Although each of the following crews operated semi-independently controlling their own territory, technically speaking, each was but one single “regime” of a much larger recognized Mafia Family.

That said — in your opinion — which one most resembled and operated as almost an independent Mafia “Family” unto themselves?

Choose the one you feel fits the bill, then please explain why you selected it.

A) The Joseph Falcone Regime (Utica-Syracuse, NY) for the [Magaddino Family]

B) The Frank Corbi Regime (Baltimore, MD) for the [Gambino Family]

C) The Frank “The Cigar” Piccolo Regime (Bridgeport, CT) for the [Gambino Family]

D) The Girolamo “Momo” Adamo Regime (San Diego, CA) for the [Dragna Family]

E) The Gabriel “Kelly” Mannarino Regime (New Kensington, PA) for the [LaRocca Family]

F) The Joseph “Joe Buff“ LaSelva Regime (Waterbury, CT) for the [DeCavalcante Family]

Only familiar with “Kelly” Mannarino, he was a powerful guy dealing with many top bosses.

Yes he was. Technically, he was a capo within Pittsburgh's John LaRocca Family. But he was put in charge of the city of New Kensington and thereafter operated almost like a Family boss over that entire area.

I'm curious how forum members feel about all these guys and the territories they ran. And which they feel was the most powerful and independent.

I believe he had also interests in Florida and Cuba.

Thats absolutely correct. For himself and on behalf of LaRocca, but he did operate there.

At least Mob Museum agrees with us hehe..

https://www.facebook.com/themobmuse...eers-in-western-pennsy/3637878986239525/

Hollander, although I agree with you about Mannarino also being active in Miami and Havana, that does not necessarily mean I agree that the Mannarino crew was the one regime of the six that most operated like a full-fledged "Family" unto themselves..

Thats why I posed the question the way I did. I'm also curious to see what others have to say.

Yes I know but it is my pick.

Yes, of course. And I think Mannarino was a respectable choice. I can also see the criteria utilized to make your decision.

Would Rochester under Valenti be in that category ?

And if a Cosa Nostra crew ,like those described,is off doing pretty much their oewn thing independently, how does that make them that much different than some of those Camorra and N"drangheta crews operating around the country ?

Havana, regarding Rochester, I’m not sure they fall into this category. They might. But as far as I know, by and large, they ‘were’ a full-fledged Cosa Nostra Family although there is definite debate as to whether or not they were actually recognized by New York’s Commission as such.

And I do agree with you — at least in theory — that in practice a highly independent single Cosa Nostra regime wouldn’t be all that much different than a Camorra faction, or an N’drangheta clan.

But the big difference is that even a single Cosa Nostra regime — no matter how independent and powerful they may be — is still “part” of a bonafide Cosa Nostra Family. Whereas, the Camorra or N’drangheta cell enjoys no such luxury in America. Understand what I’m trying to convey?
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Thats why I started this thread. I thought some people might find it an interesting discussion.

PS: I will say this. What you've presented here is definitely food for thought.

Youngstown is a good example of this

What would you label Rochester if it was a fact that New York's Commission definitely did not recognize Rochester as a "full fledged Cosa Nostra Family" ?
How then would Rochester be anything different that a Camorra Clan under a different name ?

That question would also assume that that Rochester was not only NOT recognized by the New York Commission as a full fledge Cosa Nostra Family,but assumong also that Rochester was totally Independent with the same kind of relationships or non relationships with Cosa Nostra Families as what Camorra Crews had? Whatever they would consider themselves,in reality might they be no more than maybe a Sicilian variety of what the Camorra and N'Drangheta were (not meaning that they were part of either of these either). Maybe like in Sicily where they have La Stidda

It is a fact Rochester wasn't recognized by the commission. They were a rogue Buffalo crew.

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Good questions, Havana.

