Was thinking about this the other day!...If Joe Pistone tried that stuff today, he, and his family would be dead already....All Lefty had to do was go to his local spy store and slap 1 of those tracking devices, behind his bumper and, he would have seen him going to his NJ home, with his wife and kids.....Problem solved, rat eliminated!

First of all, Pistone wasn't a rat. He was an agent. And they'd be even less likely to kill him today than they were forty years ago. They've cut back on killing people for a reason. And that was overblown even back then. Because except for Lefty running his mouth in prison, they were never going to hit an agent. This isn't Sicily. Pistone running around with those silly sunglasses today is absurd. He's a shameless self-promoter. You think they wen't after the mob with a vengeance during Gotti's reign? If the mob ever hit a Fed the indictments would still be coming.

I do agree that it's a lot more difficult to put an agent undercover today. But it's not impossible. The technology that you're referring to was there ten years ago and the Feds still managed to slip an agent into Patsy's Bronx crew (but granted, it was at a much lower level than the Pistone-Bonanno undercover op). And I promise you that Patsy is a very cautious man. But at the end of the day, these guys have to earn. And to earn you have to work with people.

As far as the original question goes, there isn't a "single biggest cheese" for the simple reason that most decisions are made by a panel today. But as far as the Genovese go, Barney has reigned it in quite a bit since his wife died, QD almost never leaves the house, and Ernie has turned a lot of his day to day over to the kid. But the posters here are on the right track when they mention the guys on the Westside panel, along with Stevie and Cefalu.

An undercover agent would never reach the hights of Joe Pistone today, you have to know somebody in order to get in contact with anybody, and the amount of made members willing to 'vouch' for someone is probably harder to find, as they are being more careful. Everyone learns from their mistakes. - and the Mob has only shrunk with 10-20 made members or so for each of the NY families. There have been an estimated 8-9000 made members through history, and all the American rats put togheter, you'll have a number of 114 estimate (thanks to IvyLeague for providing a previous thread where off he listed each and every rat/although he says it might need an update)

and the 114 number is from the 50s, 60s and up. They earn more money than before, because they've moved into more white-collar crimes. They even run schemes on Wall street and they have a huge cash flow from Internet porn and Internet related schemes - Not only the arabs are trying to give you a million bucks and there's always a sucker who falls for anything.

Gambling rackets have probably shrunk but they're still there, and you've had (or have) a better economy the last years, so people spend more money.

People say that the traditional Mob will end due to the young guys. The Youngsters change the traditions although they probably try to keep it, however, I call it evolution. People said the exact same thing in the 80s I imagine. Guys from the 20s era complained about the guys from the 60s era and their traditions have always changed with time. In 30 years I imagine the biggest family have an estimated 120 inducted members, if not more - not that many guys are squeeling, the number of agents trying to take them down has been reduced and Mob wars are ''forbidden.'' In 2050, they'll go around complaining about how they don't make the kids ''like they made them in 2000.'' Remember, the youngsters will become the old guys one time or another.

To answere your question, I think that the most influental gangsters are Frankie Cali and Cefalu, if not Daniel Leo. If you're thinking street guy, I'd say Charles 'Chuckie' Tuzzo, great friend of Bellomo, they were indicted togheter after working on some sort of pump and dump stock scheme. Also Frank Cali is active on the streets, I think they're gonna nail him on RICO pretty soon if he don't move to sicily

Joey Sneakers Cacciopoli is definetely the biggest name in queens, and Big John Castelle carries the largest amount of respect and fear in Bensonhurst. Castelle is a real street guy, he reminds me off Sonny Black Napolitano, if you look beyond the facts..

This post was pretty confusing...

Who is Joey Sneakers?

Do you mean Tommy sneakers?

If you're thinking street guy, I'd say Charles 'Chuckie' Tuzzo, great friend of Bellomo, they were indicted togheter after working on some sort of pump and dump stock scheme.

