The Quietly powerful and unusually cohesive organization, originally headed by epitome of secrecy, shadow leader Tommaso Gagliano, this group remained intact for over 50yrs. This group virtually controlled America's Garmet industry.

Upper Echelon Members of Various Leadership Roles
1.) GAETANO LUCCHESE ( known as "Tommy Three Fingers". The Boss of this Family. The Supreme leader in New York's garmet district. Heavily influential political corrupter. Strong alliances with Carlo Gambino of New York, Santo Trafficante of Florida and Frank Desimone of California.)
2.) STEFANO LASELLE ( Luchesse's Underboss. A original and influential member of this Family.)
3.) VINCENT RAO ( Lucchese's Consigliere. Wealthy businessman and very influential member of NY mafia.)
4.) CARMINE TRAMUNTI ( known as "Mr. Gribbs". An interim power/Acting Boss. Very Powerful Drug Trafficker, associated with the French Connection.)
5.) ANTONIO CORALLO ( known as "Tony Ducks". Later leader of the Family, very powerful and influential member. Heavyweight Labor Rackateer.)

CAPOREGIME

JOSEPH "JOE BROWN" LUCCHESE
GIOVANNI "JOE CALABRESE" LAGANO
JOSEPH "JOE PALISADES" ROSATO
PAUL VARIO
JOSEPH ABATE
CIRO "CHARLEY THE BEAR" GIAMPAOLO
JOSEPH "JOE BECK" DI PALERMO
VINCENT "JIMMY DOYLE" PLUMERI
SAVATORE "TOM MIX" SANTORO
ETTORE "EDDIE COCO" COCO
JOSEPH "JOEY NARROW" LARATRO

The Criminal Expertise: Legitimate Business Infiltration (Garmet, Construction, Real Estate), Political Corruption, Labor and Trucking Union Rackateering, International Drug Trafficking, Gambling, Shylocking, Hijacking/Fencing.

SOLDIERS/SOLDATO

JOHN "JOHNNY DIO" DIOGUARDI
PAUL "FRANKIE MR. GREY" CARBO
SALVATORE "DON TURRIDRU" CURIALE
VINCENT "JIMMY 92" CIRUALO
PAUL "PAULIE HAM" CORREALE
JOSEPH "JOE BABS" BENDENELLI
THOMAS "TOMMY DIO" DIOGUARDI
CALOGERO "CHARLEY" RAO
ANTHONY "TONY GRIO" VADALA
FRANK "NUNZIO" ARRA
SALVATORE "SALLY SHIELDS" SHILLITANI
VINCENT "JIMMY JONES" POTENZA
ANDINNO PAPPADIA
CHARLES "CHARLIE BRODY" DI PALERMO
FRANK "FRANKIE BELL" CAMPANELLO
VICTOR PANICA
ANIELLO "NEIL" MIGLIORE
FRANK "FRANKIE DIO" DIOGUARDI
MICHAEL "BIG MIKE" LABARBARA
NICHOLAS "BIG NOSE NICK" TOLENTINO
PETER "PETE THE KILLER" ABINANTI
JOSEPH "JOE BELL" BELLATONI
SALVATORE "CHARLES THE WOP" CARLINO
FRANK "FRANKIE BATS" BELLINI
JOSEPH "JOE HOOK" CAPRA
NICHOLAS "THE BARON" BONINA
ANTHONY "TONY HIGGINS" CASTALDI
JOSEPH "JOE BIKINI" BROCCHINI
DANIEL LARATRO
SAMUEL "BIG SAM" CAVALIERI
VINCENT "VINNY BEANS" FOCERI
ALPHONSO "FOO" CURIALE
JAMES "JIMMY SNIFF" VINTALORO
BRUNO PERRI
JOHN LAMELA
CARMINE "WILLIE THE WOP" LOCASCIO
LAWRENCE "LARRY" QUARTIERO
ANTHONY "TONY MOON" CICCIONE
VINCENT PAPPA
FRANK "POPEYE" MORANDI
DANIEL "DANNY HOGAN" CAPRA
ANTHONY "TONY TEABAGS" PINTO
SAMUEL "SAMMY BONES" CASTALDI
JOSEPH "BABO" VENTO
LUIGI "SCRATCHY" SACCO
MICHAEL "MIKE HAMMER" DELLAGNA
SALVATORE "BABE" VARIO
PAOLO "ZU PAOLO" D'ANNA
CIRINO "JOHN" INDIVIGLIO
MICHAEL CAPRA
VITO LASALLE
MARIANO "MAC" MACALUSO
JOSEPH "LADUCO" LATONA
ANTHONY LOPINTO
SAVERIO "SALVY" MAIMONE
JOHN "CHIT" LINARDI
FRANK "FRANKIE THE WOP" MANZO
NUNZIO "NUNZIE GAGLIANO" POMILLA
GIACOMO "JACK" REINA
ANTHONY "TONY NOSE" MANCUSO
GIOVANNI "JOHN" DI CARLO
JOSEPH LICCHI
ANTHONY ZITO
PETER "MR. BREAD" LOCASCIO
FELICE "PHILLY BLACK" FALCO
ROSARIO "SAUSARITO" FARULLA
SALVATORE "BLACKIE" GRAFFAGNINO
ANTHONY "TONY BLUE EYES" STABILE
PETER DI PALERMO
CARMINE TAGLIATELLA
JOSEPH SICA
ANDREW DESIMONE
LOUIS "LOUIE BEANS" FOCERI
VITO "TUDDY" VARIO
MARTIN "BIG JINKS" DESAVERIO
JAMES LUCCHESE
PASQUALE "LITTLE PATTY" ZACCARO
JOSEPH "JOEY Z" D' ERCOLE
CHRISTOPHER "CHRISTY TICKS" FURNARI
SALVATORE "TOTO" NUCCIO
JAMES "JIMMY" FALCO
ORLANDO "BOBBY LONDON" DELLIPAOLO
SETTIMO "BIG SAM" ACCARDI
GANDOLFO "SHIEKIE" MIRANDI
MICHAEL "VALENTINO" RUSSO
JOSEPH "JOE REESE" SCHIAVO
ANGELO "LITTLE ANGIE" TUMINARO
PETER DI PALERMO