Well, that’s an interesting concept to consider. To answer the first part of your question, assuming Rochester was not a “Commission” recognized Family, but more of a bastardized offshoot, then they would have been nothing more than a single “regime” who happened to be operating in a different geographical area. Much the same as some of the other crews we listed.

The obvious difference being that they had a more traditional hierarchical structure, if you will, with a boss, underboss, consigliere, capos, soldiers and associates. As opposed to a more loosely structured Camorra or N’drangheta clan, or some of the others listed above, which were generally structured with a capo, maybe an acting capo, soldiers and associates (typical of a single regime.) Another difference between Rochester and a Camorra or N’drangheta clan operating on U.S. turf is that — at different times — they were, in fact, directly affiliated as a recognized ‘regime’ who was ‘with’ a Cosa Nostra Family (Pittsburgh and/or Buffalo) before they allegedly branched out completely on their own.

Havana, that said, I will now try and respond to the second part of your question….the more hypothetical aspect of your question.

If, in fact, Rochester was a totally separate entity. Not even part of Cosa Nostra, not recognized by the Commission as a “Family,” or even a regime of a recognized Family, per se, but just off doing their own thing as an ‘independent’ organized crime group. One that may or may not have any sort of relationship/non-relationship with LCN.

Then, IMO, whether their membership was of Sicilian-origin or not, I would have to say that they would actually be pretty much the same as the many Camorra and Societa’ Onorato (N’drangheta) clans that operated around the country.
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PS: Havana, here's something you may find interesting. Frank Valenti's brother Stanley married the daughter of an old-time Calabrian-born power in Pittsburgh's LaRocca Family, Antonio Ripepi. It is thought that it is Ripepi who first backed the Valenti brothers in their endeavors. And, long before he ever tied up with the Sicilians, it is known that Tony Ripepi was a major much-respected figure among the Calabrian and Neapolitan underworld across the U.S.

So, as the old saying goes, "All roads lead to Rome"...or in this case, Calabria. Lol.

The obvious difference being that they had a more traditional hierarchical structure, if you will, with a boss, underboss, consigliere, capos, soldiers and associates. As opposed to a more loosely structured Camorra or N’drangheta clan, or some of the others listed above, which were generally structured with a capo, maybe an acting capo, soldiers and associates (typical of a single regime.) Another difference between Rochester and a Camorra or N’drangheta clan operating on U.S. turf is that — at different times — they were, in fact, directly affiliated as a recognized ‘regime’ who was ‘with’ a Cosa Nostra Family (Pittsburgh and/or Buffalo) before they allegedly branched out completely on their own.

Do you think that with Rico Laws used the way they are now,that there might be at least some advantage to being organized more like the Camorra than the Cosa Nostra ?

Not really. I think regardless of how they may try and operate, OC is in big trouble.

Here's my pick, or picks, ok. Because, to be fair about it, I do feel that more than one of these crews almost replicated a full-fledged Family at their peak. I'll list them in the order of which I feel was most like a family unto themselves;

#1. The Utica, New York regime headed by the Falcone brothers. At their peak, they were a deceptively large crew. (and back in the 1920s era, it is widely believed that they may, in fact, have actually been a small autonomous borgata that was later absorbed into Buffalo's Magaddino Family with the formation of Cosa Nostra in 1931.)

#2. The New Kensington, PA regime headed by the Mannarino brothers. At their peak, this network was also very large, diversified and widespread in both rackets and territory. (as Hollander had previously pointed out.)

#3. IMO, it is a tie between the Baltimore, MD regime headed by Frank Corbi, and the Bridgeport, CT regime headed by Frank Piccolo. Both of these crews controlled a very large swatch of territory and I think there are valid reasons to pick each of them.

The other two regimes listed, IMO at least, never held the same power or controlled as much as the other crews did. (just an educated opinion on my part.)
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PS: Honorable mention: Ben54 said Youngstown, OH. I agree with him on this. (But I was saving Youngstown for another opinion piece, lol)