http://www.americanmafia.com/Allan_May_9-18-00.html

Here is a thirteen year old article or summary on the war. DeCologero is mentioned but in no way was he a leader. If anything, he appeared to play a bit part.

The scary part is that he was the boss after Bruno was killed, or so the papers claimed.

What you need to do is read Rogue Mobster: The Untold Story of Mark Silverman and The New England Mafia. Plenty info and then some about DeCologero and the renegade faction. He supposedly played both sides being in with Paul and also being in business with Paul's enemies. Good book I'd recommend it for sure

i read a bit of that book he says that a few of those guys were using heroin too.

Without a doubt A.A. shouldn't ever have held the leaders position over the Genovese guys in Springfield. Western Mass for that matter. But here's the thing, he was never actually promoted to captain. Adolfo Bruno was the official Genovese capo over Springfield/western massachusetts, just like the others before him like Cufari Scibelli and DeLevo. Arillotta was only a soldier the whole time. Artie Nigro's puppet.

Thanks Southend.


I actually read that. I agree it was an excellent book. I remember that there was a Paul D chapter which reaffirmed what I thought about Paul. I lived near Burlington and was around the scene when all that was going down. I worked out at Paulie Boys and there was word around the gym that Paul was really the boss of the renegades although not made. This always kind of stumped me. Perhaps he was made by the Lucchesse but the Patriarca faction didn't really know about it? Also JoeRusso claims he was just a wannabee???? It was a confusing time in the mid 90's though...It seemed that the power was up for grabs and everyone wanted a piece. And Silverman himself claims that Paul D was the renegade boss not just a small player in the war.

But again, Although Silverman's book was very entertaining, i'm not sure of how much of it I can believe. I really doubt he was made and he could have also been confused on who held the power in the renegades as maybe he was lower on the scale than he claims he was. Also, Paul was a very intimidating big tough dude and was feared by many in the area. He exuded this aura of an old school cosa nostra. He always talked about bringing things back to the old ways and when the jailed bosses get released in a few years, things are going to be set straight...Now i'm not sure if this was talk as to play the part or if this was real deal talk...But Paul looked the part of a classic Italian gangster and had some balls of titanium to go head to head with the north end...But, Perhaps Mark was mislead by Paul's ruthlessness and respect that he commanded and was under the impression that he was a bigger player in the war than he really was....I hope someone on here has some deeper insight....It was an intriguing time in my life...The atmosphere at that gym before the raid was serious greaseball shit...So many questions!!!lol

I strait up do not believe Silverman got made. I like the book a lot because a pal of mine is a relatively big part of the book, plus I know a few other names in there; makes a book a lot more interesting to a person for obvious reasons. But anyway caprese your right theres these mixed reviews on DeCologero. Vinny Arcieri was the captain of pretty much the first crew to side with the 'renegade faction', and I know after he was hit some of his guys ended up under Paul. So even if he wasn't made he obviously wielded enough power to bring a made guy's crew under his umbrella which he did

Silverman talks of a "war chest" DeCologero was putting together and making all his guys kick money towards in order to be prepared to back Patriarca Jr. upon his release from federal prison in the event of a full out war which was really already happening, guys were already being killed to make others fall in line - the right line that is

Good points southend. Ya I don't believe Mark was made either. I think he claims this for added excitement in the story, but it makes no sense in reality...Anyway, Paul was anxiously awaiting for Ray Jr and other bosses (of whom I don't know) to get out and bring things back to the "old ways",the "way they should be". Which in it's own right seemed not to make sense as Ray got demoted and I thought he didn't even want to be boss anymore, I thought he wanted to do straight real estate biz (but who am I to say). But all I know is Paul hated Salemme loyalists and the Luisi's of the North End, and I know the Luisi's hated Paul. I just find it weird how Paul was locked up in the 80's - early 90's, gets out and immediately has major muscle and respect to the point where the North End felt they had to watch their backs...Well maybe I shouldn't say the whole North End, as the North End was actually split since some guys were with East Boston/Renegades.... Makes me think either Big Paul was made by the some friends in NYC that he had ties to or at the very least well backed by them with the promise to be made and upped once Ray Jr. is brought back into power. Very interesting stuff!!!

Southend,

Have you read Last Rites by any chance? I was thinking of ordering this book next?

I always wondered how Billy Grasso got along with the Genovese people in that area. He went from getting run out New Haven by Midge Annunziata to being made by Patriarca and then under boss to Junior Patriarca, quite a rise. It has been written that he temporarily pushed the Genovese out of Hartford, which I have always had a hard time believing given the strength of the West Side in that area. Also, the Genovese were the most powerful family in the country and represented New England on the Commission, I don't think that they would let it slide if someone was pushing their people around.