Interesting chart Pep

Thanks NYMAFIA. This has been an enlightening and fun process

One of the most rewarding discoveries for me was finding out PETE THE KILLER (ABINANTI) was a real person. I wonder if his "brother" "Sally Balls" was real or just movie talk?

I had met Pete the Killer several times years back in Howard Beach, and again in Canarsie with Bruno Facciolo. Nice guy. Very loyal old-timer close to Paulie Vario.

I didn't know him well but I don't believe he ever had a brother named Sally Balls. Not that was ever mentioned to me anyway. If he did the brother must have died or been off the scene for years because I know there was no such guy at that time, 1980s era.

He did have a son that he'd sent out to Las Vegas years earlier. I think they put the kid in as a croupier or some such job in one of the casinos. The kid was an "associate."
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In fact the more I think about it, wasn't Abbinanti junior contacted to give help to Little Joey D'Arco and Georgie Neck when they flew out to LA to clip Tony DiLapi that time?

@NyMafia
Beside Tommy Lucchesse's great leadership abilities, why do you think the Luchesses were so unified and cohesive compared to the other Families?

My father and uncle (two VERY knowledgable guys - in the life), told me that Tommy Brown was THEE best boss (bar none) around in his era. From Gagliano to Lucchese, they were both cut from the same cloth.

Tommy also surrounded himself with great guys. Knowledgeable and respected (and very capable as far as brains). From Vincey Rao who was a dear friend of my family, to Steve LaSalle, Paulie Ham, Mac, and a few other guys, they ran a tight and cohesive crew who mostly all got along (and earned together). Far from what many other crews did and promoted.

And T. Brown didn't have all gunsels around him. He assessed a guys capabilities and utilized him accordingly, allowing him to flourish in his natural habitat, as well as help the borgata.

Killers were used for killing, thinkers were used for thinking, gambling wizards were kept in their bailiwick, labor racket guys were used up front, etc., etc.,.......and most earned!

In twenty years time the only few guys who got clipped were mostly rats; otherwise, Tommy worked it all out amongst themselves.........smart, smart, man.

When he died in 67'..... it mostly started to change as well. They hung in for another decade or so, but after that it was different guys at the top, and a different mindset.

Tony Ducks brought it back for awhile, but it was a different era already....By the time Amuso and Casso came along it was curtain time. Within a few short years the crew became a bordello of shit, and ya couldn't trust the guy next to you. All they did was sew discontent and fear. Rank idiots, the both of them IMO (and in the hushed opinions of many other street guys as well believe me)

For being the smallest brugad (about 120-140 made men), they sure did have men who were quite the money makers. Vario, Abate, Tom Mix, Eddie Coco, Johnny Dio, Big Sam, Tony Ham Delasco, etc.
Lukes went from being a well-oiled machine under Tony Ducks to nothing but brokesters under Amuso and Gaspipe.

@Dob_Peppino, was James Lucchese related to Tommy and Joe Brown?

He was their brother. Jimmy lived in Corona, and later moved to Jackson Heights. Their mother and sister (who married Joe Palisades) lived there as well. Jimmy wasn't a made guy though. He didn't need to be.

