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Bonanno crime family

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The Bonanno Crime Family is one of the "Five Families" that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). The Family powerbase had traditionally been Brooklyn, N.Y., but became Queens, N.Y. due to leadership changes in 1973. The last two Family leaders made the Bronx their powerbase. The Bonanno Family have had "Factions" or "Crews" at one time or another in Arizona, California, Florida, the Mid West (Wisconsin) and Montreal (Canada).

History of the Bonanno Crime Family

The Formation of the Family

The Castellammarese War between Joseph "The Boss" Masseria and Salvatore "Little Caesar" Maranzano was the catalyst for the creation of the Five Families. Having cunningly played both sides in the war to further his own aims, Charles "Lucky" Luciano had both men killed within six months of each other in order to restructure the mob, by removing the "Boss of Bosses" position, so coveted by Maranzano and to establish the Commission to regulate the affairs of La Cosa Nostra Families in the U.S. and Canada. One of the "Five Families" established was led by Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno who had been Maranzano's top aide and loyal soldier in the war. Upon Salvatore Maranzano's murder on September 10, 1931, the Castellamarese Family chose Bonanno to lead them.

Bonanno was the youngest Boss in the National La Cosa Nostra hierarchy and a charter Commission member in 1931 and still holds the honor to this day since no one that young has ever again been chosen to lead a Mafia Family at that age. With the end of Prohibition, Bonanno directed the Family into the popular organised crime activities of gambling, loan-sharking, truck hijacking, extortion, narcotics and labor racketeering.

The Bonanno Family was considered the closest knit of the Five Families due to the fact that it was made up of mostly Sicilians from the seaside town where Bonanno was born - Castellamare del Golfo, Sicily. Bonanno's first Underboss (Giovanni "John" Bonventre) and Consigliere (John Tartamella) were his relatives, Bonventre by blood and Tartamella through marriage. The rest of his "Family Administration" was led by his trusted Capos in New York - Bill Bonanno, Gaspar DiGregorio, Frank LaBruzzo, Frank "Frank Caroll" Garofalo, John "Johnny Burns" Morales, Carmine "Lilo" Galante, Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola, Angelo Caruso and Nicolino "Nick" Alfano, Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo, Anthony "Toni" Cristi, . Capo Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro was overseer of all New Jersey operations, Charles "Charlie Batts" Battaglia was Bonanno's Capo in Arizona, Vincent "Vic the Egg" Cotroni was the Capo in Montreal, Canada and Capo Vito DeFillipo had a New York crew and was also overseer of Bonanno's Carribean casino operations in Haiti. Bonnano strongly believed blood relations and a strict Sicilian upbringing could be the only way to hold the traditional values of La Cosa Nostra together.

The Glory Years

Bonanno Family Boss Joseph Bonanno held many legitimite business interests such as garment center factories, funeral homes, cheese making and importing businesses and much real estate. Bonanno claimed to be against prostitution and narcotics; the traditional mindset of Italian crime Bosses has been that if you don't directly engage in these two unmanly rackets that there is nothing wrong with taking tribute from Family underlings who did engage in these rackets. The truth is that the Bonanno Family have been the principle pervaders of heroin in the U.S. for 40-50 years. Joseph Bonanno was a traditional and conservative Sicilian Don and was highly respected for his intelligence and arbitration skills. After becoming a Boss and Commission member, he was present at every major La Cosa Nostra Commision meeting and summit during his leadership role. Joseph Bonanno was present at the "Havana Conference" in 1946 and the "Apalachin Meeting" in 1957, but he was also present at, and helped arrange, an even more important summit to La Cosa Nostra than Apalachin in October 1957. This famous meeting would become the beginning of an international narcotics empire that would produce billions of dollars for the U.S. and Sicilian La Cosa Nostra's for years to come!

From October 14-17, 1957 Joseph Bonanno attended the first joint American-Sicilian La Cosa Nostra summit in Palermo, Sicily, at the Hotel des Palmes with roughly 30 of the most powerful American, Canadian and Italian Mafia Bosses in the world. Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno and Charlie "Lucky" Luciano led an American delegation made up of Bonanno Family Underboss Carmine "Lilo" Galante, former Underbosses and now Family Advisors Giovanni "John" Bonventre and Frank "Frank Caroll" Garofalo, the Buffalo Family was represented by Antonio, Giuseppe and Gaspare Magaddino, Detroit by Frank "Fingers" Coppola, Giovanni "Papa John" Priziola, John DiBella, Vito Vitale and Santo Sorge who was cousin to Sicilian Boss Genco Russo. The Sicilian delegation was made up of Sicily's most powerful Bosses such as Don Giuseppe Genco Russo of Mussomelli, Salvatore "Little Bird" Greco of Ciaculli, Cesare Manzella and Gaetano "Tano" Badalamenti of Cinisi, Calcedonio Di Pisa of Noce, brothers Salvatore and Angelo LaBarbera and Tommaso Buscetta of Porto Nuova, Diego Plaia of Castellamare del Golfo and Don Giuseppe Settacase of Agrigento. The Neapolitan Camorra and Calabrian 'Ndrangheta were also represented.Template:Buscetta, Thommaso. Buscetta's confession to Giuseppe Falcone, 1984[citation needed]

One of the topics discussed was the Sicilians forming a Commission similar to the one that the Americans had in place in the U.S. to direct Sicilian Mafia affairs. The Sicilians took the advice and formed the "Cupola" soon afterward. The main topic of discussion between the Bosses was to determine whether or not the North American and Italian Families would begin joint narcotics operations. Buscetta, Tommaso. Buscetta's confession to Giuseppe Falcone, 1984. This was the beginning of the one the biggest heroin manufacturing and distribution networks ever set up. Sterling, Claire. Octopus, 1990. The network began by including the French underworld Unione Corse crime syndicate and their French Connection supply line, but by the mid 1960's the Italian crime syndicates had started to purchase their own opium base from Asian and Middle East suppliers and process it into high grade heroin themselves. Sterling, Claire. Octopus, 1990. The Neapolitan Camorra used their old cigarette smuggling routes to bring in the opium base, the Sicilians processed it into heroin and wholesaled it around the world through the joint efforts of the Neoplitan Camorra, Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, American and Canadian Mafia Families throughout the world.[citation needed] Stille, Alexander. Exellent Cadavers, 1995. Joseph Bonanno and his Bonanno Family were the main distributers in North America of what was to become known as the Pizza Connection. In 1953 Bonanno had sent his ruthless Underboss Carmine "The Cigar" Galante to Montreal, Canada to organize a Bonanno Family Faction in the popular port city and to make it the North American transit way for narcotics shipments. Joseph Bonanno was the father of a future narcotics empire and epidemic that still exists today due to his efforts in Palermo, Sicily and Montreal, Canada. Humphreys & Lamothe. The Sixth Family, 2006.

Bonanno's powerbase was augmented by his close relations with Brooklyn based Boss Joseph Profaci. Among the kinships he had in La Cosa Nostra was the marriage of Bonanno's son Salvatore ("Bill") to Profaci's niece Rosalie in 1956 to name just one of the many. The 1956 wedding of a Bill Bonanno to Rosalie Profaci was the Mafia social event of the year with Bosses and Family members from the 26 La Cosa Nostra Families represented,as well as La Cosa Nostra representatives from Canada and Italy. Don Peppino Bonanno held alot of respect in the "National Brotherhood" and made sure that the wedding was a gala event that spared no expense in food,drink and entertainment with Tony Bennett performing at the reception for free. After seeing the amount of guests that attended and the amount of money spent on the wedding,Buffalo crime Family Boss and Bonanno cousin Stefano "The Undertaker" Magaddino commented, "Look at all these people,it will go straight to my cousin's head!" Family blood ties and kinships through marriage where very important to Joseph Bonanno who always tried to keep his crime Family's membership filled with mostly men of Sicilian heritage. His crime Family contained many relatives such as the Bonventres, Magaddinos, Garofalos, LaBruzzos, Morales and Tartamellas. The death of Joe Profaci in 1962 threatened to undermine Bonanno's position as a power in the mob and was the beginning of many internal Family problems as well as problems with other Bosses in "The Volcano."

