JCB thats great stuff thanks for the info. are there any books on the pittsburgh mob? and why was Joseph "Little Joey" Naples killed? and his right hand man killed in 96?

and ivy i would disagree with that. detroit are all on the outside and alive but amazingly quiet. i reckon they have much structure behind closed doors and operations still goin on legal and illegal. old time gangsters arent just gonna say lets stop being lcn now we've done enough lol. its still a way of life to them as it was their fathers etc. i do believe that they are small scale but they will last as they havent been fukd by the government at all. i fink the fbi arent killing them due to the fact there is less violence

Hey there,

The only book on Pittsburgh was written by former IRS agent Andrew Susce and the book is called Lonely Fighter: One Man's battle against the Government of the United States. The book is about his experience chasing John Sebastian LaRocca and trying to get him on tax evasion in order to deport him back to Italy. My partners and I are currently writing a book on Pittsburgh, which will be a two part book. Release date will be around 2017-2018.

Joey Naples was gunned down and the homicide is supposedly "unsolved." However, it was brought to my attention by Lenny Strollo, who I interviewed extensively, that Amil Dinsio (Bank Burglar-Laguna Nigel,CA heist) was the triggerman and did it to curry favor with Strollo. When Joey and Lenny became co-boss in Boardman, OH (suburb of Youngstown) following the deaths of Dominic Mallamo and Jimmy Prato, Lenny was about to go to jail for the All American Club casino bust. Lenny was afraid that Naples was going to take over his illegal gambling ventures. The murder was NOT ordered by Strollo, as Dinsio went off the reservation. Once Naples was out of the picture, Strollo took over everything in Youngstown and didn't really care about Naples because Lenny got a much bigger piece of the pie. Joey's right hand man was Ernie Biondillo, who has been a close family friend of my parents for 50 years. Ernie was running his own operations and not kicking up to Strollo. He had installed over 200 video poker machines in Hillsville, PA and lied to Lenny about the machines being his. Ernie also had a partnership with a guy by the name of Stephen Maruca from the Bonanno Crime Family and some Canadiens from Montreal who set up a hair salon and spa in Youngstown. Ernie was also supporting different political candidates than Strollo such as the Mahoning County Sheriff, the Campbell Police Chief and a few judges. Once Strollo learned all this, he saw it as a move against him. The FBI visited Ernie in March and warned him of a wiretap they overheard talking about getting rid of him. Ernie refused to cooperate and was killed on June 3rd, 1996.

The truth of the matter is that the only information I get regarding Detroit is from MCScott on real deal. I purchased his Detroit Mob Confidential documentary and read Motor City Mafia. I was actually "shocked" when I read most of his posts on real deal as I never would have came close to guessing that Detroit has around 60 made guys. Personally, I don't believe that number is accurate, but who am I to disagree with Scott and his investigative journalism? New England is in the worst shape its ever been in with all the busts and prison sentences handed down over the last 3-5 years. Providence is wiped out and Boston is aging and starving for leadership. As for Philly, I give Uncle Joe a lot of credit for rebuilding the crime family and operating for over a decade without any serious charges. Not many mob bosses have rebuilt and replenished the ranks as good as Uncle Joe. I think if he goes to prison, we are going to see a power struggle and a lot more indictments handed down. How many made guys does NJ have left?

thats true but you could say that about ny as well. i mean the age of cell phonesand internet and wires etc really has killedlcn,also w rico and severe sentences ya get more turncoats,least nikky skins did the right thing,imo,he offed himself but truth of matter is at least here in bos, there will be alot of seperate renegade groups dealing etc

Here are two great articles on Youngstown, OH which has been under the control of Pittsburgh's LaRocca Crime Family.

http://youngstownpride.blogspot.com/200 ... h-mob.html

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/end ... id=1472059

Hi Jimmy...Unfortunately these lead to nowhere ;-(

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/crimetown-usa

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/end-of-the-line/Content?oid=1472059

Here ya go Friend of Henry

I have some Florida swampland to sell anyone who believes there's anything remotely close to 60 members left in Detroit today. And however banged up and in decline the New England family is, it's still in much better shape than what's left in Detroit.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there's 3 made guys still in Pitts.