Was Midge Annunziata with the Springfield crew or was he on his own in New Haven?

Here is some info on Midge, good stuff

http://www.truecrimereport.com/2009/08/the_disappearance_of_new_haven.php

While Paul was incarcerated he continued to oversee his drug trafficking activity from prison. Federal prison is also where most people assume he made his big connections with the New York mob, the Luccheses. And no I've never read Last Rites never heard of it, good book? whats it about?

I've never read last rites either. It's another book focusing on the 90's war but focusing on Vincent Marino AKA. Gigi Portalla. I think i'm going to order it. I was just wondering if more info on Pauls crew was in this book. I know him and Gigi were kinda tight. I'm friends with Pauls son Paul Jr. but there is no way I can ever bring any of this up to him....

I've never seem any proof or comments that Paul Decologero was a made man, just a drug dealer and "wanna be" and probably kicked some money up hoping for a chance. That doesn't mean he didn't meet someone that took a liking to him while he was in jail. Heck if Scarfo Jr can get made anyone can, right..? lol..

I also never read anything about Jr wanting back in the life. I think he was the one guy smart enough, and rich enough, to say "here, take it and good luck"...He's done just fine and I understand he's actually become more well thought of by some of the old timers still around.

Yup the Paul thing is confusing. He could've been a sleeper capo for the Lucchesse's made in jail for all we know and the NE LCN would still think of him as a punk wannabe drug dealer. Oh and Ray, everyone respects Ray. It was not his fault what happened in that house in Medford. That slimy fuck Mercurio.. That could've been anybody. If they didn't all get pinched, Ray would've had Mercurio thrown in the river within a week.

So was Vinny Arcieri a made guy? I was never clear on that. I realized in recent years that I had gone to high school with his sister but I never met him. It's a little more clear as to why he may have been killed.

Arcieri was a captain, I believe....if anybody that knows better can correct me if im wrong i'd appreciate it

A sleeper capo for the Lucchese's I don't see that, I've never heard of that happening before

Colombo's made raaph deloeo from sommerville there acting boss he was a prison buddy of the persico he even inducted 7 guys into the family down in ct at one of the casino hotels january 2008. just read the other day ernie boy a Gambino soldier came up to boston. him an deleo forcde a a brooks brother store to have there contruction done by ernies long island company. him and ralph split some money, surprised the boston guys didn't get a cut but it didn't say anything about them. jerry anguilo would have never let that go down with out a cut. but I could see the luchese making a guy up here. it wouldn't be a sleeper, whats the point you want the other guys no he's a made guy. its like when they all go down to florida they all mingle with each other.

Don't get me wrong I respect the theory. I'd love to see the look on Angiulo's face if he were to be told a New York family had a made guy secretly earning for them on his turf especially without paying him tribute. Im reading the Martorano book and it mentions somewhere how Jerry hated the idea of wiseguys from the city thinking they could come to boston and push anybody around. Any boss of a family for that matter...

Ya sleeper capo was a wrong choice of words, sounds stupid, I know. What I meant is perhaps he was made by the Luchesses' but the NE LCN didn't want to acknowledge the legitimacy, because they all thought he was just some punk. But the fact that many associated guys were under him and sit downs were done at hi gym where major decisions were made, confuses me. He seemed to have even more respect and power of any made soldier, you would've thought he was a capo. And in my thoughts this is what he was being groomed to be by his New York friends when the smoke cleared. I dunno, I just can't help but think he was made, since most Vinny's guys reported to him after he died and so many associated guys needed his permission to make moves. Weird stuff!

I'm from new haven. Our family is the largest in new haven history. My grandfather was the youngest of 19 siblings. Interesting enough my great uncle Pat died yesterday and he was the last one still alive. They grew up on Wooster St. What's funny is even though he's been dead for a while people still do not like to talk of him. Caesar Canestri was big around here during that time. From what I hear Grasso was a punk and most didn't like him

Midge Renault sleeps with the fishes

cheech,

New Haven has the best pizza! I can't get enough of Wooster Street

Was just down there Thursday night. Pepes went downhill when they opened up five other places. My favorite is Sally's. got some Italian ice and a canole after at Libby's. most of my family are members of st Mary Madeline on the corner. Not the same as it was when I was a kid but still nice to go down and reminisce.

We do have the best Abeetz. Fuck NY hahahahahah

I always assumed midge was with ny not ne

Who are you talking about? Caesar? Grasso? Midge?

cheech,

You a fan of Modern A pizza? That's another one I like very much, but ya Sally's is the best pizza in the country IMO. I didn't like how pepe's went all chain either. Up here in Boston, forever we had Regina in the North End and about 10 years ago they end up in almost every mall in the area tarnishing the rep of the original local. Now Santarpios of East Boston is looking to do the same...Shame...