This is just an updated chart of the San Jose branch of La Cosa Nostra. The crime family is no longer around. There's only a few old members still living. At one time there were two crime families operating in the San Jose area, the Cerrito crime organization and the Bonanno crime organization. The Bonanno's had three crews on the West Coast, one of them was in San Jose, CA. The other two were in Tucson, Arizona.


Members of the San Jose Mafia Family

Adragna, Vito
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* formerly associated with Pittsburgh Mafia Family
* brother of George Adragna, member of Pittsburgh Mafia Family
* owner of the ACME Vending Company
* born on May 1, 1917 in New York City
* passed away on April 7, 2008 in San Jose

America, Carlo
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* took over Frank's Pizza, Millbrae, from Gaetano Gambrioli in 1977
* owner of Pizza Jack's
* born around 1937 in Porticello, Sicily
* reported to be still alive and living in San Jose

Anzalone, Dominick "Dom"
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* formerly associated with Pittsburgh Mafia Family
* moved to San Jose in 1961
* born on February 11, 1903 in Ventimiglia, Sicily
* passed away on November 14, 1983 in San Jose

Bracco, Larry
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born around 1947 in San Jose
* reported to be still alive and living in Sacramento

Buffa, Frank
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* based in Modesto
* born on January 1, 1910 in New York City
* passed away on January 8, 1987 in Modesto

Cammarata, Alex
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born on November 6, 1905 in Palermo, Sicily
* passed away on April 23, 1976 in Martinez

Carbone, Charles "Charlie"
* underboss of San Jose Mafia Family
* black hand figure in Johnsonburgh, PA before moving to San Jose
* born on February 14, 1891 in Santo Stefano, Calabria
* passed away on June 18, 1975 in San Jose

Cerrito, Joseph Xavier
* boss of San Jose Mafia Family from 1959 until 1978
* born on January 25, 1911 in Villabate, Sicily
* passed away on September 7, 1978 in San Jose

Cerrito, Salvatore
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* brother of Joseph
* born around 1913 in Villabate, Sicily
* passed away on December 5, 1978 in Los Gatos

Chiri, Joseph "Joe"
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born on January 23, 1885
* passed away on November 19, 1978 in San Jose

Costanza, Salvatore "Sal C"
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born on May 12, 1912 in Borgetto, Sicily
* passed away on January 20, 1994 in Contra Costa County

Cusenza, Joseph
* capo of San Jose Mafia Family
* based in Modesto
* born on October 23, 1893 in San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily
* killed in a car crash in 1961

Cusenza, Leo
* capo of San Jose Mafia Family
* based in Modesto
* son of Joseph
* became a capo when his father died
* born on May 4, 1913 in San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily
* passed away on March 25, 1995 in Modesto

Ditri, Antonio "Tony D"
* soldier
* born around 1929 in Palermo, Sicily
* passed away in 2005

Ditri, Donato "Dan"
* soldier
* brother of Antonio Ditri
* born around 1932 in Palermo, Sicily
* reported to be still alive and living in Sunnyvale

Figlia, Emanuel Joseph "Manny"
* boss of San Jose Mafia Family from 1983 until 1995
* married to sister of Joseph Cerrito
* owner of the 13th Street Car Dealership
* born on March 1, 1918 in New York City
* passed away on September 25, 2009 in San Jose

Giammona, Angelo
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* based in Modesto
* formerly associated with Detroit Mafia Family
* born around 1913 in Detroit
* passed away in 1983

Guttadauro, Mariano
* consigliere of San Jose Mafia Family
* retired and moved to Italy in 1995
* born on January 9, 1911 in Porticello, Sicily
* passed away on July 22, 2001 in Palermo, Sicily

Maestri, Frank
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* owner of Frank-Lin Distillers
* born on August 5, 1918 in San Francisco
* passed away on July 9, 2008 in San Jose

Marino, Angelo "Don Marino"
* boss of San Jose Mafia Family from 1978 until 1983
* son of Salvatore Marino, member of Pittsburgh Mafia Family
* owner of the California Cheese Company
* born on May 31, 1924 in Sharon, PA
* passed away on February 9, 1983 in San Jose

Marino, Salvatore
* capo of San Jose Mafia Family
* son of Angelo
* became a made member in 1977
* born around 1948 in Sharon, PA
* reported to be still alive and living in San Jose

Misuraca, Pietro "Pete Mayo"
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* brother of John Misuraca, member of Profaci Mafia Family
* born on December 3, 1905 in Palermo, Sicily
* passed away on January 7, 1988 in San Jose

