i forgot one. carmine lombardozzi, the master shylock and stock market fraudster. He was very intelligent.

Carmine Lombardozzi hardly ever gets metnioned. They used to call him "The Italian Meyer Lansky". A truly interesting individual and like Lansky, a large portion of his life is shrouded in mystery. Lombardozzi was also like a father to Danny Marino, one of the few brights ones left.

RIchie the boot Boiardo

Not Vinny Gorgeous

Carmine "The Doctor" Lombadozzi 18 Dec. 1913- 10 May 1992

Lombardozzi's record as a criminal began in 1929. Early arrest records include charges of vehicular homicide, burglary, unlawful entry, carrying a concealed weapon and rape.
He was apparently discharged from the army in WW2 for displaying psychopathic behaviour.

He owned a large portfolio of real estate and owned an optical company which held the contract for eye glasses for the International Longshoreman's Association.

While a financial genius who made millions for the mob, he was never far from controversy. At the infamous Appalachian meeting he was forced to wait in the garage while the Dons mulled over his fate for alleged misappropriation of mob money.

He was partners with John "Sonny" Franzese and watched over the rackets of Frank "Frankie Shots" Abbatemarco while he served time in the 1950's.

C.L was involved with the Gallo Bros. in jukebox, vending and pinball machine rackets. When Frankie Shots Abbatemarco was shot and killed at Cardiellos tavern on 4th Ave. Brooklyn by (allegedly) Josheph "Joe Jelly" Gioelli it was suspected it was at the behest of the Gall/Lombardozzi alliance.

His final indignity was suffered when he was forced to divorce his wife of 27 years, when a Profaci soldier (I'm not sure who) claimed his daughter was pregnant as the result of an affair with Lombadozzi. (He married the girl)

7 Nov.1958 C.L denies involvement at govt. inquiry into shady wall street deals.

1 Sept.1959 Indicted for stock fraud.

6 March.1961 Sentenced to 3 years for stock swindles along with Arthur "Artie Todd" Tortorello and Joe Grasso.

3 April.1963 At Carmine Lombardozzi's fathers funeral, FBI agent John Foley is beaten by three of Carmines brothers and two nephews. After a trial on 24 Jan.1964 all are sentenced to 20 months.

29 April.1963 Indicted on tax fraud

30 Dec.1964 C.L suspected of extortion of Kaplan Jewellers Inc of 52 W/47th ST. His brother John Lombardozzi is charged with stealing $94362.00

27 Aug.1965 C.L and 5 family members are arrested after a melee with police at a Brooklyn reastraunt.

22 Aug.1968 C.L and former Baltimore magistrate J.Yamin are arrested in a conspiracy to steal customers cheques.

20 Feb.1969 C.L indicted on conspiracy to defraud IRS.

12 Jun.1970 C.L sentenced to 1 year in stolen cheque case. He conspired to cash $50,000.00 in stolen brokerage cheques.

1 Jun.1976. C.L was sentenced to 18 months. (Not sure what charges this related to)

Apparently, his name was in contention as a candidate for the top job following the deaths of both Carlo Gambino and Paul Castellano. This of course did not eventuate and he remained one of the top Gambino captains until his death at home, of heart attack on May 10 1992.

While financially successful, some of the fuckups in his career definitely remove him from he league of some of the other giants on this list. In my humble opinion.

Good post. Agreed. If I remember correctly, a funny story told by Cantalupo, tells of how Cantalupo indirectly gave Lombardozzi the craps when Lombardozzi started to date a former girlfriend of his.

The soldier who claimed his daughter was pregnant was Sabato Muro aka Sammy Mints, a Gambino member and member of Lombardozzi´s crew. Muro was later, in 1967 shelved for unknown reason. Lombardozzi was demoted from his captain´s rank around 1965, probably becuse of his affair with Muro´s (a made guy) daughter. Lombardozzi was never promoted to captain again.

I did not know he was never bumped back to captain again. I thought he remained a capo and his crew was ultimately taken over by danny marino and he sort of remained as an elder statesman of sorts. I read from several places that he was considered as boss after Gambino and castellano, could this happen if he wasn't at least a capo or is this just bullshit stories.

Probably bullshit stories and wild speculations by outsiders. Lomdardozzi was def not considered for the top spot after Castellano was killed. Gotti would not have allowed that.

Here´s the succession line of Lombardozzi´s crew:

- Lombardozzi, demoted in 1965
- Joseph Gennaro, crew split between Gennaro and Jimmy "Brown" Failla in 1967. Gennaro died in 1968 and was replaced by Jimmy Corrao.

Danny Marino was made in the 1970s, into Failla´s crew and was given a crew to run around 1987, seperate from Failla´s.

Giacomo tocco , has defo got to be up there . He has been boss since 1979 , and has been largely untouched by the law , he must command great respect as the family has only ever had one rat , he has been able to adapt and change with the times , the old bosses never had to deal with Rico , wiretaps and rats which make tocco even more remarkable , it just goes to show sticking to traditional mob staples works

The smartest made guy I ever personally knew was Joe Falcone.The guy went back to pre Castellammarese War days. Buffalo capo, was acting under boss for two years, was the de-facto boss outside of Buffalo proper during the Randaccio years, and made those small upstate NY cities gold mines.Used the LIUNA pension fund like an investment banker and never took a pinch for it. Never served a day in prison, was vindicated by the US supreme court for his role at Appalachian, and was the broker of the fragile peace between Steve Maggadino and Russ Buffalino for decades. Died peacefully in his home of natural causes

Frank Costello - he had real brains.

Joe Doto, better known as Joe Adonis.