Mob guys are famous for handing out nicknames to their fellow hoodlums based on just about anything…Mikey the Geep, Black Louie, Tony the Dope, Sally the Blond, Cockeyed Nick, and so on. But among the most popular nicknames had to do with a guy’s size; Skinny Joey, Fat Tony, Big Angelo, Little Sammy, etc.

This next challenge involves seven different mafiosi, from seven separate Cosa Nostra Families throughout the United States. Each guy had a nickname related to his small stature...The "little" guys of the mob!

Your job? — “Should you choose to accept it” — is to identify the true first and last name of each mafioso, then match the (letter) of their nickname, to the corresponding (number) of the Family or city they were affiliated with.

A) Little Al
B) Little Moe
C) Little Joe
D) Little Vince
E) Little Joey
F) Little Jimmy
G) Little Willie

1) Bonanno
2) Chicago
3) Colombo
4) Detroit
5) Gambino
6) Kansas City
7) Lucchese

Think you got what it takes? Then give it a whirl.

Ok, its looks like I'm gonna have to get the ball rolling here. So here's the first reveal...
-
E-3 was Joseph “Little Joey” Brancato (Colombo)

Joey Brancato was a veteran Colombo Family soldier who served within the regime of legendary capo John “Sonny” Franzese. In fact, for many years, Brancato served under Franzese as the “acting capo” for their crew. With Franzese’s jailing in 1970 for a bank robbery conspiracy conviction, Brancato was then elevated as the new official crew chief.

A year later, in 1971, after the shooting of Family boss Joe Colombo, “Little Joey” was once again elevated and named as the “acting boss” over the entire Colombo Family.

He served in this capacity for several years, until later stepping down in favor of member Tommy DiBella, who assumed that role. After Carmine “The Snake” Persico was released from federal prison, DiBella in turn stepped down, in favor of Persico.

Check out this short I did recently on Joey Brancato....

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/14FxVynBy28

Even better, check out his full bio on the Button Guys website here:

https://thenewyorkmafia.com/joseph-brancato/

A - 7 : Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco (Lucchese)

Little piece of triva for you. When Casso wanted to kill Lucchese made guy Bruno Facciolo, he said that he was a rat and he knew it because his cop friends told him that a Lucchese soldier was an informant and, in one of his report, this informant used the nickname "Little Al" to refer to D'arco.

Apparently, Bruno Facciolo was the only guy in the Family who call D'Arco "Little Al" therefore he was the prime suspect.

That's the official story. The unofficial one is that Bruno Facciolo had a lot of guys around him and he was an influential figure in the Family. Casso feared he had enough power to make a move against him so he had him killed portraying him as an informant, like he did with all his potential rivals.

When you saw the nickname Little Al and the Lucchese's both listed, naturally, that's the automatic go to. Who could blame you? But in this particular case, thats incorrect. Letter A, and letter 7, refers to two different people.

For obviously reasons, I can't reveal the correct answers now (its too early in the challenge.) But when all is said and done, you'll see what I'm talking about. Ok, Malavita.

But good guess my man. Thats who I would have picked also.

B-1 was Angelo "Little Moe" Presinzano (Bonanno)

Angelo Presinzano was a longtime soldier of the old Bonanno Family. He was also a blood-cousin to the Family's notorious underboss, Carmine "Lilo" Galante.

Active in waterfront dock rackets in Lower Manhattan, gambling, narcotics, strong-arm work and murder. After Galante was paroled in the mid-1970s from his 20 year narcotics sentence, Presinzano became one of his closest aides and associates. Galante also elevated "Little Moe" to a caporegime post.

The next reveal is "Little Vince" or D-5


D-5 was Vincent “Little Vince” Meli (Detroit) *

Born in San Cataldo, Sicily back in 1921, once he came of age, Vincenzo “Little Vince” Meli was sponsored for formal membership and quickly inducted as a soldier into the infamous Detroit Partnership. He was the son of Frank Meli and the nephew of Angelo Meli, both of whom were regarded as top-ranked members and leaders of that borgata.

next on deck is....G-6


G-6 was William “Little Willie” Cammisano Jr. (Kansas City)

“Little Willie” Cammisano was the son of Kansas City, Missouri mob leader William “Willie the Rat” Cammisano. As the son and nephew of two top members of the Civella Family, by the late 1970s and 1980s, Little Willie himself would became a key member of that borgata.

next up to bat...C-7. This was Joseph “Little Joe” Defede (Lucchese)

“Little Joe” Defede was a longtime soldier of the Lucchese Family’s “Canarsie” Brooklyn crew who was later elevated to a capo status. With Family boss Vic Amuso’s jailing, Defede became one of those later “tapped” to serve as an “acting boss” in Amuso’s absence. But soon after rising to the heights of his mob career, Joe Defede was indicted and decided to turn federal informer.
---

......and then there were two.

Does anyone think they know who either Little Al or Little Jimmy are? Then ante up!

JoePuzzles? Malavita? everybody else......come on guys. I'm waiting on you. Do your thing fellas.

F-2 was James “Little Jimmy” Marcello (Chicago))

Jimmy Marcello was a respected, top-ranked member of the Outfit who later served within the hierarchy of the Family.

And now, to answer the question of who "Little Al" was that I alluded about to Malavita.

A-5 was Al “Little Al” Seru (Gambino)

With very little ever written or exposed about him, Al Seru was a little-known, but longtime veteran of the old Anastasia/Gambino Family.

Al Seru wraps up this latest edition of "mystery mobsters".....until next time.