Bonanno's Fall From Power

By the end of the 1950's Joseph Bonanno was growing weary of the politacal manuverings of some of the Commission members and the constant internal strife within the New York Families. Bonanno's name for New York City was "The Volcano" and had decided to go into semi-retirement by 1960 and place his son Salvatore as the Family's leader. This was due to the re-organization of power in the Commission and his bad health, but also because Bonanno knew he would still be in control of the Family even from his retirement in Tuscon, Arizona through his "Front Boss", son Bill. By the mid 1950's the Commission's "Conservative Faction" of Bosses, Bonanno-Mangano-Profaci-Gagliano-Magaddino could no longer hold onto the absolute influence it once had, from 1931-51, over National La Cosa Nostra politics, policies and rules. With the disappearance and deaths of Bosses Vincent Mangano in 1951, Gaetano Gagliano in 1953 and Joseph Profaci in 1962, the Commission's "Liberal Faction" of Bosses, Genovese-Lucchese-Gambino-Giancana were now in firm control of National La Cosa Nostra affairs.

Even Joseph Bonanno's cousin and former ally Buffalo Boss Stefano "The Undertaker" Magaddino was secretly aligning with new power of the "Liberal Faction." Bonanno along with his only ally left on the Commission, Joseph "Joe Maylak" Magliocco the new Boss of the Profaci Family decided they had only one chance to preserve both their positions of power as their Family's leaders and Commission representatives. Not to mention they would lose the right to largest shares of money coming from the rackets their crime Family's controlled. Joseph Magliocco was in the middle of a Family war between the members loyal to him and a those loyal to a "Renegade Faction" led by the Gallo brothers, so Joseph Bonanno took this opportunity to make Magliocco understand that both their problems could be taken care of with one cunning move. The plan Bonanno and Magliocco worked out in 1963 was to kill those Bosses on the Commission that posed a threat to their rule, mainly Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese and Carlo Gambino. Bonanno thaught he might as well kill Los Angeles Family Boss Frank DeSimone as well since his son Bill Bonanno was planning to take over the West Coast rackets with the 50 man crew the Crime Family had recently sent to California. Paranoid Boss Stefano Magaddino believes his cousin Joseph Bonanno is power hungry, overly ambitous and had planned to assassinate him as well and seize his Ontario, Canada operations. Stefano Magaddino complained "Joseph Bonnano is planting flags all over the world."

The plan that Bonnano and Magliocco so cunningly conspired together on was a failure due to the fact that Joseph Magliocco, who was put in charge of chosing the assassination team from his Family's list of famous mafia hitters such as John "Sonny" Franzese and Carmine "Junior" Persico, made the wrong choice when he gave Family hitter Joseph Colombo the contract on Gambino and Lucchese. Little did the two "Don Peppinos" know that Joe Colombo had worked for Carlo Gambino when he was younger and knew he would score major points if he alerted the new Mafia power to the other Bosses plan. Joseph Bonanno and Joseph Magliocco were summoned to appear before the Commission. After their plan failed miserably Bonanno left Magliocco on his own while he travelled around the world to avoid the Commission and a federal subpoena. Joseph Magliocco was summoned to appear before the Commission and was fined $50,000 and deposed as Boss of the Family he had co-ruled with his brother in law Joseph Profaci for 38 years. Joe Bonanno was so incensed that Magliocco had obeyed the Commission summons and allowed himself to be deposed and humiliated by the other Bosses.

Don Peppino Bonanno's master plan to once again secure his dominant position on the Commission and in fact make himself the "Boss of Bosses" failed with Joe Colombo's treachery and with the December 28,1963 death of Joseph Magliocco, Bonanno loses his last ally on the Commission. Joseph Bonanno still hopes to hold onto his crime Family and while he travels about 1963 and 64 taking care of personal business and avoiding the conflicts in "The Volcano" to forstall his downfall, he devises another plan to hold onto power.

Throughout the time Joseph Bonanno is travelling and is away from his crime Family in New York he leaves his new official Underboss John "Johnny Burns" Morales, a relative through marriage as Acting Boss of the Family. Bonanno's longtime Consigliere, Giovanni "John" Tartamella was very ill and became wheelchair bound and could no longer function as an active crime Family member and by 1964 wanted to retire. Joe Bonanno sends word to Morales from Montreal where he is conducting business, gets arrested and jailed for 90 days and eventually deported, to let the Family Capos chose a new Consigliere. This is the beginning of Joseph Bonanno's new plan to place Bill Bonnano as the future leader of the Family. Don Peppino has those Capos loyal to him vote Bill in as Consigliere in February of 1964. Only one Capo is openly disappointed by the fact that he was passed over for promotion to the new Consigliere post he so desperately believes he deserves. This mistake on Joseph Bonanno's part will cause him and the family trouble in the near future.

The Bananas War

Many men in Bonanno's crime Family were growing wary, complaining that he was never around, very greedy and only had his own best interests at heart and not the Bonanno Crime Family's. Soon after the elevation of Bill Bonanno to Consigliere, former Bonnano loyalist and Capo Gaspar "Gasparino" DiGregorio lets his dissatisfaction of being passed over for promotion known. He rebels and takes his complaint to his brother in law and Commission member Stefano Magaddino, who uses DiGregorio to sow dissention within the Bonanno Family and to lead a rebellion against it's Boss Joseph Bonanno.By the Spring of 1964 the 300 member Bonnano Crime Family has split into two separate Factions. The Family has it's fist insurrection in it's almost 40 year history. The "Bonanno Loyalists" and "The DiGregorio Faction" entered into a cold war that eventually turned violent. In the beginning most "made" Bonanno Family members stayed loyal to Boss Joseph Bonanno, but when the Commission orders Joe Bonanno to appear before them , he does not comply and ignores the authority of the Commission. The Commission then decides to punish Joseph Bonanno, but can not directly get to him so they hit Bonanno Family members financially by ordering all Bonanno Crime Family members and associates on the payroll of La Cosa Nosta controlled unions in New York and New Jersey to be fired if they do not allign themselves with the "DiGregorio Faction." The "Bonanno Loyalists" led by Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno and Capos Bill Bonanno, Frank LaBruzzo, Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro, Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo, John Aquaro, Vito DeFilippo and Charles "Charlie Batts" Battaglia prepare to go on the offensive against the Bonanno Family renegade "DeGregorio Faction" and the Commission. The Canadian, Montreal Faction of the Bonanno Family and it's Boss Vincent "Vic the Egg" Cotroni send word that they wish to stay nuetral in the internal Family conflict now erupting in New York. Joseph Bonanno's first move is to offer to retire so as to avoid any more internal strife, and the possibility of a war, but only if his son Bill is sanctioned as the new Boss of the Bonanno Crime Family. The Commission sees through Bonanno's fake goodwill and is certain Bill Bonanno will only be a puppet or "Front Boss" for his father. The Commission goes on the offensive and openly offers protection to the DiGregorio Faction and those who rebel against Joseph Bonanno and his supporters. The new Boss of the Profaci Family, now called the Colombo Crime Family, Joseph Colombo assists Gaspar DiGregorio and the Commission by trying to get more Bonanno Family members to defect and align themselves with the other New York Families.