Who were the most dangerous guys that Tommy Lucchese kept close to him?

“ Killers were used for killing, thinkers were used for thinking, gambling wizards were kept in their bailiwick, labor racket guys were used up front, etc., etc.,.......and most earned!”

MYMafia
What you said is what organized crime is all about ( mafia). Too many people think that in order to be respected you need to be a killer. Total bullshit.
Ive seen many “ thinkers” get much more respect than guys used for strong arm shit.

Not sure if he was even around in that era,. but how come nothing much is written about the Luchesse guy who got messed up in the Frank Decicco car bomb?
Lentino?? Don't think I've seen his name outside of the Gravano book.
Was he made?? Wonder what he felt when he found out his own people did it

In February 1974 Paul Vario began serving a Federal sentence for tax evasion. Peter Abinanti possibly named Acting Capodecina of the crew. In August 1974 CI reported: "[Abinanti] handles all of Paul Vario Senior's operations since Vario went to jail [and] is assisted by Babe Vario. Abinanti reports to Tony Ducks [Corallo] on 116th Street [on] behalf of the Vario group."


On morning of September 18, 1979 son Joseph Abinanti (28y), a Lucchese Associate, shot and seriously wounded while exiting his car in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Hit ten or more times in chest, neck and head. Taken to Kings County Hospital in critical condition.

Attended August 24, 1982 dinner hosted by Paul Vario to celebrate inductions of crew members Louis Daidone and Alfonso D'Arco.

D'Arco took over the crew following Paul Vario's death in May 1988. Shortly after his promotion a meeting of the crew was held in Canarsie. Purpose for D'Arco to meet with each member one-on-one and to put each individual's activities on record. Unable to attend, aged crew member Paolo Danna instead visited at his residence by D'Arco and Abinanti, who handled the formal introductions.

On February 6, 1989 Vario crew associate Thomas 'Red' Gilmore shot to death in Family-ordered hit. Against the wishes of Boss Vittorio 'Vic' Amuso, Abinanti and Lucchese Soldier Peter Vario, Paul's son, attended the wake. D'Arco was called in by Amuso: "Vic was steaming and he says, you know I told you to tell them not let anybody go to the wake. I said I did, it's done, what do you mean. He said, well, how come Pete the Killer and Rugsy [Vario] went to the wake. He says go ask them if they like wakes..I told them [and they] said they didn't hear."

D'Arco named Peter's son Joseph Abinanti as a participant in February 1990 murder of Lucchese Soldier Anthony DiLapi.

Around 1990 Vario crew associate Angelo 'Sonny Bamboo' McConnach accused of withholding money. D'Arco: "When Paulie Vario died, he had other people holding money for him..Peter Vario and Peter Abinanti [complained] that Sonny Bamboo they believed was holding $100,000 of Paulie's money [so] I went to Sonny's house and threatened him..I said, 'I'll kill you just like that. You're hiding money over here'. He said, 'I'll give it to Petey' and he gave the money back..I didn't get any money from that or anything. That was their personal money, Petey Vario."

Died on or around July 24, 1994 and buried in Canarsie Cemetery.

Who are you thinking of? Frank (Frankie Hearts) Bellino? Didn't he get half his heel blown off by the car bomb?

If its Bellino you're speaking of, you gotta remember that for every guy from a family that you hear about, there's two who you never heard of. And that not including "associates" who number in the thousands. The only fellas that come to public attention are those who typically get pinched in high profile cases. Many more get pinched but it's never in the newspapers so nobody really becomes familiar with their surnames. Plus there's a lot of guys who hardly ever get arrested so even law enforcement is largely in the dark about them.

I believe Frankie Bellino fell into this "little known" category.

Interesting, is that from an earner's perspective? Lucchese's did a great job until Corallo turned things over to Amuso after Casso turned him down.

Knowing how Tommy became boss, and reading Joe Bonnano's book, it seems Tommy was smartest by not being a thorn in anyone's side. When you read about Tommy and Joe having a private conversation about the Anastasia/Costello stuff going on, Tommy reveals it was Vito Genovese guiding a lot of his moves. Seems like Tommy was really good at not reaching for too much and sharing with others, specifically Carlo Gambino and Vito Genovese.

Watching Casso's interviews and reading his book I dont know that I agree. He makes a pretty compelling case for why each of the people got wacked.

