Obviously there have been a lot of tough/vicious gangsters that havent been talked about much in documentaries so i figured i name a few and others could add on ones i missed.

Tommy Agro- He is known but not talked about as much. One of the gambino's biggest enforcers despite his small size. I think he was in Joe Armone's crew and sponsered by Joe N Gallo. Known to be the one who killed Tommy desimone



Nicky the Blade Virgilio- associate of Scarfo/Leonetti in Philly. Strange looking and weird guy. According to Phil leonetti he was teh type of guy who would brutally kill anybody yet he was scared when he saw a black cat because he felt it brought him bad luck. Known for killing Judge Helfant who screwed him and he went to prison.



Anthony Plate- longtime enforcer of Gambinos and specifically Neil dellacroce. Loanshark in Florida who would thraeten to bite chunks out of people who owed him money. Did hits well in his 60's. Eevnually murdered in 79 after him and Neil got charged with murder.


Feel free to post other lesser known enforcers

Photo of Phil visiting Nick the Blade Virgilio at Leesburg State Prison in NJ back in the early 1970's.

It's called Bayside State Prison now but back then it was Leesburg State Prison.

I'm assuming that you read the autobiography of Joe Dogs Ianuzzi? That was a pretty good book, in which Agro played a large part. I'd be interested in learning more about Agro's time on the run, when he was with a biker gang.

Interesting that Tommy DeSimone's brother was in Agro's Florida crew.

For me, I'd like to learn more about 2 Jewish gangsters, and an Italian boxing promoter...

1. Gus Greenbaum. He has an interesting bio, from the times running the racing wire, to taking over the Chicago mob's interests in the Vegas, to his personal vices which lead to his downfall. In a way, his story begins when Bugsy gets clipped. Most of us have heard of him, however, his popularity falls short of being the subject of a good documentary.

2. Hy Larner. There is practically no information about this guy. Michael Corbitt (in the autobiography, Double Deal) described him as the most powerful mobster in Chicago and was involved in gambling in Central America. He seemed to be the Chicago mob's counterpart to Meyer Lansky, and always operated in the shadows.

3. Frankie Carbo. Was a gunman, along with Bugsy Siegel in the murder of Harry "Big Greenie" Greenberg, in LA. Played a major role in corrupting the sport of boxing during the 40's to 60's, fixed many fights, and extorted many boxers. Managed Sonny Liston and I'd love to learn the details about both fights with Ali.

Dominick "Mimi" Scialo, Colombo captain, who killed a lot of people. Shot a made guy during a sitdown. Loved to beat up cops. Even the Persicos feared him. According to rumors, Scialo secretly underwent psychiatric treatment for his schizophrenia and paranoia. A complete madman.

Billy Dauber, who was in Jimmy Catuara's and later Al Tocco's crew n Chicago.

Black Sam carlisi

Unfortunetly i havent been able to find Joe Dogs book BUT i have watched the documentary "Mob Stories" which Joe ianuzzi talks about his time with Tommy A

Anthony (Tony Roach) Rampino -- Gambino Associate

Want tough?

My namesake. Sonny Black. Dominick Napolitano.

Knowingly went to his death. When they hit him he was still alive and his response? 'Hit me again and this time do it right.'

That. Is toughness.

Anthony Spilotro. Half a midget and still was able to tune-up big dudes. The way him and his brother died. I agree with Frank Culotta, they should just put one behind their ears.

angelo lapietra -

There was a guy named joe Paterno in NJ who was probably carlo gambino's top hiiter, yet i've never seen him named in a book !!!

Old timers....James Belcastro,at first a black hand extortionist and later he joined the Capone gang.He was a mad bomber and killed a lot of people.Also the LaPietra brothers from Chicago.

And Samuel "Red" Levine from murder inc....hes famous but not discussed that much.

Didn't agro kill both tommy and his brother, and then joked about killing the third brother(who i think was a civilian) to got for the 'desimone tri-fecta"...think I read that somewhere....I forget where.

i'm up in the air on desimone. guy just seems like a real moron to me. from what i've read he apparently acted like he was made before he was actually made. probably had it comin to him.

i have heard that, but i ve also heard John Gotti did it....

I have one. Fiore "Fifi" Buccieri in Chicago. I'm re-reading "Casino" by Nicholas Pileggi. Ruthless loanshark who nearly killed Spilotro because he suspected him of robbing his wife. According to the book he would've killed him had Lefty Rosenthal not talked him out of it.

Yep. Back then, that Chicago crew was ruthless. Lots of tuff guys from that era....Giancana, Fifi, Spilotro, Caifano, Mad Sam, Alderisio, Willie Potatoes, Teets Battaglia, Chuckie Nicoletti, etc...

I think a lot of the enforcers even rose up the ranks together in the 42 Gang and/or were from the Patch.

JR or SR?

for me and I think will all agree, the toughest mobster who aren't talked is Peter Limone.



Peter Limone is the current boss of the Patriarca family. He is probably best known for spending 33 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Falsely accused
Peter Limone was born in 1934 and became active in the Patriarca family as a bookmaker. As a youngster he was only arrested once for running a dice game.

In 1965 Edward "Teddy" Deegan was found murdered in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In the 1968 murdertrial Limone, Joseph Salvati, Henry Tameleo and Louis Greco were found guilty to murder after FBI informant Joseph Barboza pointed them out as the killers. However, Barboza himself was actually the real killer of Teddy Deegan but because being an important informer he was protected by the FBI. To cover his tracks the FBI, mainly under agent Paul Rico, set up 4 men who would take the fall. All 4 of them were found guilty and all, except Salvati, were sentenced to death. That sentence was later turned over to a prison sentence. In 2001, after serving 33 years, Limone was finally released from prison.

When the FBI "discovered" new evidence dating from the 1960's they finally became aware that Limone and the others had been framed. The case was yet another embarrassment for the FBI's Boston office. The office allready lay under fire for protecting informers such as Whitey Bulger and Barboza while they were permitted to continue their crimes. By the time the FBI realised that Limone and the others were innocent, 2 of them had allready died in prison.

After the only 2 surviving men, Salvati and Limone, were released the FBI apologised to them and had to pay a total of $102 million to them and the families of Henry Tameleo and Louis Greco. Limone was given a total sum of $26 million. Altough having gain such immensive wealth, he refused to retire to a sunny state and instead went straight back to the Patriarca organization, which had helped him and his family throughout the years he was locked away.

Boss of the Patriarca family
Since his release from prison Limone worked as the consigliere of the family and in late 2009 took over from retireing boss Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio. Rhode Island capo Robert Deluca is said to be his underboss. With Limone as boss the leadership of the family switches from Providence to Boston. In July 2010 Limone was charged for running an organized crime gambling ring, but was acquitted.

http://www.lacndb.com/php/Info.php?name=Peter%20Limone

Rex Cunningham, Springfield Genovese

Francesco "Ball Bat Frankie" Lentine- Youngstown, OH

Nicolo "The Old Man" Melia- Stamford, CT

Danny Greene- Irish Mob- Cleveland, OH

Bernie "The Jew" Altshuler - Youngstown, OH

http://www.milanolaw.com/2010/07/i-will-track-you-to-the-ends-of-the-earth/

"Dominick "Mimi" Scialo, Colombo captain, who killed a lot of people"

Wasn't this guy mentioned in the NatGeo documentary on the mob from a few months ago? I believe they said that the informant Scarpa told the FBI where he was buried.