According to Joseph Bonanno on the evening of October 21 , 1964 he was kidnapped on Park Ave. in Manhattan by his cousin Stefano Magaddino's brother Antonio and son Peter. There is still grounds for speculation concerning Bonanno's kidnapping due to the fact that at the time of his kidnapping he was under subpoena to appear before a federal grand jury and during the time he was missing an F.B.I. bug picked up a very interesting conversation concerning Bonanno. Bonanno loyalist and New Jersey Capo Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro was speaking to New Jersey DeCavalcante Family Boss Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante about Joseph Bonanno's kidnapping and Notaro answered "that had to do with the subpoena." Simone DeCavalcante was the Commission's "Messangaro" and had been chosen to relay messages between Boss Joseph Bonanno and the Commission throughout the conflict. Whatever the reason for his disappearance it was certain that by Christmas 1964, Joseph Bonanno led only the 7 Capos and their crew members loyal to him and was no longer in control of the Bonanno Crime Family. New Jersey Bonanno Family Capo Joseph Notaro meets with Commission "Messangaro" and DeCavalcante Crime Family Boss Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante in December 1964 and relays the message that Joseph "Don Peppino" Bonanno has stepped down as Boss of the Bonanno Crime Family to avoid more futher possibility of war and any violence directed at his son. Bill and the men that support him.

At the beginning of 1965 the Bonanno crime Family try's to govern itself with a "9 Man Ruling Committee" of top Capos. The remaining "Bonanno Loyalists" are led by four Capos including Bill Bonanno. The Family allowed Capo Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro to be part of the "9 Man Ruling Committee", representing the "Bonanno Loyalists." The Committee consisted of Capos Gaspar DiGregorio, Nicolino "Nick" Alfano, Angelo Caruso, Joseph Notaro, Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo, Paul Sciacca, Joseph DeFillipo, Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola and Anthony "Toni" Cristi. Three senior Capos, Nicolino "Nick" Alfano, Gaspar DiGregorio and Angelo Caruso are chosen by the Commission to head the Committee and report Family matters to them until a new Boss is chosen. By February of 1965 former Joe Bonanno friend, loyalist and godfather to his son Bill, Gaspar DiGregorio is sanctioned by the Commission as new Boss of the Bonanno crime Family. The Bonanno Family is a shell of it's former self with Family cohesiveness and trust destroyed. The once strong loyalty that Don Joseph Bonanno commanded has been broken and the current regime under Gaspar DiGregorio is still far from being a cohesive and well disciplined Family. DiGregorio and his Underboss Pietro "Skinny Pete" Crociata ruled a weakened Family with much internal dissention among it's members. The cold war between the two factions created not only dissention and mistrust, but made it difficult to oversee Bonanno Crime Family operations such as gambling, numbers, bookmaking, loansharking and labor rackets wich were the bread and butter money makers for the mob. In January of 1966 Gaspar DiGregorio got word to Bill Bonanno through Capo Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo that they wanted a sitdown to relieve the tension and get back to business. Little did the "Bonnano Faction" know that Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo had defected to the "Digregorio Faction" and betrayed the "Bonanno Loyalists."

On January 28, 1966 Bonanno Faction leaders Bill Bonanno, Frank LaBruzzo, Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro and Carl Simari arrive in Brooklyn, in the Troutman St. neighbourhood of Bonanno's uncle for what they think will be a sitdown with Gaspar DiGregorio and the leaders of the "DiGregorio Faction." As they arrive and walk down the street to the meeting place, "DiGregorio Faction shooters led by DiGregorio's top hitman Frank "Frank Russo" Mari open up on the "Bonanno Faction" members. There is a shootout between the two sides and the "DiGregorio Faction" unloads from rooftops and alleyways while Bill Bonanno and his friends and allies take cover and returns fire from behind parked cars along Trautman St. No one is injured or killed and both sides get away before police arrive, but police find a number of rifles and pistols thrown away by the shooters. At a later time Bill Bonanno and other Bonanno Family members are subpoenaed by a grand jury investigating the Troutman St. shootings. During the hearings the weapons the police found discarded on and around Troutman St. are displayed and Bill Bonanno recognizes one of the pistols as belonging to former "Bonanno Loyalist" Philip "Rusty" Rastelli by an old distinctive "rusted" spot on the gun. The Troutman St. shootout and grand jury hearing is the beginning of the Commission's disillution with Boss Gaspar DiGregorio and blame him for increased law enforcement scrutiny on La Cosa Nostra rackets and operations. The media now gives "The Bananas War" priority in underworld events and continues to report on the internal conflict within the Bonanno Crime family and La Cosa Nostra. The increased media publicity is only worth it when a hit is successful and the New York Family Bosses are not happy.

Upon hearing about the attempt made on the life of his son, Joseph Bonanno comes out from hiding and returns to New York City on May 17, 1966. Wearing the same grey suit he had on the night he was kidnapped, looking relaxed and tan, Joseph Bonanno queitly slipped into the side entrance of federal courthouse on Foley Square in Manhatten at 10:30 a.m. with his lawyer and proceeds to hand himself over to the custody of a federal judge and his federal marshals instead of being arrested by the F.B.I. Joseph Bonanno walked into the courtroom of federal judge Marvin Frankel and after an appropriate apology for disrupting his courtroom, said, "Your Honor, I am Joseph Bonanno. I understand that the government would like to talk to me." After being placed under arrest and being charged, Joseph Bonanno produces a $150,000 bail and goes free. After a brief meeting at his lawyer Albert Krieger's law firm on Broadway Avenue in Manhatten, Bonanno then proceeded with his son Bill, Joseph Notaro and his cousin Peter Notaro and Bonanno's bodyguards to La Scala restaurant on 54th St. to have dinner. After being seated and and ordering a round of drinks, Joseph Bonanno made several toasts in Sicilian and thanked the men loyal to him, as the second round of drinks arrived over much laughter, the laughter suddenly stopped as one of Bonanno's most trusted Family Capos, Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro slumped forward on the table and died of a heart attack. After his return to New York to lead his forces against his enemies within his own Crime Family and on the Commission, Joseph Bonanno sets up his base of operations at his son's suburban, East Meadow, New York City home. The war is about to receive it's first casualties, since further peace offers are spurned by both Factions and the Family's internal fued continues. Due to the internal tension and lack of trust even between Family members who had worked with eachother over the years there were several shootings and murders on both sides of the war,one of the most memorable incidents being the shootings of "Bonnano Loyalists" Vincent Cassese and Vincent Garofalo in late October 1967 and the retaliation killings of former Bonanno Loyalists and now "DiGregorio Faction" members Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo, James D'Angelo and Frank "Frankie 500" Telleri at the Cypress Gardens Restaurant in Queens, two weeks later by "Bonnano Loyalist" Gaspare Magaddino. By 1968 Joseph Bonanno had a serious heart attack and decided to give up the crime Family he was leader of for over 30 years and retire to his remaining interests and his millions in Arizona, knowing that with his various associates and business contacts in the United States, Canada, Italy and around the world he would not be out of underworld affairs completely, especially since he still controls the Arizona and Wisconson decinas or crews, and will have influence in the Montreal decina as long as Vic Cotroni is Boss. Bonanno managed to outlast all of his fellow Bosses and peers and went on to write his auto biography "A Man of Honor" in 1983, dying in Arizona on May 12, 2002 at the ripe old age of 97 and leaving his millions to his two sons and daughter. On a side note son Bill Bonanno wrote three books, his wife Rosalie wrote one and on a different note [[Joseph Bonanno's second son Joseph Jr. died on November 2, 2005 of a heart attack at the age of 60 at his California ranch.