Exactly. That was just one of Tommy's great attributes. He never overstepped himself. He let everybody eat. From associates and soldiers, capos and above. He allowed his men a wide berth, and they rewarded him for the courtesy with a lot of tribute. He rarely (very rarely) hurt one of his family men unless that guy was a rat like Gene Giannini. He set all his brothers up with their own mini-fiefdom in Corona, Queens that became "Lucchese territory" 99.9%, and placed his bother Joe Brown as the capo, with Joey Narrow as acting capo, and later gave Narrow a full capo status. He ran a wealthy, wealthy borgata active and in control over some of the most important industries in NYC.

He concentrated heavily on legitimate business, encouraging all his men who were capable to invest in legit business (and he gave them opportunities to do just that). Pound for Pound it was successfully argued that the Lucchese Family had more millionaires amongst its membership than any other crew in the country. Even the Genovese crew couldn't match them in wealth.

He didn't heavily "tax" his men. He encouraged them all to "share the wealth' and help one another get involved in the numbers business, bookmaking, shylock, etc. He allowed guys who were prone to go that way to deal in narcotics, and he "helped" those nabbed by police.

By and large he was an extremely "intelligent", level-headed business man type mafioso. He was NOT a "cafone". He knew how to travel; manicured fingernails, the finest tailor-made shirts and suits, ate in the best Manhattan restaurants, lived in an expensive home on Lido Beach. Owned many partnership interests in various dress factories, garment trucking firms, lathing and construction companies, vast real estate, etc, etc..... sharp, sharp guy.

He forged close relationships (partnerships really) with judges, magistrates, mayors, councilmen, lawyers, prosecutors, city officials, etc.....this was how he and his minions were able to avoid major prosecution for decades with little fanfare.

He "bought" people. He didn't kill them!......In that regard he was the "ying" to Frank Costello's "yang"

THATS a boss!... not the shit you see nowadays.

A closing note: In all the decades of operation overseen by both Gagliano and Lucchese, there was never so much as one eyebrow raised in an attempt to "overthrow" the leadership or buck the hierarchy. Why?

The answer is because everybody was happy. everybody ate. His men didn't fear Tommy, so much as they greatly respected him. (honestly? The fucking loved him).

I had a very dear friend with that crew. Happiest guy in the whole world. He loved his skipper, and he loved and revered his boss Tommy. My friend became a rich guy. He had habits lol (he was a DG gambler) and blew a lot of his money. But that was his fault not Tommy Brown's. Even when he fucked up, Tommy saw to it that they bailed him out several times and helped him get on his feet.

Another boss? Lol... they woulda gave two behind the ear, or chased him. But that wasn't Tommy's way.

For having the smallest brugad in terms of size, Lucchese was a shrewd man, knowing whom to ally with. I think even the Gambinos couldn't match them in wealth, while Bonanno and Profaci were known to squeeze their men for more money.

Compared to back then, the Lukes are a bitter shell of themselves, courtesy of rats, LE heat, Gaspipe and Casso ill-treating their men, and general incompetence.

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Agreed. Aside from increased law enforcement technology and sophistication which has helped devastate all the crews, by and large the Amuso/Casso combination were the single worst thing that ever befell the Lucchese Family.

From being one of the best, most successful and envied crews, they became a half a joke. And an embarrassment because of the devastating terrible decisions the two of them made.....fucked them right up

He would, he's not going to portray himself as a bloodthirsty greedy psycho.

It was Al D'Arco who exposed this old time member. Any info on SALVATORE "DON TURRIDRU" CURIALE???

what were the other Vario brothers involved in?

He was a soldato earlier than Vario and all of them. Supposedly he'd gone out west as a gunman to help immigrant Italians fight ranchers and people who discriminated against them

Tuddy, Vito, Petey, Paulie, Lenny, etc., there were a whole slew of them

Any info on member MICHAEL "VALENTINO" RUSSO???

LOL....Don Pep, what are you planning to do? Go through every single name asking if anybody knows anything about each?

What is your ultimate purpose at the end ?

Well some people aren't forthcoming with info, and sometimes you have to ask the right questions. Lol. The people I ask about is out of curiosity and trying to get a understanding of the landscape of the Family during that time.It is not my intention to "out" the more discrete Mafioso (thats why I keep it strictly historical) ,although in some cases I might know enough about the guy to know they should be asked about. I am merely a researcher and highly interested in the details of these organizations. Also I know other people may find this information as fascinating as I do and may not know what to ask.

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fair enough. that makes sense. I was just curious because it wasn't like you were trying to pinpoint one or two guys, but were scatter-shooting it.

Back in the day most of the crews had real solid guys with them. The Lucchese crew especially. Pound for pound they held their own with anyone

Gribbs Tramunti was a guy you should search out info on. Very interesting mafioso. I posted up a bio for you on him to read ok

Any info on old line Caporegime CIRO GIAMPAOLO?