replaced him as the leader of the Bonanno family and continues to lead them out of the prison cell to this day.

The authorities continued to attack the Bonanno family in the period that followed. On February 16, 2006, Michael Mancuso , who apparently acted as Basciano's representative, was arrested and charged with murder.

On the morning of July 9, 2013, nine members of the Bonanno family, including Ernest Aiello, Dominiock Siano, and Scott O'Neill, were arrested and brought to the Manhattan Supreme Court. They are accused of grossing US $ 10 million through extortion, usury, gambling and the illegal sale of Viagra . The police also seized numerous firearms. It is believed that high-ranking members of the Bonanno clan hold leadership positions in the local union 917 International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union. Underboss Nicholas “Nicky Cigars” Santora is currently serving his sentence. These incidents were seen as an indication that Cosa Nostra is still active in New York.

Historical tour

Head of the family

The head of a family can not always be identified so clearly; especially if another family member comes to the fore due to a prison sentence. The external view does not always make it easy to recognize a new head as such or to determine his exact term of office. In addition, a presidential system seems to be establishing itself to a certain extent; ie the head shifts his power more to a so-called “acting boss” and / or “street boss”, who in turn continue to recognize the head as such, even if he is, for example, in custody.

Period Surname Nickname Lifetime Cause of death annotation
1890s – 1901 Giuseppe Bonanno, Jr. Pep ???? - 1901 Murdered in 1901 Perpetrator: Buccellato Clan
1908-1911 Salvatore Bonanno Turiddu 1878-1915 natural death Resigned in 1911
1912-1930 Nicola Schiro cola 1872-1957 Fled to Italy in 1930
1930-1931 Salvatore Maranzano Caesar 1886-1931 shot on September 10, 1931 Organizer: Lucky Luciano
1931-1965 Joseph Charles Bonanno, Sr. Joe Bananas 1905-2002 natural death Resigned in 1965
1965-1966 Gaspar DiGregorio Gasparino 1905-1970 Lung cancer deposed by the Commission
1966-1971 Paul Sciacca 1909-1986 natural death Indicted in 1971
1971-1973 Natale Evola Joe Diamonds 1907-1973 cancer
1973-1991 Philip Rastelli Rusty 1918-1991 Liver cancer Detained 1975–1984 and 1987–1991
1991-2004 Joseph Charles Massino Joe, Big Joey 1943 – today Detained in 2003; became an informant in 2004
2005-2013 Vincent John Basciano Vinny Gorgeous 1959 – today detained since 2011
2013 – today Michael Mancuso Mickey Nose 1955 – today detained since 2006

Acting boss

  • 1973–1974: Philip "Rusty" Rastelli; * 1918-1991; became boss in 1974
  • 1974–1979: Carmine "Lilo the Cigar" Galante; * 1910-1979; shot on July 12, 1979 / client: Philip Rastelli
  • 1979–1983: Salvatore "Sally Fruits" Farrugia  ; * 1915-1992
  • 1987–1993: Anthony "Old Man" Spero  ; * 1929-2008; Charged in 1994 and imprisoned 1995–1997
  • 2003-2004: Anthony "Tony Green" Urso  ; * 1936 – today; imprisoned from 2004
  • 2004–2004: Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" John Basciano; * 1959 – today; became boss in 2005
  • 2004–2006: Michael "Mickey Nose" Mancuso; * 1955 – today; Imprisoned since 2006 / became boss in 2013
  • 2006–2009: Salvatore "Sal the Iron Worker" Montagna  ; * 1971-2011; Expelled in 2009 / murdered in 2011
  • 2010–2012: Vincent "Vinny TV" Badalamenti  ; * 1958 – today; Imprisoned 2012–2013
  • 2013 – today: Thomas "Tommy D" DiFiore; * 1943 – today; at the same time underboss

Street Boss

Underboss of the family

The underboss is number two in the criminal family; he is the associate director of the syndicate. He gathers information for the boss, gives orders and instructions to the subordinates. In the absence of the boss, he leads the criminal group.

Period Surname Nickname Lifetime Cause of death annotation
1915-1921 Stefano Magaddino The Undertaker 1881-1974 natural death went to Buffalo in 1921
1921-1930 Vito Bonventre 1875-1930 shot on July 15, 1930
1930-1931 Joseph Charles Bonanno, Sr. Joe Bananas 1905-2002 natural death became boss in 1931
1931-1932 Angelo Caruso 1964–1965 part of the committee
1932-1955 Francesco Garofalo Frank Caroll 1891-1968
1955-1962 Carmine Galante Lilo, The Cigar 1910-1979 shot dead on July 12, 1979 Imprisoned 1962–1974 / 1974 Acting Boss
1962-1968 John Morales Johnny Burns deposed by the Commission
1968-1971 Natale Evola Joe Diamonds 1907-1973 cancer became boss in 1971
1971-1973 Philip Rastelli Rusty 1918-1991 Liver cancer became boss in 1973
1974-1979 Nicholas Marangello Nicky Glasses ???? - 1999 discontinued
1979-1981 Salvatore Catalano Sal at the same time street boss
1981-1988 Joseph Charles Massino Joe, Big Joey 1943-today Imprisoned 1987–1992 / became boss in 1991
1991-2003 Salvatore Vitale Handsome Sal 1947 – today became an informant in 2003
2004-2007 Nicholas Santora Nicky Mouth 1942-today Charged in 2007
2013 – today Thomas Defiore Tommy D. 1943 – today at the same time acting boss

Acting underboss

Consigliere of the family

At the same level as the underboss is the consigliere , the advisor to the criminal family. It is usually an older member of the family who has great respect within the family and can therefore exert considerable influence.