After Bonanno

In 1968 the successor to the Bonanno throne, Gaspar DiGregorio also has a another heart attack and officially retires from Bonanno Family and mafia affairs a virtual unknown. DiGregorio dies in 1970. With the formal retirements of Joseph Bonanno and Gaspar DiGregorio in 1968 the Commission officially appoints "DiGregorio Faction" member and Acting Boss Paul Sciacca as "Official Boss" of the Bonanno Family. By the time of Sciacca's appointment as Boss the Bonnano Crime Family had now split into three Factions. The first one being the "DiGregorio-Sciacca Faction" made up of the old DiGregorio loyalists. The remaining "Bonanno Loyalists" were led by Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola and the last Faction was the "Rastelli Faction" with Philip "Rusty" Rastelli leading the young turks of the Family. Paul Sciacca had chosen Frank "Frank Russo" Mari as his Underboss and Michael "Mike" Adamo as his Consigliere. This regime didn't last long when Sciacca found out Mari and Adamo were planning to overthrow him. Frank Mari and Michael Adamo along with a third person disappear September 1968. They were replaced by the two Faction leaders, Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola as Underboss and Philip "Rusty" Rastelli as Consigliere. All the Factions had come together in a weak truce under Paul Sciacca's leadership, but he was jailed on narcotics charges in 1971 and replaced as Bonanno Family Boss by Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola". His reign as Bonanno Crime Family Boss was short-lived and he died on August 28, 1973 from natural causes.

After the death of Bonanno Family Boss Natale Evola the Commission makes Underboss Philip "Rusty" Rastelli Acting Boss of the Bonanno Crime Family until a new "Official Boss" can be voted for by the Bonanno Family Capos and sanctioned by the Commission. Several of the most powerful Bonanno Family Capos and Underboss/Acting Boss Philip Rastelli vie for leadership of the Bonanno Crime Family. New York, Gambino Crime Family member John DeMatteo is in Montreal, Canada on business in October of 1973 and on the 20th of that month delivers a message to the Montreal Family's Underboss Paolo Violi at his base of operations in Little Italy's Reggio Bar in St. Leonard, Montreal that the Bonanno Crime Family administration would like the Montreal Faction to send an official representative to an important Bonanno Family meeting at the Americana Inn near Times Square in midtown Manhatten, New York on November 10, 1973. Bonanno Family Acting Boss Philip Rastelli calls Paolo Violi on November 6, 1973 to ask Violi to bring Montreal Family Capo and Bonanno Family soldier Frank "The Big Guy" Cotroni with him to the New York meeting. Philip Rastelli is friends with Cotroni and has a good relationship with him from the time in the late 1950's that Rastelli was in Montreal working for former Joseph Bonanno Underboss Carmine Galante. Philip Rastelli knew that he could count on Frank Cotroni voting for him as the new Boss, but when Montreal Underboss Paolo Violi asked Boss Vincent "Vic the Egg" Cotroni for permission to take his younger brother Frank with him to New York, Vic Cotroni said he didn't think it was a good idea to take Frank Cotroni being that Frank was a well known narcotics dealer and constantly under surveillance by Canadian authorities. That was sensible old style Boss Vic Cotroni showing the intelligence and cunning he possesed and just a little of what made him a highly respected and feared Boss. Instead of Frank Cotroni, Paolo Violi asks Calabrian Faction Capo Jos DiMaulo to accompany him to New York. On November 9, 1973 Paolo Violi takes a plane from Montreal to New York while Jos DiMaulo is driven to the meeting by his brother in law Raynalds Desjardins. Violi and DiMaulo know Philip "Rusty" Rastelli by his Canadian codename "Mike" and favor Rastelli as new Bonanno Family Boss. Paolo Violi and Jos Dimaulo are met in New York by Bonanno Family Acting Boss Philip Rastelli, Capo Nicholas "Nicky Glasses" Marangello and soldier Joseph Buccellato and taken to the meeting. Phillip Rastelli and Capo Nicholas Marangello who is in line to be promoted to Underboss if Rastelli is chosen as Boss, get Violi's and Dimaulo's assurance that they favor Rastelli and will vote for him. By January 1974 the Bonanno Crime Family has chosen Philip "Rusty" Rastelli as "Official Sitting Boss" of the Family. The Montreal Faction's approval of the new Family Boss is shown when Paolo Violi sends senior Montreal soldier Romeo Bucci to New York in January of 1974 to congratulate & show respect to the new Bonanno Crime Family Boss. The Commisiion sanctions Philip Rastelli as Boss of the Bonanno Crime Family and Rastelli chooses Nicholas "Nicky Cigars" Marangello as his Underboss and since Nicolino "Nick" Alfano retires after Natale Evola's death in 1973, Stefano "Stevie Beefs" Cannone is chosen as Rastelli's Consigliere. The Montreal Faction Underboss Paolo Violi meets with the new Family regime on February 25, 1974 at another New York meeting to asure Boss Philip Rastelli that Montreal is still firmly in the Bonanno Crime Family spere of influence and to show Montreal's loyalty.

Spurned By The Commission-Rastelli Tries To Rebuild

Due to the past infighting of the Bonanno Crime Family, and Joseph Bonanno's past plot to kill several Commission members, the Family was stripped of their Commission seat in 1964 and would not be represented on the Commission for 30 years. The Bonanno Crime Family had survived the most desperate and weakest era of it's existence. Philip "Rusty" Rastelli's new Bonanno Crime Family regime was considered younger and more ambitous than the past several regimes. Philip "Rusty" Rastelli took control of a seemingly ineffective and doomed organization, that was full of hungry, young, up and coming gangsters ready to take what was theirs. Philip Rastelli's new Underboss Nicholas "Nicky Glasses" or "Nicky Cigars" Marangello, as he was sometimes called and his Consigliere was Stefano "Stevie Beefs" Cannone set up their base of operations at the Toyland Social club in Litte Italy, Manhatten. The Rastelli regime Capos were Salvatore "Sally Fruits" Farrugia, Michael "Mimi" Sabella, Michael "Mickey Z." Zafarano, Anthony "Tony" Spero, Pietro "Peter" Licata, James "Fort Lee Jimmy" Capasso, William "Willie Glasses" Riviello, Vito DeFilippo, Philip "Phil Lucky" Giaccone, Nicholas "Nicky the Battler' DeStefano, Matthew "Matty" Valvo, Joseph "Bayonne Joe" Zicarelli,Anthony "Tony" Riela, Vincent "Vinnie" Asaro, Vincent "Vic the Egg" Cotroni in Montreal and up and coming soldiers (future Capos & Bosses) such as Joseph "Big Joey" Massino, Salvatore "Good Looking Sal" Vitale, Anthony "T.G." Grazino, Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano, Alphonse "Sonny Red' Indelicato, Dominick "Big Trinny" Trichera, Gabriel "Gabe" Infanti and brothers Joseph & Gerald Chilli. Philip Rastelli's former Boss and "Bonanno Loyalist" the ruthless and feared Carmine "The Cigar" Galante blamed the Commission and Carlo "Don Carlo" Gambino for the loss of power and respect the Bonanno Family had sustained in the past decade. Galante used to tell people in prison "When I get out I'll make Carlo Gambino shit in the middle of Time Square". Carmine "Lilo" Galante has always been known as a "stone cold killer" in mob circles and while he was at the Lewisberg Federal Penitentiary from 1962-74 he was feared and respected by all the inmates throughout the prison and was the defacto "Bosses of Bosses" on "Mafia Row". Carmine Galante became a powerful and dangerous renegade and quietly plotted his strategy to regain control of the Bonanno Family once he was released from prison.

From the beginning of Philip Rastelli's reign as Boss he was plagued by troubles. His freedom was short lived as he was indicted in 1973 for extortion, convicted in 1975 and given 8 years. To make things even worse for Phil Rastelli, just as he was dealing with his legal trouble, Carmine "The Cigar" Galante was paroled from prison on January 23, 1974 after serving 12 years of a 20 years sentece for heroin dealing. Upon Carmine Galante's release he announced his arrival back on the New York underworld scene by dynamiting the bronze mausoleum doors of former Luciano Family Boss Frank "The Primeminister" Costello who had recentlty died in 1973, to signal his comeback and eventual ascendency to the top of the mob. Philip Rastelli did not ever officially step down or retire as the Bonanno Crime Family Boss, even during his imprisonment like Galante hoped he would.