Morici, Philip Octavio
* capo of San Jose Mafia Family
* born on January 14, 1888 in Palermo, Sicily
* passed away on December 29, 1972 in San Jose

Morici, Anthony "Tony"
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* co-owner of the Contadina Tomato Sauce Company
* born around 1905 in Chicago
* passed away in 1963

Napolitano, Thomas Dominick "Tommy"
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born on December 1, 1922 in San Jose
* Passed away on Jan 2, 2012 in Contra Costa County

Novello, Thomas "Tom"
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* manager of the California Cheese Company
* last member to be made in 1982
* born on September 2, 1951 in Palermo, Sicily
* reported to be still alive and living in San Jose

Nicosia, Thomas
* consigliere of San Jose Mafia Family
* born around 1896 in Palermo, Sicily
* passed away on June 26, 1966 in San Jose

Piazza, Joseph Louis
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born on April 7, 1936 in San Francisco
* passed away on February 24, 2005 in Stockton

Scavuzzo, Antonio "Tony"
* capo of San Jose Mafia Family
* born around 1891 in Trapani, Sicily
* passed away in 1986

Sciortino, Onofrio
* boss of San Jose Mafia Family from 1942 until 1959
* born on April 17, 1891 in Bagheria, Sicily
* passed away on September 10, 1959 in San Jose

Sorce, Frank
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* ran illegal gambling in Redwood City
* born on October 11, 1916 in New York City
* passed away on January 31, 1985 in Monterey

Vassalo, Salvatore Andrea
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born on September 13, 1897 in Castellammare Del Golfo, Sicily
* passed away on June 5, 1982 in San Jose

Vicari, Joseph
* underboss of San Jose Mafia Family
* owner of the Alum Rock Grocery Store
* born on November 2, 1887 in Palermo, Sicily
* passed away on November 18, 1957 in San Jose

Zoccoli, Stefano "Steve"
* consigliere of San Jose Mafia Family
* formerly associated with Pittsburgh Mafia Family
* moved to San Jose in 1933
* born on April 29, 1894 in Santo Stefano, Calabria
* passed away on September 29, 1976 in San Jose