Period Surname Nickname Lifetime Cause of death annotation
1932-1939 Phillipe Rapa
1940-1964 John Tartamella 1892-1966 natural death resigned
1964-1968 Salvatore Vincent Bonanno Bill 1932-2008 Heart attack resigned / son of Joseph Charles Bonanno, Sr.
1968-1971 Philip Rastelli Rusty 1918-1991 Liver cancer became underboss in 1971
1971-1974 Joseph DiFilippo
1974-1984 Stefano Cannone Stevie Beefs
1984-2001 Anthony Spero Old Man 1929-2008 natural death 1987–1993 also acting boss
2001-2010 Anthony A. Graziano TG 1940 – today Imprisoned since 1999 Acting Consigliere / 2003–2011
2014 – today Anthony Rabito Fat Tony, Mr. Fish 1934 – today

Acting Consigliere

  • 1965–1968: Nicolino "Nick" Alfano; resigned
  • 1968–1968: Michael "Mike" Adamo  ; Disappeared in 1968
  • 1987-1992: Joseph Buccellato
  • 1999-2001: Anthony A. Graziano; became consigliere in 2001
  • 2001-2003: Anthony Urso; became acting boss in 2003
  • 2004–2007: Anthony "Fat Tony" Rabito; * 1934 – today

Known members

  • Donnie Brasco; actually Joseph D. Pistone , investigated six years as an undercover agent in the Bonanno family. His experience in 1997 with Johnny Depp and Al Pacino in the lead roles filmed . To protect against acts of revenge by the Mafia, he now lives with a new identity in a place known only to the authorities.
  • Dominic Napolitano ; a high-ranking member of the Bonanno family who was involved in various murders in the context of internal family conflicts. Napolitano introduced Brasco into the family and was later murdered for this reason.

Films and documentaries

Web links

literature

  • Alexander, Shana. The Pizza Connection: Lawyers, Drugs, Money, Mafia . New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1988.
  • Blumenthal, Ralph. Last Days of the Sicilians . New York: Simon & Schuster (Pocket Books), 1988.
  • Sterling, Claire. Octopus: How the Long Reach of the Sicilian Mafia Controls The global Narcotics Trade . New York: Simon & Schuster (Touchstone), 1990.
  • Silence, Alexander. Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia & the Death of the First Italian Republic . New York: Random House, 1995.
  • Nicaso, Antonio & Lamothe, Lee. Bloodlines: The Rise & Fall of the Mafia's Royal Family . Canada: Harper Collins, 2001.
  • Raab, Selwyn. The Five Families: The Rise, Decline & Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empire . New York: St. Martins Press, 2005.
  • Edwards, Peter. The Northern Connection: Inside Canada's Deadliest Mafia Family . Canada: Optimum International, 2006.
  • Humphreys, Adrian & Lamothe, Lee. The Sixth Family: The Collapse of the New York Mafia & the Rise of Vito Rizzuto . Canada: Wiley, 2006.
  • Crittle, Simon. The Last Godfather: The Rise & Fall of Joey Massino . New York: Berkley Books, 2006.
  • DeStefano, Anthony. The Last Godfather: Joey Massino & the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family . California: Citadel, 2006.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BILD Zeitung, 159/8 of July 11, 2013
  2. ↑ Epoch Times, Nine Members of Bonanno Crime Family Arrested in NY, July 9, 2013
  3. ^ The New York Post, Bonanno Mob Crew in Bookie & Loan-Shark Bust
  4. ↑ Michael Mancuso . In: Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator . Retrieved June 16, 2013.
American Cosa Nostra • La Cosa Nostra • Italian-American Mafia


Familys
East coast

The Five Families (New York) : Bonanno • Colombo • Gambino • Genovese ( formerly Morello ) • Lucchese | Bruno (Philadelphia) | DeCavalcante (Elizabeth) | LaRocca (Pittsburgh) | Magaddino (Buffalo) | Patriarca (New England) | Trafficante (Tampa)

average West / west

Balistrieri (Milwaukee) | Chicago outfit | Civella, Kansas City | Dragna (Los Angeles) | Giordano (St. Louis) | Licavoli (Cleveland) | Zerilli (Detroit)

inactive

Bufalino Pittston, Pennsylvania | Cerrito San José (California) | Civello (Dallas) | Lanza (San Francisco) | Matranga (New Orleans) | Rochester (Rochester, New York) | Smaldone (Denver)

structure
Chain of command

The Commission • Boss (Don) • Underboss • Consigliere (Consultant) • Capo / Caporegime (Captain) • Soldato • Associate (Partner)

Groupings

National Crime Syndicate • Murder, Inc. • Pizza Connection • Unione Siciliana • Black Hand Gang

Designations

Capo di tutti i capi (boss of the bosses) • Mobster • Made Man (Wise Guy) • Mustache Pete • Zips • Pentito • Initiation ritual • Omertà • Lupara Rossa • Lupara Bianca

Historical
Meetings

Atlantic City Conference (1929) • Havana Conference (1946) • Apalachin Meeting (1957) • Palermo Mafia Summit (1957)

Wars

Mafia Camorra War (1914–1917) • War of Castellammare (1929–1931)

Investigations

Kefauver Hearings (1950–1951) • Valachi Hearings (1963)

Processes

Pizza Connection Trial (1985–1987) • Mafia Commission Trial (1985–1986)