Philip Rastelli initially resisted Carmine Galante's ultimatums and threats, but after his imprisonment and the murder of his stepson James Fernandes he didn't so much step aside, as the unfortunate position of being in prison did not allow him to mount a strong enough resistance to Galante's power move. Eventually Bonanno Family Underboss Nicholas "Nicky Glasses" Marangello and Consigliere Stefano "Stevie Beefs" Cannone, as well as the Capos conceeeded to Carmine "Lilo" Galante's will and started to take orders from Galante. The Cigar, as Carmine Galante was sometimes called, knew that the present La Cosa Nostra power and Commission chairman, Carlo "Don Carlo" Gambino would never officially sanction Galante's ascention to Bonanno Family Boss, but Galante had the power on the streets where it counted and became the "defacto Boss" of the Bonanno Crime Family.

The Cigar Problem

By the end of 1974 Carmine Galante knew that Carlo Gambino was extremely ill and had no reason to start a mob war with the old Don since he would die soon. Instead Galante took the time and opportunity to travel and visit allies and business associates around the United States and sure enough on October 15, 1976, the great Don Carlo Gambino died of natural causes in his Massapequa, Long Island home while watching a Yankees game on television. Throughout 1975 & 1976 Carmine Galante visited La Cosa Nostra Bosses and members in Florida, California, the Mid West, all along the East Coast and also stopped in Arizona to visit his old Boss and mentor Joseph Bonanno. Carmine Galante also contacted his associates in Montreal, Canada and Sicily. Since Galante was constantly followed by F.B.I. and D.E.A. agents, they were able to watch Galante make a stop at Disney World, Los Angeles in August, 1975 where he casually rode the go-carts while conducting business meetings with his associates. On Labor day weekend 1976 Carmine Galante organized an important meeting of his mob associates at the Hamptons Bay, Long Island home of his daughter Nina. Among the more prominent mafiosi attending the meeting was Galante's longtime associate Northeast, Pennsylvania Family Boss, Rosario "Russell" Bufalino. By looking at Carmine Galante's movements and meetings since his release, one can see that Galante made contact with the mafiosi and Families who were positioned to best serve his purposes in reorganizing his narcotics network. Since "The Cigar" had an army in New York to handle his business affairs on the East Coast, he approached his associates and allies in Florida, California, Mexico and Montreal knowing those port cities could be used as transit ways for his narcotics shipments. The West Coast and Mid West travels Carmine Galante made were to get permission from Family Bosses and to set up narcotics distribution networks in their territories once deals were made.

Having prevoiusly acted as a focal point for the importation of heroin and cocaine to the USA via Montreal, Galante set about refining the Bonanno's Crime Family's drug trafficking operations in this territory by importing new Sicilian soldiers, "Zips" that would be loyal to him. The Cotroni Faction of the Bonanno Family controlled the Montreal ports and had strong contacts in the distribution networks throughout Canada, mainly in Windsor, Ontario, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Vancouver, British Columbia. The powerful Sicilian Cuntrera-Caruana and Rizzuto Families had also made Montreal a base of operations for their international narcotics and money laundering networks. The contacts and business deals Joseph Bonanno and Carmine Galante made in Palermo, Sicily in 1957 sevrved the Bonanno Crime family from the late 1950's to the present day. With the dismantling of the "French Connection" in 1970 the Sicilian La Cosa Nostra took over the lucrative world wide heroin manufacturing and distribution operations. These operations were led by the Sicilian Cupola(Commission). Importation of opium base was overseen by several of the more powerful clans in Sicily with access to large sea vessels. The distrabution of the Cupola's heroin was overseen by the powerful Gambino-Inzerillo-Spatola-DiMaggio clan, being they had a large number of blood relatives living throughout the United States and other countries around the world. The colossal narcotics network came to be known as the "Pizza Connection." The incredibly lucrative deals Galante was able to make with the Sicilian clans made the Bonanno Family a fortune, but since the other four New York Families were not sharing the risk, then Galante felt he should receive the majority of the profits. He accomplished this by making himself the collector of mafia taxes imposed on all narcotics importers on the East coast and then he set up his own lucrative distribution network in the United States. The other Bosses knew that with the vast narcotics revenues Galante was making he would not only become filthy rich, but also gain more power and this did not sit well with the Commission being they knew how ambitous and viscous Carnmine Galante could be. Galante hit a small wall on the road to total domination when he was arrested in returned to prison in 1978 for violating his parole by associating with known criminals. He relayed orders to his associates and Family members through his frequent visitor Anthony Spero. Carmine Galante received word in prison from the warden that there was going to be an attempt made on his life and mafia folklore has it that Galante was allowed armed guards to watch his cell at night. Galante was re-released on March 25, 1979. Carmine Galante had ordered some hits while he was in prison and they didn't go over well with the rest of the New York City Families or the Commission.

While Carmine Galante was in prison the final time, one of his next moves to gain more power was to murder some of the Latin and Black connected and sanctioned dealers that had taken over narcotics distribution territories that once belonged strictly to La Cosa Nostra in Brooklyn, Harlem, the Bronx, and New Jersey. When Genovese soldier Pasquale "Patty Mac" Macchiarole was murdered on May 22, 1978 and then seven other members and associates of the Genovese Family were murdered on Galante's orders for trying to muscle in on his drug operations, the other Families decided Lilo's viscousness had to be checked or there would be no limit to what Galante might try to do, such as hit some of the Commission members just like his old boss Joseph Bonanno tried to do. Philip "Rusty" Rastelli had long been soliciting the help of the Commission in dealing with Carmine Galante, but at first the Commission didn't want to give Galante an excuse to start a war. The Commission, along with prominent members of the Bonanno Crime Family and even old Don Joseph Bonanno who some say was consulted on the "Lilo problem" realized Carmine "Lilo" Galante's ambition, greed and viscousness had exceeded even the New York Families liking. Philip Rastelli received word in prison from his right hand man and messenger Joseph "Big Joey" Massino that his request to hit Galante had been sanctioned by the Commission. Only Colombo Family Boss Carmine "Junior" Persico voted against hitting Carmine Galante. Persico knew full well the wrath of Lilo's vengence if the hit failed, but was reassured that Galante's fate was sealed once he was told by Gambino Family Boss and Commission chairman, Paul "Big Paul" Cstellano that the "Zips" had sided with jailed Boss Philip Rastelli and would be in on the hit.

With a tough and feared adversary such as Carmine Galante the Commission was taking no chances since they knew the reprecussions of failure would be an all out war with Lilo. The Gambino Family Boss Paul "Big Paul" Castellano appointed Galante's hated enemy, Gambino Underboss Aniello "The Lamb" Dellacroce to oversee the hit with the Rastelli Faction members of the Bonanno Family. On July 12, 1979, Galante was dropped off by his driver and nephew, Bonanno Family Capo James Galante at Joe and Mary's Italian Restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn to have lunch. Carmine Galante felt very safe in this neighbourhood since it had been a Bonnano Family stronghold for over 50 years and his cousin and Bonnano Family soldier Giuseppe "Joe" Turano owned the restaurant. Galante had come to the restaurant for a lunch time meeting with associates and to say goodbye to Turano who was leaving for a vacation in Italy the next day. Lilo was soon joined by his bodyguards and two favorite "Zips" Cesare "The Tall Guy" Bonventre and Baldassare "Baldo" Amato (who were both carrying pistols), along with Bonanno Family Capo Leonardo "Nardo" Coppola. Long time Bonanno soldier Angelo "Little Moe" Presanzano also stopped by Carmine Galante's table to speek to Galante. Just as Galante finished his lunch of salad, fish and bottle of wine on the back patio and lit a cigar to relax, Angelo Presanzano complained of a stomach ache and decided he should leave the restaurant. A short time later, James Galante called the restaurant and asked "is my uncle still there,I'll be right over."

