Yeah he operated there up until Carmine Lupertazzi Sr died and then he must've given the crew to someone else when he was named a contender for Boss and moved up to New York, after the war he took a step back technically being a Soldier but meditated disputes among the Lupertazzi and Soprano families.

Not one family in particular, but at one time Tony mentions them having more than 200 soldiers so in that regard it must be either the Gambinos or the Genoveses. But I think Chase said in one of his interviews that the Lupertazzis represented New York in general..

The Sopranos also never interacted or talked about other made men belonging to the five families active in New Jersey, I think that would've made it a little too convoluted for the average viewer, who's not as knowledgeable about the mob like ourselves over here..

I always associated the Lupertazzi's with being the Gambino for several reasons. First being the Rusty Milio hit which was basically a reenactment of the DeCavelcante's (Vinny Ocean) hitting Fred Weiss as a favor to John Gotti in 1989. I think Chase even said that scene/hit in the series was loosely based off of this event. Second, another little tidbit that I picked up on was when Meadow was reeling off Mafia history in front of her family at the dinner table and she listed off four of the five real life families with the Gambinos being the one family not mentioned in the four (she did not list the Lupertazzi's in those four either). That says to me that the Lupertazzi's would have been that 5th family had she listed all five and since she didn't list the Gambino's then that would mean the Lupertazzi's/Gambino's would have been that fifth family. Like someone else said above Tony also mentioned Johnny Sack's family as having "200 button men over there" which can only mean two families and with the Lupertazzi's being based out of Brooklyn and Queens in the series that would air more on the side of the Gambinos than the Genovese. If I had to bet, smart money would be on the Gambinos.

I always associated the Lupertazzi's with being the Gambino for several reasons. First being the Rusty Milio hit which was basically a reenactment of the DeCavelcante's (Vinny Ocean) hitting Fred Weiss as a favor to John Gotti in 1989. I think Chase even said that scene/hit in the series was loosely based off of this event. Second, another little tidbit that I picked up on was when Meadow was reeling off Mafia history in front of her family at the dinner table and she listed off four of the five real life families with the Gambinos being the one family not mentioned in the four (she did not list the Lupertazzi's in those four either). That says to me that the Lupertazzi's would have been that 5th family had she listed all five and since she didn't list the Gambino's then that would mean the Lupertazzi's/Gambino's would have been that fifth family. Like someone else said above Tony also mentioned Johnny Sack's family as having "200 button men over there" which can only mean two families and with the Lupertazzi's being based out of Brooklyn and Queens in the series that would air more on the side of the Gambinos than the Genovese. If I had to bet, smart money would be on the Gambinos.

If you give it fair thought, Carmine's health was never in question for a moment until the stroke and soon after death.

That said, Little Carmine operated in South Florida but do we honestly think he had a crew reporting to him there? He surely had associates, but as we know FLA crews traditionally earn quietly with little muscle as satellite faction's for larger NY crews.

Carmine was obviously direct with his father as far as reporting and thus had a title of Capo most likely, However, his businesses being largely legitimate I think he honestly may have just been quietly earning before he came back to New York. He was openly mocked by all as a widely known idiot until being finally introduced into the series. If you give it thought, he likely was just operating the porn company and other (semi) legitimate businesses with minimum associates to earn legitimately under the radar and stay out of risk, while living the high life in Miami as the son of a NY Boss.

It isn't until Carmine Sr. passes that Little Carmine rallies made Lupertazzi members with the help of Rusty and Angelo to form his faction, although it was widely the faction still loyal to Carmine Sr. reluctant to immediately accept the Sacramoni Faction so soon after Carmine died.

Food for thought to make the point, if Carmine was really operating a crew in Florida not just running personal businesses, why did Beansy have to set up action for Tony and Paulie while they were in the wind for the Willie Overall hit? If Little Carmine had been running a crew, who took it over and why weren't they point of contact for Tony? Surely if there was still a Little Carmine Crew in place Beansy wouldn't have to set up a stolen goods trade with a smaller local Cuban organization rather than an already established Lupertazzi FLA Crew loyal to Little Carmine, long time friend of Tony. This is what sells me on the idea that Carmine was operating independently without a traditional crew with in Miami.

Food for thought to make the point, if Carmine was really operating a crew in Florida not just running personal businesses, why did Beansy have to set up action for Tony and Paulie while they were in the wind for the Willie Overall hit? If Little Carmine had been running a crew, who took it over and why weren't they point of contact for Tony? Surely if there was still a Little Carmine Crew in place Beansy wouldn't have to set up a stolen goods trade with a smaller local Cuban organization rather than an already established Lupertazzi FLA Crew loyal to Little Carmine, long time friend of Tony. This is what sells me on the idea that Carmine was operating independently without a traditional crew with in Miami.

So the Lupertazzi's are based on the genovese right ??

The Lupertazzi crime family is definitely based on the Gambino’s. All of the dissension and back biting for control. Remember we didn’t know for sure what the Genovese administration really looked like until the early 21st century! On another note I’ve always wondered if Carmine clipped someone to get his button or was it simply because of nepotism?

They're all composites of several families and real people.

The Lupertazzi crime family is definitely based on the Gambino’s. All of the dissension and back biting for control. Remember we didn’t know for sure what the Genovese administration really looked like until the early 21st century! On another note I’ve always wondered if Carmine clipped someone to get his button or was it simply because of nepotism?