I just finished reading Al' D'Arco biography "Mob Boss" (its a pretty good book on the Mafia, not the best but it was a good read overall). I read something in it that intrigued me.

D'Arco was friends with Gene Gotti, who has many of you know, was not only brother to John Gotti, but received a fifty year prison sentence for heroin dealing back in the late 80's. Before Gene was sentenced, Al told him to go on the lam for a while, because the Judge and prosecution would be too embarrassed and settle for a plea deal. Thus, Gene could get far less time. Gene refused because, as brother to John Gotti, he couldn't plead guilty without shaming his brother.

I don't recall Al explaining how this would work. How would going on the lam have helped Gene get a lighter prison sentence? I would think that running away makes you appear more guilty, but what do you all think?

I read the book also (my comments are in the Book thread http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=200578&page=39).

As I recall, Al D'Arco talked with Gene Gotti after they had already been convicted, and were getting ready for sentencing. I think Al was advising Gene to go on the lam because of all the publicity surrounding John Gotti. Al was asserting that the judge was going to give Gene and his co-defendants long sentences because John Gotti had beaten a couple of cases and was thumbing his nose at the government. I think this supposition has merit - the judge was likely influenced by the John Gotti publicity and Gene and his co-defendants paid the price.

D'Arco was right - those guys should have plead out. They almost certainly would have gotten shorter sentences.

By lamming it, the accused are also able to see the prosecution's strategy and game plan. It's a risky strategy, but potentially worth it if they are facing major charges. Amuso and Casso tried it and failed, while Massino did it and was acquitted.

The defendents were offered 15 year plea deals but turned it down because of John Gotti. This was before the federal parole system was abolished.

Some guys in Boston always went on the lam and in the end they got much lighter terms. I think both Flemmi, Salemme and others always high-tailed it to Florida when doors started getting kicked in...

I agree with the OP. I can't see how this would result in getting a lighter sentence.

If the defendant disappeared, I don't see why the prosecutor would suddenly sweeten the pot with a great plea deal. And wouldn't the judge increase the sentence he was going to announce?

I have a far fetched question regarding Broadway Joe Namath...

There's a part in D'Arco's book, where Jimmy Burke gave Paulie Vario an expensive diamond ring. This ring previously belonged to Joe Namath, and may have been a championship ring- he won titles with the Jets and at Alabama. Paulie was planning on wearing it and wanted D'Arco to have the diamonds reset by one of his contacts in the diamond district. D'Arco mentioned that Namath was a gambler, and I'm assuming that Burke/Vario may have booked his action.

In Henry Hill's second book, he stated that some mobsters (including Henry) used to hang out at Namath's Bachelors III bar- which was partly why Rozelle forced Namath to cut ties with the bar. And Namath advised him to bet huge on the Jets in the '69 Super Bowl.

Is it possible that Paulie's pinky ring was one of Namath's championship rings?

Another interesting tidbit about the mob from D'Arco's Mob Boss:

As per Al D'Arco, there is no inheritance when it comes to the mob.

D'Arco took over Paul Vario's gang as capo, after Paulie passed away. As per the book, "the mafia imposed a 100% estate tax on it's fallen captains. The operating theory was that everything acquired was due to Cosa Nostra clout, so the spoils went not to the next generation, but to the succeeding capo."

Vic Amuso told D'Arco to take Vario's primary residence in Island Park, the condo in Florida, and the bar (Geffken's)....in addition to the traditional mob spoils, such as loansharking money on the street. Being the good guy that he is, D'Arco refused to take the homes. Instead, he took over part of Vario's shylock business.

While I understand that money from mob activities might be transferred from dead capo to new capo....what about legal residences and businesses? I can't fathom kicking a widow out of her home and taking over what should have been passed down to Vario's next generation.

Is this the way the mob operates, or is this BS from D'Arco? What about when an associate or soldier gets whacked...who inherits their stuff?

I think it is family dependent. I have heard other cases where a Capo's rackets were divided up among many guys. The unique thing about this book suggests that even his private residence was not his. I find that unusual. Most guys homes are in their own name.

Bachelors III was supposedly a mob hangout.

Decent 1969 3 page article by Nicholas Pileggi on it.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1082534/

Very interesting read. Thanks, Giancarlo.

I read part of the book. Supposedly Al said he saw Tommy desimone on the day he was going to be "made" although he didnt mention gotti or agro killing him

Yup...D'Arco said he saw Desimone with Bruno Facciloa and Peter Vario at Facciloa's pizza place the night Tommy disappeared. He said they were all dressed up, i guess because they were acting like they were taking Desimone to get made.

Another question about mob protocol, as per D'Arco: When they whack someone, they're supposed to leave the jewelry, money, etc... on the murder victim. Is this correct?

I can understand if the victim is killed in a way to send a message, and they don't want robbery to be a possible motive. Other than that, I figured that the money and jewelry are removed since there is a high level of greed with mobsters.

The idea of one skipper "inheriting" the home and possessions of another skipper is ludicrous. Aside from the fact that it's incredibly greedy (and greed always leads to resentment and treachery), it would also leave the Feds a paper trail a mile long. But I haven't seen this book yet, and I hold Capeci in high regard, so I'll withhold judgement until I read it with my own eyes. But my gut tells me that it's something that D'Arco dreamed up and Capeci went along with it.