San Jose Mafia Family associates

1. Leo Chargin (50's-70's) San Jose based associate. Owned the Caravan Lounge in San Jose.
2. Dominick Montano (70's-80's) Close associate of Angelo Marino.
3. Antonino "Nino" America (70's-1995) Brother of San Jose soldier Carlo America. Owned Grande Pizza in San Jose. Died in 1995.
4. Salvatore Novello (70's-80's) Brother of San Jose mobster Thomas Novello. Living back in Sicily.
5. Vincenzo "Vince" Novello (70's-2007) Brother of Thomas Novello.
6. Salvatore "Dopey" Vaccaro (80's-Pr) San Jose based methamphetamine dealer in the 80's and 90's.
7. Ernest "Ernie" Casetta (50's-Pr) San Jose based associate. The owner of Ernie's Used Car Dealership in San Jose. Still alive at the age of 91.
8. Stephen Rosario Cerrito (60's-Pr) Son of San Jose boss Joseph Cerrito. Took over his father's car dealerships after Joseph died in 1978. Was arrested for money laundering in 1990. Current owner of City Canvas in San Jose. Still alive and living in Los Gatos at the age of 69.
9. Salvatore Anthony Cerrito (60's-Pr) Son of San Jose boss Joseph Cerrito. Was arrested for money laundering with his brother.
10. Andrew "Andy" DiDomenico (70's-80's) Was an associate before becoming an informant during Marino's murder trial in the early 80's. Owned Dom's Shoe Repair Co. in San Jose.
11. Orlando Catelli (70's) Was an associate who was shot before watching his son get murdered in 1977.
12. Joseph Perrucci (40's-70's) Owned Mayfair Packing with a partner.
13. Alfred John Salciccia (60's-Pr) San Jose based associate. Was involved in marijuana smuggling from Mexico to San Jose in the 60's and 70's. The manager of Tony and Alba's Pizza in San Jose.
14. Richard Salciccia (70's-Pr) Brother of Alfred. Owns a San Jose Insurance Company. Was a member of the Salvatore Marino Crew in the 80's and 90's.
15. Thomas Salciccia (60's-Pr) Brother of Alfred and Richard. Longtime San Jose Lawyer, represented Joseph Cerrito, Angelo Marino and a number of other San Jose mobsters. Still alive at the age of 82.
16. Jack Matchak (40's-90's) Was the Manager of the California Cheese Company.
17. Barry Bracco (70's-Pr) Brother of San Jose mobster Larry Bracco.
18. Augustine "August" Figlia (50's-80's) Brother of San Jose mobster Manny Figlia.
19. Leo Cusenza (40's-1966) Brother of Joseph Cusenza and member of the Modesto Crew of the San Jose Mob. Passed away in 1966.
20. Frank Rao (50's-70's) Owned Rao's Market in Los Gatos. Was a close friend of Joseph Cerrito.
21. Giovanni "Johnny" Sparacio (80's-Pr) San Jose based associate. Owned Antonelli's Italian Restaurant with a Partner. Was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in 1997. Now lives in New Jersey.
22. George "The Irishman" Rich (80's-2011) San Jose based cocaine trafficker. The second owner of the Caravan Lounge. Passed away in 2011.
23. Joseph Campagna (40's-1997) Close friend of Angelo Marino. Owned Campagna's Shoe Repair from 1931 till 1966.
24. Vito Picciurro (60's-70's) Sicilian Mafia member who lived in the San Jose area.
25. Frank Bernard (40's-1985) Close friend of Angelo Marino.
26. Jack Allen (50's-90's) Owned Paolo's Restaurant in San Jose. His restaurant was the meeting place of the San Jose Family from 1960-1982.
27. Salvatore Campagna (70's-Pr) Close friend of Angelo Marino.
28. Phil Arena (80's-Pr) San Jose based gambling figure. Was involved in an illegal slot machine operation with Vito Adragna in the 80's and 90's. Owned the E&J Liquor Store on 13th Street.
29. Joseph Curcio (70's-Pr) Was involved in illegal gambling with Vito Adragna.
30. Dominick Ferrito (60's-70's) Was a close associate who was involved in drug trafficking. Lived in Los Banos, CA. Member of the Modesto Crew.
31. Anthony Vicari (40's-60's) Brother of San Jose mobster Joseph Vicari.
32. Louis "Babe" Rocca (50's-2005) Former owner of Original Joe's Restaurant. Was involved in illegal gambling.
33. Ray Bily (50's-70's) Former owner of the Alum Rock Cheese Co. and close friend of the Marino's.
34. Peter Piazza (60's-80's) One-time driver of Angelo Marino, brother of San Jose mobster Joseph Piazza.
35. Antonino "Nino" Aiello (60's-80's) San Jose based associate.
36. John "Johnny D" DeRose (70's-Pr) San Jose based associate and pimp. Still living at the age of 68.


San Jose associates of other LCN families

1. George Adragna (70's-1984) Soldier in the Pittsburgh Crime Family and brother of San Jose mobster Vito Adragna. Was based in the San Jose area in the 70's and early 80's.
2. Salvatore "Sam" Marino (60's-1974) Caporegime in the Pittsburgh Crime Family and father of Angelo Marino. Was based in the San Jose area in the 60's and early 70's.
3. Anthony "Tony" Maggio (70's-90's) Soldier in the Philadelphia Mob. His niece was married to Angelo Marino. Lived in Redwood City, CA from 1975-1998. Died in 1998 at age 93.


San Jose Crew of the Bonanno Mafia Family

Bonanno, Salvatore "Bill"
* consigliere
* based in San Jose
* son of Joseph Bonanno
* owner of the US Mattress Company
* born on November 5, 1932 in New York City
* passed away on January 1, 2008 in Tucson, AZ

DiGirolamo, James "Jimmy Styles"
* soldier
* based in San Jose
* Godson of Joseph Bonanno
* owner of San Jose Construction
* no longer living

Guestella, Nicolo "Nick"
* capo
* based in San Jose
* identified in 1964 as a captain
* born on October 22, 1895 in Capeci, Sicily
* passed away on November 29, 1977 in Monterey

Mule, Prospect Salvatore
* soldier
* based in Monterey
* born on March 27, 1923 in New York City
* passed away on August 18, 1996 in Monterey

Bonanno associates in San Jose

Bonanno, Joseph Jr. "Joey"
* associate
* son of Joseph Bonanno
* owner of Kachina Fashions
* born around 1946 in Tucson, AZ
* passed away in 2005

Dalis, Louis
* associate
* co-owner of the Garden City Casino
* no longer living

Dalis, Nick Jr.
* associate
* nephew of Louis Dalis
* co-owner of the Garden City Casino
* busted for tax evasion in the early 1990s
* reported to be still alive and living in San Jose

Insana, Anthony
* associate
* became an informant for the FBI during Bill Bonanno's 1985 home repair scam case

Dorn, Michael
* associate
* went to prison for grand theft in 1964
* not known if he is still living

This is a good list, Stern. Do you have one on the San Francisco Family?