A few minutes later a blue Mercury Montego pulled up ouside of the restaurant and four masked men jumped out, three running into the restaurant while one stayed standing by the car with a rifle. The three masked men who entered the restaurant carried two shotguns and a pistol. The biggest man with the beer belly pointed his shotgun at the customers in the dining room and told every one to be quiet. Turano's son John called out for his father and ran for the pistol in the storage room, but was shot in the back by the biggest of the three masked men just as he reached the store room door. The other two masked men made their way to the patio and as Giuseppe Turano noticed the gunmen he cried out "what are you doing?" Within a matter of seconds Galante, Turano and Coppola all lay dead on the patio floor, the three masked men running out to the get away car and Galante's bodyguards Bonventre and Amato fleeing the scene without injury. The three masked shooters were Bonanno Family soldiers Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato who shot Joe Turano and Nardo Coppola with a shotgun, Russell Mauro who shot one of Galante's eyes out with a pistol and Bonnano Family CapoDominick "Big Trinny" Trinchera who was the big guy holding his shotgun on the dining room patrons and shot John Turano. The masked man outside as look out and get away driver was "Zip Faction" member Santo Giordano. Commen sense would dictate that since the two bodyguards never fired a shot to protect Galante and escaped without injury that they were part of the hit. Bonanno Family Capos Philip "Phil Lucky" Giaccone, Alphonse "Sonny Red" and Joseph "J.B." Indelicato alon with soldier Joseph "Big Joey" Massino were parked across the street from the restaurant in a crash car in case they were needed.

Shortly after the murders an F.B.I. surveillance team picked up a perspiring Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato being hugged and kissed on the cheeks by Gambino Family Underboss Aniello "Mr. Niel" Dellacroce and Bonanno Family Consigliere Stefano "Stevie Beefs" Cannone at Dellacroce's Ravenite Social Club in Little Italy, Manhatten. Indelicato came to the club to make a report to the two superior mafiosi that the Galante hit was a success. Bonanno Family soldiers Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato and Joseph "Big Joey" Massino were promoted to Capo by the new "Official Sitting Boss" of the Bonanno Family, Philip "Rusty" Rastelli for their good work and success in getting rid of the "Galante problem."

Rastelli Crowned Boss

Philip Rastelli was once more "Official Boss", but since he was in still in prison the Commission sanctioned long time and much respected Bonanno Family Capo, Salvatore "Sally Fruits" Farrugia as Acting Boss until Philip Rastelli is released from prison, but the Family's internal strife was far from over. Before Carmine Galante was murdered he succeeded in re-opening huge heroin and cocaine routes for North America and recruiting an army of Sicilian soldiers to oversee the operations for the Bonanno Family. A formerly unknown Middle Village, Queens bakery owner, Salvatore "Toto the Baker" Catalano was the "Zips Faction" leader or "Street Boss" and now the newly promoted Bonanno Crime Family Underboss to Philip "Rusty" Rastelli. Salvatore Catalano was the New York representative of the Sicilian La Cosa Nostra's "Cupola" or Commission and was overseer of East Coast heroin operations for the Sicilian Families. Salvatore Catalano was a very powerful Bonanno Crime Family member, but as with all of the Sicilian "Zips" their loyalty was to the Sicilian Cosca or Clan that they belonged to in Sicily and not the American La Cosa Nostra. Sal Catalano had been able to stay under law enforcement radar and never really came to their attention until the November 4, 1976 murder of the Bonanno Family's Bushwisk, Brooklyn, Knickerbocker Avenue "Street Boss" Peitro "Peter" Licata in front of his Middle Village, Queens home. After Licata's murder, Salvatore Catalano and his crew of "Zips" took control of all criminal operations on the Bushwick, Brooklyn, Knickerbocker Avenue territory and opened many legitamate business fronts for their narcotics operations like pizza shops, cafes and bars. Salvatore "Toto" Catalano a tough and feared Sicilian crew that had Bonanno Family Capo Caesar "The Tall Guy" Bonventre, and soldiers Baldassare "Baldo" Amato, Giuseppe "Buffalone" Ganci, Salvatore "The Little One" Mazzurco, Giovanni Ligammari and Giuseppe and Salvatore Lamberti in his crew. With the new "Sicilian" or "Zip Faction" in the Bonanno Family moving huge amounts of heroin from Sicily to North America the Sicilians were commanding two of the things needed to gain power in the underworld, "money' and "strength". With Galante dead,the Sicilians were now in command of the heroin pipeline and had made a deal with the other New York Family Bosses, where as Galante wouldn't share the wealth. The terms of agreement between the Sicilians and the New York Bosses regarding tribute payments for the "heroin franchise" were arranged on the afternoon of October 6,1980 at a sitdown between Salvatore Catalano, his right hand man Giuseppe Ganci and Gambino Family Boss and Commission chairman Paul "Big Paul" Castellano at Martini's Seafood Restaurant in Bay Ridge,Brooklyn. With Galante out of the way,now the money would go straight to Castellano himself, who would then hand the other Bosses their share. The "Pizza Connection" heroin network was in full swing and would continue to generate billions of dollars in profit foor years to come.

The 3 Capos

Even though the "Cigar Problem" had been dealt with, the "Zips" were now officially sanctioned as part of Philip Rastelli's Family and the current Bonanno Family regime was sanctioned by the Commission there was still very serious internal discord in the Family. By 1980 the Bonanno Crime Family was split into 4 Factions. The first Faction was the "Rastelli Faction" made up of Boss Philip "Rusty" Rastelli, Acting Boss Salvatore "Sally Fruits" Farrugia, Consigliere Stefano "Stevie Beefs" Cannone and Capos Joseph "Big Joey" Massino,Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano and Anthony The Old Man" Spero. The second Faction was the "Indelicato Faction" made up of Capos Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato, Philip "Phil Lucky" Giaccone, Dominick "Big Trinny" Trinchera, Joseph "J.B." Indelicato and Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato. The third faction was the "Zips Faction" made up of Underboss Salvatore "Toto" Catalano, Capos Caesare "The Tall Guy" Bonventre, Gerlando "George From Canada" Sciasca and Santo Giordano. The final Faction was made up of the Family's older Capos such as Joseph "Bayonne Joe" Zicarelli, Nicholas "Nicky the Battler" DiStefano, Matthew "Matty" Valvo, James "Fort Lee Jimmy" Capasso, William "Willie Glasses" Riviello and Vito DeFillipo. Powerful Bonanno Family Capo and East coast porn king, Michael "Micky Z." Zaffarano dies February 1980 and Queens, New York Capo Vincent "Vinny" Asaro decided to keep to himself and run his multi-million dollar car theft and chop shop operation and let the cards fall where they may. The Bonanno Family's "Montreal Faction" in 1980 was split, with the Cotroni-Calabrian Faction supporting Boss Philip Rastelli and the Rizzuto-Sicilian Faction supporting the New York "Zips". Three renegade Capos, Philip "Philly Lucky" Giaccone, Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato and Dominick "Big Trin" Trinchera began to openly question Philip Rastelli's leadership ability and apparently started plotting to overthrow him. The renegade Capos or "Indelicato Faction" had met with the "Westside" or the powerful Genovese Family Bosses and received their backing against Boss Phil Rastelli and his supporters. Philip Rastelli, through Capos Joseph Massino and Dominick Napolitano had reached out to the Gambino Family Bosses and received their backing against the renegade Capos.With the blessing of three of the New York Families, Philip Rastelli had the three renegade and disloyal Capos wiped out in a hit arranged by future Bonanno Family Boss Joseph "Big Joe" Massino.

The alleged “Boss” of the Mafia in Montreal Vito Rizzuto was extradited from Canada to the USA in August 2006 and will face charges in connection with the murder of three Captains of the Bonanno Family in 1981.