Capo - Thomas "Sonny" Ciancutti – sports and numbers bookmaker, took over Kelly Mannarino's New Kensington gambling rackets. In 2002, Ciancutti was given probation for controlling gambling operations in Allegheny and Fayette counties.

Soldier – Robert "Bobby I" Iannelli – controls a sports bookmaking operation; he also took over Tony Grosso's old numbers and illegal gambling operation.

Soldier – Mauro P. Matone - cocaine and heroin trafficker

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have been researching this for almost 10 years. Bobby Iannelli was an independent operator as he took over Tony Grosso's operation. Bobby paid tribute to operate. Mauro Matone was a narcotics trafficker with a conviction in NY. I have the FBI and SA Bob Garrity and SA Roger Greenbank as principal sources, the Pennsylvania Crime Commission Reports through 1992 and testimony from Chucky Porter as well as federal affadavits confirming this. Don't come on this thread and misrepresent information that my partners and I worked so hard on for the past decade. It's unacceptable!!!! Its people like you who have no business making comments and tarnishing a decade worth of research and interviews by two professional authors and a team of 3 researchers. Before you use Wikipedia as a source, do some research.

Hey Stern49,

Here is the 1990 Pennsylvania Crime Commission Report on Organized Crime. Please refer to page 70 that details Tony Grosso, the illegal numbers king who operated independently from LCN but paid tribute. Please refer to the second column on page 70, last paragraph and it explains how Bobby Iannelli took over Grosso's operation. Also refer to page 78, second column: Here is what the report confirms:

• Robert Iannelli, 60, 315 Thompson
Run Road, Pittsburgh, is a sports and
numbers bookmaker in Western
Pennsylvania. He has been a bookmaker
for over 30 years, with
gambling arrests dating to 1959.
Iannelli is an associate of the
LaRocca/Genovese LCN.

Also refer to page 122, 1st column, 1st paragraph. It states the following about Mauro Matone:

• Mauro P. Matone, 48, 925 East
End A venue, Wilkinsburg, is associated
with Family member Charles
Porter and Family associate Eugene
Gesuale. Matrone has been involved
in narcotics distribution and fencing
stolen property.

Here is the link to the report so you could see it for yourself: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/133208NCJRS.pdf

**Don't ever come on to a thread and discredit the hard work I have put into this project for a decade. It's people like you who should keep your mouth shut and listen because you may learn something. As for your source of Wikipedia, I feel bad for you that you rely on garbage for information.

LOL. Agreed 100%

60? I highly doubt it
From reaserching and investigating
I would say the Detroit Cosa nostra has around 30 members and 150-200 associates
They had done a good job of maintaining they're size the past 30 years

Guys like the 5 giacolone brothers and cousins that are part of the current mob

Way to go in agreeing with your own post. We can agree to disagree. I have my facts pointing to these three guys being the last of the actual made men in Old Pitts. I'll send you some stuff on it, but you gotta be respectful. TTYL.

Stern,

I've been doing this for 10 years. Bobby I always operated independent of LCN and Mauro Matone was a drug dealer, nothing more let alone made by Mike Genovese. What are your sources? Bobby took over Grosso's operation with Sal and Adolfo Williams. Bobby had the same deal with Mike that Tony Grosso had. Pay tribute to operate and share some of your law enforcement contacts. FYI- I interviewed two guys who cooperated against Youngstown/Pittsburgh and they confirmed everything as well. Let's see the stuff. I didn't agree with my own post, as you will see I agreed with a post made by Ivy League.

I'm looking forward to your upcoming book. Without giving too much away,what topics or time period will you be writing about? A good book about the Western Pa OC scene is long overdue. We have stories and characters on a par with any city in the country.On a side note,do you have any new info on the murder of bookie Robert Mancini,or should I wait and buy the book? Either way ,good luck,and let us know when and how we can get the finished product.