I appreciate that. It was originally made by a guy on the Real Deal forum and then posted on here by an old member from this forum. I just updated it a little bit. Glad you like it. I'd have to check to see if there's any charts that people did of SF. I remember seeing an old one somebody posted on this forum a long time ago. The SF family was one of the smallest and was more like a crew. Happy Holidays!

Also, Angelo Marino, former boss of San Jose and son of Pittsburgh made mobster Salvatore Marino who owned the Sharon Cheese Company, took over his dad's cheese company and sold it to Sargento for well into the tens of millions of dollars. Sal Marino was a Pittsburgh Capo from Sharon, PA which is just over the state line from Youngstown, OH. Sal Marino worked under Frank Amato Sr. who was boss in Pittsburgh from 1937-1956. Sal Marino retired around 1965-1967 and sent his son Angelo to run the California Cheese Company in San Jose which he founded in 1949. The Marino's had very close ties to John LaRocca and Frank Amato from Pittsburgh, as I know for a fact that John LaRocca's son got over $4 million when the Marino's sold the company to Sargento. In fact, LaRocca had no idea that his dad put up a chunk of the money to help Salvatore and Angelo get started with their business in San Jose. IMO, it's hard to find guys as stand up as the Marino's or the LaRocca's who actually pay back somebody who they owe a gratitude. Big John was dead, so his son would have had no idea as he was a LIUNA 1058 officer and was legitimate.

JCB, you just hit the nail on the head. Angelo Marino was a Stand Up Guy. About as stand up as it gets. Most of the people that owned pizza places and Italian restaurants in the South Bay bought their cheese from Angelo and I heard he gave them great deals and was always very kind to his customers. But I did hear if you didn't buy cheese from him he would give you a hard time until you did. His father Salvatore was a great guy from what I've heard and so is Angelo's son Salvatore. Angelo named his son Salvatore after his father.

America, Carlo
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* took over Frank's Pizza, Millbrae, from Gaetano Gambrioli in 1977
* owner of Pizza Jack's
* born around 1937 in Porticello, Sicily
* reported to be still alive and living in San Jose

Bracco, Larry
* soldier of San Jose Mafia Family
* born around 1947 in San Jose
* reported to be still alive and living in Sacramento

Ditri, Donato "Dan"
* soldier
* brother of Antonio Ditri
* born around 1932 in Palermo, Sicily
* reported to be still alive and living in Sunnyvale

Marino, Salvatore
* capo of San Jose Mafia Family
* son of Angelo
* became a made member in 1977
* born around 1948 in Sharon, PA
* reported to be still alive and living in San Jose

this is what remains of a family.

You missed Tom Novello and 14 associates still alive. But that's ok.

great work stern, thx again

The Marino family still carries some weight in Western Pennsylvania, as they were such a huge family, there are still relatives that live in the area. One of Angelo's nephews actually runs a book in Lawrence County (Sharon, Hermitage, New Castle, PA). Big John LaRocca, who was a true peacemaker and very respected around the country was particularly very close to the Marino clan. FYI-The Valenti brothers were also made in Pittsburgh and LaRocca supported them in starting their operations in Rochester, NY. When LaRocca emigrated from Italy, he actually settled in Jamestown, NY and then to Pittsburgh, which is why he had a few fingers in the Erie, PA pie as well as Rochester.

Great info JCB.

Great work Stern.

Thanks guys! Actually another person deserves all the credit. I let him know through some emails you guys like his work and it made him happy. I just added a little more info to it. After Manny Figlia became the boss in 1983, when Angelo Marino died, there were a few guys that wanted to be underboss, one was Vito Adragna and the other was Mariano Guttadauro. Many favored Adragna over Guttadauro even though Guttadauro was the consigliere, because Adragna was much younger and shared the wealth, he was not greedy. Guttadauro was old and not very well. So that's why they remained without an underboss for so many years. Figlia decided to keep it vacant. The family were only around for about another 12 year after that.

Here is a snippet of information about the Marino family and John LaRocca from Pittsburgh. Scroll down to page 13, last paragraph and read the file from there. Very interesting stuff.

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=114355&relPageId=13

Good stuff, thanks for the post JCB.

Did not know family was so small.

Here is some information on San Jose after the release of the Life Magazine Article that outed Joe Cerrito and his small, but profitable family:

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=90417&relPageId=1

Here is more information on San Jose/San Francisco

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=90783&relPageId=1

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=91934&relPageId=1