Also Frank Cali is active on the streets, I think they're gonna nail him on RICO pretty soon if he don't move to sicily

Joey Sneakers Cacciopoli is definetely the biggest name in queens

Big John Castelle carries the largest amount of respect and fear in Bensonhurst. Castelle is a real street guy, he reminds me off Sonny Black Napolitano, if you look beyond the facts..

The kid couldn't find Brooklyn if he was on Myrtle

They were never indicted on a pump and dump together. If you're going to continue to use Wikipedia to fuel your fantasies, you should check the bottom of the page for links to press releases and verifiable sources. That indictment was about the waterfront, where Chucky has spent half his life.


He's more active in his fruit business and various other white collar endeavors than he is in any of the day to day street operations (like gambling and shy).


I think you meant Tommy Sneakers. I guess that's an honest mistake. But when it comes to Queens, he's not even the strongest guy in his own family.


More bullshit. John's a very serious guy. But the Lucchese influence in Brooklyn isn't anywhere near that of the other families. It's been that way since the power shifted back to the old Harlem and Bronx guys. Hell, the Colombos carry more weight in Brooklyn today.

I know that you think I'm picking on you, but I told you in the other thread that if you post bullshit on this site that you're going to be called on it. There are some VERY knowledgeable posters here. Some are just researchers, a few have lived among these guys in real life. The point is, you're not going to be able to post nonsense here and expect to get away with it.

Now welcome to the boards. Again. But go easy. There's nothing for you to prove here. Just enjoy the site .

Ouch? I read the thread and did my own research in order to help/share, I could hardly be wrong on every fucking thing I ain't studied this hard in school even, jeez.

No offense PB, but you old guys -- I know why they got rid of the Mustache Pete's that's all I'm saying, haha.

Originally Posted By: Johnny_Dio
Also Frank Cali is active on the streets, I think they're gonna nail him on RICO pretty soon if he don't move to sicily lol

He's more active in his fruit business and various other white collar endeavors than he is in any of the day to day street operations (like gambling and shy).

Originally Posted By: Johnny_Dio
Joey Sneakers Cacciopoli is definetely the biggest name in queens

I think you meant Tommy Sneakers. I guess that's an honest mistake. But when it comes to Queens, he's not even the strongest guy in his own family.

Originally Posted By: Johnny_Dio
Big John Castelle carries the largest amount of respect and fear in Bensonhurst. Castelle is a real street guy, he reminds me off Sonny Black Napolitano, if you look beyond the facts..

More bullshit. John's a very serious guy. But the Lucchese influence in Brooklyn isn't anywhere near that of the other families. It's been that way since the power shifted back to the old Harlem and Bronx guys. Hell, the Colombos carry more weight in Brooklyn today.

Like I said, buddy. I'm not looking to pick on you. You can ask anyone here about me. I don't go in for arguing with people or piling on when a guy makes a mistake. You seem like a nice kid. I'm just trying avoid having you go down the same road that a lot of other young guys have gone down in the past on this board. That's all. You can message me anytime you want .

I hope we'll agree on something or at least don't grow to hate each other

Yeah' I'll agree I might have been wrong at some point, thanks for the update and what not, I'm hear to learn not give myself head aches and constantly arguing, I've got my boss for that.

I didn't see this post before I replied to the other. But that's fine. Like I said, let's just move on.

Act like an asshole? what I say? We're here to discuss and argue, who the fuck knows what the fuck is true or not, only truth is is that we're all doozy scumbags sitting here talking make-belief, and I feel like - honestly, the ones who's been here a long time seems to always be right nomatter if he's wrong or might be wrong. Please don't try to fucking undercut me, calling me an asshole and then tell me to move on, that's the description of an asshole. Just please, remember that the next time you see a new kid on the block, your first impressions are as shitty as a random gloryhole in a public bathroom.

Johnny,i don't know you and i am not siding with anybody but don't get so aggrevated.PB didn't really call you a asshole but in general.

A'ight... everyone take a deep breath. Now exhale.

Whoa.... someone needs some Listerine!!

Keep the peace, guys.