Thanks Lou. We are currently working on three other projects with Pittsburgh to follow. It would be more of a history from the bootlegging days to present day, done in two parts, parallel to Crimetown USA: The History of the Mahoning Valley Mafia by Allan May. Robert Mancini is a relatively minor character in the grand scheme of things and was the victim of a takeover of all illegal gambling in McKees Rocks by Junior Williams and Ninny Lagatutta. Skosnik was a corrupt cop for most of his life and was definitely receiving protection money from Junior Williams. Remember, Adofo "Junior" Williams, his brother Sal Williams and Bobby Iannelli took over Tony Grosso's numbers operation. At the end of the day, the Williams brothers and Iannelli were independent of the Pittsburgh LCN but had full permission from Mike Genovese to operate as long as he got a kick and favors from politicians and law enforcement. There is no question that Junior Williams and Lagatutta wanted Mancini dead, as they took control of his whole operation. They would have needed permission from 2 people to kill Mancini...Mike Genovese and Chucky Porter. However, Mike and Chucky weren't stupid and they most likely told Junior to do what was necessary and to remove themselves from any connection. Even though Porter cooperated, he was never indicted for being a part of this particular murder, so I'm sure Chucky never wanted to open this can of worms with the Feds. He fed them what they wanted to get his sentence reduced. Most of his information was regarding pending hits regarding other mob families from what he learned from other mob inmates while in prison. He did give up the Rincon Indian Casino takeover and a lot of information on Youngstown, which is how the Feds got the ball rolling to take down Lenny Strollo and company. Chucky is still alive and he lives at 3999 Old William Penn Highway in a mansion. He is pretty sick with diabetes and Michael Genovese's son, Michael A. Genovese just told me he ran into Chucky about 6 months ago in a restaurant and Chucky looked out of it, possibly dementia. This case may never get solved because a lot of the players are dead and Junior is and always was a stand up guy, so he wouldn't confess to nothing.

I agree that the truth will probably never come out about Mancini. The consensus around here is that Junior got the ball rolling. Skosnik was also the Mayor of Mckees Rocks at one time,and was on the take from Bobby until the brothers came in. There were some other unsolved murders(a poisoning and a dragging) relating to the gambling takeover.Supposedly,one of Bobby's brothers attempted to confront Junior about the killing,and he wound up being beaten to death outside a Club. Also the conduct of both the Rocks and Stowe cops (especially Panyko) was always seen as extremely complicit and suspicious. The unofficial guess as to the actual shooter is that he is the brother of a former Mckees Rocks law enforcement member.His actual identity is known to Law Enforcement,but for various reasons,the case will never be brought.

There was an eyewitness at the scene who saw the car, however, the car was probably stolen or not registered to anybody connected to the murder. Junior definitely got the ball rolling, but Junior would not have left a body in Mike Genovese's backyard that was linked to illegal gambling unless Mike gave the okay. If Junior did in fact do it on his own, Porter would have played that card while in prison as his ace in the hole. Personally, I don't see Junior having Bobby's brother whacked...but then again, Junior would kill anybody if it meant more $$$ for him.

I didn't mean to imply that Junior did it on his own. When I said got the ball rolling,I meant that he got the OK to set it up. As far as the actual shooter,supposedly he was a Mafia wanabee who idolized the Godfather movie,had a picture of Al Pacino in his house,and wanted his friends to call him "Sonny". The eyewitness gave a description of the suspect which fit the the registered owner of the pickup at the scene. My understanding is that his identity is known to some in law enforcement,but either because of evidentiary problems,or "influence",the case will never be closed. As far as Bobby's brother,he got beaten to death by bouncers and/or patrons outside a South Side nightclub. Anyway,there was never any solid connection between the beating and Junior,I'm just giving you what the street talk was. I appreciate you replying to my posts,it really is a very interesting little saga. It's a shame,because the Mancini brothers had a nice little nightclub,gambling and drug business at one time. Two of them died violently,and the remaining brother (Nick)never got over it.

JCB1977-

Any more info on Felix Pitzerell.. Was he related to the Pizzarella's/Ganni's From Rankin , PA?

@JCB1977
Thank you for all the research and info contributed to this board. I have been a long time lurker, but don't post because I have nothing insightful to add, to really any of these posts. But it's posters like you (among many others here) that make this sight very enjoyable and informative. Again, thanks for the posts and I just wanted you and the other knowledgable posters here that your work and info is appreciated. Even if others troll or give grief about it.

Doesnt florida have swamps? I dont get it.i thought ur spose to say sumthn the place dnt have?

Thank you. Much appreciated, pm me if you have any questions.