The Donnie Brasco Incident

Two of the men involved in the murder of the three rogue Bonanno men were Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero and his Capo Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano. He had become friendly with a man calling himself Donnie Brasco and had proposed him as a full member of the family, but unbeknownst to Napolitano, Brasco was in fact undercover FBI agent Joe Pistone. Numerous charges were aimed at members of the family following the evidence and testimony of Pistone and both Ruggiero and Rastelli received lengthy sentences and would die behind bars during the 1990s (both from cancer). Napolitano faced a worse fate - on August 17, 1981, he was shot in the basement of Ron Filocomo's house by Filocomo and Frank "Curly" Lino.

The Family Regroups Under Massino

Rastelli's death in 1991, following a period where he ruled the family from inside prison, saw the promotion of Massino to the top spot. Finally, the family had found a man who could reverse its fortunes. By promoting a far more secretive way of doing business, Massino not only concentrated on the narcotics trade as had become mandatory for a mob boss, but also in other areas less likely to draw the attention of the authorities than drugs, such as the Mafia's stock trades of racketeering, money laundering and loan sharking.

As a result, while the other families were finding their bosses targeted by the police for drug offences, Massino managed to keep his nose clean until the killing of Napolitano came back to haunt him. He and his underboss, Salvatore Vitale, were charged with the crime in 2003 following two of their capos turning themselves over as witnesses for the government. Vitale, who had until that point been utterly loyal to his boss, also faced a further murder charge and decided to switch sides himself, condemning Massino to life imprisonment. Capital punishment had been a possibility for Massino, but in 2004 he became the first serving boss to turn informant, sparing himself the ultimate penalty.

Massino is believed to be the man who pointed the FBI towards a spot in Ozone Park, Queens, called "The Hole", where the body of Alphonse Indelicato had been found in 1981. Told to dig a little deeper, authorities duly uncovered the remains of Dominick Trinchera and Philip Giaccone, as well as a body suspected to be that of John Favara, a neighbor of Gambino family boss John Gotti who had killed the mobster's son in a car/minibike accident, and paid with his life.

The Current Position of the Family

Massino is also believed to have provided the police with information on Vincent Basciano, the former Acting Boss of the Bonanno family. Before Massino became an informant himself, his 1st Acting Boss on the outside was Anthony "Tony Green" Urso, but his tenure was short-lived as he too was imprisoned on numerous charges, leading to Basciano taking control.

The authorities continue to plague the family, with present Acting Boss Michael "Mikey Nose" Mancuso facing murder charges and Basciano himself recently convicted on charges of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and illegal gambling. Basciano faces sentencing on September 22, 2006.

In July 2004, The New York Times reported that federal prosecutors in Brooklyn "say that over all, in the last four years, they have won convictions against roughly 75 mobsters or associates in a crime clan with fewer than 150 made members."[1]