Re the jewelry: Yeah, the old timers held to that protocol. But today I doubt that a drug addled brokester hitman would leave a Presidential Rolex worth 25k on a body. Times have changed.

In the movie, Goodfellas, Henry was really nervous about being in big trouble for getting caught dealing. He said that Paulie had a strict no drugs rule.

However, in Mob Boss, D'Arco discusses a different side of Vario. Shortly after he was inducted into the Lucchese family, Paulie (D'Arco's capo) approached him to help move a large quantity of coke. D'Arco didn't get involved, in part, because of his recent vows in his induction ceremony. But I found it interesting that Paulie was in the middle of large cocaine deals.

The Luccheses seemed to be heavy into narcotics. In addition to the Vario crew, the Ray's pizza crew dealt heroin for many years; and Vic/Gas made their fortunes selling drugs.

That family has always been very heavy into the drug trade. I saw some narcotics arrest figures for the 5 NY families back in the 1950's and the Luccheses were one of the families that had the most arrests.

I finished book last week, and was dissapointed a bit. One reason was D'Arco seeming to be in situations to witness historic events like one above. Did he say same thing when debriefed 23 years ago ? Or do people think they are backing up the book Wiseguys and movie Goodfellas version of what
happened to Desimone ? I found it too convenient.

It has been more than 20 years since story about Vario chasing Hill away for drug deals was published. My take on it and this new book is that the new story is something Al D'Arco or the authors fabricated in order ot bring up Henry Hill and Vario. I thought book was awful in many spots. When they reached the part where Casso went crazy and started killing everyone book got exciting for a bit, then authors seemed to not know how to describe the events well and book went downhill again.

Going by what book says, Casso and Amuso made more money from union skimming than from drugs. D'Arco kept bringing them bags of money every few months during their time on the run.

I got the impression that while d'arco was acting boss overseeing the construction interests, that casso was receiving the drug proceeds from barratta independent of d'arco.

Philip Carlo wrote that D'Arco was a scrawny guy, who looked like an accountant.
Capeci wrote that D'Arco was in shape, bullied other inmates, and routinely hit the heavy bag for exercise. Which one was more accurate?

D'Arco likes to big himself up and put down other people. Casso supposedly "cried" when he told D'Arco he was fleeing and promoting D'Arco. Amuso supposedly couldn't look D'Arco in the eye. Anyone really believe that shit?

He looks like a waif on the cover of that book. Not imposing at all.

Another question about Al... why the animosity towards Sammy Gravano? He called him "Sammy Bullshit" on Manhattan Mob Rampage and could barely contain his disdain.

They are birds of a feather. Both rats. Not Gravano's fault that Gotti sank the Gambino's during the 80's. Everyone would have been better off with a guy like Gravano in charge.

Moe,

1) yes, we dont know, they may well have been close and going on the lam, would be a shit thing to look forward to and maybe a moment of weakness for the book
2) carlo gambino... "Stature" has a few meanings
3) who cares?
4) ? Are you hating rats, or defending a rat or sticking up for a rat? I dunno...

Re: 4) I am indifferent towards rats. Mafioso are all scumbags at the end of the day. I have a bit more respect for people that stick to their code all the way than the guys that destroy lives and run to the government when they get scared.

D'Arco and Gravano both had their reasons for flipping. Neither holds moral superiority over the other. D'Arco raised a junkie and got his son involved in the mafia. Gravano's son looked to be heading the same way but seems to have his head on straight now.

Just curious about the animosity towards Gravano from D'Arco. D'Arco keeps pontificating about Casso and Amuso being out of control psychopaths yet at the same time he seems to take glee in telling us how Sammy Gravano was frightened and dodging him/them/Luchese's.

I think D'Arco lies when he says he flipped because Casso and Amuso were flouting mafia etiquette and going after families etc etc.

I think he flipped because the tables got turned on him - he had no problem doing Amuso and Casso's dirty work and passing down orders for hits but as soon as he was the target of their ire he decided he didn't like Cosa Nostra anymore.

Al flipped because they were going to kill him, plain and simple. It rings true because he's still one of the only rats to come forward WITHOUT charges pending against him.

Doing life in prison for their code is one thing, sacrificing your life is another thing entirely. Don't kid yourselves, there aren't too many men who have that kind of constitution.

I'm not sure about d'arco....there was very little about him before the book as far as I could see...which makes me think he was a bit sharper than most we talk about-theres not much threads on here about him...

In the book, he doesnt spend too much time on gravano (from what I remember), and got pissed with casso big time, like gravano/gotti when the guy turned on him. Yes, there are similarities to say the least, but thats maybe the common straw that break the camels back, so to speak.....

Al flipped because they were going to kill him, plain and simple. It rings true because he's still one of the only rats to come forward WITHOUT charges pending against him.

Thats why i kinda like his book, you know he's a "standup guy".....I wouldnt even use the word "rat"...hes helping the govt and all of us out so whats the problem? Standup guy for us....

PB, tried for a while to quote you there in the 1st paragraph, but ended up cutting/pasting your comment...!

You find me quotable, Fergie. That's all that matters .

Al D'Arco was a goat.