Bosses of the Bonanno crime family

  • 1931–1964 — Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno. Patriarch of Family & Charter Commission member, chairman 1951-64. He led the Family for nearly 40 years and through its glory days. During "Don Peppino's" reign the Bonanno Family was considered the most tight knit Family due to the mostly Sicilian-Castellamarese membership and extended the family's influence and power into Canada and other countries such as Haiti. Joseph Bonanno out lived all of his closest peers to the ripe old age of 97, he died in Arizona May 12, 2002.
  • 1963–1964 — John "Johnny Burns" Morales (Acting Boss). While Joe Bonanno avoided subpoena's and the Commission by travelling to the places he had interests and Family members (crews) such as Arizona, California, Mid-West (Wisconson), Montreal (Canada), Cuba and Haiti.
  • By Spring of 1964 the Family had split into 2 Factions-Bonanno Loyalists & DiGregorio Faction. The Commission no longer recognizes Joseph Bonanno as Boss & protects the DiGregorio Faction. The February 1964 election of Bill Bonanno as Consigliere causes Gaspar DiGregorio to defect with Commission approval. On October 21, 1964 Bonanno Family Boss Joseph Bonanno is kidnapped & by the end of 1964 is clearly in control of only his Faction of 7 loyal Capos.Joseph Bonanno is deposed by the Commission and is no longer recognized as "Official Sitting Boss". For the near future, Joseph Bonanno avoids a bloody internal war by stepping down as Boss in December of 1964 and appoints 4 Capos, Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro, John Aquaro, Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo and Bill Bonanno as a "Committee" representing the "Bonanno Loyalists" and to report to the Commission.
  • 1965– 9 Man Committee. By December 1964, 9 Capos are appointed to oversee the Family affairs, included in this "Committee" are Bonanno Faction Capos Joseph Notaro and Thomas D'Angelo. The Committee Capos were Gaspar DiGregorio, Nicolino "Nick" Alfano, Angelo Caruso, Joseph "Little Joe" Notaro, Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola, Thomas "Smitty" D'Angelo, Paul Sciacca, Joseph DeFilippo, and Anthony "Toni" Cristi. The Committee's 3 senior Capos, Angelo Caruso, Nicolino Alfano and Gaspar DiGregorio report to the Commission until an "Official Boss" is chosen by the Family. It does not take long for the Commission to sanction the new Bonanno Crime Family Boss. By February 1965, with the help of his brother in law, Buffalo Crime Family Boss Stefano "The Undertaker" Magaddino, Gaspar DiGregorio is named "Sitting Boss" of the Bonanno Crime Family. The news hits the "Bonanno Loyalists" like a ton of bricks and Joseph Bonanno is outraged. The cold war between the "Bonanno Loyalists" and "DiGregorio Faction" starts to heat up.
  • 1965–1968 — Gaspar "Gasparino" DiGregorio (Commission sanctioned). Former Joseph Bonanno loyalist and godfather to his son Bill, Gaspar "Gasparino" DiGregorio is chosen as the first officially sanctioned Boss of the Bonanno Crime Family since Joseph Bonanno is deposed early 1965. The Commission and Gaspar's brother in law, Buffalo Family Boss Stefano "The Undertaker" Magaddino eventually lose faith in his ability as a leader due to the January 1966 botched hit on Bill Bonanno. They leave him to a less than monumental reign without their support. He has a heart attack in late 1966 and by mid 1967 Capo and DiGregorio aide, Paul Sciacca is Acting Boss. Gaspar DiGregorio has another heart attack in 1968 and officially retires, he basically dies unknown in 1970.
  • 1966–1968 — The Bananas War. By the time of Joseph Bonanno's kidnapping the Family is torn apart, both Factions viaing for supremecy and the right to lay claim to Family controlled rackets and businesses. On January 28, 1966 "Bonanno Faction" leaders Bill Bonanno, Joe Notaro, Frank LaBruzzo & Carl Simari are ambushed on Trautman St. in Brooklyn by "DiGregorio Faction" shooters led by Frank Mari. Joseph Bonanno comes out of hiding May 17, 1966 to lead his forces against DiGregorio's and the Commission. The rival Factions shoot it out, and the news labels it the "Bananas War" from 1966-69. Finally when "Bonanno Faction" leader Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno has a heart attack in 1968 he retires to his remaining regime and interests in Arizona, the internal warring doesn't end until 1969.
  • 1967–1968 — Paul Sciacca (Acting Boss). Gaspare DiGregorio's health deteriorates and he no longer has the Commission's support. DiGregorio's aide and war chief, Capo Paul Sciacca goes on to lead the war torn Bonanno Crime Family as Acting Boss or Street Boss with Underboss Pietro "Skinny Pete" Crociata as Gaspar DiGregorio's health is failing and leaves the day to day business affiars of the Family to others. Paul Sciacca continues the war with the "Bonanno Loyalists."
  • 1968–1971 — Paul Sciacca (Commission sanctioned). Gaspar DiGregorio and Peter Crociata both officially retire in 1968. With the retirement of the Digregorio-Crociata regime, Paul Sciacca takes official control of the Bonanno Crime Family in 1968. By the time Sciacca's rule begins the Bonanno Family has 3 major "Factions." The "DiGregorio-Sciacca Faction" is made up of the old DiGregorio loyalists, while the old "Bonanno Faction" is now being led by Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola and the "Young Turks Faction" is led by Philip "Rusty" Rastelli and made up of the younger up and comers in the Family. Paul Scaicca's health is poor and in 1971 he is jailed on a narcotics violation.
  • 1971–1973 — Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola (Commission sanctioned). After the 1971 imprisonment of Boss Paul Sciacca, Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola succeeded in bringing the "Family Factions" together by naming Capo and Faction leader Philip "Rusty" Rastelli his Underboss and a senior "DiGregorio Faction" member, Nicolo "Nick" Alfano as Consigliere. Natale Evola's reign is short and he dies on August 28, 1973 of natural causes.
  • 1973– Philip "Rusty" Rastelli (Acting Boss, Commission sanctioned). With the August 28, 1973 death of Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola the Commission appoints Underboss Philip Rastelli as Acting Boss until a new Boss is chosen by the Family administration.
  • 1974–1975 — Philip "Rusty" Rastelli (Commission sanctioned). After several Family administration meetings and an official vote, Philip "Rusty" Rastelli is made "Official Boss" by the Bonanno Family Capos in January of 1974 and sanctioned by the Commission. Just like his predecessor, Rastelli's reign is cut short, not by death, but by an indictment in 1973 and his eventual conviction. In 1974 Bonanno powerhouse Carmine "Lilo" Galante was released from prison and used Rastelli's legal problems to usurp his control of the Family. Philip Rastelli was convicted in 1975 of extortion and given 10 years, but was still considered "Official Boss" and recognized by the Commission even while he was incarcerated, but Carmine Galante became the "defacto" Boss once Rastelli was in prison.
  • 1975–1979 — Carmine "Lilo" Galante. Carmine "Lilo" Galante or "The Cigar" as he was most often called, was released from prison in 1974 after serving 12 years for heroin dealing. He usurped control of the Bonnano Crime Family from Philip "Rusty" Rastelli, but was not sanctioned by the Commission. No matter whether he was officially a Capo or Boss, it shows you the power and fear Carmine Galante pocessed when all the Bonanno Crime Family administration members, Underboss Nicholos "Nicky Glasses" Marangello, Consigliere Stefano "Stevie Beefs" Canone and all the Capos are taking orders and paying tribute to "Lilo", he's the Boss! That is until the Sicilian "Zips" he recruited kill him July 12, 1979 during lunch in Joe & Mary's Italian Restaurant on Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
  • 1979–1983 — Salvatore "Sally Fruits" Farrugia (Acting Boss). After the Carmine Galante hit Sally Farrugia is sanctioned by the Commission as Acting Boss or Street Boss of the Bonanno Family until Rastelli gets out of prison in 1983. Boss Philip Rastelli relays messages & orders to Acting Boss Salvatore Farrugia through his frequent visitor in prison Capo Joseph "Big Joey" Massino, who will soon become the true power on the street.
  • 1979–1991 — Phillip "Rusty" Rastelli. Philip Rastelli is released from prison in 1983. The Bonanno Crime Family Boss from late 1960's-mid 1990's is recognized and sanctioned by the Commission, but has no seat due to the former internal stife & the 1981 "Donnie Brasco" inncident which further humiliates the Family. Philip "Rusty" Rastelli will spend most of his reign as Boss behind bars. The true power in the Bonnano Crime Family since 1981 is Underboss Joseph "Big Joey" Massino. By the mid 1980's Joey Massino is powerful enough to take complete control of the Bonanno Crime Family, but out of respect for his mentor and "Unc" Philip Rastelli he waits until Rastelli dies. In 1987 Philip Rastelli and Joseph Massino are convicted of extortion and handed sentences of 12 & 10 years. In June of 1991, Philip Rastelli is near death and is let out of prison for humanitarian reasons and dies three days later on June 24, 1991.
  • 1987–1993 — Anthony "The Old Man" Spero (Acting Boss, Commission sanctioned). When Bonanno Crime Family Boss and Underboss Philip Rastelli and Joseph Massino sent to prison in 1987, they leave Consigliere Anthony "The Old man" Spero as Acting Boss. Future Underboss Salvatore "Good Looking Sal" Vitale be Anthony Spero's right hand man and become "Street Boss" from 1991-92.
  • 1991–2005 — Joseph "Big Joey" Massino. Philip "Rusty" Rastelli dies on June 24, 1991 at age 73. From prison Joseph Massino orders Consigliere Anthony Spero & Salvatore Vitale to have the Capos vote for a new "Official Boss", this is done 3 days after Rastelli's wake by the Family's 10 top Capos at the Staten Island, New York home of Capo Charles "Crazy Charlie" Musillo. Joey Massino has been the true power in the Family since the 1981 3 Capos hit and is chosen "Official Sitting Boss" without question while still in prison. Joseph "Big Joey" Massino is released from prison November 13, 1992. By the mid 1990's the Genoves, Gambino, Lucchese and Colombo Crime Family Bosses Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, John "Johnny Boy" Gotti, Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Victor "Little Vic" Orena are all in prison and Joseph "Big Joey" Massino has a Commission seat and is Commission chairman. With the 1997 conviction of Genovese Crime Family Boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, Joseph "Big Joe" Massino is the only New York "Sitting Boss" not in prison and becomes the most powerful gangster in North America! He braught the Family back to glory once more, only to destroy it like no other Boss in it's history! Joey Massino is arrested January 9, 2003, convicted July 30, 2004, defected September 2004, directs authorities to Queens, New York mafia graveyard & wears a wire at meetings in jail with Acting Boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano on December, 2004 & January, 2005. The "Last Godfather" is sentenced to 2 life senteces June 23, 2005. "The First & Only New York, La Cosa Nostra Sitting Boss To Become A Rat!"
  • 2003–2004 — Anthony "Tony Green" Urso (Acting Boss). Anthony Urso who was Acting Consigliere at the time, is made Acting Boss by Joseph Massino in January, 2003. Bonanno Crime Family Capo and "Ruling Panel" member James "Big Louie" Tartaglione is indicted and decides to defect, he wears a wire at Bonanno Crime Family administration meetings. Anthony Urso is indicted and jailed January, 2004. He pleads out February 11, 2005 and faces life in prison.
  • 2004– Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano (Acting Boss). Bronx Capo Vincent Basciano is made Acting Boss by Joseph Massino after Urso is arrested. He is indicted & jailed November, 2004 on one set of charges, then Boss Joseph Massino wears a wire on Basciano during meetings in jail December, 2004 & January, 2005. Vincent Basciano is again indicted on January 27, 2005. He is convicted May 9, 2006 for murder & racketeering, sentencing is schedualed for early 2007.
  • 2004–2006 — Michael "Mikey Nose" Mancuso (Acting Boss). After the arrest of Vincent Basciano, Bronx Based Capo Michael Mancuso is made Acting Boss by Joseph Massino in November, 2004. He is indicted & arrested February 16, 2006 and is currently in jail.
  • sidenote-Bonanno Crime Family Acting Consigliere Anthony "Mr. Fish" Rabito was also indicted and arrested June, 2005 with 12 other Bonanno Crime Family members and associates such as highly regarded soldier Salvatore Scudiero on gambling charges. We shall see what the future holds for the Family?

Other members

References

  • 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
  • Sille, Alexander. Exellent 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
  1. ^ [1]"Mob Family's Undoing, a Turncoat at a Time," by William K. Rashbaum, news article in The New York Times, July 3, 2006, Web page accessed on July 3, 2006
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